Hotels are doing more than making their spaces cleaner, their air healthier and their gathering spaces teched-up to host hybrid meetings. Hyatt Hotels Corporation is also reaching out to its local communities to help small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hyatt, which says its purpose is “to care for people so they can be their best,” calls its global initiative Hyatt Loves Local. Nearly 60 Hyatt hotels and resorts in destinations across the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East are providing free resources and exposure to curated local businesses that have struggled during the pandemic.

“In turn, these businesses are able to continue operating in different ways and offer Hyatt guests distinct and enriching experiences that foster a meaningful connection to the destination’s local community,” states a company press release. “Hyatt Loves Local enriches the travel experience and helps strengthen local communities during this unprecedented time.”

From culinary and wellness to fashion and art, Hyatt Loves Local community collaborations span a variety of industries and are taking place at Hyatt properties now and rolling out through the fall. Several are with minority-owned businesses, which are more likely to be disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

Examples across the U.S. include the following.

Soul Food in the South: Hyatt Regency Atlanta is providing kitchen space to Anna Bell’s Kitchen Mac & Cheese shop, as well as selling Anna Bell’s goods in the hotel’s Lobby Market. The idea sparked after owner Keven Mobley first met the Hyatt Regency’s Chef Thomas McKeown at a local farmers market. The arrangement allows Anna Bell’s, a minority-owned business, to continue selling its locally beloved dishes to locals and hotel guests, while also expanding to ship its product nationally.

Women’s Fashions in Ski Country: High in Colorado ski country, Grand Hyatt Vail is hosting a pop-up from local women’s clothing boutique Wild Heart. Owned by a former hotel employee, the shop was forced to close during the pandemic (it has since reopened with limited capacity). The Grand Hyatt collaboration is bolstering Wild Heart sales and introducing the boutique to hotel guests.

Espresso in the Emerald City: In the heart of Seattle, Motif Seattle, a Destination Hotel, has welcomed Monorail Espresso, a woman-owned business that started as a mobile espresso cart, into its lobby as a pop-up shop for coffee growlers, beans and Monorail swag. As a result of the pandemic, Monorail Espresso saw sales halve at two open brick-and-mortar shops and has temporarily closed a third shop. The popup will remain through the end of the year.

Socially Distant Workouts in the Big Apple: Gild Hall, a Thompson Hotel in New York City, is giving fitness studio space through the end of the year for local concierge fitness company BACH to host on-property, socially distant yoga and Pilates sessions. Due to the pandemic, BACH was forced to stop training about 80 percent of its clients. Hotel guests receive an exclusive discount.

Supporting Sustainable Business in Charm City: Hotel Revival Baltimore, a Joie de Vivre Hotel, has sourced all its toilet paper since October exclusively from local Black- and female-owned Lor Tush. Providing sustainable toilet paper made of 100 percent bamboo, Lor Tush launched after seeing the demand for toilet paper at the height of the pandemic. The company also launched Lor Help in March to provide a free six-pack of toilet paper to families and individuals who lost income as a result of the pandemic. Hotel Revival is distributing another 5,000 rolls to community members in need.

Hair Care in Hollywood: This fall in Los Angeles, Andaz West Hollywood teamed up with Barcode Barbershop to offer cuts, shaping and styling for men and women on the hotel’s rooftop overlooking Sunset Strip.

Other collaborations at Hyatt properties around the world include Andaz Capital Gate, Abu Dhabi’s commission to four local artists for pop-up shows in the hotel’s gallery, Park Hyatt Vienna’s hosting of a specialty food and wine retailer for a winter pop-up shop and champagne lounge on the hotel’s terrace, and Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen’s weekly “Mini Market” showcasing works from local artisans.

More information about Hyatt Loves Local and participating properties can be found here.

Meetings venues around the world are realizing things will never be quite the same even when people start showing up at their doors again. Hybrid gatherings, which can expand audience reach across the entire globe and accommodate those who can’t, or won’t, attend in person, are here to stay.

Gala presenters at LED Stage

So, an increasing number of these venues are busily incorporating virtual events studios into their floor plans.

