Smart Meetings | Page 141 of 602 | Corporate Event Planning: Business Events, Meetings, Conferences

After a two-year Covid postponement, the 10th edition of Accor’s Global Meeting Exchange brought together top clients, company leadership, hotel representatives and partner companies for networking, education and a chance to experience the historic Fairmont San Francisco.

The property, which opened in grand style on Nob Hill in 1907, took the exceptional step of closing the gilded lobby to traffic and transforming it into a dine-around opening reception to show off the culinary reach of the Accor hospitality world, which encompasses Fairmont, Raffles, Orient Express, Delano, Sofitel, Emblems, SLS, Pullman, Swissotel, Ibis and others.

Well Done

The three-day event was a sneak peek at a major reorganization of the global hotel company coming this fall. The emphasis was on the brand’s continuing commitment to sustainability and wellness. Markus Keller, Accor chief sales and distribution officer, shared his view of how meetings business is coming back in different parts of the world. “We have seen a rise in corporate travel,” he said.

But groups aren’t coming back exactly the way they were three years ago. He noted an increased focus on CSR and a responsibility, not only to the environment, but also to social responsibilities in the form of gender and racial equality.

Accor showcased fun ways meeting professionals can put wellness front-and-center on a meeting agenda, including morning exercise options such as yoga sessions in the spectacular Grace Cathedral, guided walks through the city and luxurious massage sessions.

Keynote speaker Leigh Weinraub, founder of Mind in Motion, spoke inspiringly on the tools for mental and emotional fitness. Building emotional strength and discipline through practice and physical movement ultimately leads to greater self-awareness, confidence and performance for individuals and team, she attested.

Event-ready

To prepare for returning crowds, Accor properties are getting creative about recruiting, training and retaining employees during a global staffing shortage. Accor Chairman and CEO Sebastian Bazin reported that by continuing to support employees throughout the pandemic, the company came back in a stronger workforce position. By recruiting from schools and at-risk communities, Accor hopes to expose more people to the opportunities in hospitality careers.

It seems that “we all took an opportunity to look at ourselves and what we want out of this life and the time we have on the planet,” Keller said. Accor hopes to answer those existential questions with the promise of a meaningful career serving travelers.

Also prominent on the agenda was news of meetings and incentive properties in the pipeline. More than 300 properties are in opening in destinations such as London, Doha, Indonesia, Denmark and Panama City. One of the most anticipated openings of the year is Raffles London at The OWO in the historic Old War Office with 120 guest rooms and 11 restaurants and bars. In northwest England, Novotel Liverpool Paddington Village will open with more than 220 guest rooms.

The strength of Accor’s network across Europe continues to be bolstered with recent and upcoming openings, such as Sofitel Barcelona Skipper, Mercure Amsterdam North, ibis Styles St. Margrethen Switzerland, and Mercure Hotel President in Lecce and MGallery Cagliari Palazzo Tirso, both in Italy.

At Accor’s headquarters in Paris, the company will welcome MGallery Issy-les-Moulineaux Domaine de la Reine Margot and Paris Vincennes. In the United States, Raffles Boston Back Bay Hotel & Residences is taking shape as a 35-story tower featuring 146 residences, 147 guest rooms, and six food and beverage venues, including a sky bar and speakeasy.

A new partnership between IHG Hotels & Resorts and ECPAT-USA and Polaris focuses on bringing awareness to human trafficking and developing resources to actively combat it. Improving ways to combat human trafficking is especially vital for meeting professionals who are often hosting events at hotels and convention centers.

They can utilize research and training to take appropriate action when they see something suspicious at a hotel where they are producing an event. This announcement comes just in time for July 30th, the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.

What Is Human Trafficking?

Blurred Image of Women with hands against glass

There are two types of human trafficking: labor trafficking and sex trafficking. Both use a variety of tactics to compel someone to do something against their will, with labor trafficking being service based and sex trafficking being sexually based. Traffickers tend to target vulnerable people such as those living in poverty or people with a history of trauma. The United States Department of State estimates that there are 24.9 million worldwide victims at any given moment.

