fyre festival

Image credit: YouTube/Fyre Festival

With organizers and promoters Ja Rule and Billy McFarland currently facing a $100 million lawsuit, Fyre Festival will go down in history. It will be remembered for promising an ultra-luxurious festival experience featuring Coachella-style Instagram photo opportunities, but instead presenting guests with a chaotic mess of ghastly amenities and furious party-goers.

The festival, which was slated to run April 28 to 30 and May 5 through 7, charged between $1,000 and $12,000 per ticket (not including VIP packages that ran for $250,000). However, the event was abruptly cancelled at the last minute—after guests had already traveled to the festival site, which just happened to be a remote island in the Bahamas with one small airport.

On April 27, when attendees arrived at the island, Great Exuma, they found flimsy, half-constructed tents and morsels of bread, cheese and lettuce instead of the well-appointed rooms and top-notch catering they had been promised. As ticket holders grew tired of the conditions, many made the decision to leave that same day—but found they couldn’t, because the airport was closed for the night. The next day, the organizers admitted defeat and cancelled the event, causing a rush of crowds trying to leave the island all at once.

McFarland and Ja Rule have already been hit with two lawsuits, and more may come. To add insult to injury, they have reportedly been banned from holding another event in the Bahamas. However, at least some valuable event-planning lessons have emerged from the rubble.

1. Always choose safety over novelty

The origin story of this festival may have been a bad omen. As the story goes, McFarland and Ja Rule accidentally came across the Exumas when their plane ran out of gas during a trip from New York to the Bahamas. They both “immediately fell in love” with the island, despite knowing that it “didn’t really have great infrastructure,” Rolling Stone reports. Other shortcomings included the few transportation options and lack of portable water and sewage lines.

Although the “remote private island” was initially presented as a unique paradise, even described in the Fyre Festival’s promotional video as “once owned by Pablo Escobar,” a Columbian drug lord (which certainly raises some eyebrows), the elements of this dreamy perspective remained far-fetched and entirely irrelevant to organizing a music festival – especially one of Fyre Festival’s magnitude. As the organizers chose novelty over concerns about comfort and well-being, safety hazards quickly became evident.

Event attendee Brett Linkletter reports to People, “There was a makeshift concierge tent where someone was supposed to show you to your room, but no one was there,” adding, “Someone even lit their tent on fire because they were so pissed. From a girl’s perspective, it’s kind of sketchy because the tents don’t lock up [and] everyone’s drunk—it’s just not a safe environment at all.”

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2. Influencer marketing can be VERY effective

Influencer marketing may be just about the only thing these event organizers got right. The Fyre Festival’s promoters sold their high-priced tickets by enlisting the world’s best social media influencers. Some of the most popular models today, such as Bella Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski, were flown down to the Exumas to lap up the luxury. They then leveraged their large followings on social media. The models raved about the tropical paradise, even though it is quite underdeveloped.

This influencer marketing campaign definitely worked as intended. In December 2016, 400 major influencers from various sectors posted the festival logo on their Instagram accounts. As a result, people bought tickets before the lineup was even arranged.

3. Don’t even try to hide big mistakes

In the age of social media, you can’t hide. Any blunder, especially at a high-profile event, will undoubtedly be documented and circulated throughout social media instantaneously.

During Fyre Festival, an attendee going by the alias William N. Finley IV chronicled the poor conditions. His posts went viral and other attendees subsequently jumped into the conversation. In fact, he attained a surprising amount of social media fame just by showing the underbelly of Fyre Festival’s failure.

The many shared—and reshared—images from Fyre Festival also reveal the dual nature of this reality. Visuals matter, a lot. If your event has beautiful settings, food and other elements, the event has guaranteed earned media. But if your event is on the other end of the spectrum, don’t be surprised when that’s shared all over the internet, as well.

4. Don’t bite off more than you can chew

On January 12, about four months before the event,  the organizers released a brief ad on YouTube showcasing  clear blue waters, luxury yachts, jetskiing and models prancing around in bikinis. The video promised the very “best in food, art, music and adventure.” Thanks these images, expectations were set very high and too many tickets, which Rolling Stone reports ranged from $5,000 to $250,000, were sold.

The discrepancy between attendees’ expectations and the reality was recognized well before the event’s scheduled date. When reporters who had actually visited the island raised concerns during the planning stage, Ja Rule remained unfazed. “To living like movie stars, partying like rock stars!” The rapper allegedly toasted to moving forward with the event, according to a New York Magazine article.

To make matters worse, McFarland and Ja Rule tried to keep attendees distracted with an open bar for as long as possible before admitting defeat. Perhaps the most infuriating part of this situation is that it could have been prevented, or at least made more manageable, if the organizers had been honest—with both attendees and themselves.

Fyre Festival could have been cancelled much earlier, when it first became clear that the site would not be ready in time. If the planners had acknowledged their shortcomings, they could have even come up with effective back-up plans that might have prevented the festival’s outright cancellation. Instead, the organizers waited until April 28, when some attendees had already been on the ground for a full day, to announce the cancellation.

Barbacoa de Res de Zaachila, Xochi

As a first-timer to Texas, I didn’t know what to expect upon touching down in Houston for a fam trip this spring. For the uninitiated like me, Houston can seem indistinguishable from any other bustling metropolitan city.

This city of more than 2 million has a lot going for it, though. Downtown Houston is buzzing with new restaurants, hotels and retail outlets. Public parks such as Discovery Green and Buffalo Bayou provide an inviting environment that encourages outdoor activity. And the city boasts no ethnic majority, making its population one of the country’s most diverse.

Houston’s diversity is most evident in its vibrant food scene, which is one of the best in the South. I quickly discovered that the cuisine goes beyond regional staples such as Tex-Mex and barbeque.

The first item on my itinerary was dinner at Xochi, an upscale Mexican restaurant created by James Beard Award-nominated chef Hugo Ortega. Xochi serves modern cuisine inspired by the flavors of Oaxaca, Mexico. Boasting six James Beard Award nominations and four Houston-area restaurants, Ortega is one of the city’s most celebrated culinary figures.

We were served a variety of delicious dishes, from tortillas with a seemingly endless selection of moles—including one made with ants—to rich, hand-mixed hot chocolate with handmade churros. Authentic, adventurous and delicious, this meal was a great introduction to the city’s food scene. I went to bed that evening feeling stuffed and satisfied.

houston new restaurantsShishitos, Grotto Downtown

The next day, the itinerary had more delicious surprises waiting for me. After a walking tour of downtown meeting properties such as the brand-new Marriott Marquis Houston, Hilton Americas-Houston and newly renovated Four Seasons Hotel Houston, we took a quick jaunt to George R. Brown Convention Center (GRB).

Aside from the mesmerizing art installations placed throughout the facility, what makes GRB truly stand out is the food. Yes, you read that correctly. GRB may have some of the best convention center food in the country. Take all of your expectations about stale, bland convention-center food-court dining and throw them out the window.

Eschewing hot dogs and nachos, GRB has redesigned its ground floor to add restaurants that give visitors a taste of the city. World-famous Texas barbeque makes its appearance at Bud’s Pitmaster BBQ, which is slated to open in May. Houston’s beloved Pappas family of restaurants is well-represented with Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen, a modern Cajun kitchen. Attendees looking for something quick and delicious are also well-served with McAlister’s Deli, a fast-casual sandwich chain popular throughout the South.

For lunch, we dined at Grotto Downtown, the convention center outlet of a well-loved Italian restaurant group. Tasty items filled the table, then quickly disappeared. Grilled tenderloin skewers paired with absolutely irresistible parmesan fries, Instagram-worthy panini shooters and perfectly sauteed shishito peppers were just a few of the selections.

I learned a valuable lesson on this trip. If you’re traveling to Houston, keep an open mind—and an empty stomach—because you never know what you’ll be served.

Vickie Corder

Job title: Senior director of global accounts

Company or organization: HelmsBriscoe in Jacksonville, Florida

What I love about my job:

As an independent contractor, I am the captain of my own ship. I love negotiating great value for my clients and seeing their programs through to successful conclusions. As the industry leader, HelmsBriscoe provides great tools and resources that support our work. We can have a client anywhere in the world and book hotels anywhere in the world, and I love working with our global network of colleagues.

First job: During my senior year of high school, I worked as a stagehand for the Windmill Dinner Theatre in Dallas. It was great fun to be part of the productions and to meet some top actors and actresses on the circuit.

Keys to my success: Integrity, transparency and diplomacy.

Best work trick I’ve learned: Always play by the golden rule. Always try to see situations from the perspective of others and work to find creative solutions that work for all parties.

Kimberly Greene

Job title: Lead associate for events and strategic market development

Company or organization: Booz Allen Hamilton in McLean, Virginia

What I love about my job: I love thinking about meetings and events as a key strategic offering within our overall marketing and business development plans. It’s not just about logistics anymore, but about how we can be strategic and find new ways to engage with our target audience. We have to engage beyond just the day of the event.

First job: My first job within the meetings and events industry was an internship within the marketing and events department at the United States Olympic Committee. After college, I started as a conference concierge at The Ritz-Carlton in Washington, D.C. I had never even visited D.C. before I decided to move there.

Keys to my success: Build great relationships! This industry is all about relationships. The industry and its reach are very large, but it’s definitely a small world. You never know when you will cross paths again. I’ve also been able to make event miracles happen through those key relationships and people you can always count on.

Best work trick I’ve learned: Surround yourself with a team of people whose strengths complement you and one another.

Gretchen Hall

Job title: President and CEO

Company or organization: Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau (LRCVB) in Arkansas

What I love about my job: The relationships, the variety of projects and the pace of the job. I never live the same day twice. Between our facility management, and sales and marketing initiatives, I love the variety. Tourism is the state’s second-largest economic industry and LRCVB is an integral part of virtually all quality-of-life projects and economic-development initiatives within the city.

First job: My first job was working for a national basketball organization, managing amateur tournaments. I handled everything from scheduling to coaching disputes. The job taught me logistics, time management and conflict resolution.

Keys to my success: Surround yourself with great people, be willing to do some heavy lifting and do whatever it takes to get the job done.

Best work trick I’ve learned: Hire smart, hardworking individuals with the right attitude over specific experience.

Andrea Kasnic

Job title: Director of sales and marketing

Company or organization: Hyatt Regency Chicago

What I love about my job: I love that I have the opportunity to mentor and coach every day. The relationships I’ve developed over the years have helped strengthen me as a leader. I’ve been lucky to work with some amazing colleagues, and to see their success as directors of sales within the industry is very rewarding. I enjoy the challenges and pace that come with a large convention property. Each day presents a new situation, and it excites me to work with our team to find creative solutions.

First job: Corporate management trainee at Hyatt Regency O’Hare. I truly found a passion for the hospitality industry. It really excites me to engage with our customers and to know the impact our department has on the success of the entire hotel.

Keys to my success: Be committed and passionate about everything you do—set high expectations and don’t go half way.

Best work trick I’ve learned: Have the following day organized before you leave the office the night before.

