While meetings and conventions took a pause in 2020 due to the pandemic, Columbus didn’t stop working to ensure that when the time came to return to in-person meetings, planners and attendees had all the tools they needed for a successful event.
New developments forged ahead, offering more reasons for planners to consider Ohio’s capital. A 468-room expansion of the Hilton Columbus Downtown will bring the total number of convention hotel rooms on the property to 1,000 and total meeting space to 75,000 square feet. The new tower, opening in 2022, will offer a rooftop event space and an “open fire” restaurant. The Hyatt Regency Columbus is also completing a $20 million guest room remodel and renovation by the end of 2021.
2020 MLS Cup Champions, The Columbus Crew, have moved to a new stadium in the Arena District, meaning all of the city’s professional sports teams are within a few blocks of one another (and the convention center). Unique features of the Lower.com Field include a continuous wraparound roof, a 360-degree concourse, new off-site event space and a 5,000-square-foot brew hall that will also be open on non-match days.
A new food destination from Cameron Mitchell Restaurants is also now open in the city’s emerging Italian Village neighborhood. The historic Budd Dairy building has been transformed into the Budd Dairy Food Hall, a restaurant incubator offering spaces for entrepreneurial, chef-driven concepts, and also includes a live-performance stage, multiple bars, interactive games, private event space and a rooftop deck.
If there’s one thing we learned during the last 18 months of remote work or virtual meetings that’s here to stay, it’s the importance of digital tools and platforms. As we move toward the future of meeting and events, Columbus makes it easy for attendees to plan their stay.
It’s now easy to get the help of virtual assistant whenever needed on whatever platform is preferred for planning. Of course, visitors can gain access to a virtual trip-planning assistant on experiencecolumbus.com to find all there is to see, do eat and explore in the city.
Now, expanded options include assistance on the Experience Columbus Facebook page and Apple messages, in which iOS users can text our virtual assistant, just like they would a friend, to see what’s nearby, where to eat, shop or play in the area. A new Flash Briefing available through any Alexa device also provides daily updates on what’s happening in Ohio’s capital to all who subscribe.
Meeting attendees also have access to the new digital attendee savings passes, making it easy to access discounts and deals at local businesses during downtime.
As in-person meetings return and life looks more like it did pre-pandemic, we can’t wait to welcome you back to the country’s 14th largest city. Let’s work together to bring the industry back stronger than ever. Learn more about all that’s happening in Columbus at experiencecolumbus.com/meetings.
U.S. Travel Association Says Airlines in the United States Are Sub-Par
In a new quarterly press conference launched today, the U.S. Travel Association’s videotaped presentation included findings from a new Ipsos Poll field survey:
The air travel experience is sub-par for nearly half of Americans: Just one in 10 Americans who have flown by air (13%) rate their overall travel experience as excellent while nearly half (45%) rate it as average or below average
Crowds and congestion, flight delays or cancellations, airport security process and cumbersome travel logistics were the main contributors to a less-than-excellent travel experience
Geoff Freeman
“The latest data is a clear sign that significant upgrades are needed to kickstart a reimagined air travel experience that works for all Americans,” said U.S. Travel President and CEO, Geoff Freeman. Freeman was joined on the presentation by incoming U.S. Travel National Chair and Hilton President and CEO Chris Nassetta.
Other issues that U.S. Travel wants mandated included:
International Inbound Travel
Decrease unacceptable visitor visa wait times, which total more than 400 days worldwide in the United States’ top 10 visa-requiring markets
Eliminate the vaccine requirement for international visitors
Restore the Chinese inbound travel market and ensure processing operations run efficiently as demand increases
Domestic Travel
Improve the air travel system and create a seamless and secure travel experience from end to end, beginning with opportunities this year as Congress works to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration
Get the federal workforce back to the office and encourage the return of government business travel
Leverage the 2022 Bipartisan Infrastructure Act to enable better traveler mobility options within our nation’s travel infrastructure
Britain to Require Electronic Travel Authorizations
The United Kingdom has announced that it will soon require all nationalities (except U.K. citizens and Irish citizens) to apply for an online Electronic Travel Authorization permission from 48-72 hours prior to travel.
