Smart Meetings | Page 489 of 603 | Corporate Event Planning: Business Events, Meetings, Conferences

jetblue season of giving

Are you ready to tell everyone what you’re thankful for? As part of November’s month of goodness campaign, JetBlue is encouraging people to share acts of kindness and giving using the hashtag #CheckInForGood. The reward could be a free volunteer trip. The promotion is an easy tie-in to events for many meeting professionals who already incorporate corporate social responsibility into their programs. In fact, a recent Smart Meetings survey found that in addition to putting social items on the agenda, almost 20 percent say they exclusively work with companies that have philanthropic programs.

JetBlue’s contest will send winners on a trip to volunteer with one of the airline’s non-profit partners around the world. Activities focus on JetBlue’s three key pillars—the community, youth and education, or the environment.

How This Works: JetBlue check-in kiosks will pop up in surprise locations in New York City and Los Angeles during the first two weeks of November. Potential volunteers fill out a short questionnaire at the kiosk or online about the good they have done. Based on responses, respondents will be matched to the appropriate cause for a chance to win.

One volunteer opportunity focuses on libraries in Texas communities still struggling in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. Seven Houston Public Library branches remain closed due to storm damage, leaving some communities without access to essential programs, services and resources. Volunteers will operate “pop-up” libraries and host reading events.

Two other trips address community and environmental needs in the Caribbean. Volunteers will paint, renovate and restore The Eltham Community Centre in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, which provides recreational activities, healthcare and mentorship. Another set of volunteers will assist with harvesting and out-planting coral at The Atlantis Blue Project in the Bahamas. In addition, they will work with the dolphin sanctuary.

Event professionals make the world better every day just by bringing people together. This is a chance to work with an airline partner to do even more.

Abid Butt

Dream Hotel Group appointed Abid Butt CEO for Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa. Butt will spearhead growth and global expansion efforts for the company and its portfolio of lifestyle brands. Butt brings more than 30 years of global experience in the hospitality industry. His most recent position was CEO of Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts.

Dream Hotel Group

Hugh Templeman

Castlerock Asset Management appointed Hugh Templeman general manager of The Westin Nashville in Tennessee. Templeman brings more than three decades of experience. Templeman’s last position was as regional vice president and general manager of Viceroy Snowmass in Colorado. Templeman will lead the daily operations of the 465-room property in the heart of Music City.

Westin Nashville

Henar Gil Rios

Thompson Playa del Carmen in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, appointed Henar Gil Rios general manager. Thompson will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the hotel’s day-to-day operations. Previously, Gil Rios was the director of rooms at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.

Playa del Carmen

Joann Dicion

Hilton Garden Inn Waikiki Beach, Hawaii, appointed Joann Dicion group sales manager. Dicion is responsible for corporate, government, association and university groups. Dicion brings over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry.

Hilton Garden Inn Waikiki Beach

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The Good Hotel, London

A floating, nonprofit hotel with a penchant for social and corporate responsibility, The Good Hotel tops our list. The property gently bobs at Royal Victoria Dock on the Thames in East London, which dates to 1850. The hotel used to be berthed in Amsterdam, but was towed to London to offer job training for the long-term unemployed from the city’s borough of Newham. There are 148 guest rooms and 2,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.

The Good Hotel London

The Library Hotel, New York City

Book lovers, check in and check it out! The Library Hotel boasts 10 floors, and each of them honors one of the 10 categories in the Dewey Decimal System (Art and Technology, for example). Guest rooms—60 in all—house a thematic selection of books. There’s also a writer’s den, terrace, poetry garden and reading room. This very literary hotel features 2,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.

The Library Hotel

The Liberty Hotel Boston

Previously the Charles Street Jail, you can check in but never check out at The Liberty. Kidding! This Beacon Hill property has all the luxury you’d expect in a two-century-old jailhouse–including minimalist interiors, a restaurant named Clink, a bar called Alibi, plus sweeping views of the Charles River. The hotel features 298 guest rooms and an impressive 14,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.

The Liberty Hotel Boston

ICEHOTEL Jukkasjarvi, Sweden

Those Swedes love to be right-to-the-point, Viking direct, and so what else would they call a hotel made entirely of…ice? It’s in Jukkasjarvi, population 548, in northern Sweden. This combination hotel and artwork is constructed yearly from ice from the nearby river Torne, and is open December through April. At its Icebar you can enjoy extremely well-chilled vodka in a below-freezing setting. The hotel offers a spacious conference room that would be great for a meeting of well-bundled attendees.

Asaf Kliger

Faralda Crane Hotel Amsterdam

The Crane Hotel in Amsterdam offers a heightened experience, literally. The iconic hotel has only been open for a little over three years but, it has already been nominated for three prestigious awards. The suspended air hotel even offers a spacious conference room that would be great for a small, intimate meeting.

Nichon Glerum

Charles Jeffers II

Visit Baltimore has appointed Charles Jeffers II chief operating officer. Jeffers will be responsible for leading and managing the operations and finance departments. Jeffers has led multiple dynamic projects that helped transform the city of Atlanta into an international destination surrounding the 1996 centennial Olympic games. His prior role was as principal of Jeffers Consulting.

Visit Baltimore

Nathan Goodman

Goodman has been appointed area director of sales and marketing for Time Hotels. Goodman will spearhead all sales and marketing initiatives for both hotel locations in New York City and Nyack. Goodman brings almost 20 years of exemplary hospitality experience. Previously, Goodman was associate director of sales at Time New York.

Time Hotels

Mark Quitney

Hilton New Orleans Riverside appointed Mark Quitney executive chef. Quitney brings more than more than two decades of hospitality experience. Quitney is tasked with overseeing all food and beverage outlets as well as banquet and catering for more than 130,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space. Previously, Quitney was executive chef for Sheraton New Orleans.

Hilton New Orleans Riverside

kenmotsu-CREDIT-EMBASSY-SUITES-by-Hilton-CHICAGO-NAPERVILLE

Mary Ann Kenmotsu

Embassy Suites by Hilton Chicago Naperville appointed Mary Ann Kenmotsu general manager. Kenmotsu brings almost 30 years of experience. In her previous position, Kenmotsu was director of catering and convention services.

Hilton Chicago Naperville

Adam Beer

Before opening in early 2018, Lido House Hotel, Autograph Collection Newport Beach has appointed Adam Beer as general manager. Beer was previously hotel manager for Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina.

Lido House Hotel

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It’s no secret that an impactful keynote address can really make an event, and a dull keynote can break it. This puts a lot of pressure on meeting professionals to wow the crowd with a big-name booking, such as Michelle Obama’s speaking engagement last week at Dreamforce in San Francisco.

While the former first lady may be a bit of a stretch for most conventions to land, hotels are making it a tad bit easier on planners by hosting speaker series of their own. Hotel Phillips Kansas City, Curio Collection by Hilton will launch Cocktails & Conversation inside the hotel’s P.S. Speakeasy on Nov. 29 with Emmy-winning television personality and media mogul Michelle Davidson.

Photo credit: Hotel Phillips

“The guest speaker series celebrates the successes of our city’s business leaders and serves to inspire the community in a salon-style gathering reminiscent of the 1930’s, when Hotel Phillips first opened its doors to the public,” says Mark Krtek, general manager of the hotel. Admission is $10 and includes one drink. The monthly event is open to the public for guests 21 years of age and older.

W Hotels Worldwide got in the speaking game, too, in April. It created a global speaker series called What She Said that features inspirational woman from fashion, music, tech and media. It kicked off at W London-Leicester Square with headliner Diane von Furstenberg, a renowned clothing designer. The program features a moderated portion and then encourages mingling in the hotel bar afterward to continue the discussion.

keynote speakers

W Speaker Series, “What She Said,” photo credit: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc

“What She Said shines a light on some of the most creative, outspoken women who are shaping the world today, uniting them together for conversations that are candid and real,” says Suzanne Cohen, director of North American brand marketing for W Hotels. “W is where creativity comes to play, and it’s the diversity of our guests’ opinions and our shared appetite for what’s new and next that feeds that continuous energy.”

Most of these events are free and open to the public. Each presentation is made available as a podcast for those unable to attend. W Hotels also proudly hosts Queer Me Out, a speaker series dedicated to LGBTQ topics. It debuted in June in Washington, D.C., and the hotel brand pledged to donate $1 for every podcast listen to True Colors Fund, an organization that seeks to end homelessness among LGBTQ youth.

