As headlines in national media warn of budget cuts to everything from Medicaid to international aid, a new proposal is quietly targeting travel marketing. U.S. Travel warned that during the reconciliation process, the Senate Commerce Committee bill, led by Chairman Ted Cruz, proposed cutting Brand USA funding from $100 million to $20 million, even through the president included $100 million in his budget.
What does that mean for meeting professionals looking to attract international visitors? “This funding reduction will significantly impact our entire industry, no matter what sector you serve,” according to the release. “Congress must do the same [as the president] to keep the U.S. competitive on the global stage.”
Travel policies impact how quickly attendees at international events—and global sporting events such as FIFA World Cup coming up in 2026—can get visas to attend in person.
Brand USA also helps keep the United States top of mind for potential attendees through trade shows, sales missions and MegaFams.
As the reconciliation process continues, U.S. Travel urged stakeholders to tell Congress to protect the travel industry—an industry that generates an economic output of $2.9 trillion and supports more than 15 million American jobs.
U.S. Travel suggested sending senators a letter and signing on to an industry-wide letter to Congress calling for the protection of Brand USA and support for policies that will modernize travel.
On The Hill
The proposed cuts come just weeks after more than 250 AHLA hoteliers visited elected officials on Capitol Hill to talk about concerns and challenges facing the U.S. hospitality industry, including the implications of tax and trade policies on hotel operating costs and travel demand.
They called for making the Small Business Tax Deduction permanent, extending Bonus Depreciation, preserving the Like-Kind Exchange, reinstating Expanded Business Interest Deductibility, launching a second round of Opportunity Zones and “No Tax on Tips.”
AHLA members also discussed measures to expand and upskill the hospitality workforce, such as adjusting the H-2B visa program cap and protecting the franchise model, which supports over half of all U.S. hotels and 2.8 million jobs.
Also in D.C. were 170 business and professional events industry leaders and advocates from Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA). The emissaries from 30 states met with more than 130 elected officials as part of the annual Legislative Action Day.
“What happens in Washington, D.C., is critical to the competitiveness of our industry going forward,” said Hervé Sedky, president and CEO of Emerald Holding Inc. and chair of the ECA board of directors.
The group focused on two of ECA’s top public policy priorities: taxes and talent. On May 22, the House of Representatives voted to maintain several ECA-supported tax policies while creating two new pathways to help attract and train the industry’s next-generation workforce.
“Last week’s vote demonstrates the importance of ‘all-in’ advocacy on behalf of our great industry,” said Vinnie Polito, Society of Independent Show Organizers CEO and ECA co-president. “Today was our collective opportunity to tell Congress to keep the momentum going so that we continue to drive economic growth, support job creation, and empower small businesses for many years to come.”
When Meeting Professionals International’s World Education Congress (MPI WEC) arrives at the renovated America’s Center in St. Louis on June 18, they will find a celebration of only-in-the-Gateway-City delights waiting for them. We ask MPI President and CEO Paul Van Deventer what he is excited about seeing as the association for meeting professionals puts out the call, “Let’s Rally,” to draw attention to the power, resilience and innovation of the meetings and events industry and the people behind it. “It’s time to rally around what makes our industry thrive,” said Van Deventer.
“Considering the environment we’re experiencing and the tensions and stress points that our members are going through, it is really valuable right now to be together,” he added.
A Celebration of St. Louis
America’s Center in St. Louis
WEC was last in St. Louis 12 years ago, the year before Van Deventer took the top spot at MPI. More board leaders come from the very active St. Louis chapter than any other. The dates for the event moved three times, twice because of impacts by delays in construction at the expansion of America’s Center and then a few days to not intersect with IPW, resulting in the first Friday close. “There has been a lot of movement, but I think that reinforces the desire to work with St. Louis and their desire to host. It would have been easy for either party to get out of the agreement, but we all wanted it to happen,” he said.
Explore St. Louis has worked to showcase the uniqueness of the city, the heritage and culture and the meetings infrastructure.
The opening reception at Busch Stadium will feature everything from toasted raviolis anad provel cheese to gooey butter cookies and Ted Drewes Frozen Custard.
The President’s Dinner on Thursday at historic Union Station will celebrate the RISE Awards.
Meanwhile, The Pageant concert venue offers an electric night of music and philanthropy with live music in the heart of St. Louis to fund MPI Foundation education scholarships and chapter grants.
The closing celebration at Grand Center Arts District will be a journey through the heart and soul of St. Louis with live entertainment and a St. Louis-born, Grammy-winning mystery guest.
Even the emcee is a nod to local talent, as Nine PBS in St. Louis Senior Producer Carol Daniel will serve as an on-stage guide.
Education Opportunities
Each general session and off-site learning journey is being called a rally. “The idea is to unite around success stories, elevate the community and explore the best of what St. Louis has to offer,” said Van Deventer.
Learning journeys include explorations of local sustainability initiatives, meeting innovation leaders and getting out in the community. Experiences include planting trees for carbon offset and tackling food waste through pre- and post-event audits.
Learning journeys started at the European Meetings & Events Conference (EMEC) in Europe and now MPI is taking the experiential learning to scale to showcase venues and experiences that people wouldn’t normally get in a conference of this size. In St. Louis, one of those side trips will be to Energizer Park, home of St. Louis CITY SC and the embodiment of many of St. Louis’ most amazing attributes, including its diverse neighborhoods, growing culinary scene, innovative technology, female leadership and a spirit of a new St. Louis.
“The beauty of those learning journeys is that you get to spend more time in a smaller group, understanding the destination in a way that will stick with you.”
A diverse lineup of keynotes follows the thread of making the world a better place.
Scientist, author and inventor Temple Grandin believes that “great minds are not all the same.” As one of the original advocate for autism awareness, Grandin helps audiences understand how autistic individuals use object visualization or math pattern thinking to solve problems, and how all minds can contribute to your team’s strengths.