The system will cost travelers as well, although the site’s FAQ sheet says that the amount has not yet been determined.
The FAQ sheet says that the processing requirement will be completed by the end of 2023.
Meeting Planners Takeaway: Consider that the cost may be anywhere from $15-25 (or possibly more) and that as the system rolls out, electronic delays or snafus are possible. If you have participants meeting in the United Kingdom this year or after 2023, build in education about the requirement in your planning.
Companies, meeting planners and attendees across the board are excited for the restart of in-person meetings in 2023. But as the meetings industry comes back with a vengeance, it is important for meeting planners to prepare for the unexpected.
Smart Meetings spoke with Ralph Failla, director of client leadership at Inspira Marketing Group, to get some insight from his over 15 years of crisis management experience and how meeting planners can be prepared for all possibilities during an event.
Getting Ahead of the Crisis
Many meeting planners can probably appreciate Failla’s own personal mantra: aim to prevent a crisis before it happens. “[You’re] thinking through all the things that could possibly go wrong, not that you’re going to know everything and/or get everything, but it’s thinking through those things as they could go wrong,” he said.
Failla pointed to vehicle contingencies as an example of the importance of being prepared. “Being on the road and touring a lot and understanding that flats are going to happen, accidents are going to happen, breakdowns are going to happen,” Failla said, adding, “it’s just having your partners in place for those instances.”
Prepare for Cancellations and Postponement
No one likes to cancel events, but being prepared for a cancellation could save meetings planners a lot of time and stress.
“Best practice is to just make sure you’re covering yourself within that force majeure…and making sure …your investment isn’t lost.”
A Force of Nature
For meeting planners preparing for outdoor events, Mother Nature can be one of the most expected factors to consider. Prepare for extreme temperatures such a keeping attendees hydrated in the heat or making sure your space has heaters for cold weather.
“The one that always gets me is wind,” said Failla. “You can’t predict it. And it just comes in so fast and can just destroy everything in a moment.” Wind gusts can flip tents and cause major damage. preparing with weights, ballasting and alternative locations in mind.
Digital and Analog Experience
An important aspect that could be impacted by the state of the weather is the event’s technology. Failla points to how important Wi-Fi is to the integrity of an event but warns meeting planners to consider a contingency.
“If the Wi-Fi goes out or the tech goes out, you’re kind of left sitting on your hands,” he said. Failla recounted one event when his team created a selfie station after thunderstorms knocked out power at an event. “I think it’s important to create analog as well as digital [experiences]. The digital can be the main experience but make sure you have a backup, too.”
Staffing Shortage
One factor that is being felt across industries is ongoing staffing issues. Not having enough staff could heavily impact your event.
“I have experienced a higher percentage of no calls, no shows,” Failla said. His rule of thumb is to request and budget for 20% more support because there’s a high probability you’re going to need them. If you do have extra help, you can use them for more security or as a safety officer.
Keep Calm, Event On
Practice makes perfect. Crisis management is a trial and error situation. One quality that is essential to a planner’s toolbelt is having a cool, even-keeled persona.
“I try to keep everybody calm and I don’t get frantic. I think that’s really, really important. That translates down to every single person you touch, and it just amplifies the situation even more.” Failla advised planners to appoint someone on the team to help manage any crisis that may arise, “You have that peace of mind so when stuff happens, you’re not alone out there.”
Kristen Babich
Babich is events manager for The Gant Aspen in Colorado. Babich previously worked with Aspen Ski Company, which took her to restaurants such as Ajax Tavern, Limelight Aspen, Limelight Snowmass and Sam’s. She has also worked with Kenichi Aspen, Matsuhisa Aspen, Hotel Jerome and W Hotel Aspen.
Aspen Hospitalityin Colorado named Azevedo CEO. He previously worked as the company’s managing director and chief operating officer. Before joining Aspen Hospitality, Azevedo worked as vice president of acquisitions and development for Loews Hotels and vice president of development for the Americas for Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.
Rachel Riggs, CMP, DES, SEPC
Riggs is general manager of environmental strategy for Maritz Global Events. Riggs joined Maritz Global Events Design Studio in 2018. Before joining Maritz, she worked as Tourism Vancouver’s meeting and convention sales manager for Chicago and the Midwest.
Riggs is also involved in environmental advocacy in other ways, including serving on the Net Zero Carbon Events Measurement Working Group, the Events Industry Council APEX Commission and the Global Wellness Institute’s Workplace Wellbeing Working Group.
Christina Mertz
Mertz is Fairmont Dallas’ director of catering and conference services. She previously worked as the property’s assistant director of catering and conference services. In her 20 years of hospitality experience, Mertz has also worked with Goldman Properties in Miami as director of special events, The Setai and The Raleigh Hotel in Miami Beach as senior catering and group sales manager and W South Beach in Florida as director of catering and convention services.
David Hoffman
Photo: Pendry Hotels & Resorts
Hoffman is general manager for California’s Pendry Newport Beach, scheduled to open late summer 2023. Before this, Hoffman worked as opening general manager for Pendry West Hollywood in Los Angeles and opening general manager for Sagamore Pendry Baltimore. He also opened Montage Hotels & Resorts properties, including Montage Kapalua Bay in Hawaii, Montage Beverly Hills in California and Montage Laguna Beach in California.
Eugenia Dwyer
Dwyer is general manager for The Ritz-Carlton, Bal Harbour in Miami. She most recently worked as general manager at Eden Roc and Nobu Miami Beach. She has also worked at properties in New York City, including The Westin Times Square, Waldorf Astoria New York and W Times Square, as well as W Hoboken in New Jersey and The Gates and 24 North in Key West, Florida, as complex general manager.
Raghu Addagada
Addagada is hotel manager for Pendry Park City in Utah. Addagada comes from The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain in Marana, Arizona, where he worked as director of operations. Further experience with The Ritz-Carlton includes The Ritz-Carlton Toronto, where his most recent position was executive chef, and The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun.
Matthew Grauso
Grauso is Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa at Sky Ala Moana’s general manager, slated for completion late 2023. He previously worked as general manager at Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach, a role he will keep until a new general manager is named. He has also worked as general manager for Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa, hotel manager for Sheraton Waikiki and director of human resources for The Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas.
Ginny Long
Long is director of national accounts for Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas. Long most recently worked as senior complex sales manager for Hilton Los Cabos and Conrad Punta de Mita in Mexico. She has also worked with Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.
DOT Announces Investigation into Southwest Holiday Chaos
The Department of Transportation (DOT) announced an investigation this Wednesday into Southwest Airlines’ chaotic holiday weekend in December 2022.
“DOT is in the initial phase of a rigorous and comprehensive investigation into Southwest Airlines’ holiday debacle that stranded millions. DOT has made clear to Southwest that it must provide timely refunds and reimbursements and will hold Southwest accountable if it fails to do so.
“DOT is also probing whether Southwest executives engaged in unrealistic scheduling of flights which under federal law is considered an unfair and deceptive practice. DOT will leverage the full extent of its investigative and enforcement power to ensure consumers are protected and this process will continue to evolve as the Department learns more,” a DOT spokesperson told Smart Meetings on Friday.
Southwest filed regulatory papers this month that claimed the company may be liable for up to $825 million due to issues around the event.
Chris Perry, a spokesperson for Southwest, had this to say about the investigation:
“Our holiday flight schedule was thoughtfully designed and offered to our Customers with the backing of a solid plan to operate it, and with ample staffing. Our systems and processes became stressed while working to recover from multiple days of flight cancelations across 50 airports in the wake of an unprecedented storm.
“We have been working with the DOT and will continue to cooperate with any inquiry or request from government oversight or elected officials. We’re acutely focused on learning from this event, mitigating the risk of a repeat occurrence, and delivering the hospitality and outstanding service our Customers expect from us.”
American Airlines Reports Return to Profit, Reliability
In its fourth-quarter and full-year 2022 financial results call, American Airlines reported both a continued return to profitability and an “industry-leading” performance in reliability over the holiday.
The airline recorded fourth-quarter and full-year net income of $127 million and $803 million, respectively.
“The American Airlines team has produced outstanding results over the past year,” said American’s CEO Robert Isom in a statement. “We committed to running a reliable operation and returning to profitability, and our team is delivering on both. We’re proud to have led the industry in operational performance over the holidays while producing record full-year and fourth-quarter revenues, resulting in a third consecutive quarterly profit and a profit for the full year. As we turn our attention to 2023, we will continue to prioritize reliability, profitability and debt reduction.”
Importantly, for meeting planners, the airline says, “American and its regional partners operated more than 475,000 flights in the fourth quarter, with an average load factor of 83.9%. For the quarter, American ranked first in completion factor among the nine largest U.S. carriers.
The American team delivered an even stronger performance over the holidays, despite challenging conditions in many parts of the country. American outperformed the industry over the December holiday period, ranking first in completion factor. The momentum has continued into 2023 as American has delivered the best on-time arrival performance of the nine largest U.S. carriers so far this year.”
“Las Vegas is recharged and ready for the next chapter of business,” said Mary Beth Sewald, president and CEO of Vegas Chamber, this week at Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce preview of major upcoming events in town, including 2024 Super Bowl and Formula 1 Racing.
“In most cities, to have even one of these opportunities would be a big deal, but to have all three of these monumental events happening in about six months, that’s just incredible. Only Vegas could make that happen,” she said.
Sewald was joined by some veteran and new faces at Las Vegas Convention Center’s (LVCC) new West Hall. Jeremy Aguero, principal analyst of Applied Dynamics provided an economic forecast; Lucas Walton, president of MSG Sphere gave an update on the massive globe emerging behind The Strip; Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO of Formula 1, and Renee Wilm, CEO of Las Vegas Grand Prix and offered insights on the race impact; Steve Hill, CEO and president of Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) shared his excitement about upcoming development; and David Kieske, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Vici Properties opened up about the company’s growing resort footprint.
Nevada’s Economic Outlook
The Past
As an analyst, Applied Dynamics’ Aguero said he’s often asked, “What’s next?” He believes before asking that, there’s another more pressing concern: “Before we talk about where we’re heading, it’s helpful to talk about where we’ve been.”
Major improvements included the $2.4-billion expansion to the recently renamed Harry Reid International Airport (LAS). “Had we not disrupted it, where would we be today?” he asked. The answer: At capacity.
Major openings in the midst of Covid included Circa Resort & Casino, Resorts World Las Vegas and LVCC’s West Hall. Plus, Las Vegas Raiders played its first season at Allegiant Stadium.
In 2022, the dialogue is largely be around global conflict, Ukraine and the economy, he said. “We talk about gasoline prices spiking, food prices and inflation going up.” But still Las Vegas is moving forward with new hotel openings and expansions, including the eagerly anticipated 67-story Fontainebleau Las Vegas scheduled to open by the end of this year. “Not a bad 10-year stretch for us overall. In fact, it’s pretty incredible,” he said.
Over the past decade, Nevada has added roughly 330,000 new residents and 250,000 new jobs across almost every sector, a rate higher than most other states in the U.S. Visitation is down a bit from a decade ago when it hit 42.5 million. Today it’s roughly 40 million, largely due to a delayed return of international travel.
The Future
“Now let’s imagine we do the exact same thing over the next decade. Are we ready to bring another 400,000 people into the urban valley?” he asked. “Our ability to continue to grow at that rate is going to be put to the challenge,” he predicted.