ECPAT and Polaris

Every Child Protected Against Trafficking (ECPAT) is the foremost anti-trafficking policy organization functioning to protect children and uphold their rights. IHG Hotels and Resorts signed the ECPAT-USA Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct in 2020 which is a set of principles that businesses agree to adopt alongside training their employees on how to recognize and disclose possible cases of child trafficking. Polaris also works to fight sex and labor trafficking through a data-driven social justice movement.

The organization built the largest U.S. data set on trafficking experiences, has extensive resources correcting trafficking myths and operates the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline. By expanding their work with both organizations, IHG will continue to bring awareness to trafficking and support the significant research and programs ECPAT and Polaris are developing.

With this partnership, IHG will become the only hospitality supporter of Polaris’s National Survivor Study, a research project focused on gaining insight from survivors about how to best make effective change. The study has produced significant learnings such as the need to improve long-term aid to survivors, the barriers that still exist for some groups to access emergency services, and specific short-term needs that don’t garner as much support. Through talking to survivors, Polaris can move forward in its mission to fight human trafficking.

IHG will also continue to donate IHG One Rewards loyalty points to both organizations which will go toward providing sanctuary for survivors.

How Meeting Professionals Can Make a Difference

Business team standing hands together, looking out on a city.

The hospitality industry is especially vulnerable to human trafficking as a result of the anonymity and privacy hotels grant their guests. From self-checks in and booking through third-party apps, it is simple and easy for traffickers to stay at and use hotels. This is why it is necessary for meeting professionals to learn how to spot and report trafficking. ECPAT-USA offers training for meeting professionals and also encourages them to work with suppliers who have signed the EPCAT-USA Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct.

Meeting Professionals Against Human Trafficking (MPAHT) is another organization working to bring awareness to human trafficking happening in the places where meetings are most regularly held. They work with suppliers to ensure there are training programs in place to identify and seek reinforcement when there are signs of trafficking.

To reach the National Human Trafficking Hotline, call 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to 233733. Operates 24/7 with 200 different languages.

Outgoing U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow will be inducted into U.S. Travel’s Hall of Leaders. Dow will be the 104th travel inductee to be named in the Hall of Leaders since its establishment in 1969.

Dow worked with U.S. Travel for the last 17 years. Before this, he worked with Marriott International for 34 years, leading global sales and marketing, as well as working to develop Marriott’s first loyalty program, what is now Marriott Bonvoy. Before he entered the travel industry, Dow served in the U.S. Army.

Dow has many forward-thinking developments under his belt that contributed to the expansion of the travel industry in the United States. One of these has been the creation of Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the U.S., which, since its inception, has increased inbound travel to the U.S. by 61%; Dow has also worked to create the Meetings Mean Business Coalition, a united front of more than 60 members designed to showcase the value of business meetings, conferences and conventions.

He holds multiple awards and honors, and has been on numerous boards, including ASAE, MPI Foundation, PCMA, Tourism Diversity Matter and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100.

He will be further honored by an induction into the Jack & Jill Foundation (JAJF) WOW! of Fame for his work with the nonprofit organization. JAJF works with children whose parents have a late-stage cancer diagnosis to give them extravagant WOW! experiences, allowing families to make important memories together.

Dow extended JAJF’s reach across the country and helped establish the WOW! Air Alliance to give JAJF families easy access to air travel. He is only the third inductee in the WOW! of Fame in JAJF’s 17 years of operation.

Earlier this summer, it was announced that Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of Consumer Brands Association, will be assuming the role of president and CEO of U.S. Travel.

Dow will officially be honored by U.S. Travel on Nov. 14, 2022.

“When you surround yourself with inspiring people, hard things get easier.” That was the message from author and Superbowl-winning executive Michael Lombardi at Smart Meetings Northeast Experience in Boston this week. “Winners do what we do not because it is easy, but because it is hard,” he continued. “When you embrace hard, it gets easier.”

Be in the room at a future Smart Meetings Experience. Register today.

An Innovative Backdrop

The challenging work of getting the industry back to meeting was definitely more fun when surrounded by meeting professional friends in the new, luxury Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport in the fast-growing Innovation District. The 1,054-room towers connect to the 516,000-square-foot Boston Convention and Exhibit Center through an underground tunnel and boast 100,000 sq. ft. of its own flexible meeting space. That includes the largest ballroom in the area, clocking in at 26,000 sq. ft. with floor-to-ceiling windows and sweeping views of the city and the port beyond. Museum-quality art punctuates the lobby and guest-room spaces as a reflection of the city’s intense artistic culture.

