Smart Meetings | Page 133 of 602 | Corporate Event Planning: Business Events, Meetings, Conferences

Lynn Bruni-Perkins, CDME

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Bruni-Perkins is executive vice president and chief marketing officer of San Francisco Travel Association. Before this appointment, Bruni-Perkins served as SF Travel’s interim chief marketing officer and senior vice president of global marketing communications. She has been with the organization for 15 years, having started as director of consumer marketing. She serves on the U.S. Travel Association’s destination council board of advisors.

Dave Walsh

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Walsh is regional director of sales and marketing for Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown. Walsh previously worked as director of sales and marketing for Mandarin Oriental Washington, D.C. Before this, he worked as director of sales for Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C., and has had leading sales positions at Naples Grande Beach Resort and The Ritz-Carlton Resorts of Naples, both in Florida.

Margarita Gonzalez

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Casa de Campo Resort & Villas in La Romana, Dominican Republic, named Gonzalez museum director for its Altos de Chavon Archaeological Regional Museum and contemporary art curator of its WAO Gallery. Most recently, Gonzalez worked as director of Viceregal Alcazar de Colon Museum in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and Ponce de Leon’s Colonial House in Higuey, Dominican Republic.

Alison Mitchell

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The Art Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton in Denver has named Mitchell general manager. Mitchell was previously general manager for Hilton Garden Inn Denver Union Station. Mitchell has also worked as dual assistant general manager for Le Meridien and AC Hotel Downton in Denver, as well as other properties in Colorado and New York.

James Karabelas

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Karabelas is regional vice president of sales and marketing of Highgate Hawaii, overseeing sales and marketing operations for the company’s 10 properties in the state. Karabelas comes from Aqua-Aston Hospitality, a business subsidiary of Marriott Vacations Worldwide, where he served as vice president of marketing. He has also worked with Castle Hospitality as director of ecommerce and online marketing.

Debra Osborne

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Kimpton Canary Hotel in Santa Barbara, California, named Osborne director of sales and marketing. Her career began with Ventura Harbor in California, where she joined as sales manager and later became director of sales and marketing. Between then and now, she has had sales and marketing roles with Residence Inn by Marriott at River Ridge in Oxnard, California, as well as Bacara Resort & Spa in Goleta, California.

Nikki Leiba

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Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront in Florida named Leiba as sales manager. Leiba previously worked at Hyatt Centric Las Olas in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as front office manager. Her tenure with Hyatt Hotels also includes working as receptionist at Hyatt Regency Bonaventure Resort and Spa in Weston, Florida, and meeting connections sales manager at Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront.

Brandy Staab

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Staab is hotel manager of JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Arizona. Before joining JW Marriott Phoenix, Staab was general manager of Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel and Scottsdale Marriott at McDowell Mountains. She has received various awards during her career, including Manager of the Year at JW Marriott Phoenix in 2011 and Manager of the Fourth Quarter.

Jay Klein, CMP

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Klein is CEO of M-Plus Global Events, which was formed out of Klein’s Miami-based A-Plus Meetings & Incentives and Utah-based Morris Meetings & Incentives’ merger last year. Klein has more than 30 years of experiences in the meetings industry, which also includes working as engagement manager for McKinsey & Company.

Diarmuid Dwyer

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Dwyer is area managing director for Hilton Hotels’ New York City portfolio, which includes New York Hilton Midtown; Millennium Hilton New York One UN Plaza; Martinique New York on Broadway, Curio Collection by Hilton; Conrad New York Midtown and Conrad New York Downtown, as well as the upcoming openings of Hilton Times Square, Tempo by Hilton Times Square and Waldorf Astoria New York.

Before this move, Dwyer was general manager for New York Hilton Midtown. He’s also worked as hotel manager for Walford Astoria New York’s The Waldorf Towers in New York City and assistant general manager for The Brehon Hotel & Angsana Spa in Killarney, Ireland.

Training programs are upping the event planning standard. In recent weeks, two event professional organizations have launched certification programs and internet-based classes designed with the goal of making event profs better at what they do.

GDP University

Global DMC Partners (GDP), the network of independently owned destination management companies, launched GDP University. The free program touches on topics, in the form of webinars, from the basics of meeting planning to more complex topics, such as event technology and sustainability.

“With so much young talent entering our industry, we wanted to create an easy and free way for our clients to train new team members and to provide continuing education for more experienced planners,” said GDP President and CEO Catherine Chaulet in a press release. “Program participants can select and attend only the courses that matter to them and their specific role in their organization. However, registering provides all access to webinars, on-demand videos, downloadable documents and much more.”

Another reason for the introduction of these classes is the shift in workload that resulted from Covid, which has placed a lot of new pressure on event profs. “Everything has changed drastically in our industry in the post-Covid world and the way of doing business in general is shifting,” Chaulet says. “Planning teams are hiring new staff to rebuild their departments after downsizing during Covid, and they don’t have time to train new hires at a time when the demand for in-person events is so high and workloads are packed. Planners have also taken on new roles and are eager for more education to help them take on new tasks and responsibilities.”

The first GDP University webinar, Planning 101 in Today’s Reality (Part I), took place Oct. 4, which covered the basics of the event life cycle, from creating the event and RFP templating to contracting and asking suppliers the right questions.

The course’s second part will be held Oct. 25 at 11 a.m. EST and will cover the intricacies of the contracting phase to managing a live event. Planners who participate in these webinars will earn CE credits.

More webinars and resources are to be uploaded to the platform monthly, with the exception of major holidays.

Event Service Professionals Association’s Certification

Event Service Professionals Association (ESPA) released a certification program that focuses on event service professionals at convention centers, hotels, CVBs and other venues.

The Event Service Professional Certification (ESPC) is designed equip these professionals with the knowledge and expertise to aid event planners as they take on all different sectors of and challenging in the planning world, like increased use of hybrid events, team-building opportunities, safety for attendees and labor shortages.

“As event servicing professionals, we are accustomed to being part of the solution, which is why our association decided to invest in the profession when it needs us most,” said Paola Bowman, ESPA president and director of client services and events for Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau in Texas. “Our ESPC sets a new standard that elevates the profession, which is needed today more than ever.”

The Certification Process

ESPC prospects have two options for entering: Take the 13-lesson, three-hour Event Service Professional Foundational Training Program or obtain a waiver to bypass training.

To be waived, candidates must show at least 10 years of event service experience and comprehension of work in convention centers, hotels and CVBs. Twenty hours of continuing education focused on event servicing topics over three years is also required for either.

To earn the ESPC, applicants must submit a “challenge area” topic, in which they will develop and describe a hypothetical or real-world situation an event service professional may encounter in different sectors of event planning, for example, risk management or sustainability.

After approval of the topic by the review board, prospects must then provide a minimum 1,000-word solution with five cited sources. Service professionals with ESPCs will have the certification for five years, after which recertification is required.

The return of thousands of global buyers and exhibitors to IMEX America 2022 next week at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas could be a sign that the industry is bouncing back stronger than ever, according to Carina Bauer, CEO of IMEX Group. She reported this week that more than 3,000 buyers and 3,000 exhibiting companies have registered.

That includes new booths from U.S. cities such as Detroit and Boston, who are announcing news from the show floor, and European and Asia-Pacific partners such as Abu Dhabi, Bahamas and the Dominican Republic who are returning in full force. Panama plans to announce details of a new convention center, hotel openings and a cruise terminal.

Download your essential IMEX Guide here.

“Our 2021 come-back show was invested with an air of sheer celebration and excitement as the global industry reunited. This year, the business fundamentals are what stand out,” she said. “If our numbers are anything to go by, then despite strong macro pressures, including inflation and talent shortages, the bounce-back could be even stronger and more robust than forecasts predict.”

She positioned the show as a bellwether event, offering a picture of business volume and pipelines that could be realized in 2023 and beyond.

Make plans to visit Smart Meetings in booth F933 and get yourself on the magazine cover.

An Eco-friendly Focus

All of the educational offerings have been fine-tuned into four tracks for what Bauer calls “radical simplicity.” The People and Planet track will highlight tangible steps meeting professionals can take to reduce their events’ carbon footprints. One example is “Sustainability and the Circular Economy” with Aurora Dawn Benton, chief change agent with Astrapto, and Benoit Sauvage, CEO of Hospitality Sustainability Revolution. The pair will detail how integrating best practices in events delivers a host of benefits from enhanced brand, increased clientele, reduced costs and exceptional experiences.

“Sustainability has been fundamental to IMEX ever since the launch of our very first IMEX in Frankfurt show nearly 20 years ago,” said Bauer. “When we launched IMEX America in 2011, we implemented planet-friendly practices from the offset. We’ve evolved and improved these over the years, working closely with our host venues, city and suppliers.”

The IMEX-EIC People and Planet Village will be the hub of sustainable activity.

One example of how the show is demonstrating rather than preaching is a partnership with MeetGreen. A commitment to measuring, evaluating and building on sustainable activity at IMEX America is helping to shrink the footprint. “The show is improved by the findings and recommendations of their independently verified annual sustainability impact report and benchmarked against industry best practice such as EIC’s Sustainable Event Standards,” said Bauer. The report makes public the show’s energy use, F&B, materials consumption and reuse, community impact and more. (See the report from IMEX America 2011 here).

“Our ongoing aim is to build on our efforts and challenge ourselves to do better each year. Looking ahead, we’re also proudly committed to the Net Zero Carbon Events initiative and will publish our pathway to net zero by the end of 2023,” she added.

A Moving Initiative

To get everyone excited about attending a cleaner, healthier IMEX, Maritz Global Events is partnering with Caesars Entertainment and Heka Health to power a Sustainability Challenge that rewards good behavior. Rachael Riggs, Maritz wellbeing leader, described it as an app that tracks learning around everything from DEI and human trafficking to eating plant-based food, taking a walking tour or signing a Net Zero Carbon Event Pledge. “It is a fun way to educate guests on how IMEX is doing on sustainability so they could take those learnings back with them,” said Riggs.

Tips for doing your part at IMEX include:

Walk or take public transport around Las Vegas
Bring your reusable water bottle and keep cup
Choose climate-friendly, water-wise food
Build Clean the World hygiene kits
Use designated recycling bins
Support local community project The Shade Tree
Participate in Opportunity Village
Take part in Spread the Word Nevada

Even as in-person meetings continue to reemerge with a vengeance, virtual meetings have taken a primary position in the event professional toolbox. A streaming option can serve larger, more geographically diverse and executive audiences, act as a flexible insurance policy in the event a new threat grounds attendees while providing valuable data about behavior.

Smart Meetings talked to experts building the next generation of virtual meeting platforms to find out how the technology is changing to fit these new requirements and what predicted consolidation and continued layoffs may mean for meeting professionals.

A More Customer-focused Virtual Environment

“We live in a hybrid world where almost every major event has a virtual component, even if we don’t call it that,” said Bizzabo Chief Marketing Officer Alon Alroy. He pointed out that virtual events have always been a critical part of the marketing mix, but old-school webinars have been put on “steroids” and are now much better at delivering Return on Attention (RoA) as new features are “humanizing” remote experiences by giving people the tools to react, express their feelings and play. “We are turning attendees into participants,” he said.

In the brave new virtual world, content can get people in the room, but now that it is available on demand, high-quality facilitation and moderation is the key to giving people a voice and helping them participate. “When a speaker can hear the basic human gesture of clapping at the push of a button, it is beautiful to see,” he said. “Plus, you can measure it.”

Bizzabo, which has built what it calls an Event Experience Operating System, is producing an Event Strategy Forum this month and “Using Data to Power Marketing Campaigns” is one of the topics for the digital roundtable along with “The Future of In-Person Events.”

After a slowdown from 2021, the use of streaming technology is steadily growing again, Alroy reported, citing a survey that found 68% of organizers plan to have a virtual component at their next in-person event. In fact, he predicted that when the dust settles and more virtual platform companies have acquired or been acquired, virtual events will be more frequent and engaging than they were in 2019. “Yes, hybrid meetings are more complicated and costly, but virtual is here to stay without a doubt,” he said.

As event technology companies become more efficient and focused on what customers want, Alroy theorized that will help meeting professionals who may have been overwhelmed with too many options during the explosion of virtual streaming platform companies.

“My advice for planners is to look for a solution with the breadth to support lots of different use cases,” he said. “Many planners have post-traumatic stress disorder and want to minimize risk to satisfy the CFO sitting on our shoulders.” Choosing one solution for all meeting needs makes you more efficient, he concluded.

The Back-up Plan

By the fall of 2021, a lot of Joanna Pineda’ global clients were saying they were done with virtual. Then omicron and the culture wars hit. “We can’t shut the door,” said the CEO of Matrix Group International Inc., a digital agency that developed its own streaming platform, BeSpeake, from the ground up in 2020 to serve clients who were scrambling to achieve their goals. “We learned a lot about how to do in-person and virtual meetings better during the last two years,” she said.

“We need to be more intentional about networking and create more intimate introductions,” she said. Tools such as planned speed dating can ensure everyone meets five new people rather than just putting people in a room with cocktails and hoping for the best. She pointed to birds-of-a-feather sessions as a way to facilitate conversations between people with shared interests.

Experience with virtual programming even informed improved time-of-day network scheduling best practices. In-person events historically save networking for the end of the day. She learned that in the virtual environment, starting with small-group networking during coffee when people are more open-minded is much more compelling. Conversation topics incite more discussion at lunch and sheer fun like a mixologist or music works well at the end of the day.

Another digital lesson that is making in-person events better, the understanding that every 7-10 minutes we need to do something to change the physicality of the room, even if it is just calling for questions.

Now all variations of meeting delivery are on the table. Pineda is working on true hybrid events with every session streamed live to thousands across the world. But she also has clients who are highlighting just a handful of sessions for at-home audiences. Others are recording speakers and offering virtual programming weeks later with experts available for questions. One even did two completely different sessions at the same time with only one general session shared.

Part of the appeal for Pineda is the wealth of data available for streaming events. “I pretty much know when someone gets up to use the bathroom,” she said.

Exhibitors are demanding details about who and how they are engaging. And attendees are asking to be able to see all the sessions with better production values than you can get in a massive ballroom, even though sometimes on-demand viewing is lighter than would have been predicted.

For mid-level attendees, in particular, virtual worked well for educational programs, Pineda reported. The virtual tools introduced during the rush to streaming, such as appointment scheduling, directed networking and messaging can bridge and augment programming in the ballroom to benefit attendees and sponsors alike.

Pineda also predicts consolidation in the number of virtual platforms available since the market can’t support all venture capital-backed companies. But she still believes there will be enough choices so meeting professionals can be intentional about the user experience just as they are in a convention center.

She suggests not signing long-term contracts “because you don’t know what is going to happen.”

Establishing a relationship with your meeting platform before you need them, just like you do with your banker, is a smart way to be prepared for the things you don’t normally think about. “The chances for an in-person meeting to go wrong is real, especially in a time when as much as 15% of attendees just don’t show up or speakers can’t make it because of flight delays or surges. You have to be ready for that.”

Flexibility as a Constant

The rush to put contingencies in place spans almost every industry. For life science companies, the imperative to meet was never greater than when many were searching for life-saving cures over the last two years. Many of those companies have returned to in-person gatherings according to Marc Crawford, CEO of Array, which specializes in delivering content for medical and biotechnology companies. But he is seeing an ongoing need for an alternative engagement tool. “The demand for the convenience and flexibility of virtual events isn’t going anywhere,” he said upon the release of the company’s “Hybrid Event Planning in 2022: The Complete Guide.”

There are many reasons for the residual digital. Convenience and flexibility can attract more influencers, presenters and attendees. Decreased costs associated with venues, food, beverages and accommodations can help expand distribution.

However, Array points out that “creating a synchronous and engaging event presents a number of unique challenges.” Among these are the risk of creating siloed audiences who experience the event differently with the potential to alienate the virtual audience.

He also cautioned that the quality of the data can depend on the technology used and appropriate advanced planning. “Many life sciences events are often planned without first determining highly defined KPIs. Without a clear way to measure impact, stakeholders will have difficulty assessing ROI and seeing the value in hybrid events.”

Virtual events must also combat distractions and unexpected technical issues to realize the benefits of scalability engagement.

Plan with Confidence

It’s a truly exciting time for Philadelphia! Philadelphia will host WrestleMania 40 in 2024 and was recently selected as a FIFA World Cup Host City for the summer of 2026. These events will be added to the long list of world-class events Philadelphia has hosted including the NFL Draft, Republican, and Democratic National Conventions and the World Meeting of Families with a Papal Visit. 2026 will also mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, drafted in Philadelphia, making the city a bucket list destination for your attendees.

Expanding our Hotel Offerings

Whether you’re planning an intimate meeting in a unique venue or hosting a large conference at the 1 million-square-foot Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia is ready to host your next meeting or convention! Philadelphia has spent the last several years re-investing in the city and just in 2021 alone debuted the Hyatt Centric, Canopy by Hilton, the Element Philadelphia, the W Philadelphia, Live! Casino & Hotel, and Guild House Hotel—which was named one of The Best New Hotels in the World by Travel + Leisure for 2022

Other hotels underwent renovations to deliver guests an updated experience, including the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown and Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Philadelphia’s largest hotel with 1,408 rooms, connected to the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

Largest Ballroom in the Northeast

When you hold a meeting or convention at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, you are not just investing in a building or floor space, you are investing in an experience. Located in the heart of Philadelphia, the Convention Center is just steps away from the city’s attractions, restaurants, and hotels. Progressive work rules and streamlined services provide our customers with just the right amount of flexibility and independence they need, resulting in greater cost efficiencies and a better overall customer experience. And did we mention we have one of the largest ballrooms in the Northeast?

Making Connections

Philadelphia is undergoing an unprecedented development boom, driven by the city’s tech, educational and medical institutions, and a flourishing life sciences sector. From later-stage companies like Biomeme, who built technology to rapidly identify Covid-19, to early-stage startups like Katika, an online marketplace that provides a central location for customers to discover Black-owned services, there is no shortage of ideas being brought to life in our region.

Investor enthusiasm has been increasing rapidly due to breakthroughs and progress in cell and gene therapy, gene editing, and connected health spaces. Philadelphia’s community of innovation and academic excellence has attracted scholars, researchers, professionals, and entrepreneurs, providing a wealth of industry leaders and experts to enlist as speakers or panelists at your next meeting or event. Whether your group is focused on education, healthcare, technology, or the nonprofit sector, our experts will recommend the best local businesses, resources, and ideas to enhance your event.

Start Planning Today!

Philadelphia exudes a vibrant character and energy, creating an ideal location for your next meeting. From your initial outreach to the closing session, our team of destination experts is with you every step of the way ensuring your event is a success! With expertise in meetings and conventions combined with their in-depth knowledge of Philadelphia, our experts will be your perfect partner in planning. Submit an RFP for your next meeting, convention, or event today!

Everyone loves a good comeback story. The Rocky series isn’t heavily revered for nothing.

The battle between in-person meetings and the now-waning Covid pandemic is the source of many comeback stories around the globe. And meeting in person—while having been substituted for the better part of two years by Zoom meetings, Hubilo gatherings, Meta get-togethers and conversations of all sorts on ever more video conferencing platforms—just can’t stop winning.

The North Carolina-based Special Event Company (TSEC) is another case in point. TSEC is coming back Oct. 16-18 to have its first in-person event since 2020, the annual Academic Event Professionals (AEP) conference, to be held at the Boston University Questrom School of Business.

The AEP conference began in 2006 as a standalone specialized workshop at the Special Events Show conducted by TSEC CEO and AEP Advisory Board Chair Sally Webb.

Read More: Small is Big in Greater Boston

The conference offers a forum for academic event profs to share best practices and trade ideas, something which can be beneficial for new event planners; appropriately, challenges faced by new event planners is one of the topics discussed. Additional topics to be explored at the event include how virtual, hybrid and in-person academic events will look in the future; designing events to reach diverse audiences; and creating a healthy work-life balance as an event prof.

Entering a Brave New World

Webb and her team decided on the theme “Brave New World” as a reflection of the current state of the event planning world. “The process of event planning has changed considerably due to the pandemic, resulting in labor shortages, staff with limited experience, lack of venue availability and dramatic increases in pricing,” she says. “It’s a whole new world in event development, even for the most seasoned planners, and takes some spirit and determination to roll with the challenge and deliver successful programs. The theme seems very appropriate for the current times.”

Webb says the event expects about 50% of its pre-pandemic numbers, which she says is in line with their expectations. Although there won’t be as many attendees at 2019, Webb says the team is delighted to be hosting AEP again. She went on to explain how canceling their operation for two years brought home just how important a role this event plays not just to its attendees but the wider world, as well.

“We learned how much demand there is for professional development, education and networking throughout the academic event community,” she says. “The challenges of engaging donors, alumni and all stakeholders with reduced budgets from a lack of athletics and donor income is affecting all schools, so a forum to engage and learn is more needed than ever.”

International travel grew gradually in 2021 after the quarantine of 2019, yet 2022 has seen a huge spike. With more countries opening their borders and lifting Covid restrictions, 2022 international travel has increased exponentially since 2019 and progressing towards pre-pandemic numbers.

But with the travel industry still reeling from the fallouts of Covid, heavy international travel traffic has been difficult for airports to handle. Staffing shortages, long security lines, delayed/canceled flights and less flights being scheduled are causing travel anxiety for planners. Smart Meetings breaks down the 2022 international travel buzz and gives travel tips to meet smart.

Europe and America have seen the most international travel recovery, yet Europe is leading the race. World Travel Organization (UNTWO) has reported an estimated 474 million international arrivals into Europe from January to May 2022, almost triple the reported 175 million over the same months in 2021. The same report claimed numbers were still going strong in June and July, with 207 million European international arrivals registered. Below is a graphic published by UNTWO to illustrating the recovery progress of international travel in 2022 against the quarantine numbers of 2019.

Graph showing international travel recovery rate. — UNTWO breakdown of global recovery rates of January-May 2022 against January-May 2021

Why the Rapid Growth in International Travel?

The pent-up demand for travel has had many waiting with bated breath for Covid restrictions to be more lenient and destination borders to be open. Now that destination locations are once again available for business event and incentive planning, international business travel has been thriving. Destinations which were previously unable to receive or provide hospitality accommodations for large groups are lifting border restrictions and are back to hosting international business events. Industry professionals are travelling in droves for these coveted locations for their corporate events and incentive trips.

The influx in international travel is also comprised of passengers with more personal reasons. Multi-generational travel has matched the business travel volume and contributes to the impressive international travel numbers of 2022. The term is self-explanatory; family members from more than one generation taking vacations or yearly trips of some kind.

Yet this common travel term has been redefined after Covid. Not only are families eager to plan a reunion abroad as travel restrictions are lifted, but the pandemic has instilled a stronger sense of urgency to do so. The somber but important lesson Covid has taught us—you don’t know when you will be able to see your loved ones next.

The Concerns

Although the recovery from 2019 has been progressing, travel experts express concerns regarding the future of international travel. The summer of 2022 saw throngs of travelers rushing to airports, yet many were squeezing into full flights with no room for luggage, overcrowded airways causing cancelled or delayed flights and all before arriving to overbooked hotels. While many surmised the craze was a result of pent-up travel demand and summer vacations, experts are concerned the trend may not be so ephemeral.

World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) released a statement this past July warning travelers of the staffing shortages and passenger limit restrictions continuing to cause delays and cancellations in the busy upcoming holiday season. British Airways has cancelled more than 1,000 flights before the end October to meet its capped 100,00 per day passenger limit and many other European airports have followed suit. The understaffing and passenger traffic restrictions in European airports have led to sweeping employee strikes, contributing further to the reality that many travelers may either have an incredibly laborious trip to Europe—or no trip at all.

International travel has become more laborious and unpredictable, yet travelers are still agreeing to inflated prices and continuing to book flights in the holiday season. Yahoo Finance US reports the average international round-trip airfare for Thanksgiving 2022 to cost an average of $795, a 25% increase from 2019. Christmas international round-trip airfare is predicted to increase similarly with a 26% increase from 2019 and an average cost of $1,300.

Tips for International Travel in 2022

Travel insurance and credit—As international airports are scheduling fewer arrivals and even cancelling existing ones, travel insurance is worth considering to protect yourself from unforeseen costs. If you are credited due to a cancellation, be sure to check the expiration date so you can reschedule your trip.
Check Covid guidelines and restrictions—While many Covid mandates have been lifted or modified to be more relaxed, there are still regulatory safety measures taken which differ from country to country. When travelling internationally, one should always check the current Covid safety protocols for any airports, hotels and public spaces you will be visiting.
Have travel documents ready and in order—With long security lines due to airport staffing shortages, make sure your passport and other travel documents are up to date, in order and ready to give to security staff to expedite the process.
Keep essentials with you—With fewer staff members and overwhelming passenger capacity, the lost luggage rates are increasing. If you are checking a bag, make sure that essentials are in your carry-on: a toothbrush, extra socks/underwear, your phone and laptop charger and anything else you may immediately need should your bag be misplaced or lost.

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.

Canada Drops Last and All Covid Restrictions

In a highly anticipated move, the Government of Canada has announced “the removal of all Covid-19 entry restrictions, as well as testing, quarantine, and isolation requirements for anyone entering Canada, effective October 1, 2022.”

The governmental release said the reason for the removal of these measures was due to the fact that Canada “has largely passed the peak of Omicron BA.4 and BA5, high vaccination rates, lower hospitalization and death rates, as well as the availability and use of vaccine boosters (including new bivalent formulation), rapid tests and treatments for Covid-19.”

The move means that travelers will no longer need to:

submit public health information through the ArriveCAN app or website;
provide proof of vaccination;
undergo pre- or on-arrival testing;
carry out Covid-related quarantine or isolation;
monitor and report if they develop signs or symptoms of Covid upon arriving to Canada.

Transport Canada is also removing existing travel requirements. As of October 1, 2022, travelers will no longer be required to:

undergo health checks for travel on air and rail; or
wear masks on planes and trains.

Cruise measures will also be lifted, and travelers will no longer be required to have pre-board tests, be vaccinated, or use ArriveCAN.

The release said that a set of guidelines will remain to protect passengers and crew, which will align with the approach used in the United States.

Jean-Yves Duclos, minister of health, said that, “Canada’s travel measures successfully mitigated the full impact of Covid-19 for travelers and workers in the transportation sector, and helped keep communities safe. Thanks to Canadians who rolled up their sleeves and got vaccinated, we are able to take this great step towards easing measures and returning to normal.”

The long continuation of border restrictions, including the need for the ArriveCAN app was widely criticized by both the U.S. and Canadian travel industry.

Responding to the move, Jim Byers, former travel editor of the Toronto Star and columnist/blogger at Jimbyerstravel.com, told Smart Meetings that “I didn’t find ArriveCAN even remotely difficult, but I can see how some would-be travelers would’ve been confused by it. “

He says that he believes the restriction drop will spark more travel and that inflation, rather than Covid is what is worrying Canadian travelers more than anything else, citing an Angus Reid poll that says 40% of Canadians are delaying or cancelling travel due to high prices.

Although the hated “ArriveCAN” app need no longer be used for Covid border issues, it can still be used for advance declaration (free on a mobile app or on the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA website), which the government claims will save time at the airport in submitting customs and immigration declaration in advance of arrival.

The feature is currently available to travelers arriving at Toronto Pearson, Vancouver, or Montréal-Trudeau international airports and will expand to the Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Billy Bishop Toronto City, Ottawa, Québec City and Halifax international airports in the coming months.

Biden Wants an End to Hidden Airline Fees

President Biden announced a bid this week to end hidden airline fees.

At a meeting of the White House Competition Council, Biden announced a release of a new proposed rule that he said would significantly strengthen protections for consumers by “ensuring that they have access to certain fee information before they purchase their airline tickets.”

This would include fees to sit with your child, changing or canceling your flight or fees for checked or carry-on bags.

In response to the proposed rule, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said, “Airline passengers deserve to know the full, true cost of their flights before they buy a ticket. This new proposed rule would require airlines to be transparent with customers about the fees they charge, which will help travelers make informed decisions and save money.”

In response to the move, William J. McGee, senior fellow for aviation at American Economic Liberties Project, applauded the “DOT’s efforts to make the opaque air travel process more transparent and fair for baggage and ticket change fees. But he was less than enthusiastic about the fact that “the Department still refuses to comply with legislation that clearly directed the agency to eliminate fees for families with children under 13 to sit together. This is not a fee that needs to be transparent—it’s a fee that needs to be abolished.”

In an interview in the upcoming October issue of Smart Meetings, McGee also pointed out that “proposed” rules don’t mean “enacted” rules. The proposition gets a certain time period for the public and industry to comment, after which it may be amended, changed or discarded altogether.

Anne Golden

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Golden is Pan Pacific Hotels Group’s vice president of operations for the United Kingdom and North America. Golden previously worked as general manager of Pan Pacific London, where she oversaw the opening of Pan Pacific Hotels Group’s first U.K.-based property. Before joining Pan Pacific, Golden worked with Morgans Hotel Group as regional vice president for London, overseeing operations of St. Martins Lane, Sanderson and Mondrian London at Sea Containers.

George Stanfield

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Stanfield is managing director for Waldorf Astoria Cancun in Mexico, scheduled to open November 2022. Stanfield previously worked as general manager at Hilton Buenos Aires, during which the property was awarded national and international awards, including Argentina’s Best MICE Hotel in 2020 and the World Travel Awards in 2019 and 2020. He’s also worked in leading roles with Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista and Washington Hilton in D.C.

Angeles Moreno

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Moreno is country manager for AIM Spain, the local branch of AIM Group International. Before this position, Moreno was director of strategic alliances and business growth for TCD Strategy Consulting. She is author of “The Time Is Now” and has been nominated as Top 100 Most Influential Female Leaders in 2020 in Spain.

Sabrina Schroeter and Donovan Stephens

Sabrina Schroeter (left) and Donovan Stephens (right)

Schroeter is director of sales and marketing and Stephens is general manager for DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Doheny Beach in Dana Point, California.

Schroeter was director of sales for DoubleTree Irvine Spectrum in California. In her three decades of hospitality experience, she has been in roles all over California, including Hotel Karlan San Diego—a DoubleTree by Hilton, The Landing Lake Tahoe Resort & Spa, The Riviera Palm Springs, Embassy Suites LAX North, Ayres Hotel and Suites Costa Mesa and River Terrace Inn in Napa.

Before joining DoubleTree Doheny Beach, Stephens was general manager of DoubleTree Pittsburgh Downtown. Before this, he worked as general manager of Crowne Plaza Resort in Lake Placid, New York, and general manager of Hotel Alba in Tampa.

Jasmine Warren

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Warren is spa director of The Opus, Westchester’s The Opus Spa in White Plains, New York. Warren comes from Heyday Skincare in New York City. She has also worked with WTS International Inc. as spa director and Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spas as guest experience manager.

Todd Neal

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Neal’s position as senior sales manager for ATL Airport District is a return to the organization. In 2019, Neal left ATL Airport District to work with 1600 Hospitality Group as meetings and events consultant. During his years in hospitality, he has worked with convention and visitors bureaus and hospitality organizations in Atlanta and Macon, Georgia; Kansas City, Missouri; and Cleveland. Neal is a member of the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners and Religious Conference Management Association.

Denise Harris and Jennifer Day

image of denise harris on left side and jennifer day on right side — Denise Harris (left) and Jennifer Day (right). Photo credit: Paul Schraub and VSCC

Visit Santa Cruz County (VSCC) in California has promoted two of its staff: Harris to director of operations and Day to assistant director of marketing communications.

Harris previously worked as the organization’s executive assistant, a position she held for five years. Before joining VSCC, Harris worked as vice president of membership and programs for the Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau in California. She also worked as program manager for the Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce in California.

Before VSCC, Day worked with BPR Hotels, where she promoted Hotel Paradox, Autograph Collection in Santa Cruz and Hi-Lo Hotel in Portland, Oregon, on social media platforms. Before this, Day planned and supervised the photography of 12 hotels and four on-site restaurants.

Eyal Goldberger

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Goldberger is general manager for David Citadel Hotel in Jerusalem. Before this role, Goldberger worked as regional general manager in Florida, where he oversaw operations of three properties in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area. Goldberger has also worked with Hyatt Centric Las Olas in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as opening general manager.

Cameron Cundle

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Australia-born Cundle is general manager for The Peninsula Beijing. He comes from The Peninsula Bangkok, where he worked as hotel manager since October 2018. Before joining The Peninsula, he worked at The St. Regis Bangkok as hotel manager; before this, he worked at The St. Regis Singapore as director of rooms and Sheraton on the Park in Sydney.

Casper van Eldik Thieme

headshot of casper van eldik thieme

Van Eldik Thieme is director of sales and marketing for Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego. Most recently, van Eldik Thieme was director of sales, marketing and events for Grand Hyatt at SFO in San Francisco. Beyond this, van Eldik Thieme has also worked in leading positions with other Hyatt Hotels properties, including Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Grand Hyatt New York, Hyatt Regency Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa and Hyatt Regency New Orleans. He has received Sales Team of the Year award twice with Hyatt.

Plan with Confidence

Orlando has long been a favorite destination for attendees for numerous reasons, with world-famous theme parks and attractions, ample sunshine, and the state-of-the-art Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) topping the list. And now, business groups have even more motivation to meet in Orlando.

From new hotels and enhanced safety protocols to a host of fresh additions, Cvent’s No. 1 U.S. meeting destination has much to offer groups who seek big-city cultural amenities with a memorable vibe. We will also be included in an expanded Michelin Guide coming out this year, showcasing the abundance of culinary superstars making their home in Florida.

See how we’ve grown since the last time you met in Orlando—and start making plans for your organization’s triumphant return.

An aerial view of a resort in Orlando at sunrise

Event-ful Experiences

From July 2020 and January 2022, the Orange County Convention Center hosted more than 200 events of all sizes, making Orlando one of the few U.S. destinations to welcome conventions, trade shows, meetings, and consumer and sporting events during that time.

Secret to success? The unity of the destination coming together to adhere to strict health and safety guidelines. The OCCC was one of the first convention centers to receive GBAC accreditation and the first convention center to receive reaccreditation globally.

One example: Reed Exhibitions moved its Vision Expo East show from New York to Orlando in June 2021. Marie Browne, group vice president with Reed Exhibitions, which managed the production, reported the group had “very favorable results” from the partnership. “They worked with us to solve our problems and grow our event,” she said.

SuperCorrExpo®, the hub of corrugated machinery business, gathered in Orlando in August 2021. Haley King, event planner for the Technical Association of the Pulp & Paper Industry Inc., shared the enthusiasm for meeting her attendees expressed.

“Everyone is just so excited to get back and talking again, networking face-to-face is so important,” said King. “We benefit so much from being around each other.”

King also noted the OCCC’s attention to detail to make sure attendees felt safe, right down to switching to touchless water cooler stations. The convention center was even big enough to accommodate the group’s oversize machines on the trade show floor, making in and out easier. As a result, the group is already planning to return in 2024.

New Options

Orlando is home to more than 480 hotels and nearly 130,000 guest rooms, enough room to accommodate groups of all sizes and budgets. The convention district also boasts over 75 restaurants and 100 entertainment venues.

New accommodations include JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa adjacent to Walt Disney World® Resort, with 50,000 sq. ft. of space that includes a 22,000-sq.-ft. ballroom.

Nearby, Walt Disney World Swan Reserve is a new tower expansion at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort complex, adding 15,853 sq. ft. of meeting space, including two new ballrooms, and an elevated pool deck with 13,835 sq. ft. of outdoor event space. The complex now boasts 2,600 rooms, 350,000 sq. ft of meeting space, including a new rooftop meeting space perfect for watching fireworks.

Lake Nona Wave Hotel is located within minutes of Orlando International Airport. This wellness and technology-focused property has 234 guest rooms and more than 12,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space.

Another new option, AC Hotel Orlando Downtown offers 180 modern guest rooms with a sleek European-inspired design, three meeting spaces, a ﬁtness center, and the SkyBar Rooftop Terrace with 360-degree city views.

Closer to the OCCC, Tru by Hilton Orlando Convention Center Area features 259 guest rooms and 2,200 sq. ft. of meeting space. Complimentary breakfast, parking and Wi-Fi are included for all guests.

Hyatt Regency Orlando has completed a $20 million renovation of the property’s indoor meeting space, including all five ballrooms and more than 100 breakout rooms with a new contemporary design highlighting the Florida landscape.

Similarly, Caribe Royale Orlando has completed a $125-million renovation, including a new 50,000-sq.-ft. grand ballroom. The property now has 220,000 sq. ft. of total meeting space.

And more is on the way. As part of an ongoing renovation to be completed in 2022, Orlando World Center Marriott will fully update its 2,010 guest rooms and suites while adding 24 breakout rooms for a total of 450,000 sq. ft. indoors and outdoors. The Tuscan-inspired, 126-room ette Hotel Orlando is set to open in spring 2022 near Walt Disney World.

Focusing on wellness as an alcohol-free property, the hotel offers culinary experiences in partnership with Michelin Star Chef Akira Back, along with The Spa at ette, with services for everyone from the modern minimalist to the unruly naturalist.

Of course, all of these new guest rooms and meeting spaces are in addition to the evolving attractions at the theme parks, so your attendees will have lots to discover on both sides of the park gates.