Meanwhile, activist, educator and author Brittany Packnett Cunningham will speak to the confidence revolution as a way to advance social justice and empowerment. Cunningham challenges audiences to build a culture of belonging, tackle inequity and create meaningful, systemic change.
To advance the call to action, tea entrepreneur and energizer Daniel Lewis will address strategies for igniting connection, collaboration and change.
And because we all need a little fun, Freestyle+, a hip-hop comedy group, will take the stage to demonstrate the power of play. Think Tony Award-winning performers paired with science-backed learning frameworks to foster spontaneous laugher, authentic connection and lasting discovery.
Jessie States, vice president of MPI Academy, who manages the content, has focused on showcasing diversity on the stage and providing thought leadership from people many may not think of traditionally as a speaker and Van Deventer sees that as a powerful way to expose people to content they may not already be aware of. “She is expanding it and going deep this year around neurodiversity and the hidden challenges so many people have that planners need to be aware of,” he explained.
The concurrent sessions will shine a light on members bringing meaningful content to a larger audience. “It always gets me excited when I see some of the familiar names from our volunteer leaders addressing what is happening in our lives. We have to support each other and learn from each other through a time of uncertainty, especially for those who may be new to business cycles,” Van Deventer said.
Time to Recommit
MPI WEC Louisville 2024
Van Deventer described the gathering as more of a family than a learning environment and said his goal is that everyone leave convinced they’ve made the right decision to be engaged with this industry, that business events are meaningful, and they have a meaningful role to play within business events. “It’s an exciting career and MPI is there to guide and support members through that career and help get them through whatever lies ahead,” he said.
Finally, he hoped that attendees would see what a cool place St. Louis is and be inspired to bring some business love back.
What to Expect at the Renovated America’s Center Convention Complex
The first phase of the $256 million expansion and facelift at America’s Center Convention Complex in downtown St. Louis added 72,000 sq. ft. of shiny new, pillar-free exhibit space with improved access via an enclosed loading dock that doubled in size. The new bays increased available dates by making load in and out of overlapping programs easier.
Enhanced ventilation and filtration make the total 502,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, 80 meeting rooms and 67,000-seat Dome at America’s Center in the middle of downtown a healthy choice.
A new food farm will grow fresh produce and act as an outdoor gathering space at the Washington Avenue entrance.
The second phase of the renovation will wrap up in late 2025.
When it comes to live events, reliable internet and Wi-Fi are no longer a luxury—they’re the backbone of a successful conference experience. Yet, with shifting floor plans, last-minute bookings, and increased digital reliance, planning for internet and Wi-Fi connectivity can feel overwhelming.
To help meeting professionals navigate these challenges, I recently sat down with expert Network Engineer Cory White and Xpodigital Project Manager Seth Vogt to discuss the four things every planner should consider before their next event.
#1. Ask the Right Questions
You may have found the perfect venue, but charm doesn’t make up for a lack of internet coverage. Weeding out the wrong venues sometimes means asking tough questions. Cory White encourages planners to go beyond the basics:
“When was your last major refresh for the building? What is your density capacity for larger events? And if they’re unwilling to share that kind of information,” Cory continues, “then you know right off the bat they are lacking in certain areas.”
Request a current coverage map, and if possible, see how the network performs during a similar-sized event. If a venue hesitates or lacks documentation, consider it a red flag.
#2. Understand the Difference Between ‘Throughput’ and ‘Bandwidth’
It’s easy to assume that more bandwidth is always better, but that’s not always the case. Cory explains:
“There’s a scale in the background we run into all the time,” Cory says. “[Your ISP] is giving you $100 a month internet, but you have to multiply that by the thousand houses in your neighborhood. It’s the same backbone we’re installing, [but temporarily] for five to seven days.”
Bandwidth is the maximum capacity, while throughput is what you actually get under real-world conditions. Overestimating can waste budget; underestimating can cripple your event. Cory advises:
“Locally, you want to [ensure] you have as much throughput as possible,” Cory says. “But you want to be able to roam freely because not every device is [connected] to the internet.”
Work with your provider to right-size your network to your event’s actual needs.
#3. Ensure Network Security
With more devices and sensitive data on the network, security is non-negotiable. Cory highlights the balance planners must strike:
“You want [connecting to be easy] and not burden users or attendees with security protocols. As a provider, you need to [give the client some] confidence.”
That confidence comes from having some basic level of security in place, ensuring only attendees connect and minimizing opportunities for bad actors. When it comes to attendee data collection, Cory is clear:
“We discourage that entirely,” Cory says.
Unnecessary data collection can slow down your network and frustrate users, so only gather what’s essential.
#4. Consider Forming a Technology Advisory Council
Technology can be overwhelming, especially when you’re juggling countless other details. Cory reminds planners:
“Meeting planners are in a thousand directions; technology is just one of those things.”
You don’t have to do this alone. Consult tech-savvy colleagues or form a Technology Advisory Council that brings together all your key technology partners—AV, registration, internet, and more—for regular check-ins before and during your event. This helps everyone stay aligned and ready to troubleshoot quickly.
Making Every Connection Count
The stakes for event connectivity have never been higher, but so are the opportunities for planners who approach internet and Wi-Fi planning with the same rigor as any other critical event detail. By asking the right questions, understanding your event’s unique needs, and fostering collaboration among your technology partners, you can deliver a seamless digital experience for attendees and stakeholders alike.
2024 Smart Meetings Catalyst Award Winner (Quantum Leap Award) and 2025 Smart Women in Meetings Award Winner (Stellar Performer Award), Jo has been named a 2025 Smart Women in Meetings Honoree. A certified meeting professional (CMP) and digital event strategist (DES), Jo is also an active member of organizations such as MPI, PCMA, and CEMA, and is dedicated to advancing the role of technology in live and hybrid event environments.
As Director of Events, Conference Internet, Jo Fostock and her team at Xpodigital lead the strategy and design of custom network solutions for high-profile conferences nationwide. A champion of innovation and collaboration, Jo’s team works closely with organizers, production teams, and exhibitors to ensure every event is fully connected – bringing a unique blend of technical expertise and hospitality-driven service to every project.
Planning to travel to D.C. for a June event? You’ll want to take a second look at your flight plans—an upcoming military parade is expected to upend air traffic at Ronald Reagan Airport. Still curating your travel inspo on Pinterest? According to a new report, you’re missing out on supercharging your searches. Hoping your next event leaves a lighter footprint? Hawai‘i just passed a game-changing climate measure that ties tourism to environmental impact.
As always, Smart Travel is here to bring you the latest must-read travel and tourism news.
Royal Caribbean Announces Leadership Shift at the Helm
Big changes are on deck at Royal Caribbean Group. After nearly four decades as chair, Richard Fain will step down from his role in Q4 2025, though he’ll remain on the board. President and CEO Jason Liberty, who has led the company since 2022, has been elected to succeed him as chairman.
Fain, credited with transforming the cruise industry, said, “It is time to hand the wheel to the next generation of exceptional talent…and I am very confident that under Jason’s strong leadership, the Royal Caribbean Group will accelerate to even greater heights.”
Liberty added, “I look forward to continuing to create and deliver the ultimate vacation experience for our guests.” With cruise-based gatherings gaining popularity, Royal Caribbean is signaling to planners a commitment to keep innovating.
AI Surpasses Social Media in Travel Discovery, Says Accenture
According to Accenture’s new report, “Me, My Brand and AI,” generative AI has officially overtaken social media and online travel agencies (OTAs) as a go-to source for travel inspiration and planning. Among active users, 37% now turn to AI first for travel ideas, compared to 29% who go to social platforms and 14% who use OTAs.
For meeting planners, this signals a major shift in how attendees may be discovering destinations, venues and experiences. As AI becomes more trusted (Accenture found that 36% of users see it as a “good friend”) it’s becoming a powerful influence in shaping decisions.
“Brands that hesitate risk falling out of the consideration set altogether,” the report warns. “But those that act now…can shape the future of AI-driven marketing and commerce.”
Planners should consider how AI can support everything from personalized pre-event recommendations to on-site engagement tools. As the way people research and decide where to go evolves, so should the strategy behind how your event gets discovered.
Hawai‘i Enacts Nation’s First Green Fee to Fund Climate Resilience
Planning a meeting in paradise may soon come with deeper purpose. Hawai‘i Governor Josh Green just signed Senate Bill 1396 into law, creating the country’s first statewide “Green Fee” to support climate resilience, sustainable tourism and environmental restoration.
Starting in 2026, the transient accommodations tax (TAT) will increase by 0.75% and, for the first time, apply to cruise ships docking in Hawai‘i. The goal? To raise an estimated $100 million annually to protect the islands’ natural and cultural resources and make sure visitors share in the responsibility of preserving Hawai‘i for future generations.
“Today Hawaiʻi ushers in the first Green Fee in the nation,” said Governor Green. “As an island chain, Hawaiʻi cannot wait for the next disaster to hit before taking action.”
Future events in Hawai‘i will reflect a strengthened commitment to sustainability, and attendees can feel good knowing their stay helps fund real restoration.
ASTA Warns New U.S. Travel Ban Could Disrupt Global Meetings and Tourism
As President Trump prepares to enact a new travel ban affecting 19 countries, the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) is urging policymakers to consider the wider economic and diplomatic consequences.
The executive order, set to take effect June 9, bars citizens from 12 nations—including Iran, Somalia and Myanmar—from entering the U.S. and places additional restrictions on travelers from seven others. Though there are exceptions for dual citizens, legal residents and select visa holders, the directive echoes similar policies from Trump’s first term.
“Safe, secure and open travel are foundational to our world,” said ASTA CEO Zane Kerby. “When governments impose restrictions that limit access and movement…it sends a ripple effect through global commerce [and] opposes the very spirit of what travel represents.”
The new restrictions may complicate international attendee logistics and limit the global diversity of future events hosted in the U.S. As travel remains a key driver of cross-border collaboration, ASTA is calling for balanced solutions that maintain security without undermining connection and exchange.
FAA Warns of Flight Disruptions at DCA on June 14
A military parade celebrating the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary is expected to disrupt air travel through Washington, D.C., on June 14. The FAA has confirmed that airspace around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) will be temporarily closed to accommodate flyovers and fireworks tied to the event, likely impacting at least 116 flights.
“There could be some disruption to the airspace at times,” said D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. “We don’t know when that is, but that could affect, for short periods of time, air travel.”
While the main impact will be felt at DCA, travelers with connections or evening arrivals on the East Coast should double-check itineraries. Reagan Airport is urging passengers to contact their airlines for rebooking options and consider public transit due to local road closures.
For those planning events in the capital or routing speakers and attendees through DCA, it’s a good idea to flag this date and build in flexibility. Alternative airports like Dulles (IAD) may offer smoother travel that weekend.
PCMA edUcon 2025 brought 842 industry professionals to Louisville, preserving its much-discussed 50/50 split between planners and partners. While “innovation” was the headline theme, the execution offered a mix of the familiar and the experimental—showcasing both progress and a few growing pains for the meetings industry.
A Layout That Broke the Mold…Mostly
This year, edUcon stood out by spreading its programming across two adjacent hotels—Louisville Marriott Downtown and Omni Louisville—and including off-site sessions at local landmarks. This distributed approach increased the need for planning (and comfortable shoes), but it paid off by giving attendees more chances to explore the city and break out of traditional conference routines. Notably, the Heka Health Wellness Challenge encouraged participants to walk between venues, offering a practical wellness angle and a fresh perspective on how event design can support movement, even if not every attendee opted in.
A good example: The “Major League Mindset” session with Dr. Tiffany R. Jones, PhD, CMPC, took place at the Louisville Slugger Museum, and attendees could choose to walk or take provided shuttles. Following the session, the peer debrief and tour format was a welcome change—allowing for more organic networking in a less formal environment.
Sponsor Activations: More Engaged, More Integrated
Rather than isolating sponsors to a trade show floor, edUcon positioned activations throughout both properties.
Highlights included an Aura Video screening, specialty coffee from Puerto Rico, and a Books & Bourbon library—a clever nod to local culture. Most activations genuinely invited participation, helping partners feel more integrated into the attendee experience.
edUcon’s catering program reflected incremental progress. Day 1 featured a well-stocked break with adequate protein bars and a nicely presented “fruitcuterie” board—fresh fruit displayed with more intention than the typical continental spread. Traditional regional fare and classic comfort food continued to anchor the main receptions.
There was also a visible effort to offer non-alcoholic beverage choices, including NA spritzes at the Angel’s Envy leadership reception and Churchill Downs offering alcohol-free Mint Juleps and Oaks Lilys. Still, classic cocktails remained front and center.
Tech & Innovation: Updates and New Offerings
During the opening keynote, Junior Tauvaa took the stage to announce Spark 2.0 with deeper learning, updated LLM and the ability to upload PDFs, like menus. In addition, he announced that PCMA and Gevme have enhanced their AI-powered Spark platform by integrating Tempest, allowing event planners to discover and connect with destinations and venues more efficiently, while also giving DMOs and venues greater access to over 9,000 professionals on the platform. It is called “Destination” and is included in the Spark Pro account.
Programming & Engagement
Day 1
Launched with a community give-back initiative supporting local racetrack workers—demonstrating how social impact can be woven into industry events. The opening night at Churchill Downs was as much about local flavor and Derby pageantry as it was about networking.
Main Stage opened with Carrie Freeman Parsons, focusing on evolving brand experiences. Wellness circuits and “edUcon Circuits” provided space for hands-on learning and quick recharge opportunities, though adoption varied. Offsite networking included trips to Maddox & Rose and Gatsby Tours, bringing a more experiential element to peer connection. The PCMA Foundation’s Give Back Bash celebrated 40 years with Southern food and lively music.
Day 3
Denim Richards’ “Unscripted Influence” keynote and Imani Ellis’ session on community-building were well attended. Off-site learning at Muhammad Ali Center and Slugger Museum continued, keeping the event energy from stagnating. The edUcon Music Festival at Fourth Street Live wrapped up the day with a relaxed, festive atmosphere.
The event closed with a simple, effective farewell—grab-and-go breakfast, snacks, and locally sourced Puerto Rican coffee for the trip home. Attendees were encouraged to give feedback for future improvement.
Objectively Speaking: Progress, but Not Perfection
The split venue format fostered movement and exploration, but also presented logistical hurdles and occasional confusion for those not using the event app.
F&B offerings made some strides with presentation and a few healthier choices, but plant-based and inclusive menus remain a growth area for future editions.
Key Takeaways
Distributing sessions across multiple venues and incorporating offsite locations can refresh attendee engagement—but requires strong communication and support.
Sponsor integration works best when activations are interactive and contextually relevant. Sponsor activations were creative and more experiential, but a few felt more like marketing than true engagement.
Wellness and sustainability are moving in the right direction, but more can be done to make these values core to the event rather than add-ons. While steps were taken, there’s room for events like edUcon to further integrate these elements so they feel less like “features” and more like foundations.
Final Thoughts
edUcon 2025 proved that incremental innovation matters. The industry is moving—sometimes quickly, sometimes in fits and starts—toward more engaging, holistic, and purposeful events. While the journey isn’t over, Louisville was a welcome testbed for what’s possible when we’re willing to try something new.
A state of San Francisco events scene roundtable discussion focused on how to share the resurrection story
For the truth about the past, present and future of events in The City by the Bay, Smart Meetings gathered a group of veteran meeting professionals for a “hospitali-tea spilling” at The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square. Listen in as these locals reminisce about San Francisco’s role in international order, cultural change, culinary breakthroughs and big business. The steeped collective is not sugarcoating the challenges The City has faced and opens up about prospects for the future of conferences in the larger Bay Area.
The Spillers
Alex Carvalho, CMP, DES: Manager of enterprise corporate events with Pacific Gas and Electric Company. She brings 20 years of experience in corporate event planning. She was previously with Kaiser Permanente, Hewlett Packard and Hospital Council of Northern & Central California. She is a Smart Women in Meetings Hall of Fame inductee.
Edward Perotti, CMP, CMM: Principle of EP Events & Experiences. He is an event designer, author, speaker and former executive creative director of global events brand experience with Pure Storage and senior director of global meetings, events and travel with VMware. He was born and raised in San Francisco’s Noe Valley.
Julie Van’t Hul: Vice president of sales, events and services with SF Travel. The Midwest native sits on the board of Yerba Buena Community Benefit District and describes herself as living in The City by choice.
Elaine Clancy: Director of sales and marketing with The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square. She has been with Marriott for almost 38 years, is a Bay Area native and received her Business Administration and Management degree from San Francisco State University.
Steeped in History
San Francisco’s deep hospitality roots set the stage for the hot takes. Milestones include
the Westin St. Francis served as a key site during the United Nations Conference on International Organization, where delegates from 50 nations gathered to draft and establish the United Nations Charter. The property has hosted the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference annually for more than 30 years, welcoming global leaders in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and healthcare investment.
Additionally, San Francisco is home to Salesforce’s Dreamforce, a major citywide convention centered around the newly renovated Moscone Convention Center. The Westin St. Francis plays a key role during Dreamforce as one of the most sought-after host hotels due to its iconic status, spacious accommodations, and prime location just a short walk from Moscone. The hotel regularly hosts corporate meetings, client receptions, executive stays and branded activations during the conference, making it a strategic hub for companies participating in or attending Dreamforce.