Not just convention centers, either. Even some hotels. You might expect a property in the heart of California’s Silicon Valley to be in the forefront of this trend, and you’d be right. Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley at East Palo Alto is leading the way for virtual events in the Bay Area as the first hotel property with its own virtual events studio.

In collaboration with audiovisual giant PSAV, the hotel transformed a section of its ballroom into two stages: an LED stage and “backdrop pro stage.” The latter can host two presenters at a time, enabling more immersive virtual communication.

It’s all about the specs and features, of course, and the backdrop pro stage includes a color-customizable studio backdrop, intelligent studio lighting, HD cameras, live broadcast and recording equipment, stage furniture, a deluxe green room and full production team.

LED Presentation Stage at Four Seaesons Silicon Valley

The LED stage is even more dynamic and can handle up to four presenters on the stage at once. This stage comes with the following.

  • 10-by-24 foot, fully customizable LED HD wall, with a 10-foot curve
  • 2.6 mm pixel pitch and 3880 x 1080 pixel space
  • Multiple HD cameras
  • Broadcast and recording equipment
  • Platform agnostic system: the ability to connect in-person and remote attendees via video services such as Zoom, Microsoft teams, WebEx, as well digital streams to any platform—including directly to a customer’s website
  • Studio grid lighting with controllable key, fill and highlight
  • Full production team
  • Deluxe green room
BackDrop Pro at Four Seasons Silicon Valley

“As the world pivoted in-person events and collaborations to virtual meetings, we saw businesses, even schools and family celebrations move online. Video fatigue quickly followed,” says Noelia Roblero, assistant director of events and catering at the hotel. “We recognized the need to provide a solution to take virtual meetings and events to a whole new level.”

Effective virtual event design starts with the purpose, then considers the needs of attendees, the host organization and finally the limitations of the platform, budget and timeframe. But what about the sponsors? Making their needs a priority may require a little bit of extra thoughtfulness and creativity. value

In an exclusive Smart Meetings webinar titled “Optimizing Digital Events for Multiple Stakeholders,” Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) Director of Meetings and Conferences Megan Finnell and Senior Product Manager Craig Wiberg shared their approach to taking the organization’s annual meeting virtual—and the innovative ways they created real value for sponsors.

Define Success

When considering what might make the experience a positive one for exhibitors and sponsors, the team looked for measurable key performance indicators that could be objectively met and reported. “If we didn’t define the target we were trying to hit, someone else was going to define it for us,” warned Fennell.

Their plan started by identifying eight phases of the attendee experience. It envisions their arrival in the virtual space. Are they wearing slippers in their living rooms? Are they in their office? What does it look like? How does it feel? What do they need? Is it easy to navigate? Do they feel welcomed? How do we create engaging environments where virtual event attendees can talk face to face, and make engaging relationships?

Those questions followed the journey all the way to the exit, up to the final wrapping up of content before attendees leave the platform, plus any follow-up to extend the learning as time goes on.

One of the four goals for an in-person conference is always to connect attendees with solution providers—sponsors. That is still an essential deliverable for virtual. After all, a sustainable future requires managing finances, especially since whatever pricing model is put in place now will probably set a precedent.

The Thought Leader Model

Exhibitors and sponsors want to be seen as problem solvers, not salespeople. That is why driving meaningful interactions is a priority. In the virtual environment, content is even more kingly than when it shares the stage with destination, ambiance and hallway interactions, so the MGMA team linked that essential element to the value proposition for financial partners.

To ensure they were delivering the right topics, the MGMA team sent needs assessments in advance, asking attendees to rank their top topics. That became the foundation for both CEU content and sourcing sponsor content.

Content-based sponsorships drove traffic to booths and allowed companies to speak to attendees without making them feel they were being sold to.

Achieving the right balance required a flexible working relationship between the events team and the business development team—and some coaching during the recording process. “Often, our speakers want to try to sell something, but we kept reinforcing that if you’re educating, the audience will be much more receptive to your message,” Wiberg said.

The team was picky about partnering. “Just because somebody was willing to write us a check didn’t necessarily mean we were going to accept it,” Wiberg said. “It needed to be relevant and make sense in the agenda.” Sometimes that meant a lot of back and forth to make sure everyone knew what was expected.

In the end, the virtual event went from 150 booths that were presold to 42 very intentional sponsor opportunities that were given priority positions in the platform. “Make it easy for attendees to find, and you will be rewarded,” Wiberg advised.

One of the approaches that worked well in the framework was a series of mini Shark Tank-style pitches that turned the messaging into interactive contests that invited the audience to vote on the most useful solution. An awards ceremony at the end of the general session generated a lot of organic buzz.

Scheduled Downtime

Another fun approach was the introduction of Sparks sessions. Sponsors brought subject matter experts to facilitate 30-minute chat discussions about industry challenges with the help of graphic artists, who recorded the ideas in colorful PDFs that were shared far and wide.

“People loved it. It was a great networking tool, and it checked a lot of boxes on our list of goals,” Wiberg said.

Speed sessions looked a little bit more like a didactic discussion with slides, but MGMA challenged sponsors to consolidate their messages in 30-minute chunks. “It forced presenters to get to the point, show them why you are an expert and then address real-world questions live,” Wiberg reported.

Session buffers were short commercials between content blocks. “Attendees appreciated learning about what they did,” he said. Those who were interested could learn more by visiting a sponsor’s “booth.”

Companies could also sponsor graffiti walls, where people left comments about industry issues. Sponsored, delivered lunches kept people at their desks. Gamification drove traffic into the exhibit hall to keep people engaged.

Brain Breaks were an extension of the trend that started at physical meetings to include pauses. “It is important to give people some downtime,” Wiberg said. MGMA used that time to get sponsors in front of attendees by having them support activities such as meditation, a virtual drive and other diversions.

Wiberg cautioned that, while scheduling breaks is important in a virtual environment, tricking people by saying it’s going to be fun and then selling to them is a buzz kill.

Travel may look different this year, but hotels in the United States and beyond are still enticing guests with revelrous rates, open-air activities and holiday happenings. We’ll be updating Cyber deals here throughout the week. For meetings that must go on, don’t forget about hotel buyouts and workcation packages (think: refreshing your WFH perspective with room service and hotel amenities).

Cyber Week Deals, Near and Far

Where: At two of the most expansive resorts across the Hawaiian Islands. Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort, with 22 acres of beachfront property set apart from the urban density of Waikiki, and 62 acres of sand, sun and winding tropical gardens at Hilton Waikoloa Village.

What: Up to 30 percent off stays (28 percent off for non-Hilton Honors members). Guests will be transported at Hilton Waikaloa Village with Legends of Hawaii Luau–An Outdoor Restaurant Experience, with a special Thanksgiving edition on Nov. 26. Reservations and cancellations for both properties can be made free of charge up to 24 hours in advance.

When: Sale runs through Dec. 1.

Where: The Tempest Hotel, a 52-room boutique property in Tempe, Arizona, with amenities such as a living room-style lobby, indoor bar serving canned and bottled beer/wine/cocktails and grab and go market for guest convenience, chair-lined outdoor pool, and free Wi-Fi.

What: 10 percent off best available rates for guests traveling between Jan. 1 and April 1. The visit also includes a special welcome amenity and $10 credit for thelobby bar. Book here.

When: Dates have been extended to 12/5 for booking.

Where: Solmar Hotels and Resorts in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, with fully refundable rates for its hacienda-style resorts on white-sand beaches.

What: Rates starting at $142 a night at Playa Grande Resort & Grand Spa, $222 at Grand Solmar at Rancho San Lucas and $369 at Grand Solmar Land’s End Resort & Spa

When: The offer is available Nov. 23-29. Travel for this offer can be taken through April 30, 2021.

Where: Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas, reopening on Dec. 10 with a renovation to the Royal East Tower, reimagined guest experiences, a new flight package, and additional safety protocols.

What: The property has Cyber Week offers in celebration of the coming 2021. A private/early access sale for email subscribers starts Nov. 23 for 2,021 guest rooms that will be available at $202.10 plus taxes and resort fees. (Sign up via the website to receive the invite to this exclusive offer.)

Other offers include a fourth night free for guests booking more than four nights and a 21 percent savings on all Experience Packages.

When: Discounted room rates start Nov. 23 for email subscribers. Public access runs Nov. 25 through Cyber Monday, Nov. 30.

