Fourth of July is the day for firework displays, a brief respite from work and explosive celebrations across the country. No matter where you are, take a breather: we’ve compiled a list of the best Fourth of July events for you to attend in every state.

Alabama

Described as the largest Fourth of July celebration in Alabama, you won’t be disappointed by the fireworks display that lights up the sky in Birmingham for Thunder on the Mountain. Promoters are promising a spectacle lasting 20 minutes, with new light effects to impress event veteran spectators.

Alaska

For the best celebration, rise and shine—pancakes await you the morning of the holiday. Following the breakfast, the Fourth of July Parade begins and the festival opens. Music, games and vendors will line the streets with actors dressed in period clothes. The Harvard Club reads the Declaration of Independence, and a fireworks show closes the event post-baseball rivalry at Mulcahy Stadium.

Arizona

Flagstaff is the place to be in Arizona for Fourth of July. Visit the annual Flagstaff Art in the Park, a classic arts and crafts festival knitting together the community. Later on, The Flagstaff Symphony then performs at Pepsi Amphitheatre. Following the concert, stay around for an awwww-inspiring light show.

Arkansas

Somewhere between the watermelon eating contest and underwater treasure hunt, revelers at DeGray Lake Resort State Park in Bismarck will realize this isn’t just any holiday. The Freedom 5K Fun Run is a winner for fitness junkies looking to get their exercise in. It’s also the ideal setting for a fireworks display when the sun goes down.

California

Golf carts outnumber floats and cars at this parade on Crescent Avenue in Catalina. Pump up in your usual BBQ lunch with music from USC Marching Band and reflect on fireworks over Avalon’s sparkling water.

Colorado

For a fun adrenaline rush, head to Denver’s Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park to ride on roller coasters and water slides until your heart’s content. As dusk settles in, look up as that is where colorful action will be.

Connecticut

For a low-key celebration, board RiverQuest. The cruise floats through the Connecticut River—a peaceful journey designed for stargazing, picnicking and celebrating. Catch glimpses of area celebrations as you cruise down the river.

Delaware

You don’t have to drive to the fireworks display in Delaware. Instead, park at Greenbank Station and hop aboard the train. A strategic stop in Hockessin for admiring the light display allows you to jump back on and head to the hotel before the dawn’s early light without any of those pesky ramparts getting in the way.

Florida

If you’re looking for a quirky twist on your standard parade and vendors, The Key Lime Festival in Key West starts on the weekend and carries over to the fourth. If you’re looking for a pit stop on the actual holiday, witness the Key Lime Pie Eating Contest in the morning, then view the pyrotechnics.

Georgia

If fireworks aren’t enough to wow you, then the Fantastic Fourth Celebration in Atlanta has a solution—a laser show against the mountain face. Watch the immersive canopy, water effects and robotic drones move in sync with the music. The best part? You have seven days to experience it.

Hawaii

Located on Oahu’s North Shore, Turtle Bay Resort is the place to be for a colorful aerial light show. During the day, food trucks line the area while live entertainment plays in the background.

Idaho

Meridian celebrates Fourth of July with quirky activities. A hola hoop contest, three-legged races and an inflatable obstacle course await while music plays in the background prior to the dazzling fireworks show.

Illinois

The VIP feel of Odyssey Chicago Fourth of July Cruises will elevate your Independence Day. With lunch or dinner available to pair with wine, eat and drink your way through down river until you end with breathtaking views of Navy Pier’s interpretation of the rocket’s red glare.

Indiana

For a full agenda, head to IPL Downtown Freedom Fest at Indiana War Memorial. With live music playing, local small businesses participating in the Indiana Originals Marketplace and the Drink Indiana Beer Garden, there is no shortage of things to see. And, of course, who can forget bombs bursting in air over Regions Tower?

Iowa

Want to feel as though you’re a part NASCAR? Hop inside an Indy racecar and imagine yourself speeding across the racetrack at the Iowa Speedway. A hot air balloon display is a sight to see, as is the Adventureland fireworks later in the night.

Kansas

Kansas offers a quirky activity at its Old Fashioned Fourth of July—a turtle race. Cheer the turtles on as they slowly, but surely, make their way to the end. Enjoy some delicious BBQ while watching a parade, then enjoy what the promoters declare to be the best firework display anywhere.

Kentucky

If you’re a fan of pie, then you might be a contender for the pie eating contest in Downtown Lexington’s celebration. If it’s not your cup of tea (or slice of pie), head to an ice cream social, then join the festival for live entertainment and vendors, which ends with a heart-melting display of lights in the sky.

Louisiana

If you want a dose of history, the battleship USS KIDD is ready to be explored. Take a tour, then indulge in face-painting and obstacle courses until smoke and lights boom over the Mississippi.

Maine

The Patriotic Pops Concert is the belle of the ball in Portland. The Portland Symphony Orchestra will be joined by songstress Susie Pepper, providing an elegant dose of entertainment. Follow the concert with pyrotechnics over Casco Bay.

Maryland

Lovers of jazz, rejoice: the U.S. Navy Band Commodores will be playing at Ports America Chesapeake Fourth of July Celebration. Following the performance, head to Top of the World Observation Level for panoramic views of Baltimore and the fireworks.

Massachusetts

Boston is filled with parades, performances and pyrotechnics. Catch the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence, a Heart of the Freedom Trail walking tour and a Boston Harbor Cruise. End your day at fine-dining establishment Top of the Hub, located on the 52nd floor of The Prudential Tower.

Michigan

Reminiscent of Bellagio Hotel and Casino Water Performances in Las Vegas, Grand Haven Musical Fountain dances along to the strains of The Star-Spangled Banner. No matter where you are, the sky will light up with special effects to move the heart and soul.

Minnesota

Looking for more than a day of celebration? Delano Fourth of July Celebration at Round Lake Park is packed with activities, including a 5K, canoeing and beanbag tournament. After you put on a show of athletic prowess, settle in for an explosive display at the twilight’s last gleaming.

Mississippi

If you’re looking for a celebration the weekend before, then Hudson Valley, Mississippi, is where you’ll want to be. The Mississippi Championship Hot Air Balloon Festival has plenty of activities, including, but not limited to, a Balloon Chase Bike Ride and a special balloon glow. End the night with a fireworks spectacular.

Missouri

The Saint Louis Fair is where it’s at this holiday. It’s so big, in fact, that it lasts three days. The STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) Expo features Scope, which offers fun exhibits, including a VR experience putting you in the place of a Special Operations Airman. Live music, from Jason Derulo to the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, accompanies the patriotic fun.

Montana

Big Sky Country’s big sky will be lit up everywhere, with plenty of fireworks planned throughout the state. Roundup Independence Days Extravaganza is where Musselshell Valley and Roundup get together for four days of events. Join the parade, dance around to music and watch a shooting competition.

Nebraska

This year, join the 150th Seward County’s July Fourth. Check out the car show, walk through Crafts on the Square on the courthouse lawn, then end the day with extravagant fireworks.

Nevada

Start your celebrations early—Las Vegas is the place to live it up. Catch firework displays from Caesars Palace, Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa and Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino the weekend before. Follow up the displays with live performances at Flamingo Las Vegas and MGM Grand, where DJs will crank the music up. Swing by Mandalay Bay on Wednesday for a performance by Mystic Roots Band.

New Hampshire

Nebraska’s 150th celebration of Seward’s anniversary isn’t the only one around—it’s also New Hampshire’s 150th annual celebration in Ashland. Get in on the parade action by decorating or operating a float.

New Jersey

Enjoy your time in Camden, where the annual Freedom Festival and Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular will be held. Mingle in the beer garden, then join the Tri-County Symphony Band in a salute to veterans. Entertainment from The Spinners and Eddie Money will liven the event, preceding the, yes, spectacular fireworks display.

New Mexico

New Mexico is all in when it comes to celebrations. Head to Smokey Bear Stampede in Capitan for a unique experience—eight rodeos in four days. On Independence Day, celebrate with steer riding and fireworks to cap it off.

New York

Hot dogs are a classic in New York. Since beginning in 1916, Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest has become a classic, with an estimated 40,000 people attending last year. The world record to beat? Seventy-two of Nathan’s Famous hot dogs in 10 minutes. Grab a dog of your own, without any pressure to down it.

North Carolina

Following a reading of the Declaration of Independence, test your skills out on a mechanical bull, go on a penny hunt, then end the search with lights in the sky.

North Dakota

For a true dose of current American tradition, catch a baseball game at Chahinkapa Park. Stick around for man-made comets in all the colors of the rainbow.

Ohio

The holiday is celebrated the weekend before, when you should make your way to Fairview Park Summerfest. There are three days of fun, starting with a parade and ending in fireworks—but it’s the in-between that makes it stand out. There’s a 5K and 1-mile “fun run,” DIY art workshops, a cornhole tournament and more to get you into the celebrating spirit.

Oklahoma

Did you know that Rockets Over Rhema has the largest fireworks in the Tulsa/Broken Arrow area of Oklahoma? Now that you know, it’s a no-brainer to head over to this event. A musical celebrating our independence kicks off the event. The Inflata-Zone is fun for all ages hoping to get their bounce on prior to the live entertainment and fireworks display.

Oregon

The Waterfront Blues Festival begins on Independence Day and ends that weekend. Featuring more than 100 acts on four stages, catch sets from classics and newcomers alike. It’s for a good cause—all proceeds go to the Oregon Food Bank in Oregon and Clark County, Washington.

Pennsylvania

Twenty-six years later, and Wawa Welcome America is more popular than ever. This year, Pitbull will be headlining on the Fourth, with plenty of entertainment and festivities throughout the week-long event. After the entertainment, witness Wawa Welcome America’s largest firework show in a decade.

Rhode Island

PVDFest takes over Providence for four days, and it certainly makes the most of it. With art installations surrounding the town, live music and a variety of vendors lining the streets, there’s something to do at every moment.

South Carolina

For those looking to get the blood pumping and heartbeat racing, register for the 32nd Annual Easley Firecracker Frolic 5K. You’re encouraged to bring a flag to show just how patriotic you are. Don’t have one? They have some available for the early arrivals.

South Dakota

Fireworks and parades are standard—Black Hills understands this, but they also tap into their love for country. With Old West shootouts, cook-offs and car shows, you’ll be fully immersed in the state’s fun country culture.

Tennessee

Of course, Music City is where the best performances come together on the Fourth. Lady Antebellum and Chris Janson are just a few of the many performers at the Nashville July Fourth Fireworks. Following the concert, fireworks will shoot off in sync with the Nashville Symphony.

Texas

Castle Hills 20th annual July Fourth Freedom Festival is engaging for everyone. While a DJ spins jams, tackle the largest inflatable maze in Texas, stop by caricature artists for fun drawings and trackless train rides. Find a spot on the grass for fireworks over Lake Avalon.

Utah

The weather may be hot in Beaver County, so cool off in Utah by taking a swim in the city pool. Free hot dogs will be handed out for dinner, which you can enjoy watching the Roger Grimshaw Band concert. A parade and fireworks close out the day.

Vermont

The town of Wardsboro may be small—less than 1,000 people live there!—but they go big when it comes to Independence Day celebrations. A street fair opens the day, followed by a parade. Once the last marchers have passed, you’re free to wander to the duck race, quilt show or fishing derby—only in Wardsboro.

Virginia

Colonial Williamsburg was where founding fathers congregated to create the policies that are the foundation of our nation. So, it’s no surprise that the destination takes patriotism to heart. Attend for readings of the Declaration of Independence, firing of muskets and cannons and a grand fireworks display to top it off.

Washington

The SCCA Seafair Summer Fourth is back again. With a fireworks show consisting of almost 8,500 pounds of pyrotechnics choregraphed to a musical score, it’s no surprise USA Today and Business Insider have voted this as the nation’s best firework show in past years. Beer and beverage gardens are there to enjoy in anticipation of the display.

West Virginia

Clear your agenda the Saturday before the holiday—you’ll be plenty busy in Point Pleasant. A variety of performances mark the day, from the Riverside Cloggers to a lip sync battle. A concert with Two River Junction and glowing flowers in the sky close the day.

Wisconsin

With a variety of activities to choose from, your best bet for celebrations in Wisconsin is Bayfield Fourth of July Festivities. There’s something for everyone—take an island cruise, pick some berries or catch a concert at Big Top Chautauqua.

Wyoming

There’s plenty to experience in Jackson Hole. Start your day with pancakes and sausages, then prepare for the annual parade. There’s a reenactment of a shootout at Town Square, then a rodeo at the fairgrounds. Watch the fireworks from either Snow King Mountain or the base of the Tetons in Teton Village.

crisis management plan

Crisis management planning is like life insurance; nobody wants it, but everyone needs it. Business owners must budget for risk management even when there is no sign of trouble ahead. Planning for hypothetical events understandably seems like a waste of resources. But, like a life insurance policy, not having one is far more costly.

Drafting an effective plan requires you address three main priorities when organizing your initial meeting:

  • Who is coming
  • Where it will be
  • What to include

Select the Participants

A single individual shouldn’t be responsible for drafting your company’s crisis response plan. Conversely, a team may be as large as necessary to develop a thorough strategy. Include employees from multiple divisions and regions to lower your risk of missing important details. Furthermore, it’s crucial to invite department leaders, C-Suites and other top-level stakeholders. Many SMEs don’t have legal counsel or public relations teams, but if yours does you’ll want them to be present.

A diverse group of employees is better equipped to identify any and all threats to an organization. Risks may include natural disasters, foreign governments, data security breaches or an undiscovered executive scandal. It’s better to overestimate the number of people in the beginning and trim it down in the final stages. Adding individuals halfway through the process is disruptive.

Choose a Location

The office is obviously the most budget-friendly location to hold your meeting, but is it the best option? Consider the size of your team and the length of time you’ll be spending together. Cramped meeting areas with uncomfortable seating may cause groups to rush through the process. While hotels or resorts are expensive, off-site venues offer many benefits.

  • Stepping out of your daily work environment can spark creativity.
  • Meetings will start on time because the team is already together.
  • Entertainment may help reduce the stress of crisis planning.
  • Off-site meetings have fewer interruptions and are more productive.

The location of your meeting isn’t critical to producing a workable crisis plan. However, by removing distractions, stress and discomfort you’ll ensure a more comprehensive plan is developed.

What to Include in a Crisis Management Plan

You’ve finally gathered your team and arrived at the meeting location, but how do you develop a strategy? While you can’t plan for every contingency, it’s important to develop a framework for responding to emergencies. Your plan should be flexible enough to allow for unknowns, yet specific enough to be useful during a crisis. There are many variables you can include, but the top three points to cover are:

  • Assessing your weak points
  • Assigning duties
  • Drafting a holding statement

Assess Your Weaknesses

crisis management plan

You can’t build a crisis management plan without knowing your vulnerabilities. First, rearrange your team into groups by department or region. Next, individuals within each group should brainstorm potential weak points that could cause a crisis. Finally, give each group time to discuss their thoughts before presenting their ideas to the larger group.

There are multiple benefits associated with beginning brainstorms individually. Preventing groupthink tops the list because it’s essential to generating unique ideas. It’s also a more efficient way to explore multiple potential crises at once. Lastly, if several people arrive at the same problem independently it could indicate an important focal point. During the company discussion, it’s often helpful to categorize crises by type. The topics will depend on your industry, but it’s wise to keep them broad. For example:

  • Company — problems within the company
  • Customer — problems with customers
  • Individual — personal crisis affecting executives
  • Outside Factors — uncontrollable events outside the company

Assign Responsibilities

Once you’ve identified your company’s top crises, you’ll need to assign responsibilities to team members. This can be the most challenging phase of drafting a strategy, and many companies get it wrong. It’s tempting to build teams based on the type of crisis you fear most, but this is actually a mistake. For example, a business at risk of a data breach might staff a crisis response team with software engineers. Although the engineers may understand the problem better than anyone, they may lack the nuanced communication skills needed to control a damaging story that has gone viral.

Instead, divide the group into two teams responsible for crisis resolution and crisis communications, respectively. Starting with broad groups enables you to handle a much wider range of emergencies. Staff the resolution team with regional leaders and division heads. Your communications team should consist of the CEO, in addition to executives from human resources, legal, public relations and marketing.

Perhaps the most crucial role to fill before a crisis is that of your spokesperson. Don’t assume your CEO must be the voice of the company because not all great leaders are natural public speakers. An effective spokesperson should be comfortable communicating across a variety of media, including live interviews, television and radio.

Develop an Action Plan

You’ll need to take action within the first hour after a crisis breaks. Drafting a plan with several contingencies ahead of time will improve your ability to respond quickly and lower the risk of errors.

A clear action plan must include internal and external communication protocols. Be proactive by curating a list of support services in advance, including public relations firms, call centers and reputation management companies. You might also discuss developing a dark website or subdomain that can be activated during a crisis. Having a separate website is a great way to handle a massive influx of unexpected traffic that could otherwise overwhelm your business’s website.

Follow Through

You’ve completed your goal of building a crisis management plan, but that doesn’t mean your work is done! In the following months you’ll need to execute training and test out your plan with drills. There’s no shortage of public crises, so pay attention to how others are responding and update your plan as necessary.

You’re never really done when it comes to creating and maintaining a crisis prevention plan, but at least you have an insurance policy in place. Just like life insurance, you can relax knowing that you have it and pray you never need to use it.

Jonas Sickler been developing and deploying marketing campaigns for nearly two decades. His experience ranges from content planning for major consumer websites to helping businesses grow their online presence and protect their reputation.

Food bursting with local flavor and wellness trips packed with both serenity and stimulating activity: that’s what Americans want out of travel. Both reflect the trending desire for meaningful vacations.

MMGY, a travel marketing organization, conducted a study revealing that, while Americans plan to take almost a third fewer vacations in 2019, they aren’t cutting their overall travel budgets. Instead, they are shifting priorities away from over-packed beaches to more idiosyncratic adventures. MMGY crafted two portraits of today’s traveler: the foodie and the wellness traveler.

Food for Thought

Forget the steak and potatoes. Foodies in the United States are on the hunt for hyper-local, authentic cuisines. Sixty-one percent say that when vacationing they crave hard-to-find, local dishes, rather than swanky Michelin-starred restaurants.

Hotspots on their checklist include Honolulu, Florida Keys, Washington, DC, New Orleans and Boston.

The demographic makes up only 14 percent of the U.S. population, but their contributions on the economy are impactful. They spend more than $5,000 a year (per household) on travel, 16 percent higher than the average. That number could increase—70 percent of travelers say they’re willing to vacation to try new cuisines.

For those looking to become culinary explorers themselves, a plethora of smaller cities serve up big opportunities to indulge in local delicacies.

1. Kansas City, Missouri

We’re not in (the old) Kansas anymore, Toto. This midwestern metropolis is heating up the food game with tangy barbecue, prime Japanese eats and more. The city boasted five James Beard semifinalists in 2017. It continues to welcome new culinary expansions, such as Swordfish Tom’s, a speakeasy-style bar offering craft cocktails with house-made ingredients.

2. Detroit, MI

Detroit is developing an increasingly international food scene. River Bistro, cooking up African-inspired soul food, is a top hot spot overseen by chef Mexcal Hardy, a Chopped runner-up who has cooked for a Dubai prince and NBA stars. Detroit’s Greektown is also booming. Homemade yogurt and flaming pan-seared cheese are among the Hellenic classics on offer.

