Grab yer boots, because Meeting Professionals International (MPI) has chosen Grapevine, Texas, as the location for its 2020 World Education Congress (WEC), scheduled for June 6–9, at Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center. The global industry association’s signature event draws more than 2,000 attendees annually, and Grapevine, a top meeting city centrally located between Dallas and Fort Worth, is an ideal destination for meeting planners and suppliers to learn and connect.
The Gaylord Texan’s 500,000 sq. ft. of meeting space is large enough to host and house most attendees under one roof (and in Dallas-based MPI’s backyard), and Grapevine as a whole features more than 1 million sq. ft. of event and meeting space, with 20 hotels and more than 5,400 hotel rooms. The resort is served by nearby Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW, 7 miles) and Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL, 20 miles).
Named a “World Festival and Event City” by International Festival and Events Association in 2012, Grapevine is as well known for its conveniences as it is for its charm. Visitors can sip local wine along the Grapevine Urban Wine and Craft Brew Trail, stroll the historic downtown area and scope out the city’s three public golf courses—including NFL-themed Cowboys Golf Club.
“Grapevine’s rich history and warm hospitality give attendees an authentic Texas experience as they immerse themselves in our city’s world-class accommodations and meeting facilities,” said Brady Closson, managing director of sales and marketing for the Grapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau.
This year’s WEC will be held at Indiana Conference Center in Indianapolis June 2-5.
We live in a digital world, and marketing your event in that world is all about engagement: drawing people in, engaging with their curiosity and interest, and showing them that your event is one they don’t want to miss. While social media apps can help meeting planners promote their events, a trending hashtag on Instagram or a retweet on Twitter doesn’t do as much if the online face of your event—the website—is subpar. From visuals to SEO to the ease of the registration process, here are six tips to help you put your best home page forward.
Keep It Simple, Keep It Short
One of the most unappealing things a website can have is an immense amount of words on the home page. Keep it short and provide the information needed in a clear and easily digestible way. The name of your event, information on when and where the event is happening, cost of attendance, and where to buy or register tickets should be readily available to anyone who visits your website. The harder you make it for people to find this information, the less likely they will go hunting for it.
Provide an Easy Checkout
You’ve successfully set up a clear and easy path to get information about the event, and the attendee has committed to purchasing a ticket or registering for the event—only when it’s time to check out, there are four different steps to go through to make a payment. Don’t bog down the final process. Studies show that each step in a checkout process leads to a 10 percent reduction in transaction. Make this process straightforward and easy.
Show Them Some Proof
A little bit of influence goes a long way. According to Eventbrite’s research most of us make decisions based on other people’s behaviors, more than 70 percent of customers look for social approval or at online reviews before making purchases. Use this to your advantage. Include quotes and testimonials from past attendees or featured speakers from prior events. This will help add to your event credibility and boost potential attendee confidence in pursuing the event.
Visually Captivate Them
According to Eventbrite’s research, after potential attendees visit your page, they go seeking evidence about the claims they just read. Use visual cues to provide a glimpse into the event experience. Show off with photos of people smiling, focused and engaged at a previous event. We are a visually stimulated society, prove that this is the event to go to.
Make your website mobile friendly
Our phones can do almost anything a computer can and we are constantly using them. There has been a 160 percent increase in purchase completions through sites and payment processes that are built for mobile phones. Depending on what kind of ticketing process you have and which ticketing partner you are using, they should be able to help build a website that has a mobile-optimized payment process.
Optimize SEO
SEO can be a huge factor in helping ideal attendees organically find your event site. Using the right keywords so that your ranking on search engines such as Google will be high is key to your site and event’s success. Do your research on how to optimize keywords with tools like Moz and Google’s Keyword Planner. Test and compare multiple keyword results to see which is a better fit. When you do find those magic keywords, incorporate them in your headlines, copy and image tags.
More than ever, it’s hard to disconnect and unwind. That’s why planners are increasingly building in “me” time for attendees, and yoga and meditation are big trends in people’s lives. Experts agree both can do wonders for mental clarity and performance enhancement. Health is the mainstream now, it’s the new ‘it’ lifestyle, with juice cleanses trending, fitness Instagram accounts having hundreds of thousands of followers and workout attire flying off the rack. Not to mention the countless number of fitness apps.
You know that feeling after a hard work out, or when you wake up early and have your cup of tea watching the sunrise—that indescribable feel-good feeling, as if anything the world throws at you is going to be hit out of the park? For a growing number of people, that feeling can be accessed through yoga and meditation.
Yoga’s benefits are said to range from strengthening immune systems and improving energy to balancing metabolism. Meditation reduces stress, improves concentration and can even increase happiness. No surprise, then, that yoga and meditation retreats are more popular than ever, and have become a major player in hotel health and wellness packages. From just barely touching your toes to a full handstand scorpion pose, yoga classes and retreats can help you in more ways than you might imagine.
Here’s a sampling of offerings, each with different goals.
A Relaxation Vacation, Or Not
Some resorts, such as Miraval Resort & Spa in Southern Arizona, are themed for relaxation. They feature classes and workshops designed to indulge, challenge, renew and improve guest’s well-being, both physically and mentally. Including cooking classes, cardio drumming classes, a tightrope course, mountain biking, floating meditation, Himalayan sound baths, restorative and aerial yoga classes and many more. Miraval is a resort that leaves it up to guests to choose what they want to do each day and how they want to try and improve themselves.
Companies such as Yoga For Bad People take their retreats on the road, traveling to locales such as Nicaragua, Cuba, Portugal and Italy. Think relaxing vacation with yoga incorporated into the day. Instead of having free time in-between yoga or mediation sessions, Yoga For Bad People emphasizes yoga in-between free time. It incorporates the local culinary scene and nightlife into the retreat.
Then, at the other extreme—remember the final scene of Mad Men where Don Draper is meditating by the beach?—are retreats such as Hoffman Institute. It offers an intensive, seven-day retreat that helps participants identify negative behaviors, moods and ways of thinking. There are no cell phones allowed, no internet is available, and retreaters fully immerse themselves in learning how to live via the positives in their lives.
World-famous Esalen Institute in Big Sur hosts a number of three-to-five-day retreats, ranging in topics from Arts and Creativity, Meditation and Spirituality, Nature and Sustainability to Relationship and Self. Esalen describes itself as “an integral learning environment devoted to pioneering deep change in self and society; in heart, spirit and bodymind.” This is a retreat where “seekers serve seeker, and the veil between what is actual and what is possible is as thin as mist.”
Learn and Stretch Together
Not only does yoga build confidence, but it allows participants to be challenged individually and as a team. Working through various poses and techniques, and seeing other people break down mental and physical barriers, can be excellent team building.
But going for a full-on, multiple-day retreat isn’t the only way to get your stretch on. One can find that internal balance from just an hour break in the day. A lot of yoga studios and companies such as YogaWorks offer on-call instructors who will come to your group or business and lead a class.
So, if you are looking for an activity for attendees for your next event, roll out those mats and light that sage.
The March 2018 Smart Meetings Magazine cover story featuring 100 women who inspire us started with an email. In January, we asked you, our readers, to nominate the women in your lives who are making brilliant things happen every day. And, wow, did you ever respond.
Rave Reviews
Testimonials to the transformative roles women are playing in the hospitality industry included a colleague who said of The Webster Group President and CEO Wendy Drake, “She works with a multi-generational staff to plan and execute more than 50 events a year, ranging in size from 10 to 43,000, including trade missions, multiday conferences and conventions, dedication and commissioning ceremonies, galas and concerts. She continuously works one-on-one with her staff, as well as a team, to train and learn from industry peers and each other. She is always open to feedback and willing to go the extra mile for her clients and staff.” That is some pretty high praise.
Check out this testimonial for Lasso40 Founder and CEO Lucy Giovando Watts: “She has shown first-hand how a woman can go from planning logistics to starting her own event technology company.” Talk about a living role model.
How about this encomium about Fort Worth Convention Services Manager Paola Bowman’s nomination? “She possesses the highest degree of integrity, proven interpersonal communication and amazing initiative and entrepreneurship skills,” wrote an admirer.
These are women who had such a positive impact on their co-workers, clients and industry peers that readers took time out of their busy days to tell us about them.
Of course, we wanted to know more.
The Hard Questions
We sent a second round of emails with three queries. 1.) What inspires you? 2.) What is your superpower? And 3.) What action item are you working on at this pivotal moment in time?
Again, the responses had us giggling, sniffling and nodding our heads.
Ashley Rhodes-Courter, a motivational speaker, New York Times and international bestselling author of Three Little Words and Three More Words, and CEO and founder of Sustainable Family Services, shared how her history as a foster child shaped her desire to help high-risk families get support they need to avoid the fate her brother met—death at age 29 of a drug overdose. “It is my hope that my personal crusade will prevent tragedies like this from happening to others,” she said.
These visionaries, entrepreneurs, innovators, industry leaders, trailblazers and rising stars praised their fellow hospitality superstars, families and, in one case, cowgirl of yesteryear Dale Evans. Anya-Anyielle Reed, trade show operations manager for Solar Energy Trade Shows, said her anxiety inspires her. “For the longest time, my fears would hold me back from participating in activities, or just doing things that I was interested in. But this year, I set my goal to push past those fears and use them as fuel and motivation to accomplish my goals.” That impressed us.
Their superpowers ranged from thinking quickly when problems occur to helping others realize their goals and staying positive. Angela Skeen, founder of Eventfully Angela admitted that she has affectionately been called the human form of Xanax because she calms event anxiety.
Many of our Smart Women 2018 winners were focused on mentoring others, men and women. Still others said they were focused on devising new ways to delight attendees with creative venues, technology and agendas. Some are marching, raising money and praying for causes personal and political. All expressed a sense of urgency to make a difference in people’s lives today.
The Cloud Knows
We stayed late at the office one night and ran the responses through a word-cloud generator to come up with an amazing picture of what motivates these role models. It showed that at the center of everything we do is “people.” When you consider the industry, that should be obvious, but when the topics for a given issue range from technology and security trends to food and beverage and negotiating strategies, it can be difficult to remember that those things are only effective when they put the human element first.
Also big and bold were the words “relationship” and “together.” None of us do what we do alone. I can assure you this publication is a team effort. And every event takes a village to tend to all the details. These women’s words are a testament to that orchestral harmony.
Now I am looking forward to spending a day with these wise leaders at the Smart Women Summit at Wyndham Grand Chicago Riverfront in Chicago in April. And I look forward to seeing you there, too.
Roofs in Pura Besakih Temple in Bali Island, Indonesia
Colorado, Dallas and Las Vegas are trending for planners. In Europe, countries in top demand by meeting planners are Spain, the United Kingdom and France. In Asia, it’s mainland China and its island city of Hong Kong, as well as Indonesia. Those are among the findings of 2018 Special Destinations Report, a joint project of destination and event management companies Pacific World and Access that profiles top destinations around the world and details why they attract groups.
Here are takeaways from the report.
Tale of the International RFPs
In Europe overall, Spain ranks first in demand, with more than 15 percent of Pacific World’s RFPs worldwide. The U.K., France, Italy and Monaco follow closely with 11 percent, 9 percent, 8 percent and 6 percent of RFPs received, respectively. In Asia, China tops the list, receiving 15 percent of the requests sent, followed by Hong Kong (13 percent), Indonesia (12.5 percent) and Thailand (11.5 percent).
Spain Appeals to All
In Spain, younger generations are especially interested in places with historical heritage. They prefer to immerse themselves in the culture, whether it’s getting involved with the communities or getting to know local craftsmen, entrepreneurs and artists who represent the spirit of the destination. Lifestyle destinations known to attract the rich and famous, such as Ibiza, Malaga and Ronda, have also grown in popularity for incentives and events.
Sunset in Es Castells bay in Menorca, Balearic Island, Spain
Use the Glow of the Big Screen
For the UK, the power of movies, television and pop culture has been quite impactful in drawing visitors. Planners are looking for unique offerings in and around London, with themed experiences from TV series and films such as Downton Abbey, The Crown, the Harry Potter movies and the recently released Murder on the Orient Express—all of which can be woven into creative programming for your team. Scotland is also in demand for planners due to its unique landscapes, distinctive cultural offerings—from bagpipe makers to whiskey distillers—and attractions to explore beyond its cities.
Sunlight in Paris
Paris has played host city to many prestigious sporting events, including the 2018 Ryder Cup, and on its horizon are the 2024 Olympics and 2023 Rugby World Cup. The ERS Congress and the 120th Motor Show have also increased demand for 2018. The city has benefited from a sustainability halo since hosting the 2015 Climate Change agreement and continues to make eco-friendly advances, such as transforming the Seine River banks into pedestrian promenades. VIPARIS Meeting Cluster in Paris has fully renovated one of its 10 venues, Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, making it the largest convention center in Europe, with the capacity to hold up to 35,000 delegates. The Yves Saint Laurent Museum completed a major overhaul and now hosts private events.
Take the Road Less Traveled
In Asia, China’s impressive increase in hotel inventory—especially in second-tier cities—has been instrumental in drawing meetings and incentive groups. Growth of the Chinese middle class has promoted construction of many more mid-scale and budget hotels. Sixty-six luxury hotels opened in 2017 and 2018, which has helped to enliven destination experiences and provide ample new event spaces. Some popular off-the-beaten-track destinations in China include Chengdu, well known for being home of the pandas, and Yunnan, which is almost a mini country within itself. This range of options is attracting groups looking for fully immersive and engaging experiences.
Island Hopping
Indonesia—especially Bali—is predicted to continue to be a top destination, and the island of Lombok, only a 20-minute island skip from Bali, is on the rise—thanks to its burgeoning infrastructure and unique cultural and natural heritage. Split travel programs which combine new areas of Bali and Lombok are more and more in demand. Pacific World also predicts a rise in interest for the remote islands of Komodo and Flores, which are currently attracting leisure programs because of their unique fauna, flora and cultures. New hotels being built in trendy locations are attracting event and incentive planners, as well. Younger generations and return incentive groups are favoring dynamic areas, such as Uluwatu and Canggu.
The World’s Biggest Megacity
In 2008, China announced plans to mesh nine cities, including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Macau and Hong Kong into a single megacity—even though the last two are technically islands. New developments, such as a rail line connecting the cities, promise to simplify and shorten travel times and create the possibility of multisession meetings in different locales.
When choosing from a variety of hotels, planners and attendees alike often look at the amenities first. Is parking available? Is there an extra fee for pets? What about Wi-Fi? These options—or lack thereof—can make or break a decision to stay, and if a venue’s amenities are not up to par, guests will look elsewhere. These days, it’s standard to include a mini-bar and a coffee maker. Some hotels, however, go above and beyond, creating a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience for their guests.
Kimpton Epic Miami
Those who are short are often considered unlucky, but that’s rarely the case when it comes to relaxing in bed or in the shower. For those who have a few extra inches, Kimpton Epic Miami offers “Tall Rooms,” which include raised showerheads and extra-long beds. For those looking to stretch out after a long day of meetings, these rooms will be your best friend.
The Goring, London
If you’re looking to feel like royalty, consider staying in The Goring’s appropriately-named Royal Suite. It has its own private dining and sitting areas, but what truly makes it stand out is the beautiful grand piano, available to play whenever your heart desires, regardless of your skills on the ebony keys.
Le Meridien, Worldwide
Offered around the world is Le Meridien’s Unlock Art program. Your keycard is no longer entry to just your hotel room—you can use it at museums that are in partnership with Le Meridien. For example, those staying in San Francisco will have access to Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, while those staying at Le Meridien Stuttgart in Germany will have access to Staatsgalerie Stuttgart.
Malolo Island Resort Fiji
A romantic getaway to Fiji sounds enticing on its own, but Malolo Island Resort Fiji offers a secluded area on Tadra Beach for those looking to be secluded. With only two bungalows available on the island reachable solely by boat, jet ski or catamaran, you’ll receive all the privacy you need for your most relaxing vacation yet.
Hotel deLuxe, Portland, Oregon
Want to bring Fluffy along? Hotel deLuxe will pamper your pets. Upon arrival, your pet will receive a bed, bowl and treat. A range of canine-themed books, from dog massage to pet psychology, are available to read in your spare time. You can also bring your pet along to the hotel’s afternoon tea, offering blends of natural herbal ingredients for your companion—just make sure you book in advance.
Hard Rock Hotels, Worldwide
Hard Rock Hotels promote the Sound of Your Stay program at every one of their hotels. Whether you’re a professional or simply a music lover, you’re bound to enjoy your stay. Choose from one of 20 Fender guitars, which come with headphones and amplifiers for spontaneous jam sessions in your room. Not a musician? Download playlists by classic artists and up-and-coming bands.
The Benjamin, New York
If you’re looking for the best hotel to catch up on sleep, The Benjamin will help you catch those zzz’s. By booking any offer, you’ll automatically receive access to the Rest & Renew program. Led by sleep medicine expert Dr. Rebecca Robbins, “the program is our endeavor to offer guests the ideal solutions and tools for sleeping well.” Enjoy a pillow menu, noise machines and a lullaby music library. You’ll experience the best sleep you’ve had in a while.
Photo Credit: Andres Photography
After devastating fires hit residential areas in California’s Sonoma Wine Country in October, the hospitality industry showed its strength by coming out to support neighbors who lost everything. Marla Bedrosian, executive director of global sales for Trump National Doral, called a day of service at the beginning of March “Hospitality for Humanity.”
A group of 40 local hotel employees and planners volunteered at Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore building-materials recycling shop in Santa Rosa on a Saturday to paint, clean and help their neighbors rebuild. ReStore raises money for community rebuilding, including the tiny cottage project, which will build portable homes for families who lost theirs in the fire. Many of these fire victims had little or no insurance coverage. “This will offer them shelter in their own surroundings as they start to rebuild their homes,” Bedrosian said.
Many of the volunteers told Bedrosian they had wanted to help but didn’t know how to do so effectively. “We were thrilled we could provide this platform for them,” Bedrosian said. She witnessed the fires’ devastation near her own home in the Northern Santa Rosa area and near Sugarloaf Vineyards in Kenwood. “We were among the lucky ones,” she explained. “We have too many friends who lost their homes.”
Tourism is a leading source of jobs in California’s Wine Country, and although thousands of acres burned last year, most wineries were untouched. A checkerboard of homes was destroyed. During the emergency, many local hotels opened their doors to fire crews and those evacuated, while restaurants donated food and held fundraisers for victims. Their effort has come to be known on billboards and T-shirts as #SonomaStrong.
The industry came out to support the effort with donations, including representatives from Doral National, Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, Hotel Nikko San Francisco, Benchmark Destinations, Maritur DMC Mexico, Twomey Cellars, Fairmont Grand del Mar, The Lodge at Torrey Pines and Trump Hotels.
Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn chefs provided lunch for the volunteers.
There’s a reason savvy planners offer plenty of choices to attendees—from workshops they want to attend, to what they want for lunch and how they want to give feedback. Every person is unique. For a primer on how to engage with different personality types that can be expected at a conference, we turned to The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator model. It features traits from extraversion to introversion and judging to sensing. We’ve compiled a list of the eight types you may encounter at your next event and some tips on how to ensure each one is getting the value they need out of the experience.
Image by Jake Beech
The Social Butterfly-Extroversion
Who they are: This is the person making friends at the banquet and in line for the bathrooms. They’re not afraid to start a conversation with anyone, but they understand the line between connecting and annoying. They come prepared with business cards and their elevator pitch, and they know how to foster relationships when the event has come to its close.
How to engage them:Networking and cocktail hours are Social Butterflies’ best friends. By giving these attendees an outlet for their chatty tendencies, you may be able to limit their need to talk their way through a speaker’s presentation.
The benefit: These social hours will also benefit other attendees slower to converse, helping you to kill two birds with one stone.
The Wallflower-Introversion
Who they are: The Wallflower isn’t disengaged, rude or ignoring the presentation—they just prefer to stay in the background. They’re equally as invested as Social Butterflies and attentive to everything they hear. The cocktail hour is the most intimidating part of the event, and groups aren’t their forte.
How to engage them: Encourage one-on-one time with experts during social hours or following their presentations. With less pressure to deliver the perfect question and more time to have an intimate conversation, your attendee will participate at their comfort level.
The benefit: One-on-one time with the professionals can be useful to anyone, especially those who may not have had time to ask a question or have ideas they want opinions on. Everyone will feel heard and fulfilled.
The Realist–Sensing
Who they are: This is the last person you’ll find with their head in the clouds. They believe in the cold hard facts; they want statistics and evidence to support any statements. They appreciate learning from experience rather than hearing hypotheticals and attend panels with those who have accomplished what the Realist hopes to achieve as well.
How to engage them: Place emphasis on experts who have been there, done that. The Realist learns best from those who can make a claim and back it up, both statistically and experientially. You can help teach the Realist by allowing them to gather the facts and then putting together the big picture themselves.
The benefit: You can never go wrong by stating the facts—everybody likes numbers that add substance to a speech, and any surprising statistics will stick.
The Daydreamer–Intuition
Who they are: The opposite of the Realist, Daydreamers look at the big picture first and foremost, then find the facts that help to support their goals. They have plenty of dreams and ambitions, but they occasionally feel overwhelmed by what it will take to achieve them.
How to engage them: Daydreamers will also benefit from one-on-one time with an expert, and a panel or keynote speaker that details how to achieve success will draw in the attendee. By emphasizing that accomplishments are within reach, the Daydreamer will feel reinvigorated and inspired to start tackling any obstacles in their way.
The benefit: An uplifting keynote speaker will not only encourage Daydreamers to triumph—optimism rubs off on everyone, especially when surrounded by those with similar desires of success. It will leave everyone in a positive mood.
The Spy–Thinking
Who they are: The Spy is there to see what their competitors are doing. They are the analytical person companies send to events to size up the competition. They remain fair when judging where the competitors succeed—and where they falter. They can occasionally be seen as indifferent rather than impartial.
How to engage them: Be transparent. Spies will appreciate when you acknowledge a mistake and correct it, rather than try to cover it up—no matter how impartial they are. Put your best foot forward and demonstrate what you’re capable of, but don’t panic if something goes awry. The Spy will make a note of it if you’re graceful when handling a mistake, especially if their company acts less so.
The benefit: Being transparent ups your credibility among all attendees. No one wants to feel confused or lied to; by being transparent (and responsive), people are more likely to forgive a faux pas.
The People-Person-Feeling
Who they are: While similar to the Social Butterfly, the People-Person is less about becoming friends with everybody in the room and more focused on keeping the peace. They want to make sure everyone is comfortable and having a good time. They can be overly tactful and expend energy on others’ experiences rather than their own.
How to engage them: Have check-ins with your attendees regularly. If you take initiative, the People-Person will feel less inclined to play host or hostess and focus on their own experience, rather than how others’ are responding to the panel discussion.
The benefit: By checking in with guests regularly, you can gauge how well your event is going and find any blips that may put a damper on the experience. (Social media is especially useful for this.)
The Hard Worker-Judging
Who they are: Hard Workers are enchanted by their to-do lists, and they believe you must work hard before you can play. They’ll make the most of your event by choosing specific workshops they want to attend for one specific purpose or nugget of information. They tend to be extremely organized because they need to feel in control.
How to engage: Have solid times for each of your presentations, a set agenda and a place where any questions can be answered. Having multiple speakers, workshops and panels is encouraged due to the amount of knowledge you can spread, covering many of the Hard Worker’s interests. Make sure speakers stay on time to avoid accidental overlapping.
The benefit: When you have your ducks in a row, attendees feel confident in your abilities, and you’ll feel less stress knowing all your bases are covered.
The Knowledge-Seeker–Perceiving
Who they are: A notebook and pen are constantly in the hands of a Knowledge-Seeker. They’re looking forward to learning as much as they can from the top experts. They will attend every workshop and keynote speech they can fit into their schedule and are open to any information they can get their hands on.
How to engage them: By putting together an agenda filled with information, you’ve already enhanced the Knowledge-Seeker’s experience. When scheduling panels and workshops with professionals, consider limiting the speakers’ time to allow questions from the audience.
The benefit: Other attendees most likely have questions. Even if they aren’t as prepared as the Knowledge-Seeker, they’ll still be able to learn about something that piques their interest
Hotels and resorts are not alone in trying to lure guests into well-being. Cruises—historically known for boundless buffets and other temptations to overindulge—are in the game, too.
Here are notable entrants.
Silversea Expeditions offers a series of Wellness Expedition voyages on its small luxury ships that include an onboard program of yoga and stretching classes, water aerobics, Pilates, spa treatments and healthy menus. The cruise line offers corporate and incentive cruises.
Holland America Line has partnered with O, The Oprah Magazine to create Just Breathe, meditations and movement inspired by the magazine’s “dedication to living your best life.” Healthy menus focusing on wellness are also featured. The cruise line can accommodate groups ranging from 15 to 2,650 people.
Lindblad Expeditions offers a four-night “Exploration, Transformation, Mindfulness” voyage in Mexico’s Sea of Cortez that includes power yoga, guided hikes, stand-up paddleboarding and a boot camp.
Celebrity Cruises has debuted a fleet-wide Mindful Dreams wellness program in partnership with renowned Canyon Ranch in Tucson, Arizona, that includes spa treatments, instructional classes and expert-led lectures themed on achieving more mindful and restful sleep patterns.
Seabourn Cruise Line has introduced a mindful living program in partnership with integrative medicine expert Dr. Andrew Weil that features an onboard “mindful living coach” who leads yoga, meditation and other classes, as well as events inspired by Weil’s anti-aging and mindful meditation writings.
Beach resorts are the perfect business getaway that doesn’t sacrifice any pleasure. After being indoors, it’s refreshing to head out for a reception and catch a breath of fresh, salty air. Take a stroll along the beach before heading back to your room, where you have a lavish view of the twinkling ocean. It’s idyllic for you, speakers and attendees. We have highlighted nine of the best beach hotels from U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hotels in the USA.
1. Terranea Resort, Rancho Palos Verdes, California
Los Angeles proves to be a strong player in the beach resort game with Terranea Resort topping the list. Located on the bluffs, Terranea Resort is both elegant in its presentation and practical in its accommodations, should you need on-site audiovisual equipment or LCD screens. From the 18,000-square-foot Palos Verdes Grand Ballroom to the 15 breakout rooms and three boardrooms, you’ll have a variety of spaces to choose from that are guaranteed to fit your needs. And, if you’re craving that ocean air, 75,000 sq. ft. of event space is yours for the taking.
2. Faena Miami Beach
Spacious and sleek, Faena Miami Beach is an attendee favorite. The Faena Forum has 43,000 sq. ft. of event space, with five meeting and breakout rooms and a 2,900-square-foot amphitheater. Faena Theater features a lobby level that can hold up to 300 people. Host a reception on the Rooftop Terrace for sweeping views of the ocean. At 2,164 sq. ft., it can hold 60 people.
3. The Cloister at Sea Island, Georgia
If Georgia’s not already on your mind, it should be. More specifically, The Cloister should be. With a total combined space of 7,855 sq. ft., the Cloister ballrooms can fit 500 for a reception or 600 theater-style, while the combined space of Mizner ballrooms can fit a 280-person reception and 500 theater-style within 5,073 sq. ft. Seeking those sunny and sparkling views? Dress up and head to the patios, terraces or garden for a reception.
4. Four Seasons Resort Lanai, Hawaii
Hawaii is a dream destination for planners and attendees alike, so why not host your next event in the Aloha state? Four Seasons Resort Lanai has grand sights that will leave your attendees with a string of wondrous memories. Hold your keynote speech in the 7,552-square-foot ballroom, which can host 420 banquet-style or 940 people theater-style. Host a reception of 800 in the Lu’au Gardens, located right next to the beach.
5. The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, South Carolina
When choosing a beach resort, South Carolina probably doesn’t come to mind. But The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort has dazzling beaches, 35,000 sq. ft. of outdoor and indoor meeting space and all the necessary equipment you need to make your event a success. Hold your event in the Grand Oaks Ballroom, which offers 6,050 sq. ft., or take in the ocean at The Sanctuary’s 18,500-square-foot Grand Lawn, which can fit a reception of 750 people or banquet of 500.
6. Acqualina Resort & Spa on the Beach, Sunny Isles Beach, Florida
If you’re looking for a hotel with the dreamy quality of a beach resort, Florida is the place to be. Acqualina Resort & Spa has everything you’ll need to bring to life a memorable event, from audiovisual equipment to high-speed Internet. With 3,644 sq. ft. of meeting rooms connecting to a terrace offering exquisite sights and sounds of waves crashing, your event will be elevated from in-attendance to must-attend.
7. Ocean House, Watch Hill, Rhode Island
Ocean House is one of the most accommodating venues you’ll find. From catering to transportation to general planning, they have you covered from the beginning to the execution. You’ll find 10,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, which includes soundproofed meeting rooms and a ballroom that can hold up to 250 people. All meeting rooms are guaranteed to have stunning panoramas of the Atlantic or a serene view of Watch Hill Harbor.
8. The Wauwinet, Nantucket, Massachusetts
Beach views are generally thought of as a West-Coast luxury, but the Wauwinet in Massachusetts is proof that oceanic beauty can be found along the Atlantic. Situated on the eastern coast, the Wauwinet is available to rent out in its entirety, with an interior space of 2,700 sq. ft. and a lawn that can host 200 guests. Hosting a smaller meeting? The Sunroom and Topper’s private dining room can combine to hold 45 people, and the outside deck can accommodate 45 seated and 80 standing.
9. Inn by the Sea, Cape Elizabeth, Maine
For a guaranteed spectacular event, book Inn by the Sea. With state-of-the-art technology, including LCD projectors and a high-quality sound system, your event is sure to run smoothly. Head into the Crescent Room for 1,300 sq. ft. of customizable event space, or host a more intimate meeting in the Cove Room, which can seat 12 to 16—just make sure attendees aren’t distracted by the garden and sunset over the sea. Want to take it outside? Up to 150 guests can fit on the lawn underneath a waterproof tent; have a speaker deliver a keynote or host a social hour so attendees can network.
