Smart Meetings | Page 407 of 603 | Corporate Event Planning: Business Events, Meetings, Conferences

With a focus on creating a better experience for business travelers and innovating the industry for meeting professionals, Hilton will be opening three new hotels under a new brand.

The meetings- and events-focused brand, Signia Hilton, is scheduled to eventually go global; its triad of openings will begin with Signia Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, Signia Hilton Atlanta and Signia Hilton Indianapolis.

More: 8 Hotels Boosting Guest Experiences in 2019

Each hotel will have no less than 500 guest rooms and 75 sq. ft. of meeting space per key. The large ballrooms and prefunction spaces will feature smart design, along with the latest tech. The guest rooms will be modern in all aspects, from their design to the technology featured, such as Digital Key, an app that allows guests to use their mobile devices to lock and unlock their rooms.

https://vimeo.com/319018740

Other amenities featured at Signia Hilton include destination bars, designed to resemble the city or resort destination in which they’re located, and prime wellness experiences, ranging from fitness classes and facilities to spas and infinity pools.

“After countless hours of collaboration, together, we created Signia Hilton, a brand that will resonate with travelers and ‘wow’ meeting professionals, and set a new, elevated standard for the meetings and events industry,” said David Marr, senior vice president and global head of full-service brands for Hilton.

More: Hilton Execs Reflect on 100 Years of Hospitality Trends

Hilton chose the perfect time to announce its new brand, as this year marks its 100th year in the hospitality industry.

More: 7 Smart Moves at Hyatt Regency Austin and More

A 390-foot pedestrian bridge originating south of the U.S. border in Tijuana has increased international attendance at San Diego meetings substantially, despite President Donald Trump’s declaration of a National Emergency, local experts report. In fact, since Cross Border Xpress (CBX) opened in 2015, connecting Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) to a terminal in Otay Mesa, at the southern tip of San Diego, the number of international visitors attending events in the city has grown as much as 35 percent, according to Joe Terzi, president and CEO of San Diego Tourism Authority.

That streamlining of entry through the world’s first geographically binational airport for visitors from North America, Europe and Asia has been an important component in the growth of the sector—and made planning international meetings easier and cheaper for many. “We are a significant meeting destination with a large international attendance,” Terzi said. “Our main international traffic is to and from Mexico, Canada, Germany, as well as Great Britain and China—which is a very promising market.” Two airline companies—Aeromexico and Hainan Airlines— fly directly to Shanghai from Tijuana already. In addition to that, the tax on plane tickets to fly in or out of Tijuana International Airport are about 30-40 percent cheaper than Los Angeles International Airport, for instance, as travelers don’t pay International departure taxes.

In a media environment rich with talk of building walls on the border between the United States and Mexico, here are some reasons a bridge has been the solution for growing business and plans for the future.

The Fast Route

One of the CBX’s advantages is that it helps groups skip unexpected delays in a congested border crossing. And it is affordable. A crossing ticket is $16—$30 roundtrip. “Before 2016, you had to wait in line for two hours to go through San Ysidro, which is one of the busiest border checkpoints in the world. Now, according to 85 percent of the passengers, it takes no more than 20 minutes to walk to San Diego Airport, and all the same security procedures apply,” said Luis Palacios, CCO of CBX.

So far, the national emergency over border security hasn’t affected CBX traffic according to local experts. “Groups and individuals that are visiting for pleasure or work were concerned about the closing of the CBX. However, the national alarm didn’t have an impact on the flow of the traffic. Right now, people are using the facility even more to avoid the challenge they might encounter if they come across the border and follow the normal process,” Terzi said.

Since opening, the pedestrian bridge has flourished. According to a CBX study, in 2016 1.3 million passengers used the service. That number increased to 1.9 million in 2017, 2.3 million in 2018 and CBX is expecting 2.6 million people in 2019.

“We have a joint economy and we look at San Diego, Tijuana area and Baja California as one region. We work in a very dynamic environment and, despite what is happening outside, we are working together to improve security, traffic and services to people,” Terzi explained.

Long-Term Renovation

In 2018 the Air Transport World Airline Industry Achievement Awards, an annual prize to recognize excellence in the air transportation industry, honored the facility with the Passenger Experience Achievement. And it is only getting better. In the last three years, Tijuana International Airport invested $60 million in remodeling the building.