3. Portland, Maine

This coastal town is making waves with some of the best oysters, lobster rolls and craft beer in the country. Food & Wine named Portland chefs among the best of the nation’s up-and-coming. Honey Paw delivers Asian cuisine infused with a little American spirit.

Travel Well

Just as many Americans are craving exotic flavors, wellness travelers are going international, too. MMGY reports that wellness travelers are planning almost half their vacation out of mainland United States. The approximately six million households spent more than $27 billion on such leisure travel in the last year.

They are most interested in visiting Canada, Italy, France, U.S. Virgin Islands and Germany.

Yet, current wellness travelers want more from their trips. MMGY reports 34 percent packed workout clothes in hopes of getting active—but did not use them. The organization sees this as an opportunity for travel-service providers to attract travelers with more compelling exercise options.

Regardless, there are destinations around the world that do offer satisfying recreation and repose. Here are three.

1. Sea of Cortez, Mexico

Hypnotizing black lava, rosy pink volcanic ash and white-sand beaches lined with pearl oysters are just some of what this Mexican paradise offers. Linblad Expeditions-National Geographic and Exhale’s have partnered for an epic wellness trip that combines heart-pumping bootcamps with calming yoga. The journeying takes place aboard a cruise ship. Travelers can snorkel with sea lions during the day and enjoy a bonfire barbecue when the ship anchors at a new destination each night.

2. Sedona, Arizona

Nestled in a fiery-red rock canyon, Enchantment Resort hosts nutrition workshops, such as a juicing class, that focus on mind and body. A variety of activities are offered, such as pilates and a mountain bike trip specifically for women. The resort’s spa, Mii Amo, aims to transform the soul with its treatments that draw from Native-American healing practices.

3. Oita, Japan

This trip makes you work for your relaxation. Walk Japan is an organization that offers wellness tours to Japan’s most beautiful hidden sights. Oita Hot Springs tour features a daily, guided, four-hour walk with mountain and seaside views. The six-day adventure, which starts in Fukuoa and ends in Beppu, rewards the traveler with premium hot springs at every stop.

What to do in Anaheim

Are you one of 1,500 travel and tourism leaders jetting into Anaheim for Destinations International’s 2018 Annual Convention? CEO Don Welsh has promised four days of education and inspiration, including updates from Airbnb, Brand USA’s latest storytelling campaign and tips on marketing in times of crisis from Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and Puerto Rico Destination Marketing organization.

It all sounds riveting, as does hearing all-time leading soccer scorer Abby Wamach talk about breaking down barriers on and off the field. But after stepping outside from Anaheim Convention Center’s 1 million sq. ft. of meeting space, where can you get some real Anaheim? Smart Meetings asked a local, Maureen Sloan, manager of global accounts at HelmsBriscoe, to share some of the special things to see, do and eat in her hometown.

Wear

Sloan suggests dressing in Orange County-casual when going out on the town. “We don’t really get too dressed up here,” she says. You might also want to pack sunscreen and Mickey Mouse ears. The city is known for 300 days of sunshine a year and easy access to the Magic Kingdom.

Go

Ditch the car. Parking can be a challenge, and Anaheim Resort Transportation is the easy way to navigate from the convention center to Knott’s Berry Farm and Buena Park, Disneyland Resort, Gardenwalk, House of Blues and Angel Stadium. You can even access the beaches with a connecting train.

Anaheim Tour Company can take you beyond the city limits and behind the scenes to see Hollywood’s TCL Chinese Theater and downtown Los Angeles’ Disney Concert Hall by day or night. Check out Walt Disney’s first house, find the best beaches and get the best views of the Hollywood sign. No need to hunt for a parking space.

Do

Check out Splitsville for luxury bowling (truly). This indoor/outdoor space for up to 1,000 people elevates the game with chef-driven menus, signature cocktails and views of Downtown Disney District.

While Disneyland Resort offers endless options for exploring, Disney California Adventure Attractions’ Guardians of the Galaxy-Mission: BREAKOUT! offers extra magic hours from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. for early risers.

Nosh

Visit Anaheim counts 2,725 dining establishments within the city. Looking for a place that has something for everyone? Anaheim Packing District hosts 30 restaurants, three landmarks and the urban greens of Farmers Park in one of the last citrus packing warehouses. The food hall-style format is informal and sooo SoCal. Try Adya’s Indian-style watermelon chaat or step into Black Sheep GCB (grilled cheese bar to you and me), followed by some quality time at The Blind Rabbit speakeasy. Sloan calls it eclectic, but you may call the Japanese crepes at Crepe Coop the perfect pairing for a tour and tasting at Anaheim Brewery in Packard Building.

If you are looking to sample small plates and artisan cocktails with magnificent views, The Fifth on the roof of Grand Legacy At The Park is a 5,000 sq. ft. platform for creating memories. The chorizo mac ’n’ cheese and drunken donuts (tequila-lime or orange liqueur-soaked and coated in cinnamon, lemon zest and sugar) are specialties.

Sip

The craft beer movement started in Anaheim almost 150 years ago, with the opening of Anaheim Brewery. Though shuttered by Prohibition, it reopened in 2011 and is now joined by 15 other breweries; three more are on the way. Favorites include Asylum Brewing (based on all the things that drive you crazy) and JT Schmid’s Restaurant & Brewery (conveniently located across the street from Honda Center).

Watch

Every evening at 9:30, the skies light up with fireworks over Anaheim as Disneyland Together Forever-A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular turns heads up in a chorus of awwwwws. Most of the surrounding resorts offer balcony views upon request at no extra charge. Sloan suggests heading to the second-floor balcony at Catal Restaurant and Uva Bar in Downtown Disney for some of the best light shows around.

Snap

One of the most Insta-worthy spots in Anaheim is right outside the front door of the ballroom. Anaheim Convention Center Grand Plaza is part of a 6-acre site alive with water features by day and glowing lights at night that act as the perfect background for your event selfie.

Of course, Sleeping Beauty’s castle in Disneyland is a traditional fav, but you might just earmark a spot in your Instastory for a pic with Cap’n Jack on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. And the halo at Angel Stadium is always a winner with sports fans and L.A. advocates alike.

El San Juan Hotel_Entrance

El San Juan Hotel, Puerto Rico

Hotels throughout Puerto Rico have been rebuilding—and enhancing—their properties post-Hurricane Maria. Opening again in October, this 388-room hotel will blend oceanfront property with Old World luxury. The rejuvenation builds on its previous $65 million renovation, which added a new pool, fitness and spa centers, and expanded its guestrooms. Groups can gaze upon Isla Verde Beach from 40,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, which includes an 11,000-square-foot ballroom.

Lobby

The Josie Hotel, British Columbia, Canada

The first ski-in/ski-out resort to open in Canada in a decade, you’ll find a four-season wonderland at this property in British Columbia. In winter, step outside into the snowy escape, where activities galore awaits—curling, ice skating and, of course, skiing and snowboarding. The 106 guest rooms afford stunning views of the Red Mountain range, as do the 4,500 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor meeting space. The hotel is slated to open this fall.

Rosewood Baha Mar

Rosewood Baha Mar, Bahamas

Located on Nassau’s Cable Beach, white sand and turquoise waters welcome groups looking for the quintessential Bahamas. With architecture inspired by its low-key, laidback location, each of the 237 guest rooms, suites and beachfront villas are a portal to relaxation. Host your event in any of 12 indoor and outdoor spaces, totaling 14,200 sq. ft.

Santa Fe

Hilton Garden Inn Mexico City Santa Fe, Mexico

Combining with DoubleTree by Hilton Mexico City Santa Fe, the completion of this resort creates Hilton’s first dual-brand property in Mexico. Floor-to-ceiling windows and modern architecture greet guests with elegance. The inn adds 190 guest rooms to the adjacent property’s 172, and more than 14,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and 13 meeting rooms are available in the adjoining DoubleTree.

Layovers can feel like the bane of your existence. All you want is to get from point A to B, but sometimes budgets require a stop halfway to your destination. There are ways to make the most of your layovers—ways that don’t include flipping through the same four applications on your phone for hours at a time. Try the following to shake yourself out of the layover blues.

1. Get the Blood Pumping

Some airports, like Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), have fitness centers that allow you to hop on the elliptical or lift some weights. Moving your body following time in a cramped seat will help wake you up, giving you the strength to endure the final hours of your connecting flight.

If there are no fitness centers around, stretching will be your best bet for working out the cramped-seat discomfort. Whip out a yoga mat, or take a brisk walk or jog around the airport. For those who are more low-key, twist and stretch in your chair. Move slowly, working out every kink, and feel the tension leave your body.

2. Sleep it Out

Airplane seats can make napping a challenge. Airport terminal furniture be even harder to relax in. But some airports offer alternatives to fixed chairs. In airports such as Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), Minute Suites are available to rent out for a nap. With a daybed sofa, fresh pillow and blankets and a sound-masking system, you can have the perfect nap in the middle of chaos.

3. Play a Game or Two

For those travelling with colleagues, conversation may eventually dwindle after five hours of sitting shoulder-to-shoulder. This silence can lead to boredom, and eventually favoring our phones over face-time. To keep you all entertained, pack a board game or deck of cards to pull out while waiting for your next flight. You can even invite strangers to participate—making friends at the gate has never been easier.

4. Explore the City

If you have multiple hours before boarding time, explore the city you’re in. Research restaurants and landmarks in advance, as well as shuttles to and from the airport, then sneak out on an adventure. If you have any say in where your layover is, choose a city you’ve been wanting to check out or know nothing about. You won’t be cooped up inside an airport, and you won’t mind the extra hours it takes to reach your final destination.