From a wildlife conservationist to a storyteller to an endurance swimmer, One&Only Cape Town’s keynote lineup in South Africa empowers and motivates guests to challenge themselves and explore the world. After the talks wrap, everyone can enjoy an elegant buffet dinner.

Adare Manor

After the largest restoration project in Irish history, this famed castle resort in Limerick, Ireland, heralds a new era of luxury on the Emerald Isle. The Neo-Gothic masterpiece now sports a new, 42-bedroom wing (bringing total room count to 104), state-of-the-art spa, championship golf course by Tom Fazio, a grand ballroom (for up to 350 guests) and four dining options.

El Embajador, a Royal Hideaway Hotel

The grande dame of Dominican Republic luxury hotels, a downtown Santo Domingo setting for Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather Part II, has been given a new lease on life by Barcelo Hotel Group, with a $40 million refresh. Enhancements include a new spa, 10,000 sq. ft. of ballrooms, and a 28,000-square-foot, glass-enclosed meetings and conference area.

Valentines Residences Resort and Marina

Harbour Island in The Bahamas is known for its beautiful pink sand and friendly island vibe. By mid-December, at this 41-suite resort with its own marina (pictured), you will also find the island’s very first boardroom. It’s a 600-square-foot venue for up to 30 persons (20 at the conference table) that affords the latest teleconferencing and audiovisual tech.

Rosewood Phuket

The Rosewood brand’s first Southeast Asia resort sits on Emerald Bay beachfront in southern Thailand and lets in the natural beauty through floor-to-ceiling windows and open-sided spaces. Each of the 71 sea-facing pool pavilions and villas features a private infinity pool. Asaya, Rosewood’s wellness concept, offers a program of alternative therapies. Indoor and outdoor event space totals 15, 448 sq. ft.

InterContinental Ljubljana

In a modern 20-floor building in the center of Ljubljana, a Slovenian city steeped in history, architecture and a hive of traditional and fusion cuisine, this new luxury hotel is a short walk from the Ljubljanica River, Park Tivoli and Ljubljana Castle. The hotel offers 165 guest rooms, a 19th-floor boardroom and 300-person conference center.

Photo by Will Pryce

Hilton Buenos Aires

In the elegant Puerto Madero district of the Argentine capital, this 417-room hotel reopened after a year-long renovation, with a redesigned lobby and three new food-and-beverage options. The property also features a 72,290-square-foot convention center and rooftop pool. Hilton Buenos Aires’ guests can explore the neighborhood’s 864-acre ecological reserve with trails along the Rio de la Plata riverbank.

It used to be enough to have a single “token” ride from a film in your theme park. Disney was successful for years with a Finding Nemo ride, a Pirates of the Caribbean ride and a Star Wars ride. Universal Studios opened The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in 2010 in Florida, and four years later in Hollywood, to unprecedented success.

Ever since, theme parks around the world have realized the importance of capitalizing on movie-themed “lands” based on fan favorite films. Here we break down some that are open and coming soon: The kid or park-goer in you is about to get excited.

The World of The Hunger Games

Lionsgate and Dubai Parks and Resorts recently have partnered to open The World of The Hunger Games at Motiongate Dubai. The movie-themed park is part of the three-park Dubai Parks and Resorts complex that was unveiled late last year in the United Arab Emirates. Visitors can ride on the Panem Aerial Tour or board the Capitol Bullet Train; both provide interactive themed experiences. Peeta’s bakery provides more than 20 unique treats for hungry park-goers.

When you stay at Lapita, a part of Dubai Parks and Resorts Autograph Collection Hotels, you’re located near all the action. The hotel offers close to 20,000 sq. ft. of versatile indoor and outdoor event space, with event planning and catering services available.

Cars Land

Cars Land zoomed into Disney California Adventure Park at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, in 2012, and has been a fan favorite ever since. The land is based on the popular animated Pixar film, Cars. The sprawling desert lands, retro vibes and simulated driving experiences make this spot great fun for kids and adults. Take a stroll through Radiator Springs, go on a peaceful journey through Ornament Valley, tip a tractor with Mater and get a tune-up at Luigi’s or Ramone’s before revving your engine for the race of a lifetime.

Grand Californian Hotel provides its own entrance to the park, easy access to Downtown Disney, a luxurious spa and premium dining experiences, including a chance to brunch with Goofy or Minnie. Save time and money by investing in a package deal, with promotions such as 25 percent off rooms and specially priced tickets for military members.

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

The much-anticipated StarWars: Galaxy’s End is coming to Disneyland Resort, and Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando in 2019. The land will provide park-goers with an immersive experience within one of the film’s “worlds.” The area will feature futuristic dining, a cantina or two, and a chance to participate in simulated space battles for the young and young at heart.

Disneyland Resort provides event space spanning 180,000 sq. ft. and is home to world-class hotels, two theme parks and the Downtown Disney District.

Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando and Hollywood give patrons a taste of life as a wizard. The park includes a visit to Hogsmeade for butter beer and wands. Two rides take you through Hogwarts and other parts of the wizarding world, including Gringott’s Bank and the Ministry of Magic.

Universal Studios Hollywood can host a variety of events—for sales incentive groups, holiday parties, product launches and more—and accommodates 100 to 20,000.

Pandora: The World of Avatar

Pandora: The World of Avatar opened this May in DisneyWorld’s Animal Kingdom, and gives park-goers the full Avatar experience. Groups can take a ride on the Navi River and marvel in the world of light and color that is Pandora. And, considering the movie is still the top-grossing film of all time, with sequels in line to be released in the next few years, it comes as no surprise that people want a chance to feel like they’re starring in James Cameron’s epic tale.

Toy Story Land

Toy Story Land is set to open in the summer of 2018 at Walt Disney World Resort’s Hollywood Studios. The land is set in Andy’s backyard, and will feature a slinky dog roller coaster, a flying saucer ride with the aliens, and an interactive carnival themed game.

lessons from smart meeting

Photo from one-on-one appointments at Smart Meeting Southwest

Smart Meeting Southwest at Globe Life Park in Arlington sandwiched one-on-one appointments with insightful speakers and unique experiences only possible when the action takes place at the home of MLB’s Texas Rangers.

By the time Chuck Morgan, “the voice of Globe Life Park,” closed the event at the cocktail party in the dugout with the story of the power of individual players’ coming-to-bat songs, three lessons were clear.

What an amazing venue to hold your meeting! @GlobeLifePark @SmartMeetings #SmartMtgs ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/jnzjgcipQQ

— Jennifer Harrington (@JenLovesTravel) November 9, 2017

1. We all experience storms in our lives—and that is a good thing. Earlier, Ed Robinson, author of The Million Dollar Rain Maker, had assured us disruptions large and small are what keep us growing and moving forward. Only when we move through fear and resistance to acceptance do magic things happen.

2. Making things up as we go along is how we get through the day—but the power to make up positive endings is, ultimately, in our hands. The improv group Four Day Weekend, authors of the book Happy Accidents, had demonstrated the difference saying “yes, and…” instead of “no” or even “yes, but…” has on brainstorming, our psyche and the world. Only by creating a trusting framework of encouragement and active listening are we empowered to be our best employees, leaders and citizens.

3. An event professional need never fly solo. A full day of meetings with hotels and destinations showcasing spacious ballrooms, sparkling waterfalls and spectacular excursions was proof that an army of suppliers is standing at the ready to help add the spark that transforms a meeting into a powerful business tool.

Photo credit: Mohamed Somji

Is the Mona Lisa changing her address? Well, not exactly, but some famous works of art are indeed headed from France to Abu Dhabi. Since 1793, the Louvre has been a Parisian icon. And now, in a historic move, the first universal museum in the Arab world opens on November 11—and it’s being called the Louvre Abu Dhabi.

This has been in the works between France and the Government of Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), for just over a decade. The final deal was inked in March. Under its terms, Louvre Abu Dhabi can use the signature name for more than three decades, and have access to experts from 17 French institutions and loaned artwork from 13 French museums for 15 years.

“The UAE is proud of our rich heritage, while also embracing progress and change. We are a dynamic, vibrant and multicultural society, where people live in harmony and tolerance. This diversity is reflected in Louvre Abu Dhabi’s collection, which celebrates the innate human fascination with discovery,” said Mohamed Al Mubarak, chairman of the UAE’s Department of Culture and Tourism, in a press release. “Each visitor will encounter extraordinary artworks and artifacts from global cultures that are both familiar and surprising. Louvre Abu Dhabi is the UAE’s gift to the world, and we look forward to welcoming our first visitors.”

abu dhabi louvre

Photo credit: Mohamed Somji

The architecture of Louvre Abu Dhabi has a distinct shape of its own—a dome, unlike the pointed pyramid associated with its Parisian namesake. Weighing nearly as much as another Paris landmark, the Eiffel Tower, the structure lets in light’s rays during the day and twinkles at night. Its “Rain of Light” features 7,850 “stars.” The museum sits at water’s edge on Saadiyat Island.

The new museum will exhibit 235 pieces from its own collection and 300 pieces on loan, including Leonardo da Vinci’s La Belle Ferronnière. Guests will be taken on a chronological journey from pre-historic times to present-day, organized into 12 chapters that include colonization of the first villages, religion, cosmography, royalty and the modern world. The museum’s inaugural exhibit, From One Louvre to Another: Opening a Museum for Everyone, debuts on December 21 and will depict history of the museum in Paris beginning in the 18^th century and include artifacts from the palace at Versailles.

Guests of all ages can partake in workshops, including visual storytelling, calligraphy and mask design. Guided and audio tours are available. The museum also has a restaurant (opening in 2018), cafe and 270-seat auditorium.

Photo credit: Mohamed Somji

In October, Smart Meetings spoke to Sara Abdullah Al Aslai, conferences and exhibitions unit head for Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau Department, at IMEX in Las Vegas. She assured wary travelers that her Middle Eastern nation is peaceful, and that Abu Dhabi is one of the safest cities in the world. People of all cultural backgrounds and religions are embraced, she said. Of the 8 million residents of Abu Dhabi, 6 million are non-native.

From 2013-2015, World Travel Awards named Abu Dhabi the Middle East’s leading meetings and conference destination. In addition to the new Louvre, Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island offers meetings professionals many event spaces and activities, including Manarat Al Saadiyat and Saadiyat Beach Club. The island also features two five-star hotels, Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas and The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi. Visitors can also go on a camelback safari and ski on the sand.

Rev up your engines if you take your meeting over to the desert nation’s Yas Island, where Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is parked. It’s the world’s largest indoor theme park and features the world’s fastest roller coaster. Themed off the luxury car brand, the park offers meeting facilities for more than 700 attendees, in-house catering, team-building and incentive trips.

passport

With more stringent identification checks looming at airports, Hilton Hotels and Resorts is collaborating with the U.S. State Department on an initiative that encourages more Americans to apply for passports.

The initiative, Hilton Passport Project, stipulates that every few weeks, a Hilton property in the United States will have a passport concierge booth where guests and the general public can have their passport pictures taken for free and apply for or renew their passport. One to three representatives from the State Department will be available to help people fill out applications and answer their questions. The next passport concierge booth will be set up at Hilton Cleveland Downtown Nov. 9–11.

Starting on Jan. 22, travelers who reside in some states will be required to present identification other than a driver’s license to pass through Transportation Security Administration checkpoints at airports—whether they are traveling domestically or internationally. This is because these states are not compliant—or have not been granted an extension to be in compliance with—the Real ID Act, which purportedly is intended to prevent identity fraud, though critics have complained that it is a federal attempt to create a national database of citizens.

Twenty-eight states are in compliance with the Real ID Act; the others either are under review or have received an extension. A full list can be found at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) website. Real-ID compliant identification includes anti-counterfeit technology, such as the holograms on some state’s driver’s licenses.

The DHS has indicated that travelers from noncompliant states can present any of more than a dozen forms of acceptable ID, including a passport, border ID card, Real ID compliant driver’s license, permanent resident card and trusted traveler card, such as Global Entry.

There are more than 8,000 passport application locations around the country. Some 60 percent are in post offices, and the rest are in courthouses and libraries. The State Department provides information about where to apply on its website.

Beginning Oct. 1, 2020, all U.S. air travelers will be required to have a Real ID-compliant driver’s license or another acceptable form of identification to fly domestically.