Van’t Hul pointed out that San Francisco has been a hospitality city going back to the Gold Rush. Pioneers brought spirit and tenacity to build North Beach and Chinatown. They settled in the bustling port town while keeping their culture intact. “You can still feel that authenticity in the neighborhoods,” she said.
San Francisco Stock and Bond Exchange established the City as the financial hub of the West in 1882. Wells Fargo and Visa are still headquartered in The City, and fintech companies SoFi, Intuit and Square are Bay Area developments.
The innovative DNA of the founders led to the creation of Stanford University and UC Berkeley, and the groundbreaking technology that has come out of the area goes back to the Shockley Transistor Corporation in 1955 in Palo Alto. “It’s ingrained in our culture here,” said Van’t Hul.
The hilly streets were also the scene of the Summer of Love and the cultural revolution, as evidenced in gayborhoods and the election of the first openly gay man in Supervisor Harvey Milk in 1977. That openness to diversity was a powerful source of growth for The City and pride for those around the table.
“This is home. It’s been a roller coaster ride, but this place doesn’t fall. It always comes back better,” said Perotti.
Perotti reminisced about how he gathered in the same room on the 32nd floor ballroom of The Westin to look out over the San Francisco skyline for his senior prom. His great-grandmother made her way to the area from Italy in 1909 and served as a neighborhood suffrage movement leader. He would take the streetcar downtown at age six with a nickel because it was so safe. He would meet his grandmother in her hat and gloves and go to the Woolworths lunch counter. Everyone talked to everyone else. “The City has always embraced differentness. It has always been about inclusion. San Francisco was the power child for the American Dream,” he said.
“Once you get here, it’s really hard to leave,” added Van’t Hul. The City she promotes is more than the 7 miles by 7 miles of the peninsula and includes thousands of miles of green spaces, forests, coastline, Silicone Valley, Wine Country and mountain foothills.
“It’s the people, the free spirit that captured me immediately,” Van’t Hul said. “It’s the freedom to express and be yourself, to let your wildest business ideas fly. The vibe is pretty unique.”
Strength in Hot Water
Another quintessential San Francisco trait going back to the beginning is resiliency. When dipped in hot water—or fire—The City gets stronger. The earthquake and fire of 1906 damaged both Fairmont San Francisco and Palace Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Francisco, but they built back more opulent than ever and are still in-demand event spaces along with Intercontinental Mark Hopkins, which dates back to 1926 on Nob Hill. Read about the storied history of Westin St. Francis in the sidebar.
As the center of commerce and retail, The City also suffered on a larger scale when those industries collapsed during the dot-com bubble of 2000 and when the pandemic sent everyone shopping online. Now, The City is awash in AI developers, and a new experiential Nintendo store opened last month in Union Square. The former Macy’s Men’s Store transformed into a sleek new Convene coworking space. Resilience and reinvention are natural for this destination.
Carvalho, who has lived in the East Bay for 20 years, says she still catches her breath every time she crosses the Bay Bridge and glimpses The City emerging from what is affectionately known as Karl the Fog. “As soon as I pass Treasure Island, I look over and think, ‘I get to live in a place that is on most people’s bucket lists to visit.’ My favorite part of traveling is coming back home.”
She acknowledged that the last five years have been difficult as The City became a punching bag for national media, but will stand up for The Bay every time. “I feel very protective about San Francisco. People are saying things that are untrue,” she said.
The detractors may not have visited lately, she reasoned. “You can feel it when you walk on the streets. Conventions are coming back to Moscone.”
Perotti agreed that seeing is believing. “Even people who think they hate The City change their minds after they visit,” said Perotti.
Van’t Hul confirmed that in the wake of APEC, The City is welcoming more conventioners this year.
“We’re seeing an uptick,” she said. New corporate conferences include the AI conferences HumanX and Hubspot’s INBOUND conference, along with the return of Snowflake Summit and Databricks’ Data + AI Summit for the intersection of data and AI. The Specialty Food Association is bringing the Winter FancyFaire to The City in 2027.
The day before the clinking of teacups at The Westin, Marriott International’s The Exchange, Association Masters event at San Francisco Marriott Marquis brought Marriott CEO Anthony Capuano and Chairman David S. Marriott. New San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and San Francisco Travel CEO Anna Marie Presutti took the stage to attest that crime is down 30%, the number of events at Moscone Center is up 28% and the basketball influencer Charles Barkley is now a believer.
Many of the association planner attendees in the audience indicated that the event was their first time back since 2019, and they were pleasantly surprised.
SF Travel used the occasion to release “Believe in San Francisco” as the theme of a new video and ad campaign. The City will show off those iconic features on the world stage when it hosts Laver Cup tennis tournament in September, FIFA World Cup and Super Bowl LX in 2026, and all the spin-off gatherings around those major events.
“There’s been a real resurgence here.” Van’t Hul said. “Our job now is overcoming that narrative by getting people here to see the reality. We’re approachable and open.”
Perotti bemoaned the fact that news accounts focus on homeless people and stores closing—things that are happening in cities all over the country—but not the vibrancy of the neighborhoods. He advised doubling down on promoting the soul of the place. “You come here to get inspired, to taste real food from all over the world.”
Clancy agreed. “We don’t talk enough about how every day there’s something new here and a spirit that can move companies forward. They just need to come here and feel it.”
Those who have made the trip have discovered that luxury is thriving, and walking the scenic streets is inspiring.
Van’t Hul was emphatic. “We’re not coming back. We are back. We’ve been back!” Now the job is to reintroduce The City to the world. “We believe. We are creating and innovating.”
Perotti stressed that strategic meeting professionals have an obligation to be the owners of the truth, pushing back on decisionmakers when the narrative is incorrect. “We are not servants. Just because somebody tells you something doesn’t mean you do it. Our role is to give them what they need, not what they want,” he said. In his eyes, the art of the possibility of what can be created in a place like San Franciso makes fighting for it imperative.