Another 30% of growth or 300,000 additional employees in the valley may not be realistic either, considering the percentage of workers has declined by 1.4% over the last decade while the percentage of retirees across the U.S. has gone up 3.3%, stretching the age-dependency ratio. “We’re aging, which means we have [relatively] fewer people in the workforce,” he said. “We’re going to have to adapt to a new reality for us to see the same prosperity and growth we’ve seen over the years.”
Going forward, he said we need to prepare for slower population growth and a reality with fewer employees. “We are either going to pay for the workforce we want or we’re going to pay for the workforce we get,” he said.
Vici Properties Is Bullish on Vegas
LVCVA CEO and President Steve Hill, (left) and Vici Properties Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer David Kieske (right), Photo: Sam Morris, LVCVA Archive
After laying out the economic Nevada’s economic state, LVCVA’s Hill sat down with Vici Properties’ Kieske to discuss why the real estate investment trust is all in on Las Vegas. The experiential investing firm owns 11 of the 38 properties on The Strip, including Caesars Palace Las Vegas, MGM Grand and the Venetian Resort Ls Vegas. The firm also has an investment in Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
Vici, a spinoff born out of Caesars Entertainment’s bankruptcy settlement in 2017, began as a $13-billion company, $7 billion of which was in debt. “Nobody expected Vici to survive,” Kieski said. “We were basically set up to fail.”
Today, the company is not only solvent, but thriving. “Myself, John Payne [Vici president and chief operating officer] and Ed Pitoniak [Vici CEO] set out to institutionalize gaming real estate and what we did in the last five-plus years is take Vici from a $13-billion enterprise company to just over $50 billion,” he added. Vici properties’ interest in The Strip can be attributed to this major factor, as Kieske put it, “It is the most economically productive strip in the world.” He said no other road in America can replicate what goes on along The Strip.
“What the operators have realized is that it’s not important for them to own the real estate,” Kieske said. “You think about Home Depot, Walmart or Starbucks; they haven’t grown because they own their real estate, they’ve grown because they’ve focused on what their core business is. The end-product these operators deliver is leisure and hospitality, so freeing up capital, selling us their real estate allows them to take that money, reinvest in their business, grow their business and deliver new experiences for their customer.”
MSG Sphere
The first MSG (Madison Square Garden) Sphere, MSG Sphere at The Venetian, is scheduled to open this fall. “Our mission is to introduce an entirely new medium that will unlock shared experiences,” Walton said. “We hope to make Las Vegas the birthplace of a new medium that changes lives of entertainment forever.”
Inside Sphere, guests will see the first 16K LED screen in the world. At 600,000 sq. ft., the screen’s size is equal to three football fields. Sphere’s audio experience will also be something never before experienced according to Walton. It will be heard on 164,300 channels—eight channels per attendee—and with “beam-forming audio” the quality will provide “headset sound without the headset.”
Vibrating haptic feedback in Sphere’s 17,500 seats will give guests a far more intense experience than they would have otherwise. “In addition to sight, sound and vibrating seats, Sphere is designed to touch and inspire all the senses. Sphere can deliver wind to the audience that will blow their hair back and if we take you to a forest…we’ll be able to deliver scent and temperature.”
Walton said Sphere will feature four to six musical residencies per year, providing six to 12 shows at a time. He was adamant about Sphere’s productivity, saying the venue will host two to three events per day with no dark days.
Formula 1 Racing Is Coming to Vegas—Permanently
Las Vegas Grand Prix CEO Renee Wilm (left), Formula One Group CEO Stefano Domenicali (middle), and Vegas Chamber President and CEO Mary Beth Sewald (right), Photo: Sam Morris, LVCVA Archive
On Nov. 16-18, the first Formula 1 Grand Prix in the U.S. will come to Las Vegas.
“F1 has seen significant growth in interest in the United States year-over-year and that was truly our goal when we acquired the sport [in 2017],” Wilm said. “We understood the magic of the sport and the legacy, but what was missing was that U.S. focus.” The company also opened itself up more to social media, which Wilm said completely changed their audience to a much younger and more female demographic than before. The latter stands at 40%.
Hill said the two-day racing event is going to be the largest event Las Vegas has had in his lifetime and Aguero estimated that it could be the city’s first billion-dollar event. Wilm said the event, expected to have 100,000 guests, sold out so quickly domestically that European and Asian fans didn’t get a chance to participate due to time zones.
The 3.8-mile track will pass casinos and hotels along The Strip at speeds of up to 212 mph. When the high-speed event is over, F1’s presence in Las Vegas will remain, completing F1’s No. 1 goal, which Wilm said is to establish the city as the home of Formula 1 in the North America.
The Paddock, F1’s new Vegas venue, will be open to host events and exhibitions year-round. Hill later added that the F1 venue will be three stories with the bottom floor consisting of 13 parking garages, 10 for the teams and a few extras; the second level will serve as hospitality for the racing teams; the top floor, larger and made for the public, will house a restaurant. The second and third floor will feature a balcony surrounding the entire building.
When the Covid-19 pandemic threw most of society into a holding pattern, up and coming young professionals were caught in an unprecedented limbo. No one knew more about that than Soundings’ founder and CEO Tracy Judge, who works to connect businesses and associations with qualified staffing.
Staffing Issues
For Judge’s clients, it is often difficult to find qualified and trained staff. The layoffs that happened during the pandemic have had a deep impact on today’s market. “A lot of the talent that was laid off were early in their career…So, now we’re looking at like a three-to-five-year gap of younger talent. And then the other piece we have is that a lot of customers, as events were coming back full throttle, didn’t have the time to onboard and train young talent as they’re coming into the industry, like we did prior to the pandemic.”
Nikki Gonzales, Judges’ Chief of Staff, has first-hand experience in the matter. “I had a lot of friends who were in hospitality who ended up leaving the industry by force because they couldn’t find a job post-graduation,” Gonzales shared, “The job search is tough, and it was such mixed messaging.”
Word through the grapevine made many of Gonzales’ industry friends believe positions were available for hire, but many were met with some hard truths. “They’re applying for these positions, and they won’t even get a first interview because they don’t have that experience that the job description was looking for, even though they might have a lot of transferable skill,” Gonzales said, adding, “A lot of employers weren’t giving them that first shot. And so, a lot of those cases are people who just gave up on the industry.”
Phone a Friend
To help younger, less experienced meeting planners within Soundings, Judge fostered a system she dubbed: Phone a Friend. “We have this great talent that can’t get into the industry because they don’t have the exact experience, but they have the education, they have the strengths, they have applicable experience,” Judge explained.
“What we do is we’ve started to use our more experienced talent, senior meeting planners who also like to give back and grow in the industry. So, we’ll pair them with the younger talent, and I call it ‘phone a friend’ and they might consult alongside individuals for 40 hours on a project. So, they’re able to help get this young talent up to speed and the customer doesn’t have to spend their time training.”
Non-Traditional Pathways and Tech Curriculum
Gonzales advises young meeting planners who are looking to cut their teeth in the industry to seek out the route less traveled in their journey. “There’s so many pathways that you can take within the events industry that may not get as openly spoken about.”
Gonzales points to hospitality schools as a great place to explore these areas. “Reaching out to other majors to be able to bring them over,” Gonzales continued, noting the importance of skill sets from other areas that can carry over for individuals looking to enter the hospitality field.
Judge, who sits on the San Diego State Hospitality School Advisory Board looked to the discussion of the curriculum in hospitality schools and marketing schools. “I don’t think that the problem is the curriculum in the hospitality schools, I think we need more hospitality event related curriculum in the marketing school. So, marketers are realizing that this is a pathway for them,” Judge continued, referring to Gen Z’s work readiness. “[Gen Z are] more purpose driven than any other generation before. [Gen Z have] the ability to intern or freelance with different organizations. [It] gives them the opportunity to really feel what it’s like to be part of that organization.”
