Smart Meetings | Page 160 of 602 | Corporate Event Planning: Business Events, Meetings, Conferences

Meeting professionals understand that travel brings people together. But how can you measure the power of those connections? Destinations International, the association for Destination Marketing Organizations, is teaming up with research firms iolite group, Brand USA and Miles Partnership to determine the impact of cultural exchange on destination planning and travel.

The upcoming study, “The Multicultural Multiplier: Cultural Diversity’s Impact on Travel Intent,” will examine how showcasing cultural diversity affects travelers’ intentions. Travelers from Canada, China, Mexico, U.K. and U.S. will be surveyed starting in early 2022, with results available in Spring of ’22.

The study intends to assess a number of factors, including:

Quantifying the impact that showcasing cultural diversity has on travelers.
Defining what traveler perceptions and behaviors are impacted, and by how much.
Uncovering insights to enhance marketing effectiveness for culturally diverse experiences.
Defining profile(s) of culturally curious travelers.

You can learn more about the project and its methods here.

Don Welsh, president and CEO of Destinations International, is excited about this study’s potential to move the industry’s thinking about DEI forward.

“Destinations International is committed to transforming destination communities through thought leadership, best practices and tool-based initiatives on equity, diversity and inclusion principles so their destinations are true reflections of their communities,” he said. “The rich cultures that make up destinations around the world enhance the visitor proposition.”

As DEI has come more into focus in this industry, planners are trying to incorporate it not just in the workplace, but into the way they plan off-site meetings.

This can mean anything from focusing on locally owned venues and attractions, to partnering with smaller organization on the ground in their meeting destinations. This can make for a more enjoyable, enriching experience for attendees, plus a boost to local economies and small businesses.

“As the nation’s tourism marketing organization, Brand USA views cultural diversity as one of its most compelling storytelling platforms,” said Tom Garzilli, chief marketing officer of Brand USA. “We are thrilled to partner with Destinations International and Miles Partnership to support iolite group’s study.”

iolite group’s founder and CEO Carroll Rheem believes that the study will highlight how enriching international travel is both for planners, and for businesses and organizations at the destination.

“The study’s objectives are to quantify that potential and generate actionable marketing insights to help enrich destination storytelling in a way that benefits both travelers and local communities,” she said.

That sounds like a win-win—and the sponsors hope their study results will prove it.

There is no magic elixir to absolutely protect attendees from fast-spreading novel coronaviruses. But strategic measures executed professionally are a lot more effective than some of the most common solutions being promoted right now.

That is the real talk delivered by Robert Bronstein and John Harris, partners behind Prevent, a Lynchburg, Virginia, risk mitigation company created to help meeting professionals cross the unknown to return to meeting responsibly. What does work, they say, is layering safety measures based on the time, place and type of group. What doesn’t work might surprise you.

The pair sat down with Smart Meetings to talk about best practices for mitigation and what not to do.

Hot Topic

Robert Bronstein

Top of the list of things seen frequently that don’t actually keep attendees safer: temperature reading guns. “A lot of the equipment out there is total B.S.,” said Bronstein.

That doesn’t mean he doesn’t recommend thermal screening as one of the layers of screening, but it has to be done correctly by trained personnel with FDA-approved camera systems that report accurately.

The tear duct is actually the most precise place to measure, he explained. The forehead is the least valid measurement and a lot of the guns pushed quickly into the market are not sensitive enough to give a meaningful reading.

Symptom and temperature screening also fall short in the face of asymptomatic people who can still spread the disease.

Bare-Faced Truths

Wearing N95 masks can protect attendees, Bronstein says, but only if they are worn continuously. “The reality is that people are getting tired of wearing masks,” he observed. And meeting professionals are often hesitant to take on the role of mask-police.

Still, Harris suggests distributing protective masks (branded ideally) as a way to stress the importance of following safety protocols.

Shot Limitations

Vaccinations were the step that was going to save F2F events at the beginning of 2021, but they have proven to be less than 100 percent effective, especially when events mix vaccinated and unvaccinated attendees. “Requiring vaccinations may have been fine the early days, but with so many breakthrough cases now, it is seen more as a measure to minimize symptoms,” Harris said.

While requiring boosters can help ensure attendees are as protected as possible, it can be a limiting factor on attendance, he cautioned.

Whatever the planner decides will be required, Harris stressed the importance of outsourcing the management of vaccine data collection, logging and screening for privacy reasons. Apps streamline the collection and verification of status while preserving medical privacy.

Testing, Testing

The most certain way to create a safe, productive space is testing, Bronstein said. Requiring testing on-site or prior to arrival through a PCR test layered with other measures such as cleaning, enhanced air filtration, masks and vaccines is the most sure-fire solution, he said.

Long-Covid Effects

The pair started their company after their music careers were cut short by the flattening of the curve that required cancelling concerts. Now they are dedicated to helping events move forward regardless of what variant pops up next. “Just because Omicron is trending downward doesn’t mean it is time to let your guard down,” said Bronstein. “We have to continue to do the right thing.”

John Harris

He compared safety measures now being put in place such as enhanced air filtration to the increased airport security that is still happening 20 years after the 9-11 attack.

“We have learned a lot of lessons,” said Harris. “We have learned how to protect people without shutting everything down. We have learned resiliency.”

One of the changes the pair hope will stick: The tolerance for people coming to work sick. “No more badge of honor for coming to the office coughing through the day,” Bronstein said.

Case Study in Safety

Event Service Professionals Association’s (ESPA) annual conference in January (seen in the first image) was billed as a model for what can be accomplished when a meeting professional organization produces its own event. A total of 162 individuals attended ESPA Annual Conference 2022 at Westin Kansas City at Crown Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri.

That was just over half the number who attended in 2020. Eleven registrants didn’t attend the event, a statistic categorized as due to organizer’s Covid precautions. After the event, one person reported a Covid infection a few days after the conference, meaning 99.4 percent of attendees didn’t report any subsequent illness.

