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Caesers groundbreaking

Las Vegas is well known for its nightlife, but the showstopper of the day was the groundbreaking of Caesars Forum on Monday morning.

Caesars Entertainment bigwigs got busy digging at the ceremony, held underneath an air-conditioned tent to keep everyone out of the sun and comfortable, despite the sweltering summer heat. Roger Dow, president and CEO of U.S. Travel Association, emceed the event. Some of the other notable Caesars Entertainment attendees were Mark Frissora, president and CEO; Michael Massari, chief sales officer; and Lisa Messina, vice president of sales.

Construction will get underway shortly to transform an empty parking lot into the two largest pillarless ballrooms ever built. In true Vegas fashion, Caesars Forum is going all-in and going big.

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The new $375 million conference facility will have 300,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. To put this into perspective, that is equivalent to 27 tennis courts or three ice skating rinks. Even an 18-wheeler truck can fit inside. In case a planner’s vision somehow happens to outgrow the interior space, there will be an outdoor plaza offering an additional 100,000 sq. ft. of space. There will be 2.1 miles of technologically advanced airwalls to provide many configurations.

“It comes from the Roman forum; the town square that’s the city center, where everything was discussed,” Massari says. “Where the ideas were created and matriculated, and where the gatherings took place. Where commerce happened. These are all things we want to have happen at the Forum. You’ll start to see a lot of Caesars legacy in some of the designs. We want to make sure we honor that heritage.”

It Takes a Village

Before the current one-level floorplan was approved, the design of Caesars Forum underwent several revisions. To draw inspiration, the company did thorough research of other large meeting facilities, such as Orlando World Center Marriott, Gaylord Hotels, and Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort, says Bob Morse, president of hospitality for Caesars Entertainment.

“Whenever you do something like this, it’s very hard to get lots of people’s opinions,” Massari says. “It’s a lot easier and faster to have one person make all the decisions, but you just never get the best outcome. The kiss of death for a facility like this is to not incorporate everybody’s opinions and thoughts into the project.”

“We’ve made sure it’s a very inclusive process from a customer’s standpoint, from an employee’s standpoint from all different levels, and then, of course, [from the standpoint of] all the architecture and design people. It can be frustrating sometimes, but it’s well worth it in the end.”

It takes a village to make a project of this enormity come to fruition, including the cooperation of local government. “This is a great market, in terms of collaboration,” Massari says. “This is a tourism market, and so as big as the city’s become, it’s still a small community in terms of tourism. We work closely with our competitors. We work really closely with the LVCVA [Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority]. We saw Chris [Giunchigliani, Clark County supervisor] today, working closely with the city and the county to make sure we bring this program off without a hitch.”

The designers of Caesars Forum are taking pride in the amount of natural light that will enter the meeting space. There will even be garage doors to open to the outside plaza. “For me, as the facility operator, it’s this connection between the inside and the outside that I really wanted to make sure we had,” Massari says. “People can free-flow from an interior reception to an outside reception, and they can utilize the outdoors and have breakfasts, lunches and dinners—even general sessions.”

Sustainability will also be at the forefront of Caesars Forum. The conference center will be LEED Silver certified and the roof will be covered in solar panels.

The Calendar is Filling Up

With an opening date scheduled in the first quarter of 2020, Caesars Forum is accepting bookings for as soon as April 1, 2020. It’s already locked in 12 to 14 events. Notably, all these bookings are from new customers. Massari is not concerned that this new building will take business away from existing Caesars properties on The Strip.

“The customer reaction to what we’re doing is fantastic,” he says. “We’ve got $70 million in business booked for the first four years of operation before there’s a shovel in the ground, and so we’re really proud of that and we expect it to accelerate now that the building is beginning to be constructed.”

American School Counselor Association secured the first booking, for its July 2021 conference. The group expects 3,500 attendees from throughout the country to register for the event.

Star Power

Catering for such a large facility is a massive undertaking. Don Ross, vice president of catering, conventions and events, will be overseeing the operation. One of the initiatives he is most excited about spearheading is incorporating celebrity partnerships with banquet menus. For example, he would love to see Guy Fieri’s lollipop wings available to meeting planners. He also mentioned Caesar’s concern for food waste and the steps it is taking to partner with charitable organizations to donate excess food to those in need.

“I think the celebrity chef piece will be really fun for us. We’ll take some of the best dishes from our great partners on the celebrity chef side and be able to deliver those to our meetings and events attendees,” Massari says. “I think the customers are going to really get a kick out of that.”

Accessibility

Caesars Forum will be will be within walking distance of 20,000 guest rooms and eight of the brand’s nine Las Vegas properties. Five thousand rooms at Harrah’s Las Vegas, Flamingo Las Vegas, and The Linq Hotel and Casino will be connected by skybridges and pedestrian bridges, so guests won’t have to step outside. Massari assures planners that although many guest rooms are near the construction site, noise levels of equipment will not be a disturbance.

The groundbreaking will be a tough act to follow, and Caesars is already brainstorming ideas to raise the bar yet again for the ribbon-cutting in 2020 and celebratory milestones leading up to it. “It’s hard—we’re in the events business, and people [expect us] to throw these killer events, so it always makes us a little nervous and provides us with a little bit of pause,” he says. “Everybody’s thinking about what the topping off looks like, and then what the grand opening looks like.”

With an unrelenting news cycle comes an unrelenting need for crisis communication preparedness. On Thursday, Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) released a step-by-step guide for business events strategists on how to effectively handle crises.

“We all need to think about resilience and reputation—the core of what any business needs to have—and how we build these to counter any threat. What happens at our events has a lasting effect on our brands,” PCMA CEO Sherrif Karamat said in a press release. “This guide helps prepare event organizers to ensure a positive and long-lasting brand reputation.”

The guide advised planners to focus on three areas: potential consequences, company perception and delegation of responsibility. The guide also suggested enlisting professional help and developing contingencies for things that might go wrong.

The guide is divided into strategies for before, during and after a crisis. Here’s how you can handle any event step by step:

Pre-crisis

1. Create clear communication channels with distinct differences in tone for each group you communicate with—whether it be journalists or stakeholders.

2. Having rehearsed a crisis scenario within the last 12 months is helpful for real-life preparation. Practicing also ensures no one forgets routine.

3. Schedule media training with senior leaders and spokespeople annually. These people will be at the forefront of the crisis and need to know how to act when the spotlight shines on them.

4. Design a clear system for dictating what triggers a crisis response and when and how to treat it. This could reflect an actual event or perception of a company.

5. Talk to clients about crisis procedures regularly. Keeping them in the know will facilitate, rather than hinder, a sense of trust when problems arise.

During the crisis

1. Designate a centralized location where decisions can be made and messages can be clearly communicated. Onsite, a “command center” should include a landline phone and laptop with reliable internet. When leaders might be out of the office or overseas, it’s good to have a virtual hub as well.

2. PCMA proposed a helpful RACI model of questions to delegate roles within a team. Think: Who is Responsible? Who is Accountable? Who needs to be Consulted? And who just needs to be Informed of an event?

3. Monitor social media coverage. Journalists often use this as a first source and the public will likely find out the news via this platform. All channels need to be prepared in ample time to respond to conflict.

4. Have pre-scripted messages ready for prompt release. Of course, the unexpectedness of a crisis will warrant modification, but having an outline will make responses timelier.

5. Know what projects can be stalled or adjusted when crisis arises. Then, you can reallocate staff to perform different tasks.

Post-event

1. Learn from your crisis. Reflect on what you could have handled better based on feedback. Communicate these findings with stakeholders.

2. Note how you would are perceived after a crisis. If your company has been transparent and authentic, you will likely be respected for your handling of the situation.

3. Make sure you have a specific team in place devoted to rebuilding trust between you, the community and stakeholders. This can take time and vary by sector, but an outline develops a step-by-step outline to guide the effort.

Dealing with crisis makes a company resilient, better and stronger than before. Resiliency is an essential brand value to have, the guide concluded. You can find the full document here.

Nearly 58 percent of United Kingdom hotel and convention professionals surveyed recently say that Brexit has had no noticeable impact on their business, a jump of more than 10 percent from last year.

HBAA, an events and hospitality association, recently released the survey, detailing the effects on the industry in the aftermath of the U.K.’s referendum on whether to remain a member of the European Union.

Those who participated in the survey included hotel groups, independent report hotels and convention venues. There were 72 respondents in this year’s survey, compared to 88 last year.

When asked whether Brexit has had a noticeable impact on their business as a whole, 57.7 percent of professionals said that Brexit has had no impact on business. Another 15.3 percent have noticed less effect on business from the referendum.

“The consensus among members commenting on these trends is that the immediate impact two years ago was a rise in costs due to the significant drop in sterling, and a more cautious attitude among clients towards booking events,” said HBAA Chair Louise Goalen.

James Rees, executive director of ExCel London, agrees that the initial shift in corporate business was due to businesses’ prudent evaluation of Brexit’s effects—but that has changed.

“From 2017 onwards, however, it has been business as usual, with the industry returning to normal and showing strength in all markets,” Rees says. “This was particularly the case for North America, which showed a 50 percent growth in 2018 compared to the first part of 2017. This trend is set to continue into 2019.”

Internal Woes

Conversely, the same report showed that recruitment difficulties have escalated since the vote.

Those saying Brexit has had a major impact on the industry rose nearly 7 percent to a total of 9.6 percent. Members who say there has been no impact decreased 13 percent to 67.3 percent. Those surveyed contend the hardest positions to fill are entry level positions, followed by middle level roles and then senior positions. This could be partially attributed to unchanged recruitment policies of more than 80 percent of organizations following the vote.

Impact of Brexit on Recruitment. Credit: HBAA

In an HBAA article, Sally Raith-Riches, group director of sales at U.K.-based Foxhills Country Club and Resort, said the recruitment difficulties will noticeably influence the food and beverage sector. In the same article, however, Philip Allsopp, sales and marketing director at Lea Marston Hotels, said this is nothing new.

“Recruitment has been difficult for many years; I think the Brexit debate is masking the problem,” Allsopp said. “We need to look at more creative ways to engage people to want to work in our industry.”

Nevertheless, industry insiders are working to combat this negative trend. Three years ago, the U.K. government created its Business Visits and Events strategy to drive traffic for the industry. Out of that decision came the Events Industry Board (EIB), which works with the government to make strategy come to fruition.

In March, EIB launched Talent Taskforce. The task force’s mission is to assess current misalignment in skill sets and resources needed for improvement in a post-Brexit environment.

Currently, the group is gathering industry evidence for a report to be sent to the Minister of Tourism. The research results will help the government foster a competitive and proficient task force. Surveys of employers and round-table discussions will be some of the methodology used.

Juliet Price, HBAA consultant executive director and member of Talent Taskforce, said the HBAA survey results signal a need for the Talent Taskforce’s project.

“These results give a clear picture of the growing issue that the industry is facing, and why the Talent Taskforce initiative to provide evidence to government and secure support in addressing the potential consequences is vital and urgent,” Price said.

On the other hand, Rees says ExCel is not facing the same hurdles and is actually benefiting from “the regeneration of the local area.”

Remaining Hopeful

Despite the struggles, Chris Lynn, vice president of CVB London and Partners’ North American and emerging markets, said England’s main metropolis remains strong.

“While the U.K.’s decision to leave the EU has created some uncertainty, the fundamental strengths of London as a world-class destination for events and hospitality remains unchanged,” Lynn said. “London is a truly global, cosmopolitan city and remains open to international event planners and business travelers from all over the world.”

Lynn highlighted that London’s easy connection to 336 international cities and vast portfolio of accommodations will help the industry stay grounded. Additionally, London’s diverse culture scene will help provide speakers, exhibitors, event sponsors and networking groups for meeting planners.

Rees has noticed that when discussing with European bids, there’s a need to give extra information and insistence that the convention center is ready for Brexit.

“We are working more with our service partners, such as London and Partners, to show how Britain, and its government, is preparing for the next steps,” Rees said. “We have also been giving reassurance to the event industry and lobbying to ensure our voice is being heard for our exhibitors, organizers and delegates.”

He adds that it’s hasty to make a prediction about the state of the industry a year from now, because the government continues to remain indecisive. Though regardless of the uncertainty, it is now cheaper to visit the U.K., making it a more attractive and preferential destination. ExCel will continue to creatively strike balance in portfolio offerings to maintain its position as a leading events venue, Rees says.

“Over the last 12 months, these challenges seem to have settled down slightly and businesses have adjusted,” Goalen said. “Now, everyone is warily waiting to see what happens next. It will be fascinating to see what everyone thinks 12 months from now, when we will have been out for three months.”

Leonardo Mariotti

Garden Court Hotel in Palo Alto, California, named Leonardo Mariotti general manager. He began his career in the food and beverage industry, managing a host of restaurants, before joining Morgans Hotels Group and serving at many of its properties. He brings plenty of experience, having previously worked at properties including Mondrian Miami Beach, The Hotel at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas and Atlantis, Paradise Island in the Bahamas.

Photo credit: Garden Court Hotel

Rachel Levy

Rachel Levy, CMP, was announced as director of national accounts for The Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, Florida. She will be responsible for managing corporate accounts in the Northeast. Levy has worked in the hospitality for 13 years, having most recently served as complex senior sales manager at Waldorf Astoria Chicago and Conrad Chicago Hotel.

Gary Sims

Bringing more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Gary Sims has been appointed executive vice president and chief operating officer by RLH Corporation. He joins after serving as managing director at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California. Sims previously served as senior vice president of operations for Pyramid Hotel Group.

Deanna Wheeler

Deanna Wheeler was appointed as an event planner at Wisconsin Union’s Campus Event Services Office. She will be responsible for planning events at Memorial Union and Union South. Wheeler previously served at Door Creek Church in Madison, overseeing reservations and facilities.

Tina Gerson

Following her role as director of sales for Pelican Grand in Palm Beach, Tina Gerson was named director of Midwest sales at PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. She brings more than three decades of experience with her, having previously worked as director of national accounts at Loews Miami Beach Hotel.

Rendering of the Caesars Forum conference center

New details have emerged about the upcoming Caesars Forum conference center. Last week, Caesars Entertainment Corporation released the first rendering of the exterior of the building and adjoining 100,000 square-foot outdoor plaza.

The company also launched a website specially dedicated to Caesars Forum that contains detailed floorplans of its more than 300,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space. When it opens in 2020, the conference center will feature the two largest pillarless ballrooms to ever be built, each measuring 108,000 sq. ft., in addition to two 40,000 square-foot ballrooms.

The name of the conference center evokes the Roman influences of Caesars Palace. The noun “forum” is defined as the marketplace or public square of an ancient Roman city, the center of judicial and business affairs and a place of assembly for the people. And, that’s just what this $375 million project will do, bring people together to convene.

“I hope you’ll agree with me that this investment, building the two largest pillarless ballrooms in the world, is another way that we show how committed we are to helping our customers plan and execute great events,” Michael Massari, chief sales officer for Caesars, says in a video posted on the website.

With these floor plans, meeting professionals can now begin to map out their events in the expansive space. The charts depict more than 100 rooms for break-out sessions.

The state-of-the-art facility will be centrally located on The Strip and connect meeting goers to more than 8,500 guest rooms within the Caesars family at LINQ, Flamingo and Harrah’s. An additional 20,000-plus hotel rooms are only a short walk away. Guests will also be able to take advantage of shopping, dining and entertainment at the LINQ Promenade and go for a ride around the High Roller observation wheel.

Mr. C Coconut Grove

This hotel embodies modern design—just take a gander at its lobby, which features a massive chandelier suspended above glass doors and floor-to-ceiling windows, and its steel architecture, with the Mr. C brand at the forefront. With an opening slated for winter, the hotel promises to be “an oasis within bustling South Florida.” Groups can survey the city skyline from the rooftop restaurant and bar, or look out from the terraces of the 100 guest rooms and suites.

Sirata Beach Resort

This resort promises a reimagining of its indoor and outdoor meeting space. The $15 million renovation is updating the 30,000 sq. ft. of event space, which includes the 5,100-square-foot Majestic Palm Ballroom and 3,100-square-foot Royal Palm Ballroom. With an all-new color scheme—blue and yellow are in!—the meeting space reflects the hotel’s trend-setting style while incorporating its beachside-meets-elegant aura. After all, the turquoise waters and white sand just outside are a lot to compete with.

Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort

You’ll barely recognize this hotel following its $25 million renovation, which touched every area of the resort. No longer will guests have to peer around the poolside bar for unobstructed views of the Atlantic, and beachfront cabanas now offer semi-private patios. Meeting space was also updated, combining new wall coverings, carpet, lighting and a soft color palette to exude Florida sophistication.

Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront

You read it here first: this hotel’s reimagined lobby will be a premier spot to mingle and dine in downtown Jacksonville. The renovation introduces Shor Seafood Grill plus a 24-hour grab-and-go market that features seasonal menu options. Shor Seafood Grill will feature specialties from executive chef James Draper and will also boasts a 5,000-square-foot bar.

Photo Credit: The Grateful Table/Visit California

Caroline Beteta, Visit California CEO

The unthinkable can happen anywhere. Visit California CEO Caroline Beteta proved that when she took the stage at Destinations International’s 2018 Annual Convention Imagine in Anaheim this week. She polled the audience of destination marketers, and an overwhelming majority indicated with a show of hands that they had managed through a natural disaster in their careers.

Regardless of the tragedy—flood, hurricane, tornado, earthquake or in the case Beteta outlined, massive fires in California’s wine country—the challenges are similar and the reaction has to go through three distinct stages. She listed them as prepare, manage and recover—all while keeping other programs going. “You can substitute in whatever the disaster happens to be, but at some point, you have to transition the message from the nightmare images that dominate the news cycle to the message that you are open for business, strong and back better than ever,” she said.

To make that transition to telling the story that most of the tourism infrastructure is still in place after weeks of images portrayed around the country of burning buildings, Beteta reached out to local agencies and nonprofits, and held community forums. She also called on celebrity chef and California native Tyler Florence, who moved to the state from New York in 2006 and fell in love with the area.

Florence had lived through the 9/11 attacks in New York City in 2001 and knew the heroic efforts first responders made, and was eager to help. “Firefighters were working long hours, risking their lives, sleeping in the ashes. I wanted to welcome them back with a warm meal,” he said from the stage.

Give Thanks

The result was The Grateful Table, a meal served by a host of celebrity chefs to 508 first responders, residents, winemakers and influencers two days before thanksgiving at one long table in the vineyard at Domaine Chandon, on the line between Sonoma and Napa counties in California’s wine country. It was a fundraiser for wildfire relief, but it was also a statement about the enduring beauty and spirit of the hospitality industry. Two other benefit concerts featuring acts such as Red Hot Chili Peppers had already raised $25 million. The Grateful Table, which is the subject of an upcoming documentary called Uncrushable, continued that effort and showed the power of a community when people come together.

Florence praised the tourism industry for working quickly to transition to a story about the human spirit. “It is time to celebrate what have and show the community that we support them,” he said.

At the event, fellow The Grateful Table chef Chris Cosentino reflected on his experience at Acacia House, the restaurant he co-owns in Las Alcobas Napa Valley, in St. Helena, where he opened the restaurant to those in need during the crises. He stressed the importance of getting the message out that Napa is still there and still amazing. “Don’t cancel your reservations. Come out for a trip. Enjoy yourself. Spend some time—get out here,” he said.

Alcohol is no longer restricted to the hotel lobby bar or room mini-bar. Hotels are shaking up the accommodation scene and infusing a little (or a lot) of alcohol into the guest experience. Activities, amenities and decor are centered around the general love of beer, wine or hard liquors. Pick your group’s poison at these five bed and beverages.

1. The Distillery, London, England

This hotel is dedicated to celebrating the botanically vibrant spirit of gin. The room offerings are modest, with a total of four guest rooms that start at about $145. Activities within the hotel, however, make it come alive for small gatherings.

The hotel has a signature Ginstitute, a museum and mixing room tucked in a cozy, candle-lit basement. At the Ginstitute, the “blenders” will be guided through the story of gin’s evolution. They will then be swept through multiple blending rooms to choose botanical distillates to create their own custom blend of the signature English spirit. Guests will sample drinks throughout the tour, so eating beforehand is advised.

The Distillery’s boardroom can accommodate up to 20 people for meetings and offers corporate packages. A GinTonica Tapas feast and gin cocktail master classes are available options. A themed dining experience boasts a five-course meal, intoxicating stories about gin legends and custom cocktail, wine and spirits pairings.

2. La Grande Maison de Bordeaux Magrez, Bordeaux, France

Attendees become the sommeliers at this house of luxury in the south of France. A multitude of wine and food tastings are offered throughout the property. For example, guests can hop on a private boat tour to explore the stunningly clear Arcachon Bay and indulge in fresh oysters and wine. A winemaker workshop lets guests make their own Grand Cru Classe wines and take two bottles home.

Both food and beverage are made in-house. The Michelin two-starred Pierre Gagnaire Restaurant explores the authentic tastes of Bordeaux with a seasonal and eco-friendly menu.

Three meeting rooms displaying plush, vibrant furniture and contemporary art are available for events and can accommodate up to 190 people reception-style. The Bernard Magrez Cultural Institute, an onsite museum, can accommodate up to 300 in its garden, galleries and veranda. Guest can meet the 10 rotating artists.

3. Gralehaus, Louisville, Kentucky

Southern hospitality wouldn’t be complete without a little craft beer to fight the blistering heat of a Louisville summer. Gralehaus boasts a bar complete with 75 hand-picked bottles of beer, wine and cider and four rotating beer taps. “In-haus” creations include beermosas, blueberry gin gimlets and a coffee-rocket draft—a beer infused with coffee beans.

When the alcohol beckons hunger, the accompanying cafe serves tempting Southern cuisine. Nurse a potential hangover with a selection of artisanal coffee beverages.

Three guest rooms are adorned with rustic brick walls, a mix of industrial and modern furniture, botanicals and local artwork. A beer-stocked mini-fridge is available upon request. Two of the rooms overlook the German-inspired biergarten.

Gralehaus is available for buyout and can accommodate up to 30 people.

Coming Soon:

Brewdog Doghouse Hotel, Columbus, Ohio

Doghouse is slated to open late August and will welcome craft-beer aficionados to stay for the night after delighting in the 100,000-square-foot attached brewery.

Thirty-two rooms, including eight deluxe suites, will come with a mini-fridge stocked with curated beers, plus beer soap, an in-room tap and a beer fridge in the shower so you can have a cold one while having a hot one. Rooms will overlook the brewery’s facilities so guests can wake up and fall asleep to the humming foeders and smell of fresh hops.

A fitness center, to-go food marketplace and lobby games will also be available. Meet in one of the hotel’s five meeting spaces, including a craft beer museum.

The brewery itself offers tours starting at $10, during which customers can learn about the brewery, its process and sip on a can of Brewdog’s signature Punk beer.

The Whiskey Hotel, LA

Famed restaurateur and hotelier Adolfo Suaya is opening a 134-room property in Los Angeles for whiskey lovers. The property will break ground this year and construction is set to be complete by 2021.

In room-amenities will include a whiskey mini-bar with rare selections. On the ground floor, guests will find vintage and international whiskeys, a whiskey sommelier, cocktail tastings and classes. Suaya even envisions a whiskey fountain in the lobby.

The seven-story hotel will take the party outside, with a greenhouse rooftop built with glass panels and overlooking Hollywood.

The $960 million MGM Springfield resort casino opens in Massachusetts on Aug. 24. Here’s an exclusive, sneak peek at what planners can expect from the 34,000 sq. ft. of function space that will be available.

“In designing MGM Springfield, we had a mission to create a luxury meetings experience that would be unique not only to Springfield, but to the entire region,” says Michael Dominguez, chief sales officer for MGM Resorts International. “We’ve taken best practices from MGM Resorts’ properties around the world and introduced them here, with a focus on delivering spaces that inspire collaboration, interaction and productivity.”

The names of the meeting rooms might ring a bell: They will bear the monikers of sister properties in the MGM family. Here’s the breakdown:

10,600-square-foot Aria Ballroom
5,600-square-foot Bellagio Ballroom
1,000-square-foot Borgata Meeting Room
1,000-square-foot Beau Rivage Boardroom

The property has already received interest from more than 200 groups, and is confident they will sign contracts soon. “Our meeting spaces at MGM Springfield were created not only with the latest technology, but with carefully designed elements that will complement multiple configurations for a variety of group sizes,” says Monique Messier, executive director of sales. “Meeting planners can rely on our knowledgeable team, who are experienced at creating intricate designs and customized decor that will animate each event.”

Overlooking Armory Square—which offers views of Springfield’s 19th-century U.S. National Guard Armory—a 6,200-square-foot outdoor terrace will extend for the length of the meeting space, allowing natural light to beam in. Larger groups are encouraged to meet at Mass Mutual Center, a 100,000-square-foot convention center managed by the hotel.

“Worked into the design of the resort are pockets of gathering spaces perfect for impromptu small-group gatherings or activities, or a casual chat with friends and business associates,” Messier adds. “With so many offerings all in one convenient location, attendees will find an abundance of opportunities to hold spontaneous meetings, develop meaningful connections and, of course, have a little fun.”

Besides the designated meeting areas, MGM Springfield is excited to offer unique event venues, such as a 10-lane bowling alley inside Tap Sports Bar, a Top Golf Swing Suite, a pool deck and Regal Cinemas. “A great option for team-building would be the Top Golf Swing Suite,” Messier says. “It offers three simulator bays where small groups can gather and participate in fun golf games that are approachable for both long time golfers or those who have never picked up a club. It’s a unique offering in the region and an interactive activity that allows attendees the chance to get to know one another amid some friendly competition.”

Private dining is available at chef Michael Mina and chef Adam Sobel’s Cal Mare and The Chandler Steakhouse, which is led by Meghan Gill, the winner of season 14 of Hell’s Kitchen television series. Additionally, the resort’s in-house catering team can create a variety of cuisine to suit any occasion, “We’ll be using locally sourced ingredients whenever possible to design popular regional dishes,” Messier says. “If a group has something with an international flair in mind, our team can create that, as well. We’ll work with planners to ensure we’re bringing their ideas to life.”

The approximately 250 guest rooms at MGM Springfield will give a nod to the area’s connection to literary greats. Pillows will feature quotes from Emily Dickinson and artwork will be inspired by Merriam-Webster. Hanging in the Presidential Suite is a real conversation piece—a chandelier made of vintage hats that are inspired by Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel, a Springfield native. MGM Springfield also has the distinction of being the first casino resort in Western Massachusetts.

For anyone who opted for a staycation last month, here’s what you missed in the world of air travel: Delta bans pit bulls, TSA restricts powders, MCO expands its facial recognition technology and small airplane seats are here to stay.

Delta Bans Pit Bulls

This airline keeps a tight leash. Delta has updated its service- and support-animal policy, and, effective July 10, pit bull-type dogs are no longer accepted. Also effective is a new limit of one support animal per customer, per flight. These updates follow an increase in service-animal-related incidents, including biting. Delta says it’s putting customer and employee safety—as well as the special needs of certain passengers—at the forefront of this policy change.

“Customers have attempted to fly with comfort turkeys, gliding possums, snakes, spiders and more. Ignoring the true intent of existing rules governing the transport of service and support animals can be a disservice to customers who have real and documented needs,” wrote a Delta spokesperson in a press release.

TSA Restricts Carry-On Powders

A new TSA rule affecting flights traveling to the United States from abroad limits the quantity of powders and powdery substances allowed in carry-on bags. Items such as powdered baby formula, protein powders, ground coffee and powdered cosmetics must be stored in no larger than a 12-ounce container. Otherwise, it’s check it or toss it.

This restriction is part of a larger security effort in airports across the nation. “There are a range of powders that could be used to irritate or harm aircraft passengers and air crew if released during flight,” said Lisa Farbstein, a TSA spokeswoman.

Orlando Expands Facial Recognition

Orlando International Airport (MCO) is saving face(s). Or is it? Despite controversy, MCO is the first airport in the nation to expand its automated facial recognition technology to all international travel, starting with flights to and from London’s Gatwick Airport (LGW). What you’ll notice is a set of clear saloon-like doors at the departure gate, where you’ll stop to take your picture and wait for the technology to match your photo to its database. When the system is fully operational, an estimated 5.9 million faces a year will be put on record with the U.S. government.

Airport officials say it will expedite travel—no boarding passes needed—and help thwart terrorism. Opponents argue privacy infringement. Whichever side of the debate you’re on, prepare to say “cheese” if departing from Orlando’s international terminal.

FAA Hard Passes on Regulating Seat Size

Despite getting served a federal appeals court case, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced it will not regulate airplane seat size, in a July 2 letter to nonprofit advocacy group FlyersRights.org. The group filed a petition demanding the FAA establish guidelines and investigate the potential dangers of shrinking seats—think: blood clots and botched emergency evacuations. The FAA responded, saying, “Seat width and pitch, even in combination with increasing passenger size, do not hamper the speed of an evacuation.” In short, request denied.