Smart Meetings | Page 406 of 603 | Corporate Event Planning: Business Events, Meetings, Conferences

A FAM trip that traditionally wined and dined planners at California wine country venues in advance of MPI’s Annual Conference and Expo (ACE) has morphed into a day of hard work—cleaning dog shelters and dorm rooms—and attendees couldn’t be happier about it.

More: Chicago Southland: FAMing It Up 365 Days a Year

“We are giving people a platform to give back and modeling activities they could try at their events,” explained Marla Bedrosian, executive director of global sales for Trump National Doral, who helped organize the work day at Canine Companions for Independence in Santa Rosa. She was accompanied by co-worker Ingrid Schenk, who serves as director of national accounts for the property and was busy making beds and folding laundry.

The facility trains assistance dogs and supports their companions, including those who have mobility impairments, hearing disabilities and, now, veterans with PTSD. Dogs are trained to sense when a companion is experiencing a panic attack or night terrors, and interrupt the thought pattern by turning on the lights, jumping in the bed or providing a reassuring presence in public, in addition to helping with things such as opening doors and transferring packages.

The service dogs, which are all labradors or golden retrievers, or a mix of the two, are trained for 18 months by professional trainers. The total cost of delivery and support is $50,000, so any help is welcome, said Margaret Sluyk, executive director of Canine Companions for Independence Northwest Region. “We were blown away by the kindness of each and every person who attended or supported the event,” she said.

The CSR experience brought more than 40 volunteers and raised almost $30,000 through silent auctions while saving the facility money that it could use to deliver more dogs and training to those in need.

Volunteers came from all over the country to clean windows, change beds and work in the yard. “This aligns with our brand as we have canine ambassadors on property and are about giving back,” explained Charles Head, general manager at Claremont Club & Spa, a Fairmont Hotel in Berkeley, California. He was there with Claremont Sales Manager Rachel Johnson.

Other sponsoring organizations and representatives included Drew Seger, national sales manager from Fairmont Grand del Mar; Francesca Rogers, account director from Monarch Beach Resort; Lindsey Richmond, manager of corporate gifts west for Maui Jim Sunglasses; Nell Sabin, representative from Maritur DMC Mexico; Carl Wagner, senior partner from Benchmark Destinations; Elaine Rothenhaus, assistant director of sales for Hotel Nikko San Francisco; Janice Finn, national sales manager from The Lodge at Torrey Pines; Susan Wessel, vice president for meetings and incentive sales at AIC Hotel Group; Fabian Tejeda Pastrana, regional sales manager from Velas Resorts Mexico; and Kimberly Dunnegan, national account director from Visit Newport Beach.

After the hard work was done, the group sat down to a lunch catered by Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, which was represented by Amy Landreville. Bedrosian’s family donated Domaine de la Riviere wine, as did One Hope Wine, a philanthropic vintner based out of Napa County, California.

Last year was the first time the group used the time to volunteer in the aftermath of a devastating fire that hit the wine country area in October 2017. They volunteered at Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore building-materials recycling shop in Santa Rosa.

Event professionals in Nashville now have more choices. On Tuesday, Marriott opened its first tri-branded property—an integrated AC Hotel Nashville Downtown, SpringHill Suites and Residence Inn. More than 9,000 sq. ft. of indoor-outdoor meeting space perches on the 21st floor, where the rooftop bar–named rtb!–overlooks Music City Center’s 2.1 million sq. ft. of meeting and exhibit space in what is known as the SoBro district (South of Broadway) with easy access to Country Music Hall of Fame, Ryman Auditorium and Bridgestone Arena.

“This helps convince more groups to come to Nashville,” said Charles Starks, president and CEO of the tri-branded property’s neighboring convention center. He pointed to the development as a sign that the city’s investment five years ago in meetings infrastructure was a smart one. “Our best convention days are still ahead,” he said.

Eric Jacobs, chief development officer-North America with Marriott Select Brands, points out that a multi-branded hotel in a location close to the convention center gives planners the option of upgrading VIPs, offering attendees different price points and unique breakout configurations. “The view speaks for itself,” he said.

AC General Manager Juan Mera explains that AC has become known for its stylish, minimalist design, while the limited-service properties have a more, well, residential feel. The entire property honors the local music culture with nods to musical instruments and styling.

The project owner, Atlanta-based North Point Hospitality, developed the unique, 470-room building to leverage the benefits of the full-service AC amenities, such as the shared oversize pool, full gym with Peloton bikes, business center and restaurant and the more homey options at Residence Inn and SpringHill Suites, such as one- and two-bedroom suites with kitchens and a laundry room. The staff will even shop for groceries and stock the kitchen for just the cost of the staples. The color, design, and even scent signatures, make the transition obvious as guests move from one side of the building to the other through the twinned sixth floor lobbies.

The building also takes full advantage of the views with a wrap-around patio that can be rented for events, an abundance of corner suites that feature boardroom tables and fold-away beds and a presidential suite that could double as a meeting space.

Experience Marriott Bonvoy

The property offers access to locally inspired Marriott Bonvoy Moments, the new name combined loyalty program from Marriott that, in addition to access to more than 6,900 properties, across 30 brands in 130 countries and territories, offers 120,000 different experiences that can be purchased with a credit card with loyalty points. Guests can exchange points for a chef-led cooking master class Moment, behind the scenes tours at local venues and VIP entry to events at the many music venues in town.

“Leaders, commit.” That was the message delivered on Thursday by Jodi Low, founder of U & Improved, a heart-based leadership development consulting company, from the stage at Sheraton Grand Los Angeles, and demonstrated at the one-on-one tables in California Ballroom at Smart Meeting Southern California.

“Commitment is key,” Low said. It is so easy to shine just by following through with what you say you will do because that is rare today. Thoughts become actions and actions become habits, so watch what you feed your brain, she said.

Looking for bonus points? A hand-written “thank you” card makes people feel special because it shows you care enough to do more, she suggested.

The group of 60 planners meeting with suppliers in L.A. committed to going over and above by bringing RFPs for upcoming meetings. Suppliers receive an average of eight to 15 requests for proposals per event, according to exit polls.

Celebrate Connections

The group took another piece of Low’s advice to heart. “Celebrate your wins,” she counseled. “We are often so busy planning the next event or meeting the next deadline that we don’t take time to reflect on what went well,” she observed. By pausing for a moment to appreciate what you have accomplished, you build up momentum to keep raising the bar.

Smart Meetings Founder and CEO Marin Bright takes the stage.

Full swag bags for the win!

A hands-on tech bar to Tweet about.

Los Angeles' favorite: Georgetown Cupcakes.

Sweet Sugarwish stand.

Smart Meetings CEO Marin Bright marked the passing of 10 years of connecting the industry by packing the event in Los Angeles with even more “ideas worth stealing,” from Creative Coverings fabric inspiration to Sugarwish gifting candies and a hands-on tech bar from Tara Thomas at The Meeting Pool. Oh, and there were cupcakes from Los Angeles-favorite Georgetown Cupcakes because nothing says “celebration” like cream cheese frosting. And did we mention the swag bags, with more than $500 worth of goodies, including plush travel pillow/blankets from Halo Branded Solutions?

That commitment to creative presentations was a perfect fit with the host property, which shut down its District bar for the welcome reception to serve signature “opium” drinks, a balanced gin and grapefruit mixture presented in custom-labeled, individual bottles to be poured over ice blocks and rose petals for a sipping sensation that engaged all the senses.

“The Sheraton brand is based on engaging people on an emotional level, going beyond,” said Tracy Barr, director of sales and marketing for Sheraton Grand Los Angeles.

A toast to Smoreology!

A full spread for toasting marshmallows.

The wine-mixing experience from Wine Militia.

Wood-fired pizzas.

The after-party took attendees to Sheraton’s outdoor deck for gourmet s’mores by Smoreology, wood-fired pizzas from The Urban Oven at The Bloc LA and experiential wine-blending from Wine Militia.

A Smart Meeting has always been about the networking and shared journey. As Steve Pufpaf, vice president of sales for Marriott International, explained during the plated lunch of locally sourced produce, this industry is all about getting there in style. That is why the company’s new loyalty program, Bonvoy, reflects Marriott’s commitment to “good travel” by offering local experiences in exchange for rewards points.

From quirky to luxe, these are directionally appropriate

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Moxy San Diego

Cheeky amenities that pay homage to the city’s naval history—think Navy “dungaree” denim headboards and porthole mirrors in the 126 guest rooms—plus hotel check-in on wheels with a custom lobby “trike” that issues digital room keys and welcome nitro-cocktails make this brand-new Southern California property an indelible choice near San Diego Convention Center.

Four Seasons Hotel Astir Palace Athens, Greece

Just 30 minutes from the Acropolis, this brand-new Southern European oasis offers 303 guest rooms and a collection of bungalows, seven restaurants and lounges and three private beaches on 75 acres of Athenian Riviera. The spa is inspired by the studies of Hippocrates, and there is a total of 22,813 sq. ft. of flexible event space, including sea-breeze-cooled terraces.

The Confidante, Miami Beach

Following a 2017 renovation of several meeting spaces, there’s now still more for groups at this South Florida art deco beauty that is part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt. The new, 2,300-square-foot Carmen Miranda Ballroom has advanced tech, and a new prefunction area and wraparound terrace completes the full transformation of 15,000 sq. ft. of event space.

Houston CityPlace Marriott at Springwoods Village

This new, 10-story luxury hotel overlooking a master-planned community’s lakes and within walking distance to major area employers, such as ExxonMobil and Southwestern Energy, has 337 guest rooms and more than 30,000 sq. ft. of flexible indoor and outdoor meeting space, including the 10,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom. Guests can access 290 acres of parks and trails.

With all the news coverage of “planetary health diet”—a set of guidelines designed to promote eating habits that are good for the planet and for our bodies—sustainable food is back in the spotlight. Wellness and eco-friendly eating aren’t just fads any more; they’re a crucial shift in the way we engage with food. Caterers are uniquely positioned to promote them—and profit from them. So what are the new guidelines and how can you put them into practice?

Which Foods and How Much

The basic idea is simple: the production of certain kinds of food has a high environmental impact. But food groups which are better for the planet, it turns out, are also healthier for us. The report outlines how much of each food group a typical adult should eat in an average day. For example, we should be eating around 232 grams of staples such as rice, wheat, and corn; 300 grams of non-starchy vegetables; and only 14 grams of red meat. This poses some obvious problems for caterers. What client is going to be happy with a tiny portion of meat or half an egg? And how do you know what else clients have been eating all day? The key to understanding these guidelines is to remember that your daily intake is allowed to vary, as long as your consumption over the week averages out. It’s fine to save up those 14 grams of meat so your guests can enjoy a steak once in a while. This means you’ll need to change your approach to going green.

Sustainable catering has long been based around plant and animal products that are local, organic and ethically raised; but while sourcing great produce is obviously important, a serving of line-caught salmon is still going to use up your clients’ recommended fish intake for the week. If you think it’s safe to assume that your clients are consuming plenty of animal products elsewhere in their lives, consider cutting these out of your menu altogether. As vegetarian and vegan cuisine gains ever more acceptance as a legitimate option rather than second best, chances are that diners won’t miss the meat anyway.

Explain the Menu Choices

You don’t have to ditch restricted items completely, of course. Just consider how to get maximum impact when you do use them, rather than taking them for granted. Meanwhile, inform your clients about how and why you’re improving your menu, or even provide them with a fact sheet about their meal. Done well, this can be a great way to add a more experiential aspect to your catering. If you offer a buffet service, then you can even label items by their food group and let diners choose for themselves how to use their daily allowance.

Letting your clients know about your green practices is also a great way to boost business. As a recent report by Nielsen has shown, sustainable companies see a big difference in growth. The support for wellness and ethically-sourced food has demonstrated that people want to know more about what they’re eating. Rethinking your menu to prioritize your clients’ and the planet’s health is the next step. It’s sure to help your event stand out.

Rosemary Brook-Hart is a writer and a team member at Spacebase, a global booking platform for workshop spaces, meeting rooms, and event locations.

American Express Meetings & Events’ suite of technology solutions for event professionals is now even more robust with the addition of Attendify and Splash as partners. The marketplace of software platforms is a combination of vetted third-party products and proprietary technology developed by the AMEX M&E team.

The company aims to be the Nordstrom experience of shopping for end-to-end event software solutions, rather than an Amazon digital shopping-cart website, explains Linda McNairy, global vice president at American Express Meetings & Events.

Event professionals engaging AMEX M&E will have access to venue sourcing from Cvent and Lanyon, online registration from Cvent and Splash, and mobile app software from DoubleDutch, Attendify, GoEngage and EventsMobileApp—plus experts who can help choose the right solutions and integrate the flow of information. The common thread with the products is that they drive efficiency in the meeting planning process, deliver data and insights, and focus on the attendee experience.

More: AMEX M&E: Meetings App Usage to Rise by Almost 3% in 2019

“No one prover can meet all the needs of all sizes of meetings; that is why we have brought together a suite of solutions that can be layered for the best experience,” McNairy says. All offerings have been reviewed for compliance and security.

Even Meetings Express, the do-it-yourself platform launching soon for simple meetings, will be optimized by region and focused largely on venue selection. “The simplicity of a meeting is often separate from its size,” McNairy says. “Sometimes, a board meeting for a dozen VIPs is more complex than a one-day meeting for 100 people.” For straightforward gatherings being managed by less experienced managers, the new website will offer an easy solution for finding a space.

Attendify also speaks to the needs of planners with simpler meeting challenges as it is known for its intuitive app creation experience. So, even those on a budget can offer attendees access to customized agendas, presentations and speaker information without the need to hire programmers. The platform also provides data analytics to help planners integrate the event in their marketing campaign and improve future experiences.

More: AMEX M&E: Meetings Will Grow in 2019

DoubleDutch’s powerful white label, customizable event app and registration platform help event marketers capture and understand the attendee journey, including travel data and survey feedback.

Splash aids sophisticated planners in scaling event programs by enhancing marketing and attendee management by using smart guest lists, responsive event pages and integrated email campaigns.

Still in incubation are products that leverage augmented reality, facial recognition, bots and artificial intelligence to improve the attendee experience. And, coming soon, according to McNairy, are ground-transportation management solutions.

wellness program

Today’s business travelers are on the road more than ever before and are faced with new stressors on a daily basis, from longer wait times at the airport to managing demanding schedules while out of the office. Unfortunately, travel stressors are typically the kick-off to the meeting experience and can leave attendees drained and exhausted by the time they arrive at the destination.

Keeping that in mind, I highly recommend that planners balance out travel fatigue by creating a robust schedule of wellness, relaxation and stress-reducing activities for guests—without overwhelming the program. Here are my top three tips for adding thoughtful, yet simple, wellness elements to your next meeting program.

1. Don’t Over Complicate It

My number one tip is to keep wellness simple. In fact, some of the most beneficial and engaging programs I’ve seen have been very easy to implement for groups of any size. One fun example was series of a pop-up mini workouts throughout the program. A speaker took the stage and then immediately lead into an unexpected stretch session to liven up a crowd. It could even be a walking presentation where attendees follow the presenter out of the ballroom as he or she continues the session for an interactive, fun and engaging experience.

2. Be Inclusive

Wellness means something different to everyone. For example, I love jogging and I find it very helpful in relieving both physical and mental stress. Some of my peers find wellness through quiet time and reflection. For others, it means eating healthy through thoughtfully sourced menus. With the vast differences in the definition of wellness, it is nearly impossible for planners to customize a wellness program for every guest.

In order to appeal to the widest scope of attendees, I recommend planners utilize the advice and expertise of their venue to develop a menu of wellness options from which guests can choose. For example, we have access to more than 18 miles of outdoor trails which can be used for group hikes or morning jogs. Our 24-hour gym provides group cardio sessions. more adventurous offerings include kayaking or a team-building ropes course.

Furthermore, when arranging anything that requires physical exercise, I recommend fully vetting the instructor to ensure their class can cater to all fitness and skill levels.

3. Consider Wellness for the Soul

Personally, I think that one of the most important and often overlooked wellness activities is giving back through philanthropic efforts. I’ve noticed that nothing helps a group feel more uplifted and engaged with their peers than a simple CSR activity.

Planners can easily meld CSR with health and wellness through a variety fun and unique activities. For example, meeting attendees can volunteer to help build bikes for local children, visit a local animal shelter to take dogs on walks, or even join a local elementary school on an outing to give back to the local community.

Erin Cook is director of sales and marketing at Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa. She has more than 10 years of experience working in the hospitality and meeting industries.

Finding the right dress for an award gala event can be very expensive. If you want to look like a star within a budget, several online rental companies can offer affordable designer clothing.

Dress for Less

Rent the Runaway can help you can look like Emma Stone in The Favourite, wearing the castle gown by ML Monique Lhuillier for $95 (retail $998); or inspired by Green Book, wearing the cobalt Marilyn gown by Allison Parris for $75 (retail $485).

More: Give a Glam Touch to Your Next Award Gala

In time for the Oscars, Armarium, a New York-based rental clothing service, is hosting a pop-up in Los Angeles (until February 25th) where you can find items by Marni, Ronald Van Der Kemp, Christopher Kane and more. If you miss it, you can see the same items, and more, online.

Would you like to impress with the accessories? Bag Borrow or Steal allows you to rent a Chanel, a mini C bag by Chloe or a Clery Pochette epi leather bag by Louis Vuitton for the whole month starting from $125. If you are still looking for the right jewelry to pair with your outfit, on Rock Box, the San Francisco-based jewelry rental monthly subscription, you can find earring, necklace, rings and bracelets by Kendra Scott and Kate Spade, to name a few.

The Color of Skin

A red lipstick, a bronze blush, a soft foundation—if you don’t have time to make an appointment with your makeup artist, Glamscout, a free beauty app, can assist you. Take a picture of your favorite celebrity look and the app will find a matching makeup you can virtually try-on in real time and see if it is appropriate for your skin.

Perfect365 is Kim Kardashian, the selfie queen’s beauty platform-to-go. The app uses augmented reality technology to allow you to virtually try on a different kind of makeup and hairstyles for your gala event. With YouCam Makeup, you have two choices. Facial mapping technology offers you can a true-to-life virtual makeover. Alternatively, opt for a virtual one-on-one session with a beauty advisor who can help identify the best colors for you.

A post-event recap provides useful information to your stakeholders and community on key takeaways from the event. But sometimes this important step is forgotten or postponed in the flurry of activity. However, this essential tool is most useful in the days after the event. In fact, the best time to publish this report is within 48 hours of the event ending. After two weeks, the information gets a stale. Following are some tips from a veteran planner on writing the perfect event recap.

1. Take Notes

Start gathering data while the event is still running. Memory can fail you, so get it in writing while it’s still happening. Take the time to write notes about what impressed—and what didn’t meet expectations. Include:

An event overview
The location
Number of people
Who to thank—event sponsors and employers

2. Take Photos

Get permission to take photos at the event. Ask organizers if there is a photography policy and stick to it. Some people require the photos to be published with the CC license and some forbid people from taking pictures all together. Others may require that all photos taken by the official photographer. Find out. It’s much easier—and more polite—to ask for permission.

Obtain permission from the people in the photos, too. If they decline your request, respect that. Let them take a look at the photo if they allow you to take pictures to make sure that they are satisfied with their appearance and be transparent about where the photo will be posted.

Use high-resolution settings and the best photographer at your disposal so you can capture the best side of the event.

“Capture images with the highest possible quality or pick some images from the possible choices in the event’s library,” advises Stephanie Forrest, an business writer at Brit student and Writemyx.

3. Find Video and Audio

If there are sessions already recorded at the event, ask for links to embed in stories with introductions so readers understand why they should listen to those sessions. Do the same for videos. If available, include closed captions for the hearing impaired on videos and audios.

“Materials like diagrams and various other resources can really come in handy. Ask for these from the speakers and people who own them so that you can add them to the report,” says Jennifer Allison, a marketing specialist at Next coursework and 1Day2write.

4. Tag Appropriately

Most organizers let people know which tags to use for their photos when posting them across different platforms. Use them; it will help your posts reach a wider, engaged audience. Share news and feedback from the event and offer that resource to the event organizers.

5. Write the Report

Prepare an outline for the post and start with the basics mentioned in the list above. Expand from there. Writing an event report can be fun and interesting because you get to take the most important things from the event and translate them into something valuable for the audience. Have a great time at the event and an even better time writing a report.

Sherie Raymond is a writer and an editor in business field at Academic brits and Origin writings. She writes educational and business articles for blogs and magazines like PhDKingdom. When she’s not working, she enjoys doing yoga.

Looking to add presidential cache to your next meeting? Tap into the soil where POTUS (President of the United States) leaders of yore got their start by checking into one of these four hotels located in states that issued their birth certificates.