“It’s Bay Area pride,” said Carvalho. From Monterey and Santa Clara, where Levi’s Stadium is located, to Oakland and Tahoe, this area has every type of experience.
Reading the Tea Leaves
As the group looked to the future, the resurgence of sports and commerce had everyone smiling. From the NBA All-Star Game and March Madness that happened at Chase Center this spring to more events at Oracle Park, The City is alive with activity. The loss of two sports teams from Oakland—the MLB Athletics and the NFL Raiders—is an opportunity to fill that void with a new cultural center.
“San Francisco is well on its way to recovering beyond 2020 levels, but we need to bring our neighbors with us as one ecosystem,” said Carvalho. “What happens across the bridge affects what happens here and in San Jose.”
Perotti agreed with the need to spread the real story of the region’s potential worldwide, but stressed the importance of pushing the envelope. “Let’s be a little provocative and not try to be like every other city. We are where innovation is born, and big ideas happen.”
Van’t Hul quoted SF Travel CEO Anna Marie Presutti as saying that the best way for meeting professionals to see the progress The City has made is to witness it in person. Make your own custom fortune cookie, experience the Irish coffee tradition at The Buena Vista, ride a cable car and an autonomous vehicle on the same street or a hundred other experiences only available in San Francisco. “Get the SF out here,” she said.
A History of Building Back Better
The Westin St. Francis, In Bloom Suite
The Westin St. Francis documents its storied history dating back to 1904 in a museum alcove around the corner from a new celebrity restaurant being developed on the first floor. General Manager Clif Clark—who also bears responsibility for five other local properties: Marriott Marquis, W San Francisco, JW Marriott, The Clancy and Marriott Union Square—is the unofficial historian of the 1,189-room The Westin St. Francis and is proud of the role the property has played in world events.
Clark has served on the Executive Board of Directors for the Hotel Council of San Francisco, the San Francisco Travel Tourism Improvement District Board and as Chairman of the Board for the San Mateo County/Silicon Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau. His face lights up over the tea table when talking about the important developments that have led to this point.
The original Westin footprint was built by railroad magnate Charles Crocker in a bid to create “The Paris of the West.”
Before the hotel’s second anniversary, the earthquake of 1906 demolished 29,000 buildings in San Francisco, whose flag bears the image of a Phoenix rising from the ashes. While the hotel withstood the earthquake, the subsequent fire took its toll. In 40 days, Crocker built “The Little St. Francis,” a 150-room hotel and restaurant for people who were displaced. When the actual hotel reopened in 1907, it was built a third larger, and a Viennese magnetic clock was brought in as the standard that ran timepieces in all the guest rooms.
In addition to the opulent details of the building, Crocker brought in arguably one of the first celebrity chefs in Victor Hertzler, the father of California cuisine. He was the knife behind such dishes as Celery Victor, Crab Louis and Chicken Tetrazzini, and the original cookbook is in the museum to prove it.
The hospitality legacy of the property lives on in employees who have served decades, if not their entire careers, at the hotel or in the area. When you see a bellman with 40 years of experience, you just have to marvel at how many pieces of luggage he has handled and how many stories he has heard.
The location on Union Square, with proximity to the holiday tree, ice skating rink and tulip activations, makes it a nostalgic favorite. San Francisco Flower Market dates back to 1921, and The Westin riffed on the connection with flower-arranging experiences and a Blossom Suite that turned a guest room into a pink wonderland with two trees and countless petals.
“We have been part of the fabric of this community for 121 years,” said Clancy. With the addition of a spacious new club lounge and celebrity bar restaurant, the property will continue to welcome groups in style for decades to come.
Caviar is “moving from elite delicacy to playful lifestyle statement,” says this year’s Hospitality Trends Report fromElite Catering + Event Professionals(ECEP), a global network of leaders from top catering and hospitality organizations. Think roaming caviar carts and pairings with “nostalgic favorites like tater tots, spaghetti and deviled eggs.” It’s all about over-the-top moments that turn everyday bites into memory-makers.
If you don’t have a caviar budget, can you afford butter? Not just those pale yellow slabs—we’re talking “flavor flights” of cultured, compound unctuousness and “tableside butter trolleys.” Bougie butter, that’s the spread, ECEP’s Trends Council proclaimed at the organization’s 2025 symposium in Napa, California.
Another trend is what’s being called “sensorial dining.” Immersive experiences through taste, scent, texture, sound and light. “Think dishes served on aromatic platters, ambient soundscapes that shift with each course, and lighting that evolves throughout the meal. Even cocktails are getting in on the action, like one memorable example served in a Tibetan sound bowl and stirred by sound waves created by the mixologist.”
Trends in other aspects of the meetings-sphere include more open formats in corporate gatherings— “a more casual, fluid structure that encourages meaningful networking in a relaxed environment”—and the continued upsurge in wellness, with menus featuring “nutrient-rich options” and programming that offers “serene spaces, yoga sessions or spa integrations.”
Finally, it’s pixelsandprint. AI is “reshaping hospitality with tools that enhance personalization, streamline communication, and optimize kitchen operations,” while in this digital-saturated world, caters are also returning to print. As in “high-end menus, stationery, custom invitations and beautifully designed mailers” to make “a bold statement in brand marketing.”
Disclaimer: This article was written with AI assistance and edited by a senior staff member.
These reimagined and brand-new venues are making waves for meetings and events
Planning the perfect gathering is easier when the venue is as memorable as the moment. Luckily, new and newly renovated properties across the country are offering inspiring spaces with a distinct sense of place and personality.
Whether you’re dreaming of a waterfront ballroom in Boston, a rooftop cocktail hour under the Miami sun, or a post-meeting plunge into the largest indoor waterpark in the region, this season’s standouts have you covered.