5. Pair a Meal and Drink

Those nicer restaurants with the bar in front are popular for a reason. Fast food may be convenient and easy to bring back to your seat, but if you have the time, why not stop in? Ask what the waiters recommend, then ask the bartender what drink pairs nicely with it. You’ll feel healthier dining on a chicken salad rather than multiple orders of waffle fries.

6. Call a Friend

When was the last time you called your mother? Best friend? Sure, there’s texting—but when was the last time you had a full conversation sans emojis? Call somebody and catch up. Genuinely ask what’s going on in their lives and share what’s happening in yours. Sometimes we forget how long a good conversation can continue on for, and it will make an hour fly by without counting the minutes. Not only are you passing the time, you’re also boosting your mood and probably making your grandmother’s day.

There are people out there who just love to dive into event data and numbers. And then there are the rest of us who are like, “Sheets of numbers, numbers, numbers…wait, what were we talking about?” If that’s you, you’re going to love this article on event data visualization.

Data visualization is a fancy term that simply means using charts and graphs to allow readers to quickly comprehend large amounts of complex data. Data visualization enables event managers to easily communicate trends, allowing decision-makers to quickly see and understand what is happening to inform strategy.

And strategy is crucial to a modern event professionals’ success. Audience expectations are more sophisticated than ever. They want engaging and personalized interactions, and demand convenience and ease of use.

To understand how to best visualize your event data, I talked to Allie Magyar, CEO of Hubb event content management system, and Brent Pearson, founder of InsightXM, which offers business intelligence and data visualization for event professionals. Here are their key insights into data points we should be capturing (but might not be) and which visual format works best to display that information.

The types of data insights event planners should be looking for fall into five major buckets:

1. New revenue opportunities: Show me the money!

2. Personas: This kind of demographic data informs you of who your customers or attendees are.

3. Spatial and temporal: For example, evaluating your events and attendees by location, or see event registration over time by location.

4. Behavioral/sentiment analysis: Here’s where you can delve into your customers’ feedback around given themes or topics, like which content topics they prefer.

5. Social analysis: Which online channels are your attendees using to communicate with you? Who are your top influencers?

When it comes to presenting your data in a visual way, here are a few common examples of data stories and the best visualizations to complement those insights:

Heat Maps

smart eventWhere are my attendees? Use heat maps to show how many people are in different content sessions at different times to identify your strongest content. Heat maps show the relationship between two items, and can provide rating information using varying color saturation.

Column charts or bar graphs

How many registrations do I have this year compared to last? Or compared to the other events I coordinate? How do my registration numbers compare to industry standards? This horizontal set of columns can help avoid clutter as you display comparisons among different items or comparisons over time.

Pie charts

Let’s say you used several coupon codes during different phases of registration. Use a pie chart to show what percentage of your registrants took advantage of early bird ticket sales. Pie charts are great for showing static numbers and how categories represent the whole, represented in percentages.

Line graphs

smart event

If you want to review revenue week by week out from your event, or revenue from your events over a span of months or years, consider using a line graph. Line graphs show qualitative data patterns over time.

Data visualization’s purpose is to find the truths that lead to action. Luckily, with affordable tools available to event professionals today, you no longer need to employ an analyst and a graphic designer to include data visualization into your business presentation repertoire.

Raime Merriman is the strategic marketing director for Hubb, a cloud-based software solution that automates the complex workflows and tasks required to collect, manage and market content for conferences and meetings.

Soon, guests at W Hotels will be able to swap overflowing Porta Potties and sweaty seas of humanity for a luxurious and convenient music festival steps from their guest rooms.

The Wake Up Call festival series, beginning in September, will combine the brand’s longstanding zeal for music and modern, eclectic amenities.

“W is throwing out the festival playbook and creating an experience that is as fabulous as it is fun,” says a W press release. “Where the day begins and ends in luxe accommodations (that don’t require surge prices to get back to). Where pools of mud are replaced by poolside performances. Where endless seas of people give way to Instaworthy views of the sea. Think day beds, not day passes. In other words, it’s time for a real Wake Up Call.”

The new series is being introduced globally two years after its inauguration at W Scottsdale, which staged the first music festival ever to be held on hotel grounds. This year’s rollout will launch at W Hollywood, followed by W Barcelona and then W Bali. Dates will run September through October.

As you would expect, Wake Up Calls will be intimate affairs by music fest standards—2,000 to 3,000 attendees max, according to one source. Not just anyone can get in, either—though all it takes to try scoring a ticket is membership in either Marriott International’s Starwood Preferred Guest program or Marriott Rewards. Ticket prices were not announced, but admission to the Scottsdale festival started at a reasonable (for music festivals) $50.

Both big-name and rising artists will take the makeshift stage this fall. Angus and Julia Stone, Charli XCX and Martin Solveig are among the acts. Performances will vary by location.

“We saw a unique opportunity to flip the music festival experience on its head a little bit, to control the environment and provide an experience that only we could provide because of the of W-ness of it all,” Pablo Henderson, W’s senior global director of brand marketing, told TravelPulse. “The music festival has become such a relevant part of pop culture and has evolved over the last few years…While the music festival is really around music, it’s also an extension of a lifestyle experience.”

Like most festivals, attendees can get a posh upgrade to VIP for a little extra. Wake Up Call: The Complete Set List is a VIP package that touts round-trip flights to all three festivals, accommodations at each destination and meet-and-greets with the artists.

In addition to the hard-to-beat experience, festival goers can enjoy workout sessions by fitness masters and indulge in exclusive dishes and cocktails between acts.

“Wake Up Call combines the pre-party, the main event and the post-party, all in one perk-filled package,” the press release says.

Rewards members can bid on other excursions within the series. DJ masterclasses, after-parties with the singers and artist-crafted off-site adventures are ripe for the picking. Bidding starts at 250,000 points for the VIP package.

“Music is a universal language, one we have spoken since day one at W,” Anthony Ingham, W’s global brand leader, said in a press release. “We’ve brought the Whatever/Whenever mentality to recording artists and guests for years—through concepts like our W Sound Suite recording studios and countless performances in W Living Rooms—all to bring people closer to the music they love. Now we are taking our groundbreaking Wake Up Call music festival around the world, disrupting the festival scene in ways that only a W hotel stay can.”

Pocono Mountains convention center

Kalahari Resorts and Conventions broke ground on its $32 million Pocono Mountains convention center expansion on Tuesday.

The project will bring the Pennsylvania resort’s total meeting and event space to 205,000 sq. ft., introducing 18 meeting rooms and two new ballrooms. It’s a move that nearly doubles the resort’s amount of meeting space and is expected to be completed by November 2019.

“It’s been challenging and rewarding to help grow the Poconos as a premier destination for group business on the East Coast,” said Travis Nelson, co-owner of Kalahari Resorts and Conventions, in a press release. “The completion of this expansion will allow the company to meet the current and future projected demands for group rooms in the area.”

Nelson told Leigh Valley Business that meetings held at the convention center account for approximately 40–45 percent of overall business.

Seamless construction will connect Pocono’s ballrooms to the pre-existing space. The resort’s sunlit pre-function space and 977 guest rooms are infused with the heart of Africa. Also available is catering and on-site dining with a varied platter of cuisines, including Ivory Coast-inspired sips and heaping Italian plates.

Kalahari‘s family-friendly environment suits attendees who may be traveling with one (or two or three) extra companions. The indoor water park is complimentary for guests staying at the property. The spa at Pocono boasts hydrotherapy and halotherapy, a detoxifying treatment using ionized Himalayan salt.

The news regarding Pocono comes in addition to the company’s national expansion. In May, the company also broke ground on its new property in Round Rock, Texas, expected to open in 2020 and located 18 miles north of Austin. The $550 million initiative will also offer 200,000 sq. ft. of indoor event space. New additions also include 50,000 sq. ft. of outdoor space that features a barn and covered terraces.

“Kalahari is thrilled to bring our authentic African resort experience to the South,” said owner Todd Nelson, in a press release. “As the Round Rock property begins construction, we look forward to contributing to the local economy and sharing our beyond-expectations approach to hospitality with area vacationgoers, conference attendees and local guests throughout the region.”

In October, Kalahari began expansion on its Wisconsin Dells location’s convention center to bring the meeting space on par with Pocono’s.

the Millennial business traveler

Business travel, formerly considered by many as more of a chore than an enjoyable activity, is now viewed as a business perk by 75 percent of millennials, according to a recent survey by Hilton Hotels & Resorts.

The results suggest that most respondents feel that a break from routine, small cubicles, and regular and repetitive meetings is enjoyable, and that travel to a new city can feel like a mini-vacation, even if it is strictly for business. Millennials also develop a sense of confidence and accomplishment in representing a company. The amount of knowledge that employees acquire during workshops and panels, and the networking that occurs at these events, are also major reasons 53 percent of millennial business people said they “love” traveling.

Also, 65 percent of the 1,200 people surveyed view traveling as a status symbol, while 57 percent see covered business expenses as a perk. And more than one-third of respondents reported starting a romantic relationship due to their trips.

Businesspeople who have yet to travel are also eager to move around. Eighty-three percent wish they could travel more often, and they, too, agree that perks, including a hotel stay and complimentary breakfast, are appealing to them.

Business travel occasionally has its downsides. Despite the joy that comes from breaking a rigid, day-to-day schedule, it can also lead to compromise. A reported 58 percent sacrificed sleep and wellness, while 65 percent admitted to bringing work out gear and failing to use it. Without a certain amount of stability and self-care, exhaustion and burnout may be inevitable. On top of this, 34 percent said they continue to feel the stress from business travel three to seven days after the trip.

Despite its cons, it doesn’t appear that the excitement and urge to travel will die down anytime soon. Thirty-nine percent declared that they would not take a job if it did not include business travel—a significant number considering the sample group size. It appears that millennials and their wanderlust are not satisfied purely by the occasional vacation—they want more, and they want it often.