How was this accomplished? Kenneth Hitchner, director of content strategy with CMA Solutions shared the protocols put in place.

Screening

ESPA required that all attendees show proof of Covid vaccination or negative PCR test performed within 72 hours of the conference using the CrowdPass app. Registrants were not allowed entry until these measured had been verified on site.

attendees engaging in safety protocols — ESPA 2022 Conference Roundtable

The app also facilitated advance health screening questions.

Suggested precautions included getting a vaccine booster for those who qualify and taking a rapid test prior to departure, even if fully vaccinated.

As part of ESPA’s registration process, all registrants were asked to agree to do their part and support and abide by established safety protocols. That included self-monitoring and if experiencing any Covid symptoms, to remove themselves from the event and notify ESPA staff.

A Culture of Safety

All attendees were required to wear a mask indoors, unless they were eating or drinking. N95 masks were available to all attendees.

Attendees had the option to choose Red/Yellow/Green lanyards to demonstrate their comfort factor while networking with fellow attendees. Red meant: “I’m keeping my distance”; Yellow translated as: “I’m being cautious, but I’m ok with talking and elbow bumps”; Green told fellow attendees: “I’m feeling ok with hugs and high fives.”

Similarly, a variety of seating options allowed attendees to choose the distancing option they were most comfortable with. Each session room offered one seat per 6-ft. table classroom seating as well as banquet rounds with four seats. The general session also offered theater seating spaced 3-ft. apart.

Hand sanitizer was available throughout the space as well as mini-bottle give-aways for all attendees. Signage encouraged respecting others’ space according to their lanyard color and reminders about wearing masks.

Disinfecting wipes were placed at all podiums so that microphones could be wiped by the incoming speaker prior to use.

The mobile app, Eventmobi, facilitated session questions for speakers through its Q&A feature, alleviating the need to pass microphones among attendees.

Covid-Era F&B

Food service considerations included breakfast served in individual bags with wrapped bagels or muffins, individually packaged fruit, yogurt and granola. Lunch was plated, served by attendants wearing N95 masks with tightly controlled exceptions.

Coffee breaks were set as individual grab-and-go, alleviating the need for crowding or lingering at stations and multiple people using serving spoons. Examples were individual glasses with smoothies, crudité, or apples with caramel sauce.

The host hotel followed Marriott’s Commitment to Clean protocols. Encore, the AV partner, followed their MeetSafe Guidelines for cleaning high-touch items.

Dedren Bailey

A portrait of Dedren Bailey. He is a black man with short natural hair and a grey suit

Valley Forge Casino Resort, a gaming and entertainment resort in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, welcomed Bailey as vice president of marketing. Bringing 18 years of entertainment and hospitality experience, Bailey enters the new role after serving as vice president of marketing at Rivers Casino Philadelphia. He has also been director of marketing at Harlow’s Casino Resort in Greenville, Mississippi and vice president of marketing for Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland in Hanover.

Chris Cofelice

A portrait of Chris Cofelice. He is a balding white man with a stubbled beard and blue collared shirt

Cofelice is director of sales at Vail, Colorado’s Sonnenalp Hotel. A long-time resident of the Vail valley, Cofelice joins the hotel team with more than 10 years of sales management experience. Cofelice was most recently complex director of sales and marketing at Davidson Hospitality Group in Snowmass Village, Colorado. He has also held directorships at The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa in Avon, Colorado, Vail Marriott Mountain Resort and more.

John D’Angelo

A portrait of John D’Angelo. He is a man with black combed hair, square glasses and a blue suit

D’Angelo was appointed general manager of Grand Hyatt Vail. D’Angelo has an extensive 20 years of hospitality management experience with Hyatt Hotels. Previously, D’Angelo was resort manager at Hyatt’s Wild Dunes Resort in Isle of Palms, South Carolina. He has also served as general manager of Grand Hyatt Nashville, resort manager at Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in Nassau and as director of rooms at Hyatt Regency Bellevue on Seattle’s Eastside, among other roles and properties.

Anna Clover

A portrait of Anna Clover. She is a white woman with short greying hair and a white turtleneck sweater

ExCel London, a major event venue at the historic Royal Docks, promoted Clover to executive director of event management and guest experience. Most recently, Clover joined the company as head of event management. Clover has over 20 years of event management experience and has held the role of director of venue operations and customer service at Queen Elizabeth II Centre, venues operations manager at MWB Business Exchange and several similar additional directorships.

Michael Thompson, CMM

A portrait of Michael Thompson. He is a balding black man with round glasses, a stubbled beard and a blue collared shirt

Thompson is director of meeting and event services at Talley Management Group in Mount Royal, New Jersey. With extensive hospitality and events experience, Thompson brings decades of industry knowledge to the new role. Thompson was most recently vice president of event marketing at National Urban League (NUL) for 12 years and has held management positions in corporate event planning at SAP America and Association for Supply Chain Management (APICS).

Ben Fairchild

A portrait of Ben Fairchild. He is a white man with short brown hair, a stubbled beard and a plaid grey suit

Mission Pacific Hotel and The Seabird Resort in Oceanside, California welcomed Fairchild as area director of sales and marketing. Fairchild brings extensive experience at Hyatt properties and almost 15 years of experience in food and beverage and sales and marketing management. Most recently, Fairchild was area director of sales and marketing at Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine and Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina.

Lorine Charles-St. Jules

A portrait of Lorine Charles-St. Jules. She is a black woman with short straight hair and a black and white patterned blouse

Saint Lucia Tourism Authority in the Caribbean’s Castries, Saint Lucia named Charles-St. Jules CEO of the organization. Charles-St. Jules has spent over 20 years in hospitality and tourism management and has been with the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority for nine years. Charles-St. Jules was previously director of marketing for her current organization and, prior to that, was CEO of PEAEYE7 Marketing International for five years.

Pawin “P.J.” Souksanith

A portrait of Pawin “P.J.” Souksanith. He is an Asian man with medium-length black hair and a black suit

Souksanith was appointed executive meetings manager at Fairmont Dallas. Souksanith was previously venue production manager at The Mason Dallas. His hospitality and events career began to grow over five years ago at Gaylord Entertainment Company, where he worked as guest services associate before becoming event manager voyager with Marriott International.

Joe Holody

A portrait of Joe Holody. He is a white man with greying combed hair and a brown suit

Holody joined Destination Niagara USA as vice president of sales. Holody has been in convention sales management for more than 30 years and returns to the area decades after having been vice president of convention sales at the former Niagara Falls CVB in 1999. Most recently, Holody was director of convention marketing, sales and services at VisitErie, Erie, Pennsylvania’s tourism bureau, where he worked for almost 19 years.

Brick Loomis

A portrait of Brick Loomis. He is a white man with combed brown hair and a black collared shirt

Kimpton The Rowan Palm Springs appointed Loomis director of restaurants, bars and events. Loomis brings over two decades of hospitality and food and beverage leadership experience, previously working for Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows as director of outlets. Loomis has also been assistant director of food and beverage at Rosewood Sand Hill and department head and wine director at Four Seasons Beverly Hills’ Culina Restaurant and Windows Lounge.

Jennifer Collins

A portrait of Jennifer Collins. She is a white woman with wavy highlighted hair and silver earrings

Collins is now executive vice president of operations at EOS Hospitality in New York City. Along with her 20 years of experience in hospitality management, Collins also brings diverse experiences in organization leadership. Most recently, Collins was head of enterprise operations at Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), a national nonprofit centered around community development and racial equity.

Tim Collett

A portrait of Tim Collett. He is a white man with combed greying hair, a stubbled beard and a sweatshirt

WRG, the global experience agency, appointed Collett managing director. Previously, Collett was global head of events, after joining the company in 2017. Collett has over 20 years of event and video production experience and has also worked for Jack Morton Worldwide in multiple senior leadership roles.

Mark Pandaleon

A portrait of Mark Pandaleon. He is a white man with short combed hair and a black suit. He is standing in front of New York skyscrapers

Smyth Tribeca, a new, independent hotel in New York City, named Pandaleon general manager. Pandaleon brings 15 years of New York hospitality and hotel management experience to his new role. Pandaleon was previously general manager at Steward Hotel, where he held multiple leadership roles during his time at the property. He has also been assistant director of food and beverage at The London Hotel New York and director of stewarding at The Drake Hotel in Chicago.

Amanda Dyson and Janine Douglas

Two portraits of Amanda Dyson and Janine Douglas. Dyson is a blonde white woman with short hair and a black suit jacket. Douglas is a black woman with chin-length brown hair and a red suit jacket

Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) promoted Dyson to director of membership, corporate events and visitor services and Douglas to manager of facilities.

Dyson has been with ACVB since 2004, when she joined the organization as marketing manager. Since joining the travel bureau, Dyson has held leadership roles in international and domestic tourism.

Douglas joined the organization in 2009 as administrative assistant of corporate events and development. Most recently, Douglas was ACVB’s coordinator of government and community affairs.

The rumors are true! Face-to-face meetings are happening again and where better to celebrate a comeback than in West Hollywood (WeHo), where the pool decks sparkle along with the chandeliers and not just the penthouse is suite.

The exterior of The London West Hollywood. A white building with balconies on every floor — The London West Hollywood

In fact, at The London West Hollywood West Hollywood at Beverly Hills where meeting professionals met this week for Smart Meetings Experience Southern California to learn about all the new opportunities for getting back in ballrooms through curated appointments, all 226 guest rooms are suites, and the 11,000 sq. ft. of meeting space is in addition to a two-story penthouse with 360-degree views.

The luxe quarters were the site of the welcome reception and closing festivities with behind-the-scenes work from Champagne Creative Group to set the celebrity tone.

Ain’t No Stopping Planners

In between networking receptions, the group met in the plush private screening room for some resiliency lessons from “American Ninja Warrior” Alex Weber. The author of “Fail Proof: Become the Unstoppable You” shared his five lessons for achieving big goals—like planning a meeting during late-stage pandemic times.

A portrait of Alex Weber. He is a white man wearing a dark suit — Alex Weber

“Goals are hard, and life is busy, noisy and judgement-laden,” he acknowledged right from the beginning. Then he shared five specific steps to doing hard things beyond staying positive. In fact, he shared that having a positive outlook is powerful.

It can increase productivity by 13%, help our bodies work better by minimizing toxic cortisol caused by anxiety and open our eyes to possibilities. It is also irritating and counter-productive, though, if it isn’t authentic. “I am generally positive, but not always. Because I am a human being and not a golden retriever,” he joked. Then he got to the steps.

Be clear: Take time to understand the goals that really matter to you, not to him or her or them, but the goals that are important to you.
Claim it: Start with an idea—maybe getting certified—and be clear on what you want. Even if you struggle with feeling worthy, when you write down and say you deserve it, acknowledging that it can be real is a first step.
Commit: Make a commitment to ourselves, the people in our lives and our goals and be unwavering about moving forward.
Connect: Reach out to the things that lift you up—the people, choices and habits that support you. Limit the ones that hold you back. We are human and we make mistakes, but if we lean into the things that support us more often, we will be positioned for success.
Choice: Own that you have a choice of how you show up, how you engage with others and what big, beautiful goals you want to go after. You have a choice to believe in yourself so when you hit the roadblocks and the fears, you can lean into what supports you (see No. 4).

When your life and expectations change and you are suddenly feeling like a failure, questioning yourself, spiraling down, you have a choice to quit or commit. Quitting can be loud and public and take the form of flipping a desk and storming out of a room. Or, more dangerously, quietly giving up and not putting yourself out there.

“Goals change and evolve, but you are the constant. You have to choose yourself,” Weber said. “Know that all you can do is the best you can do so you will never live with regret.

Meet with like-minded meeting professionals at our next 3-day event Mar. 13-15 at The Galt House in Louisville, Kentucky. Register today!

TWT: This Week in Travel

Covid-19 Recovery Roundup

Just in time for the second season of CNN’s smash hit, “Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy,” the country has announced a relaxation of Covid restrictions.

Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza wrote on his Facebook page that, “starting from March 1, for arrivals from all non-European countries, the same rules already established for European countries will be in force.”

A vaccination certificate, recovery certificate or negative test result will now be enough for entry into Italy from March 1 forward.

A street in front of the Colosseum in Rome Currently, arrivals from non-EU countries need to show proof of vaccination or recent recovery plus a negative test result but that will change on the activation date.

Caribbean countries Bermuda, Jamaica and Grenada have all announced new arrival protocols. Bermuda has announced that as of March 7, unvaccinated travelers 12 or older will not be allowed into the country.

Visitors must provide proof of being vaccinated along with a negative antigen or PCR test taken within two days before arrival. These must be loaded to an official authorization form 24 to 48 hours before arrival. The form was previously $75 but has been reduced to $40 and will include pre-return flight testing, if necessary.

The Covid test on arrival will be eliminated along with tests on days four and 10 of a traveler’s stay.

Bermuda’s definition of fully vaccinated is having received a full course of a Covid-19 vaccine (one or two doses) with at least 14 days having passed since the last dose and before arrival in Bermuda.

Visitors under 12 years old do not need to be vaccinated if they are accompanied by vaccinated family members. Vaccinated visitors who have recently recovered from Covid but test positive on a PCR test will not be allowed to enter. Unvaccinated cruise passengers will be forbidden to disembark.

The current regulations for vaccinated visitors will remain in effect until March 7.

Grenada has updated its travel protocol to say that travelers must have a negative PCR test or an NAAT test taken within three days of arrival in Grenada or a rapid antigen test taken within one day of arrival.

Jamaica has amended its protocols to say that international travelers will no longer be required to obtain travel authorization to enter. Travelers 12 or older will only need a negative Covid antigen or PCR test within 72 hours before travel. There will also be no travel-related quarantine measures.

Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian Pushes National No-Fly List

In an op-ed piece in the Washington Post, Delta Air Lines’ CEO Ed Bastian has pleaded for a national “no-fly” list.

“As the nation transitions to a ‘new normal’ of managing the virus and as the airline industry gears up to accommodate the influx of passengers, it’s critical that we have all the tools available to mitigate in-flight misconduct,” he wrote.

Bastian proposed that any person convicted of a crime because of an onboard disruption be added to a “national, comprehensive ‘no-fly’ list of unruly passengers.”

There were 5,891 incidents of onboard disruption in 2021, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The organization says that three quarters of those related to the federal mask mandate.

Christopher Elliott, editor of Elliott Confidential and a consumer advocate for travelers, told Smart Meetings that, “a federal no-fly list is the worst idea to come out of the airline industry since ancillary fees. It bypasses the criminal justice system and federal laws already put in place to punish the rare, disruptive passenger. It could permanently cut off essential air service to anyone who does not mindlessly obey the orders of their flight crew.”

Air Canada Adds New Routes Amid Recovery Rule Relax

An Air Canada airport terminal

Air Canada has announced the launch of four new U.S. routes this summer and the restoration of service to 41 routes that were previously flown or announced prior to the pandemic.

The restoration will boost North American capacity back up to 90 percent of pre-Covid levels.

The new routes include twice-daily Montreal-Atlanta and Montreal-Detroit service beginning June 1 as well as service between Toronto and Salt Lake City and between Vancouver and Austin. Air Canada said they will fly Toronto-Salt Lake City three times per week beginning June 2 and Vancouver-Austin four times per week beginning June 1.

The restored U.S. routes will include 10 connecting American cities to Toronto, seven that connect to Montreal, three to Vancouver and one each to Ottawa, Edmonton, Halifax and Calgary.

On Feb. 28, Canada will also be easing entry requirements for vaccinated travelers, allowing them to use the less expensive rapid tests instead of the more expensive molecular tests previously required. They will also relax the random testing of travelers that had been in place throughout the winter.

Various news services including the Canadian Broadcasting Company have reported that Ottawa is close to ending the testing requirement for fully vaccinated Canadian travelers (not U.S. travelers, as yet).

Jim Byers, former travel editor of the Toronto Star and founder of JimByersTravel.com, told Smart Meetings:

“It’s a real sign of confidence in the market for late spring and for the summer. The Canadian government recently announced new travel rules for incoming passengers and drivers, both foreign residents and Canadians.

“The current rules say anyone coming into the country, citizen/resident or not, must present a negative PCR or molecular-style Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours of their scheduled departure, or within 72 hours of their arrival at a land border crossing. Those tests can be hard to find and quite expensive; often $200 USD or more, which is more than $250 Canadian dollars.

“That kind of money strongly discouraged Canadians from travel, as did the government’s general advisory against non-essential travel. The federal government last week said it’s withdrawing the “do not travel” advisory, which is an important psychological barrier for a nation of (mostly) rule followers.

“Bigger still was the news that, as of February 28, people coming into Canada can present a negative rapid antigen test instead of the PCR-style or molecular test. Rapid tests are much easier to arrange overseas and a fraction of the cost; maybe $25 USD. Together, those changes make a big difference in how Canadians approach travel. Agents tell me they’re busier already, and they’re predicting a pretty good spring and summer.”

Gretchen Hall, CDME

A portrait of Gretchen Hall. She is a white woman with wavy brown hair and a black and white patterned jacket

Destinations International named Hall COO of the organization, beginning in April. Hall is currently president and CEO of Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau, where she’s worked since 2001, when she joined the travel bureau as assistant director of event operations and event coordinator. Hall was board chair at Destinations International for the 2021-2022 term but has since stepped down from the position to fill her new role.

Dana Porter Higgins

A portrait of Dana Porter Higgins. She is a white woman with wavy brown hair and a blue blouse standing on a beach

Higgins is now vice president of business development at Visit Oceanside, including its Oceanside Sports Commission division. With 23 years of hospitality and tourism sales and management experience, Higgins steps into the new leadership role at Oceanside, California’s tourism bureau. Most recently, Higgins was Visit Oceanside’s director of business development. She has held several sales directorships at multiple hospitality properties across the West Coast, including Western Golf Properties, Visco Entertainment Collection, Cal-a-Vie Health Spa in Vista, California and more.

Oddmund Braaten

A portrait of Oddmund Braaten. He is an older white man with thin brown hair and a black collared shirt

Braaten is now CEO of Interprefy, a Swiss company that provides interpretation software and support for virtual meetings. Previously, Braaten was COO of the company and sat as a member of its board. Braaten brings over 30 years of business strategy, project management and product development experience to his new executive role. Braaten has been head of product development at TDC Switzerland, Sunrise Communications AG (a German corporation) and executive vice president of strategy and business development at SVOX AG, all Zurich-based companies, among similar additional roles.

Courtney Conching and Shauna Nakamura

Two portraits of Courtney Conching and Shauna Nakamura. Conching is an Asian woman with long black hair and a black blouse. Nakamura is a white woman with short blonde hair and a grey sweater

Highgate Hawaii, the real estate and hospitality management company, promoted Conching to director of group sales and director of sales at its ‘Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach property, and promoted Nakamura to area director of leisure and transient sales for the brand.

Conching, with 12 years of hospitality sales management experience, was most recently area director of group sales for seven of Highgate’s Hawaiian resort properties. Conching has also held sales leadership roles at four Marriott properties, four Starwood Hotels & Resorts properties and Hilton Waikiki Beach, among others.

Nakamura is an over-25-year veteran in travel, DMC operations and hospitality sales and has been with the Highgate Hawaii sales team for five years. Previously, Nakamura was corporate and leisure sales manager at Hilton Garden Inn Waikiki Beach.

Matthew Adams

A portrait of Matthew Adams. He is an older brown man with a grey beard and a blue suit

Adams joined Evans Hotels in San Diego, California as executive vice president and COO. Adams brings three decades of hospitality management expertise to his new position. Most recently, Adams was COO of Windsor Hospitality in Santa Monica, California. He has also held the role of executive vice president of operations at Omni Hotels & Resorts, area vice president of Hyatt Hotels Corporation and several more executive leadership roles at Hyatt and Grand Hyatt hotels.

Mina Dipalma

A portrait of Mina Dipalma. She is a brown woman with black hair in a ponytail and a lacy white blouse

Oceanside’s Mission Pacific Hotel, a Hyatt property, named Dipalma general manager of its signature restaurant, Valle. Dipalma brings 25-plus years of hospitality and food and beverage management experience and a sommelier certification to the position. Previously, Dipalma was taskforce manager of food and beverage at Hyatt’s Thompson Savannah property. She has also been general manager at SA Hospitality Group.

Richard Szilagyi

A portrait of Richard Szilagyi. He is a white man with combed grey hair and a grey suit standing in front of palm trees

The Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club appointed Szilagyi resident manager. Szilagyi has more than 30 years of hospitality management experience, most recently having worked for The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans as executive assistant manager. Szilagyi was also director of operations at The Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach, California for 10 years and has held similar additional roles.

William Adams

A portrait of William Adams. He is a bald black man with freckles, a stubbled beard and a black suit

Destination DC (DDC) appointed Adams to director of convention sales. A 20-year hospitality and tourism veteran, Adams was previously national sales manager at Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). Adams has also been national sales manager for Norfolk’s CVB in the Washington D.C. area, and he’s served in directorships at Visit Syracuse and Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County (VAAAC) in Maryland.

Claudia Perez

A portrait of Claudia Perez. She is a white woman with wavy brown hair and a pastel patterned ascot

Marquis Los Cabos promoted Perez to general manager. With 25 years spent in the industry, Perez brings a long list of experience in luxury hotel management and sales leadership to the property. Most recently, Perez was corporate commercial director of Marquis hotels at the Los Cabos property. Perez has also held sales and marketing directorships at Azul Talavera Hotel in Puebla, Mexico, multiple Mexican Marriott properties, and others.

Martin B. Jones

A portrait of Martin B. Jones. He is a balding white man with a blue suit and purple plaid collared shirt

Jones joined major hospitality company IHG Hotels & Resorts as global head of food and beverage for the luxury brands Regent Hotels & Resorts and InterContinental Hotels & Resorts. Jones was previously vice president of food and beverage, Europe luxury hotels at FRHI Hotels & Resorts, which has since joined AccorHotels. Jones has held food and beverage management positions at Starwood Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental hotel properties, a Hyatt Hotels property in Istanbul and more.

Carrie Bligh

A portrait of Carrie Bligh. She is a white woman with brown hair and a tropical patterned dress

Hōkūala Kaua’i, A Timbers Resort promoted Bligh to operations director of Hōkūala. Previously, Bligh was director of hospitality operations at Timbers Resorts’ corporate headquarters. Bligh has been general manager and resort manager for Timbers Resorts, executive director of Savannah Waterfront Association, director of event operations, hospitality and fan experience for the Kansas City Royals and more.

Duncan Clements

A portrait of Duncan Clements. He is a bald white man with a stubbled beard and a blue suit standing at a pool

Clements was appointed general manager at The Gabriel Miami, Curio Collection by Hilton. Clements has an extensive 30 years of experience in hospitality, hotel and food and beverage management. Previously, Clements was general manager at Hillsboro Beach Resort in South Florida. He has also been general manager several times over for multiple Kimpton hotel properties from Chicago to Texas to Vero Beach, Florida.

Manual Villalobos and Susan Williams

Two portraits of Manual Villalobos and Susan Williams. Villalobos is a Hispanic man with combed black hair and a blue collared shirt. Williams is a blonde white woman with wavy hair

Thompson Zihuatanejo, A Beach Resort in Guerrero, Mexico, named Villalobos general manager and Williams director of sales, events and marketing.

Villalobos steps into the new position with 20 years of hospitality leadership experience. Most recently, Villalobos was general manager of The Fives Downtown Hotel, Curio Collection Playa del Carmen, a Mexican Hilton property. In that role, he opened The Yucatan Resort, a Tapestry Collection by Hilton. Villalobos has also worked with several Hyatt properties across South America, including Hyatt Regency Cancun and Hyatt Place Panama City/Downtown.

Williams has been in catering, convention services and sales and marketing for 20 years. Williams was previously director of global sales for Hyatt Hotels, where she remained a sales leader for eight years. Williams has also held sales directorships at Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor and Hyatt Regency Boston. At Hyatt Regency Cambridge, she was director of catering and convention services before serving in the same role for The Charles Hotel in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

How would you like to take your corporate group on a journey experienced by names such as Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, William Shatner, and some of the world’s richest, Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson?

We’re talking space travel—and soon, meeting professionals will be able to join the fun.

With the arms race toward space travel and tourism by companies such as Elon Musk’s SpaceX, Branson’s Virgin Galactic and Bezos’ Origin, the possibility of full-scale space tourism seems more likely every day.

Another space tourism company has been quietly planning space flights to launch in 2024. It’s called World View, and it’s looking to achieve more than simply taking people to space; the company’s goal is to change people’s perspective and view of life on Earth.

A portrait of Dale Hipsh. He is a white man with combed brown hair, tortoiseshell glasses and a blue suit — Dale Hipsh, President of Tourism and Exploration, World View

Smart Meetings spoke to Dale Hipsh, the company’s new president of tourism and exploration, about his thoughts regarding the present and future of space travel. Hipsh has taken on plenty of roles in his 35 years in hospitality, recently working with Hard Rock International as senior vice president of hotels.

Space, Hipsh says, is the natural next step.

Views from Below and Above

A 3D render of a hypothetical space pod floating above Earth

There’s a phenomenon astronauts talk about: they say when you leave Earth and see it from high above, hundreds of thousands of feet away, you experience what’s called the “overview effect.”

“This cognitive shift only occurs when one is able to view the planet from miles above the Earth,” Hipsh says. “It provides an opportunity for reflection on our connectedness to each other and new appreciation for our planet.”

In keeping with fostering this appreciation, World View’s explorations will begin on the ground, in a five-day traverse around seven of Earth’s most distinguished locations, such as the Grand Canyon in Arizona, the Northern Lights in Norway and the Great Wall of China.

Groups will then take a 6-12-hour flight to view those same sites from above. “The juxtaposition can inspire totally new perspectives of our planet—recognizing the interconnectedness of our communities and the fragility of our ecosystems—only available when you’re at the edge of space,” Hipsh says.

After the first flight, built to hold eight passengers and two crew members, takes off from the Grand Canyon, Hipsh says the company plans to allow multiple flights per day from the spaceports.

According to Hipsh, space tourism isn’t only about exploring the cosmos but bringing everything back down to the ground floor, impacting how we do things on Earth. “Space tourism has the capacity to affect real change in how we view and treat our planet,” he says.

“World View pairs the space tourism aspect of the company with its stratospheric exploration and remote sensing division,” he adds. “We continue to seek ways to collect and share data for improved decision-making about communications, transportation and other critical infrastructure—things that impact life on Earth.”

As a longtime associate of the hospitality industry, Hipsh is excited about what World View can offer meeting professionals. “As meeting planners continue to raise the bar and look for functional, impactful locations and spaces, World View offers a truly distinctive experience.”

Hipsh believes the spaceport and onboard capsule experience will be a meeting space desired by planners, which he says can also make for impactful product launches and incentive trips.

The Future of Space Travel

Hipsh says with the life-changing experience space flight offers, they anticipate its demand to “quickly outstrip” its supply.

“While current flights are still only accessible to a segment of the population, we anticipate that this industry, much like the airline industry, will eventually become more affordable and accessible,” he says.

Not so surprisingly, space travel carries a hefty price tag. While a seat reservation is $500, the full cost is $50,000.

Although, this is dwarfed in comparison to Virgin Galactic’s $450,000 seats, which opened ticket sales to the public on Feb. 16. According to Michael Colglazier, the company’s CEO, Virgin plans to have its first 1,000 passengers on board at the end of this year.

Hipsh continued: “One of World View’s key pillars is to make space tourism more attainable to more people. Our intention is to democratize commercial space travel, and at present we offer the most affordable option on the market. We look forward to continuing to find ways to broaden that attainability.”

Hybrid events—whether they are conferences, expos or training courses—are meetings that can be accessed in person at a physical location, or remotely via an online platform.

The beauty of hybrid events is that they are incredibly accessible, and they can transcend barriers of scale and geography, while still offering opportunities for meaningful social connection. They are especially useful these days, as people grapple with Covid limitations.

But just as we had to learn new skills to master hybrid work, we must evolve our approach to event planning and execution for success in the hybrid era. Here are my top tips for maximizing attendee engagement and delivering an event that offers real value for all participants.

Invest in excellent hardware

Are you producing your own video and audio content to stream or share with hybrid event attendees? You need to accept that there’s a pretty strong correlation between the quality of the equipment you use, and the level of engagement with the finished content.

Don’t pour your efforts into an excellent script only to neglect the production process! Your virtual content needs to look professional and be enjoyable to engage with. This means that you ought to invest in high-resolution cameras, high-sensitivity microphones and aesthetically pleasing lighting. Can’t afford this purchase outright? Consider renting or borrowing.

Put accessibility front and center

Think carefully about how every attendee can be supported to get the most out of the event. This might involve adapting your physical venue for less mobile attendees, providing printed transcripts, or using the special features offered by your live-streaming software to build closed captions and audio description into your video content.

Make audience input easy

If you want your event attendees to actively engage with your event, you need to provide channels that make this possible at every juncture.

During the registration process, ask people what they expect or want to get out of their attendance; allow audience members to submit questions to speakers in real-time using question boxes or chat functions; use feedback tools to capture audience input at various points during and after the event.

Help participants connect with one another

The secret to facilitating meaningful social connections is to provide spaces and channels for formal and informal interaction to flourish. In the physical event space, this could look like cafe areas, networking receptions, or themed discussion zones. In the virtual space, this could involve XR avatars “meeting” in virtual breakout rooms, or communicating through a multi-participant instant messenger or video chat.

Present unique and thought-provoking content

Everyone likes to feel as if they are getting something out of attending an event and providing attendees with individualized or high-value content is one of the most effective ways to deliver this.

These features can encompass e-books, white papers, video tutorials, training simulations or study guides. Consider the wants and needs of your audience and use your event platform to easily share accessible content that will truly excite them.

Don’t try to replicate in-person events

Newsflash: if you want to run an excellent hybrid event, throw out the old rulebook. There’s no reason why you should be trying to replicate the format and conventions of in-person events in a hybrid space—this will only box in your imagination and creativity. Instead, embrace the new opportunities that hybrid event-hosting provides.

Allow virtual attendees to drop in and out of sessions at will; build beautiful virtual and physical spaces for people to enjoy; offer networking activities that are actually fun; mix up live and pre-recorded content; introduce interactive games and quizzes; make your attendees feel like they are the main characters driving the event creation and execution.

Harness the power of social media at every stage

Events are all about building and celebrating community, and social media platforms are a natural complement to this. From LinkedIn to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, make sure you’re using these resources to their full potential. Begin by advertising your hybrid event via your social media platforms. Include teasers of the content, which can be available and set up forums on which participants can start getting involved beforehand.

During the event, share real-time updates and go “live” on your social media channels for additional access points and to increase real-time engagement. Participants will also be able to communicate and contribute on these platforms, helping remote attendees feel more engaged and a part of the live event.

Make post-event outreach a priority

The event isn’t over when the last person leaves the room (real or virtual). Post-event is one of your most important points of engagement with your audience.

Encourage or incentivize attendees to complete digital feedback forms so that you can improve the event for next time. Make recordings and transcripts of the sessions available to download and share. And follow up your event with a call-to-action: ask attendees to join an online group, follow you on social media, register for your next event or share their learnings online.

With these tips under your belt, you’ll be prepared to make your next hybrid event a huge success. Good luck and enjoy!

Author Bio: Dr Alexander F Young is a surgeon, and CEO and founder of Virti. Passionate about improving human performance, Alex is on a mission to help organizations get the very best out of their remote and hybrid teams.

In line with this, Virti have just opened the waiting list for their powerful new in-browser live-streaming and webinar solution: Virti Studio.

Covid Restrictions Lift With Air Sales

Switzerland and Austria have announced the end to most remaining Covid restrictions, and Germany has said it will be moving toward the same goal, as U.S. cities do the same. Countries are reopening, and meeting planners are doing the same.

Philadelphia announced this week that it was in “level two” of their Covid system, meaning that restaurants could lift a vaccine mandate for diners, although indoor mask mandates remain for now.

In the past weeks, New York and New Jersey also lifted mask mandates, although they left options in place for cities to make their own policies.

Several men stepping off a blue bus in the Bronx, New York — Bronx, New York

Meanwhile, International Air Transport Association (IATA) reports an 11% surge in international air tickets sold in recent weeks. “The 11-percentage point improvement between the January and February periods is the fastest such increase for any two-week period since the crisis began,” reports the organization in a statement.

The group reports that the jump occurred as governments announce more relaxation of Covid restrictions:

18 markets (comprising about 20% of 2019 demand) are open to vaccinated travelers without quarantine or pre-departure testing requirements.
28 markets are open to vaccinated travelers without quarantine requirements (including the 18 markets noted above). This comprises about 50% of 2019 demand.
37 markets (comprising about 60% of 2019 demand) are open to vaccinated travelers under varying conditions (18 having no restrictions, others requiring testing or quarantine or both).

Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, said, “Momentum toward normalizing traffic is growing. Vaccinated travelers have the potential to travel much more extensively, with fewer hassles than even a few weeks ago. This is giving growing numbers of travelers the confidence to buy tickets.”

IATA is continuing to ask for the removal of quarantine and testing for fully vaccinated travelers.

“Travel restrictions have had a severe impact on people and on economies. They have not, however, stopped the spread of the virus. And it is time for their removal as we learn to live and travel in a world that will have risks of COVID-19 for the foreseeable future.” said Walsh.

CDC Signals Relaxing of Mask Mandates

In a press briefing this Wednesday, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, signaled a potential relaxing of mask guidance in the coming weeks.

“We want to give people a break from things like mask-wearing when these metrics are better, and then have the ability to reach for them again should things worsen,” Walensky said.

While states like New York and New Jersey and cities like Denver have relaxed or done away with mask mandates, the CDC has maintained their “guidance” that masks should be used indoors when in public and outdoors in crowded areas.

As more and more mandates fall away, the organization’s stance remaining in place looks out of step with a global shift away from rigorous pandemic status toward a more endemic scenario.

Smart Meetings POV: Meeting planners should not completely discount the possibility that new variants may arise, or that Covid rates may go back up. Masks and distancing are the low-maintenance solution to the restriction spectrum: easily discarded, easily reinstated. Heavier lifting rests on vaccination and testing mandates.

Alaska Airlines Debuts Subscription-Based Flight Pass

Alaska Airlines has announced the debut of Flight Pass, a subscription-based travel product that will allow members to fly up to 24 roundtrip flights a year to the airlines more popular routes within California, as well as non-stop service from California to Reno, Phoenix and Las Vegas for a fixed monthly rate. Annual plans start at $49 per month. The plan allows travelers to lock in main cabin rates for a whole calendar year, and gives subscribers lower than average fares on eligible flights.

Politico Says Frontier Was Bad to Begin With

Two Frontier Airlines planes at a runway

CNN reports that Congressman Ro Khanna (D., California) told them on a phone call that the Department of Justice “should review” the potential merger of Frontier and Spirit Airlines. Khanna said, “having flown Spirit just twice in my life, and both times having my bags lost, I can’t imagine the consumer experience could get worse.”

“Obviously it has to be reviewed,” Khanna told CNN.” But if they can make an argument this is going to improve the consumer experience, it ought to be considered,” Khanna said. “Not every merger by definition is anticompetitive.”

Smart Meetings reached out to Consumer Reports’ aviation adviser, William McGee, who said, “We need to be skeptical of the airlines claims, that their merger will be good for competition and consumers. That’s what merging airlines have always claimed. And as we have seen, consolidation has not been good for consumers, it has only reduced their choices. So, the Justice Department needs to very carefully and thoroughly investigate this proposed merger for its actual effects.”

Of all the things U.S. presidents and meeting professionals don’t have in common, there is one important thing they do: they lead groups.

Another commonality is how often they visit hotels and spend time in their largest meeting spaces. We’ve compiled seven properties that have had their halls graced by U.S. presidents and could be the next location for your corporate gathering.

Read More: Women Leading at Big Apple Events

Omni Hotel Mount Washington. It is a white castle-like building with a red roof and angular turrets. A lush garden and lawn are in front, and hills are in the distance

Omni Hotel Mount Washington, Bretton Woods, New Hampshire

There are a couple of things guests will find here that they won’t anywhere else: New Hampshire’s largest ski area and its first eight-passenger skyway gondola.

The ski area at the 200-room property covers 464 acres, and consists of 63 trails and 35 glades where you can alpine ski, Nordic ski and snowboard. If you can’t do any of those, there are ski and snowboard schools and groups that’ll help you increase your skills.

The property’s gondola follows a recent renovation, which takes guests to the new 16,000-square-foot Rosebrook Lodge and the expanded Presidential Wing, which features 69 rooms and suites, and includes meeting spaces such as the Jefferson Room, Reagan Room and Washington Boardroom, as part of the hotel’s total 30,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. The hotel has hosted presidents Calvin Coolidge, Warren G. Harding, Woodrow Wilson and George H.W. Bush.

The lounge of Hotel Du Pont. Tan leather furniture is arranged in circles beneath an elaborate ceiling and chandeliers

Hotel Du Pont, Wilmington, Delaware

Constructed more than 100 years ago in downtown Wilmington, this 217-room property has seen many presidential faces, such as William H. Taft, Warren G. Harding, Herbert Hoover, Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush, William J. Clinton and George W. Bush.

Current President Joe Biden accepted the Democratic Party nomination in the property’s Gold Ballroom, one of 19 event spaces in Du Pont’s more than 25,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. Le Cavalier, the property’s restaurant, features French-inspired décor, food and cocktails, as well as a private dining room.

Omni Grove Park Inn. A stone pool building is surrounded by guest buildings and a lobby

Omni Grove Park Inn, Asheville, North Carolina

If you’ve stayed in the E.W. Grove Presidential Suite, the largest room on this 513-room property, located on the 21+ Club Floor, you were exactly where former president Barack Obama spent some of his presidential tenure.

There’s more than 86,000 sq. ft. of indoor-outdoor meeting space across 50 meeting rooms, including the 17,760-square-foot grand ballroom. Guests need not go far for F&B, as the property is home to 10 dining options, including Elaine’s Dueling Piano Bar, Sunset Terrace, and Edison, Craft Ales + Kitchen.

Other presidential guests who have walked these halls include William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Herbert Hoover, Calvin Coolidge, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Richard M. Nixon, George H. W. Bush and William J. Clinton.

Hotel del Coronado. It is a large white building on the beach with a series of red sloping roofs. Mountains are in the distance

Hotel del Coronado, California

With an unimpeded beachfront view, this 757-room property, next door to downtown San Diego, has seen the faces of presidents Benjamin Harrison, William Howard Taft, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush since its opening in 1888; it has also seen the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Prince Edward of Wales.

The property is undergoing a $450 million renovation. When it finishes, it will have added 142 guest rooms, bringing its total number to 900 and will have a 25,000-square-foot conference center nearby. On the property, there are 65 event venues across 96,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. Its seven dining options covers the list, from sundaes to tacos.

The front of Fairmont San Francisco. The Neoclassical arch over the entryway has many national flags

Fairmont San Francisco

This Bay-Area property has seen every U.S. president since its inception in 1907, as well as international leaders and pop culture icons, including Tony Bennett, Mick Jagger and Alfred Hitchcock, most of whom took particular interest in the property’s 6,000-square-foot, 130-person penthouse suite, which spans the entire eighth floor of the main building.

The room, filled with purple and blue 1920s decor, also features a secret passage and a two-story library dome ceiling. The room alone is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The property has a total 72,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and features 606 guest rooms and suites.

An awning at The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa, Autograph Collection. It is green with the hotel's emblem and the names of hotel restaurants

The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa, Autograph Collection, Denver

This hotel, the second-largest in the city, has hosted every president since 1892, with the exception of Obama and Calvin Coolidge.

The 243-room property is home to six F&B options, including Churchill Bar and Ship Tavern, which serves American fare. The property’s almost 20,000 sq. ft. of meeting space includes 18 spaces, including the 3,080-square-foot Brown Palace Club, which former president Dwight D. Eisenhower used as his campaign headquarters prior to his election.