iacc and mpi

The International Association of Conference Centers (IACC) and Meeting Professionals International (MPI) are forming a strategic alliance, both parties announced this week.

The five-year global partnership enables the two associations to share event-hosting and learning platforms. The alliance includes education initiatives delivered at annual conferences and regional events, and online. It also incorporates research efforts on behalf of IACC and MPI.

“The leadership teams at MPI and IACC have been collaborating on several successful initiatives over the last two years and now seems the perfect time to bring all this great work together under one strategy to allow us to provide more [opportunities] for our respective members,”  said Mark Cooper, CEO of IACC.

Founded in 1981, IACC represents some of the world’s top small-to-midsize meetings-focused venues in 25 countries.

Paul Van Deventer, president and CEO of MPI, which represents 60,000 international meeting and event professionals, said, “One of our top priorities at MPI is to continuously enrich our portfolio of professional development offerings, and this collaboration with IACC will certainly help us deliver more value to our membership community.”

MPI’s 2017 World Education Congress (WEC), scheduled for June 19–22 in Las Vegas, will be among the first conferences to feature a livestreaming joint venture that combines IACC’s venue-focused technology know-how with MPI learning sessions.

“We are especially excited about the opportunity to live-stream WEC to members that are unable to make it to the conference this year and in an environment that encompasses peer-to-peer engagement and networking,” Van Deventer said.

MPI will also take part in IACC’s Meeting Room of the Future global research project with conference-and-meeting space designers. The collaboration will focus on technology, hospitality, delegate interactions and conference management.

It’s worth noting that IACC-certified venues, which host smaller conferences and meetings, welcome part-time planners booking event spaces as just one function of their multitasking jobs. A crucial objective of the IACC-MPI alliance is to provide relevant education to this important group.

“Just as MPI is passionate about designing great meeting experiences, IACC is passionate about venues delivering an exceptional meetings experience,” Cooper said. “It’s the perfect marriage.”

meetings industry council of colorado annual conference and tradeshow

Recently, Smart Meetings had the pleasure of attending the Meetings Industry Council (MIC) of Colorado’s first-ever two day annual conference. MIC of Colorado is a coalition made up of 13 organizations involved in the meetings and events industry. The Annual MIC Conference and Trade Show, traditionally a one-day event, was extended to become a two-day conference this year. According to the results, it was a resounding success.

From March 14 to 15, a record 1,200 attendees took in keynotes and educational sessions at Colorado Convention Center. As security is on many meeting professionals’ minds these days, the conference organized a risk management panel in which industry leaders shared strategies for assessing security risks at meetings and conventions. Fifteen educational breakouts and several networking receptions provided valuable opportunities for meetings and hospitality professionals to grow their careers and make important connections.

The conference also featured a star-studded list of keynote speakers. Tim Gard, CSP, CPAE Hall of Fame speaker, kicked off the conference with a bang by presenting three quick and easy ways for anyone to connect with customers. Industry heavyweight Michael Dominguez, chief sales officer for MGM Resorts International, shared his insights on 2017, a year he believes will be ruled by disruption, change and instability. Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper spoke about the hospitality industry’s importance to Colorado, and what may come in this ever-evolving industry.

MIC also took the opportunity to recognize industry trailblazers with its 2016 MIC Leadership Award, which was given to Steve Kinsley, president of Kinsley Meetings.

After holding such a successful event, MIC of Colorado will continue to host two-day annual meetings. The 18th Annual MIC Conference and Trade Show will be held March 13-14, 2018 at Colorado Convention Center.

CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa

CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa has a special amenity to attract incentive travel groups: tequila.

CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa tequila quizSometimes the hotel’s 433 guest rooms, 9,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and ocean views just aren’t enough. So the resort makes its own tequila. It harvests blue agave, the key ingredient, from the hotel grounds.

CasaMagna is one of only a few resorts in the world with its own brand. It makes three types—blanco, reposado and anejo—distinguished by color, flavor and price. Figure $40 to $120 a bottle.

To help take team building to a higher level, the hotel offers tequila tasting and education to gatherings. Small executive groups can take a class in a new, private herb garden. The resort’s tequilero—like a sommelier, but with a different specialty—makes sure students receive a proper education.

Quiz Time. Ready?

