Good news: The outbreak of Covid force majeure cancellations and postponements that plagued the industry in 2020 did not lead to a rash of precedent-setting lawsuits. Most meeting planners found ways to move ahead, even if there were some tense moments and damages paid. Now, the question is how to build contracts moving forward.

Phoenix-based hotel attorney Lisa Devlin sat down for some rapid-fire questions about what is and isn’t working today and offered her prescription for a win-win solution to trading contract clauses.

“It’s a big deal,” Devlin said of the struggle to share risks around a possible pandemic redux. Following are no-go conversations and possible win-win alternatives.

Covid Cancellations

No-gos: “Everyone wants to include epidemics in clauses that say they can cancel without paying any damages if pandemic conditions change, and so far, hotels are saying, ‘No’,” Devlin reported. “Don’t put pandemic in your force majeure clause because we are still in the middle of it. That doesn’t help you. Negotiate a clause about what will make an event financially important to go forward and negotiate based on that.”

Read More: A Breakdown of Post-Pandemic Contract Clauses

Win-win: If a group has concerns, call the hotel and talk about it. When groups cancel at the report of a Covid surge even if the hotel is open, then they are left fighting over who should pay. Instead, talk about concerns of people canceling and negotiate at what point it doesn’t work. A lot of times it is a business issue and not a force-majeure issue. “Bad attendance is not a force majeure; it is attrition,” said Devlin.

She suggested including a clause that says if a government restriction is in place within 60 days of an event, then the company can be excused.

Fee Negotiation

No-gos: Dropping all fees. Because it is a seller’s market right now, a lot of the urban fees and resort fees that were in place before the pandemic may be harder to negotiate away. “I’m seeing higher rates and know that is hurting groups, but there is a lot of demand. Hotels are taking a stricter approach than a year ago.”

Win-win: Some of the new fees, such as administrative or protocol fees, might be easier to justify removing, as they could be considered part of the cost of doing business.

Staffing Levels

No-gos: Clauses calling for “standard staffing” levels. That is difficult to define. Same with stipulating that staff must be “fully trained.”

Read More: Mike Dominguez’s Vision for Hospitality Restaffing

Win-win: Be specific about the staff-to-attendee ratio. “I have seen hotels give financial compensation when lack of staff, including an event coordinator who quit the day before the event, led to poor service,” she said.

Hologram ‘Em In

No-gos: Get out of damages clauses around key personnel or keynote speakers not being able to attend due to flight delays or other problems, as that would require canceling the entire event on a moment’s notice.

Win-win: Do itemize the essential elements and ask for a discount on a big screen to hologram the person in or some other accommodation.

Built-in Flexibility

No-gos: Renegotiating attrition the week of the event when it would be difficult for the hotel to resell those rooms in some parts of the country.

Win-win: Build in flexibility dates to six or nine months out to review, and release to accommodate uncertain demand.

Political Cancellations

No-go: Political cancelation clauses. “It is not reasonable to expect a hotel to let your event go because of something the legislature did,” Devlin said.

Win-win: “If politics is a big deal to your group, go to a safe place or cut a deal with the hotel, so if a group has to move because of politics, they will pay half the cancelation fee,” she suggested.

Plan with Confidence

Innovation is a way of life in Greater Phoenix. Since ancient times, the Sonoran Desert has evoked inspiration, adaptation, collaboration and innovation. This spirit is an indelible part of the city’s identity as it influences forward-thinking approaches to hospitality, technology, and sustainability.

As the fifth-largest city in the country, Phoenix is leading the way in finding sustainable solutions for all industries. Greater Phoenix is at the center of a statewide boom that’s seen a 20% increase in tech-related jobs focused on sustainability, encompassing renewable energy, electric vehicles, global semiconductors, and material science.

In just a single year, Greater Phoenix prevented 248 million pounds of greenhouse gases and 9.8 million pounds of air pollution from entering the earth’s atmosphere thanks to its environmentally friendly transportation options. These include Valley Metro Rail, an accessible and efficient rail transport from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) to the Phoenix Convention Center, as well as bus and vanpool services.

Beyond logistics and transportation, efforts to preserve the future of our planet are at the core of Greater Phoenix’s meeting and convention offerings, with trendy venues and innovative community partners that bring sustainability to the forefront for planners and attendees.

Footprint Center

The footprint is a local, plant-based fiber technology and material science company that’s creating a healthier planet by reducing dependency on single- and short-term-use plastics. The company’s namesake arena, the Footprint Center, is seen as a living innovation lab for food and beverage suppliers to learn more about consumer sentiment and how they can transition away from plastic.

Read More: Sunny Meeting Forecast in Phoenix

With abundant meeting space, the Footprint Center is perfect for environmentally conscious events of all sizes. Additionally, the arena gives attendees after-hours options for entertainment like taking in an NBA or WNBA home game of the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury, respectively or enjoying one of the many concerts hosted by the venue.

Cloth & Flame

Known for its immersive and collaborative farm-to-table dinners in unexpected places, Cloth & Flame intentionally designs experiences to foster connections with the land, with others, and with oneself. This Sonoran Desert-based operation invites attendees to enjoy a chef-prepared meal among wild landscapes and under the stars.

In terms of sustainability, Cloth & Flame pays to lease land for its community dinners, so areas that might otherwise be developed can act instead as a source of income for the landowner. In addition, 10% of dinner proceeds are donated to coalitions that work to preserve migratory routes and wild places.

Phoenix Convention Center

Phoenix Convention Center has implemented thoughtful green thinking and design to withstand the environmental tests of the future.

Initiatives include contributing more than 41 tons of compost in city parks, watering its living wall and garden using condensation from the HVAC system, purchasing 31,000 chairs made from recycled car batteries and seatbelts, recycling more than 460 tons of material each year, and generating energy from 732 solar panels—enough output to power 14 homes for an entire year. Greater Phoenix is at the forefront of sustainability, and meeting planners can discover more about tapping into the city’s innovative venues and community partners for their next event at visitphoenix.com/meetings/why-you-should-choose-phx/innovation.

Mark Sanders

image of mark sanders

Sanders is general manager for New York Hilton Midtown. He comes from Crowne Plaza Times Square Manhattan Hotel, an IHG Hotel, where he worked as managing director. In his 40 years of experience, Sanders has managerial roles at convention hotels in New Orleans, Boston, Dallas, Chicago and New York.

Ashley Johnson, CDME

headshot of ashley johnson

Johnson is senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Newport Beach & Company in California. Johnson most recently worked at Visit Laguna Beach in California as president and CEO, the organization with which she spent most of her hospitality career. She serves on the industry boards and committees of Destinations International, Destination Marketing Association of the West, Visit California and California Travel Association.

Mike Pearce

headshot of mike pearce

Pearce is destination sales executive at Seattle Marriott Bellevue. Pearce has been with Marriott International for 12 years, most recently working as a multihotel salesperson, supporting the Western Mountain Pacific region. He’s also worked in sales positions with The Westin and W Bellevue complex. In 2022, he was recognized as a Top Performer by Marriott.

Jennifer Hendricks

headshot of jennifer hendricks

Visit Spokane in Washington named Hendricks director of regional accounts in convention sales and services. Most recently, Hendricks worked as store manager for Nordstrom in Spokane. She is a former member on the board of directors for Visit Spokane.

David Tortora

headshot of david tortora

Tortora has been named director of operations for Conrad New York Midtown. Before this move, he was director of rooms for Arizona Biltmore, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona. He has also worked with Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas (formerly Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas) on the transitional task force team and The Wigwam in Phoenix as director of front office.

Kendahl Rasnick

headshot of kendahl rasnick

Pacific Hospitality Group named Rasnick director of sales of AC Hotel Dallas by the Galleria and Residence Inn by Marriott Dallas by the Galleria. Before this, she worked as director of sales for Aimbridge Hospitality-managed properties AC Hotel Dallas Frisco by Marriott and Residence Inn by Marriott Dallas Frisco.

