Smart Meetings

In a move that could have serious implications for meeting planners, President Donald Trump has proposed eliminating funding for Brand USA. To rally around the agency, the U.S. Travel Association (USTA) sent a letter, signed by more than 300 travel business associations and destination marketing organizations imploring Trump to reconsider cutting Brand USA’s funding.

“The value Brand USA adds is simply phenomenal, [and] it’s all done without a dime of taxpayer money,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association.

Brand USA, which is responsible for marketing the United States to tourists around the globe, receives funding from Electronic System for Travel Authorization (BETA) fees paid by visitors from Visa Waiver Programs. Brand USA gets $10 from each $14 received in BETA fees. Brand USA estimates that for every $1 it spends on marketing, it generates $27 for the U.S. economy.

An independent analysis of Brand USA’s return on investment found its marketing program generates:

–More than 4 million incremental additional visitors to the United States who might not have visited otherwise
–Nearly $14 billion in incremental additional visitor spending
–Nearly 51,000 additional American jobs per year
–Nearly $4 billion in federal, state and local tax revenue, helping to fund vital services such as fire departments and public schools

“Millions of visitors who would not have come here otherwise have visited the U.S. because of Brand USA’s marketing campaigns, and they’ve added billions to the U.S. economy and supported tens of thousands of additional U.S. jobs per year,” Dow said. “Now more than ever, Brand USA’s efforts are needed to show the world that America is, and always will be, a welcoming destination with so much to offer international visitors.”

The Golden State Warriors are rolling, with a 3-0 lead in the NBA championship series. But the Cleveland Cavaliers are comeback kids, so anything’s possible. In fact, Cleveland could be called the “comeback city” for tourism, conventions and professional meetings.

Let’s look at how these world-champion cities stack up as meeting destinations. Since Game 4 of the NBA Finals is in Cleveland, let’s start there.

Cleveland

All of Northeast Ohio, which includes Cleveland, has undergone a massive $3.5 billion redevelopment, according to Destination Cleveland, the city’s CVB. Sharon Gronowski, vice president of convention services for Destination Cleveland, says the city is “eclectic, unpretentious and gritty, yet sophisticated.”

Meeting attractions include:

– A walkable downtown district that focuses on providing easy access to the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland’s 225,000-square-foot exhibition hall, more than 14,000 sq. ft. of meeting rooms and a 32,000-square-foot ballroom

– 18 downtown hotels, including Hyatt, Marriott and Westin. Hilton Cleveland Downtown offers 600 guest rooms and 50,000 sq. ft. of event space, in addition to top-floor Bar 32, with views of Lake Erie

– Home to the NFL Browns and MLB Indians, so it’s an exciting place for sports fans year-round

– For dining, James Beard award-winning chefs Michael Symon and Jonathon Sawyer have made their restaurants, Lola and The Greenhouse Tavern, destinations unto themselves for business travelers.

Oakland

Resiliency is a word frequently used to describe Oakland. During the past decade, the city has asserted itself as a major player in the meetings and events market. Major investments to the city from shipping interests and private companies have helped spur infrastructure improvements, which has attracted hotels and restaurants, and a growing, vibrant recreation scene.

In Smart Meetings magazine’s July 2016 issue, featuring Warriors star Steph Curry, Selena Williams, a vice president at East Oakland Development Center, said, “The people of Oakland possess a certain resiliency and togetherness that I think is reflected in the Warriors.”

Meeting attractions include:

– A diverse economy—from University of California, Berkeley, in the posh hills above Oakland, to the modern port along the shore, to the city’s downtown center

– Lots of hotel choices, including Oakland Marriott City Center’s 500 guest rooms and 85,125 sq. ft. of event space. Hilton Oakland Airport is a new hotel with contemporary architectural styling, 360 guest rooms and 16,000 sq. ft. of meeting space

– Lake Merritt, a relaxing place to spend an afternoon in nature without leaving the city

– Jack London Square—an estuary, park, shopping mall and walking area along the shore

– Culinary adventure, including Calavera, a Mexican restaurant and great place to celebrate, Lake Chalet on the waterfront and authentic urban barbecue at Haven.

Whichever team wins, both Cleveland and Oakland deserve five stars as great destination cities for corporate meeting planners.

It’s finally official: the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) Board of Directors has approved the $1.4 billion expansion and renovation of Las Vegas Convention Center.

In the works since 2016, the project had previously been approved by other local boards, but had yet to receive final approval from LVCVA. The expansion will add 600,000 sq. ft. of meeting space to the convention center and is scheduled for completion in 2023.

“Today marks a monumental occasion for not only the LVCVA but also the entire destination,” says Rossi Ralenkotter, LVCVA President and CEO. “We commend the foresight of our community and state leaders for recognizing the importance of the LVCCD and we are eager to get to work! We will ensure that the LVCVA continues to provide the world-class facility and experience our clients expect when they come to Las Vegas.”

Las Vegas consistently ranks as one of the country’s most popular meeting destinations, largely due to the city’s convention center, numerous hotels with plentiful meeting space and countless nearby attractions.

Lawrence Weekly, chairman of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and Clark County Commissioner, points out that the project will create jobs and boost the local economy. An estimated 14,000 construction jobs and close to 7,800 full-time permanent jobs will need to be filled. LVCVA forecasts that the new convention center district will draw one million additional visitors and pump $810 million dollars into the economy each year.

“Las Vegas has maintained its reputation as a leading destination for business travel because our destination has a long tradition of working together to make great strides that benefit both our visitors and those who call Southern Nevada home,” says Weekly.

Although the renovation is a massive undertaking, the construction plan is designed to have a minimal impact on events happening at the convention center. The project will be completed in two phases. The first phase, which will be finished by 2021, involves enlarging the facility by 1.4 million sq. ft.—600,000 sq. ft. of which will be designated as exhibit space and meeting rooms. During the second phase, the 3.2 million-square-foot convention center will undergo a complete overhaul. Dividing the process into phases will ensure no business is lost due to construction.

In what could be a significant step toward eliminating the need for a boarding pass and identity document on flights, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) began utilizing innovative biometric fingerprint ID technology at two airports this week.

The pilot program, which will last for four weeks, is being implemented at a TSA PreCheck at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) and Denver International Airport (DEN). Participation is voluntary and all passengers who choose to take part still need to show their boarding pass and an identification document.

Passengers’ fingerprints are matched with those they provided when they applied for the TSA PreCheck program. When the biometric authentication technology (BAT) establishes a match, it is able to obtain the passenger’s boarding pass information through Secure Flight, which is a prescreening program that enhances security by identifying low- and high-risk passengers before they arrive at the airport by matching their names against trusted traveler lists and watch lists. So, the process is designed to improve security screening as well as expedite the boarding process.

“TSA looks at technologies and intelligence capabilities that allow us to analyze and secure the travel environment, passengers and their property,” says TSA Acting Assistant Administrator Steve Karoly. “Through these and other technology demonstrations, we are looking to reinvent and enhance security effectiveness to meet the evolving threat and ensure that passengers get to their destinations safely.”

Data collected during the pilot program will be analyzed by TSA, which may then decide to implement the program at other U.S. airports in the future.

Other efforts have been made to make security screening more efficient. Clear, a security company specializing in identification screening, pioneered a service that establishes the identity of passengers by fingerprints or iris scans, and thereby enables them to proceed to the front of checkpoint lines. Clear already offers the service at 21 airports. The program costs $179 per year, with an additional cost of $50 per relative.

Also, JetBlue has begun collaborating with Customs and Border Protection (CBP)—like TSA, a division of the Department of Homeland Security—on facial-recognition technology from SITA to identify travelers during boarding. The program will begin this summer with flights from Logan International Airport in Boston to Queen Beatrix International Airport in Aruba. Travelers don’t need to enroll or register before participating. They will have a picture taken that will be compared to CBP’s database for passports, visas and immigration photos.

Dana Orlando

Wischermann Partners appointed Dana Orlando as general manager of Hotel Ivy, a Luxury Collection Hotel. Orlando will lead the operation of the historic downtown hotel located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her previous roles include director of sales group and catering at The Ritz-Carlton in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and hotel manager at Waldorf Astoria in Park City, Utah. She brings 19 years of experience and has received several awards for her performance including Circle of Excellence recipient for Director of Sales and Marketing of the Year with Hilton Luxury Brands in 2013, 2015 and 2016 and 2013 Most Improved RevPAR Growth for Hilton Luxury Brands with her team.

Susan Gladstone

The Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU promoted Susan Gladstone to the role of director. Gladstone received a master’s degree in social work at Yeshiva University and has 30 years of executive experience. She previously served as acting director and director of development for the museum. She will work closely with the board of directors and lead the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU’s team.

Chris Skelding

Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe named Chris Skelding as director of sales, marketing and events. Previously, he held the position of director of sales at Hyatt Regency Chicago and has held many management positions at domestic and international Hyatt hotels and resorts. He began in the hospitality industry at the age of 14, when he worked at his local country club in Indiana.

Camila Frederico

W San Francisco, located in the heart of the SoMA district, appointed Camila Frederico as director of operations. As the first female to hold this position, she will oversee day-to-day operation of the hotel and manage staff, food and beverage, housekeeping, guest services and . Frederico started her career in 2004 at The Ritz-Carlton in Phoenix, Arizona, as the meetings and special events coordinator where she worked for a decade.

Do you have an announcement about a new executive-level job appointment? Email us the good news at [email protected].