Join us for a weekend of women’s empowerment and luxury at The Smart Woman Summit – Learn more today!

Carmen Lozada

Job title: Regional director of sales

Company or organization: Barcelo Hotel Group in Hampton, Virginia

What I love about my job: The most enjoyable aspect of my job is the opportunity to build relationships and connections with a diverse group of people. I also love serving others, developing and training leaders, and learning about different views through my travels.

First job: My first job in the hotel industry was as an accounting clerk in the San Juan Hotel & Casino in Puerto Rico. I wore a suit on my first day of the internship—they knew I meant business and immediately hired me.

Keys to my success: Maintaining a positive attitude, effective communication, networking, perseverance and taking the time to do it right from the start have been essential elements to success in my life. Also, appreciating the value of people at all levels of an organization. Everyone’s job is important to overall success.

Best work trick I’ve learned: The most valuable lesson has been learning to listen, to hear and to understand people instead of responding.

Jill Stark, CCTE, CGMP, CMM

Job title: Senior conference planner

Company or organization: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California

What I love about my job: Ever since I was a young girl, planning neighborhood carnivals and birthday parties, I’ve had a passion for planning events. No. 1 for me is interacting with my clients and industry partners. In addition, event planners are in the creativity business. I love incorporating my creativity into my work. Creative people believe in the possibility of the impossible. I am consistently challenged to learn more, do more and share more.

First job: EG&E Energy Measurements—I was formerly a United States national defense contractor and provider of management and technical services.

Keys to my success: I believe that if we all really take the time to invest in ourselves—our work ethic, discipline, perseverance, strengths and areas of improvement—then we can influence a much greater value to our team, colleagues and peers.

Best work trick I’ve learned: Mobile apps! To simplify my complicated workflow and stay organized, there is no better friend than the Evernote app.

Annette Suriani

Job title: Chief meeting strategist

Company or organization: AMS Meetings Solutions in Fairfax, Virginia

What I love bout my job: Because I am an independent planner, I love the ability to work with groups that I feel passionate about. I understand—even believe in their mission and want to help advance it. I enjoy working with a diverse group of people and seeing something build from just a concept.

First job: My first job was working at Photo Drive Thru in high school and my early college years. Good thing I didn’t make that my career—so few people use cameras and develop film any more. My first industry job was with the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association.

Keys to my success: “Whatever it takes to get the job done” is my philosophy. I may not know everything, but I usually know people who know what I don’t.

Best work trick I’ve learned: I’ve discovered that there are no tricks in what we do. It’s all about focus, working with people and delivering an outstanding product.

Carla Trine

Job title: Senior sales executive

Company or organization: Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee, Florida

What I love about my job: The amazing people I get to work with both at the hotel and in my market. I’ve developed some great friendships along the way.

First job: Front desk agent Keys to my success: Being sincere and kind. I believe people can tell when you are sincere about doing the right thing, for the right reasons. Being kind to everyone. Well, because that’s just what you should always do. I started at an entry-level job in the industry and I always remember that it takes everyone in the building, from housekeeping to the dishwasher, doing their part to make each meeting a big success.

Best work trick I’ve learned: In building relationships, being transparent and sincere has been my greatest tool. When you are honest and open with your teammates, clients and co-workers, it makes taking care of sticky situations that may arise much easier.

Kira Wisniewski

Job title: Director of operations

Company or organization: National Women’s Studies Association (NWSA) in Baltimore

What I love about my job: My team is my favorite part of my job! The total staff at NWSA is a team of three. Our size allows us to be nimble. And since our squad is so small, it enables me to have direct interaction with our members.

First job: My first job was working retail at the mall. At the University of Miami, I kept a retail job at Urban Outfitters, along with a full course load, a work study, an internship and a board position at the college radio station. Being involved with that array of activities and commitments honed my time-management and organizational skills, and gave me early exposure to working with a variety of people. All are skills I rely on in meeting planning.

Keys to my success: Time management, organization and ability to add fun.

Best work trick I’ve learned: My antidote to procrastination is a tip from Ernest Hemingway: “The shortest answer is doing the thing.”

Melisa Zackery

Job title: CEO and founder

Company or organization: Unlimited Possibilities Co. in Washington, D.C.

What I love about my job: I am in the industry of people. This is definitely not a job, but my life’s passion. I love meeting and engaging with people from all over the world and being able to create an event that they will enjoy and form lasting memories.

First job: My first job was in high school, where I was a peer educator who spoke to youth in group homes or in the juvenile system about making wise decisions and living healthy.

Keys to my success: With over 13 years being in the meeting industry, I believe the keys to my success have been to love what I do, be persistent, to always be open to learn, to grow and to listen more than I talk. Your clients will always tell you what they want, if you know what questions to ask and how to listen.

Best work trick I’ve learned: I wouldn’t consider this a trick but I make it a point to be solution-oriented and always be honest and transparent through the whole process. Our goal is to get the job done, and I am never too “big” to do the smallest job to make sure it happens.

Further Reading:

Smart Women 2017: Industry Leaders

Smart Women 2017: Entrepreneurs

Smart Women 2017: Innovators

Smart Women 2017: Rising Stars

Carrie Abernathy, CMP, CEM, CSEP

Job title and organization: President and co-founder of Association for Women in Events (AWE) and director of education, training and events, Practice Greenhealth in Denver

What I love about my job: I love logistics, planning and the pressure of event management. I am a lifer in this industry. It really is my passion. As president of AWE, I love seeing how passionate our board and members are about the organization. I have really enjoyed building something from the ground up and watching the events industry embrace the vision and community. The work that we are doing to create a positive and safe community for women in business is truly fulfilling.

First job: Event manager specializing in Department of Defense, intelligence community and federal government events.

Keys to my success: Surrounding myself with incredible people.

Best work trick I’ve learned: For me, it is all about having an organized personal space. My home office is very organized and clean, so I can focus on event chaos and the job at hand.

Tracy Blair

Job title: Director of sales and marketing

Company or organization: Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel

What I love about my job: I enjoy the art of the sales process and meeting execution. Building award-winning sales teams through coaching and mentoring is so important to me, especially seeing the huge talent and potential my team has. I want my team to love what they do, and I am here to guide them as they grow in their careers. I also really enjoy developing and implementing strategies to out-hustle the competition and exceed expectations.

First job: Server in a small German restaurant in Pennsylvania.

Keys to my success: Staying true to my core values of leading with integrity and creating a culture of trust by consistently leading by example with both actions and words. I am driven by a focused passion to take risks and expect success.

Best work trick I’ve learned: It’s important to do the right thing for the right reasons. You then will consistently make the best decision with the information available.

Michele DeClerck, CMP

Job title: President and founder

Company or organization: Conference Event Management in West Des Moines, Iowa

What I love about my job: I love to see the pride my team takes in their work and the creative ideas they come up with to create value for each client’s events. I also implemented some professional collaboration benefits, and I am excited to help my team grow, which ultimately results in even better client events.

First job: I became a newspaper carrier when the neighborhood boy was removed from his position. From that job on, I have tackled challenges and opposition as I developed a ferocious passion for equality.

Keys to my success: Listen! Ask the right questions, and take time to listen. Perseverance and dedication are keys for any successful woman business owner, as well as not allowing stereotypes to create a barrier to success. Give back to the community and do the right thing.

Best work trick I’ve learned: I use rigor and discipline to help me stay focused on the highest priorities to enable me to leave at the end of the day. It’s impossible to get everything done, and this is the only way I find peace with myself for pushing some items aside.

Dahlia El Gazzar

Job title: Tech evangelist and idea igniteur

Company or organization: Dahlia+ in Boston

What I love about my job: I love the eureka moments that our audience experiences when they realize that tech solutions, apps or workarounds can transform the way they work on a daily basis. I love the hugs and high-fives we get at our tech bars and social media lounges, and the “shut the front door” moments during the sessions I do at conferences.

First job: Internal marketing manager at a five-star resort in the Red Sea, Egypt.

Keys to my success: My team, my curiosity, my tribe, my stubbornness for not taking no for an answer and my family.

Best work trick I’ve learned: I learned about brain writing with Seth Godin. In brain writing, your team writes down their ideas before a meeting instead of brainstorming out loud at a meeting. When everyone comes together to share those ideas, they do so out loud and in a systematic way. You post all the ideas on a wall, in no certain order or sequence, and the discussion or voting starts then.

Join us for a weekend of women’s empowerment and luxury at The Smart Woman Summit – Learn more today!

Cheryl Gentry

Job title: Founder and CEO

Company or organization: Glow Global Events in New York City

What I love about my job: As a global citizen, my work allows me to travel. Our team has managed events on five of the seven continents: Asia, Africa, North America, South America and Europe. Antarctica and Australia are still within reach for us.

First job: Front desk/registration at JW Marriott Washington, D.C. I learned so much about people there.

Keys to my success: Creating great experiences. I am constantly researching, brainstorming and focusing on scenarios to make great experiences happen. I also stay on top of industry trends and attend event-industry trade shows all over the world. I am reminded of a quote by Maya Angelou: “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do and liking how you do it.”

Best work trick I’ve learned: It’s important to set a timer so you’re devoted and super focused, with uninterrupted time for one task. Also, always anticipate your plan B. Something can happen unexpectedly. I learned early on to have an event kit. It’s no secret, but every event planner should have Velcro and black gaffer’s tape in their bags.

Reina Herschdorfer

Job title: Director of marketing

Company or organization: Caesars Entertainment in Las Vegas

What I love about my job: Caesars has an amazing and caring culture, and I am lucky to have a wonderful leader in Michael Massari, our chief sales officer. In my current role, I have the chance to be strategic and creative in an industry I love. Marketing is multifaceted. I touch everything that we do, from media to ads to events, while working hand-in-hand with our sales team.

First job: My first job was in guest relations, taking care of VIPs. I enjoyed building relationships and taking care of customers, but I wanted to be in sales.

Keys to my success:

My passion and my desire to continuously grow. It’s so important to go after what you want and build bridges and relationships along the way. You can’t do it over; go after your dreams and your goals.

Best work trick I’ve learned: When it comes to work, I am very clear on what the objectives are. Your objectives become your road map. Plan the work and work the plan. Be open-minded and work collaboratively. Ask for help when you need it.

Viil Lid

Job title: Co-founder

Company or organization: MeetingSift in San Francisco

What I love about my job: I love designing tools to help people collaborate at meetings. I love it even more when people find ways to use our technology that we hadn’t even thought of. Every week I talk to smart people with extensive meeting-planning and facilitation experience who share their perspectives and insights.

First job: My first job related to the meeting industry was to help plan and organize academic conferences, as a college freshman.

Keys to my success: Having insight into group psychology, personality types and individual motivators helps me understand the dynamics of meetings. Every meeting needs some shared goal and plan in place to guide the group toward a successful outcome. Without structure, a meeting is just a group of individuals wasting time together.

Best work trick I’ve learned: Discussions are often dominated by one or a few individuals. It can be challenging to make sure all voices get to be heard. We solve this problem using collaborative technologies that provide real-time visualizations of everyone’s ideas, input and opinions. It not only engages all participants, but also causes dominating personalities to share the spotlight.

Heather Reid

Job title: Founder and CEO

Company or organization: Planner Protect in Delaware, Ontario

What I love about my job: Using my specialized knowledge to negotiate venue contracts that protect event hosts from undue risk and financial exposure, and to set their events up for success, is what excites me most. After 22-plus years as an independent planner, I created Planner Protect to share this specialized knowledge across our industry.

First job: After graduate school, my first professional position was working as an environmental scientist for an energy corporation and participating in the environmental assessment of the potential disposal of nuclear fuel waste in the Canadian Arctic.

Keys to my success: The key words that I believe underwrite my success are ethical, fair, honest and transparent. Making decisions and working within the boundaries of these personal characteristics has allowed for longevity and prosperity in this industry.

Best work trick I’ve learned: Knowing the right questions to ask is key to achieving a balanced venue contract. Also, read every venue contract thoroughly three times: once to familiarize yourself with the intent of the contract; second, to find and flag issues and concerns; and third, to determine what’s missing.

Annie Senatore

Job title: CEO and creative director

Company or organization: Design Foundry in Hyattsville, Maryland

What I love about my job: No day is the same as the last. I get to interact with all types and levels of people, and I am able to engage my creative side every day of the week.

First job: Sign painter

Keys to my success: I came to the United States as an immigrant and went from de- thorning roses for $5 an hour to building a company of two into one with more than 75 employees. I played a part at the opening events for the National Museum of African American Culture on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. It was an honor for me to be invited to participate. The keys to my success are not being afraid to work hard or to try something new, even if it might fail; doing whatever is needed to make something happen; and being able to juggle the details of moving back and forth between multiple events and clients.

Best work trick I’ve learned: Always meet in person. Talking on the phone or via email or text is no alternative to one-on-one interaction when you are working through the details.

Pauline White

Job title: Marketing manager

Company or organization: Dun & Bradstreet in Atlanta

What I love about my job: People! The company encourages us to be relentlessly curious. I am able to work with various team members within our organization. Partnering with sales, marketing, legal and finance provides a wide range of exposure to different parts of the organization. I also love finding solutions for everyday challenges, and having these relationships certainly helps me maneuver through them.

First job: My very first job was dancing with the Nashville Ballet.

Keys to my success: I attribute a lot of my success to the mentors and leaders I have been fortunate enough to work with throughout my career. Each has inspired me to consistently learn more, do more and become more.

Best work trick I’ve learned: Taking care of my health, eating right and getting proper sleep is the best work trick I’ve learned. Although it might seem obvious, these things are especially important when you are onsite at an event in order to keep your energy up and manage stress.

Further Reading:

Smart Women 2017: Industry Leaders

Smart Women 2017: Entrepreneurs

Smart Women 2017: Doers

Smart Women 2017: Rising Stars

meetings-industry-trends

Meeting Professionals International (MPI) has released its quarterly Meetings Outlook report. The report presents trends and predictions that MPI members believe will have a major impact on the meetings industry. In the Spring 2017 edition, meeting planners are optimistic about increased budgets, meeting space availability and attendance.

Here are key highlights from the report:

1. Audiovisual (A/V) is more important than ever. Meeting planners are increasingly forced to compete with smartphones and tablets for attention, so impressive and innovative A/V setups are crucial. Event professionals can play with out-of-the-box ideas such as interactive displays and virtual reality setups, but taking on the latest technology will cost a pretty penny. According to the survey, a growing number of planners see A/V as an important budget item—and they’re willing to spend more of their budget on it.

2. Meeting budgets are rising. Luckily, planners who want to invest in A/V will likely have more to spend. Fifty-two percent of those surveyed anticipate favorable budgets for their events and just 20 percent expect an unsatisfactory event budget. At the end of last year, just 45 percent of respondents had a positive outlook for their event spend, while 28 percent of planners were unhappy with their budgets.

3. Meeting space availability is up. For the past few years, meeting professionals have been working in a sellers’ market. Demand has been sky-high, forcing meeting planners to compete for space. Now, the market appears to be shifting, as forty-eight percent of MPI’s survey respondents are seeing good availability for 2017. 2018 looks to be even better, with 61 percent reporting significant availability when booking meetings scheduled for next year.

4. Attendance at both live and virtual events is expected to grow. In the past, some feared that virtual events could have a negative impact on face-to-face meetings. However, that hasn’t been the case. Instead, virtual meetings and video broadcasts have become tools that planners can use to enhance their live events. Both forms of meetings are expected to grow in the future. Fifty-five percent of planners predict live attendance will increase, while 57 percent expect virtual attendance to grow.

5. Contingency planning is top-of-mind. Terrorism and protests continue to dominate news headlines, bringing security concerns and risk management to the top of every planner’s to-do list. Well-prepared planners must take many important steps, such as carefully choosing a venue with a strong security plan, anticipating possible injury or illness and preparing for potential technology failures.

6. U.S. travel policies are impacting meeting and event professionals. Forty-six percent of U.S.-based meeting planners believe the Trump administration’s travel policies are bad for business. Hotels are seeing cancellations by international travelers who are uncertain whether the United States is open to them. Planners working with international attendees should be aware of the potential for delays or cancellations due to visa issues and airport inspections.

asae-learning-online

The American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) has released a new continuous learning and talent development platform–ASAE Learning Online. The new service offers on-demand learning opportunities for everyone in the community—both members and non-members.

“ASAE Learning Online gives the association community the ability to learn at the point of need, when and where they need it, as well as understand where they are along their career path. Subscribers will be able to take self-assessments, set goals and track all their continuing education in one place,” says ASAE President and CEO John H. Graham IV, FASAE, CAE, in a statement on the ASAE website. “We are very excited about this new platform for association professionals!”

Some of the services offered by the system include personalized learning plans, knowledge gap assessments and other educational opportunities relating to management and professional skills. Management abilities have been dictated by ASAE’s Job Task Analysis. Cultivating this skillset is essential to individuals, their teams and the overall functionality of companies. The platform is also capable of offering personalized recommendations.

“Research shows that organizations with strong learning and talent development processes drive better business results, including: more revenue, greater employee engagement, reduced staff turnover and higher customer retention,” says ASAE’s Chief Learning Officer Rhonda Payne, CAE. “As we position ASAE to provide the best support for our members individually as well as organizationally, it is critical that we offer a variety of ways to engage and help advance this type of employee-centric learning culture.”

The platform is comprised of member-produced, staff-produced and third-party course content. ASAE Learning Online will run on the platform SumTotal, a provider of human resource management software and services. A monthly or annual subscription can be purchased by both ASAE members and non-members. Members can pay a monthly rate of $49 or a yearly subscription fee of  $488. For non-members, the monthly rate is $69 and a yearly subscription is $678. ASAE Learning Online also offers a free 7-day trial, which is a limited freemium account with five trial courses.

ASAE Learning Online will also add organizational subscriptions this fall, along with a variety of talent management functions, multi-course certificate programs and career bundles. To learn more about the program, or to sign-up, visit ASAE Learning Online.

gordon ramsay hell's kitchen las vegas

After 17 seasons of fierce competition, viewers of the hit television series “Hell’s Kitchen” will finally be able to experience the exciting culinary environment for themselves. Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has announced that his first Hell’s Kitchen restaurant will make a fiery entrance at one of the Las Vegas Strip’s most iconic properties, Caesars Palace Las Vegas, at the end of 2017. The restaurant will be Ramsay’s fifth in Las Vegas.

Hell’s Kitchen will be designed by Jeffrey Beers International to be “an experiential and immersive destination restaurant” that enables guests to feel as if they are dining on the studio set and even participating in the show. The restaurant’s decor will be heavily inspired by the television series. The bustling kitchen will be the restaurant’s centerpiece, allowing diners to see all of the action that helps get their meals to the table.

“Fans of the show have been asking us to bring a Hell’s Kitchen restaurant to life since day one, so I’m thrilled to finally be doing it here at Caesars Palace,” said Ramsay. “A key element of the show’s success has always been the diners’ experience, so we are excited for guests in Las Vegas to feel like they too are part of the show—flames and all.”

Hell’s Kitchen is expected to seat nearly 300 diners in both indoor and outdoor patio dining. A daily themed brunch will be offered, as well as a dinner and bar menu. It is not only the decor that will take its cue from the television show. The menu will highlight many recipes from Hell’s Kitchen competitors and dishes that have been featured on the show, including Ramsay’s own signature dishes.

“Like so many others worldwide, I too have long been a fan of “Hell’s Kitchen” and we are thrilled to be bringing a first-of-its-kind restaurant like this to Caesars Palace guests and visitors to Las Vegas,” said Gary Selesner, Caesars Palace regional president. “We are so proud to welcome a second Gordon Ramsay restaurant into Caesars Palace, a partnership that continues to be the perfect recipe throughout many of our resorts.”

The next time you plan a meeting or event, don’t resort to same old, same old. Book Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa – and use our 100,000+ square feet of meeting space to create exactly the personality, atmosphere and impression on your attendees that you’re looking for.

To start, we’ll make sure you don’t feel constrained by little things. Walls, for example.

Because when we say we understand meetings inside and out, we mean that literally.

Certainly, we offer the ultimate in guestroom luxury and conference facility conveniences. Elegant ballrooms, enhanced cell phone reception and personal support from our staff.

But we also offer some of the most unique outdoor venues you’ll find anywhere. So you can convene an assembly under the open sky. Gather intimate groups in rockers on the porch. Keep attendees centered and soothed with group yoga at our Windflower Spa, voted one of the nation’s 100 Best by Condé Nast Traveler. By day, network over golf – on a unique 27-hole facility voted #1 golf course in the city by San Antonio Magazine.  By night, converse over firepits or dine under live oaks strung with twinkling lights.

And when your group winds up its work, you’ll find numerous ways to unwind.

Sip regional craft beers at an authentic, Texas-style saloon. Select from wild game, steaks, seafood and locally-sourced produce at Antlers Lodge restaurant. Slip back to Windflower for an individual massage or beauty treatment. Splash into a sundrenched pool. Hike trails through the wooded terrain. Or float down a lazy river running throughout the property.

Yet as remote and relaxing as all this feels, remember where this hideaway puts you!

On arriving, you may notice that we’re a mere 20-minute drive from San Antonio International Airport. An equally brief trip will take you from here to downtown, to experience the historic Alamo or nightlife on the River Walk! Or take a daytime excursion into the nearby Hill Country for wine tasting or antique shopping.

Still, we hope you’ll explore the natural beauty we’ve preserved in creating this resort from a genuine 19th century Texas ranch. These 300 acres are so unspoiled that black squirrels, red hawks and other wildlife are fully at home here.

But you and your guests will be, too. We’ll see to it.