Nothing says welcome like paella and spritzers with the restaurant windows open to a lovely breeze. Thank you @OmniHotels for a @SmartMeetings that kicked the networking into high gear. #MeetSmart pic.twitter.com/EE6VL3ZOX7

— JT Long (@SmartMtgsJT) July 27, 2022

The signature property boasts seven unique dining experiences, including a sophisticated sports bar with a VIP room, an all-day dining restaurant offering Mediterranean fare, and a rooftop pool bar and grill with exquisite skyline and water views. Coquette, a Spanish-French restaurant from local celebrity restaurateurs at Coje, serves up sophisticated Basque specialties in an elegant Old-World dining room. The same culinary team operates Cocorico, the lobby coffee shop that draws on pastries whipped up in the on-site bakery. The catering menu reflects the diversity and sophistication of Executive Chef Yousef Ghalaini, who returned from vacation to wield the paella pan himself at the Smart Meetings opening reception at the open-air restaurant Lifted.

Learn more about big changes in Boston.

“Group is the bread and butter” of the much-anticipated property that opened in September of 2021, said Managing Director Michael Jorgensen. While the Smart Meetings group was on-site multiple events, including a large medical conference, were able to inhabit their own floors with plenty of room for break-out sessions.

Culture Shifts

Michael Lombardi and Mike Lyons — Michael Lombari and Smart Meetings TV Host Mike Lyons

Back to the lessons learned from Lombardi, the author of “Gridiron Genius: A Master Class in Winning Championships and Building Dynasties in the NFL.” His tips for managing shifting realities was a boon for meeting professionals figuring out how to adjust, book, and rebook events in a world where hotels are booked solid and clients are nervous.

His words of warning stem from working with legendary coaches such as the 49ers’ Bill Walsh, the Raiders’ Al Davis and Patriots’ Bill Belichick: “If you don’t like change, you will dislike irrelevance even more.” But he also brought a solution. “Changing the culture is the best way to manage change.”

Smart Meetings CEO Marin Bright at the podium — Smart Meetings CEO Marin Bright

His recommendation, culled from movies and real life, are meant to encourage competitive stamina and the ability to handle volume by focusing on what lies directly ahead.

The most successful athletes can power through boredom to focus only on the present task without being overwhelmed—good advice for meeting professionals who must focus on the details and not worry about the length of their to-do list. “You have to master your craft and your ego,” he said.

When problems do arise, divergent and second-order thinking can help find solutions that address deeper causes of the disruption. “The problem is rarely the problem,” he said. “The response to the problem invariably ends up being the real problem.”

As the vendor of choice in more hotels than any other event production company, Encore has had a front row seat on the return of in-person meetings and is preparing to play an outsized role in smoothing the journey by partnering with meeting professionals and industry partners to incorporate new tools in their programs regardless of whether the meeting is in person, online or in some hybrid combination of the above.

The repositioning of Encore as more than just an AV equipment supplier is being championed by a new senior team working with President and CEO (and 2021 Smart Meetings Catalyst Winner) Ben Erwin.

Former Aramark executive Cathy Schlosberg was named senior vice president of marketing in June of 2019 and former Enterprise Holdings Assistant Vice President of Global Travel and Meetings, Amanda Armstrong, took the role of senior vice president of brand and community engagement at Encore in January of 2022. Armstrong was Meeting Professionals International’s 2018 Chair of the International Board of Directors and serves on Event Industry Council’s Business Recovery Task Force.

Read about how layoffs and investments are marking the next stage in the streaming meeting evolution.

Smart Meetings caught up with Schlosberg and Armstrong last month and asked for a snapshot of where we are as an industry and where we are going based on what they are hearing from customers across the country.

This Future Will Be a Little Bit Hybrid

“Three years ago, the whole concept of hybrid meetings wasn’t in the vernacular the way it is today,” said Schlosberg. Now it is constantly discussed, but the actual execution of true synched hybrid events may not be living up to the hype of a year ago as companies scramble back to ballrooms.

Encore’s quarterly Planner Pulse survey shows that the number of in-person events has increased exponentially in the last year and is now at 60% of all events. Hybrid meetings range from 20% to 25%, which means 85% of events happening today have an in-person audience as at least one part of the equation. Virtual is still present, but hybrid is flat.