Thuy “Twee” Vuongheadshot of twee vuong

Vuong is assistant general manager for Miami Beach Convention Center. Vuong previously worked as director of operation for Informa Markets, managing event logistics, transportation, security, sustainability and signage for Florida Boat Shows.

She has also worked for ASM at Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center for more than 20 years, as well as The Bayfront Center in St. Petersburg, Florida, and Orange County Convention Center and Addition Financial Arena in Orlando.

Nick Dorney

headshot of nick dorney

Dorney is visitor services manager for Explore Cabarrus in North Carolina. Most recently, Dorney worked as director of the Blues Hall of Fame Museum in Memphis, Tennessee. Dorney has also worked with Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, where he held multiple roles, such as museum guide, museum lead and assistant manager of museum and tours.

Josh Delgado

AT&T Hotel and Conference Center in Austin, Texas, named Delgado director of sales and marketing. Before this new role, Delgado was director of sales and marketing for Embassy Suites by Hilton at the Denton Convention in Texas. He has also worked for John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts, where his start in hospitality leadership began.

Keith Kirsten

headshot of keith kirsten

Kirsten is the first director of sales for the new Sierra Nevada Resort, an Outbound Hotel in Mammoth Lakes, California, slated to open Nov. 1. Before taking on this inaugural position, Kirsten was director of sales with Greater Ontario Convention & Visitors Bureau; he also worked in the same capacity at Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau and Reno-Tahoe Convention and Visitors Authority.

Editor’s note: This Week in Travel (TWT) is your essential guide to smoothing the road from here to there for your attendees and yourself.

Russian Hackers Take Aim at U.S. Airports

Russian hackers, suspected to be from the group “Killnet,” cyber-attacked over a dozen major U.S. airports Monday morning. Airports affected include LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Denver International Airport (DEN), Colorado Springs Airport (COS) and Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport (ATL).

All the individual airports targeted reported that there was no intrusion into air traffic control, however, consumers were unable to access public-facing information from airports on flights.

As reported by CNN, Kiersten Todt, chief of staff of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said there was “no concern about operations being disrupted” while at a security conference on Sea Island, Georgia.

Read More: Beware the Public Wi-Fi Network: 6 Ways to Practice Cybersecurity While Traveling

United Airlines Bulks Up in Summer 2023

United Airlines, which recently announced it would stop flying out of John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to concentrate on its Newark hub in NYC, has debuted a robust 2023 summer schedule that sees the carrier adding new service to three cities: Malaga, Spain; Stockholm, Sweden; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The airline will also add six more flights to Rome, Paris, Barcelona, London, Berlin and Shannon in the Republic of Ireland . The airline says it will now fly to 37 cities in Europe, Africa, India and the Middle East by next summer, a schedule that United says currently flies to “more destinations than all other U.S. airlines combined.”

The airline says one reason for the adds is “historic levels of demand for travel to Europe in the summer peak, up 20% compared to 2019.”

Along with adding new flights, United will fly nine international routes it added last summer, including direct flights between New York/Newark, New Jersey, and Nice, France; Denver and Munich; Boston and London; Chicago and Zurich; and Chicago and Milan, Italy; as well as flights to four destinations not served by any other North American airline, including Amman, Jordan; Azores, Portugal; Palma de Mallorca, Spain; and Tenerife, Spain.

GBTA Sees Boost in International Business Travel Internationally

Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) released the results of its October 2022 Business Travel Recovery Poll.

Read More: Global DMC Partners Releases 2022 Destination Index

“We continue to see progress as business travel makes its way back to being a $1.4-trillion global industry, pre-pandemic. It is also important to understand the context of global business travel’s recovery. Asia is still opening its borders, international business travel in general started picking up only earlier this year across the globe, and the U.S. has only permitted unrestricted travel since June,” said Suzanne Neufang, CEO, GBTA. “Even as this latest poll shows economic considerations have eclipsed Covid-19 concerns, the industry is showing positive indicators and sentiment for 2023, a strong sign as business travel continues to come back over time.”

