The largest Halloween show of its kind in the United States, Midwest Haunters Convention, took place June 5–7, attracting Halloween enthusiasts from around the country.

Since 2004, Midwest Haunters Convention has served as a fun, professional trade show dedicated to haunters, actors and enthusiasts. Staged by TransWorld, the convention features vendors, a haunted house, a horror and Halloween trade show, workshops, educational seminars, a costume party, contests, family fun activities and more.

Related: 3 Tucson Events Attendees Will Fall for

Midwest Haunters Convention is just one of the many events that TransWorld hosts. It stages multiple events around the country—including Chicago, San Antonio, Atlanta and St. Louis—specializing in Halloween and other spooky events, as well as a Christmas Show.

Here are some photo highlights from the 2019 Midwest Haunters Convention:

 

 

 

 

 

Touted as “the largest food and beverage experience on the west coast,” the Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo this month is expected to be a show-stopper. The event will be held August 25-27 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, which will also host Healthy Food Expo West and Coffee Fest Los Angeles for a co-located event experience. Three days of education, culinary demonstrations and special events will cover food trends, dos and don’ts and pro-tips on everything from latte art to gluten-free menus. Here is a preview of what you can expect.

Western Foodservice and Hospitality Expo

At the Foodservice and Hospitality Expo, attendees can expect educational sessions covering everything from California labor laws to budgeting advice and mental health in the restaurant industry. Look out for sessions on building a menu and how to deal with special diets so you can stay up to date on modern allergens and food preferences.

Related: Summer Fancy Food Show 2019

Healthy Food Expo West

Healthy Food Expo West will feature gluten free options, vegan and vegetarian cuisine and plant-based menus. The vendors for this event will be all about fresh, sustainable and energizing foods, with a focus on meatless dishes, local ingredients and less sugar. In addition to healthy food products, the expo will showcase technology, services and distributors that lend to healthy food service and production.

Coffee Fest Los Angeles

Coffee Fest Los Angeles is likely to be the trendiest event on the floor. Attendees can expect coffee competitions and featured trends, such as:

  • Coffee Fest’s Latte Art World Championship Open: In this competition, 64 baristas will compete in a sudden-death style coffee war to determine who is the world champion of coffee art. The main rule: Baristas have to rely on nothing but espresso and milk to create Instagram-worthy crema designs, hence the ‘back to basics’ trend in the world of latte making.
  • America’s Best Cold Brew: The new and improved iced coffee is brewed in cold water over a long period of time (at least 12 hours), making it less bitter and acidic than traditional iced coffee. With an ‘America’s Best Cold Brew’ competition and a cold-brew making system, Brewista—a featured premium showcase product—Coffee Fest is recognizing the growing popularity of cold brew coffee.
  • The switch to alternative milks in coffee drinks will be a noteworthy trend at Coffee Fest. The presence of oat milk, almond milk, cashew milk and countless other nut or grain-based milks in a growing number of cafes around the globe speaks to the scope of the trend. Another premium product to be showcased at Coffee Fest is the ‘Almond Cow,’ a specialized, high-speed plant-based milk maker. It will allow individuals and companies to make their own alternative milks, converging the plant-based milk trend with sustainable, small-batch and local food practices.

More: Hawaii: Food Traditions, Food Trends

On July 30, Association for Women in Events Awards Committee Chair Michael Fuller announced the 2019 Woman in Events Hall of Fame in a Facebook Live announcement. The winners were honored for supporting the group’s mission of promoting gender equity and diversity. Read on to learn more about this tireless group of events industry vanguards.

Woman of Influence: Marin Bright, founder and CEO of Smart Meetings

Our own Marin Bright directs Smart Meetings’ award-winning magazine, digital operations and events business. She has extensive experience in the publishing, meetings and hospitality industries, and many of her innovations have become industry standards, including the introduction of a consumer-friendly magazine for the trade.

She also established original high-end networking events that feature superior educational sessions and one-on-one meetings between premier suppliers and planners. In recognition of her long list of achievements and passion for the meetings industry, Bright has received numerous awards, including the PCMA Legend Award for significant contributions to the meetings industry, Western Publishing Association Distinction in Leadership Award for outstanding representation in the media industry and two Top Women in Media national awards from the prestigious Folio Awards.