Working From Home vs In-Office
When asked about the status of workers leaning towards remote or in-person work, Gonzales sees it a solid split down the center. “We still have people who are sick. I have a family. I prefer doing virtual events because it gives me that flexibility…if the work is getting done, should it matter where you’re doing it in some cases?”
Judge agreed, but also believes it is important to foster work communities in a remote climate. “People like to have that flexibility, but I think it gets hard at home not having that work community. So, really focusing on how you can give them that either in the community of your industry or something that’s applicable to their work, so they still have that interaction even if they are remote.”
Sustainable Transportation in Anaheim
Reducing carbon emissions in transportation has been at the forefront of conversations in the meeting industry, and Anaheim has been taking it seriously. Not only for the day-to-day public transportation system in the city, but also for visitors as well. Meeting professionals have options for group and event attendee transportation that can reduce the carbon footprint.
The Anaheim Transportation Network (ATN) has been on the forefront of transportation sustainability and continues to implement innovative practices for the clean-air initiative when visitors, locals and commuters are navigating the city. Both individual and group transportation options have never been so eco-conscious!
Shipping Containers as Charging Stations
ATN announced in a press release earlier this month it will be increasing its efforts towards an all-electric, zero-emission fleet of buses for Anaheim Regional Transportation (ART) by doubling charging stations and becoming the first transportation network in the country to utilize recycled shipping containers as a hub for charging stations. While all electric buses were previously charging at the headquarters, the new shipping container charging stations will be placed along the bus routes. Diana Kotler, ATN’s executive director, explains the benefits of this strategy.
“This new charging station allows ATN to put our growing zero-emission fleet onto the street immediately,” says Kotler. “The location allows us to charge our buses along our routes, instead of requiring all buses to be charged at our headquarters, saving time and guaranteeing the efficiency of our transit system.”
While operators will continue to be able to charge their buses at Anaheim’s public transit headquarters, the shipping container charging stations provide more options for the electric bus fleet as the city is in the process of developing a new clean-air transit hub. “With the addition of this charging capability, we are well prepared to continue to grow our electric fleet, with a goal of being 100% electric by 2026.”
“We are pleased to continue to provide clean-fuel transit options for the residents, visitors and employees in our region,” says Kotler.
ATN Launches EVE
“Everyone Ventures Everywhere” (EVE) will be a direct transportation connection between Orange County’s John Wayne Airport (SNA) and Anaheim’s resort area. Perfect for groups to reduce their carbon emissions by refraining from renting individual vehicles, the fully electric luxury vehicles are the first group transportation fleet of its kind in California. Using a simple downloadable A-Way WeGo App, meeting professionals can utilize the on-demand group transportation service by quickly booking a reservation.
Never worry about parking or gas while exploring Anaheim’s CtrCity district with Free Rides Around the Neighborhood (FRAN). Once again, a downloadable app named TripShot is all you need to select your region of CtrCity and discover your nearest pickup spot. Then request a ride, and an energy-efficient FRAN vehicle will be there quickly to aid locals and visitors in easily navigating the neighborhood’s restaurants, shops and other places of interest.
Think Uber, yet quicker, greener, a much tighter network and most importantly free! FRAN is a service designed to require fewer individual vehicles on the streets, less carbon emission and increased accessibility to Anaheim’s CtrCity.
Pacific Surfliner at ARTIC
If attendees are coming to Anaheim from another city in Southern California, tell them to leave their cars in the garage and hop on Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner. The train travels over 351 miles of the Southern California coastline, beginning in San Luis Obispo and ending in San Diego with the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC) along the way. The Pacific Surfliner offers both coach and business class options, both with power outlets and free Wi-Fi for passengers to work, relax and stay in contact as they travel to and from their event destination.
Upon arriving to ARTIC, attendees can once again open the A-Way WeGo App to access ART’s schedule and choose one of the 20 bus routes serving Anaheim’s resort area, CtrCity, Honda Center, Angel Stadium and many of the city’s hotels. For a more luxury experience, Anaheim is launching a fleet of luxury minibuses that will provide daily, scheduled nonstop trips for groups between LAX and ARTIC. Reservations are required, yet groups can enjoy comfort and amenities while reducing carbon emissions by traveling in groups.