Guest room at Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi, Santa Fe

Santa Fe is nicknamed The City Different, and it won’t take groups long to figure out why. It looks, feels and even smells different than any other city in the United States, perhaps because it was founded in 1610, making it more than twice as old as most of them.

Tom Elmo is a meeting planner for Streamline Publishing, a Boca Raton, Florida, company involved in television and broadcasting, art and meeting planning. Elmo is bringing about 1,000 attendees and more than 40 exhibitors to Santa Fe next April for the company’s Plein Air Magazine’s Plein Air Convention & Expo.

“Choosing Santa Fe was not a difficult decision,” Elmo says. “First of all, it’s a historic adobe city with so many natural wonders nearby—perfect for plein air (outdoor) painting. We’ll be staying and meeting at the Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino, which is not only a wonderful hotel with great restaurants and entertainment, but also a big enough facility to accommodate all our attendees.

“Santa Fe has a vibrant art scene and, because it’s a city of adobe, there’s a sort of golden glow around it. It’s not hard to convince the international art community that it’s a great place to meet.”

Now, let’s hit the road out of Santa Fe.

Bandelier National Monument

Bandelier National Monument is spread out over 33,000 acres of rugged but beautiful canyon and mesa country, with dramatic vistas everywhere you look. There’s evidence of people living there as far back as 11,000 years ago, and as recently as a couple of hundred years ago.

The area is home to dozens of cliff dwellings, mostly in small villages carved into these steep cliffs. There are petroglyphs (prehistoric rock carvings) in the soft rock, and well-designed homes, many with underground rooms usually used for ceremonies. Standing masonry walls pay tribute to the early days of a culture that still survives in the surrounding communities. Attendees can climb Indian-made ladders up the steep cliffs for a memorable look (but don’t look down!). The national monument is about an hour north of Santa Fe.

Chimayo

Chimayo is located 25 miles north of Santa Fe and has a population of about 3,000. It was founded in the late 1600s by Spanish settlers, who created a fortified plaza called San Buenaventura, now the Plaza del Cerro. This is truly a place where groups can immerse themselves in another time, as well as the traditional crafts (Chimayo is known for its weavings) practiced in that time.

Don’t miss the famed Catholic chapel, Sanctuario de Chimayo, and the “healing dirt” in the back room. The town is also famous for its Chimayo chile, and Rancho de Chimayo, a James Beard award-winning restaurant.

Georgia O’Keeffe Home & Studio

World-famous painter Georgia O’Keeffe was among a large group of painters who moved to New Mexico in the early-20th century, drawn by the light and the striking mountain ranges. Georgia O’Keeffe Home and Studio is in Abiquiu, about 60 miles northwest of Santa Fe. The home and studio is owned and maintained by The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, and tours are given from mid-March to Nov. 21.

Hyde Memorial State Park

New Mexico’s first state park, Hyde Memorial State Park, is set in the beautiful Sangre de Cristo Mountains, among a forest of pines along Little Tesuque Creek. It is a short drive from Santa Fe, winding around spectacular views and offering excellent group facilities and campsites.

The park features beautiful hiking trails, and it seems as if each bend in the trails reveals vistas of great natural beauty. This is a four-season park, with wintertime activities such as snow-shoeing, sledding and cross-country skiing. Just up the road, golden aspen grace the high country in September and October, and snow blankets Santa Fe Ski Basin in winter.

Artist gallery in Madrid

Madrid

Madrid (pronounced MA-drid) is one of the coolest towns in New Mexico, if not the entire country. Home to about 500 hardy souls and 40 shops and galleries, including Tapestry Gallery, it’s about 29 miles south of Santa Fe on the Turquoise Trail.

Once a rough-and-tumble mining town with bars, brawls and, most likely, brothels, it’s now a quirky combination of Old West and new arts. There’s a wood-plank sidewalk down the main street that is lined with working artists in their studios, collections of imaginative copper and metal structures, old wagons, an old-fashioned ice cream parlor called the Jezebel Soda Fountain, Old Boarding House Mercantile Shop and Maggie’s Diner, from the Wild Hogs filming location.

There’s also an old silver mine that’s now an attraction, where you can experience some of the things—such as total darkness—the miners experienced.

Tesuque

The town of Tesuque is a 10-minute drive north from Santa Fe. Tesuque is known for some great restaurants, among them the new El Nido Restaurant and Tesuque Village Market, a local favorite with patio seating and an outdoor pizza oven.

Tesuque is thought to have been established before 1200 A.D. Native artists specialize in brightly colored pottery with traditional designs, and modeled figurines. The most popular Tesuque dances—the Harvest, Deer and Buffalo—are performed in winter months. Pueblo of Pojoaque, just north of town, is the site of Poeh Museum, which provides an intriguing inside look at the art and culture of the Puebloan people.

