evacuation

Fires raging in Southern California have already destroyed 1,000 structures. Tens of thousands of event attendees have been impacted as groups deal with air quality warnings and, in some cases, evacuation orders.

We spoke with Julie Mauer, vice president of marketing for Silverado Resort and Spa, which evacuated during the Wine Country fires in October for insights into how to keep everyone in your group safe and calm during an emergency at a venue.

In the Line of Fire

The Atlas Fire in Napa Valley started at approximately 9:20 p.m. on Oct. 8, and Silverado started evacuating at approximately 10:00 p.m. The fire was several miles away, but strong winds pushed it through the valley quickly. Silverado was one of the first sites evacuated.

Staff at Silverado acted quickly. “Our resort general manager made the call to evacuate before the fire officials began evacuating,” Mauer reports. The process was extensive, since Silverado is a 350-acre resort with 350 cottage rooms, spread throughout four different “neighborhoods” and was at about 75 percent occupancy at the time. Staff began going door-to-door while front desk personnel called each room. Evacuees fled to a nearby shopping center before moving to alternative accommodations or evacuation centers.

Reopening for Business

Several events scheduled at Silverado were cancelled over the next two weeks while the resort was closed for repairs. Silverado fully reopened Oct. 25 after cleanup was complete. By the end of that month, most of the region’s 1,200 wineries were open for business with fewer than 10 seriously damaged, according to Visit California reports. All had an increased awareness about the importance of preparing for emergencies that can happen very quickly.

 

Photo credit: Silverado Resorts

Lessons Learned

So, what can event planners holding events in Southern California and beyond do to keep attendees safe when disaster strikes?

1. Communicate assembly points

Things can get chaotic in an evacuation, but if you have one or more assembly points in place, guests and attendees will know where to head once they’ve left the building. Tip: Make sure to base the assembly points around emergency exits, so there isn’t wasted effort required to reach them.

2. Establish a chain of command

Everyone needs to be assigned a role to follow in case of emergency so no part of the process goes overlooked. In the case of Silverado’s evacuation, the general manager had the insight to evacuate before officials alerted the resort to do so. In swift moving fires, these last-minute calls are critical. Tip: consider developing a text alert system for faster communication.

3. Run drills

Every employee—and, ideally, event professional on site—needs to be familiar with the emergency plan. That way in case of a real emergency, instincts kick in, and they know what to do and where to go. Depending on the disaster potential in the area, regular training sessions ensure hotel plans will be well orchestrated if something happens. While security teams often take a leading role in a disaster, it is important that all staff know what to look out for and how to direct guests, should it become necessary.

4. Know your property map

This should include main water shut-off, main electrical shut-off, main gas shut-off, locations of portable fire extinguishers and location of pull stations. Knowing where these are beforehand streamlines the process of putting out fires in an emergency or directing the evacuation team properly.

5. Conduct regular risk management evaluations

Many hotel and resort owners are often caught off guard by the high costs of repairs following a disaster. Evaluating costs can be even more difficult when you’re trying to move as fast as possible to reopen the doors. Professional restoration companies can conduct pre-loss assessments to determine adequate insurance levels.

6. Keep list of guests, including special needs

Maintaining a list of everyone attending a conference and their contact information can help event professionals and hotel staff confirm that everyone has gotten out safely. By noting which attendees might require extra assistance in case of emergency, you can more easily direct resources there.

While thinking about what could happen in case of emergency may not be the most fun part of planning an event, being prepared ensures that everyone is evacuated safely, and that you can get back to business as swiftly as possible—just like the Silverado did, as seen in the photo below taken during the grand reopening.

Do things right, and you might wind up with great testimonials, just like Frances Faulkenberg had for Silverado:

“I am the Event Chair for an industry group and we had our annual meeting planned for the Silverado Resort on November 8-10, 2017.  Imagine my anxiety when the Napa Valley fires broke out 4 weeks before our meeting was scheduled.  We immediately contacted the resort to find out if they were still up and running.  The Conference Service Manager and the Vice President of Sales and Marketing took time out of their incredibly busy schedules to keep me updated continuously on the status of the resort.  Even after they were evacuated and did not have access to the resort, they kept me continuously updated.  Amazingly, they did not have any major damage and our meeting went on as scheduled.”

luxury properties marriott

Photo of Solaz, from The Luxury Collection, set to open in  Los Cabos Mexico in 2018. Photo credit: Marriott International 

Marriott International announced plans for significant growth today, with 40 luxury properties lined up to open in 2018. Marriott’s shift toward the upscale market has been accumulating since acquiring Starwood in 2015.

The brand has 200 new luxury priorities in development. Twenty-five new countries—including Iceland, Nepal, Cuba and the Philippines—will welcome the Marriott International brand, which is currently represented in 60 countries.