Just ask TripAdvisor readers. They rated us the #1 resort in San Antonio. And we were among the top-ranked of all North American Hyatt Regency Hotels for overall customer service for 2016.

So impress your attendees with a resort that delivers every luxury under the sun – and moon.

Request “PICK2” when you book and choose two perks from six different options, including double World of Hyatt points, F&B and internet discounts, 1 per 30 comp rooms and more! Good on meetings booked by 12/31/17 and held by 3/31/18 with 30 or more paid peak room nights.

Call 210-520-4030
Email [email protected]

 

Agua Pool Deck

One&Only Palmilla is distinguished throughout Los Cabos and the surrounding Baja Peninsula for its nurtured verdant surroundings and typical hacienda character, that identify an event and incentive program with a unique sense of place.

Choose from a fragrant green oasis, such as the Herb Garden. Created by the chefs at One&Only Palmilla, this idyllic space is perfect for cocktail receptions. The South Lawn, a graceful lawn with the soundtrack of the surf on the adjacent beach, is a memorable setting for an outdoor party or dining.

The resort also offers two separate beaches for outdoor events. Turtle Beach, named for the hatching turtles released here into the surf, is a fabulous setting for formal dining or a beach party. And Pelican Beach, a calm bay beneath a bluff, is a popular location for incentive program activities, group lunches or receptions.

Pelican Beach

Other outdoor locations include the Chapel, located on a hill overlooking the resort’s tropical grounds and beaches. With its whitewashed arched walls, the chapel provides a traditional Mexican backdrop for an outdoor event. And Agua Pool Deck, a contemporary style venue with traditional Mexican touches and views towards the glittering lights of San Jose.

One&Only Palmilla’s Conference Centre reflects the distinctive artistry of Old Mexico with modern amenities. The ballroom can break into four smaller meeting rooms, and the traditional walled courtyard with open fire and fountain is an atmospheric space, ideal for pre-event gatherings.

Ann K. Bruttell

Job title: President and founder

Company or organization: Meeting Coordinators Inc. in Troy, Michigan

What I love about my job: I am privileged to work with a terrific staff and have premier clients. Every day brings new and exciting learning opportunities. I love the diversity that association and meeting management affords me and my team. We learn from each client and can share best practices for the benefit of all.

First job: Michigan was my home, but I was recruited to work in Washington, D.C., to become a logistics expert with the government. After a four-year assignment, I was tapped to work for a prestigious association-management firm in D.C. What a training ground!

Keys to my success: Success is just one meeting at a time and treating every client like they are the only client. I could not do any of this on my own. I have a very tight and intelligent team. One process for us is that every person is cross-trained on each of our clients. They must know the basics should extra hands be needed on deck.

Best work trick I’ve learned: I don’t know if there are really any tricks. You realize that every problem has a solution and that panic never, ever helps.

Sharon Bonner

Job title: CEO and president

Company or organization: Bright Ideas Events in Vancouver, British Columbia

What I love about my job: There are so many that the list is endless. I love producing a variety of different events with different themes. One of my favorite steps in the event-planning process is the beginning, where everything is a blank canvas just waiting for creativity to be born. I love creating an actual event out of one of my ideas.

First job: My first big-event job was in 1990 with Microsoft out of Redmond, Washington. They had purchased a Canadian company in Vancouver, British Columbia, and asked me to plan a boat cruise where employees could meet and network.

Keys to my success: Aside from the obvious traits of multitasking, good time- management skills and being very detail-oriented, being honest and personable are important keys to my success. Another key is relationship building. A good relationship will last through the decades, whether it’s with a supplier, client or event personnel.

Best work trick I’ve learned: To use basic templates for everything to ensure streamlined cohesive communication and messaging from our business while saving time.

Patricia Durocher

Job title: Founder and CEO

Company or organization: Global Cynergies in Scottsdale, Arizona

What I love about my job: The multifaceted nature of being a hands-on entrepreneur in a global marketplace. There is something new every day. Working with professionals in over 25 countries brings a priceless diversity and strength to the company. There is tremendous satisfaction in seeing our team members find success.

First job: The summer when I was 13, I worked on a tobacco farm in Connecticut. That was hard work and a good incentive to get an education.

Keys to my success: People: mentors, authors, supporters, encouragers, family, staff. People who believe in your vision and catch your passion. You can’t do it alone; you need the right team in place to help you climb the hill.

Best work trick I’ve learned: There really aren’t any tricks. It’s about hard work, perseverance, staying focused and disciplined. My faith plays a big role in what we do, why we do it and how we operate. I’ve learned to treat people with respect without labels, be a lifelong learner, never ask someone to do something you wouldn’t do yourself, and do the right thing even when it costs.

Maureen Ryan Fable

Job title: CEO Americas in New York City

Company or organization: FIRST

What I love about my job: Creating opportunities, both internally and externally. Being at the helm of FIRST, an agency that has been constantly growing, especially over the past five-plus years, means creating job opportunities. From that, relationships and friendships are formed, both with clients and colleagues, which will create lasting memories. I love getting our team excited about these opportunities and showing them how business growth also means personal growth, expansion of skills, and new and exciting projects.

First job: My first job was as a receptionist at Kathryn Schenker Associates, a public relations firm that represented artists such as Sting, Branford Marsalis and Lou Reed.

Keys to my success: Having a passion for what I do, being compassionate and being a loyal employer. Integrity in business has consistently been a central focus for me. I’ve always looked out for my team and surrounded myself with the best of the best. I always strive to be better each day and aim to infuse that same level of excellence to my team.

Best work trick I’ve learned: Bring to life the “work hard, play hard” philosophy.

Join us for a weekend of women’s empowerment and luxury at The Smart Woman Summit – Learn more today!

Allie Magyar

Job title: CEO

Company or organization: Hubb Inc. in Vancouver, Washington

What I love about my job: Leading the strategic vision of how event technology can disrupt the meetings industry. I love being able to help meeting planners envision how technology can save time with their processes and showcase the value of events in moving their businesses forward.

First job: My dad taught me at a young age what it meant be an entrepreneur. He gave me the opportunity at age 8 to build first-aid kits for his company for 25 cents a piece.

Keys to my success: I feel fortunate to have had an amazing team of co-workers, mentors and coaches that have helped push me throughout my career; a strong team is always a large part of shared success. I’ve always found that listening well, being open to feedback and being willing to work hard for what you want will take you on a journey that results in success.

Best work trick I’ve learned: To be a great collaborator. I’ve found that the power of team is the most powerful trick that you can have in your toolbox.

Kelly Roberts

Job title: Owner, vice chairman and chief operating officer

Company or organization: The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in Riverside, California; president of Casey’s Cupcakes

What I love about my job: My job allows me to be creative with memorable guest experiences and strategic with running a business. It’s the perfect balance of two distinct but related passions. I work with an incredible team, from the front desk to the back of house, which works tirelessly to execute programming that stays ahead of the curve.

First job: I started investing in real estate and began my road to entrepreneurship.

Keys to my success: Having an active role in the community through charitable programs and business organizations has helped me stay in tune with the needs of the area. This personal investment outside of the hotel sparks creative ideas for guests and inspires ways to better connect with and take care of my staff.

Best work trick I’ve learned: I’ve learned to enrich my life with a variety of experiences. Whether collaborating with a nonprofit or traveling to new destinations, these influences all help me better run a hotel both in terms of coming up with innovative guest experiences and fostering a talented and willing team.

Polly Rossi

Job title: President

Company or organization: Meeting Achievements in Valparaiso, Indiana

What I love about my job: I love the fast-paced environment in that nothing ever stays the same. Every event is different, and reinventing the wheel is part of our fantastic journey as event organizers. I truly love working with course directors of medical meetings, knowing that we help train thousands to impact the lives of millions by helping clients create memorable events.

First job: I was raised on a farm, so my first job was as a farmhand. My first job that provided a paycheck was softball umpire.

Keys to my success: I am very strategic and analytical. One of my strengths is being an ally, a great listener and someone whose integrity shines. I can help you determine what your needs are when you feel overwhelmed.

Best work trick I’ve learned: For me, it’s block and tackle. With so many moving wheels going on for so many different programs, it’s about learning to be time-sensitive and only working on certain programs throughout the day.

Heather Sharpe

Job title: Event producer

Company or organization: Sherpa Group Events Inc. in Vancouver, British Columbia.

What I love about my job: Event management gives me the opportunity to balance the joy of the creative process with the satisfaction of executing the logistical and detailed aspects of the profession. I love joining together with a team for that onsite experience of “the show must go on” and overcoming challenges as they arise.

First job: My first job in the event industry was as stage manager for a musical performance.

Keys to my success: My success comes from maintaining a positive, passionate attitude and loving what I do. This industry isn’t for everyone, and if you aren’t loving what you are doing, it shows.

Best work trick I’ve learned: It’s important to create reliable processes and procedures for collaboration and organization that will not fail you when you get busy, and focus on clear and timely communication with your team—use emerging technology systems to support both.

Hillary Smith, CMP, CSEP

Job title: Partner

Company or organization: Koncept Events in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

What I love about my job: I love the variety and chaos that comes with being inspired and challenged daily. It’s great to feel valued and like I’m contributing to something bigger than me. I live for finding the aha! component that will impact or resonate with a group.

First job: My first job was at a Dairy Queen and ironically, as was my business partner, Angie Nelson. When we have hard days, it’s the first place we go, straight to the classic dipped cone and a Blizzard.

Keys to my success: Both Angie and I have found success by trusting our gut and each other while enjoying and embracing the crazy that is business ownership. We are passionate about moving our company forward and make sure to surround ourselves with talent and vendors who are smarter than us. There is also lot to be said about actually listening to our clients and consistently doing really great work at a fair price. We always treat others as we would want to be treated. It all comes back to you.

Best work trick I’ve learned: As an entrepreneur, “marrying up” by choosing Angie as the right business partner and hiring a coach have been key.

Christine Stoffel

Job title: Founder and CEO

Company or organization: SEAT, LLC (Sports & Entertainment Alliance in Technology); SEAT Global Magazine LLC; Silicon Sports LLC in Scottsdale, Arizona

What I love about my job: The friendships I have developed across the world because of starting and growing SEAT is my most treasured part of my job and my journey. The fact that hundreds of my sports friends across the globe trust me to share with me their life challenges, their vision and their life goals, and to know in my heart that at times I have had a profoundly positive impact on their lives. What I love about my job is making a difference in people’s lives.

First job: Junior in high school, lifeguard at Champions Family Fitness Club in Lafayette, Louisiana, for $3.31 an hour.

Keys to my success: Never take anything for granted; be gracious and kind to those around you and be a good friend who listens, no matter how busy I am. Relationships are the most important thing in life—it is the key to a great life journey.

Best work trick I’ve learned: I’ve found that living my life with integrity and full transparency will grow trust with customers, staff, family, friends and everyone around you.

Further Reading:

Smart Women 2017: Industry Leaders

Smart Women 2017: Innovators

Smart Women 2017: Doers

Smart Women 2017: Rising Stars