In Boston, a beloved landmark gets a thoughtful refresh with the Boston Harbor Hotel’s updated meeting spaces that blend traditional luxury with modern ease and sunlit harbor views.
Farther south, Andaz Miami Beach brings Mediterranean cool to Mid-Beach with a vibrant design, private beachfront and culinary flair courtesy of José Andrés.
Out west in Oklahoma City, the all-new Okana Resort & Indoor Waterpark makes a splash with immersive entertainment, riverside views and a conference center made for fun-loving teams.
These standout spaces combine local flavor with smart upgrades that make meetings feel less like obligations and more like opportunities. Whether you’re hosting a corporate retreat or a milestone celebration, these venues offer a warm welcome and plenty of wow.
Timeless Elegance Meets Modern Comfort
The Boston Harbor Hotel, Boardroom Bar
Boston Harbor Hotel has unveiled a stunning renovation of its meeting and event spaces, blending timeless elegance with a fresh, modern sensibility. Located on the city’s iconic waterfront, the reimagined spaces now offer a refined atmosphere defined by soft neutral tones, rich wood accents and abundant natural light.
On the lobby level, the Magellan Gallery honors the hotel’s heritage with polished sophistication, while the boardroom combines old-world charm with built-in AV, handcrafted bookshelves and a harbor-facing bar. The John Adams, John Foster and John Phillips Salons feature expansive windows, upgraded finishes and discreet AV and catering integration for seamless events of any size.
Upstairs on the mezzanine level, floor-to-ceiling windows flood the newly refreshed North and South Atlantic Rooms and the Meritage Room with light, showcasing panoramic waterfront views. Fully renovated restrooms and integrated technology throughout ensure these large-capacity spaces support both grand celebrations and modern meetings with ease.
The updated design throughout captures the spirit of Boston while elevating every gathering with effortless style and comfort.
Splash into Something New in OKC
Okana Lobby
Oklahoma City has welcomed a vibrant new addition with the grand opening of Okana Resort & Indoor Waterpark, a $400 million, year-round destination combining luxurious stays with high-energy fun. Located along the Oklahoma River and just minutes from downtown, the resort features 404 guest rooms and suites with plush finishes, modern First American-inspired design and sweeping views of the city, lagoon or river.
Guests can dive into the region’s largest indoor waterpark, a 100,000-square-foot splash haven kept at a comfy 82 degrees year-round. The park includes a lazy river, wave pool, adult-only pool and 15 thrilling slides, including the coaster-like Wild Rapids and the kid-friendly Splash Falls. Just outside, a 4.5-acre adventure lagoon will offer everything from body slides and obstacle courses to a beach and zip-line pool when it opens this summer.
Beyond the water, guests can explore OKANARAMA!, a family entertainment center with laser tag and arcade games, or unwind at the tranquil spa. Dining options are as creative as the attractions, with 13 venues ranging from gastropubs to taquerias to immersive sports simulators at Curveball Kitchen and Smokehouse Social.
With flexible day passes, an expansive conference center and three outdoor event spaces, OKANA is as fitting for meetings and group getaways as it is for weekend escapes. Anchored in cultural connection and community spirit, OKANA promises unforgettable experiences for locals and visitors alike.
Sunny Sophistication in Mid-Beach
Andaz Miami Beach, Crown Suite Terrace
Andaz Miami Beach, the first Florida outpost for Hyatt’s lifestyle-driven brand, brings an effortlessly cool Mediterranean vibe to a quiet stretch of Mid-Beach. The reimagined waterfront resort—formerly The Confidante—offers 287 guest rooms, including 64 suites, all with views of the ocean or skyline. A soothing palette of aqua, mint and sage, inspired by Miami’s Art Deco past, complements curved lines and airy spaces. Guests are greeted in the city’s only elevated lobby, welcomed with a cocktail as Balearic beats meet Cuban rhythms.
Outside, two heated pools with cabanas and a private beach club provide laid-back luxury, while inside, Ondara Spa offers touchless treatments and ocean-view recovery lounges. Three distinct culinary concepts from José Andrés Group elevate the experience: Aguasal, serving coastal fare with Mykonos-meets-Miami flair; Bar Centro, a tapas-style beach bar; and the upcoming return of The Bazaar in 2026.
Groups can take advantage of 25,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including two oceanfront ballrooms with floor-to-ceiling windows and a state-of-the-art hydraulic pool floor that transforms into a unique platform for runway shows, receptions or live performances. Whether recharging by the sea or hosting a celebration, Andaz Miami Beach offers an inspiring blend of style, culture and sunshine.
The contest for Olympic gold in Los Angeles has already begun—even though the games don’t start for three more years. In this case the gold will be in the paychecks of the city’s airport and hotel workers. The city is lifting their wages and health-care benefits in the face of predictions of dire economic consequences by their employers.
Mayor Karen Bass has signed a bill passed in late May by Los Angeles City Council labeled the Living Wage Ordinance. It’s also being called the Olympic Wage—because it will boost wages for Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and workers at the city’s major hotels to $30 per hour, the highest in the nation, by 2028, when L.A. hosts the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The proposed new law applies to hotels with over 60 rooms and businesses operating within LAX. The wage increase will be implemented gradually, starting with $22.50 per hour this July. In July 2026, hotel workers would also receive ahealth-care credit for the first time.
Tourism workers in Long Beach, another Olympics and Paralympics host city, are also battling for a similar Olympic win.
An ‘Economic Tsunami’
In response, a coalition of airlines, hotels and concession companies at LAX filed paperwork to force a citywide vote on a new ordinance.
The group, known as the L.A. Alliance for Tourism, Jobs and Progress, is hoping to persuade voters to repeal the ordinance. The alliance will need to gather about 93,000 signatures within 30 days to qualify the measure for the ballot in an upcoming election.
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) opposed the idea of the wage hike from the beginning and called on Mayor Karen Bass to veto the ordinance. AHLA President & CEO Rosanna Maietta said the raises would unleash an “economic tsunami” in the wake of the devastating wildfires, a prolonged international travel slowdown, and a lagging pandemic recovery. “If this ordinance becomes law, the fallout will not be theoretical—it’ll be felt in pink slips, shuttered hotels, and lost tax revenue into the city.”
Although the Olympics as well as other major tourism events are on the city’s horizon, it’s undeniable that L.A. tourism is currently challenged. According to AHLA, international travel is down 13.5%, Canadian visitation has fallen more than 70%, airlines have pulled over 320,000 seats from LAX, and 11 LA hotels—totaling 3,000-plus rooms—are now flagged on lender watchlists.
Jackie Filla, the Hotel Association of Los Angeles’ president and CEO, said she expects hotels to close restaurants or other small businesses on their premises—and, in some cases, shut down entirely if the wage hike becomes law. In the short term, she said, some will cancel their room block agreements that reserve rooms for the 2028 Games.
“I don’t think anybody wants to do this,” Filla told the LA Times. “Hotels are excited to host guests and participate in the Olympics. But they can’t go into it losing money.”
Fasting for the Gold
Yet proponents have counter arguments. City Councilman Hugo Soto-Martinez, a major proponent of the ordinance, noted on his website that an independent study about the law’s impact found it would lead to an estimated 6,300 new jobs and $1.2 billion added to the region’s GDP because of workers’ increased spending power. “For these essential workers clocking 60 to 80 hours a week just to get by, a living wage means being able to spend time with family, get some rest, and maybe even save a little for the future,” said Soto-Martinez, a former organizer with the hotel and restaurant union Unite Here Local 11.
The city council only voted to move the ordinance forward after dozens of tourism workers went to the extreme of fasting for three days outside City Hall.
“As a single mother of three who commutes over two hours from Bakersfield to work at LAX’s airline catering company LSG Sky Chef’s,” Lorena Mendez, one of the fasters, was quoted in Newsweek, “it makes me happy to see this finally move forward. With the $20 [an hour] I make, it’s not nearly enough to help me live in Los Angeles. I am proud that city leaders are taking concrete steps to help better the lives of thousands of working families like mine ahead of the Olympics and Paralympics.”
Flexibility on all sides could help meetings find a place in the bleisure sun
After years of sourcing in a supplier market as “revenge tourists” filled hotel rooms and restaurants almost year-round, a more cautious consumer market is making the certainty of mid-week group business look more attractive.
Omni Hotels & Resorts Chief Sales Officer, Dan Surette, confirmed that while meetings and events have always been a priority, the resiliency of meetings has been welcome—even if it takes longer for the ink to dry than in the past. “We’re a group-centric company. That’s the solid footing that we have, and then we go from there,” he said.
DS: It has been a roller coaster. Booking trends throughout the year have been unpredictable. November 2023 was slower, likely due to election-year uncertainty. But December 2023 defied expectations, becoming the largest booking month in Omni’s history. The new year began on a strong note, with January and March performing well, while February and April experienced dips.
May started slowly, but by month’s end, Omni saw a significant rebound, driven largely by a surge in small meeting requests. Many of these came from less traditional sources. Our online RFPs are up 90%, and most of those meetings are small, often submitted via OmniHotels.com.
The biggest spike in volume is from meetings of 25 people or fewer. Corporate small meetings are up 6% in May, while larger groups in the 100-200 range have seen a slight dip. Government-related bookings are also down about 30%.
SM:Are decisionmakers still taking longer to sign?
DS: There’s a lot of activity and conversations—it’s just been slow to convert. RFP volume is strong, but contract hesitation is widespread. Planners are struggling to secure attendance commitments and budget approvals, leading to a longer sales cycle and increased cancellations.
Attrition is not a case of force majeure, but rather to changes in optics, shifting budgets and international organizations deciding to keep meetings closer to home.
SM: What is it that planners need to feel confident in moving forward?
We are helping planners make the case internally—providing tools and talking points to secure executive buy-in and attendance.
More flexible terms, master account rebates, attrition concessions, complimentary amenities and discounts on audiovisual and food and beverage are all on the table. For planners booking multiple events, the brand’s Select Planner offers provide even more value.
SM: Are you seeing any room for negotiation in the areas of AV costs and Wi-Fi pricing?
DS: Omni is actively working to reduce that friction through partnerships with providers like Pinnacle Live. New small meeting AV packages are being rolled out, offering affordability and ease. Most notably, Wi-Fi costs for small groups have been slashed to $5–$10 per attendee.
That’s a game changer. It allows planners to stop worrying about nickel-and-diming and focus on content and experience.
SM: How are you supporting new and occasional planners?
DS: With many new planners entering the role without formal event planning experience, Omni is adjusting its approach. Rather than focusing just on dates, rates and space, the sales team is taking time to educate and support.
We shouldn’t just be transactional. Let’s deputize these folks as planners, walk through the contract, and make sure they understand the process. That helps everyone.
SM:What final advice do you have for planners navigating tight timelines, tight budgets and tight approval processes?
DS: Be flexible. That will save them and help them negotiate better. Being open to date shifts or different room types can unlock better deals, more value-adds and access to limited availability.
2024 Smart Meetings Catalyst Award Winner (
Rather than isolating sponsors to a trade show floor, edUcon positioned activations throughout both properties. 
San Francisco’s deep hospitality roots set the stage for the hot takes. Milestones include
As the group looked to the future, the resurgence of sports and commerce had everyone smiling. From the NBA All-Star Game and March Madness that happened at Chase Center this spring to more events at Oracle Park, The City is alive with activity. The loss of two sports teams from Oakland—the MLB Athletics and the NFL Raiders—is an opportunity to fill that void with a new cultural center.
After years of sourcing in a supplier market as “revenge tourists” filled hotel rooms and restaurants almost year-round, a more cautious consumer market is making the certainty of mid-week group business look more attractive.