This expansion largely stems from the results of a study conducted in partnership with Skift, the largest travel-industry intelligence platform. The survey found that the luxury traveler prioritizes a “transformative and authentic experience” in a new place.

“From former palaces in Venice and Vienna to skyscrapers in Hong Kong and Dubai, to intimate, remote escapes in the Maldives and Mexico, the breadth of our portfolio is incomparable and allows us to surpass the expectations of our guests around the globe,” said Tina Edmundson, global brand officer for Marriott International.

“We see luxury as a launch pad for self-actualization, with bucket lists evolving from where you want to go to who you can be,” she added. “With data showing a global shift in perception around luxury, we are uniquely positioned to provide personalized and truly differentiated experiences that resonate with this next-generation jetsetter.”

Brand Specifics

The Ritz-Carlton will open in six new locations, including China’s Jiuzhaigou Valley. Renovations will also take place in its Berlin, Istanbul and Rome properties.

St. Regis Hotels & Resorts will open in Cairo and Amman, Jordan.

Zadun, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, will debut in Los Cabos, Mexico.

JW Marriott will see new openings in Nashville and the Maldives. More than half its properties will undergo multimillion-dollar renovations. Among these are JW Marriott Bangkok and Grosvenor House, a JW Marriott Hotel, in London.

Rebel W Hotels has eight luxury hotels opening internationally. These locations include Brisbane, Australia; Panama City; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Tel Aviv, Israel.

The Luxury Collection will have 10 new properties opening in remarkable locations across the globe, including Los Cabos; Savannah, Georgia; Vail, Colorado; and Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.

master's program

Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and the San Diego State University (SDSU) L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism Management have announced that they will create the first graduate-level meeting and event program in the United States for mid- and senior-level professionals. They also intend to develop a related academic certificate program for nontraditional students.

“It is about time that this profession is recognized as needing high-level knowledge, skills, and abilities taught in an academically rigorous and relevant manner at the graduate level,” said Carl Winston, director of the school.

The master’s program is expected to launch in January 2019, and will be offered online. The courses will incorporate experiential learning, simulations and industry mentoring, and will be taught by faculty who have worked in the meetings and events industry.

The MPI/SDSU academic certificate program, which is also expected to launch in 2019, will cover select core content from the master’s degree program. It will also be administered online, with meet-ups on SDSU’s campus. Participants will earn college credits that can be applied toward the master’s degree program.

Incorporating a signature drink in an event automatically adds a level of sophistication. During the holidays, a festive libation could be considered a must-have. For a limited time, hotels across the country are offering cocktails with serious seasonal flair. If you find yourself in a hotel bar, ideally surrounding by snow, be sure to order these famous drinks. And just in case you miss them, or if you’re dying to make one yourself, here are the indulgent recipes. That way you can recreate the holiday magic year-round! 

Mansion on the Turtle Creek, Dallas: Sugar Plum Dreams

1½ oz. Pisco (Peruvian Brandy)

1 oz. sugar plum reduction

¼ oz. lemon juice

The Fountainbleau Miami: Mint and Chip

¾ oz. Mount Gay Eclipse Rum

¾ oz. Marie Brizard White Crème de Cacao

¾ oz. Marie Brizard Green Crème de Menthe

¾ oz. half-n-half cream

Fresh mint crown

Shaved chocolate flakes

InterContinental New York Barclay: Holiday Mojito

1 oz. apple cider

1 c. Calvados Apple brandy

2 apples

6 cinnamon sticks

3 star anise

2 oz. apple cider calvados mixture

1½ oz. 10 Cane Rum

5 mint leaves

brown sugar

1 oz. simple sugar

1 fresh squeezed lime

The Peabody Hotel, Memphis, Tennessee: Candy Cane Martini

1½ oz. vodka

1 tsp. Peppermint Schnapps

Crushed candy canes

1 whole candy cane

Four Seasons Hotel Chicago: Jack Frost

1½ oz. Stoli Vanil

½ oz. Peppermint Schnapps

1½ Godiva White

White Chocolate Peppermint Bark, shard

Hotel Bel-Air, Los Angeles, California: Run, Run, Rudolph

1 oz. Tanqueray Gin

2 oz. lemon juice,

1 tsp. simple syrup

¼ oz. Luxardo Sangue Morlacco cherry liqueur

Not to toot our own horn, but we kind of saw this coming. Purple, or more specifically “Ultra Violet”, has officially been determined as the color of the year by Pantone. Every December the company names the hue of the upcoming year.

The color is selected as a representation of trends across a variety of design industries, including fashion and interior decorating. Overall, it’s “what’s needed in our world today,” the Pantone Color Institute’s vice president, Laurie Pressman said in a statement.

According to Pantone, the color of 2017 was “life-affirming” green (another integral hue at Smart Meetings). And in 2016, two shades—Rose Quartz and Serenity Blue—were selected to promote gender fluidity and celebrate their calming properties.

But what’s the significance of the plum shade? Pantone says that it’s a “dramatically provocative and thoughtful purple shade.” Additionally, it “communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking that points us towards the future.”

Let’s dig a little deeper. Pantone also cites that epic musicians such as Prince, Jimi Hendrix and David Bowie, embodied the hue. Not to mention, the color has historically signified royalty and luxury. Going a little further, some political statements might be indicated as well. “Suffragette purple” is one, as it was included in the National Women’s Party flag alongside white and gold. Additionally, we live in a country of divisive red and blue. The blended off-spring of these colors is purple—a refreshing neutral.

It’s established. Purple is an awesome color that’s well-deserving of its 2018 honor. So how can meeting and event planners make the most of Ultra Violet this upcoming year? We have a few ideas.

Pair it with Complimentary Hues

This can go a number of ways. Complementary colors are opposite positions on the color wheel. Another tactic using the wheel is the triad method. This involves pairing colors that are equidistant from each other on the color circle. For violet, this would be purple, green and orange—sound familiar?

You can also opt for something more muted. Light grey is a neutral tone that goes well with violet. Metallics always embolden purple too. These are just a few “rules” though. Experiment on your own and see what it yields. For instance, a variety of purple shades creates a very pleasing, and timely, look.

Capitalize on F&B Trends

Fortunately, this trend has been emerging for some time now so you’ll have options when adding this vibrant beauty to your palette.

In addition to violet macaroons, ice cream, frosting and other man-made products, there are some healthy options. For instance, grapes, purple potatoes, carrots and cauliflower, figs, cabbage, edible flowers, eggplant and many other natural foods boldly display the hue, minus the extra artificial sugar.

Select the Right Backdrop

If you’re set on purple, which if you’re not you will be soon, then consider making this a main consideration when scoping out venues. Beware of busy patterns or hues that might seriously clash (such as a bright red). Also be mindful of the season. If you’re planning for spring, big windows or outdoor space might be a huge plus as they’ll enhance the violet scheme.

The latest survey by photo-sharing app Instagram revealed that New York City has been the most-posted city in the world in 2017, followed by Moscow, London, Sao Paulo and Paris.

Jakarta, the Indonesia capital, was in eighth place and the only Asian city to make the top 10, while St.  Petersburg was the second Russian inclusion, coming in as the seventh-most Instagrammed city.

We looked into what makes these the most Instagrammed cities, locations, hotels and museums, and have described why planners might want to hold their next event (and take their next #selfie) in these can’t-miss places.

Top 10 Most Instagrammed Cities

1. New York City

Full of museums (more on those later), top restaurants, the Statue of Liberty, Times Square and the site of many Gossip Girl episodes, New York City lends itself to stunning photography. It would be more shocking if this city wasn’t the most instagrammed of all. And with spaces such as Radio City Music Hall, The American Museum of Natural History and various uptown chic restaurants, the city is prepared to host any type of event.

2. Moscow

Moscow boasts incredible architecture, snowy winter wonderlands and #colorfordays. It’s almost too pretty to be captured in photos. Almost.

3. London

From palaces, towers and double-decker buses to phone booths, bridge, and markets, almost every inch of London appears pleasant on Instagram. Many of the city’s bars, clubs and restaurants also can be used as event spaces.

4. Sao Paulo, Brazil

This capital city is the most populated and the wealthiest in Brazil. Full of cathedrals, parks and host of the 2014 FIFA world games, this city is full of Instagrammable gems. It is also home to Opera houses, music halls and a Latin American Cultural Center—all great venue options for your next event.

5. Paris

Ah, Paris…the city of love and baguettes. From colorful French meringues to the sparkling Tour de Eiffel, it’s impossible not to fall in love with Paris. Whether you’re snapping the Arc de Triomphe, the River Seine or that really great cheese you just bought, keep your camera, eyes and stomach open in Paris.

6. Los Angeles

La La Land is a place full of dreams—and very tasty fast food. The palm trees make stunning silhouettes, the Hollywood sign was made almost solely for photographic purposes and the city lights can’t be done justice on Instagram. A city of stars, indeed.

7. Petersburg, Russia

St. Petersburg has winding rivers lined with pastel apartments, and a rich culture. The Christmas season is the prettiest time to visit, when everything is awash in snow and twinkling lights.

8. Jakarta, Indonesia

Surprisingly, the only Asian city to make it on this list, Jakarta is a bustling capital city that lends a bit of urban life to complement the country’s popular beaches.

9. Istanbul

Full of mosques and markets, Istanbul is an often-overlooked city that is worth visiting. The economy is rebuilding itself, but offers affordability for travelers, and there is always something to see in this culture- and color-rich city.

10. Barcelona, Spain

Sunshine, sangria, tapas and Park Guell make this vacation destination picture perfect. From rooftop pools to sandy beaches, to an actual chocolate museum where you can pretend you’re Willy Wonka, this city has something for everyone to do, and more importantly, something for everyone to photograph and put on the ’gram.

Top 10 Most Instagrammed Locations

It will come as no surprise that the House of the Mouse holds four of 10 spots on this list. The place sells joy and magic, and with colors, food, and princesses, begs to be photographed. Has anyone ever been to Disneyland without snapping a photo in front of Sleeping Beauty’s castle? New York also holds three spots and Paris snags two.

1. Disneyland (Anaheim, California)

2. Times Square (New York City)

3. Central Park (New York City)

4. Eiffel Tower (Paris)

5. Tokyo Disney Resort (Tokyo)

6. Disney’s Magic Kingdom (Orlando)

7. Musee du Louvre (Paris)

8. Brooklyn Bridge (New York City)

9. Disney California Adventure Park (Anaheim, California)

10. Las Vegas Strip (Las Vegas)

Top 10 Most Instagrammed Hotels

1. Marina Bay Sands Singapore (Singapore)

 

This place has #viewsfordays down. With an infinity pool on the edge of the hotel’s roof, overlooking the city, you would be crazy not to take epic travel pictures there. Add in that the resort provides over 100,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, 2,561 guest rooms and an actual museum, and you may be so busy that you don’t find time to take photos (but we doubt it). There’s also a wide array of restaurants, Broadway shows and some of the best shopping around.

2. Bellagio Las Vegas (Las Vegas)

The first of seven Las Vegas spots on the list, Bellagio Las Vegas provides more than 100,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, five pools, Cirque de Soleil shows and a botanical garden with rotating “shows” that beg to be photographed. Don’t miss the iconic fountain show, either.

3. The Venetian Las Vegas (Las Vegas)

Most famous for its indoor gondola rides, The Venetian provides so much more. With more than 500,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, 7,093 guest rooms and 30 restaurants to choose from, you can go from client meetings to nighttime fun in no time–and still have time to take that gondola ride (to put on Instagram, of course).

4. Atlantis The Palm, Dubai (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)

To snag a spot away from Vegas, you’ve got to go big or go home, and Atlantis definitely goes big. Complete with a 17-acre water park (where you can swim with seals and dolphins), a restaurant helmed by Gordon Ramsey and aquarium bliss everywhere you turn, this place is a sight to behold. It boasts a wide offering of indoor and outdoor event spaces totaling 55,000 sq. ft.

5. MGM Grand Las Vegas (Las Vegas)

Branching out from traditional meeting venues, and in lieu of the recent emphasis on wellness in the industry, MGM Grand Las Vegas offers unique Stay Well meeting spaces, focused on health and wellness. The MGM also provides over 600,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, a plethora of fine dining and on-site help with catering, production and venues.

6. The Cosmopolitan (Las Vegas)

The Cosmopolitan is committed to making your next event or meeting outstanding. With more than 200,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, onsite catering and the latest technology at your disposal, your event just might end up on Instagram.

7. Wynn Las Vegas (Las Vegas)

This place is in it to Wynn it. With more than 100,000 sq. ft. of meeting space; garden, urban, and mountain views; a vegan restaurant; and customized celebration cakes, you should ask yourself, what can’t Wynn do?

8. Caesars Palace (Las Vegas)

Try your best to refrain from asking if Caesar really lived here, a la Allen from the movies The Hangover. This palace provides some of the best shows, with stars such as Jerry Seinfeld and Mariah Carey. It also is home to mega club Omnia, and provides a wide array of restaurants and bars. With 300,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, Caesar’s is the perfect place to host an event that balances business and leisure.

9. Fontainebleau Miami Beach

Flo Rida jokes aside, Miami is one fabulous city. Full of vibrant color, stunning beaches and Latin flavor, the city is also home to this stunning resort. Fontainebleau Miami Beach has one of the best steakhouses in the country, courtesy of chef Michael Mina; an action-packed pool scene; and 107,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. Make sure to enjoy a drink poolside or beachside after a long day of events.

10. Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino (Las Vegas)

If you can’t make it to the real Paris, then Paris Las Vegas is a solid backup plan. The perks include 140,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, a photo-ready mini Eiffel Tower and some very tasty brunch options.

Top 10 Most Instagrammed Museums

1. Musee du Louvre (Paris)

2. The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City)

3. The Museum of Modern Art (New York City)

4. Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Los Angeles)

5. British Museum (London)

6. American Museum of Natural History (New York City)

7. Whitney Museum of American Art (New York City)

8. Victoria and Albert Museum (London)

9. Natural History Museum (London)

10. Museum of Ice Cream (Los Angeles)

Whether you’re planning your next incentive meeting or just looking for inspiration for your next vacation, we’ve rounded up these can’t-miss beaches, perfect for lounging and learning. Located from Norway to the Bahamas, each of the beaches is unique and stimulating. Read on, imagining yourself with a pina colada in hand and your toes in the sand. How else would you make it through Mondays?

Best Beaches in the Caribbean

Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos

Grace Bay Beach in Turks and Caicos is home to a stunning barrier reef 1 mile off shore, which keeps the water warm for swimming and provides for plush sands, void of rocks, seaweed and pollution. Adventure-seekers can take a short boat ride to the barrier reef just minutes away, and dive in. With sunny skies almost year-round, this island opens its welcoming arms to vacationers with dreamy sands and crystal-clear waters.

Grace Bay Club can help you plan your incentive meeting or event from start to finish with resort-wide Wi-Fi and audiovisual equipment, as well as planning and catering staffs. Whether you want a post-meeting cocktail party or a private dinner, Grace Bay can provide anything your meeting needs.

Pink Sands Beach, Bahamas

This beach is what you imagine when someone says “picture-perfect.” Photo-ready pink sandy beaches and mellow waters are protected by an offshore coral reef. The sand’s color comes from pink shells of microscopic Foraminifera insects. The light coral sand provides a striking combination with the ocean’s turquoise clear waters. Don’t miss out on a sunrise and sunset with colors that are unlike anything else you’ll see in your lifetime.

Pig Beach, Bahamas

Pig Beach is a part of Exumas, a chain of 300 mostly uninhabited islands renowned for their euphoric beaches, world-class diving and luxurious resorts. The shore is reached by speed or sailboat. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by swaying palms, fresh white sands and some very cuddly friends. Pig Beach really does live up to its name, as it’s the only place on the planet where you swim alongside wild pigs. They are friendly and love participating in selfies. If Pig Beach looks familiar, it’s because you saw it on The Bachelor.

Staniel Cay Yacht Club is host to several parties, dinners and celebrations year-round and could be the ideal place for your next incentive meeting.

Best Beaches in the Mediterranean

Navagio Beach, Greece 

This place will dazzle your tropical dreams into reality as blue and white beauty blend to create a shipwrecked oasis on Zakynthos Island. The light-blue waters and imposing cliffs provide tremendous photo opps for travelers. The shipwrecked Freightliner MV Panagiotis, washed up on the gravel beach, helps you feel like you’ve landed in Pirates of the Caribbean (even though you’re in the Mediterranean).  Don’t forget to take in the #views as you travel to the beach by sea.

Ionian Star Hotel, located 8 miles from Navagio Beach offers stunning facilities, including a pool, restaurant/bar, and space that can be rented for an event. The lights and stars at night provide an evening ambiance that shouldn’t be missed.

Elafonissi Beach, Greece

Elafonissi Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches that the Mediterranean has to offer. Its fine, coral-pink sand, clear turquoise water and sand dunes provide a landscape that is unusual for the Mediterranean. Elafonisi is an environmentally protected area, so in between sunbathing and swimming in shallow lagoons, you’ll also have the chance to see endangered turtles and other rare animals that use the beach as their nesting spot.

Best Beach in Australia

Whitehaven Beach

This remote beach can only be accessed by helicopter, or seaplane. The sand is made of 98 percent silica, which makes it some of the whitest sand on earth. Situated on Queensland’s Whitsunday Islands, with a climate that’s almost always sunny and 75 degrees, this is a heaven on earth that you have to see to believe.

Shingley Beach Resort can host events for up to 100.

Best Beach in Africa

Boulders Beach, South Africa

Nowhere else in the world can you find pint-sized penguins on a beach. Throw in plush white sands, granite boulders and warm waters for a can’t-miss beach experience. In Boulders Beach, in the Cape Peninsula of South Africa, a tropical day is anything but ordinary. The deep-blue waters stay protected and calm, hidden among the granite boulders so that your swim is peaceful and serene. As a national landmark, Boulders Beach and its penguin inhabitants remain pristine. Photo opps abound.

Best Beaches in Central and South America

Hidden Beach, Mexico

Imagine a beach completely tucked away inside a cave, with a cavernous opening in the roof to let the perfect amount of sunlight enter; you just imagined Mexico’s Hidden Beach. The only way to reach the golden sand at Hidden Beach is to jump off a boat and swim or kayak through a tunnel to shore. With only a few visitors allowed on the beach at one time, you will get to experience the lush beauty (almost) all by yourself.

Seven Mile Beach, Cayman Islands

Seven Mile Beach is the show-stopper of the Cayman Islands, with fine coral sand, warm turquoise water and rows of gently swaying palms. There are plenty of chances to swim, snorkel and soak in the sun while you sink your body into the soft white sand. Add in luxurious beachfront villas, mouth-watering gourmet eateries and stylish sunset bars, and your vacation here is indeed paradise, with a side of comfort, decadence and luxury.

The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach and Resort provides 9,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.

Best Beaches in South Pacific

Maya Bay, Thailand

Maya Beach features silky white sands, and is surrounded by towering bright green cliffs and vivid coral. Travelers can take a private boat trip, snorkel in aquamarine waters or stretch out on pillow-like sand while they work on their tan in the usual 10 hours of sunshine each day. Maya Beach in Koh Phi Phi Le Thailand is one of the most stunning and accessible islands in the world; get your passport out and go see it for yourself.

El Nido, Philippines

Imagine a beach that has it all—gorgeous turquoise lagoons under towering cliff walls and sprawling white sand beaches. El Nido in the Philippines has everything you could want—astounding views, remote terrain and near tasty restaurants and beachfront bars. Take a boat ride around the rock formations and explore the culture of the neighboring town. Let these photos speak for themselves about why this beach can’t be missed.

Amanpaulo can accommodate events for up to 200 people in indoor and outdoor spaces.

Best Beaches in Europe

Reynisfjara Beach, Iceland

Reynisfjara Beach is arguably the most unique beach destination on this list. Reynisfjara is in Iceland, and is adorned with black sand made from lava. This mystical beach is home to scattered cliffs and natural landmarks like Reynisdrangar (towering basalt sea stacks) as well as enormous cave mouths akin to the fantasies you see in movies. Its stunning visuals made it a prominent filming destination for HBO’s Game of Thrones.

Fosshotel Helka can host your next event or meeting, with local produce delivered by local farmers and cooked by highly experienced chefs. Eldgja is the main conference and meeting room, and Faxi restaurant is ideal for luncheons.

Vaeroy Beach, Norway

Vaeroy is magic —even if you can’t pronounce it properly. The remote location, staggering cliffs, vast mountains and striking, still water makes this a beach unlike any you’ve ever seen. Vaeory brings the best of both worlds together. There, you can experience the landscape, terrain and refreshing emerald waters of Norway, and it’s near an inviting, homey town that offers delicious Norwegian cuisine and warm coffee.

art

Photo credit: Art Basel 

Artists and art aficionados from all over the globe gathered in the city where the heat is on yesterday, December 7. The annual Art Basel fair is taking place Dec. 7-10 at Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC) and various nearby venues.

Since 2002, this event has been attracting some 77,000 people annually, allowing Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau to use it as a prime example of how well-equipped it is to host major meetings and conventions. Now in its 16th year, Art Basel is displaying the work of more than 4,000 modern and contemporary artists from more than 200 galleries worldwide. The event is so engrained in Magic City that on Oct. 5, the City of Miami Beach inked a five-year agreement with the festival that will begin in 2019.

“This agreement is comparable to locking in the Super Bowl for five years,” said Miami Beach

Mayor Philip Levine in a press release. “Economists estimate $400 to $500 million in related economic impact as a result of this contemporary art fair, convening artists, galleries, collectors, museum groups and other individuals interested in top-notch art from around the world.”

https://twitter.com/MayorLevine/status/916055050702741505

Per the terms, the event will be given exclusive use of MBCC, which is set to debut renovations in September. The $515 million expansion includes a new 60,000-square-foot, multilevel ballroom, meeting spaces, outdoor spaces and restoration of the historic Carl Fisher Clubhouse, which is the oldest public structure in Miami Beach. Thanks to Miami Beach’s Art in Public Places ordinance, the project includes a $7 million budget to display the works of world-renowned artists.

MBCC successfully convinced Art Basel to sign on the dotted line in part because of an elevator and escalator that will connect the exhibition halls and grand ballroom. Art Basel isn’t the sole group committed to make use of the new 1.4 million-square-foot MBCC. The American Health Information Management Association’s annual convention is scheduled to christen the facility. The CA Technology convention will follow and has signed on for a minimum of three years.

Art Basel is more than a place to enjoy and purchase art: It serves as inspiration for event professionals. Aside from the galleries, many of Miami’s hotels are participating with innovative parties and installations. For example, at Faena Hotel Miami Beach, oversized installations have been placed in the sand, including the reflective “120 Degree Arc East-Southeast” and artifacts from the former Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

 

The event attracts the richest of the rich and big-name celebrities, so the parties are expected to impress high-caliber attendees. Each year, planners are faced with the tough task of outdoing what they pulled off the prior year to keep the crowd wowed. Planners attending the festivities can jot down notes to replicate at their own events and see first-hand the flexible capabilities of Miami’s meeting and convention venues.

The entire Miami Art Week celebration stretches along the Atlantic coast and Biscayne Bay from North Miami Beach to Bal Harbour, South Beach, Wynwood Arts District, Downtown Miami and Brickell City Centre. Several satellite fairs are taking place concurrently and are utilizing newly opened and renovated spaces. Art Miami and its sister fair, Context Art Miami, poured 250,000 sq. ft. worth of cement at their new tented location at One Herald Plaza, where the Miami Herald s building once stood. Event organizers are making a splash along the water’s edge by introducing dining areas, lounges, more than 4,000 parking spaces and transportation services via taxis, shuttle busses and Uber.

The Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami opened its permanent location on Dec. 1 and The Bass museum reopened in Miami’s Art Deco district on Oct. 29 after undergoing an expansion and redesign. It is available to be booked for private events and corporate meetings of up to 250 guests.

Additionally, if you already have a meeting scheduled to take place in South Florida over the duration of Art Basel, ArtNexus Tours offers guided tours for corporate and private groups.

Shouma

Shouma Moniz

Kokua Hospitality appointed Shouma Moniz director of sales and marketing at Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach. Moniz graduated from University of California, Davis with a Bachelor of Arts in both economics and international relations, with a minor in Japanese. Moniz previously worked for Sage Hospitality at Homewood Suites by Hilton San Francisco Airport North. Kirk Pederson, president of Kokua Hospitality, believes that “As a young, determined leader, Shouma’s sales skills, knowledge of local markets, and passion for hospitality is invaluable to the Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach team,” and he is “confident that [Moniz] will continue driving this hotel to the top of Waikiki’s thriving and competitive hotel market.”

Kokua Hospitality

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Cahal Mowery

Visit Denver appointed Cahal Mowery as the organization’s new director of convention sales, leading the mid-market and executive meeting manager sales efforts. Mowery joins Visit Denver from JW Marriott Houston Downtown, where he served as director of sales and catering. Previously, Mowery held several positions at Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau, handling national association citywides greater than 1,500 on peak. Mowery holds a bachelor’s degree in hotel and restaurant management from University of Houston and completed his MBA at University of Houston in 2015.

Visit Denver

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Julie Davis-Petit

Benchmark named Julie Davis-Petit director of sales and marketing for Stonewall Resort, a Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property located in Roanoke, West Virginia. She previously served as task force director of events, sales and marketing for Benchmark. Davis-Petit earned her Bachelor of Science degree in business administration at Sacramento State University. She is also a Dale Carnegie graduate, and the recipient of numerous awards of excellence, including Manager of the Year, BOMA Chairman’s Award, JD Powers Team Leader Technology Award, and Outstanding Executive Meeting Manager Award.

Benchmark Resorts & Hotels

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Mathew Pargament

Meliá Hotels International appointed Mathew Pargament general manager of ME Miami, the brand’s newest hotel property and first in the United States. He joins the team with nearly two decades of hospitality and leading industry experience. With extensive knowledge in the South Florida market, where he has been working for nearly a decade, Pargament joins ME Miami after assuming the same role at The EDITION Hotel, Miami Beach, a property he opened in November of 2014. Pargament received a degree in hotel management from University of Nevada Las Vegas.

Meliá Hotels International

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Preferred Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest independent hotel brand, has announced 13 new properties scheduled to launch in 2018. These properties span the globe, from Houston and Shanghai, to Vienna and Charleston and will join more than 650 properties in 85 countries under the Preferred quality standards and rewards program umbrella. Each location offers an original experience that is sure to deliver #ThePreferredLife to wanderlust-filled groups everywhere.

Bobby Hotel

Photo credit: Preferred Hotels & Resorts

Steps from the famous Printer’s Alley in downtown Nashville, the nine-story Bobby Hotel will open in spring of 2018, featuring 144 guestrooms and suites. Patrons will have four drinking and dining options, including a cafe, an all-day restaurant, a cocktail bar serving light bites, and a rooftop bar complete with a 1956 Greyhound tour bus. The uniquely repurposed tour bus plays into the property’s fun aesthetic and evokes a musician’s life on the road. The bus will offer guests and the local creative set a bird’s eye view of downtown Nashville.

How to live #ThePreferredLife in Nashville: Situated in the internationally-acclaimed Arts District, culture seekers can easily explore the city’s world-class art museums, take in a concert at multiple live music venues, and discover local brews.

The Post Oak at Uptown Houston

Photo credit: Preferred Hotels & Resorts

With more than 250 rooms and suites, 20 executive residences, high-end fashion stores, a Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and Bugatti showroom, this unique destination scheduled to open in spring of 2018 will be home to several restaurants, including Mastro’s Steakhouse and Willie G’s, a spa, and co-working spaces. For those who want to go all out for their stay in The Lone Star State, the hotel also features a 5,000-square-foot presidential suite with a media room, personal gym, and private elevator access, as well as a helipad for big entrances. Everything is bigger in Texas.

How to live #ThePreferredLife Houston style: Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy inspiring scenery while walking or dining al fresco around the hotel grounds, which are awash in greenery, mature oak trees, paths and water fountains.

Montage Los Cabos

Photo credit: Preferred Hotels & Resorts

Located on 39 acres of pristine beachfront in Cabo San Lucas’ Santa Maria Bay, when this luxury resort opens in spring of 2018, it will feature 122 expansive guestrooms and suites, as well as 52 Montage Residences. Guests can be pampered at Spa Montage, swim in two state-of-the-art pools, and eat in multiple dining venues.

Discover #ThePreferredLife a la Cabo: Ideal for those looking to explore the area below sea level, Santa Maria Bay and its gentle waters present some of the finest swimming, diving and snorkeling opportunities in the region.

PhilsPlace

Photo credit: Preferred Hotels & Resorts 

Located in the heart of Vienna, in the former Philips headquarters, PhilsPlace will offer 135 full-service apartments ideal for business travelers and vacationers when it opens in spring of 2018. The building was designed by post-war architect Karl Schwanzer, and has been carefully preserved with change only to the interiors, which feature sweeping views from the city center.

Discover #ThePreferredLife en Vienna: From mountain biking and hiking at Wienerberg to sipping award-winning wines atop the open-air terrace, guests enjoy a true home away from home experience that extends beyond the property to the city.

Pestana Amsterdam Riverside

Located in the historic former town hall in the heart of the De Pijp neighborhood, Pestana Amsterdam Riverside will open in February of 2018 near Albert Cuypmarkt and within walking distance of the city’s key landmarks. The hotel is made up of 154 rooms, suites and apartments with interiors and furnishings designed by Studio Linse to flatter the building’s neo-Dutch Renaissance architecture. Guests will also enjoy what is set to be Amsterdam’s preeminent rooftop, as well as an indoor pool, spa with two sauna options, and a well-equipped gym.

Discover #ThePreferredLife river style: Under the supervision of Dutch Chef Peter Lute, foodies can indulge in creative and contemporary dishes at Pestana Amsterdam Riverside’s restaurant, ARC.

The Middle House

Photo credit: Preferred Hotels & Resorts

Launching in early 2018 in the heart of Shanghai’s commercial district, The Middle House will offer 111 rooms as well as 102 serviced apartments, with interiors created by Milan-based architect and furniture designer Piero Lissoni. The property incorporates an abundance of outdoor spaces, providing an elegant oasis against the backdrop of one of Asia’s most dynamic cities. Continuing the group’s successful collaboration with New York-based Chef Gray Kunz, The Middle House will feature signature restaurant Cafe Gray Deluxe.

Discover #ThePreferredLife luxury: For the utmost opulence, guests can reserve the sprawling penthouse. Located on the 14th floor, it overlooks fashionable Nanjing Road (West) and features two bedrooms, an open bathroom with a freestanding bathtub, and an expansive private terrace with a private show kitchen, ideal for private parties.

Sherwood Suites

Ideally situated in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City’s District 3, Sherwood Suites launches this month. It is an all-suite, luxury residence and hotel offering 157 serviced apartments in studio and one- or two-bedroom configurations. Facilities in every apartment include fully equipped kitchens, designer Italian furniture, marble bathrooms and floor-to-ceiling windows. All guests have access to a 24-hour gym, pool deck with cocktail bar and restaurant serving Mediterranean and Asian cuisines.

Discover spicy #ThePreferredLife: Sherwood Suites offers guests free, hourly shuttles with stops at prominent landmarks such as the Reunification Palace and the city center’s top dining and entertainment neighborhoods. So much easier to achieve #travelgoals this way.

Other 2018 openings from Preferred Hotels & Resorts include:

  • The Primus Hotel Shanghai Hongqiao, Shanghai, China (launching January 2018)
  • Las Olas Ocean Resort, Fort Lauderdale, Florida (launching May 2018)
  • Hotel Bennett, Charleston, South Carolina (launching summer 2018)
  • Hotel Monville, Montreal, Canada (launching July 2018)
  • Hotel Sophy, Chicago (launching July 2018)
  • Garza Blanca Los Cabos, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico (launching July 2018)