The Trailblazer: Brad Weaber, principal at Brad Weaber Consulting Group

Weaber manages professional board and panel facilitation as well as management efficiencies and event strategy review. He was chief operating officer at Connections Housing, a leading provider of event and housing management to some of the largest events in North America. He previously served as executive vice president of the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit New Orleans).

He was also executive vice president for association management company Smith Bucklin’s largest division, event services, as well as chief customer officer for Experient. Weaber is active with ASAE, IAEE and PCMA. He has served on advisory boards for cities and hotel properties including Marriott, Hilton, Omni and the cities of Las Vegas, Vancouver and Washington, D.C. He also has been a featured speaker at industry events and a frequent trade publication contributor, as well as an industry expert quoted in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

The Coach: Sharon Bonner, founder and CEO of Bright Ideas Events

The author of The Bright Ideas Adventure, Bonner has managed more than 3,000 events and mentored hundreds in the next generation of event professionals. She is working on her second book, The Bright Ideas European Adventure, on best practices in global event production. Bonner also is a Smart Women in Meetings Hall of Fame winner and an ILEA board member. She was also named an event influencer for the Canadian GoWestLive Conference.

Emerging Leader: Stacey Thorp, executive director of conferences and events at Freeman

Thorp started in the entertainment, logistics and marketing communications management side of the business. She also has experience in executing advertising, public relations and marketing campaigns. Now, she specializes in producing experiential marketing initiatives at live events for clients. Her specialty is understanding the “why” behind the “what.”

Organizational Leadership: KiKi L’Italien, CEO of Amplified Growth and chief growth officer and host of Association Chat

L’Italien is a strategist and keynote speaker who consults with companies and nonprofits on how to build stronger communities that last. She specializes in the science of community and the role of trust, and teaches social media and influencer marketing for MediaBistro. She also speaks at association, nonprofit and corporate events.

All inductees will be honored at a ceremony at IMEX America 2019, set for Sept. 10–12. Congratulations to all these inspirational leaders. We will see you in Las Vegas.

Each year when autumn arrives in Tucson, the seasonal shift signals the return of three long-running, highly anticipated events that showcase the city’s pride in its multicultural heritage, food traditions and love of the outdoors.

Timing a meeting or an event to coincide with one of these signature celebrations invites attendees into a passionate community eager to connect with neighbors, peers and guests. What better example for groups to apply to their own corporate culture?

Tucson Meet Yourself

October

This year marks the 45th anniversary of Tucson Meet Yourself (TMY), a folklife festival celebrating the artists and communities that carry on the living traditions of the multinational desert borderlands. The premier annual event of the Tucson-based nonprofit Southwest Folklife Alliance, TMY features more than 100 music and dance performances, cuisine running the gamut (from Native American to Asian and Pacific), as well as traditional and contemporary folk artists offering items for sale, demonstrations and children’s activities.

All Souls Procession Weekend

November

The All Souls Procession, now in its 30th year, serves as an outlet for the public need to mourn, reflect and celebrate the universal experience of death. Far from funereal, the event invites participants to express their grief by celebrating the creative spirit via altars, performances and installation art. More than 150,000 people march 2 miles through the streets of downtown Tucson in what has been hailed as one of the most inclusive, important and authentic public ceremonies in modern-day North America.

El Tour de Tucson

November

Each year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, the largest and longest-running cycling event in the state draws more than 9,000 riders of all ages and abilities to Tucson. The city consistently ranks as one of the nation’s best places to bike due to its sunny skies and variety of terrain. Participants pedaling in El Tour de Tucson, founded in 1983, can choose among main-event distances of 25, 50 or 100 miles, or opt for a Fun Ride of one, four or 10 miles.

Read more about Tucson’s attractive offerings for groups in Courtney Peters’ story, “A Paradise for Lovers of the Outdoors: Experience Tucson’s Sonoran Desert Splendor,” in the upcoming September issue of Smart Meetings.

Almost every city rings in the new year in some way: New York City drops the ball, Las Vegas shuts down The Strip and has a giant block party and London celebrates with a fireworks display along the Victoria Embankment to the chimes of Big Ben.

No matter where you spend your New Year’s Eve, it’s bound to be exciting—especially if you could celebrate anywhere in the world. Here at Smart Meetings, we’ve compiled a list of cities with New Year’s celebrations where you can “party like its 1999.”

