Smart Meetings | Page 452 of 603 | Corporate Event Planning: Business Events, Meetings, Conferences

Whether your next event takes you to destinations near or far, why not make the most of your home-away-from-home by situating yourself in a room with a view of a world-famous landmark? Here are some of our top picks.

The Kimpton Everly, Hollywood

Located at the foot of the Hollywood Hills, The Kimpton Everly might be the perfect place from which to soak up the many and varied sights of Tinseltown. Whether you’re hoping to gaze upon the El Lay skyline or glimpse the Hollywood sign, guest rooms at this property will have you front and center. The property offers ample meeting space, too, with a 515-square-foot boardroom and two meeting rooms of 2,200 sq. ft. each.

Salish Lodge & Spa, Snoqualmie, Washington

Set amid the Douglas firs of Snoqualmie, Washington, this lodging is likely the most surprising inclusion on our list. But, for fans of the cult classic Twin Peaks, the majestic 268-foot Snoqualmie falls are instantly recognizable.

If iconic Room 315 is unavailable, fear not; all guest rooms have recently undergone a $12 million renovation, so there’ll be plenty to write home about—besides the cherry pie, that is. The property’s meeting spaces can accommodate groups of up to 180 people.

Cavallo Point, Sausalito, San Francisco

If you’re going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair, and to find the room with the best view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Those at this luxury property—once a military post—in Sausalito offer stunning views of San Francisco, San Francisco Bay and Golden Gate Bridge. The property’s meeting spaces can accommodate between 10 and 300 people.

The Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh, Scotland

Right in the heart of Edinburgh, The Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa looks out on the magnificent Edinburgh Castle. Room 735 is said to offer the best views. The property offers fourteen meeting rooms.

Savoy Hotel, London, England

Dating from the 1880s, the Savoy Hotel in London is itself a landmark. Guests of The Savoy Suite and The Royal Suite will have the best views of Big Ben, as well as the London Eye and the Thames. The property’s function rooms will accommodate between 60 and 800 people.

IMEX Group and C2 International, a Montreal-based innovation company, have agreed to a three-year deal that they hope will enable them to work together to drive innovation and creativity at meetings and events.

C2 International is a private organization that aims to transform executives that are ready for a change in the future. Its mission is to “creative an experience, not a conference.” With C2 conventions already in Zurich, Milan, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Rome and San Francisco, C2 International is looking to expand its mission across all continents.

“We’re really excited about the steps C2 International is taking to share fresh perspectives on running events,” says Carina Bauer, CEO of IMEX Group. Both of our organizations share a firm belief in the power of face-to-face events and recognize the need for cutting-edge innovation for events to become even more powerful and relevant in the future.”

With this year’s IMEX in Frankfurt in May and IMEX America Las Vegas in October, both companies are excited about the partnership, and are intrigued to see what new methods and products they can create together.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for C2 International to share our expertise in creating transformative and immersive events in the cities of Frankfurt and Las Vegas around IMEX shows,” says Martin Enault, president and CEO of C2 International in the Asia Pacific region. “IMEX and C2 share a similar vision; we are both dedicated to innovating in the event space and believe wholeheartedly that success stems from creating powerful connections between people.”

Managing registration flow for maximum return on investment, picking break snacks that won’t leave attendees craving a nap and helping attendees find their way to the breakout session can keep any planner busy. But at its heart, even the most well-organized event is only as successful as its content. Checking off that box may be as easy as asking your venue.

Smart Meetings asked for tips on designing transformational moments from Andrew Webb, a partner at Inspired Learning Group, an organization dedicated to creating turnkey experiences that can lead to improved productivity, creativity and engagement for participants. Webb, whose father was the co-founder of Franklin Covey and many of the Inspired Learning modules, was clear that putting people in conditions that are unexpected leads to inspiration.

One of Inspired Learning’s customizable, immersive modules, Navigator, puts people into teams to move drones through obstacle courses—not something many of the groups who attend the workshops have done before. But meeting the challenge requires people with different skills to master communication effectively, think strategically and adapt quickly. “When an activity is unique, it sticks to the neural core,” Webb reports. That is when change happens.

Other tips for enabling transformation include the following:

Find a Place for Learning

Where experiences take place can affect how significant the meeting will be. That is why Inspired Learning Group’s flagship 55,000-square-foot facility is at Zermatt Resort in Midway, Utah, with easy access to Park City, Deer Valley, Sundance and views of the Rocky Mountains. “Nature is part of learning,” Webb said, so locating where a reflective atmosphere is possible makes meeting meaningful goals attainable.

Exercise Restraint

It is easy to throw out lots of ideas that will be forgotten before the bus leaves the resort. By scaling back the data points and focusing on behaviors, and processing new ways of approaching problems, you can accomplish more than a white paper full of tips ever could. “If information alone changed actions, then no one would smoke or eat hamburgers; we have to pay attention to triggers,” Webb says.

Leave Time for Reflection

Finally, insert some breathing room into the agenda. Going through the motions alone is not enough to ensure changes in behavior that lead to real culture change. “Attendees have to be taught how to reflect on those experiences to trigger changes in the brain and lasting impact,” Webb says.

Truth: morning meetings are tough, even for the early bird. Whether it’s because the caffeine hasn’t hit yet or they pulled an all-nighter, your office probably may not be as fully alert as usual. How can you combat this and make sure you start off on a productive note? We’ve compiled a list of ways to perk your group up and get your message across, no matter how groggy the audience is.

Send out an agenda the day before.

List what you’ll discuss and any key points they need to know beforehand.

Ask questions.

Whether you start your meeting with highs and lows of the past week or simply ask what they did over the weekend, engaging everyone from the get-go is important.

Restate the agenda.

It sounds repetitive, but briefly reminding the group at the beginning will help jog their memories.

Allot small increments of time for each topic.

This will ensure that you stay on time and avoid any distractions.

Skip the lecture.

If your audience is tired, they might zone out and miss critical information. Encourage and leave room for others to contribute any thoughts or questions.

Bring a treat.

Be it brownies or doughnuts, a little sugar can go a long way and break up the usual coffee-and-cereal routine—or even provide food to those who missed breakfast.

Ban cellphones.

This rule can apply to any meeting, but people are inclined to check and respond to emails they received earlier in the morning or the night before. Consider having a bowl that all phones go into at the beginning of the meeting so everybody is present.

End with something unusual.

Whether you lead your group in stretches or go around and ask what each person is grateful for, a quirky-yet-positive end to the meeting will start everyone’s day off on the right foot.

Brad Doell

Brad Doell was named director of sales and marketing at Mauna Kea Resort in Waimea on Hawaii Island. Doell brings to his new role more than 23 years of experience in resort leadership, marketing, sales and operations. He was director of sales and marketing at Turtle Bay Resort in Kahuku, on Oahu Island in Hawaii.

Maylyn Caravalho

Mauna Kea Resort in Hawaii appointed Maylyn Caravalho leisure sales manager. Caravalho began her hospitality career at The Fairmont Orchid in Puako on Hawaii Island in 2003, and joined Prince Resorts Hawaii in 2016 as leisure sales account executive.

Tory Enriquez

Tory Enriquez was named director of sales and marketing at Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center in College Station. Most recently, Enriquez served as area director of sales and marketing for Howard Hughes Hospitality.

Stacey Church

Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville appointed Stacey Church general manager. In her new role, Church will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the convention center, set to relaunch in August following a $207 million expansion and renovation.

Caroline Michaud

Caroline Michaud was named executive vice president of corporate communications and public relations at Preferred Hotels & Resorts. Michaud joined Preferred Hotels & Resorts in 2012 as senior manager of public relations for the Americas.

Alun Pomfrett

Alun Pomfrett was appointed head of food and beverage at Burleigh Court Conference Center and Hotel, and Holywell Park Conference Center, both in Leicestershire, England. In his new role, Pomfrett intends to focus “ever more closely on local producers.” Alun was duty manager at The Link Hotel in Leicestershire.

Jared Alster

Jared Alster was appointed vice president of marketing at Cox & Kings in New York City. Alster’s resume includes roles as co-founder of the startup Stride Travel and director of marketing at Intrepid Travel.

Deanna Thomas

The William Vale in New York City named Deanna Thomas director of sales and marketing. She brings to the role more than 10 years of experience in boutique and luxury hotel management. Thomas managed several high-profile hotels, including The Gotham and The High Line Hotel, both in New York City.

Eliezer Quinones

Chileno Bay Resort and Residences in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, named Eliezer Quinones general manager. Quinones, a former professional baseball player, served as general manager at Tafer Resorts in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Matthew Carson

Matthew Carson was appointed CEO of corporate and events at Production Resource Group (PRG). Prior to PRG, Matthew was director of operations and president at FX Group.

Robert M. Berrey Jr.

Miraval Austin appointed Robert M. Berrey Jr. general manager. He brings more than 25 years of hospitality industry experience to the role. Berrey was general manager of The Gideon Putnam, in Saratoga Springs, New York.

In the wake of Qantas’ inaugural nonstop flight from Perth to London, jet lag is a topic that is relevant now, more than ever. The advent of the ultra-long-haul flight means that meeting planners need to get creative in dealing with this modern menace.

American travel writer Horace Sutton is said to have coined the term “jet lag” when, in a 1966 Los Angeles Times article, he said the jet set “can count on contracting Jet Lag, a debility not unakin to a hangover. Jet Lag derives from the simple fact that jets travel so fast, they leave your body rhythms behind.” And, Sutton, for whom it was not unusual to travel 100,000 miles per year, ought to have known a thing or two about this subject.

Dealing with jet lag can be challenging, but fear not—we’re here to help with some innovative ideas for tackling it.

IV Infusion Therapy

Devotees swear by intravenous (IV) infusion, which can be administered before or after your flight, and involves the delivery of vitamins and minerals directly into the bloodstream, thereby allowing 100 percent absorption. Infusions include saline for rehydration, L-tryptophan for better sleep, and vitamins and minerals for a stronger immune system. Ab fab or fad? We’ll let you be the judge.

Where to Go

If you’re jetting into New York City anytime soon, check out HGU New York, where you can sample in-room IV infusion therapy. The “royal flush” delivers two liters of vitamins, antioxidants, minerals and electrolytes, medications and a high dose glutathione push. Alternatively, at MGM Grand Las Vegas, treat yourself to the hotel’s proprietary IV infusion therapy.

Cryotherapy

A three-minute session in a sub-freezing liquid nitrogen chamber may not immediately inspire delight, but, cryotherapy has been touted as a godsend in helping travelers acclimate after a long flight. The cold air releases large quantities of endorphins, vital to REM sleep—the deepest, highest-quality sleep, which you can enjoy once you’ve thawed out.

Where to Go

Surrender to the soporific effects of the newly launched cryosauna at Ponte Vedra Inn & Club in Florida.

Watsu

Inspired by Japanese shiatsu massage, watsu is a water-based massage therapy, performed while floating in a shallow pool of warm water. Immersion in warm water alone is bound to be therapeutic, and the zero-gravity sensation can’t hurt, either. It’s something to consider the next time you need to bid adieu to jet lag.

Where to Go

At Mauna Lani Resort in Waimea, on Hawaii Island, watsu is carried out in a lava-enhanced saltwater pool, with underwater acoustics, tranquil lighting and a waterfall. Or, if in California wine country, the watsu mineral pool at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa could be just what you need.

Skytrax, a U.K.-based airport ranking and review site, has officially released its 2018 World Airport Award winners and you might want to buckle your seatbelt for the results.

The awards are determined by air travelers who completed an airport customer satisfaction survey between August of 2017 and February of this year. Almost 14 million customer questionnaires were sent in from more than 100 different nationalities, ranking 550 airports worldwide.

Holding first place for its sixth year straight was Singapore Changi Airport (SIN). Incheon International Airport (ICN) in South Korea took second place and Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) received third—a switch in rankings from 2017. International airports in Asia and Europe dominated the top 20.

U.S. airports included on the list were Denver International Airport (DIA), the highest-ranking airport in the U.S. in 29th place, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) in 34th, and Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in 48th.

While there were plenty of slight shifts in rankings, certain airports performed significantly better than in 2017. Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) jumped from a ranking of 158 to 85, while Athens International Airport (ATH) nabbed a ranking of 39, in comparison to last year’s 59th place.

This list is a gift to meeting professionals flying around the globe. Survey questions were based on performance in a variety of categories, from check-in to transfers to security, allowing travelers to choose the best airports for traveling to and from destinations with maximum satisfaction.

The weather is warming up and so is the restaurant scene. OpenTable recently came out with a list of the 100 best restaurants in America for a big night out. Covering all corners of the country and everything in between, you can be sure to find a place within distance of your next meeting location. Smart Meetings narrows in on seven restaurants featured to see what they are serving up.

Northeast

Catch, New York City

Established in 2011 in the heart of Manhattan’s Meat Packing District, Catch infuses classic seafood dishes with its own contemporary rendition. Famous dishes include the salmon belly carpaccio, bourbon-miso black cod lettuce wrap and signature CATCH sushi roll. With three levels of dining space—including 400 indoor seats and an extension for rooftop seating and events—attendees can enjoy the big city feel while satisfying a big appetite.

Southeast

Oxford Exchange, Tampa, Florida

More than dishes, this historic restaurant serves up a sense of community. Dating back to the 1920s, Oxford Exchange is a gathering place for ideas, experiences and meals, with a restaurant, bookstore, commerce club and design studio all sharing the building. Breakfast, lunch and early dinner items are served every week day, with brunch on the weekends and afternoon tea Friday to Sunday. With indoor and patio seating as well as a private dinning room and private Smith Room on the second floor that seats up to 25 people, the Oxford Exchange can cater to your events’ every need.

Midwest

The Girl and the Goat, Chicago

Taking home the James Beard Award for best new restaurant in 2011—just a year after its inception—this American fusion restaurant in the heart of Chicago is the culinary place to be. Rob Katz and Kevin Boehm of BOKA Restaurant Group partnered with Top Chef Winner Stephanie Izard to bring innovative dishes such as escargot ravioli, braised beef tongue, goat carpaccio and a chocolate pavlova to Chi-town. Sneak your group below the crowded restaurant to a private Underground Goat room, which can accommodate up to 24 guests around one large table and 26 around two.

Smart tip: if the wait is too long, check out their sister restaurants down the street, Little Goat Diner and Duck Duck Goat (which is also on this list).

Sotto, Cincinnati

Sotto’s slogan is simple, just like its Italian fare: “Our menu is fire, meat, wheat and above all, Italian.” This authentic eatery brings antipasti and primi such as bacala (salt cod), short rib cappellacci (stuffed pasta) and grilled quail to the American heartland, putting a new wave spin on old country foods. The restaurant seats up to 30 guests for lunch events and 14 for dinner, making it ideal for a small group gathering. You’ll be leaving full and satisfied humming along to Dean Martin.

West

Pump, West Hollywood, California

Escape the LA noise in this secluded garden dining area. With age-old olive trees dividing the tables and an antique stone fountain adding extra ambience, West Hollywood’s Pump is a California getaway. Signature dishes consist of crispy chicken Milanese, pistachio-crusted salmon and pomegranate tuna tartare. Arrange for your private group parties way in advance.

Southwest

Linger, Denver

With a private dining room that can seat up to 40, a main dining room that can host 200 and a rooftop patio for up to 100 guests, this seasonal, globally-inspired restaurant could be just the venue your event is looking for. Opened in 2011, the Denver-based eatery takes cuisine from around the world and throws their own mountain air twist on them, with dishes such as organic sweet potato waffle fries, tom yum soup, Colorado lamb kabobs and an Indian train cone salad.

Red Ash, Austin, Texas

Red Ash draws its influences from craft Italian dishes, bringing melt-in-your-mouth meat to Austin via a custom-built, wood-burning grill, oven and plancha. The restaurant uses live wood fires to fuel both the grill and the restaurant’s energy. With premium meat cuts aged 30 or 50 days and different seasonings, Red Ash serves those dishes that stay on your mind for weeks. After dinner, enjoy the city’s nearby live music venues.

Hilton Chicago

Classic has met cool as this historic 1,544-room landmark, located on Michigan Avenue across from Grant Park, with completion of a $7 million renovation of the third-floor meeting spaces and Salon C in the Stevens Meeting Center. This is the final stage of an all-encompassing $150 million renovation and restoration initiative. Recognized as one of the city’s most revered addresses since 1927, the hotel boasts a total of 234,000 sq. ft. of event space.

Hilton Des Moines Downtown

Des Moines is the fastest-growing city in the United States, and to accommodate the influx of commerce, this bright, modern, 330-room property becomes the only one directly connected to Iowa Events Center and Des Moines Skywalk. It offers a variety of meeting and board rooms, and for large-scale events, there is a 10,000-square-foot ballroom that opens onto an outdoor terrace.

Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park

Its beautifully refreshed 687 guest rooms and suites complete a multimillion-dollar upgrade. Hotel interiors now sport fresh and vibrant decor accents to complement the more than 400 acres of urban parkland surrounding the property. The full-service spa has eight treatment rooms and 11,000 sq. ft. in all. Unobstructed meeting space, most with views of the famous Chicago skyline, totals 63,000 sq. ft.

Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center

A multimillion-dollar renovation of the lobby, meeting and all public space at this 25-story, 400-room property will be unveiled this summer. It boasts more than 17,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, with the largest single gathering space exceeding 1,500 sq. ft. The ballroom and prefunction area are also being refurbished. Spaces are customizable and have state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment.