Smart Meetings | Page 405 of 603 | Corporate Event Planning: Business Events, Meetings, Conferences

Altamer, Anguilla

Located on the island’s Shoal Bay West Beach, Altamer Resort recently reopened Antilles Pearl Villa and unveiled Petit Topaz Villa. The Antilles Pearl is a five-bedroom, 12,000-square-foot villa. Included in this luxurious property is a 50-foot skywalk that protrudes over the sand and a rooftop terrace that provides a 360-degree view. Guests at Petit Topaz have access to a downstairs bedroom, an upstairs loft and a private beach.

The Parisian Macao_Champagne Suite_Double Bed

Sand Resorts Macao, China

Reimagined suites and event spaces provide planners with new spaces to host meetings and events. The property’s Meetings Beyond Imagination offer enables organizers to create incredible events with a range of transportation and accommodation options form which to choose. Planners can select from an array of suites, including Premio Royale and Premio Bella suites at The Venetian Macao, and Champagne Suites at The Parisian Macao.

Shangri-La Hotel, The Marina Cairns Deluxe Room Garden View

Shangri-La Hotel, Cairns, Australia

Situated on the waterfront of Marlin Marina, this property is for the nautically minded. Shangri-La Hotel recently renovated its 255 guest rooms and suites in two phases, with all of them boasting private balconies with tropical views. The hand-painted artwork is crafted on the walls to reflect the waves of Trinity Bay horizon. The hotel also features a waterfront restaurant bar, an outdoor bar as well as an espresso bar.

Caribe Hilton, San Juan, Puerto Rico

The first Hilton outside of the United States and the birthplace of the pina colada, Caribe Hilton recently underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation after devastating Hurricane Maria. Spanning 17 verdant acres of landscape and near San Geronimo Fort, the property features 65,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space. In 2019, Caribe Hilton is celebrating its 70th anniversary.

More: N&R: Presidential Properties

kimpton everly hotel

Kimpton Everly Hotel in Los Angeles has implemented a ground-breaking program that is designed to deepen the bonds between guests at the property.

The Stay Human Project began as a social experiment in 2018 to create genuine human connection. More than 50 guests stayed in Room 301 over the course of three months. Several parts of the experiment were created to strengthen relationships between people, including the following.

Community Confessions: Guests were asked to write their deepest secret or confession, to be read by all, on a wall.
Photo Moods: The guests took photos of themselves with an instant camera to represent their mood and wrote that corresponding mood on the photo.
Community Playlist: In this activity, guests added their favorite songs to a communal playlist shared by Room 301 guests.
Video Diary: Guests selected from a series of questions to answer on camera, to be viewed by future guests.

At its inception, the objective was to connect guests through what makes them human at their core. From personal confessions and regrets to guests’ deepest desires and favorite things, Room 301 guests shared it all. Kimpton is trying to convey that no matter what the background of each individual, there is always something that connects us all.

“This room showcased how people are craving authentic connections and needing an invitation to pause and reflect in an often hectic and digital world,” said Kathleen Reidenbach, chief commercial officer at Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants. “We’re thrilled to be able to bring more of these immersive experiences to our guests this year.”

More: Los Angeles Sports Venues Deliver Immersive Experiences

The project seems to be making its way past the experimental stage, as Kimpton plans to expand its Room 301 experience in 20 other cities across the United States and Canada, starting this month. Each unique room will be based on the property’s location.

No additional fee is charged for staying in a Kimpton Hotel Stay Human room, and they are booked no differently than other rooms. Each Stay Human experience will be available for roughly three months at each property, but it will vary, depending on the property. Kimpton hasn’t established how often it will offer this experience.

A new Wi-Fi advance could significantly increase the speed at which planners and attendees communicate with their tech at events. Wi-Fi 6, the newest generation of broadband could be coming to a ballroom near you. Wi-Fi 6 will have a much higher data rate than Wi-Fi 5—three times faster.

Improved Capacity and Battery Life

Speed alone doesn’t mean much, as the average tech consumer is unlikely to achieve Wi-Fi 6’s top speed in daily life. Where the upgrade really shines is in its ability to handle a larger number of devices on a crowded network than Wi-Fi 5, the current standard.

Wi-Fi 6 features more channels–double the number provided by Wi-Fi 5–thereby providing more room to send and receive data from the various devices in the event space. That will increase the number of devices that can operate simultaneously on each channel. Planners, suppliers and attendees will be able to do business and exchange information much quicker than they were previously able to do.

Device battery life could see an improvement as well, due to more efficient router communication, said Corbin Ball, international speaker and technology consultant, when asked about Wi-Fi 6’s potential benefits.

Better Security

Users of Wi-Fi 6 will experience enhanced security as well, as Wi-Fi Alliance, the backbone of all things Wi-Fi, introduced WPA3 last year, Wi-Fi’s latest security update. Current devices and routers support WPA3 as an option, but with Wi-Fi 6 it will be a requirement. Users of WPA3 will have added protection from the network security’s even more strict password authentication and data traffic protection in the case that a password is compromised.

Routers that support Wi-Fi 6 will start to appear at access points across the country in the third quarter of the year. The Samsung Galaxy S10—set to release Mar. 8—will be the first Wi-Fi 6-compatible consumer product. Other compatible devices will appear as this new version becomes the consumer standard.

smart women in meetings

We have a tradition here at Smart Meetings. We put our Smart Women in Meetings nominees to the test. We ask them about their inspiration, their leadership style and their legacy. While there are no right answers, we are looking for women who have thought about these important topics enough to verbalize where they came from, where they are going and how they plan to get there.

The answers this year were heartfelt, creative and inspirational. You described yourselves as cheerleaders (Liz Lathan, EVP Haute Rock Creative), educators (Leslie Menichini, vice president of sales and marketing, Rosen Hotels & Resorts), approachable (Carina Bauer, CEO, IMEX Group), elevating (Carrie Abernathy, executive consulting officer AWE) and genuine (Cheryl Rogers, corporate events manager, Solara Medical Supplies). One person self-identified as an “idea igniteur” (Dalia El Gazzar, tech evangelist at Dahlia+ Agency). We love that.

Your stories and dedication touched us. Johanne Belanger, president and CEO of Tourism Toronto opened up about how losing a job helped her realize her true leadership potential and how, as a multiple breast cancer survivor, she feels “blessed to have been given a lens to look through to appreciate every day, every hour and every interaction.” Catherine Chaulet, president of Global DMC Partners, reminded us that “Opening someone’s mind to other points of views is beautiful.”

Sandy Biback, founder of Meeting Professionals Against Human Trafficking shared the power of one person saying “yes” as a way to move everyone forward—even if the solution seems out of sight. Holly Chessman, the author of Amplify, How to Grow Your Reputation and the Kickass Career You Love, advocated for the power of women’s mentorship in the male-dominated tech world.

Amy Conrad, director of operations with Enclave, Las Vegas, said she is motivated by her three daughters every day to show that a woman is just as capable, just as brilliant and just as deserving as a man. Shannon Coldon, director of sales with Caesars Entertainment embodied the enthusiasm that fueled so many statements. “I love life, my job and my industry!” she said.

More: Leadership Defined: Congratulations to the 2019 Smart Women in Meetings Award Winners

This very considered approach to the hard work of bringing people together to encourage meaningful change was not surprising since the words used to describe you in the in the nomination forms included powerhouse (Kappi Bowen, manager of marketing programs, Abbott Diabetes Care), tenacious and gracious at the same time (Amy Walkowiak, vice president, HPN Global), authentic to the bone (Suzanne R. Spaner, founder, Meeting Matchmakers), exceeds expectations (Jessica Martini, meeting sales director, Visit Anaheim), a one-woman show (Shameka Jennings, director of education and events, National WIC Association), and intellectual philanthropist (Christy Lamagna, visionary, Strategic Meetings & Events).

One woman (Patricia Durocher, CEO of Global Cynergies) was described by multiple nominators as “someone who is always giving back to a cause all over the world.” Another (Maggie Tuitele, director of event sales and marketing, Keep Memory Alive Event Center) was held up as a model because she is “driven by a desire to connect with people in a meaningful way, with the proceeds benefiting the research, treatment and clinical studies of neurological diseases.” This really does approach rocket science and brain surgery.

Three Leading Words

Once all the nominations and responses have been collected, we look for patterns. For the second year in a row, I fed the answers from winners to the question “three words that describe leadership” through a word cloud generator to come up with the themes that resonated.

The winner, by a long shot, was “passion.” These women are passionate about their clients, their teams, their industry and their families. Christine Russo-Robertson credits her passion and commitment with building trust. Martha S. Howard, national accounts manager at Lodging on Biltmore Estate said her passion was finding new ways to deliver exceptional experiences to groups. Claire Smith, vice president of sales and marketing with Vancouver Convention Centre shared her passion for the “incredible impact of meetings” with many of the winners.

Other common themes included collaboration (Jaclyn Sass, associate director of event marketing with Merkle), Integrity (Nan Marchand Beauvois, senior vice president, U.S. Travel Association), confident (Jasmine Caban Mendez, senior national group sales manager, LondonHouse Chicago), creative (Lakesha Patterson, vice president and owner, Elm Planning), strategic (Julie T. Sibthorp, director, CHG Healthcare) and curious (Jennifer Grove, founder, Repeat Roses).

I am so looking forward to spending a day with these wise leading women at the Smart Woman Summit at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas in May. Will you be there?

If you are still reeling from losing an hour to daylight saving time, maybe you need to take 45 minutes off to recover. In honor of National Nap Day, Smart Meetings rounded up the best hotels around the world where you can close your eyes and unplug. Whether you are at the airport with a long layover, or on a business trip in Switzerland or Las Vegas staggering from one conference session to another, many properties offer you creative ways to relax and recharge.

The Dolder Grand, Zurich, Switzerland

In the Chillout room, enhance your state of relaxation inside of a series of hanging baskets shaped like a nest. Let go of your mind and body go in a calming sway highlighted by the sound of meditative music. The space also has a series of windows built-in the wall to lead you in a more profound sense of peace.

Montage Beverly Hills, Los Angeles

The spa has a glamorous and refined nap nook. Located aside of the mineral pool, the cabana lounge includes comfortable chaise lounges to lie down on after a treatment to maximize the benefits of the session. The area is equipped with dimmable lights and curtains for a more intimate experience.

MGM Park, Las Vegas

Stay Well rooms are designed to improve sleep. The rooms use dawn simulators to suppress melatonin and reduce jet lag while long wave night lighting minimizes sleep disruption. Blackout shades allow guests to experience the most rejuvenating nap or night of sleep. If that is not enough, aromatherapy diffusers feature relaxing scents.

Kimpton Lorien Hotel & Spa, Alexandria, Virginia

This urban retreat located to the historic Old Town offers a 24-hour “dream” button on all guestroom phones, with a direct line to a highly-trained concierge who deliver extra pillows, soothing bath salts and comfort food after the nap.

Washington Dulles International Airport, Virginia

Sleepbox Nap Lounge is the perfect remedy for long layovers. Launched last December, it features 16 sound-insulated napping facilities that travelers can reserve on an hourly basis through the Sleepbox app. Located inside Terminal A, the lounge includes two type of rooms: standard and compact. Each room is equipped with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mood lighting.

Dayuse.com

In New York and looking for a place to chill? Dayuse.com’s scheduling platform allows you to book a room for several hours during the day from your phone.

Do Not Disturb for 45 Minutes

Casper, the well-known mattress brand, launched The Dreamery, a nap lounge inside its store in New York City. Put your pjs on and lie down for 45 minutes in a quiet and private pod equipped with an extremely comfortable bed. When you wake up, after you freshen up, you can enjoy a coffee in the coffee shop downstairs. You can reserve a pod for 45 minutes through the website. It costs $25, beverage, jammies and refreshing amenities all included.

TJ Pierri

Hotel Zoe in San Francisco has named Pierri as general manager. Before Hotel Zoe, Pierri served in the role of resort manager at Lansdowne Resort and Spa in Leesburg, Virginia. He’s held leadership positions in food and beverage as well as hotel operations for properties across the country, including The Arrabelle at Vail Square in Colorado, Sunriver Resort in Bend, Oregon, and Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa, California.

Karen Chastain

Chastain has been named general manager of Aruba Marriott Complex in Palm Beach, Aruba. She’s held general manager positions at other properties across the United States, including Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort and Spa in Florida, where she most recently served.

Dexter Warrior

Warrior has been elected chair of the board of directors of Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau for 2019, a board that he’s served on since 2012. In addition to his new role, he serves as principal and chief operating officer of T. Dallas Smith & Company in Atlanta.

Jacqueline Berry

Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point, California, has appointed Berry general manager of its Miraval Life in Balance Spa. Berry began her spa career with Steiner Transocean aboard the Sun Princess during its inaugural season. Most recently, she held the position of spa director at Lake Austin Spa Resort in Texas. Her other previous spa experience includes executive director of spa and sports at Canyon Ranch in Tucson, Arizona.

Trish McClean

Visit Baltimore has named McClean its director of brand marketing. McClean most recently served as group strategy director at Planit, a Baltimore-based creative agency; she also served on the senior leadership team on the firm. She’s worked with a long list of well-known organizations and brands, including Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Kleenex Facial Cleansing and Port Discovery Children’s Museum in Baltimore. She currently sits on the board of Baltimore Urban Debate League.

Julie Sokol

L’Auberge de Sedona in Arizona has introduced Sokol as director of sales. She comes from a position as associate director of sales at Kimpton Amara Resort and Spa in Sedona. Sokol began her career in hospitality at Austin Catering Inc. in Austin, Texas. Prior to L’Auberge, she served as senior sales manager for Austin Marriott South and worked with the opening team of The Westin Austin Downtown in 2015.

Dan Paradiso, CMP

The Kartrite Resort & Spa in Monticello, New York, has brought Paradiso onto the team as director of sales and marketing. Before this position, he was global director of memberships east for Club Quarters Hotels. Prior to that, he held the role of director of sales and marketing for Millennium Hotels & Resorts at One United Nations Plaza New York in New York City. He’s served as president of the Greater New York Chapter for Meetings Professional International.

The hospitality industry is filled with brilliant women who give their all to make sure every guest has an exceptional experience. To mark International Women’s Day, Smart Meetings has been asking some of these powerful ladies to share how they found this career, what inspires them and their vision for the future. Read on and you may just find your inspiration.

More: These Five Women are Making Waves in Hospitality

Yael Ron, The Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland

As a child I grew up in many parts of the world, which exposed me to many cultures and inspired me to be a global traveler. I have always wanted to be an ambassador of travel and share those experiences with others. Helping others create memories and experience new destinations drew me to the industry.

Great leaders drive change. They set an example every day and believe in others. They empower and mentor others to ask the right questions. Leadership is about innovation and encouraging creativity through motivation and inspiration. I challenge my team to be creative and innovative and am confident in their ability to work together to bring new visions to life.

The Ladies and Gentlemen of The Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland, inspire me each day. The spirit, passion, culture, heritage and integrity of this city is remarkable and the people fill me with such admiration.

My vision for The Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland, is to be the best hotel in the Midwest. I want to leave an indelible mark on others and be the best leader I can be to others so they can succeed and grow.

In today’s world, we all lack time, so every minute is more vital and impactful than ever. More people are looking to create special memories as they travel. My vision is that there will be a need for luxury experiences more than ever. The busier people are, the more they will value the opportunity to create special memories. Celebrations of little moments are going to become more important. People will have a greater desire to explore new destinations and create unique memories.

Catherine Velie, Delta Toronto

I was drawn to the hospitality industry in high school. I always loved taking care of people and once I got a taste of the work in hotels, I never looked back. It is in my DNA!

Leadership for me is about pushing the status quo and surrounding myself with likeminded individuals who share in my passion to deliver exceptional service every day. I guide, coach, trust and challenge my team to try new things and allow for mistakes as we learn from those. I demonstrate leadership by living company core values while staying true to my own values.

My family, my friends, my colleagues and my team inspire me. The desire and passion to succeed while taking risks and pushing myself out of my comfort zone keep me going.

My vision for the industry is that it continues to earn the respect that it deserves. Some feel that hospitality is all about working excessive hours and never getting down time. This isn’t fair nor accurate; it’s about finding a state where your hotel is in good hands and trusting the team to take care of our guests and each other. We need to get back to a place where hospitality and the hotel business is perceived as an exceptional industry to grow and develop, especially for women.

Kori Johnson, The Mayflower, Autograph Collection

I always gravitated toward the diverse people my father introduced me to or told me about. He was in the Marine Corps and stationed in Okinawa. When he came home, he came back with lots of stories about who he had met. When they visited, I loved hearing their stories. However, I did join Marriott in a peculiar way. I worked at a law firm across the street from the Bethesda Residence Inn and I had a friend who heard they had job openings and asked me to go with her because she was nervous. I was sitting in the lobby and I remember that a hotel associate asked if I needed anything. Not knowing what to say, I responded that I was there for an interview. That was June of 1996 and I have been with the company since.

Leadership is about the ways you can motivate a team to do more, learn more and engage more. As a leader, you are continually watched by your team and whether they are engaging directly with you or just observing, your passion for the business and the value you place on their creativity and experience should always be seen and known. A leader knows everyone brings something to the table to drive success.

I am inspired by learning something new every day and the opportunity to create, see and be a part of positive change and to play a role within it.

I aspire to always challenge myself with a new brand, team or market and to always be ready for the next opportunity. I want to leave the property better than when I joined it and to take it to the next level. I also want to play a part in creating innovation as we diversify as a company to attract a new segment of travelers.

Lita Aguirre – General Manager, Sheraton Hacienda del Mar Resort & Spa

The hotel industry offers plenty of opportunities and job varieties with fast development and great locations around the world. No matter where you work, the skills you learn are readily transferable to any country or culture.

Leadership positions give you the opportunity to achieve your dreams while inspiring your team to achieve their dreams and help them grow in their careers.

The opportunity to work with people from all over the world, with colleagues coming from different cultures and backgrounds, and learning to appreciate diversity. Every day, you have the opportunity to make someone´s day better. It is all about the guests and making their stay memorable.

This industry is very dynamic. Everything is changing all the time: guest preferences, competitors, new events, technology, exchange rates, etc. I never get bored. There is something new every day; we are working in a lively, exciting environment that provides both challenges and opportunity. Travel and tourism is the fastest growing industry in the 21st century. I truly believe there is plenty of opportunity for female career development.

For retreats and destination events, hitting the beach is a popular choice. Toes in the sand and salty air paired with turquoise waters is a definitive way to win over attendees. So, how do you find a destination that stands out from every other shore in the world?

Plenty of destinations are aiming to make their beaches the most appealing. With thoughtful advertising campaigns dedicated to showcasing their unique features, cities and countries alike are determined to stand out.

We’ve highlighted some of the best beach campaigns in the past few years destined to win you over.

The Cayman Islands

The “Dream in Cayman” campaign shines a light on the iconic Seven Mile Beach and Stingray City, and gives potential attendees glimpses into the hidden gems, such as a private backyard orchid island.

With natural beauty and luxurious offerings and experiences galore, the Cayman Islands’ vision for after-event activities includes shopping along Camana Bay or swimming with the turtles at Cayman Turtle Centre. “Where else in the world can one dance with stingrays in the morning, meet a Blue Iguana in the afternoon and feast on 5-star cuisine at night?” asked Ron Henderson, creative director for The Richards Group. A fair point, indeed.