This might be a good time to pause and test your tequila knowledge. Here are three questions to measure your mastery:

1. According to Aztec legend, the first agave plant grew from the remains of Mayhuel, the goddess of fertility. True or false?
2. Mexican law dictates tequila must age in an oak barrel. Yes or no?
3. Once a tequila bottle is empty—and this has been known to happen—you are supposed to break it. Uh-huh or uh-uh?

If you answered True, Yes, and Uh-huh, then congratulations! You aced the test. You can pick up your free bottle of… well, not actually. But your tequila acumen might get you advanced placement in Casamagna’s Secretos de la Familia Tequila Education Program.

The 13-year-old program has a loose admissions policy. If you sometimes find yourself spelling tequila with two L’s—as in tequilla—it’s not a problem. You’re in.

“Whether you’re new to tequila or a seasoned expert, there’s a level for you,” the program brochure assures guests. “Choose from Tequila 101, Tequila 2.0 or Tequila Snob.”

Resort General Manager David Gauna offers another educational tip for students: “Tequila should be sipped, not shot.”

This should come as good news if you have a meeting in the morning.

Three airlines, impacted by the recent decision to ban personal electronic devices on certain flights to the United States and United Kingdom, are offering creative ways to appease business travelers.

Starting this week Qatar Airways will offer a laptop loan service to business-class passengers along with one hour of free Wi-Fi. Although Qatar has not identified the computer brand it will be offering, the airline stated, “Customers will be able to download their work onto a USB [device] before stepping on board.”

The ban, implemented by the United States and United Kingdom two weeks ago, targets carry-on electronic devices larger than a standard-size smartphone on certain flights departing from the Middle East and North Africa. It includes laptops, notebook computers, tablet-computing devices, portable electronic games and portable DVD players.

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways also is offering free Wi-Fi service to passengers in first and business class, along with optional Apple iPads on U.S.-bound flights.

Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines are providing services that make it easier for passengers to turn in their personal electronic devices (PEDs) at boarding gates and retrieve them upon arrival at U.S. and U.K. destinations. Qatar Airways is providing the service for customers with PEDs affected by the electronics ban.

Countries with affected flights to the United States and United Kingdom are Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Tunisia and Turkey.

“Qatar Airways is offering a special service at the gate for all passengers, whereby any electronic items prohibited under the new ban will be collected and securely packed,” the airline announced. “These will be tagged, loaded as checked-in baggage and returned safely to the customer on arrival to the U.S.”

Akbar Al Baker, chief executive of Qatar Airways, explained the laptop loan program recognizes the value business-class travelers place on using their computers while flying.

“We truly appreciate the importance of being able to work on board our aircraft,” Al Baker said.

Alexandre de Juniac, director general and CEO of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), recently implored governments to find alternatives to banning laptops and other personal-computing devices on certain flights.

“The current measures are not an acceptable long-term solution to whatever threat they are trying to mitigate,” de Juniac stated in an IATA press release. “We call on governments to work with industry to find a way to keep flying secure without separating passengers from their personal electronics.”

Stating that “intelligence is king,” IATA’s CEO called upon governments to share with airlines and airport security—to the extent possible—information about potential terrorist threats.

philadelphia cvb

Philadelphia is one of the most sought-after meeting destinations in the world. Over the last two and half years, the city has successfully hosted Pope Francis and the World Meeting of Families Congress, the Democratic National Convention and, coming soon, the NFL Draft (April 2017). Located in the heart of downtown Philadelphia is the grand LEED-certified Pennsylvania Convention Center. The SMG-managed center is the 14th largest free-standing facility in the nation and has the capacity to host larger trade shows or two conventions simultaneously. The property features one million square feet of saleable space and the largest contiguous exhibit space in the Northeast—528,000 square feet. The center also boasts the largest ballroom on the East Coast—55,408 square feet—and 82 meeting rooms.

One of the most compact housing packages in the country can also be found in Philadelphia. With more than 10,000 hotel rooms within a 15-minute walk of the Pennsylvania Convention Center, your attendees will love that their only transportation costs are a pair of comfortable shoes. Currently under construction is a 755-room, 780,000-square-foot W and Element Hotel by Westin. Plans are also underway for an Aloft Hotel by Starwood with direct access to the main entrance lobby of the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

Full of cultural masterpieces, Philadelphia also embraces its creative side—from museums to outdoor art galleries, there is so much to discover. Museum Mile begins near the western entrance of the Convention Center providing access to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Barnes Foundation, the Rodin Museum and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Philadelphia’s thriving culinary scene, which draws from many diverse influences, is one of the destination’s most highly-rated qualities. The city is known for its cheesesteaks, but at the Reading Terminal Market, located across from the Pennsylvania Convention Center, visitors can find an unparalleled variety of international and local cuisine, including Pennsylvania Dutch specialties and authentic soul food.