“The money has been used to renovate the terminals, the common area and the commercial zone, including the opening of a series of restaurants—both American and Mexican—and the new drop off area dedicated to CBX passengers,” Palacios said.

As part of this restyling, in the next five years, a number of new luxury hotels—the brands have not yet been announced—will be added to the CBX terminal to accommodate International groups on their way to San Diego events.

The Academy Awards isn’t the only star-studded event this week. Forbes Travel Guide released its 2019 Star Awards on Wednesday, bringing 21 Five Star, 49 Four Star and 62 Recommended new properties into the limelight from around the globe.

The Forbes Travel Guide acts is a trusted source for luxury travel, with anonymous inspectors evaluating hotels, restaurants and spas for services such as how quickly staff welcomes guests at the door to amenities and room service.

Stick around as we present some of the winning newcomers from the 61st annual awards, for your next event and personal inspiration.

Category: Most Accoladed Hotel Group

And the award goes to….

The Peninsula Hotels—the first and only hotel brand to receive Forbes Five Star ratings across its entire portfolio to date. You can find the group’s 10 Five Star-rated hotels in New York, Chicago, Beverly Hills (California), Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo, Paris, Bangkok and Manila. The Peninsula Hotel New York offers the most event space of the U.S. hotels, with 112,776 sq. ft., along with 239 guest rooms.

Category: Destination with the Most Five Star Hotels

And the award goes to…

London. The posh capital city across the pond boasts 210 Forbes Five Star hotels, including four new additions from this year: The Shangri-La Hotel, at the Shard; The Bulgari Hotel & Residences; The Langham; and The Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London. Last year, the title belonged to Macau.

Time to go international? Find out which cities are on the rise for your next meeting.

Category: US Hotels

Only two hotels in the United States achieved a new Five Star status this year. They are…

Salamander Resort & Spa—a 168-room luxury escape in Middleburg, in the heart of Virginia’s horse and wine country. Its exceptional service and 12,000 sq. ft. of meeting space has earned the Washington, D.C., area its first Forbes Five Star resort, just 35 minutes from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).

The Four Seasons Resort Lanai in Hawaii—a 213-room paradise retreat with 10,000 sq. ft. of meeting space on the private island of Lanai in Hawaii. It kind of speaks for itself.

Category: Honorable Mention

Spa Pechanga in Temecula, California, has earned itself a Four Star rating, making it the only Los Angeles area casino resort spa to do so. It has been open for one year and features 1,090 guest rooms, 275,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and a 25,000-square-foot spa—plus the casino floor. Ka-ching.

A luxury Caribbean retreat in Turks and Caicos, Wymara Resort and Villas has joined the elite list of Forbes Four Star hotels, following its January rebrand. This hotel joins 11,952 sq. ft. of meeting space with white-sand beaches, new four- and five-bedroom beachfront villas, and a 7,000-square-foot infinity pool.

For the full list of Forbes Five Star, Four Star and Recommended properties new and old, visit Forbes.com.

recovery oscar night

The award gala party was thoroughly enjoyable. You danced all night, had a couple more drinks than you planned, enjoyed an extra helping of pizzettas, bacon-grits fritters or tomato tarts, and stayed up late to catch up with your favorite colleague after everybody left. It’s now 7 a.m. the following morning and a meeting is scheduled in an hour.

Your puffy eyes, pounding head, sore throat and low energy present a big challenge for you as you prepare to speak in front of co-workers and pay attention to their comments. Don’t panic, though! A recovery program like those used by Oscars celebrities after the long award night can help you restore your glow and energy.

With the help of a wellness expert—Sarah Hoey, personal coach, fitness model, certified nutritionist and Pullman global wellness coach at Hotel Pullman Dubai Creek City Centre in Dubai—we rounded up a series of healthy tips for recovering after a gala celebration or other major event. We also included a few helpful suggestions for before and during the party.

Before

A morning dose of alkaline: “Start the day with our favorite Victoria’s Secret ‘secret‘—one cup of warm lemon water, with a teaspoon of fresh ginger and tablespoon of apple cider,” Hoey says. “A few hours before you go out, this will hydrate your organs and give your body much-needed alkaline. Next, try milk thistle, an herb that contains a compound called silybin; this will help your liver work better in advance.”

All about planning: Decide beforehand the number of drinks you are going to have, and stick with it. Try not to exceed the number, especially if you must work the day after.

Fill your belly: Don’t skip meals before the party. Have breakfast and lunch with some good fats, such as avocado and nuts, and lean proteins, such as tuna, salmon or chicken. They will help to protect your stomach from the invasive effects of alcohol.

During

Wine & Water: “Things get away from us when we are out,” Hoey says. “To prevent a staggering headache and loss of precious time, enhance your night with water in between drinks. One-half cup of water will aid in preventing dehydration, which causes a headache after the night is over, and keeps the skin hydrated throughout the evening.

Balancing bites: “Eat frequently during your night out—this will give your body the nutrients needed for digestion. Stick to the proteins, healthy fats and veggie section, and avoid fried food,” Hoey suggests.

More: Oscar-Worthy Destinations for Your Next Meeting

After

Hydration program: Alcohol induces dehydration. When you get up, drink two glasses of water, ideally warm water, better if it is warm, on an empty stomach. It will help you to flush out toxins. Experts recommend that throughout the day, drink eight glasses of water. You can also alternate water with ginger or green tea. Ginger helps you to avoid inflammation; green tea is ideal for its antioxidants and eases the cleansing process.

Puffy eyes: Put some tea bags on your eyes. The caffeine can help minimize swelling. Another strategy is to place two caffeinated tea bags in hot water for three to five minutes, then squeeze them out, cool them down and place them over your eyes.

Plan your cardio: Hoey suggest going for a cardio session or hot yoga class to encourage the body to sweat. Drink fresh water to clean the lymphatic system.

Juice up your energy: After the class, drink a cold-pressed green juice with turmeric, which contains germ-fighting herbs. This will also help improve your energy levels, Hoey says.

On the table: Be sure to eat healthy protein and complex carbs, including eggs with spinach and whole wheat toast, roasted potatoes, or oatmeal with berries and nuts. The vitamins and minerals contained in the oatmeal will help neutralize acids in the body. “The day after, try to avoid fried foods, empty carbs and processed sugar,” Honey says.

More: 4 Extreme Spa Tourism Options

A luminous skin: Book an effective facial hydration treatment at your hotel spa. If you don’t have time, put a sheet mask on your skin. It cools and calms skin while it’s hydrating.

Sweat in stillness: Before going to dinner, take 15 minutes to relax in a sauna or steam room. It will help you to release extra toxins. If you can, also get a massage to stimulate your immune and lymphatic systems.

award gala

A red carpet, a four-course dinner, signature cocktails, a movie-like setting and a stunning outfit are the ingredients for an over-the-top awards dinner that will make any winner feel honored. Take inspiration from the upcoming 91st Academy Awards ceremony to add some glamour to your next gala event. Smart Meetings asked the experts tasked with making a celebrity show shine to share their secrets for hosting a stellar event.

More: Oscar-Worthy Destinations for Your Next Meeting

Stage Ballroom Adjacent Areas

Lyndsay Picciano, catering manager at Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston, suggests designing Oscars-inspired and relaxing areas away from the main dining area. “Having a red-carpet arrival is a must, so guests can walk the walk and pose for photos just like their favorite celebrities. The carpet is a perfect place to host a step-and-repeat with all necessary party and sponsor logos, which will also make the event look very official to guests.” A separate mingling area—a social room with high cocktail tables, where people can relax and talk—is also essential says the hospitality consultant.

Feed to Impress

Whether you opt for finger foods or a multi-course, seated meal, go all out. “The best way to have a great Oscar-type gala is to serve fork-friendly foods from a buffet station along with bite-sized passed hors-d’oeuvres,” says Barbara Brass, vice president of culinary sales at Wolfgang Puck Catering, who leads the planning for the notable Oscars Governors Ball.

The Hollywood Roosevelt in Los Angeles, site of the first Oscars in 1929, is introducing a four-course menu banquette this year. Public Kitchen & Bar, the signature restaurant of the boutique hotel, will serve house-made cavatelli, pan-roasted diver scallops or morel mushrooms, wagyu beef tenderloin or winter root vegetable risotto. Valrhona chocolate flourless chocolate cake will conclude the feast. “We always prep about 5 percent over to cover last minute reservation or VIPs,” Ernie Carrillo Jr., catering sales and banquet operations director, advises.

Add Creative Color

A delicate floral arrangement, a pop-up art installation, playful details—it is the little touches that set the mood. “The Academy Awards color scheme is gold and black, so don’t be afraid to embrace the theme by decorating with stylish accents and balloons,” says Ashton Pina, public relation manager at Nitehawk Cinema, a movie theater in Brooklyn, New York, which is throwing an awards viewing party that has become a coveted ticket.

Related: How to Recover Post-Oscars

If the venue already has a strong personality—for example Blossom Ballroom at The Hollywood Roosevelt, where vintage tiles and custom chandeliers hanging from 25-foot ceilings set the stage—you can focus on the atmosphere. “For decor, we generally stay with our hotel’s classic color palette and Moorish influences. In addition to that, we like to incorporate lighting because it really changes the look of the venue,” says Carrillo Jr.

Set the Sound

A DJ set, an acoustic band, or a small orchestra—how do you choose the music? Expert caution that the soundtrack of your event sets the vibe of the gathering. “Once the award ceremony concludes, we’ll play our house music, as most of the guests will begin to linger in our lobby,” Carrillo Jr. says.

A smart alternative can also be a movie-inspired playlist. “Soundtracks from 2019 Oscar nominated films or past winners will provide the perfect backdrop to the party scene,” Pina says.

What marketers used to say was, “Good, fast, and cheap. You can pick two.” So, if you pick good and fast, it can’t also be done for cheap. If you pick fast and cheap, then it’s probably just going to be good enough. That used to be the “Rule of Three.” Marketing isn’t a “You Pick 2” world anymore. Now, nearly every client is able to say, “Yes, I’ll have all three, please. Good, fast and cheap.” In fact, it is now expected when you’re hired to organize an event or meeting.

Why Clients Expect More

Many argue that client expectations are the driving force behind this new approach to creative demands. However, there are two big contributors that led to this shift: a changing workforce and technological advances. What used to be a really small group of people who were experts in the industry that came out of theater, television or specialized schooling, has now increased exponentially. As a result, more seasoned agencies are really looking at their existing team with a critical eye since the talent pool has increased. And if they can’t compete with other agencies or with the in-house teams of their clients, they have to seek out new talent that can produce top-of-the-line content in a timely manner.

More: How to Run a Successful Email Event Marketing Campaign

With technological tools like computer programs and equipment more readily available at a fraction of the cost than they were decades ago, you have more presentations and events looking and sounding like a multi-million dollar Vegas show. There are now multiple ways to create the visuals and elaborate presentations that make audiences’ jaws drop—just as a computer programmer has multiple ways and tools to program a website. And with this new technology comes an easier learning curve. You don’t have to necessarily be certified to know these programs, so it’s much easier for a younger workforce to learn the technical skills of experienced professionals. However, what are clients sacrificing when they only focus on the “good, fast, cheap” formula?

Why We Need to Refocus the Conversation

If you are still focusing the discussion around money, speed and creative compromise, then You are having the wrong conversation. There is a much more important element of marketing that hasn’t changed over the years: vision. If your client has the fundamental mission of getting people together to have a meeting, convention, or convocation, it’s because they have a need to communicate a message. You can have all the tools in the world, and yet, the goal should always be, first and foremost, communicating the message in the most effective and entertaining way possible. Creating thought-provoking and inspiring presentations is a skill that you only learn through experience—not in a manual or Youtube video.

More: Five Video Binges Just for Meeting Planners

There are a million ways to present a message. You can use all the newest and brightest tools. You can tell the client that it will be done quickly, cost less than the competition, and look and

sound amazing. So, when everyone is now saying the same things, what can you claim that you do better or differently? Effectively communicating a message and getting people excited about what your client has to say are marketing goals that will never change. In the end, it should be about whether you can inject passion, enthusiasm and storytelling into your work—three attributes that only the best event professionals can deliver.

Gregg Eilers is vice president of meetings, events and environments at Switch. With more than 35 years of professional experience, Gregg has worked as a creative director and executive producer for numerous meetings and events such as The Coca-Cola Company Olympic Torch Relay, Coca-Cola Global Summit, Anheuser-Busch Wholesaler Convention and numerous automotive marketing meetings for executives and dealers. Many of his projects have won acclaim in various industry categories for live business theater, film and video, special events and marketing communications. Gregg holds a master’s degree in marketing as well and media communications.

After a long, exhausting meeting, the last thing on most attendees’ minds is eating healthy, but event professionals can do their part by ensuring attendees get the nutrition they need from their meals.

In the latest Smart Meetings webinar, Toni Zoblotsky, director, B2B marketing and sales valet, Hilton Worldwide, offers a wide variety of foods that are healthy, fun and instagrammable, as well as a few recommendations to get attendees active. In “Love your Attendees by Keeping Them Well in Body & Spirit,” she gives some valuable suggestions to show attendees that you care about their health and well-being.

Foods for a Better You

Soul to seafood In the past three years, hotels have been working to change their approach to meeting and break meals, Zoblotsky said. “We have more collaboration than ever between the chef, the catering director and the customer. Those chefs are now coming out of the kitchen to talk to those planners, and things are getting more locally sourced, more seasonal and certainly more creative.”

More: Become the Healthy Planner With These Strategies

There are loads of foods out there that are healthy and would take little to no effort to offer during breaks at your meetings. Consider introducing some of these foods the next time you plan your next meeting. Your attendees (and their Instagram accounts) will thank you.

Dates

Benefits: High in fiber, which helps the body detoxify. Also high in potassium, which is good for the heart and regulates blood pressure.
Suggestions: Make them savory by pairing them with a walnut or an almond.

Edible Flowers

Benefits: Flowers such as hibiscus, roses, lavender, chamomile and violets boost immunity and stimulate digestion. They’re loaded with antioxidants that help ward off disease and give glowing skin.
Suggestions: Sprinkle on smoothie bowls, salads, desserts or tea. Ensure flowers are safe, with no pesticides.

Tea

Benefits: Nonherbal teas have phytochemicals, which slow the aging process. Green and white teas reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Suggestions: Add immunity boosters, such as cut citrus, ginger or cinnamon sticks.

Avocados

Benefit: Half an avocado has 100 calories and 10 grams of mono-saturated fats that help lower cholesterol. High in fiber and fits many dietary restrictions.
Suggestions: Add to smoothies, egg dishes, salads or toast.

Chocolate

Benefits: Around 3.5 ounces per day of chocolate can result in more supple arteries, lower blood pressure and decreased chance of blood clots.
Suggestions: Stick to the dark stuff.

Cauliflower

Benefits: Contains strong anti-aging and anti-inflammatory phytochemical isothiocyanates.
Suggestions: Include as a gluten-free risotto, as a pizza crust option or in grilled cheese sandwiches.

Sweet Potatoes

Benefits: One of the best sources of vitamin A. Extremely high in potassium, which regulates blood pressure and is good for the heart.
Suggestions: Consider putting sweet potatoes in pancakes or incorporating them in the baked potato bar.

Plant-based Milk (hemp, oat, coconut, soy, rice, peanuts, banana)

Benefits: Great alternative for lactose intolerant attendees.
Suggestions: Serve in cookie shot glasses.

Nuts

Benefits: High in good fats, low in carbs. May lower risk of heart attack and stroke. Have strong anti-inflammatory properties. Walnuts are among the healthiest.
Suggestions: Add nuts to buffets as alternate toppings on salads or pastas. Consider a nut-butter tasting menu, such as almond, pecan butter and, of course, Nutella.

Purple Rice

Benefits: Soothes inflammation and contains anthocyanins, which wards off dementia. Purple rice is high in antioxidants, reduces heart disease and increases skin elasticity.
Suggestions: Add purple rice to meals, such as poke or burrito bowls.

Eggs

Benefits: Best dietary source of choline; high in antioxidants, lutein and zeaxanthin.
Suggestions: Add to meals as an inexpensive, high-protein option. Include a variety of egg options to appease all attendees.

Heart of Palm

Benefits: Helps lower blood pressure and contains vitamin B6, which helps create hemoglobin.
Suggestions: Create a healthy dip alternative by adding lime zest, olive oil and garlic. Use as a vegan alternative to lobster, crab or ceviche.

Stretch and Walk

There’s nothing like a good stretch to end a meeting. Set aside the last five minutes for it. Zoblotsky even suggests surprising your attendees with a small, refreshing snack after the stretch. In the webinar, she discusses a fun strawberry snack she surprised her attendees with.

Getting some fresh air and going for a walk is a good idea, too. “Gratitude walks,” as Zoblotsky terms them, are incredibly beneficial. “When we go for walks, our thoughts tend to jump around mindlessly,” she said. Encourage your attendees to go on a walk, observe nature and show appreciation for the beauty around them.

More: De-Stress in 20 Minutes or Less

These symbols help us garner more gratitude, which has been shown to increase our happiness, and reduce regret and other negative emotions. Zoblotsky shares what action can be taken to ensure a successful gratitude walk:

Schedule break time for a gratitude walk
Ask your hotel about trails or walking paths in the area
Serve a post-walk snack (or smoothie)

Dog Love!

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Both dog-owners and not know the aura of joy the little pups carry around, which inevitably spreads like a jubilant contagion. Aside from being adorable, having them around also has real, positive health benefits, such as lowering blood pressure, relieving stress and preventing heart disease. After those especially difficult meetings, dogs can lighten the mood.

Dogs tend to keep people in the moment, and bringing them to your next meeting is likely to have the same effect. Zoblotsky recommends bringing shelter dogs to your next meeting break. Not only will this relieve the potential stress your attendees may have, but it also may also result in a few pups finding a home. A win-win.

Rules are changing again for event professionals following in the literary footsteps of Ernest Hemingway to Cuba for a corporate meeting. Despite recent travel advisories, trips to the country are still allowed, according to Cuba-watchers at The Center for Responsible Travel (CREST). You just have to follow the regulations—and business events are at the top of the list of acceptable reasons to journey to the Pearl of Antilles.

Demand Increases

The tropical island’s location 90 miles south of Florida and rich cultural traditions make it particularly attractive to American audiences. Since President Barack Obama eased restrictions on Cuban travel in 2014, the island’s hospitality industry has experienced impressive growth. The capital of Havana has transformed numerous historic buildings into modern hotels and added new resorts.

As of October 2018, the country was home to 69,000 hotel rooms, 63 percent of them with 4 or 5 stars. Cuba’s Ministry of Tourism projects that 107,900 new rooms will be added between 2016 and 2030 and more than 30,000 will leverage foreign investments.

In May of 2017, Swiss-based Kempinski Hotels opened The Gran Hotel Manzana in Havana and by the end of 2019 it will open its first boutique resort in the popular offshore key of Cayo Guillermo, part of the Jardines del Rey archipelago. In Old Havana, Spanish-based Iberostar opened Iberostar Grand Packard in late 2018 and the company acquired a new property in Trinidad that will be available soon.

In 2016, over two million visitors arrived in the Cuban capital—an increase of 26.6 percent over the previous year. “The city closed the year with a 74.9 percent occupancy rate in state-run hotels,” says Martha Honey, CREST co-founder and executive director.

The Level 3 advisory (described as reconsider travel) issued in 2017 under President Donald Trump listed 180 “prohibited entities”— including 83 hotels—tied to, or controlled by, Cuban military business conglomerate GAESA with whom U.S. citizens and companies aren’t allowed to do business. In August, 2018 the State Department softened the travel advisory to a Level 2 (exercise caution), which resulted in an increase in travel demand. CREST reported that in 2018, a total of 638,360 U.S. travelers visited Cuba, up from 620,741 in 2017.

5 Meeting-Ready Havana Hotels

Grand Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana

Guest rooms: 246
Meeting space: 3,725 sq. ft.

Iberostar Grand Packard

Guest rooms: 321
Meeting space: 5,382 sq. ft

Iberostar Parque Central

Guest rooms: 427
Meeting space: 5,920 sq. ft

Hotel Nacional de Cuba

Guest rooms: 426
Meeting space: 7,534 sq. ft

Melia Cohiba

Guest rooms: 462
Meeting space: 13,000 sq. ft.

Regulations to Heed

“Travel to Cuba is safe and legal. However, there are certain regulations that have to be followed,” says Martha Honey, co-founder and executive director at CREST.

U.S. regulations require that all trips—work or pleasure—must fall under 12 categories of authorized travel. The category listed for planners and groups is “professional meetings.” This is translated as having work related interactions, business and educational activities.

