Marin Bright and the Smart Meetings team report on more action from the seventh annual IMEX America 2017. The trade show took place at Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas. Day Three surpassed the first two by a long shot, with even more spectacular sights and interactions. A special thank you to everyone who came out and visited the booth—it was truly an event to remember. We hoped you enjoyed getting the inside scoop and we’re so excited to see what next year brings!
Your calendar is full and finding time to fly to a handful of locations can be difficult to balance with all the other things on the to-do list so in-person visits need to be as efficient as possible. The experts at venue sourcing and event management company Conference Care have some suggestions (and a detail checklist) for making the most of these essential tours.
1. Evaluate Access
The true test starts before you arrive at the door of the venue. Try to make your site visit at the same time of day that a delegate would be travelling to the site. Consider the efficiency of public transit, parking availability, airlift. This also provides useful information to share with your future delegates.
2. Consider True Capacity
Conference Care Head of Operations Louise Harwood, recommends paying close attention to a venue’s true capacity. By this she doesn’t just mean asking the number of people the venue will hold. Instead, she she suggests visualizing “how the space suits the event and whether there will be any logistical challenges to overcome. Think about whether you will be able to comfortably manage the number of delegates in the venue.”
3. Eat the Cake
People will always remember the food, especially if it was bad. Harwood recommends sampling the offerings you are considering serving. Pay attention not only to how it tastes, but also the presentation and the level of service provided. Food should never be an afterthought.
4. Test the Light and Sound
The ability to see and hear what is being presented is critical to a successful meeting. Conference Care New Business Manager Gary Hutton, suggests asking to talk to the audio/visual team during a site visit. “A room can look very different with a full back projection set and stage than it does when it is set up for a dinner or an empty space. Seeing them onsite will really help you get a grasp of how it will work.”
5. Negotiate Terms
This is also a good time to discuss the contractual details with staff. It can be difficult to predict exactly how many delegates will actually attend your event. To manage your budget effectively, discuss items such as cancellations face-to-face when you visit the venue. This is often when you will secure the most favorable terms.
6. Just Do It
A site visit can often be an undervalued part of the site selection process. Personal recommendations, online research and past experience are all well and good, but nothing beats standing in the space you intend to use and experiencing it first-hand. While it may appear from the pictures that a conference room is bright and airy, when you get there it may be much smaller than it appears. Likewise a venue situated out in the countryside may sound like an attractive, secluded option-however, in reality this may just mean it is a tricky place for your delegates to get to. If you ask the right questions, site visits have the power to make the next meeting the best one.
Checklist:
Nicola Webb, the Account Development Manager from Conference Care says that the simple things can be pivotal to whether your event runs smoothly. Consider the following:
- Are there are sufficient and accessible restrooms?
- Is there a secure coatroom?
- What are the proposed staffing levels?
- What is the standard of cleanliness?
- How clear is signage?
- How noisy is the space?
Distinguished hotels and CVBs earn coveted Smart Meetings honor
After much voting and decision-making, the 14th annual Platinum Choice Award winners have been selected by Smart Meetings magazine, the meeting industry’s premier resource for meeting professionals. This highly esteemed award salutes excellence in service and amenities among meeting hotels and resorts in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Also recognized is exceptional service by destination marketing companies and CVBs from across North America.
Since there are thousands of qualified properties and associations, selecting the top tier winners is no easy task. Recipients of the award have demonstrated exemplary standards of excellence ranging from ambience, amenities, breadth of resources, facility quality, guest services, meeting space and packages, recreational activities, restaurant and dining options, and technical support. Votes are cast by industry professionals, the Smart Meetings editorial team and Smart Meetings readers.
“Over the years, our list of winners has become a crucial resource for many meeting planners,” says Marin Bright, founder and CEO of Smart Meetings. “The Platinum Choice awards really identify who’s who in today’s hospitality industry. I’m thrilled about our list of winners, and I hope you use this roster when selecting your meeting destinations for the coming year—they certainly have earned your business.”