1. New Orleans

As one of the best party destinations all year-round, New Orleans has a bunch of activities for guests to celebrate the new year. Start the day off by watching the New Year’s Eve Parade and then head on over to the historic French Quarter for some music and entertainment ahead of the famous fleur de lis drop and fireworks above the Mississippi River. To get a front-row seat to the fireworks display, take a ride aboard the Creole Queen and enjoy the tasty buffet and open bar on the ship.

 2. Barcelona

Celebrate the new year like a true barceloni or barcelonina by attending the “official” celebration next to the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc and eat 12 grapes, one for each strike of the clock at midnight! The preshow begins at 9:30 p.m., with the actual New Year’s Eve extravaganza starting at 11:45 p.m. and going until about 12:20 a.m. Preforming arts, fireworks and a pyrotechnics shows are all on display at the celebration. Afterward, find a club or night venue to continue the party into the early hours of the new year (just remember to buy your tickets ahead of time).

3. Paris

From parties and fireworks to dinners and cruises, the most romantic city in the world has tons to offer on New Year’s Eve! A video morphing show is put on at Arc de Triomphe before the countdown to midnight and fireworks show. If standing outside in a large crowd isn’t your style, take a river cruise—there are many options from which to choose. Hit up a nightclub or even the Paris Opera; the city offers a variety of options for you to ring in the new year.

4. Dubai

Home to the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa, Dubai is an attention-grabbing destination to spend the new year. Burj Khalifa holds an amazing fireworks show and masses gather at the footsteps to watch in awe. There are many ways to celebrate the new year in Dubai, including beachside celebrations at Barasti Beach and unforgettable entertainment at Dubai Opera. If you want an incredible dining experience, hit up Urban Jungle Flair No. 5 at The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai for a gourmet meal and soiree.

5. Amsterdam

If you’re looking for a party, Amsterdam is your place; from parties at nightclubs to champagne and deep-fried dough balls, there are ways to celebrate for all ages. One of the most widespread New Year’s Eve traditions in the Netherlands is to eat oliebollen (Dutch doughnuts) and wash them down with a good amount of champagne. The myth around oliebollen is that they are eaten to ward off evil spirits. The Amsterdam Light Festival is in full swing until the end of January, with Dutch and international artists creating awe-inspired light sculptures around historic Canal Ring, the River Amstel and other special locations. Take a stroll, bike or enjoy a boat through the city to view these spectacular lights.

6. Honolulu

Is there a better place to celebrate the new year than the beach? Honolulu’s Waikiki Beach hosts a fireworks display with one announced firework going off every minute before midnight, starting at 11:55 p.m. Also, Hilton Hawaiian Village hosts a special fireworks show at 11 p.m. over its lagoon and Great Lawn. If you’re looking to go to a party, there’s plenty to choose from: Tiki’s Grill and Bar hosts its Starlight Dinner and Party at the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel, there is a New Year’s Eve Party at Sheraton Waikiki’s oceanfront poolside nightclub RumFire and a 53 by the Sea offers a Casino Night, just to mention a few.

Meeting planners know that energy matters. Vibe and atmosphere are the most important parts of any event. It is the planners’ job to curate this atmosphere by arranging tables, chairs and decorations. They know that the energy in a space effects productivity and mood. While you spend so much time and energy on the feng shui of your events, what about the feng shui in your life? If you work in an office, you spend about eight hours every day at your desk. That is a lot of time. Channeling the right atmosphere at your desk is just as important as at your events. Improve your feng shui and you will improve your productivity and happiness, and by extension, your events! Here are some simple steps to feng shui your desk in no time according to feng shui specialist Rodika Tchi, and the popular tidier Marie Kondo.

Material

Rodika Tchi starts from the beginning. She says your desk itself contributes to your feng shui. Consider color, shape and material. She suggests wood. “Not only does it bring natural energy into your space, but it also has both nourishing, as well as a vibrant quality of energy.” In contrast, a glass desk lacks solidity and grounding while a metal desk brings sharpness to the forefront (which isn’t always bad). A laminate desk has lifeless, passive energy.

Shape and Position

The shape of your desk plays a big role in the feng shui of your office space. What desk shapes should you avoid? Tchi says square, oval and circular ones because they create a sense of energy stagnation or continuous motion, both of which can hinder productivity. Not only does shape matter, so does position—particularly in relation to your office door or cubicle entrance, which should be visible from your desk. If possible, having your back against a wall is also helpful (I bet you’ve never heard that before) and avoid directly facing a wall or window—you want to give room for energy to flow through your space.

Color

Whether you are deciding on the color of your desk, a vase or a chair, it is important to remember that color impacts feng shui in a big way. Some colors, such as black and brown are grounding and promote concentration. Others inspire creativity and some aid focus. White is often a good choice if you have trouble focusing and yellow is seen to illicit happiness. However, it is important to remember that whatever works for you and your feng shui is fair game—feel free to play around and change it up every now and then.

De-Clutter!

Kondo is the modern day tidying up guru. She has several books, a Netflix show, goes on tours inspiring people and her name has even become a verb as in “You should Marie-Kondo your desk.” What does this mean? Essentially, de-clutter! Picture the kind of desk you want and then take stock of the things that you currently have. Do they spark joy? Are they necessary? If not, you don’t need them messing with your energy and productivity by cluttering up your desk.

Green on Green on Green

If recent trends of ‘forest bathing’ are any indication, it seems that people are finally recognizing the importance of nature. While we don’t suggest turning your desk into a forest, a few plants can freshen your air and lighten your mood. Succulents are adorable, trendy, almost impossible to kill and easily available at most supermarkets, so why not start there?

Today’s worker population has evolved into a complex mix of old school values, time-honored rules, new cultural touchstones, digital habits and varied viewpoints that challenge traditional work habits and workspaces. It’s important to not lump everyone into a specific generational silo. Just as with previous generations, today’s workforce is made up of people with different work methods, perspectives and habits, and employers should resist making stereotypical assumptions about individual employees based solely on their age.

To effectively manage employees of different generations, it’s helpful to note what stage of life they are in. A baby boomer with grown children has different needs and motivations than a Gen Y team member with three young children or a Gen Z worker who is single and has an active social life. Talking to an individual about what’s important to them and where they’re coming from will help you figure out their motivations and what they need to reach their goals.

In the workplace, employees of all ages should be encouraged to become more aware of the attitudes and preferences of different generations. Understanding what drives each generation can be a smart step toward professional peace, productivity and success.

More: Appeal to Generational Mindsets to Sell More Tickets

The overall lesson to learn is individuals from different generations think differently and make alternative choices from other generations because what they value is not the same. Leaders and supervisors need to pay attention to what is important to all employees, based on their life situation, not strictly based on their age, and the factors that motivate them to become fully engaged in their work.

Though it seems counter-intuitive, earning more money (by itself) is not always the prime motivator for most employees. Recognition, respect, a collaborative work environment and opportunity for advancement usually score higher as motivators.

Read more about generational issues in Michael J. Lyons’ story, “The Joys of Generational Differences: Tips for Making Them an Asset in the Workplace,” in the August issue of Smart Meetings.

Have you ever watched a video and wondered, “Where is that place?” And even after a session of deep searching, you just can’t seem to find it. Clicktivated, an interactive video platform, is aiming to fix that problem.

With this platform, interactive videos allow users to find out further information about a destination’s attractions without having to search for each individual location.

The brand has had partnerships with retail brands, such as Toms and Ted Baker, but has recently broke into the tourism industry. Collaborations with destination brands, including Pure Michigan, Louisiana Travel, Explore Edmonton, Daytona Beach and Visit Saint Paul, have proved successful so far, with these brands having reported seeing a 68 percent average interaction rate with Clicktivated’s technology.

In an interview on T Time talk, Chris Roebuck, founder and CEO of Clicktivated, said that interactive video drives more engagement and doesn’t feel forced because it gives users the opportunity to engage on their own. “When you don’t force too much information on the consumer, they react positively,” he said.

The idea behind the company is to eliminate the roadblocks between viewing a destination’s attractions on video and finding more information about that location. In an earlier part of the interview, Roebuck said retailers want to “[help] remove the friction of search,” which is exactly what this recent partnership with tourism brands is doing.

For event planners—with their tight schedules—the easier information is to access, the better.

The commotion continued today in Hong Kong, including protestors detaining a mainland Chinese reporter. Planners and travelers flying through Hong Kong need to be aware of flight cancellations and delays, and to take safety precautions.

Cancelled flights and police-protestor standoffs made the headlines of Hong Kong newspapers this morning. Protestors at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) set up barricades yesterday to block off entrances and attempt to keep police out. Yesterday also saw the deployment of pepper spray by police as well as protestors attacking a police officer after the officer reportedly pushed a protestor.

What are the Protestors Protesting?

While part of China, Hong Kong exercises some autonomy in its government and economy, as it is a special administration region of China. This was established when the sovereignty of Hong Kong was transferred from the British (of which Hong Kong had been a colony for more than a century) to mainland China in 1997.

Today, there are issues between this autonomous administration region and China. Protestors are calling for the government of Hong Kong to withdraw a bill that would have allowed people to be extradited into mainland China and into its legal system, a system protestors see as undemocratic and opaque. The bill was introduced earlier this summer, protests began in early June, and by July hundreds of protestors had stormed the city’s legislature. Although the bill was suspended on June 18, protestors want it to be fully withdrawn. 

The Effects on Tourism and Travel

The move to Hong Kong International Airport was an attempt by protestors to draw wider attention to the issue, especially from those flying through the airport from mainland China. This shift is also affecting a wider international population through flight delays, limited access to the airport and worries among tourists regarding the safety of the region.

The BBC reported that tourism dropped in the second half of July and said that “the travel trade has reported that the number of forward bookings in August and September has [also] dropped significantly,” according to a spokesperson from the Hong Kong Tourism Board. This turn in tourism could impact local economies and will impact everything from room rates to flight prices in the area.

With “bleisure” on the rise, you’ve got to wonder what these business travelers are doing during the leisure portion of the trip. It could be any number of things: swimming with dolphins, getting drinks with locals or singing karaoke with Obama.

Maybe that’s a bit too much action for you and you’d much rather stay at the hotel and lounge. Well, there’s nothing like a book to complement the lounging, and these properties offer shelves full of them. Give your eyes the much needed rest from screen time and dive in.

Aston Kaanapali Shores_Lobby 2

Aston Kaanapali Shores, Lahaiani, Hawaii

Relax at the beach and get lost in a book with help from the property’s lending library, which houses more than 150 novels left by previous guests. Guests can chill at the pool or the private lanai.

Bluefields Bay

Bluefields Bay Villas, Jamaica

Six villas on the South Coast of Jamaica, each of which offers extensive lists of books and magazines from the resort library and previous guests, ranging from antique and design titles to best sellers and travel.

T3P_8193

Conrad Cartegena, Colombia

Located in the country of the esteemed Gabriel Garcia Marquez, author of “100 Years of Solitude,” this resort will give the bookish something to rave about. Biblioteka, the property’s signature restaurant, is a library-designed concept that fuses Asian, European and Latin American cuisine. The restaurant unveiled a series of literary programs, such as Colombian Corner, Fireside Poetry Readings, a literary immersion tour and Libros y Licor (Books and Liquor) weekly book club.

The Vinoy

The Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club, Florida

Get acquainted with the property by reading up on its history in the lobby’s library, which is complemented by the adjacent history hallway.

The Grayhaven

The Grayhaven, Ithaca, New York

This 16-room boutique property rests on 11 acres of green. Guests can join in on the author reading nights, during which four regional authors give readings while guest listen and sip beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages offered by the property, and bookbinding workshops, an introductory course to the world of joining pages together.

Baker's Cay

Baker’s Cay Resort, Key Largo, Florida

Get cozy at the Baker’s Cay library, chock full of reading nooks and classic paperbacks, such as Ernest Hemingway’s “Old Man and the Sea.” If you’d rather catch a breeze while you read, enjoy the shady hammock-lined path or the private beach.

Inns of Aurora

Inns of Aurora, New York

Created in 1903 as District School Number Six, as a place of learning, The Schoolhouse still serves the same purpose. A library has been created, featuring a selection of New York Times bestsellers, which is a nod to Inns of Aurora developer and New York Times investor E.B. Morgan. Each book has a library card that guests can leave a note on for the next reader.

Wherever your travels take you, the #Eventprofs Book Club on Goodreads.com is a great way to connect with other industry readers.