Getting to Philadelphia is just as easy as getting around in the city. A sophisticated regional rail and subway network links the Philadelphia International Airport—with 30 airlines and nearly 550 daily departures to 126 cities, including 39 international destinations—to Amtrak’s 30th Street Station, the Convention Center and downtown Philadelphia.
Blending historic appeal with modern amenities, Philadelphia’s compact and walkable downtown is the perfect location for your next meeting. To start planning your event in Philadelphia, visit DiscoverPHL.com/meet.

wellness in meetings

Incorporating wellness practices into our dietary, professional and recreational routines sounds like a great idea. But when the time comes to follow through, it can be tough to swap Sunday morning waffles for a green smoothie, or trade a mindless tv show for a meditation session.

A similar disconnect exists in the meetings industry, according to a new Wellness in Meetings and Incentive Travel Study from the Incentive Research Foundation (IRF). The study measures the prevalence of wellness initiatives in incentive travel and meeting programs.

In November 2016, IRF collected completed surveys from 109 meeting planners and 34 hoteliers. Nearly 60 percent of surveyed planners had at least 15 years of industry experience.

Half of in-house planners called themselves personally enthusiastic about wellness and sustainability. These planners identified wellness as a critical focus for their company at approximately the same rate, and 43 percent said that their organizations have wellness programs.

However, that foundation has not translated to an emphasis on wellness and sustainability in meetings, in design, policy or budgets. The survey found that only 17 percent of companies connect their wellness programs to their meeting strategies. Even fewer organizations budget for sustainable meetings, place a strong emphasis on well meetings or maintain wellness meeting guidelines.

Planners can’t place the blame entirely on companies or clients, however. Only one-third of meeting planners have booked a health and wellness speaker for an event, or selected a wellness destination for a meeting, in the past 24 months.

“Each year, companies in the United States invest billions of dollars to both help their employees get healthier and additional billions to help them meet face to face,” said IRF President Melissa Van Dyke. “The research featured in The IRF Wellness in Meetings and Incentive Travel Study leads us to question how integrated these efforts within organizations are—and what the meetings and incentives industry could do to create better synergies.”

Clearly, sustainable, wellness-based meeting practices have room to grow. But even if the industry isn’t ready to adopt composting and acupuncture, there is interest in creating healthier, greener meetings.

According to the IRF Survey:

–The majority of meetings planners agreed wellness is a critical focus for either their company (87%) or their client’s company (74%).
–40% of planners characterized meetings as “mostly healthy,” while 19% responded “very healthy.”
–The top standard preferred food & beverage wellness inclusions for meetings and events were healthy snacks (83%), water and reduced calorie drinks (82%), and fish, chicken and lean meats (80%).
–Smoke-free facilities (90%) and free access to fitness facilities (80%) were the top-ranked standard or preferred meeting design elements supporting wellness.
–Offering water and reduced calorie drinks as the default (77%) had the lowest expected impact on F&B budgets.
–Emerging wellness practices include “mindfulness breaks or resources” and “guides to nearby health facilities.”

Now it’s up to corporate executives, meeting planners and hoteliers to work together to turn interest into implementation. View or download the full IRF study online.

San Jose is the Capital of Silicon Valley and the country’s most future ready city (Dell) with the world’s largest concentration of technology expertise. Over 6,600 tech companies call San Jose home, including Adobe, Cisco, PayPal, EBay and NVIDIA. Many tech companies are choosing San Jose as the host city for their events and attendees will find the city’s innovative and entrepreneurial spirit contagious.

Apple is bringing their World Wide Developers Conference back to San Jose in 2017 (June 5-9), Facebook is bringing their F8 Developers Conference (April 18-19) to San Jose and Silicon Valley Comic Con will return after a successful inaugural event (April 21-23).

San Jose native, Apple Co-Founder and Silicon Valley Comic Con Founder, Steve Wozniak had this to say about San Jose. “San Jose is the epicenter of Silicon Valley, a place where nothing is impossible… Silicon Valley Comic Con will showcase the intersection of fact and fiction, technology and pop culture, and the power of imagination. It just fits for us to hold the convention here in San Jose, the city where I grew up and love.”

Like many of the tech giants in Silicon Valley, San Jose has a campus-like feel of its own. The San Jose CVB manages the convention center, four historic theaters and two cultural venues, all within the downtown core. It’s easy to arrive in San Jose with Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC), only four miles from downtown.

SJC offers 150 daily departures to 41 non-stop destinations.  They recently welcomed international flights to London, Frankfurt, Beijing and Shanghai, along with domestic service to Baltimore-Washington and Salt Lake City. This March, SJC will add direct service to Chicago and New York.

Like Apple, Facebook and Silicon Valley Comic Con, we encourage you to find a home in San Jose. Start exploring at sanjose.org/meetings.

Make your next event an experience that sets your brand above others. Discover the first destination resort in Paso Robles, California, recently awarded Wine Region of the Year by Wine Enthusiast and Best Wine Country Town by Sunset Magazine. The Allegretto Vineyard Resort, featuring 171 guestrooms and suites, is nestled on a 20 acre estate, just a short drive from the pristine beaches of the Pacific Ocean, providing unlimited possibilities to make your next meeting or event memorable. Conveniently located mid-way between San Francisco and Los Angeles, and near the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP) and the Paso Robles Municipal Airport, the Allegretto Vineyard Resort is closer than you think.

With more than 40,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, there is no shortage of inspired presentation platforms. The Veneto Ballroom & Conference Center is available for large events of up to 350, and can be divided into three spaces for breakouts or more intimate gatherings. The elegant Veneto pre-function space opens onto the Piazza Magica, offering possibilities for pre- and post-event gatherings. The Piazza is the center of the resort and boasts 12,000 square feet for gatherings, performances, breakouts and more. The resort also offers unique spaces such as the Abbey de Lerins which offers a distinctive setting for dinners, meetings, team building, fitness and musical performances, for up to 50 guests. The Dylan boardroom and Murano private dining room, each with a guest capacity of 22, provide even more intimate settings.

The spacious estate is home to eight acres of vineyards stewarded to create Allegretto Wines, an olive orchard with over 200 trees cultivated to craft the resort’s signature olive oil, along with fruit trees and chef’s garden to enrich Chef Eric Olson’s culinary creations. The 35,000 square feet of outdoor space, combined with exceptional weather, provide a multitude of options for personalized ceremonies, team building events, or mindful relaxation via the Resort’s two labyrinths or majestic gardens.

Cello Ristorante & Bar, under the direction of Chef Olson, is focused on regional and seasonal ingredients. The menu is centered around creative culinary compositions masterfully presented with exotic spices and forged ingredients, designed to pair with the expansive wine list and award winning craft cocktails. Whether in the dining room or hosted, your guests will delight in the culinary creations available at the Allegretto.

Once you have imagined your perfect meeting space, our experienced team will partner with you to bring your vision to reality and exceed your expectations. Our concierge service can arrange for customized off-site experiences, including a majestic Highway 1 tour with stunning ocean vistas and a tour of Hearst Castle, curated winery experiences, marine or land-based outdoor adventures, or visits to quaint small towns with artisan galleries and unique cultural attractions. The Allegretto Vineyard Resort invites you to host your next event, large or small, at the resort and to experience the unmatched attention to detail and warm hospitality the property and its staff have to offer.

Healthy travel

Spring has officially arrived! For airports this means a large influx of travelers and families enjoying spring break. Unfortunately, the warmer weather and increased volume of travelers can also mean more chances to catch a bug. Whether your travel plans involve a sandy beach or snowy oasis, it’s always important to come prepared. Experienced travelers take precautionary actions to maintain good health. Here are our spring travel tips to support good health throughout the season.  Any traveler who has dealt with unexpected illness on the road knows that it’s better to be safe than sorry!

1. Inquire about vaccinations. For international travel, at least a month in advance. Follow through on your doctor’s recommendations.

2. Contact your health insurance company. Make sure you know the policy for international travel. For domestic trips, be sure to keep your insurance card handy and have a way to access it if you lose it.

3. Sanitizing wipes. You may be surprised by their infinite uses, such as before meals, wiping down your flight tray, luggage handles and more.

4. Choose appropriate clothing for the climate. Always check the weather before you embark. If it’s going to be sunny in your destination city, then bring a hat and sunscreen to cover up.

5. Prepare your prescriptions. For international travel, check specific country regulations beforehand and make sure to bring doctor’s notes along with any controlled and intravenous medications. Always keep prescription medication in its original packaging with your name on the label. If you are going to be on the road for a long time, then coordinate how to get a sufficient supply from your doctor.

6. Prevent insect bites. When traveling to hot and humid locales, pack and use insect repellent on body, clothing and bedding. While at the destination, try to stay indoors during dusk and dawn, which are the hours that present the highest risk of malaria. When embarking on outdoor adventures such as hikes or camping trips, dress properly with long socks, sleeves and pants. Screens and bed nets will also help keep insects away. Due to the spread of Zika, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an alert for travel to Miami-Dade County, Florida, Puerto Rico, American Samoa and the US Virgin Islands. Travelers who are currently, or plan on being, pregnant are advised to consult with their doctors before traveling to these locations.

7. Stay hydrated. It can be difficult to remember this when you’re taken out of your usual routine, but it is especially important to stay hydrated in warm climates, after strenuous activity or if alcohol is consumed.

8. Be cautious with international food. In developing countries, only eat foods which are fully cooked and served hot. Travelers should drink only bottled beverages in order to avoid consuming drinks with ice made from tap water.

9. Protect your skin. This is very important on the beach or the slopes. Use sunscreen with an appropriate SPF rating. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a sunscreen of least SPF 30. Be sure to reapply as needed. In warm weather, wear lightweight clothing and hats. Take the opportunity to sit in shade as often as possible.

10. Rest, relax and rejuvenate. Whether your trip is for business or leisure, it should be enjoyed and not stressed over. Savor the opportunity to get away from your usual environment. Relax when you can and make sure you are getting enough sleep. After all, stress is known to lower your resistance to common ailments.

Gaylord Opryland, Nashville, Tennesse

Cvent has unveiled its annual list of the top hotels for meetings and events in the United States. The event management software company uses booking data from its Cvent Supplier Network to determine which properties make the list. Cvent has ranked the hotels by region, with lists for the United States; Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA); and Asia Pacific (APAC).

Naturally, there has been a bit of a shake-up since last year’s rankings were announced. The strong meetings and events industry has led to fierce competition among hotels.

“Hotels have become increasingly focused on developing more meeting and event business, and as such, have become more sophisticated in competing for the most lucrative opportunities for their respective venues,” said Kevin Fliess, vice president of marketing for Cvent’s Hospitality Cloud.

“Hotels continue to advance and expand their group marketing efforts and are increasingly embracing a data-driven approach to more effectively pursue the optimal meetings and events for their venue. This coupled with another year of notable investment in renovation and other upgrades have led to shifts in the rankings as competition remains fierce even in a robust market.”

Last year’s top U.S. meeting hotel was Omni Nashville Hotel. This year, another Nashville, Tennessee, property has taken its place.

Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville jumped from its second-place position in the 2016 rankings to take the top spot. Its 85 meeting rooms offer a total of 757,478 sq. ft. of meeting and event space. “We are proud to be a major player in continuing to make Nashville a top meeting destination,” said John Adams, general manager, Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center.

The Venetian and Palazzo Resort, Hotel & Casinos in Las Vegas took second place. In October 2016, The Venetian and The Palazzo collaborated with Sands Expo Center to host the biggest IMEX America yet. With 7,094 guest rooms and more than 2.25 million sq. ft. of meeting and event space, the combined properties make a winning event space.

Aria Resort & Casino, another leading Las Vegas property, landed in third place. At the end of 2015, MGM Resorts International announced a major convention center expansion at Aria. The $154 million project will add 200,000 sq. ft. of space to Aria Convention Center and is expected to be completed by early 2018.

The top 10 U.S. meeting hotels are listed below:

1. Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center
2. The Venetian and Palazzo Resort, Hotel & Casinos
3. Aria Resort & Casino
4. JW Marriott Austin
5. Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center
6. Omni Nashville Hotel
7. The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa
8. Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego
9. Hyatt Regency Orlando
10. Mandalay Bay Resort

Notable trends:

–With three properties in the top 10, more than any other city, Las Vegas maintains its position as the leading destination for conferences and conventions.

–JW Marriott Austin in Austin, Texas, jumped nine spots to fourth place, making its first appearance in the top 10. The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego and Mandalay Bay Resort have also made their first showings in the top 10 this year.

–The hotel chains with the highest number of properties in the top 100 should come as no surprise. The leaders are Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt.