Thinking about integrating marijuana in your meeting? A Northern California destination is helping meeting professionals harness this fast-budding trend. Cannabis is Mendocino County’s largest industry, with 290 acres bringing in an estimated $131 million. Mendocino County, along with Trinity and Humboldt counties in Northern California, make up the largest cannabis-producing area in the United States. And the industry is projected to reach $37 billion in 2024.
While cannabis-related tourism is on the rise, Visit Mendocino County is looking to further tap into this growing market. Unsurprisingly, this market is more geared toward leisure visitors than corporate event groups, but as Mendocino’s cannabis experiences develop further and gain greater traction, its offerings are becoming more on par with your typical group wine or beer tasting and tour.
Canna-friendly Accommodations
Forbes estimates cannabis tourism is a $1.7 billion industry. “We’re hoping that by marketing to the canna-curious, we’re leaning into a new demographic of visitor that is most likely unaware of our region and or its cannabis availability and openness to those consumers,” says Travis Scott, executive director of Visit Mendocino County.
“I believe meeting planners who market and offer cannabis or CBD experiences in their packages and pitches will have a leading edge over those not willing to take that step.”
The Bohemian Chemist
And that step is one full of much opportunity for event professionals. Take The Madrones, a boutique property in Philo, California. The Madrones features nine private guest quarters, each of which can accommodate between two and four attendees, as well as The Brambles, which consists of five spacious two- and four-person cabins. For the “canna-curious,” located on The Madrones property is The Bohemian Chemist dispensary.
Through The Bohemian Chemist, groups can experience a weekend filled with seven-course meals, cannabis tasting and a farm tour of the five-acre Sugar Hill Farm (featured image), where the dispensary’s products are sourced. Chef Bronson Macomber, the person behind the tours, also offers cannabis-infused dinners, which features servings enhanced by micro-dosed meals. Non-infused and vegetarian meals are also available.
The Madrones also offers wine tastings from independently owned and operated winemakers Drew Family Cellars and Long Meadow Ranch. Full-site rentals of The Madrones or The Brambles are possible, as well as rentals of its six outdoor venues.
Mendocino County also has the cannabis-friendly boutique properties Thatcher Hotel in Hopland, California—with the next-door MendoCann dispensary—and MacCallum House, which features 19 guest rooms, as well as suites and vacation homes.
Puffing, Painting and Touring
This is all part of what makes Mendocino so appealing, Scott says. “Visitors are drawn to Mendocino County for its open space, 90 miles of coastline, renowned redwood trees, world class wines and famous cannabis,” he says. Scott also pointed to CBD-infused massages and the ability to have a wellness consultation or seminar with CBD/cannabis guru and owner of Dragonfly Wellness Jude Tillman. Dragonfly Wellness also offers puff ‘n paint, where groups can get together with artists and, you know, “puff” and paint.
Groups will find more farm tours offered in Mendocino. In Hopland, groups can experience the Mendocino Experience Cannabis Tour, during which they can meet the farmers who run legal farms and dispensaries in Mendocino County. Mendocino Experience offers several tours, including its Original Mendocino Cannabis Farm Tour and San Francisco Cannabis Tour, its half-day city and cannabis tour.
San Francisco’s Emerald Farm Tours offers a full-day tour, Wine, Wilderness & Weed: Mendocino Cannabis Farm Tour, which starts in downtown San Francisco and runs through Emerald Triangle to its end in Anderson Valley.
When most attendees make travel plans, they consider things like hotel amenities, nearby restaurants and fun attractions. However, for the one out of every four Americans living with a disability, much more planning has to go into every aspect of a trip. Entryway width, overstimulating lights, transportation and more are accessibility factors that can limit how a disabled traveler experiences a business trip.
Alison Brooks, director of destination experience and advocacy at Visit Mesa, and Julie Pingston, president and CEO of Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB), proactively addressed the issue at Destinations International Annual Convention 2022 in Toronto, Canada, last month. In “Focusing on Accessibility at the Destination Level,” Brooks and Pingston spoke on how destination marketing organizations (DMOs) can make travel easier for everyone.
Jeff Robinson, director of marketing with Visit Indy and Santiago Corrada, president and CEO of Visit Tampa Bay, joined Mayaan Ziv, CEO of AccessNow, at the same conference to share tips for meeting professionals looking for information about accessibility before sourcing a destination. Smart Meetings talked to the CEOs of these last two DMOs to learn the story behind how and why they are investing in making their cities more accessible to all travelers.
Recognizing the Need
Hoops and his son Cannon at the Indy Zoo Dolphin Experience
Leonard Hoops, CEO of Visit Indy in Indiana, became acutely aware of accessibility issues 17 years ago when his son Cannon was born. A brain injury during delivery gave him spastic quadrupeligia cerebral palsy, a condition that limits his movement through uncontrollable muscle contractions but has not affected his cognition. Hoops travels extensively with his wife and son, who uses a powered wheelchair, and usually has an easy time getting around.
When Cannon was six, Hoops and his family moved to Indianapolis, where he joined the destination marketing organization. Hoops wanted to plan a fun weekend out, but when he visited his own Visit Indy website, he found that he was having trouble finding information on accessibility at locations like the local museum or riverwalk.
“If I don’t have accessibility info on my own website, who does?” he said during an interview, reflecting on his experience as the parent of a wheelchair user. Hoops reached out to Mary Huggard, now-retired vice president of tourism development at Visit Indy, who worked with her team to add as much accessibility information to the Visit Indy site as possible.
The link for details on what accessibility resources are available at historical sites, sports and recreation centers is now available at the top right of the home page through an easily identified wheelchair icon. No need to hunt through pages and sub-pages. The website has been recognized as the gold standard for accessibility by Jake Steinman, president and CEO of North American Journeys.
Visit Tampa Bay Disability Ambassador Chelsea Bear at Hyde Park Village
Corrada shared his aha moment in Tampa Bay, Florida. Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) have always been at the forefront of his mind as a Latino man in leadership positions. He began his working career at an elementary school teaching students with disabilities, where he sought to remove barriers to access wherever he could. Ten years ago, he moved into the tourism business, where he immediately began diversifying the board and advertising material to reflect the community of Tampa Bay.
“It’s not the right thing to do, it’s the only thing to do.”
Santiago Corrada, president and CEO, Visit Tampa Bay
After six years with Visit Tampa Bay, Corrada and his team presented their marketing materials to the Tampa Bay Mayor’s Alliance for Persons with Disabilities, an advisory board protecting the interests of the local disabled community. A representative approached Corrada after the presentation and asked how it spoke to their needs. Corrada realized that Visit Tampa Bay’s marketing materials and website were sorely lacking in accessibility information. He set out to widen the organization’s scope to include the disabled community.
Goals in Action
Hoops and his team at Visit Indy spent six months surveying and interviewing attractions, restaurants and more to gather information on what businesses were accessible and how. Jeff Robinson, senior director of marketing at Visit Indy, was tasked with taking this information and adding it to the website in an intuitive and easily understandable way.
He created the “Accessible Indy” page, which highlights accessible attractions, resources, travel organizations and recommendations from locals. In addition, most locations have accessibility information on their individual pages on the website. “Whether it’s me or anyone in a similar situation, they’re going to find accessibility information,” Hoops said.
Meanwhile in Tampa Bay, Corrada and his team gathered a group of influencers and bloggers to understand the specific needs of the disabled community. They give the team a firsthand experience of what locations are accessible and where improvements can be made.
The Visit Tampa Bay website has guides written by their consultants on attractions accessible to all kinds of disabilities. Jamie Santillo, owner of accessible travel agency Adventures by Jamie, frequently participates in marketing materials and writes travel guides for the website.
“Whether it’s me or anyone in a similar situation, they’re going to find accessibility information.”
Leonard Hoops, CEO, Visit Indy
At the same time, Corrada pushed the marketing team to expand their DEI efforts to include disabled individuals in promotional materials. In time, diversity in advertising became second nature to the team. “It’s not the right thing to do, it’s the only thing to do,” said Corrada.
Accessibility for Meeting Profs
Favorite accessible downtown Indianapolis locations for eating and meeting are featured in Visit Indy’s Accessibility Stories section of the website. Melody Cooper, a 27-year resident in Indianapolis with cerebral palsy, wrote about her top accessible locations to visit. Circle Centre mall and Mass Avenue are home to plenty of shops and a movie theater.
Cooper frequents Punch Burger, Scotty’s Brewhouse (now Roots Burger Bar) and the Indianapolis City Market to meet coworkers for food and drinks. Roots makes an effort to hire people with disabilities, which Cooper appreciates.
Indiana Convention Center
Also downtown is Indiana Convention Center, an ADA-certified building with more than 600,000 sq. ft. of event space that is surrounded by wheelchair-accessible hotels. JW Marriott Indianapolis and the surrounding Marriott properties, The Westin Indianapolis, Crowne Plaza Indianapolis, Le Meridien Indianapolis and more are all listed as wheelchair accessible.
For a venue farther north, cultural center Newfields has a variety of accessible spaces that cater to many types of events. An enclosed pavilion can host up to 600 people, while a theater and lecture hall can accommodate 530 and 168 people respectively. Attendees can also explore the Indianapolis Museum of Art that lives in the same building.
Down in Tampa Bay, the 600,000-square-foot Tampa Convention Center (TCC) is ADA-certified and right on the river. Embassy Suites by Hilton Tampa Downtown, The Westin Tampa Waterslide and Tampa Marriott Water Street are all wheelchair accessible and right next to the convention center.
Santillo recommends hungry event attendees check out Colombia Restaurant for a 115-year legacy of Spanish food, accessible through a side entrance. Ulele uses local ingredients and Native American inspiration to create a highly rated experience a few blocks north of TCC. The owners of Colombia Restaurant also recently opened Casa Santo Stefano, an accessible Sicilian restaurant that serves lunch and dinner west of TCC.
Hoops recognizes that his team’s work is ongoing. He compared Visit Indy to Visit Mesa and their strong support of autistic travelers. As the first Autism Certified City in the United States, Mesa has gone above and beyond to accommodate the sensitivities that someone on the spectrum may experience. Hoops said that while Visit Indy is far from where it needs to be, it currently has one of the most robust accessibility information campaigns in the country.
Nate Swick, senior communications manager at Visit Indy, said in a statement that, “Perhaps the next iteration will dig into restaurants, hotels and meeting spaces.” He said that the guide has encouraged local partners to seek out areas of improvement and fix them.
Corrada also has no intention of slowing down Visit Tampa Bay’s accessibility campaign. “I always follow diversity, equity and inclusion with three other words: intentional, consistent and ongoing. The work is never done,” he said in an interview. He wants his team at Tampa Bay—and anyone working on DEI—to feel good about ongoing inclusion. He sees it as a consistent way to improve the travel experience for everyone.
There will be areas of accessibility that can be improved upon, more disabilities to consider and new ways to include people with disabilities in the enjoyment of a destination. The destination organizations putting in the work have been joined by more and more cities as people are made aware of the importance of accessibility.
Travel experiences have been opened up to the millions of disabled Americans who deserve to see the world without worrying about threshold widths or unpaved trails. That is good news for meeting professionals relying on CVBs as the local experts for helping all attendees feel welcome.
Rising prices for business travelers are predicted to continue in 2022 and through 2023, according to a report, “2023 Global Business Travel Forecast,” by travel management platform CWT and Global Business Travel Association.
In the report, rising fuel prices, the continued labor shortage and the current inflated pricing of raw material costs were named as key drivers of the predicted price increases. The remainder of 2022 is predicted to see the greatest price increase across air fare, ground transportation and hotel rates.
This growth is expected to slow in 2023, with the greatest decrease seen in air fare. Ground transportation and hotel rates are set to see less dramatic drops. Overall, the global economy is expected to grow 3% in 2022 and 2.8% in 2023, following its 3.4% decrease in 2020.
“Demand for business travel and meetings is back with a vengeance, of that there is absolutely no doubt,” said Patrick Andersen, CEO of CWT. “Labor shortages across the travel and hospitality industry, rising raw material prices and greater awareness for responsible travel are all having an impact on services, but predicted pricing is, on the whole, on par with 2019.”
Increase in Meeting Spend
Cost-per-attendee in 2022 is expected to increase by roughly 25%, as compared to 2019. Much like the slowdown mentioned in the aforementioned sectors, 2023 will see a smaller increase of 7%. The report points to pent-up meeting demand, the desire to build company culture and the insecure economic outlook as culprits behind this increase, as well as the fact that many corporate events were cancelled in 2020 and moved to 2022, resulting in more demand than usual.
Shorter lead times—meetings that were scheduled six months in advance are now scheduled just one month out—led in part by constantly changing Covid regulations, are also a factor. The report pointed to Asia Pacific as an example, which has been much slower to fully reopen post-pandemic, with continued restrictions requiring faster responses.
Increase in Hotel Stay Pricing
In 2020, global hotel prices fell by 13.3%, followed by a 9.5% decrease in 2021. Two years later and prices are reflecting an upward trend. In some areas around the globe, hotel prices have already surpassed 2019 levels; this year, those prices are expected to rise by 18.5%, and in 2023, it’s forecasted to increase by 8.2%.
Europe is set to see an uneven recovery in hotel rates. The United Kingdom’s rates, for example, are expected to rise 31.8% in 2022, greater than 2019. Due to economic problems that have arisen as a result of the Ukraine invasion, European countries like Germany and France aren’t likely to see hotel rates increase from 2019.
The United States and Canada’s hotel demand has been strong in 2022, according to the report, moving past 2019 levels in various markets. Prices are expected to rise 22% percent in 2022 and 11% in 2023.
Air Travel To See Sharp Increase
Business travel airfare fell more than 12% to $587 in 2020, followed by a greater dip of 25.9% to $435 in 2021. Air prices in 2022 are expected to see the steepest increase of any sector, at 48.5%. This is still below pre-pandemic levels, although by just over $20; prices aren’t expected to rise above 2019 levels until 2023, when prices are expected to rise another 8.4%.
Air travel is not exempt from the labor shortage currently affecting the greater hospitality world. As a result, flight cancellations and delays have been the name of the game for the better part of the summer. According to the report, until the labor shortage is corrected, expect flights tickets to continue to run at a premium.
The State of Car Rentals
Supply chain disruptions have affected the global car rental industry greatly, causing a slowdown in auto production. Rental companies reduced fleet sizes as a response to the slowed demand during the pandemic and have yet to fully recover. Although these companies have moved to buying used vehicles to supplement their shortage, in addition to keeping cars longer, global rental prices are still expected to increase.
In 2020, car rental prices fell by 2.5% and rose in 2021 by 5.1%, the only sector to see an increase in 2021. In 2022, prices are expected to increase a further 7.3%, followed by 6.8% in 2023.
Electric vehicles (EV) are slowly making their way into the rental space, although there are barriers to overcome, such as the increased turnaround time it takes for an empty EV to get back on the floor as compared to a combustion engine vehicle, which could mean significant delays. Global climate initiatives by the European Union, like its ban on combustion engine cars by 2035, will play a huge role on rental agencies’ adoption of EVs.
Increased Spending on F&B
Asia Pacific and North America have seen the largest increases in catering costs compared to 2019, with increases of 120% and 70%, respectively. Although overall, F&B is one area that has seen high price increases in all regions throughout the world. According to the report, attendees expect a greater array of choices in their food selection, as well as information on where it’s sourced.
Smart Meetings made wellness—physical, mental, social and career health—a focus for the annual Northern California Experience last week at Hyatt Regency San Francisco. The event brought together top meeting professionals for a day of boutique education, networking and inspiration that 13 years after Marin Bright launched the format in the meetings industry, is still the most efficient and luxurious way to get business done.
Author and activator Laura Putnam got everyone moving with an opening keynote that woke up bodies and minds. She encouraged meeting professionals to strive to create an oasis of well-being in their offices and in their meeting spaces by addressing the culture so the default is movement and health.
“The pandemic has changed the way we see workplace well-being forever,” she said. The isolation took a toll on mental health, tripling rates of depression. Remote employees are struggling to keep boundaries and work-life integration is breaking down. “People need to feel cared for and know that they matter for what they do and who they are,” she said.
In an ideal workplace, resources go beyond physical to include mental, social, career and community.
“What matters most as a human being is feeling a sense of dignity,” she said.
Putnam suggested setting aside time for breaks for wellness and offering access to green spaces. She stressed the importance of letting people know they can be themselves and don’t have to “code switch” to fit in.
She also advocated for meeting professionals finding ways to create healthy structure for themselves, even on busy event days. “Take time to recharge and figure out what you at your best looks like,” she said.
“Manage your energy, not your time and practice self-compassion,” she added.
A Renovation Ahead of Its Time
When the world gives you a pandemic, make lemon drops. This is the approach Hyatt Regency San Francisco took by moving up a planned 2023 renovation of its 821 guest rooms and 72,000 sq. ft. of meeting space fronting Embarcadero and the Bay. Area Vice President and General Manager Matthew Humphreys celebrated the completion of the final touches on the last of the guest rooms, the return of meetings, the recently announced 80% decline in crime citywide as orange-vested ambassadors take to the streets with an aggressive anti-graffiti initiative.
The venue supported the event’s wellness theme with robust menus that displayed the richness of San Francisco’s culinary scene with nods to the different neighborhoods, cultures and styles of cooking. Executive Chef Victor Litkewycz is a former Hyatt Executive Chef of the Year and speaks multiple languages, including Papiamento, Spanish and Ukrainian.
Wylder Windham
In the Great Northern Catskills of New York, Wylder Windham has undergone a modern transformation while staying true to its roots. Founded in 1880 as Thompson House Resort, the property has softly reopened with 29 rooms available. All 110 guest rooms and seven buildings will be available by September along with the onsite restaurant.
Each room type caters to different types of guests. Charming rooms are simple options with modern touches; Cozy and Manor rooms have soaking tubs or communal balconies for comfortable relaxation; Balcony rooms have private views of Windham Mountain or the Batavia Kill stream; Suites give plenty of space with a separate sitting room and luxury amenities. For groups and parties, the Farmhouse has four bedrooms and plenty of space to host gatherings.
Babblers, the onsite bakery and restaurant, takes advantage of the homey atmosphere of the resort with refined comfort food and local cuisine. The bakery is open to guests, with the restaurant following with the grand opening in September. Breakfast is served daily at The Evergreen Lodge. Other local restaurants, including The Vineyard at Windham, Millrock Restaurant and West Kill Brewery, are a short distance away.
Wylder Windham offers more than 4,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor event space that can host up to 200 guests. Attendees will stay occupied with a variety of outdoor activities across 20 acres. A heated pool is nestled between buildings, while the expansive lawn hosts pickleball, hammocks, tree swings, fire pits, lawn games and live entertainment. Windham Path, Windham Mountain and Windham Country Club are within minutes of the resort for more rigorous activity. For those who would rather stay inside, the recreation room is outfitted with nostalgic games.
The Hermitage Hotel
The Hermitage Hotel, after 110 years of serving Nashville, is receiving a restoration and redesign to its lobby, ballroom and 122 guest rooms and suites. Its modern Southern Hospitality and refurbished vintage architecture make the property the social hub that earned it the adage, “Meet me at the Hermitage.”
Historic Beaux Arts lobby retains its characteristic hand-painted glass ceiling, ornamental plasterwork and Tennessee marble. Furnishings like seating and lighting are all new, largely following a modern blue and silver palette. In The Hermitage Hotel Ballroom, the biggest of four event spaces at more than 2,000 sq. ft., new carpeting, artwork and AV controls bring the room into the 21st century while keeping its classical Circassian walnut paneling.
Guest rooms at The Hermitage are an average of 500 sq. ft., among the biggest in Memphis. They have been similarly updated to reflect modern designs. Desks have been replaced with tables that double as workspaces and group dining; new millwork makes the minibar and other amenities blend into the design; carpets, drapes and upholstery has been replaced; locally sourced artwork can be found throughout the guest rooms and hallways. The Presidential Suite now has a functional library and a more open floor plan.
Michelin-starred chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten has opened two new dining spots at The Hermitage. Druise & Darr is a new-American restaurant and bar that focuses on regional produce and seasonal cuisine. A variety of dishes can accommodate a family night out or a formal dinner service. Around the corner, The Pink Hermit serves light meals, pastries and coffee throughout the day. An afternoon tea service, “Spillin’ Tea with Draper James,” celebrates new custom staff uniforms by Reese Witherspoon’s brand Draper James. Recipes from her cookbook “Whiskey in a Teacup.”
W San Francisco
In the quirky area between the SFMOMA and Moscone Convention Center, W San Francisco is experimenting with enclosed tent-shaped “patios.” These geometric, pet-safe structures are in five of the 408 newly renovated guest rooms and suites and can give guests a unique secluded space.
The tent structures were designed by Skylab Architecture to reflect San Francisco’s local history. The idea came from Gold Rush-era shelters in goldfields, where miners pitched tents and dug out caves to rest. An overhead heat lamp is a callback to the 19th century oil lamps that these miners used. Geometric lines are continued from the room to the structure, which is made up of a series of triangles.
Pet owners staying at W San Francisco can take advantage of the Bed & Bowl package. It includes a “Welcome Pooch Perks Box,” a dog leash, eco-friendly waste disposal bags and pet treats. While the Spectacular Studios are well-suited for pet owners, the whole hotel welcomes pets.
Dining options are plentiful in downtown San Francisco, and W San Francisco is no exception. TRACE serves seasonal breakfast and lunch, while Living Room Bar attracts locals and guests alike with local beers, cocktails and a restaurant. Upstairs Bar is only for private events and serves modern local food and drinks. Events can also utilize more than 17,000 sq. ft. of meeting space across 15 rooms.
Hotel Granduca Austin
The spirit of the Italian countryside will be refreshed with renovations beginning last month at Hotel Granduca Austin. In the hills ten miles outside of Texas’ capital, the pet-friendly palazzo villa hosts 194 guest rooms and suites on 38 acres of greenery. It will remain in operation during the renovations, which are expected to finish in early fall.
Guests will be greeted with a living room-like lobby lounge area. A boutique market with local goods and necessities will be nearby. Outside, the redesigned pool deck will see the addition of poolside cabanas and a fireplace. The second floor has a luxury spa with eight treatment rooms and a variety of services available.
The Italian theme continues with Visconti Ristorante and Bar. Traditional Italian cuisine is served inside and outdoors throughout the day. Several signature cocktails, including the Basil Limoncello Margarita and the Old Thymer, offer unique flavors. Every guest room welcomes visitors with a bottle of wine from Trinitas Cellars in Napa Valley.
Hotel Granduca Austin has 11 indoor and outdoor event spaces available with more than 12,000 sq. ft. A newly designed chapel will also be available when renovations are complete. Groups can add catering, activities and more based on the event’s needs.
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.
As reported last week in our coverage on JetBlue’s consolidation with Spirit, airline consumers (including travel and meeting planners) are mad as hell and don’t want to take it anymore.
This includes key members of the Democratic party, who are mad on their behalf and eager to push Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to codify some relief for the flying public.
A Strongly Worded Letter
In response to “skyrocketing” prices, cancellations, delays and the possibility that a JetBlue/Spirit merger will create more chaos for consumers, Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Alex Padilla of California have written to a beleaguered Buttigieg, asking for relief.
In a letter to the Department of Transportation (DOT) on July 26, the senators said, “Americans are spending far more money for a substandard travel experience—and sometimes to not fly at all. In the face of these challenges, the Department of Transportation has the authority to take meaningful actions to hold airlines accountable for avoidable delays and cancellations and stem the tide of airline consolidation. By utilizing its existing licensing and rulemaking authority, the department can improve experiences for travelers and help bring down exorbitant ticket prices driven in part by anticompetitive mergers.”
The letter points out that “some delays are inevitable, but consistently delaying flights for reasons within an airline’s control is an unfair and deceptive practice…. The Department has the authority to tackle this problem by issuing a rule…that imposes fines on airlines for the delays they cause.”
The letter goes on to caution that the recently announced merger of JetBlue and Spirit (which would create the fourth largest airline in the United States) was likely to result in higher fares, less competition and a dampened experience for flyers. It asked the DOT to step in and look at how consolidation is affecting consumers and will likely continue to do so.
Cash for Cancellations
After Warren and Padilla’s letter, Sens. Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Warren and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, along with Reps. Steve Cohen of Tennessee, Jesús G. “Chuy” García of Illinois and Jamie Raskin of Maryland introduced the Cash Refunds for Flight Cancellations Act, which would provide consumers an enforceable right to a full cash refund for flight and ticket cancellations.
The bill codifies the DOT rule requiring major airlines to offer consumers a cash refund if the airline cancels or significantly delays a flight, and provides consumers a new right to a cash refund if they cancel their ticket up until 48 hours of the flight’s scheduled departure.
In a statement on the bill, the senators wrote: “While federal law requires airlines to provide cash refunds when they cancel a flight, most airlines only offer to rebook passengers or provide a voucher as the default option instead, forcing customers to jump through hoops to claim their rightful refund. At the same time, with the emergence of new Covid-19 variants, consumer travel plans continue to be unpredictable.
“In this age of increased travel uncertainty, passengers should not be forced to choose between their money and their health. The Cash Refunds for Flight Cancellations Act corrects this problem by giving consumers an enforceable right to a cash refund for flights cancelled by the airline or tickets cancelled by the passenger.
“Enough is enough: Travelers are sick of wasting their valuable time fighting the airlines to receive their legally required cash refunds,” said Sen. Markey in the release. “And they are tired of making flight reservations months in advance, only to face a health scare that forces them to choose between cancelling a nonrefundable flight, or traveling and risking the health of their fellow passengers.
“Just as hotels often allow consumers to cancel their reservations and receive a full refund, the Cash Refunds for Flight Cancellations Act would extend a similar requirement for air travel. These airlines must get their heads out of the clouds and deliver the effective and accountable service that travelers deserve.”
“Flight cancellations are happening all too frequently,” said Rep. Cohen. “My flight was canceled just last week. The flying public does not expect or want to get credits when the airlines are the cause of the cancellation, especially when they already benefited from a multibillion-dollar bailout from American taxpayers. Our bill remedies this situation and restores some needed consumer protections for air travelers.”
Bottom line for meeting and travel planners: Our expert sources continue to tell us that relief may sputter in after summer in the form of lower demand which may relieve some issues of delays and cancellations, but they stress that overall issues of high demand and low accountability mean that airlines will continue to raise prices and offer less to consumers in return.
In response to a query on how the upcoming merger of JetBlue and Spirit would affect consumers, USA Today columnist and consumer advocate Christopher Elliott told Smart Meetings, “The new name will be JetBlue. They’re acquiring them for the planes and retrofitting the aircraft as JetBlue planes. Fares will go up. That’s the idea behind these mergers. Consolidate, eliminate competition, raise fares.
“They are creating the No. 4 airline, behind American, Delta, United and Southwest. The DOJ [Department of Justice] will probably have something to say about this and force JetBlue to divest gates to make the merger go through.
“Overall, it’s bad for consumers. When you lose a competitor—even a competitor with a reputation for terrible customer service like Spirit — it reduces competition, raises fares and lowers customer service.”
Lauren Bruggemans
Visit Greater Palm Springs in Rancho Mirage, California, appointed Bruggemans director of sustainability and community engagement. Over the last 17 years, she has garnered experience in hospitality, event, food and beverage, and business management. Bruggemans was most recently an adjunct faculty member in the Hospitality Management Program at California State University, San Bernardino. She has previously been executive director of Sumba Hospitality Foundation in Indonesia, F&B manager for Benchmark Resorts & Hotels, conference services manager for Riviera Palm Springs and more.
Chris Rynkiewicz
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey promoted Rynkiewicz to vice president and chief financial officer. He has spent the last 21 years at Borgata Hotel, starting on its pre-opening management team. Most recently, Rynkiewicz served as executive director of finance.
Suzanne Bajek
Visit Salt Lake in Utah appointed Bajek national sales manager for the Northeast region. She brings over 30 years of hospitality sales experience to her new role, most recently serving as director of national accounts at Mohegan Sun, a resort in Uncasville, Connecticut. Bajek has also held similar roles at MGM Resorts properties in Connecticut.
Flavio Robles Gutiérrez
Royal Uno All Inclusive Resort & Spa in Cancun, Mexico, welcomed Gutiérrez as rooms division manager. Most recently, he was front desk manager at ME Cabo in Mexico. Gutiérrez has over two decades of concierge, front desk and hotel operations experience at properties across Mexico.
Will Trokey
Visit Greater Palm Springs in California appointed Trokey national accounts director for the Mid-Atlantic. Bringing over 20 years of tourism and hospitality experience to his new role, Trokey most recently worked for Visit Charlotte in North Carolina as national sales manager. He has held similar roles in Baltimore, Atlanta and Los Angeles, and at Omni Hotels & Resorts.
Joel Babe
Windsor Court Hotel in New Orleans promoted Babe to hotel manager. He was previously director of rooms for the property. Babe has been a hotel operations leader for a decade, serving in similar management roles at Faena Hotel Miami Beach and multiple Ritz-Carlton properties across Florida, Massachusetts and New York.
Gilles Stellardo and Victoria Menechella
Hôtel Barrière Fouquet’s New York appointed Stellardo general manager and Menechella to director of marketing and communications for the Americas.
Stellardo has garnered over 30 years of luxury hotel management experience at hotels such as InterContinental Hotels properties in Nice and Cannes, both in France; Aleph Rome Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton in Italy; Plaza Concorde in Nice, France; and more. Most recently, he was managing director for The Mercer in New York.
Menechella brings over eight years of hospitality business and marketing experience. She began at New York’s The Mark Hotel, where she later became director of marketing. Menechella most recently held the role of director of marketing for the opening team of The Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York.
Melea Runyon
Louisville Tourism in Kentucky welcomed Runyon as destination services manager. Runyon brings 10 years of venue administration and events experience. Most recently, she was senior events manager at Churchill Downs Racetrack in Louisville.
Warren Nocon
Foley Entertainment Group promoted Nocon to executive vice president of its hotel division, including Hotel Californian in Santa Barbara, California; Hotel Les Mars in Healdsburg, California; and Black Walnut Inn & Vineyard in Dundee, Oregon. Nocon has been in the hospitality operations and management industry for the last 27 years. He most recently served as managing director of Hotel Californian and has previously held roles such as regional general manager at Woodridge Capital for several Southern California hotel properties, general manger of Colony Palms Hotel in Palm Springs, California, and more.
Julia Turcotte
Turcotte is now general manager of W Dallas – Victory. With over three decades of hospitality leadership experience, Turcotte joins the Texas property after holding the role of director of operations at Dallas Renaissance at Plano Legacy West Hotel in Plano, Texas. She has held positions in sales, events and hotel management for multiple brands.
Josh Fluhr
EDITION Hotels in New York appointed Fluhr senior vice president and global managing director. Most recently, Fluhr served as vice president of operations, food and beverage development, and brand management. He has spent the last 30 years holding similar hospitality executive roles at Morgans Hotel Group, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, and SBE Entertainment Group.
Kate Thompson
Pendry Washington DC – The Wharf appointed Thompson director of sales and marketing. Bringing over two decades of hospitality sales and management experience, Thompson was most recently area director of sales for Viceroy Washington DC and Hotel Zena, a Viceroy Urban Retreat. She has held similar roles with major hotel brands, as well as luxury boutique hotels.
Senih Geray
Waldorf Astoria Washington DC appointed Geray general manager. He most recently held the role of general manager at The St. Regis New York. Geray has over 30 years of experience in hospitality operations and financial management and has previously held leadership positions at Sheraton Voyager Antalya Hotel in Turkey, The St. Regis Atlanta and more.
Dustin Arnheim
Choose Chicago welcomed Arnheim as senior vice president of sales and services. Most recently, he worked for Visit Baltimore as senior vice president of sales and customer experience, and previously held the role of vice president of sales and convention services there. Over the last 20 years, Arnheim has served in senior management roles at Visit Indy in Indianapolis, Hyatt Hotels and more.
We’ve all heard of southern charm. The friendliness and welcoming nature that exists in the South doesn’t go unnoticed, especially by outsiders. Plan your next meeting in cities like Greensboro, Kansas City and Tulsa to experience this while indulging in the antiquity that accompanies these historic cities. Here are the 10 best hotels to meet at when venturing below the Mason-Dixon line.
The Perry Lane Hotel opened in the Spring of 2018 and stays true to the history of its location while mixing in contemporary designs and comforts. The 9,125 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor event space includes a 2,625-square-foot rooftop ballroom with views of the endearing city of Savannah. This hotel encompasses the full spirit of southern charm and offers regionally sourced menus full of classic Southern foods that will ensure your attendees are happy and full.
Ponte Vedra is famous for golf and the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club offers two championship golf courses (Ocean Course and Lagoon Course) that attendees can take use to “talk business,” but more to check out the exquisite scenery. Utilize the 25,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and then end the day relaxing at the 30,000-square-foot spa.
Located on the Riverwalk, a two-and-a-half-mile stretch of waterfront featuring the heart of San Antonio, the Thompson Hotel has it all. With access to everything that makes San Antonio special, with 10,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor meeting space, this Hyatt hotel is worth a trip to the Alamo City. Attendees can spend time on the 5836-square-foot Cenote Pool Deck where they can look out on all of RiverWalk, meet in the modern Mirador Boardroom or check out one of the other flexible meeting spaces.
The phrase “Meet me at the Hermitage” has been circulating through the Nashville airwaves for decades, and for good reason. Originally gaining fame as an integral part of the women’s suffrage movement, this is the perfect place in the south to celebrate equality and diversity while utilizing the 5,427 sq. ft. of meeting space. The Hermitage Hotel also happens to be within walking distance of the Ryman Auditorium Convention Center where attendees can catch a concert in one of the best performance halls in the world.
First opened in 1847, the Grand Hotel has been through many historical events. From operating as a hospital during the Civil War to being used as a training base by the army during World War II, the Grand Hotel has rightfully earned its title as “The Queen of Southern Resorts.” With an impressive 37,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and 23 meeting rooms, The Grand Hotel is a premier destination in the south for history buffs and meeting attendees alike.
As the largest hotel in the French Quarter, it is no surprise that it boasts an impressive 26,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. Hotel Monteleone is home to the world-famous Carousel Bar & Lounge where guests can rotate around on one of 25 seats while drinking one of their eccentric but delicious cocktails. Literary lovers will love meeting in the hotel that has been mentioned by the likes of Tennesse Williams, Ernest Hemingway and John Grisham.
As the first hotel in the U.S. to receive a platinum Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, this is an ideal place in the south to meet sustainably and enjoyably by taking advantage of all the hotel has to offer. The Proximity Hotel contains 7,300 sq. ft. of meeting space with lavish amounts of natural lighting and tours that demonstrate the different practices implemented at the resort to stay environmentally conscious.
Meet in the center of the universe! Just kidding, but guests at the Mayo Hotel can venture into the streets of Tulsa and stand in the concrete circle (called the Center of the Universe), where any noise made can only be heard by those standing within the circle. The Mayo Hotel has 17,000 sq. ft. of meeting space including the distinctive Mayo Museum room, accentuated by walls plastered with Tulsa’s history.
Conveniently located blocks from the Kansas City Convention Center and downtown Kansas City, Hotel Phillips is a stately hotel full of charm and history. This Hilton brand hotel is part of the Curio Collection and has 7,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. With a speakeasy derived from century-old prohibition roots and an Art Deco lobby, Hotel Phillips will cause attendees to be in constant awe of their surroundings.
As a part of the Unbound Collection by Hyatt, the Driskill delivers convenience, history and 18,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space. With a suitable location near the Austin Convention Center and in the entertainment district, attendees can eat at the restaurant where former U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson and first lady Lady Bird Johnson had their first date. There are 13 distinctive meeting rooms with more than enough space to accommodate socially-distanced meetings and conferences.
Wi-Fi is big business. What was once a “good to have” has become a necessity for most working individuals. And as with anything so widespread, it comes with its host of problems. When you scale Wi-Fi usage to large-scale events, with potentially hundreds or even thousands of attendees, the potential for issues increases to the nth degree.
Event professionals know no matter how well prepared you are for an event, the possibility of something going wrong is always there (a la Murphy’s law). Introducing AI to solve your Wi-Fi issues could significantly increase the quality of your events, detecting possible issues days before the event begins, as well as quickly tackling any issues during the event.
How AI Can Optimize Your Wi-Fi
“Wi-Fi has a lot of intermittent issues…it’s a dynamic technology,” says Roger Sands, CEO of Wyebot, a company that specializes in AI-driven Wi-Fi automation. “Things can be working well for a week or a month, then all of a sudden, there’s performance issues. That’s what makes it so difficult.”
Sands built Wyebot in 2016 after noticing a gap in the Wi-Fi industry. The company uses AI to monitor and analyze venues’ Wi-Fi 24-7, allowing them to proactively identify and solve performance issues.
“Most IT organizations are overloaded,” Sands says. “With the pandemic, video collaboration, teleworking, conferences, the staffing isn’t there to support all their needs. In the majority of cases, we’re allowing [staff] to be more efficient in the projects they’re working on, being proactive on the Wi-Fi, so they can work on other business-critical projects and other activities.”
“It’s allowed them to live and breathe a little bit,” he adds.
Sands says they save up to 90% of the time that was previously used fixing performance issues thanks to the 24-7 monitoring by the AI. “What took days and weeks to solve, we can do in minutes or hours,” he says. And with this improved efficiency, time is freed up for the IT department to work on other, more pressing issues, that could help meeting profs and their attendees get down to business.
Complex Problems Solved Sooner
Before AI-driven Wi-Fi, IT staff would have to travel on site to solve complex Wi-Fi problems. Not only can this be inconvenient for planners and attendees, but factor in traffic and the general complications of travel that can happen, and the potential for issues multiply. With Sands’ AI detecting software, roughly 80% of issues can be solved remotely, saving huge amounts of time.
Quality checks from a user perspective are also possible, allowing around-the-clock inspections during the event, which lets IT detect and find a solution to the problem as quickly as possible. To do this, you need a person or device on site, as someone or something has to be near the network being tested. Wyebot’s IOT (internet-of-things) sensor acts as a user, testing all the services (like wireless access points [WAP] and domain name systems [DNS]) the conference supports 24-7, alerting the IT team if there are any issues.
During the pandemic, Sands gave out Wyebot systems to hospitals for free to help them with the sudden load of patients so many hospitals saw. “They were setting up clinics for Covid testing,” Sands says. “They had to do pop-up clinics and set up Wi-Fi, so we would provide our system to help them out.” Healthcare, in addition to manufacturing/warehousing and education, are Wyebot’s largest industries, with Fortune 150 companies rolling out the product globally.
When to Test Your Event Wi-Fi
Sands recommends testing your Wi-Fi connection before, during and after the event. But “if you have [AI] sensors deployed, then you’re going to get testing all the time,” Sands adds. “You’re going to get testing for every single event. You’re going to be able to compare event to event to see how well your overall network is performing.”
Wyebot tracks the use of the infrastructure of the Wi-Fi during the event, so event profs will be able to tell how many users were present, what the utilization was and determine if it stayed within the bandwidth that was advertised.
“That’s the value of monitoring and testing before, during and after,” he says. “You can have all the quality checks and metrics before to make sure you’re ready for the event, then during the event we’re tracking all the use cases, usage, number of clients, etc., and they can do checks and balances to make sure it’s meeting their requirements.”
A Common Issue Planners Face
Beyond Wi-Fi, meeting profs have a lot going on. When you’re filled to the brim with items to check off your list, it’s easy to overlook things. While all aspects of the event are important, attendees’ ability to connect to the network may be at the top of the list, which can be disrupted by radio-frequency (RF) interference. Sands says RF interference is what he sees most planners not thinking about.
In other words, “they understand their own network, but there are a lot of devices that generate W-Fi that can interfere with your network,” he says. “These could be neighbors—residential or commercial—they could be personal devices, like hotspots, but [AI-detection] is an awesome way to be able to detect hotspots during events.”
He went to name other devices that could interfere with your Wi-Fi, depending on how strong their power is, such as printers, security cameras, projectors, soda machines and cars.
“A lot of that can be detected ahead of time, when you’re running not only quality checks on the network but everything that’s in the RF environment,” he says. “Some items might come in during the event, but at least before the event, if there are neighbors and other devices that are interfering, you’ll have visibility and can take corrective action.”
Sands adds, “Understanding your environment and taking corrective action before users are impacted, that is the goal.”
Think you know everything about hosting meetings at all-inclusive resorts? A lot has changed for the better. At today’s package price resorts, the quality of the experience is higher and the logistics couldn’t be easier. Gone are the massive dining rooms with a sea of buffets. Restaurant-quality experiences in formal and casual settings offer something for everyone.
“Recreation and relaxation are all housed in one convenient, stunning location, so attendees don’t have to worry about anything outside of that,” explained Colette Baruth on the value of all-inclusives, during a recent Smart Chat Live! webinar, “Inside Secrets for Planning Events At An All-Inclusive Resort.”
Colette Baruth is vice president and commercial director of all-inclusives for Hilton Hotels & Resorts and has witnessed the evolution of this popular incentive product as it expanded to serve the needs of meetings and events of all types. She shared tips for making the most of an all-inclusive resort.
For the better part of two years, most companies have adopted virtual or hybrid models which make networking, onboarding and simply connecting with coworkers more difficult. All-inclusive properties provide the opportunity “to bring all of those employees together into one destination, so that there is guaranteed face-to-face time,” said Baruth. Since attendees generally do not leave the resort for the duration of their stay, there are natural and fluid networking and social opportunities that overall will create a positive impact on the company.
The experience is also frictionless for attendees. The simplicity of one price tag for food, standard alcohol and most amenities makes it easy for attendees who “feel like running to just grab a drink or grab a snack…because it’s already included in the room rate,” emphasized Baruth.
Enjoyment, Flexibility and Security
All-inclusives are often located in Mexico and the Caribbean due to the warm climates and marvelous views. But in case of a bad weather day, there are indoor and outdoor options with some properties offering up to 50,000 sq. ft. of adaptable meeting space.
“For many attendees, today, it’s very common to combine business with leisure,” said Baruth. With spas, full fitness centers, pools and more, there is unlimited relaxation available. Attendees who want to stick around for a few days before or after can even bring family members who can enjoy benefits like kids’ and teens’ clubs and the tranquility that comes with not having to agonize over a budget.
All-inclusives incorporate full security with only accredited customers and personnel being able to access and enter the resort. Guests are generally identified by last name and room number and are given a wristband to be identified as a guest of the resort. Many also have 24-hour on-site medical services and doctors available if issues arise. As the world is constantly changing COVID protocols, Baruth encourages people to check specific resort websites to see what the guidelines are for that particular country or region.
Many all-inclusives are staffed with event technology experts who know the area and can help effectively plan and execute audio-visual for events. “You have tremendous access to flexible, resourceful, adaptable team members who have produced all types of events,” shares Baruth.
Something for Everyone
“There are a tremendous amount of unique settings out there, and there’s a host of opportunities to be able to delight attendees with an immersive event that caters to all five senses,” elaborates Baruth on how all-inclusives focus on ensuring everyone finds the experience meaningful and special. By satisfying people’s taste buds to charming attendees with an incredible view of the ocean and the sounds of the waves, the all-inclusive environment celebrates relaxation while promoting professional productivity and socialization.
Colette Baruth is vice president and commercial director of all-inclusives for 