No matter how well planned your event is, hiccups will occur. Sometimes it is a small detail that is easily fixed, on occasion a big problem arises that needs to be fixed ASAP.
Self-care is a buzzy word splashed around in the media these days, encouraging us all to make time to have a de-stress massage or a well-deserved pedicure. These are fine ways to experience moments of calm before heading back out into the workaday world, of course, but not the sort of thing you can indulge in during a fast-paced event week when you might need it most.
Remember though, the important advice we hear at the beginning of every plane ride…put your oxygen mask on first beforehelping others. So, how do you quietly and unobtrusively put on your oxygen mask, so to speak, before beginning to calmly work to fix the problem that has arisen in the midst of your carefully planned event?
Here are a few simple methods to remember for those moments:
Acupressure—Kimberlyann Brousseau, an aesthetics and massage specialist and owner of Monterey Bay Bodyworks, suggests a way you can secretly practice a calming technique even if you are surrounded by event attendees in a panic.
“Using the thumb and index finger of one hand, firmly grasp the fleshy part of your other hand between the thumb and index finger and apply firm pressure. This pressure point can help alleviate shoulder tension and headaches. After a few moments, switch hands and use the acupressure technique on your other hand.”
Focused Breathing—Brousseau also recommends using a focused breathing technique to help yourself stay calm while trying to work towards a solution.
“Breathe in for a count of six, and then out for a count of eight. You always have air on your lungs, but by concentrating on your breathing technique and making yourself focus on counting, you will shift your focus from the tension for a few moments and allow yourself to collect your calm and be a better problem solver.” Navy Seals use a similar box breathing technique which calls for four steps: inhaling for four seconds, holding that breath four seconds, exhaling for four seconds and then waiting four seconds before inhaling again.
Aromatherapy—plan ahead and pack a small aromatherapy spray in a roller bag for the tense moments that can arise, or for a treat to help yourself relax after a busy day in the privacy of your hotel room. Escaping with your spray bottle to the restroom for a few moments can help shift your energy and mood.
Look for natural herbal products like Aura Mist from Kate’s Magik or the Stress Relief Aromatherapy Spray from Living Earth Herbs. Products that contain herbs and botanicals like lavender and sandalwood can give you that small self-care moment and help you stay prepared for challenges.
Sunshine and Fresh Air—yes, just like your mother told you on days when you were feeling low…”Go outside and get some fresh air.” Give yourself a few minutes outdoors to breathe deeply and consider how best to solve the situation. If you are holding an event in a place near the ocean, all the better.
Head outside for some negative ions, natural mood lifters. Sunshine is a proven mood enhancer and will help you stay clear-headed and ready to tackle problems both big and small. Even if your event isn’t drenched in sunshine, deep breaths of fresh air of any kind—fog, rain, mist, evening chill—will add to your ability to effectively cope with the situation.
“Anything you can do to briefly shift your focus for even a moment can help you relax and be more effective,” Brousseau told us. “Once you have started to obsess over what has happened, stepping back in some way before returning mentally to the problem can help you proceed calmly.”
What is your favorite way to stay calm when a problem presents itself?
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Jennifer Basye Sander is a New York Times bestselling author who writes books and articles to entertain and enlighten. Her most recent is “Churchill: A Drinking Life.”
Welcome to the Sustainable RFP of the Future survey. This three-minute exercise is a partnership between Destinations International and Smart Meetings to quantify the demand and options for meeting professionals looking to reach their company greenhouse gas emissions goals. Your insights will help us create a resource that will allow destinations to offer the sustainable features meeting professionals really want and empower event professionals to ask the right questions when sourcing for an environmentally responsible partner.
Please take a minute to fill out this short survey, and you will be entered to win an earth-friendly $100 digital gift card and could be featured in the March issue of Smart Meetings magazine. Deadline is Feb. 1, 2023.