The new honorees will be celebrated in the December 2017 issue of Smart Meetings magazine. Those winners are as follows:
Hotels & Venues |
CVBs |
|---|---|
| Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort Allegretto Vineyard Resort Paso Robles Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya Andaz Napa Atlantis Casino Resort Spa Reno Atlantis Paradise Island Austin Convention Center Barcelo Maya Beach Belmond Charleston Place Bernardus Lodge Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers The Breakers Palm Beach Broadmoor Colorado Springs Caesars Palace Carneros Resort and Spa Coeur D Alene Golf & Spa Resort Coronado Island Marriott Resort and Spa Enchantment Resort Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Fairmont Royal York Fairmont San Francisco Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Cancun Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco Gateway Canyons Resort Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center Gaylord Opryland Hotel & Convention Center Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center Gideon Putnam Grand Hyatt Atlanta In Buckhead Grand Hyatt DFW Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa Grand Hyatt Seattle Grand Velas Nuevo Vallarta Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa Hard Rock Hotel San Diego Hilton Galveston Island Hilton Milwaukee City Center Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa Hilton Santa Fe At Buffalo Thunder Hotel Del Coronado Hotel Hershey Hotel Jerome Hotel Terra Jackson Hole Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland Hyatt Regency Austin Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor Hyatt Regency Denver At Colorado Convention Center Hyatt Regency LAX Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa Hyatt Regency Maui Resort Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Hyatt Regency New Orleans Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa InterContinental The Clement Monterey JW Marriott Austin JW Marriott Marquis Miami Kiawah Island Golf Resort King and Prince Golf & Beach Resort La Cantera Resort & Spa by Destination Hotels La Quinta Resort Lansdowne Resort Lied Lodge & Conference Center London House Lotte New York Palace Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino Marcus Hotels & Resorts Margaritaville Hollywood Marina Inn At Grande Dunes Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina Meritage Resort and Spa MGM National Harbor Mohegan Sun Monarch Beach Resort & Spa Naples Marco Island & the Everglades National Conference Center Nemacolin Woodlands Resort Nizuc Resort & Spa Nobu Eden Roc Miami Beach Ocean Reef Club Omni Fort Worth Hotel Omni Hotels & Resorts One&Only Palmilla Resort Palace Hotel, A Luxury Collection Hotel Paradisus Playa del Carmen La Perla & La Esmeralda Pechanga Resort & Casino PGA National Resort & Spa Pinehurst Resort Hyatt Ziva Cancun Ponte Vedra Inn & Club The Resort at Pedregal Reunion Resort & Club, a Salamander Hotel Ritz Carlton Denver Rosen Shingle Creek Royal Sonesta Hotel New Orleans San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk San Francisco Travel Association San Luis Resort Spa & Conference Center Scottsdale Plaza Resort Sea Island Resort Seaport Hotel Silverado Resort & Spa Sonoma County Tourism South Seas Island Resort The St Regis Punta Mita The St. Regis Mexico City Streamsong Resort Sun Valley Resort Talking Stick Resort The Allison Inn and Spa The Davenport Grand Hotel The Diplomat Beach Resort The Langham, Boston The Line Austin (formerly Radisson Hotel and Suites Downtown Austin) The Lodge at Whitefish Lake The Phoenician The Pierre, A Taj Hotel The Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch The St. Louis Union Station Hotel, Curio Collection Tropicana Las Vegas – a DoubleTree by Hilton Trump National Doral Miami UNICO 20˚87˚ Hotel Riviera Maya Keystone Resort Viceroy Snowmass Villas of Grand Cypress Resort W Punta de Mita Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Washington Duke Inn Golf Club Westin Cape Coral Resort At Marina Village Westin Convention Center Pittsburgh Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa Westin Harbour Castle Westin Peachtree Plaza Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa Woodlands Resort & Conference Center Wyndham Grand Chicago Riverfront Wynn Las Vegas and Encore |
Atlanta CVB Atlanta Airport District Durham CVB Experience Columbus Explore St Louis Fort Worth CVB Frisco CVB Greater Miami CVB Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau Hampton CVB Hilton Head Island VCB Little Rock CVB Long Beach Area Conventions & Visitors Bureau Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board Meet AC Meet Hawaii Monaco Government Tourist Office Myrtle Beach Area CVB New Orleans CVB NYC & Company Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau Quebec City Business Destination Reno-Tahoe CVA San Francisco Travel Association Tourism Australia Tourisme Montreal Travel Tacoma Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau Visit Anaheim Visit Billings Visit Denver Visit Oakland Visit Orlando Visit Phoenix Visit Pittsburgh Visit Rochester Visit Salt Lake Visit San Antonio Visit Savannah Visit Wichita |
Aside from the rides, entertainment and souvenir shopping, Disneyland is also known for its food. Of course, Disney enthusiasts always enjoy chowing down on staples such as the park’s signature churros while waiting in line for rides and an ice cream cone as they walk down Main Street.