“Hybrid is going to be with us for the foreseeable future. The allure of data is not going to go away, but in person will be dominant,” she predicted, noting that her insights also come from how customers are using Encore’s Chime platform, which helps with engagement during virtual and in-person events.

Armstrong saw a nuanced picture of the events landscape. “The whole dynamic of meeting has changed. We are meeting differently by design because attendees are asking for it,” she said.

Meeting professionals are picking and choosing how to deliver content based on meeting purpose and size. A higher percentage of small meetings (50 or less) focused on delivering information are opting for virtual or hybrid formats, but those with 250 or more often want the power of networking in person.

Schlosberg also wanted to dispel the rumor that hybrid necessarily costs twice as much as an in-person meeting—something that is seen as the third most prevalent meeting professional concern in Encore surveys behind engagement and the complexity of planning two separate events.

Her suggestion for managing all three challenges is to bring the technology partner in early to help get clarity on goals and strategies. “The additional data available at a hybrid meeting creates a conversation about value rather than just cost,” she said.

The bottom line is that event technology is more important, even in person. “The pandemic created expectations of engagement that are real,” Armstrong said. In the past, much of the event technology was standard. Meeting professionals could duplicate, then rinse and repeat set-ups from year-to-year. Now a menu of choices includes streaming, hologram speakers and microphones on each table. A technology partner can help make those choices strategically.

“People are rethinking their approach and thinking about speakers and audiences they couldn’t include before. It is about limitless possibilities,” Armstrong said. “The pandemic broke down barriers as we all worked together to figure out how to bring back the industry stronger than ever,” she added, pointing to partnerships with established companies such a Notified and Cvent.

Recruiting Magicians

white-gloved hand with wand in hand does a trick in magician's hat

The next question is where meeting professionals and technology companies are going to find the people to manage all that technology amid a staffing crisis. In response, Encore is getting creative on training staff and clients. “We are doing road shows on how to put together a meeting for multiple audiences, including the room set-up, sound requirements, Internet strength and screen set-up. We have done a lot of training through our Encore University for continual learning,” Schlosberg said.

She sees The Great Resignation shifting to The Great Regret as those who left the industry are looking for ways back in, even if it’s in a different capacity. Encore’s new recruiting campaign is called, “You Make the Moment” because “technicians make magic happen,” Schlosberg said.

Recruitment includes appealing to Twitch users who are experts in gamification and online behavior. The company is also heavily focusing on the recruitment of female technicians to rebuild differently.

Business events are coming back quickly, but the upward curve looks different in different areas. The Sun Belt was the first region to recover along with the West Coast. In April, for first time since the pandemic hit, Encore went above 100% of 2019 volume. Staffing up to serve all the new needs at those events is requiring a new method of hiring.

“The world has changed, our industry has changed, events have changed, people have changed and so has our company,” Armstrong said. “We feel that our time is worth more now. We have to be conscientious that people’s time is valuable, so we need to deliver in ways that are convenient for them.”

Lisa Messina has joined Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as chief sales officer. Messina joins following a 4.5-year stint with Caesars Entertainment, where she most recently worked as senior vice president of sales, leading a team of 120 sales directors. She’ll begin her new position in early September.

“I am thrilled to join the LVCVA and represent Las Vegas, the number one name in tourism,” Messina said. “There is tremendous history to celebrate in Las Vegas but there are also opportunities to make history. We are at a pivotal moment where the landscape is evolving in a fun and transformative way. It gives business and leisure travelers even more reasons to return.”

Before joining Caesars, Messina worked with Hilton Worldwide as executive director of intermediary group sales, as well as chief marketing officer with ConferenceDirect before this. She also serves on MPI’s international board of directors and as its board liaison on its committee for anti-human trafficking, both positions she began January 2022.

In November 2020, we spoke with Messina about the opening of Caesars Forum and meeting in person again. Check it out.

Michaelene Sullivan

San Diego Tourism Authority appointed Sullivan vice president of sales and services. She brings more than 18 years of hospitality and destination sales experience with Hyatt Hotels, and has held leadership roles in food and beverage and events, as well. Most recently, Sullivan served as director of sales and marketing at Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego.