Belize

The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) and its agency, Olson, came together in 2016 to create the “A Curious Place” campaign following a successful advertising campaign three years earlier. “Ads for beach destinations all tend to look the same,” said Kevin McKeon, chief creative officer for Olson. “We thought, let the big guys fight it out for that honeymooner. We’ll take the other person who’s looking for something truly unique.”

Future visitors watching the ads get to meet “Coconut Leo,” who climbs trees and cuts coconuts upside down. The local birds are gorgeous, colorful creatures that hide in the country’s tropical surroundings. Eladio Pop is introduced as an enthusiastic cacao-grower. The star, however, may be the always popular meat pies, that feature savory sauce and meat in a flakey crust.

Panama City Beach

In 2017, Panama City Beach promoted its “Make It Yours” campaign, illustrating why Panama City Beach should be on your radar with five sectors: “Family/Beach,” “Ecotourism,” “Adrenaline,” “Laid Back/Romance” and “All-in-One.” Personalization is at the heart of this campaign, said Brad White, managing partner and executive creative director of Luckie & Company. “Panama City Beach is a special destination, but it is special to each visitor for different reasons. Through the insights we gathered, we realized that creating customized experiences for each type of traveler was of utmost importance.”

Related: Meet You at the Beach House

For those looking for family fun, highlights include beach volleyball and snorkeling. Adrenaline junkies will enjoy jet-skiing and roller coaster rides. All-in-One is perfect for those seeking to experience a taste of everything Panama City Beach has to offer, like sunbathing, canoeing and biking along the waterfront—or meeting.

Some things just go well together, like peanut butter and jelly. You can probably name a few other combinations, but one you probably weren’t thinking of is classic video games and bars. Arcade bars have been around for more than a decade, but they have become more popular in recent years, and with good reason. Let out your inner child in these nostalgia-inducing adult playgrounds.

Emporium SF, San Francisco

This lively spot features 44 arcade games and 17 pinball machines, two foosball tables, a 50-inch projection screen, rotating draft cocktails and more. And it just opened a second location in Oakland on Feb. 27.

The Emporium hosts company parties and team-building events for groups with up to 800 guests, and buyouts are an option; it also provides free table reservations for groups of less than 40 people. Food isn’t provided, but The Emporium will help coordinate food catering from one of their restaurant or catering partners.

Visitors at Emporium can swing by at night to listen to various DJs on full stages two nights per week.

Barcade, Brooklyn, New York

The self-proclaimed Original Arcade Bar currently has seven locations open along the East Coast—in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. The first location, in New York, opened in 2004.

Barcade is an environmentally friendly place. From the eco-conscious products to the recycled material used to construct the property, several programs have been implemented to help lessen the blow of their footprint. The building operates on wind power provided by local wind farms. Much of what was used during construction was either found or salvaged.

It serves only locally brewed craft beer, on draft; by not serving beer in cans and bottles, it’s able to move beer at a quicker pace. Empty kegs are returned to their respective breweries for cleaning and refilling. Even the beer menus are recycled. Barcade is available for group buyouts.

Ground Kontrol, Portland, Oregon

Ground Kontrol opened in mid-1999 and subsequently moved to several locations. You can play more than 100 classic arcade games from the 1970s to the 2000s. The games range from the familiar—such as Mario Bros., Pac-Man and Frogger—to the esoteric.

There’s loads of daytime fun to be had, but that only scratches the surface, as Ground Kontrol hosts late-night events throughout the year. Featured events include, but are not limited to, free Monday night tournaments for games, including Super Smash Bros. and Street Fighter, a variety of live DJs and Rock BandxGround Kontrol, much like karaoke, but in addition to singing, players can also rock the drums, bass or guitar.

Ground Kontrol also is holding its 11th annual pinball tournament this year. Also, every third Thursday, it hosts a stand-up comedy show, cleverly named No Pun Intendo. You can host private events, as well. Among the most common are company holiday parties and conference after-parties, said Dylan Snow, promotions director at Ground Kontrol.

There are two sides of the arcade—the red side and blue side—both of which are available for buyouts, either individually or simultaneously.

More: 7 Smart Moves at The Elizabeth Hotel and More