“As long as the purpose of the visit is to attend a meeting, conference, retreat or something of the sort, it’s perfectly legal,” says Collin Laverty, president of Cuba Educational Travel. “We have organized dozens of corporate retreats, quarterly business meetings, sales rewards trips and much more.”

Netflix, Spotify, General Electrics, The Young Presidents Organization, Airbnb, Engage Cuba and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are some of the companies that organized their meetings in Havana in recent years. Laverty has seen as much as a 400 percent growth each year over the last three years in U.S. companies holding events in Cuba.

Each member of a visiting group is required to keep a journal of the daily schedule to show the purpose of the trip. Generally, record-keeping is required for 5 years, says Robert Muse, a Washington Dc-based lawyer specializing in travel to Cuba.

A documented schedule, which includes meetings in the morning, work-related activities in the afternoon and a dinner or a dance class, is an example of a qualifying trip. Travel companies can help compose the agenda for travelers.

Upcoming Celebrations

The Cuban hospitality industry is celebrating the 500th anniversary of the city of Havana on November 16 with dance performances, concerts and arts events that will go throughout the year.

2019 also marks the return of The Havana Biennal (April 22-May 19, 2019), canceled in 2018 due to hurricane damage. For five weeks, the city will be the stage where local and International artists will showcase their works and honor Cuba’s role as a cultural landmark of the Caribbean islands.

More: 7 Smart Moves at Four Seasons, Squaw Creek and More

Heather Roose

Santa Barbara Beach & Golf Resort in Curacao, Dutch Caribbean welcomed Roose as North American group sales manager. Prior to her new position, Roose served in sales positions at various Marriot properties, such as Autograph’s Collection Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina in the British Virgin Islands and more recently, Palm Beach Marriot Singer Island Resort & Spa in Singer Island, Florida. Prior to finding her place in sales, Roose managed F&B operations for Scrub Island and Il Lugano Suites & Residences in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Jeff Ouradnik

Ouradnik has been named director of sales and marketing at Hyatt Regency Austin. He’s coming from Hyatt Regency Lake Washington in Seattle, Washington, since its opening in 2017. Ouradnik has a long-standing career with the Hyatt brand. He’s worked at several Hyatt properties in various roles, including associate director of sales roles at both Hyatt Regency Bellevue in Seattle, Washington; Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa in Huntington Beach, California; and Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa & Marina in San Diego, California.

Barry Dorsey

Kimpton Goodland appointed Dorsey general manager. In his most recent position, he served as general manager at Hotel Milo in Santa Barbara, California. Prior to that, he held high-level management positions at various hotels, including Loews Coronado Bay Resort, Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill and Hyatt Hotels and Resorts corporate office.

Jason Cabrera

Cabrera has joined Hilton Orlando as hotel manager. In his most recent role, he served as director of rooms at Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando, Florida. A Maui native, he began his career in the States with the Hyatt brand as an executive housekeeper at the Grand Hyatt Denver. He continued to move upward from there, serving in various positions, such as front office manager, assistant rooms executive, director of room and hotel manager.

Jim Chester

Chester is the general manager of Bahia Resort Hotel. Chester is coming from 10 years serving as director of F&B of both Bahia Hotel Resort and Catamaran Hotel Resort, two hotels under the family-owned hospitality company Evans Hotels. Prior to joining Evans Hotels, Chester served as the director of F&B of DoubleTree Hotel Sonoma Wine Country. His career in hospitality began with the ownership of two Domino’s Pizza franchises for just under a decade.

Konstantine Drosos

A long history of leadership positions with the Hilton brand on his belt, Drosos has been appointed as general manager by Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport. Drosos’s career in hospitality began at Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort as assistant director of finance. His role as director of finance has taken him to a multitude of properties, such as DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Modesto, Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa, Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport and Hilton San Diego Bayfront. His return to Chicago began with his position as hotel manager at Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel.

Tracy DeMario

Streamlinevents has welcome DeMario to the team as vice president of sales and marketing. She has a wide range sales experience on her belt. Before streamlinevents, DeMario worked with other companies that provide hoteliers with effective solutions for reservation systems and operations, including Pegasus Solutions, Aventri and Lanyon.