Ali Moussa

Moussa is now director of sales and marketing at Doha, Qatar’s The Chedi Katara Hotel & Resort, the newest hotel by GHM Luxury Hotels & Resorts. Previously, Moussa served on the pre-opening leadership team as director of sales for Dream Doha. He has garnered more than a decade of hotel sales experience and has worked for several Hyatt Hotels & Resorts properties throughout Doha.

Lindsay Inman

Viceroy Chicago welcomed Inman as its new general manager. Inman has served in leadership roles at Langham Hotel in Chicago for the last nine years, first joining the property as its director of restaurants during its pre-opening stage. Most recently, she was hotel manager for Langham Hotel.

Victor Clavell

Rosewood Hotel Group appointed Clavell senior vice president of operations for Europe, the Middle East and the Caribbean. In his previous role, Clavell was chief operating officer at “Amaala,” a luxury development project in Saudi Arabia. He has spent the last 30 years gaining hospitality and business management experience with Marriott International and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.

Richard Hess

Florida’s Hilton Orlando appointed Hess hotel manager. He brings over 15 years of hotel operations and leadership experience, most recently serving as director of operations and hotel manager at Waldorf Astoria Chicago. Hess has also previously been director of operations at Waldorf Astoria Boca Raton Resort & Club while he also served as director of rooms at Waldorf Astoria Boca Beach Club, both in southern Florida.

Florian Kunkel

Hilton Boston Logan Airport welcomed Kunkel as its new general manager. Kunkel was most recently general manager of Hilton Houston Post Oak by the Galleria. He brings 29 years of hotel management experience and has held food and beverage leadership and executive roles at Hilton properties in Hawaii, Oregon, Maryland and Virginia.

Jennifer Duffy

The global event tech and production company Encore welcomed Duffy as director of external communications. Duffy most recently worked for Associated Luxury Hotels International as its vice president of marketing. In her 15 years of business and consumer marketing, she has held roles such as communications director at Experience Scottsdale in Arizona, director of brand marketing and food and beverage strategy for MGM Resorts, and more.

Thomas Nicholson and Sergiu Les

CWT appointed Nicholson director of sales for North American business travel, and Les to director of sales for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Nicholson was most recently director of business development and banking at Conferma Pay, a virtual payment tech company based in the United Kingdom. He has been a sales leader in travel and hospitality for the last 25 years and has worked for American Express GBT, United Airlines UATP (Universal Air Travel Plan) and more.

Sergiu has spent more than a decade in global travel management company sales. He recently worked for TripActions, a travel technology company.

Milet Lukey

Dorchester Collection named Lukey as vice president of people and culture. Most recently, she was vice president of talent and culture for the Americas at Rosewood Hotel Group. A 30-year hospitality veteran, Lukey has held roles such as director of people organization and development, vice president of people operations and more, and has worked for The Beverly Hills Hotel, Hotel Bel-Air and SH Hotels & Resorts.

Danna Lilly

Experience Columbia SC in South Carolina promoted Lilly to vice president of the convention and visitors bureau, including its meetings and conventions sales teams. She most was most recently sales manager at Experience Columbia SC. Lilly has over three decades of travel and tourism sales experience and has worked for Kingston Plantation Resorts, Visit Myrtle Beach and was executive director of Meet in South Carolina for two years.

Jeremy Sadler

Sadler is now general manager of 106 Jefferson Huntsville, Curio Collection by Hilton, the first boutique to arrive in Huntsville, Alabama. Previously, he served as general manager of several properties in the southern and midwestern United States. With more than 20 years of hospitality operations and management experience, Sadler has worked for Marriott International, Starwood Hotels and Resorts and more.

Christy Connolly

Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort, welcomed Connolly as director of sales. Connolly brings over 15 years of hospitality sales experience. Most recently, she was director of sales for Resorts & Residences by CuisinArt in Anguilla, where she served for the last seven years. She has also been director of sales at Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France.

Victorio Gonzalez

Gonzalez is now general manager of Montage Big Sky in Orange County, California. A 30-year hotel operations and management veteran, Gonzalez was most recently founder and managing partner of Executive Dining Consultants LLC, owning and opening restaurants throughout the greater Tucson, Arizona, area. He has been a leader within the Montage International brand for the last 20 years.