There’s a fine art to planning an event. Each little decision in the process will culminate into just one, final opportunity to showcase the fruits of your labor. A key element is choosing the right city. After all, location will contribute to the entire event experience—so it’s important to strategize. There are many terrific options throughout the country, but you want to choose one that specifically suits the needs of both you and your event attendees. We’ll determine the best candidate so you can start planning!

Believe it or not, you are most likely spending too much money on your travel expenses. When planning your trip, there are a few simple things you can do that will go a long way and save you money. Strategic preparation in how you book and pay for your trip is crucial in the money saving process.

1. Sign up for e-newsletters and follow airline and hotel’s social media

Airlines and hotels will typically offer special deals and promotions to those who receive their newsletter and through their social platforms. You may find a promotional code on airfare and can save significantly on your travels.

2. Use the shoulder season to your advantage

Allowing flexibility for your trip is going to give you the best possible deals. Travel during the offseason of the specific place you will be attending. The month of September makes for a great time to travel; children have gone back to school and you are less likely to see families on the go. After the holiday season in early January is another great month and right after the spring break period. Flying during the midweek, either on Tuesday or Wednesday, and staying through Sunday can typically save you money.

3. Book your trip at just the right time

The best time to book your trip is two to three months prior to your departure. Airfare is constantly rising and falling but booking too early can be just as harmful as booking too late.

4. Browse for airfare and hotel rates in an incognito window

Using travel websites can be a great way to find you the best deals out there. However, use these sites with caution. When browsing in an incognito window for flights or hotels websites will not be able to use your cookies and can see that you are looking. Otherwise, they will take the opportunity to jack up their prices and get more money from you.

5. Get the rewards you deserve

Signing up for an airline credit card can help you fly places for free. Every time you spend money with the card you are earning points toward free flights. Join hotel rewards programs as well. It is free to sign up and you can often receive free amenities such as Wi-Fi.

6. Savings is in the details

Taking small steps to save a few dollars here and there can make a big difference, especially when airports charge $4 for a bottle of water. When you are headed to the airport remember to grab your empty reusable water bottle. Many airports have water refilling stations. Bring your own snacks so you are not tempted to go to the convenient store in the airport or grab something from the mini bar. Download apps on your smartphone that allow you to call and text while you are abroad. Bring medicines you might not think you will need. Destinations raise prices on items such as these because they know tourists will pay for them. Call the hotel for a better rate or a discount. It never hurts to ask and at the end of the day they want all their rooms filled, so chances are they will give it to you.

sea and sky

Proximate to the Sierra Madre Mountains, Puerto Vallarta is a prime location on the Pacific Ocean’s Bay of Banderas. The area is known for blending Old World charm with world-class luxury. Vallarta will be celebrating its 100-year anniversary in 2018.

Sea kayaking and standing-up-paddleboard (SUP) excursions depart from Boca de Tomatlan and Colomitos Beach, which is south of the historic center in Puerto Vallarta.

From November to March, marine life bustles with multicolored tropical fish, sea turtles, manta rays and eagle rays. The water is populated by open water species such as bottlenose dolphins, spotted dolphins, rough-toothed dolphins, Bryde’s whales, humpback whales, giant mantas, sea turtles and occasionally spinner dolphins, false killer whales and orcas. Numerous exotic bird species, such as the tropic bird and magnificent frigate bird, can be spotted, as well.

“Banderas Bay, with its warm blue waters, beautiful coral reefs, natural rock formations and abundant marine life is a magnet for snorkelers and scuba divers,” says Miguel Andres Hernandez, director of the Puerto Vallarta Convention and Visitors Bureau.

On Mexico’s Pacific Coast, visitors will find their place at sea, whether they prefer embarking on a sunset cruise, kitesurfing or deep-sea fishing. In Puerto Vallarta, sailing cruises offer relaxation under the sun, or an active day of swimming and snorkeling in protected coves. All cruises in Puerto Vallarta offer a briefing on sailing before departure so that everyone has an opportunity to give it a try during the ride.

Snorkeling in the warm waters of Banderas Bay offers a superb opportunity to explore the rich world beneath the surface. Snorkelers view colorful coral reefs, natural rock formations and an abundance of marine life. The snorkelers may stay close to shore in Mismaloya, Yelapa or Majahuitas, or embark on boat trips to secluded islands such as Marieta Islands or Las Caletas.

Bird-watchers, ranging from amateur to expert, enjoy visiting La Tovara National Park, a sanctuary for birds in a natural mangrove forest. Motor boat services can take groups through the mangroves for opportunities to marvel at exotic birds, crocodiles and swamp turtles.

Considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO because of its biodiversity, Espiritu Santo Island provides a beautiful atmosphere for kayaking, bird-watching and sea lion diving. Eleven authorized trails are open for hiking. Those who don’t want to fully immerse in nature can go glamping by connecting with nature while enjoying hotel comforts such as a cafe, king-size mattress and showers.