Key takeaways from the October GBTA Business Travel Recovery Poll include:

  • Business travel volume continues to rebound when tracking recovery to 2019 pre-pandemic levels.
    • On average, travel managers estimate their company’s domestic business travel volume is back to 63% and international business travel is back to 50% of their 2019 pre-pandemic levels. In addition, 26% of respondents estimate their international business travel volume has recovered to more than 70% of their company’s pre-pandemic levels.
  • Economic considerations have eclipsed Covid concerns for the industry, but a majority of companies are not limiting their business travel specifically due to economic concerns.
    • When asked to choose among factors that are more likely to limit business travel next year, 80% of travel suppliers say economic conditions, while only 4% cited Covid-19.
    • However, 75% of travel buyers surveyed say their company had no immediate plans to limit business travel because of economic concerns. Nearly one-third (30%) say their company is unlikely to limit business travel, while 45% say they are taking a wait-and-see approach but are not seriously considering limiting business travel at this point due to economic concerns.
  • Domestic travel recovery remains leads in terms of recovery, but international travel is closing the gap.
    • Currently, 86% of survey respondents say nonessential domestic business travel is sometimes or usually allowed at their company. Additionally, 74% say the same for nonessential international business travel.
  • By far, business travel respondents expect more recovery and growth for 2023 compared to this year.
    • Over three-fourths (78%) of travel managers expect the number of business trips taken by employees at their company will be higher or much higher in 2023 versus 2022.
    • Among travel suppliers, 85% expect the number of bookings by corporate clients will be higher or much higher in 2023. Additionally, 80% of suppliers expect travel spending by corporate clients will be higher or much higher in 2023 year-over-year.
    • Over 65% of travel managers are optimistic their company will conduct more internal travel and external travel. Internal travel was defined as “meetings with colleagues or working at other company office locations,” while external travel examples are trips for sales meetings and conference travel.

The survey saw that remote and hybrid models of work would not “significantly impact business travel.”

    • The industry is embracing remote work models (88%), as 68% of respondents say their company has a hybrid approach, where employees are expected to report to the office on some days and 20% indicate their company is working “full-time remote.” An additional 12% say they are “full-time in-office.”
    • Of those with a hybrid or full-time remote work policy, 72% of respondents do not expect flexibility to work from home will impact the number of business trips taken by their employees. Additionally, 14% expect it will lead to more business travel, while an identical percent expect it will lead to less business travel.

The survey also found that “bleisure” travel was the benefiter of more hybrid or fully remote work.

    • Many travel managers report they are seeing a rise in the desire for blended or bleisure travel among employees. Two in five travel managers (41%) have seen an increase in employees asking for blended travel, whereby they combine a business trip with a vacation or leisure component.
    • For companies that allow hybrid or fully remote work, 44% say employees are allowed to work for extended periods outside of the city, state or province where they are typically based. This also includes 22% that even allow employees to work for an extended period outside of their home-base country.
    • Some companies even reimburse employees for costs or expenses while working remotely—27% of respondents say their company does reimburse, while most do not (42%) or leave it to the manager’s discretion (25%).

Go to GBTA to see full results.

The return to in-person meetings has been trending over the last year. This is expected to continue well into 2023, according to a new report, “2023 Global Meetings and Events Forecast,” by American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT).

In the report, consisting of 580 global event professionals from five continents and 23 countries, it was found that all aspects of the meeting sector are increasing, including interest in sustainability, attendance, meeting spend and diversity, equity and inclusion. While trends are increasing all across the board, the rate at which they’re increasing regionally—in North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific (APAC)—varies.

More Meetings

Although all meeting types are expecting increased attendance in 2023, in-person meetings in particular are expected to see the greatest. Global in-person attendance is predicted to rise 3.3% for conferences and tradeshows and 4.2% for small meetings; internal meetings are expected to see the largest increase globally, at 4.5%.

Read More: WTTC Survey Assesses Cities’ Sustainable Tourism Growth

Of the regions, Latin America is expected to see the greatest increase of attendance, whether in-person, virtual or hybrid, at more than 5% for all meeting types. Seventy-eight percent of Latin American respondents said they expect in-person attendance to reach pre-pandemic numbers in the next one or two years.

Virtual and hybrid meetings, which saw much attention at the height of the pandemic, are expected to see less substantial increases moving forward. Most respondents reported that they will place most of their focus on in-person meetings, with 29% of meetings in North America and 33% of meetings in Europe expected to be hybrid in 2023. In Asia-Pacific and Latin America the figures are a bit higher, at 47% and 41%, respectively.

Greater Meeting Spend

Global meeting spend is expected to increase by 3.1%, the same as Amex GBT’s survey last year. In addition to this, cost per attendee is expected to increase, as well, 1.5% for small meetings and 3% for conferences and tradeshows.

Sixty-five percent of North American respondents expect their meeting spend to increase, compared to 68% in 2022; 12% of those expect a spend increase of 11% or more. In Europe, 66% of respondents expect meeting spend to increase, a 2% increase from 2022; and just like North America, 12% of those expect a spend increase of 11% or more.

Read More: 5 Tips for Flexible Event Budgeting, No Matter the Format or Economic State

Ninety percent of meetings in North America are expected to have an in-person component in 2023—62% of which will be in-person only—a 2% increase compared to 2022. Latin America is expected to see the same percentage of events with an in-person component, although its rate of in-person only events is slightly lower, at 62%.

Inclusion of an in-person component is expected to make up 86% of meetings in Europe—53% of which will be only in person—as compared to 81% of which had an in-person component in 2022.

Internal and small meetings are predicted to see the greatest cost per attendee in APAC. Internal meetings there are expected to cost US$711 per attendee per day, as compared to $554 per attendee per day in North America and Europe, and US$662 in Latin America; small meetings in APAC are expected to be US$565, while in Europe, the cost per attendee is expected to be US$427.

Sustainability Concentration

Seventy-one percent of North American respondents’ organizations have sustainability in mind when planning events, 70% of which reported working with a defined sustainability strategy. According to the report, the top three ways North American organizations do this is by minimizing paper use, choosing green suppliers and applying energy-saving and waste-reduction practices.

Read More: Focus on Sustainability at Largest IMEX America Yet

In Europe, 78% of respondents said their organizations took sustainability into account when planning events, 66% of which have a defined sustainability strategy. Minimization of paper usage and energy-saving and waste-reduction practices are the most common practices among European respondents. Those in this region were also more likely than others to say they make post-event CO2 calculations, at 28%.

Latin America and APAC had the largest percentage of respondents who said their organizations consider sustainability when planning events, at 86%. These two regions also pointed to the minimization of paper usage and energy-saving and waste-reductions practices as their most common practices in their sustainability efforts.

DEI Developments

Globally, 87% of respondents said their organization “actively strives” to include DEI in their meetings and events. The report lays out multiple ways an organization may do this, like reaching out to multicultural groups, hiring diverse suppliers and booking venues that are accessible to all.

Of the reported regions, Latin America-based organizations reported the greatest percentage—96%—of respondents who said their organization tries to incorporate DEI into their programs. Focusing on accessibility and other forms of communication, such as sign language, subtitles and closed captioning, as the top two ways they incorporate it.

Ninety-two percent of respondents in APAC said their organizations incorporates DEI in their programs. Their top two ways of doing this are by using diverse and minority-owned suppliers and including diverse speakers and entertainment.

Eighty-two percent of respondents in Europe said their organization considers DEI when creating their program; 39% of respondents said they provide events virtually and focus on sustainability—28%—and use diverse and minority-owned suppliers—24%—as forms of inclusion. Eighty-one percent of North American respondents said their organization strives to incorporate DEI in their programs; their top two ways of doing so are by including diverse speakers and diverse or minority-owned businesses.

Global DMC Partners (GDP), the network of independent destination management companies and event service providers, has recently unveiled its 2022 Global Destination Index, which highlights the most popular meeting and incentive destinations around the world, according to booked and pending business across its worldwide partners.

We’ve compiled the top five from its two categories, the top 10 MICE Destinations for 2022 and the “Hot List” of destinations trending for 2023 (listed alphabetically), and followed up with Smart Meetings destination stories. Learn about why these destinations are on top, as well as ideas on where to plan your next meeting.

Top Five MICE Destinations

No. 1: California

A series of air balloons above a field in California

California: Meet What Is Possible

“And after all the industry has been through, many are keen to confirm that they will be helping, rather than hurting the community by attending. They are looking for venues and practices that are earth-friendly and give back to the culture they are packing a bag to visit.

This trifecta of mandates is leading more meeting professionals to California, a state that would comprise the fifth largest economy in the world if it were a country by itself. The diverse landscape ranges from beach to vineyard and mountain, urban to wilderness and everywhere in between paired with a temperate climate that makes taking the meeting outdoors the preferred alternative.”

Continue reading…

No. 2: Texas

Site Inspection: Show and Tell in Texas’ Capital

“…in 2022, billions worth of development has and will continue to shape the city. Opening later this year is a 133-acre Apple campus, which will feature a 192-room hotel; and the 5,000-seat Moody Center concert venue at the University of Texas just opened in April, solidifying the city’s reputation as the ‘live music capital of the world.’”

Continue reading…

No. 3: Illinois (Chicago)

Greater Chicago: Be a Foodie in a Midwestern Mecca

“Chicago is sometimes called the most American of American cities because of its unique history, local culture and ethnic-melting-pot character. It’s a city known, too, for its uncommonly friendly people.

“Its character is greatly influenced by the inland ocean on which it sits—26 miles of Lake Michigan waterfront with 32 beaches. You can take off your business suit and be in or on the water in minutes.”

Continue reading…

No. 4: Hawaii

exterior room in lobby of Westin Hapuna Beach in hawaii

Reconnect with the Spirit of Hawaii

“Don’t expect billboards or daylight savings time; they aren’t to be found on the eight islands that make up the state. With the longest life expectancy in the United States, Hawaiians know the value of hospitality, and enjoyment is the name of their game.”

Two years of Covid shutdowns have allowed resorts and businesses the time and initiative to reimagine themselves with remodeled interiors and layouts, new pools and restaurants, revitalized menus and contemporary cultural programs.”

Continue reading…

No. 5: Florida

West Florida: Gulf Coast, Inside and Out

“’Florida’s Paradise Coast’ offers kaleidoscopic Gulf of Mexico sunsets on its 30-mile coastline and America’s tropical jungle—the Everglades—to the east. The region, which includes Naples and Marco Island, boasts great natural backdrops. They’re easily accessible, too, because you can go from those white-sand beaches to the Everglades in a little more than 30 minutes.”

Continue reading…

The Remaining Five

Following the top five on the list is Massachusetts (Boston) at No. 6, Utah (No. 7), Tennessee (No. 8), Nevada (Las Vegas; No. 9) and Arizona (No. 10).

Five “Hot List” Destinations for 2023

Austin

live music

Austin, Texas: Kicking Up Meetings in the Live Music Capital

“From the food trucks and graffiti-style murals in East Austin to Rainey Street bars, rooftop views in the Warehouse District, live music at the Parish and Flamingo Cantina in Sixth Street district, new places to experience the local vibe are popping up every month. As Visit Austin puts it, ‘the stage for meetings is bigger than ever’ in the unconventional Texas city known for its eclectic personality.”

Continue reading…

Boston

greater boston

Small Is Big in Greater Boston

“And with an assist from up-to-the-minute technology, those who meet on New England soil can now instantaneously and directly interact with untold thousands across the country and beyond. For while Greater Boston’s role in the founding of the United States runs deeper than almost anywhere, it is at the same time a buzzing hub of innovation and thought leadership.”

Continue reading…

Dallas

Art district in Dallas, Texas

Dallas: Upward and Onward

“‘Dallas has always continued to expand through good times and bad,’ said Craig Davis, president and CEO of Visit Dallas, on a Zoom call weeks before he anticipated issuing an RFP for design of a new 2.5-million-square-foot convention center located adjacent to the current Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas.

“The new center will feature 800,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space and a 100,000-square-foot ballroom. Construction on the $2 billion center is expected to begin in 2024 with completion in 2029. ‘We are constantly on the move,’ he said.”

Continue reading…

Los Angeles

downtown los angeles

Downtown Los Angeles Has It All for Planners

“Travelers from all over the world come to Los Angeles, whether it’s for the impeccable, year-round sunny weather, the possibility of encountering celebrities as you tour the city, or the beautiful views of the sky-high architecture from a hotel rooftop during your meeting. Downtown Los Angeles doesn’t skip a beat.”

Continue reading…

Los Cabos

Western Mexico: An Incentive Paradise

“Even though Los Cabos sits near the Tropic of Cancer, it’s got a dry climate, with no bugs and temperatures settling comfortably into the seventies most of the year. In addition, because of the unique topographical features and wide-open spaces, planners can host events for up to 3,000 people here.

“There’s also another interesting bonus for meeting/incentive planners. The two biggest economic engines of the region by far, according to local officials—are tourism and meetings/events. As a result, the local hospitality infrastructure is geared toward these demographics.”

Continue reading…

The Remaining Five

The next five in GDP’s Hot List is Miami; Palm Springs, California; Phoenix, Arizona; Puerto Rico; and Toronto, Ontario.

 

Philanthropy has become an integral part of the meeting agenda. To better understand how event professionals are integrating Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in their programs, we need to hear from you, the experts in the field making it happen every day.

The results of this short survey will inform an article in the December Smart Meetings Magazine.

Take the survey here.

National Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity for meeting professionals to recognize how the diverse backgrounds of hospitality workers has added a richness in the breadth and level of service that can be offered at events.

We asked Paola Bowman, CMP, CMM, director of client services and events with Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau, president of Event Service Professionals Association (ESPA) and a 2018 Smart Women in Meetingsheadshot of paola bowman Award winner, to share her perspective as a native Mexican who grew up in the hospitality industry. As a newly naturalized U.S. citizen, she is enthusiastic about the benefits of living and working in an industry that is a melting pot of backgrounds.

How can the observance of National Hispanic Heritage Month bring more meaning to meetings?

Latinos are a driving force in the U.S. economy, supporting entire communities as teachers, entrepreneurs, veterans and, of course, meeting and event professionals among other professions. One way the celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month can enrich meetings is by leveraging the collective nature of those who share a family and community-based background.

Group activities and gatherings are dominant, duties are shared, work is collective. Cooperation and harmony are generally more important than an individual focus. That works well in the meetings industry.

Then, there is the learning factor, incorporating an inspirational Hispanic speaker, discussing issues facing the Hispanic demographic at a session, or simply adding a touch of recognition can provide meaningful experiences that can lead to acceptance and tolerance of those that have different languages and customs.

Read More: Western Mexico: An Incentive Paradise

Of course, there’s the fun ways that the Hispanic Heritage Celebration can enhance an event such as through our cuisine and music. Learning to appreciate each other is a great reason to celebrate and a terrific opportunity for the meetings community.

What are three Hispanic cultural elements you like to share with groups? 

I have always made time to share my background and experience with others. So, when Smart Meetings asked me—as part of National Hispanic Heritage Month—I was honored to talk about a few of the things that I love.

Incorporating aspects of the Hispanic influence into meetings can look like a meal honoring Hispanic Heritage through authentic dishes or cuisine, a touch of Latin music, or even a cultural dance or activity that exposes the attendee to enrichment opportunities.

How have you called on your inherited values to become a leader in the industry?