But, Disneyland dining has so much more than just snacks. The park and resorts have a plethora of fine dining options as well. While accepting her Disney Legend Award at the D23 Expo on July 14th, Oprah Winfrey raved about her dinner experience at Steakhouse 55.
In addition to this celebrity-worthy steakhouse, the culinary meeting options are as varied as the attractions. We talked to Robert Donahue, director of resort sales and service for Disneyland Resort and Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, about some stand-out places for group dining.
- Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is home to Napa Rose, a Zagat 100 rated experience. Donahue described it as “a fine dining restaurant that really celebrates Northern California cuisine, wine country cuisine.
- The new high-end 21 Royal restaurant in New Orleans Square is a truly unique high-ticket group dining experience. “It’s a full multi-course culinary extravaganza inside the residence of what Walt and Lillian would have enjoyed as their residence in the park,” Donahue reveals. “There’s a balcony that overlooks our brand new Fantasmic!”
- Morton’s Steakhouse is within walking distance of Anaheim Convention Center and two blocks from the entrance to Disneyland. The restaurant has private dining packages for 24 to 500 guests. In addition to their exquisite menu of steak, chicken and fish, Morton’s Sales and Event Manager Frances Carter works with event professionals to customize décor, themes and floral arrangements to fit almost any theme. The rooms even come fully equipped with AV capabilities for presentations during meetings.
Close your eyes and imagine you are in charge of your organization’s annual meeting. It’s going to be a big affair. You’ve decided to get an outside speaker or two, and you want to make sure you get the right speakers for your meeting, at the right price.
From experience, you know that some speakers will lower their price at the drop of a hat—others, not so much. Are there perks you can offer to attract a top-notch speaker for a little less than he or she currently receives? Yes, but only if you find ways to make it mutually beneficial. Here are some things to consider.
1. Multiple Dates, Consecutive Days, Lower Fees
Engaging a speaker for multiple dates—perhaps in June, August and October—might yield savings because it simplifies the business side and builds a relationship. Similarly, if you need a speaker on two or more consecutive days, you may find that many speakers will drop their fee by, say, 10 percent for each consecutive day they are booked. This has happened to me in the case of large conventions, where I might be presenting a keynote on one day and conducting a breakout or general session on another. So, another win-win.
2. Share a Speaker
Consider what group in your local area could be included as part of your meeting, help foot the bill and help make the entire affair more successful? You could share the cost of a speaker whose fee is above the range either group could afford alone. I was once requested by the Houston Chamber of Commerce to speak to their members. In an effort to keep their costs down yet ensure that they would have a successful meeting, they invited the nearby Galleria Chamber of Commerce to co-host the event. The day went well, and members of both chambers were served. Yet the costs were half of what each chamber would have incurred otherwise.
3. Roll Those Cameras
Professional speakers are constantly on the lookout for opportunities to be
videotaped. This affords the speaker the opportunity to produce a saleable product, either in coordination with you or separately. Second, a speaker may be able to extract small segments that highlight his or her capabilities, or accent audience responsiveness. Such segments can become part of a video brochure or demonstration tape. Third, many speakers simply desire the opportunity to critique themselves.
4. Back-of-the-Room Retail
At times, it makes sense to allow the speaker to pitch products from the platform. One of those times is when you can get the speaker at a negotiated rate. Many speakers have DVDs, books, software, and all manner of support and learning materials in their trunk, looking for a good home. Particularly when the audience is large, a speaker who receives a discounted or modest speaking fee may well earn double, triple or more if he or she is allowed to briefly present his or her products to your audience. The product presentation can be done in an entirely tasteful manner. Many meeting professionals simply prefer that the speaker make fliers available at the back of the room or put one on or under each chair.
5. Bleasure Payments
If your organization will be meeting at a fabulous resort location, you may be able to entice a speaker to speak for less in exchange for several extra days at the location. I know speakers who have taken their spouses—and in some cases, children—and spent an extra three or four days, while reducing their fee. The discount more than offsets the added travel and room expense you might incur.
6. Nonprofit Group Discount
Many speakers will offer a reduced fee a set number of times each year when speaking to charitable organizations. Some speakers go as far as offering pro-bono services to such. Thomas Winninger, who speaks many times annually, suggests that speakers go ahead and offer a presentation when they’re approached by a group that can’t possibly meet their fee, but can pay something. He suggests that the speaker ask the hosting organization to donate to a charity of the speaker’s choice the sum they have earmarked for a speaker. In this way, three parties benefit: the speaker, hosting organization and charity.
Jeff Davidson is “The Work-Life Balance Expert®” and the premier thought leader on work-life balance issues. He works with organizations that want to enhance their productivity by improving the work-life balance of their people. Jeff is the author of 65 books, including Breathing Space, Dial it Down, Live it Up, Simpler Living, 60 Second Innovator and 60 Second Organizer.
Gusty winds and rain are blowing through parts of Texas as Hurricane Harvey prepares to make landfall. Whenever inclement weather poses a threat, meeting professionals have to act fast. Here are some helpful hints to handle the unpredictability of Mother Nature to minimize impacts on the event you worked so hard to plan.
Guestroom Inventory
Guests who were supposed to check out may be forced to extend their stay because it might not be possible to leave due to road closures, flight cancellations, etc. This complicates room availability for guests with reservations looking to check in. Is there enough room for everyone? Hotels want all guests to be safe and happy and don’t want anyone to be left out in the middle of a life-threatening storm.
“We would try our hardest not to push anybody out. Usually when a storm like this hits, you have cancellations too,” Steve Cunningham, complex general manager of Wyndham’s Hotel Galvez & Spa, The Tremont House and Harbor House in Galveston, Texas explains. “You can prevent that by managing your inventory or not overselling.”
Hotels with power generators can continue to use their computer system to keep track of inventory and room assignments. However, some places may be doing things manually. Encourage meeting-goers to be compassionate and patient with the front desk. Accidents, such as mistakenly distributing a room key to an already-occupied room, may occur unintentionally. Be patient and flexible as hotel staff rectifies issues as quickly as possible.
Hotel Staffing
During a storm, hotels may be operating on a short staff because employees might have difficulty getting to work safely. Some amenities such as room service and daily linen changes could be suspended. For instance, guests may need to request to pick up fresh towels at the front desk and be a bit more independent than normal.
“Because we know we’re going to have a limited amount of people in the hotel, we do offer some of our staff rooms to stay,” Christine Hopkins, director of communications for the trio of Wyndham properties in Galveston says. “That way we’ll have some housekeepers [on-site].”
Power of Generators
Along with a hurricane can come blackouts. The benefit of being in a hotel versus at home is they are likely equipped with generators to restore power quickly. At the Wyndham properties in Galveston, the generators fully operate the elevators, lights and most electrical outlets, so the inconvenience is minimal. Cunningham warns, however, that air conditioning eats up too much power for most generators, so it can get hot.
Meeting professionals should keep in mind that not every property is necessarily quite as sophisticated. A power outage could mean that elevators are inoperable. This would make it difficult to transport items between floors for a conference. You also need to be concerned about guests with special needs who cannot use stairs. Not all hotels have guestrooms on the ground floor. Check in advance.
Cancelling & Rescheduling
First and foremost, hotels are concerned about the safety of guests and employees. When weather becomes a cause for concern, they often lift their typical cancellation policies and penalties. The hospitality industry seeks to satisfy customers and encourages guests to rebook.
“We had a couple [of groups] that were in-house when the news of the storm broke and they ended their meetings early,” Cunningham says. “We had had a couple of smaller groups that were scheduled to be here tonight and tomorrow and they rescheduled for another date.”
Four hours southwest of Galveston in Corpus Christi, Texas, the town is facing even heavier winds and rains. In anticipation of Hurricane Harvey, Texas Trophy Hunters Association (TTHA) proactively postponed the 2017 Hunters Extravaganza Hunting and Fishing Show that was set to take place at the American Bank Center this weekend.
“We love our Extravaganzas where we see our family of exhibitors and attendees, and we hate to postpone, but your safety is our greatest concern,” trade show director Christina Pittman says in a press release.
Food & Beverage
Grocery store shelves quickly become barren as cities prepare for major storms and residents fill their pantries with water and non-perishable food. Meeting professionals can breathe a sigh of relief that they won’t need to buy cases of water at the last minute. The hotel likely planned ahead to make sure guests stay hydrated and well-fed.
“Part of our plan is when we see a storm coming to stock up and make sure we have plenty of food and plenty of water,” Cunningham assures.
Gas
Expect long lines at the gas station if driving. Rental cars typically come with a full tank of gas, so if you are doing very limited driving, you likely won’t have much to worry about. Some cities have been known to run out of gas during a storm or stations could close due to power outages. This potentially impacts other modes of ground transportation meeting professionals rely on such as taxis, Uber, Lyft, limos and shuttles. Luckily, in Galveston specifically, Cunningham has not witnessed a gas drought, just long lines. So, keep in mind even if a hotel or convention center is safe and operational, attendees may experience challenges getting to and from the airport and the venue.
Residual Effects
Sometimes the days, weeks and even months following a storm are worse than the event itself. Flood waters could take a while to drain and infrastructure takes time to recover and rebuild.
“What we do at the CVB is we stay in very close contact with the city…and we issue updates and information with all the hotel partners,” Leah Cast, director of communications for Galveston Island CVB, says of communicating the latest to meeting professionals. “They funnel that information to front line employees and [the] sales department.”
Worst case scenario, if you do find yourself stranded in a hotel during a storm, it is a great opportunity for teambuilding and bonding. Try to look at it as one big slumber party where you are tasked with making sure everyone has as pleasant an experience as possible and gets home safe and sound.
When the sun sets over the castle, the lights get even brighter at Disneyland. Don’t think that because you’ve been sitting in meetings all day that you missed out on all the fun and magic.
Robert Donahue, director of resort sales and service for Disneyland Resort and Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, says the parks offer a Twilight Ticket “specifically designed for the convention attendee to allow access into the park or parks…after 4 p.m.”
Nighttime Entertainment
At D23 Expo the annual gathering for the official Disney fan club at Anaheim Convention Center, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek announced a special early preview of Fantasmic! The attraction re-opened in celebration of Disneyland’s 62nd birthday and the devoted followers had front row seats to the celebration.
Your group can also work with the Disney Meetings team to reserve a premium spot at park events.
“We can work with our meeting planners to get group reserved viewing for certain of our evening spectaculars and that includes World of Color and Fantasmic!” Donahue explains.
The possibilities are almost limitless. Donahue shared four options that might not be on all planner’s radars—yet.
- In front of the Ferris wheel and roller coaster at Paradise Pier inside Disney California Adventure Park, is a body of water that sits dormant during the day, but comes alive at night in the spectacular World of Color Small groups can host a private dessert reception during the show. Large groups can rent out the entire park or a land within the park after-hours for even more exclusive and customizable options. “Whether it’s a brand or a message from the organization to the attendees, we’re able to put that on 100-foot water screens,” Donahue says.
- Next year, California Adventure will be inheriting a super popular parade, Paint the Night, which previously marched down the streets of Disneyland during the Diamond Celebration from 2015-2016. Ask about getting a reserved place for your group on the parade route.
- Your 125 or so guests can have blast at a private dinner reception inside Tomorrowland at Starcade. “What’s great about that is it’s during park hours, so we’ll get the groups into the park and we can have a customized private group experience,” Donahue says.
- By day, the Disney Junior Theater, located in Hollywood Land inside California Adventure, is the site of a family-friendly stage performance. But at nighttime, it transforms into a reception space for private groups. “It’s got some AV capabilities that really help enhance the event or provide the meeting planner the opportunity to educate the team if they have specific presentations to do,” Donahue explains. “It’s a fully technology-enabled venue that transitions to a group venue after the park shows have closed.”
It’s getting to be that time of year again. You know, the one where sales and sales enablement leaders—who strategically use resources to improve a team’s productivity and increase revenue—are planning annual kick-off meetings. And it’s no small task. In addition to the logistics of selecting a destination, blocking rooms and finding meeting space, there’s always an unspoken pressure to top last year. How can we make it bigger and better? Which guest speakers will truly inspire? What awards will be valuable to our top performers?
We get it. We’ve actually attended many of these ourselves. Overall, it seems that trying to understand the customers’ perspective is the best place to start. Here are four customer-centric ideas to make this year’s kick-off the best one yet.
1. Rethink Mainstreams and Extremes
At a kick-off meeting, time is reserved to review which products and services can increase revenue, and thereby solidify partnerships with top accounts. Sure this is important work, but it can quickly become insular—me, me, we. So how can you reframe? Reconsider your strategic accounts in terms of extremes and mainstreams. Your mainstream customers could be larger accounts with larger purchases. But you should also consider including some of your extreme customers: Which customers are doing the most interesting things with your products and services? Invite them to join in a customer panel to discuss strategic accounts.
2. Let Top Performers Shine
Sales people work hard—and your best sales people can become easily isolated in the field. For many reasons, it’s crucial to recognize your top performers in front of their peers. One way is to invite the customers of your top performers to speak about them. You could also give them an award, a way to publicly thank and instill them as role models for the rest of the team.
3. Problem-Solve with Solved Problems
Clients often voice a desire to inspire. Customers want to work with motivated sales professionals who can help them think “outside the box.” This is where analogs come in. To come up with a great analog, reflect on a specific issue your business is trying to overcome. Then, consider completely different contexts where people have cracked that same problem.
Here’s an example:
One team we worked with didn’t think it connected enough with its customers. The team felt too much behind the scenes, which resulted in a loss of motivation. Being in New Orleans, the team meeting was brought to one of Emeril Lagasse’s famous restaurants. Much like the team, the chefs and sous chefs were working behind the scenes, yet their work is what customers ultimately enjoyed.
4. Skill-building
Our final tip relates to building the skill set of your sales force. Sales people are always looking for ways to hone their skills. Given our theme of customer-centricity, we’ll share a favorite exercise of ours.
We like to send sales people where they feel most comfortable—out in the field! Research retail centers in the location of your kick-off. When looking for these stores, try to locate pairs of low- and high-end centers within a common vertical. For instance, a Chevy and a Tesla dealership would offer this balance for cars. The objective is to take notes on which strategies both increase and decrease customer engagement. We guarantee that teams will come back inspired by the amazing (and awful) things they experienced. Additionally, fresh insights will benefit their own customer relationships.
We encourage you to shake up your next kick-off and try these ideas to keep your customers right where they belong—at the center of everything.
Ashley Welch and Justin Jones co-founded Somersault Innovation, a design-thinking consulting firm that provides a unique approach to sales development. They are the authors of Naked Sales: How Design Thinking Reveals Customer Motives and Drives Revenue. For more information, please visit somersaultinnovation.com.
These four properties, brand-new or wonderfully renovated, are reason enough to dig out your passport and get yourself and your group abroad. Don’t believe us? Then take a look.
Hotel Hacienda de Abajo
Hotel Hacienda de Abajoa, a sweetly restored 17th-century sugar plantation in the Canary Islands overlooking wild coast and blue ocean on the island of San Miguel de La Palma, has joined the Luxe Collection by L.E. Hotels. The adults-only property offers 32 guest rooms with eco-friendly mattresses and a Bath House with exotic massages.
Hampton by Hilton Montevideo Carrasco
Uruguay is getting quite the buzz these days—for sustainability, free university education, LGBTQ rights and more—and now Hampton by Hilton has opened its first property in South America’s smallest country. The brand-new, 117-room hotel sits on Calcagno Lagoon (with a nearly 6,000-square-foot solarium facing the water) and offers more than 2,000 square feet of flexible meeting space.
The Westin Los Cabos Resort Villas & Spa
The Westin Los Cabos Resort Villas & Spa reopened with 147 villas ranging from studios to a 2,200-square-foot Presidential Suite. It also offers more than 4,800 sq. ft. of indoor meeting space, two meeting rooms, plenty of Wi-Fi and an endless array of oceanside options. All that’s between you and the warm Pacific is a ribbon of sand.
Avani Fares Maldives Resort
OK, so you’ll have to wait until late 2019, but just look at this island! Avani Hotels & Resorts is planting its flag in the Maldives, and Avani Fares Maldives Resort will soon sit prettily on Fares Island in the Baa Atoll. It’s a private, pristine, nearly 13 acres—and necklaced by soft white sand and every color of blue imaginable. The new resort will cosset guests in 200 guest rooms, including villas, in natural textures, colors and materials. The secluded location is reached by sea plane or speedboat.
Earlier this fall, hurricanes Irma and Harvey left millions in need of a reliable and immediate travel solution. Now, with the unpredictable holiday season fast approaching, the importance of understanding how best to navigate the travel landscape when faced with extreme weather conditions is at an all-time high. Whether experiencing unexpected weather, a flight cancellation or delay, here are a few tips to ensure you are equipped to handle the situation.
1. Departure Time Matters
During high traffic periods and days when weather is expected to be poor, give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport, and look to take the first flight out if you can, as that aircraft has a better chance of already being at the airport and therefore taking off on-time. Delays tend to increase as the day progresses, particularly when inclement weather in one area causes a ripple effect across multiple regions and airports.
2. Become a Priority
Inclement weather can increase the amount of time it takes to travel to the airport, and also leads to crowds upon arrival. Therefore, the ability to skip the security line could make the difference between catching your flight or getting stuck at the airport. Make sure to bundle priority security line access into your ticket and, if you are a frequent traveler, to sign up for TSA Pre and Global Entry. When traveling internationally, make use of a customs concierge who can assist you with every stage of navigating unfamiliar airports, from providing pick-up service to arranging lounge access.
3. Invest in a Travel “Tool Kit”
Does your credit card offer specialized perks or access? Are you a loyalty member of an airline, hotel chain, or car rental service? Most importantly, are you in the know about what your enrollment in these programs can really provide? All too often, people miss out on the benefits of their memberships, such as a room at a sold-out hotel or a seat on a sought-after flight. Take the time to learn about what these services can do for you.
4. Know Your Equipment
Do you feel more comfortable flying on a larger aircraft over a smaller, regional one? Tools like RouteHappy.com can take these preferences into consideration, allowing you to identify the right flight for you based on time, distance, conditions, and plane type. A car upgrade to a larger automobile or SUV can also help you manage your ground transportation needs. When dealing with inclement weather, prioritizing your comfort by selecting more reliable modes of transportation is a must.
5. Consider Flying Privately or Chartering an Aircraft
If there is an extreme weather situation, look into booking a private charter. In the event of extreme weather conditions, the nimble nature of private jet companies often means they can fly with fewer hours’ notice and even operate more flights than a commercial operator to get travelers out of harm’s way. Many programs even offer specific aircraft availability guarantees, ensuring you a seat whenever possible, and can fly into as many as 5,000 smaller airports vs. the 500 main hubs in the U.S.
6. Always Ask
If your flight does get canceled due to inclement weather, ask the airline if they can find a flight for you with another carrier as opposed to waiting for them to reschedule. Though airlines do not always announce this option in order to keep revenue in house, this is often something that can be done, and will help you get to your destination faster.
Andrew Collins is CEO and President of Sentient Jet.