Richard Cox

Kimpton Canary Hotel in Santa Barbara, California, appointed Cox general manager. The 25-year hospitality veteran has held leadership roles in food and beverage and hotel operations at Grand America Hotels and Resorts and Westgate Hotel in San Diego, California, where he most recently served as general manager for 12 years.

Hoss Vetry

Rosewood Hotel Group promoted Vetry to vice president of operations for the Asia Pacific region. Previously, he served as regional vice president and managing director of Rosewood Hong Kong. Bringing 32 years of industry experience, Vetry held similar roles within The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company’s North America, Asia Pacific and Middle East markets for 25 years.

Mia Lange

Saint Kitts Tourism Authority of the Caribbean country Saint Kitts and Nevis appointed Lange as its first chief marketing officer. Lange brings more than 20 years of tourism and economic development experience, most recently serving as executive director of global communications for The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. While there, she also held roles such as senior manager of advertising and branding, manager of cruise development and more.

Jillian Dampier

The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, in Florida appointed Dampier director of group and catering sales. She brings 20 years of hospitality sales experience, most recently working for Indy Area Hotels in Indianapolis as regional director of sales and marketing. She held similar roles at Hyatt Hotels, Conrad Hotels and Resorts, and Marriott Bonvoy properties throughout the Midwest.

Erica Tortora

Tortora is senior marketing manager of JW Marriott Tampa Water Street and Tampa Marriott Water Street in Florida. She was previously a marketing supervisor at The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach, and The Ritz-Carlton, Bal Harbour, both in Florida. With a decade of experience in marketing roles, Tortora has also worked for Accor, Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, and Park Hyatt New York.

Anna Karas

Karas is director of marketing and communications at Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi in Malé. A 10-year hotel marketing veteran, Karas has served in similar roles AYANA Hotels, W Maldives, Anantara Maldives Resorts, and more. Most recently, she was director of marketing and communications at Mövenpick Resort Kuredhivaru Maldives.

Unbearable, earth-scorching temperatures posing a threat to the environment also endanger the health of meeting attendees exposed to such extreme heat. In July, roughly 100 million Americans came under an extreme heat warning issued by the National Weather Service as states stretching from the south-central region to the Northeast were hit with blistering triple-digit temperatures, encroaching on daily records in the states of Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas.

The bottom line is that the planet has been heated by more than 34 degrees Fahrenheit thanks to greenhouse gas emissions resulting from human activity since the pre-industrial era, meaning that the increased baseline temperature will allow for hotter heatwaves, Reuters reports.

The July heatwaves that sapped parts of the U.S. and Europe were once expected to naturally occur on land once every 10 years. However, the current conditions allow for similar events of extreme heatwaves every three years, ETH Zurich climate scientist Sonia Seneviratne said.

Event professionals must now anticipate what attendees will be exposed to even in destinations where extreme heat is not the norm. For some, this means making air conditioning units, misters and expansive sunscreens standard for all outside events. For others, it could mean foregoing the use of an outdoor venue altogether while selecting a venue that features an extensive sustainability program.

Moreover, fallout from climate change is taking a toll on some of the most popular travel destinations. Lakes are quickly evaporating while famed wooded areas in locations such as Yosemite, Lake Tahoe and the southwest region of Alaska—previously considered to be fireproof—are burning more frequently than ever, causing massive revenue losses to the local tourism industry.

In addition to carefully selecting a venue for its sustainability policies, event planners are now enlisting the services of consultants that specialize in disaster response and mitigation. Kenyon Emergency Services, a 2021 acquisition of Air Partner, offers large-scale disaster response services specifically for hospitality and tourism, including support for guests and staff during a disaster such as massive fire and coordination with local authorities.

How Planners Can Beat the Heat

Bolstering emergency medical services at events in regions experiencing bouts of extreme weather can help to ensure that attendees will get the help they need in the case of a health emergency. Moreover, event planners should provide attendees with the appropriate information on the warning signs for heat-related illnesses including heat stroke and heat exhaustion.

Heat is one of the leading weather-related killers in the United States, resulting in hundreds of fatalities each year, according to the National Weather Service, so event planners should closely track heat warnings and advisories issued by local authorities and the NWS to anticipate what additional measures need to be taken to protect event attendees and staff.

Knowing your audience will help provide valuable data, such as the age range of attendees, which can be utilized to protect vulnerable groups. This information can be collected prior to an event in the form of surveys or “calls with friendlies” to create effective event programming and can assist an event planner in anticipating attendees needs.

Astra Hotel Seattle

In Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood, Astra Hotel Seattle by Marriott Tribute Portfolio is open and ready for reservations. Its 16 stories hold 265 guest rooms and 5,000 sq. ft. of meeting space in seven meeting and event spaces. With easy access to downtown and the Amazon and Google campuses, the property caters to the tech hub that it calls home.

Room service and amenity delivery is provided by Sparky, a small robot that rides in elevators with guests. He responds to requests made on guests’ phones through a digital concierge.

As with many modern hotels, Astra Hotel Seattle offers multiple dining options for its guests. Otium Grill & Greens has a locally-focused menu with fresh proteins, vegetables and grains. Caffe Ladro provides coffee in the lobby, while The Take Away Gift Shop stocks a selection of local treats. This August, ALTITUDE Sky Lounge will open with views of downtown and Lake Union, craft cocktails, local beer and wine and a weekly live DJ.

Technology is at the forefront of Astra Hotel Seattle’s offerings. Room service and amenity delivery is provided by Sparky, a small robot that rides in elevators with guests. He responds to requests made on guests’ phones through a digital concierge. Boardrooms have Zoom functionality built in with modern AV tech. Onsite AV staff are available to help meeting planners with any problems.

The technology trend continues just a block away at an Amazon Go convenience store, a grab-and-go store that automatically charges your card when you walk out. Last-minute necessities can be shipped to any of the ten nearby Amazon lockers. If you need a splash of nature, Denny Park has walking paths between flower beds and trees and hosts a farmer’s market on Saturday mornings.

Hyatt Regency San Antonio River Walk

A suite at Regency San Antonio. There is a dining room and separate sitting room next to large windows

After six months of work, Hyatt Regency San Antonio River Walk has completed its $38 million renovation. Between local attractions Alamo Plaza and River Walk, the family and business hotel has been updated to reflect the revitalization of the city. It transformed all 630 guest rooms, including 28 luxury suites, and the atrium-style corridors to include more natural light and modern colors.

Each guest room has been updated with hardwood floors, floor-to-ceiling windows and an open floor plan. New 75” flatscreen TVs on wooden stands, mini refrigerators and work center desks are just a few of the amenities guests can expect. In the bathrooms, marble and granite showers and countertops add a luxury touch to the new fixtures. When it comes to meetings and events, 37,000 sq. ft. across two ballrooms and 21 breakout rooms gives planners plenty of space to spread out.

Dining options are plentiful in the hotel and along the River Walk. Q Kitchen & Bar is open all day for food and drinks at its bar and lounge. MKT. PLACE serves healthy grab-and-go meals. Mad Dog’s British Pub and Bier Garten Riverwalk offer classic bar experiences and entertainment options. For “casually upscale” occasions, On the Bend Oyster Bar & Lounge has fresh seafood and signature cocktail menus on a two-tiered patio.

Next to the newly renovated Alamo Plaza, Ripley’s Believe It or Not provides kitschy fun for a break from business. A few blocks south, River Center shopping mall has more than 100 shops and restaurants, including clothing, souvenirs, candy and a movie theater. For more dining options, South Bank hosts a series of restaurants around a Hard Rock Café across the river from Regency San Antonio.

The Sea Ranch Lodge

An outdoor banquet table with a cloth tent and orange lights above — Photo Credit: Sarah Falugo

On the rocky coastline of Northern California, The Sea Ranch Lodge has launched a new glamping program with packages for individuals, groups and events. Shelter Co. will provide two-person tents and outdoor event fixtures to complement the newly renovated facilities in the lodge. With 500,000 sq. ft. of land, the Lodge offers plentiful space for all kinds of meetings and events.

The tents themselves lean on the “glam” of glamping. Spacious, bell-shaped tents feature a bed for two, a cowhide rug, wooden bedside tables, wool blankets, leather lounge chairs and Egyptian cotton sheets. Bathrooms and showers also get the luxury treatment, even in portable form.

Event planners have the option of indoor and outdoor event space with the Lodge. Several scenic spaces are available, including the Meadow that fits up to 200 guests. All 10,000 sq. ft. of the Lodge itself are available for use by group events, including the restaurant, solarium, bar and lounge and general store.

There are plenty of modern comforts inside The Sea Ranch Lodge. A new Dining Room restaurant by Chef Eric Piacentine is full of elevated comfort food with local ingredients. Live jazz, yoga classes, craft markets and art exhibits are frequent fixtures that attract locals and guests. If you can’t get enough of the landscape, self-guided tours to various beaches and tide pools let guests explore the coastal environment.

Element Philadelphia

Just in time for its one-year anniversary, Element Philadelphia introduced long-term stay amenities and accessible meeting spaces to the Center City District. All 460 guest rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows and sustainable amenities, in line with the eco-friendly Element brand.

Element Philadelphia’s 26 meeting rooms, totaling 45,000 sq. ft., are spread out across three floors that all have elevator access. Modern AV technology and high-speed Wi-Fi are available for event organizers. As a Marriott property, planners can use the Marriott Meeting Services App to streamline the planning process.

Accommodating the growing trend of extended hotel stays, the hotel offers special amenities that make long stays more comfortable. Fully-equipped kitchens can be found in every room. Business services, guest laundry services, a fitness center and a “Bikes to Borrow” program give guests the opportunity to explore the city while staying productive. Those traveling with pets can use the “Love that Dog” program to receive dog amenities like a bed, treats, bowls and cleaning supplies.

Sustainability is at the root of Element Philadelphia. Inside guest rooms, the carpets are mostly recycled materials; the walls are painted with low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints; low-flow faucets and fixtures are installed in the bathroom and kitchen; silverware and glassware are provided to minimize waste; recycling bins are in guest rooms and public spaces; filtered water fountains are available throughout the hotel; electric vehicle stations are outside.

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.

In a much-anticipated move that played out over the past several months, JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines have announced that JetBlue will acquire Spirit.

JetBlue’s press release on the merger heralds the move, saying the two airlines will join “to create a national low-fare challenger to the dominant big four airlines.”

The merger will create the fifth largest airline in the United States.

“We are excited to deliver this compelling combination that turbocharges our strategic growth, enabling JetBlue to bring our unique blend of low fares and exceptional service to more customers, on more routes,” said Robin Hayes, CEO of JetBlue, in the release.

“We look forward to welcoming Spirit’s outstanding team members to JetBlue and together creating a customer-centric, fifth-largest carrier in the United States. Spirit and JetBlue will continue to advance our shared goal of disrupting the industry to bring down fares from the big four airlines. This combination is an exciting opportunity to diversify and expand our network, add jobs and new possibilities for Crewmembers and expand our platform for profitable growth.”

Ted Christie, president and CEO of Spirit, said in the release that the merge would be a “gamechanger” and heralded the rise of a new low-cost carrier.

JetBlue says the merger will “accelerate” its growth plan with over 1,700 daily flights to 125 destinations in 30 countries based on December 2022 schedules. It also says the merger will “increase relevance for JetBlue in certain key focus cities (Los Angeles; Orlando; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and San Juan, Puerto Rico) as well as big four’s airline hubs (Las Vegas, Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta and Miami).”

The airlines will continue to operate independently until closing on the merger is complete.

Not all experts are projecting benefits and boons for travelers. William J. McGee, senior fellow for aviation and travel for American Economic Liberties Project (AELP), told Smart Meetings, “AELP is opposed to further consolidation in the airline industry, because the existing consolidation has caused so many harms.

“In this specific case, absorbing Spirit will remove an ultra-low cost carrier and the effects on routes currently served by Spirit will be that fares will increase. And as with all airline mergers, this merger will bring less competition, higher costs, higher fares, less service in certain cities and employee lay-offs.”

Bottom line for meeting planners: Some experts believe the merger is bad for consumers and say it will drive up fares. Others believe the merger will take down the level of service status that the current JetBlue enjoys among consumers, making it a lower-service airline with less perks and reduced comforts.

Until JetBlue and Spirit prove these theories wrong, it’s best for travel planners to hope for the best, but expect higher fares (the current trend even before the merger) and a potentially lowered inflight experience on the new merged airline.