My culture has taught me to be welcoming, to work hard and give back to the community. As a Hispanic woman, it is important to have a seat at the table. I have been mindful of the need to bring people up and spread the success. My family highly values the importance of relationships as the foundation for everything.

We want to build upon the personal before we do anything professionally—and that organic nature of relationship building has been instrumental for me from both perspectives. Leaning on my values of honor, family, manners, respect for others/authority, have lent me opportunities for growth, and it is important for me to bring people up with me.

Read More: The Sure Way for Association Leaders to Get Constructive Feedback About Meetings

I think the nature of our sector—event service professionals—in our industry, has also helped me succeed. Having a group like Event Service Professionals Association (ESPA) that welcomes all has been a plus. Knowing that there are those in our ESPA community that also celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, even if they are not part of the Hispanic community, is what keeps us growing as a larger community.

Why is diversity such an important component for events and the hospitality industry?

Gosh, nothing goes through a closed door. I feel like an open mind and diversity create an array of opportunities and ideas. We can enrich every experience by allowing everyone to be part of events and making sure they feel included and involved. As we meet face-to-face in conferences, diversity widens our horizon for possibilities. It allows us to see things and be seen. Different perspectives provide us with a better understanding about the world we share.

—

Paola Bowman, CMP, CMM, is president of the Event Service Professionals Association. She was listed as 100 Women Who Inspire Us by Smart Meetings in 2018.

 

In recent weeks, Oak View Group (OVG), a venue development and investment company for the sports and live entertainment industry, has been making moves throughout the industry, including several new hires and partnerships with technology companies and venues across the United States.

Founded in 2015, OVG already oversees operations in places like Climate Pledge Arena at Seattle Center and UBS Arena in Belmont Park, New York. And its developments are going beyond the U.S., developing projects in Sao Paolo and Manchester, England.

Increasing Security

A new screening technology will be seen in multiple properties soon, in partnership with Patriot One Technologies. Its SmartGateway solution is claimed to allow guest entry to occur at 10 times the rate than has previously been possible, detecting guns, knives and other potential weapons, all without being intrusive or requiring the removal of items from your pockets.

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“On behalf of professional sports leagues, we test arenas and stadiums continually to identify potential gaps in their security operations and systems,” said Chief Security Officer Mike Downing at Oak View Group’s Prevent Advisors in a press release. “We’ve seen all brands of gateway screeners and security systems as part of our red-team tests and are thrilled to partner with Patriot One, as SmartGateway delivers the best security balanced with patron ingress and experience.”

Patriot One’s SmartGateway is currently used at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky, and Moody Center in Austin, Texas and is available for OVG-owned and -operated venues, OVG360-managed venues and Arena Alliance members.

Sustainability Is the GOAL

OVG hired its first director of sustainability, Kristen Fulmer, who will lead OVG’s new Green Operations and Advanced Leadership (GOAL) efforts with Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena, Fenway Sports Group and author and founder of McLennan Design Jason F. McLennan.

“By focusing our mission on operational sustainability, GOAL has the unique opportunity to redefine the priorities within our industry, which is up against intersecting climate and social crises,” Fulmer said in a press release. “We want to work with leading, like-minded venues to determine the most feasible, yet ambitious sustainability solutions. I am committed to prove that any venue can integrate win-win sustainability solutions that reduce the operating costs of the venue while avoiding negative environmental impacts and increasing positive social impacts.”

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These GOAL-collaborated venues will be able to track their performance in environmental and social categories, like energy and water use, greenhouse gas emissions, waste management, indoor air quality and health and well-being.

Planting a Foot in Sin City

Earlier this year, OVG unveiled plans to create the OVG Las Vegas Hotel and Casino project, a $3-billion entertainment district and arena on 25 acres, slated to begin construction in 2023 and to be completed in 2026. It will include a 20,000-seat arena, 2,000-room hotel, casino and amphitheater.

Selected to lead this development is Chandra Allison, the organization’s new senior vice president of strategy and growth for meetings, convention and exhibitions, who comes from a 24-year tenure with The Venetian Las Vegas.