Where: Marlin Bay Resort & Marina in The Florida Keys, perfect for extended stays with its collection of three- and four-bedroom homes.

What: 25 percent off nightly room rates when guests book more than six nights at the resort.

When: Sale runs Nov. 3 to Dec. 2. Use code CYBER25.

Where: All over, with a new Hyatt Global Offer. Andaz Mayakoba, Andaz West Hollywood, Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino and  Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa are all participating.

What: Guests receive 20 percent off their entire stay.

When: Book between Nov. 9-Dec. 6.

Where: Salmon Falls Resort in Ketchikan, Alaska, known for its  majestic northern views and of course, salmon fishing.

What: 20% off all-inclusive rates, and 20% off the property’s adventures including shrimping, guided  fishing, salmon roe and wine pairing, salmon cooking demonstration with microbrew pairing, and massages at the new Salmon Falls Spa. The resort’s season opens May 1 and goes through October 2.

When: The 20% off special is available for booking through December 6.

 

Providing meetings that change an entire team’s energy and mindset is never easy, but it helps to include discussions about philanthropy and corporate social responsibility (CSR), when appropriate. The recent Smart Meetings webinar, “The Right Way to Give Back While Building Teams,” hosted by Lain Hensley, looked at not only CSR possibilities, but also how to implement them for the best results.

Hensley, president of Innovation & Delivery and co-founder of Odyssey Teams, specializes in constructing unique meetings to bring a team together while reinforcing its bond with the community and customers. Hensley says that when planning an event, he asks, “How deep are we planting the seeds of the experience to help the company and the organizations or the group to plant seeds of the kind of culture they want to create, the relationships they want to have and the kind of perspective they want to convey to their customers, their clients or each other?” When done right, Hensley believes philanthropic meetings can positively reorient the underlying values of a team.

“We give people, by using philanthropy and CSR, a powerful meeting….We’re trying to create a shift, trying to create a change,” he says. “And we know people are inspired to make a change when they see those behaviors, when they feel it—when their head understands it and their heart feels it, and they get a chance to experience it.”

How to Make the Most of Philanthropy and CSR

Lain Hensley
Lain Hensley

The core of Hensley’s philosophy boils down to changing each person’s perspective about the meeting and the company’s work in general. As such, his activities are not competitive and don’t include gimmicks to gamify them. Simply building something together creates an intrinsically good feeling all on its own, a feeling that can carry on through day-to-day work, as well.

Whether it is building bikes for children or assembling prosthetic hands for amputees, the experience of producing a philanthropic product can create a new sense of accomplishment for a group. Bringing the kids in afterward or sending back pictures of amputees receiving prosthetics multiplies that tenfold.

“We pierce the veil of meetings for meetings sake, of a project for a project’s sake,” he says. “Connect your participants as much as possible to the people who get value from what they’ve done.” It is a connection with a customer that modern business rarely provides.

To help such meetings be as productive as possible, Hensley gave a few more general tips.

  1. Bring your values with you wherever you go. If the meeting doesn’t exhibit the values a company claims to support, the connection for the employees won’t be made, either.
  2. Allow the team to see the full life cycle of its product. While an act such as painting houses for a set period is rewarding, producing a philanthropic product from beginning to end and seeing it reach the customer is a much more affecting experience.
  3. Company leadership must participate 100 percent. Seeing the passion and engagement of management will inspire and drive change in employees.
  4. To capitalize on the strong emotions of the meeting, companies need to follow it up by ensuring the day-to-day, usual work of the company is framed in the way it contributes to the community.
  5. Don’t make the meeting optional. It is important that it not be thought of as just a time-wasting field trip. The activities need to be challenging and the entire event needs to feel like it respects participants’ time.

During the age of COVID-19, it seems if you aren’t a huge hotel brand, you may have one of two choices: go under or merge. Not long ago, there was talk about Accor merging with U.K.-based InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG). But it looks as though the Paris-based hotel Accor SA took another route, as it will soon be merging several of its products with United Kingdom-based Ennismore to create a new lifestyle brand.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the new brand will take Ennismore’s name and be headquartered in London. This new venture will combine 73 different hotels and 12 brands, including The Hoxton, 21C Museum Hotels, Tribe Hotels, Hyde Hotels & Residences, SLS Hotels & Residences, Mondrian Hotels and Jo&Joe. Altogether, some 110 hotels will fall under the new umbrella, with another 70 “under active discussion,” according to a press release by the companies, which also said more than 150 restaurants and bars may be affected.

Accor will be the majority shareholder of the new hotel company, the companies say.

“Over the last nine years, our mission with Ennismore has always been creating hospitality brands that inspire discovery,” said Sharan Pasricha, founder and CEO of Ennismore. “I’m passionate about how brands make you feel, from the personalized digital experience to the design, and with an incredible team of operators and creatives around me, we have expanded The Hoxton across the globe; reimagined Gleneagles; and crafted unique restaurant and bar concepts.”

After the merger, the brand will begin to build in Europe and the United States, which is planned to be one of the company’s prime markets. Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and South America will also be hosts of rapid expansion by the new Ennismore.

Pasricha continued: “This exciting autonomous entity with Accor—one with culture and brand purpose at its heart—allows us to come together to build on our combined portfolio of unique lifestyle brands, accelerate our growth and explore new markets. I look forward to working with Gaurav [Bhushan, CEO of Accor] and Sebastien [Bazin, chairman and CEO of Accor] on this exciting next chapter as we become an unrivaled player in the hospitality industry.”

Even in a year that brought monumental challenges to the hospitality and events industry (to put it mildly), there was much to be thankful for. Homes to shelter in, colleagues to share the experience with, hard-earned lessons in new ways of connecting, an appreciation for what we may have taken for granted in the past. event 

Smart Meetings reached out to our illustrious editorial advisory board to ask what they are thankful for in this very unusual year.

Marin Bright, Founder and CEO, Smart Meetings

I give thanks for my resilient team and innovative industry partners who have become dear friends. I look forward to a bright return to meeting as we all approach gathering with even more meaning, purpose and intent.

Brad Weaber, Moderator, Founder, Brad Weaber Consulting

2020 has been a year filled with a myriad of emotions, challenges and opportunities. Personally, l am thankful for my health after a tough fight with COVID-19 in April, thankful for my amazing circle of family and friends, thankful for my incredible husband and for the grace l have found in self-care—both physically and mentally. Professionally, l am humbled and grateful for my many clients and the ability to recalibrate and flex with them as we navigate these unchartered waters. 20/20 means perfect vision; perhaps in 2020 I finally found my perfect vision.

Carol McGury, executive vice president, SmithBucklin

I am thankful for the health of my family and friends, for our SmithBucklin team who successfully ran back-to-back virtual events, totaling over 60 this year…well. And I am thankful for good $20 bottles of red wine.

Don Welsh, CEO, Destinations International

I am extremely thankful for my family, my faith and my friends, especially during this very challenging year. In addition, I am very thankful and grateful for the tenacity, resolve and collaboration between all of our members, business partners and industry partners during the global pandemic. History tells us that when significant events like this global pandemic happen, there are the silver linings that may not be clearly visible during the event. However, change and positive impact come after the event takes place. There is no doubt that the medical and scientific communities are doing their very best around the world and will soon have a vaccine that will help mitigate COVID-19 in the future and help safely reopen travel and meetings around the world. In addition, the long overdue important discussions in the areas of equity, diversity and inclusion have come to the forefront. In this very challenging year, I am grateful for many things and proud to be in this industry.

Andrew Weir, executive vice president of destinations development, Tourism Toronto

This has certainly been a time to reflect, both personally and professionally. I am grateful, above all, for the health of the people closest to me, mindful that so many others have faced real loss and hardship. Amidst all the difficulty, I appreciate the extra time I have had with my family, including teenagers who would not otherwise spend quite so much time at home. Throughout our industry, I am grateful for the spirit of community and sharing among partners locally and with peers around the world. We experience this together and will recover together.

Mark Cooper, CEO, IACC

2020 has brought out the very best in people in our industry. The kindness, the determination and the values each and every one of us have ingrained in our hospitality personas, if ever in doubt in the past, are no longer in doubt. For those who have felt the pain from this pandemic professionally, I sincerely hope that 2021 will be the biggest welcome home party our industry can throw, as we rebuild bigger and better! I am thankful and excited for the potential that there is for the future for those who live to serve and to please others!

Megan Finnell, director of meetings and conferences with Medical Group Management Association (MGMA)

I am thankful for a more quiet and simple holiday season where we focus on family togetherness and making new traditions. It is a refreshing change of pace to the typical rush of the holidays. Professionally, I have never been more thankful for the talents, creativity and humor of my coworkers. The challenges have brought us together as a better, stronger team and I have found a lot of joy carving a new path into the future with my teammates.

We finally made it to November’s turkey—but you’ve no doubt noticed there’s still a pandemic going on out there. Whether it’s making tough decisions about the risk of traveling and seeing family or reorienting to a work-home balance—with Christmas lights in the background—there are new seas to navigate this winter. keep calm

What better time to round up advice for alleviating the stressors that flow from the new normal?

Tips from a Performance Coach

Katie Sandler is a personal development coach with a degree in mental health counseling. She thinks mindfulness is key this holiday season to reducing feelings of stress and worry, especially for travelers. “The holidays are a special time, and most of us still want to travel,” Sandler said. “While we shouldn’t live in constant fear of the virus, we should stay keenly aware of the situation and our surroundings.”

More: 3 Mindfulness Mantras

Sandler’s heightened awareness spans risk mitigation to choosing the subject of your focus if something does not go just as planned. Here are her tips for doing just that.

  • Forget being spontaneous. Plan ahead as much as possible to reduce risk, including making reservations for everything beforehand. This is obvious for travel—but also important for anything from visiting restaurants to going on excursions.
  • Know the rules and regulations. COVID rules differ by city and state, so be prepared. Whether it’s mandatory mask usage everywhere, imposed quarantine after travel, or a limit to the number in your party, you’ll be more at ease with no surprises.
  • Get tested before you go. Getting a COVID test before you travel is a good way to reduce stress as well as the virus’ spread—and you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing you’re starting off with a clean slate.
  • Make lists. You may not be a regular list maker, but these are different times. Whether the place you’re traveling to has unfamiliar protocols or you’re the one who forgets your mask when you go out, find solace in good old pen and paper and make a list pre-travel. Even if you never look at it again, the security of knowing you sat down and thought it all through will help put you at ease.
  • Be patient! Everyone around you is in the same boat—not to mention that those working in the airport and for open businesses don’t have the luxury of doing so from home. Remind yourself of this when hiccups occur or if service is slower than usual. Use it as an exercise in mindfulness—rather than snap-reacting, take a deep breath and direct your focus to something pleasing about the situation or your surroundings.

Alleviate Anxiety, Armed with Science

Whoop is an app tracker used by many pro athletes that specializes in heart-rate data and sleep assessment to give you an overall picture of your body’s adaptability to stressors (from exercise to alcohol consumption) and offers a day-by-day recovery score. The company’s blog also tackles a number of relevant health and lifestyle topics, including understanding anxiety.

The blog states: “Our bodies send us signals every day. How we deal with them to a large degree dictates our mental and emotional well-being. When it comes to anxiety, identifying, interpreting and thoughtfully channeling the signals your body is sending you can help you feel in control and help you deal with feelings of stress in a productive way.”

Whoop specialists recommend mindfulness, too. When activated, the sympathetic nervous system—which you’ve probably heard referred to as the “fight or flight” response—tells the body to react to a perceived threat. This was helpful back when we had to run from saber tooth tigers, but it’s unhealthy for the body to stay in this heightened state of emotion.

Recognizing that frustrated, anxious and irritated feelings stem from a biological response is already one step toward making a choice to switch your focus. When you know your body is merely trying to protect itself from harm, you can make a conscious choice.

Whoop also recommends channeling the energy into something productive—like setting yourself to a task or taking a brisk walk to bring yourself back to the stable equilibrium known as homeostasis.

Renaissance Milwaukee West, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

The first Renaissance hotel in the state opened in August, with 9,864 sq. ft. of event space, just minutes from downtown Milwaukee. The property offers 196 guest rooms, a divisible ball room and a top-floor event space with floor-to-ceiling windows and panoramic landscape views. Designed with a “seamstress and tailor” concept in mind, the hotel plays off masculine and feminine properties with textiles and craft-inspired modern furniture.

Hilton Los Cabos Golf and Beach Resort, Mexico

The property recently reopened after a renovation that introduced a new beach club, private plunge-pool suites, an adults-only infinity pool and elevated dining concepts. The resort has 264 rooms on one of the Baja city’s only swimmer-friendly beaches. That beach also hosts Enclave, a new club with a rum-centric bar, four private cliffside bungalows, eight oceanfront cabanas and sunken fire pits. Talavera, one of the property’s six dining concepts, features an open-air kitchen turning out homemade dishes with ingredients solely from local purveyors.

The Cloudveil, an Autograph Collection Hotel, Jackson, Wyoming

This new Autograph Collection property sits near the gateway to the Grand Teton National Park. With 100 guest rooms and suites and 7,500 sq. ft of meeting space, including outdoor space with fire pits and mountain views. It features a bistro-style restaurant and bar as well as a rooftop terrace overlooking Jackson’s Town Square. Inside the hotel, a polished Western design brings the elements within, using wood and stone finishes paired with natural textures.

Canopy Scottsdale Old Town, Arizona

The first new hotel in Old Town in over a decade features 177 rooms in a mid-century style infused with Southwestern verve. A rich color palette brings to mind famous Arizona sunsets, which can also be viewed from Outrider Rooftop Lounge, a 7th-floor rooftop pool and bar with views of Camelback Mountain. The property has 2,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, and a ground floor American brasserie highlighting shared plates and handcrafted cocktails.

Steven Szenasi

Szenasi is general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Paradise Valley, in Arizona, ahead of its opening in late 2021 as part of the 122-acre Palmeraie mixed-use development. Szenasi was general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, in Marana, Arizona, during which the property was awarded Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond Awards.

Tim Brown

Great Wolf Resorts named Brown chief development officer. Before Great Wolf, Brown was global head of construction for Hyatt Hotels Corporation; he has also served as executive vice president of development for Turnberry Associates, a company has owns and operates hotels, and he managed resort projects around the globe as senior vice president of development for Kerzner International.

Stacy Davis

Davis is director of global accounts for Innov8 Meetings + Events. Davis has been in the hospitality industry for more than 20 years and has consulted for brands throughout California, including Viceroy Santa Monica, Hyatt Centric Santa Monica, Mystic Hotel San Francisco and Ace Hotel DTLA.

Lissette Garcia Arrogante

Garcia Arrongante is city of Miami Beach’s tourism and culture director. She recently worked as an arts and culture consultant for public and private visual arts organizations, including public museums, private galleries, corporate artwork, community foundations and festival planning. Before this, Garcia Arrogante worked as director of cultural resources for the city of Savannah, Georgia, and Savannah Cultural Arts Center.

Ye Chang Sheng

Sheng is executive assistant manager for The Anam Cam Ranh, in Vietnam. His career began when he worked as demi chef for Radisson Blu in Johannesburg, South Africa, his home country. Sheng joined The Anam in 2017 as executive chef, during which he oversaw the resort’s four restaurants and three bars; before this, he held the same role at Mia Resort Nha Trang, also in Cam Ranh.

Herman Kemp

Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh, in Cambodia, appointed Kemp general manager. A native of The Netherlands, Kemp has most recently worked in Asia, where he was general manager for Park Hyatt Siem Reap, also in Cambodia, for the past three years. His career began with Holland America Line, where he was marine hotel operations controller, and he also served in F&B and management roles for Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts, Sofitel Hotels & Resorts and Carlton Hotels, all in The Netherlands.

Enam Chowdhury

Chowdhury is executive chef and director of F&B for Sky Creek Kitchen + Bar in Delta Hotels by Marriott Dallas Southlake, in Texas. Chowdhury’s work in the kitchen has taken him to restaurants in the United Kingdom, Thailand, South Africa, Italy and the United States. He’s held the executive chef role at The Chophouse on Bankhead in Mount Vernon, Texas, and Los Pinos Ranch Winery in Pittsburg, Texas.