Two Roads Hospitality

The recently merged Destination Hotels and Commune Hotels & Resorts today unveiled their new overarching company: Two Roads Hospitality. After the merger was announced earlier this year, the newly created international lifestyle company now features a collection of individual hotels, resorts and vacation residences.  Comprised of Joie de Vivre Hotels, Thompson Hotels, Destination Hotels, tommie and Alila Hotels & Resorts, Two Roads Hospitality is poised to be the leading operator of independent, boutique and lifestyle hotels with more than 95 properties in eight countries, and approximately $2 billion in total property revenues under management.

The company name reflects the distinctive paths that Commune and Destination have forged in the independent and lifestyle hospitality sector. Two Roads Hospitality also references the joining together of parallel companies with more than 40 years of combined expertise exclusively dedicated to the boutique and lifestyle space, sharing complementary property locations while staying committed to the pursuit of experiences that are individual and unique. The brand includes award-winning restaurants and bars, stunning vacation residences, world-class golf courses, and indigenous spa and wellness offerings.

Jamie Sabatier of Destination Hotels and Niki Leondakis of Commune Hotels & Resorts will lead the newly established company as CEO of Two Roads Hospitality and CEO of Hotels & Resorts, respectively.  Together, the leaders have more than 40 years of experience and proven expertise in building distinctive boutique and independent hotels.  Both will focus on financial, operational and cultural success.

“We are excited to begin this new chapter as Two Roads Hospitality, and are enthusiastic about paving a new path as one combined company. We have already witnessed the numerous benefits of our merger from an operational and financial standpoint, and we only anticipate continued success ahead,” said Jamie Sabatier, CEO of Two Roads Hospitality. “Together, we have expanded and strengthened opportunities for our owners, driving profitability while still providing new and distinctive offerings to travelers across our collection of independent hotels, resorts and restaurants.”

Sabatier will oversee the company’s operating and financial performance, global development, growth strategy, human resources and technology.  In her new role, Leondakis will be responsible for hotel property financial performance, including operations, sales, marketing, guest experience, food and beverage programming, and interior design strategy, with a focus on elevating the portfolio’s lifestyle experiences.

“Our dedication to innovative guest experiences in both urban and resort locations, locally loved restaurants and bars, and the highest standards of personalized service has only intensified since Commune and Destination Hotels joined forces,” added Niki Leondakis, CEO of Two Roads Hospitality Hotels & Resorts. “We are passionately committed to excellence across all of our brands, and look forward to sharing this exciting journey with our loyal guests and travelers worldwide.”

Along with Sabatier and Leondakis, the core executive team of Two Roads Hospitality will include Tom Luersen, chief operating officer; Todd Wynne-Parry, executive vice president of global acquisitions and development; Andre Fournier, executive vice president of sales and marketing; Mark Hays, chief financial officer; and Andrew Arthurs, chief information officer. John Pritzker and Robert Lowe, Jr. serve as co-chairmen of the combined company.

Two Roads Hospitality will proactively broaden its portfolio with domestic and international growth.  In the last four months, the company opened Alila Anji in China, Thompson Seattle, The Beekman, a Thompson Hotel in New York City and Cliff House Maine, A Destination Hotel in Cape Neddick, Maine.  In the next year, it will debut multiple high-profile projects, including Thompson Nashville; Joie de Vivre properties including The Troubadour in New Orleans, Hotel 50 Bowery in New York City and a project in Baltimore; and Alila hotels and resorts in India, Cambodia, China, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Indonesia.  In addition, the company has new hotels and resorts under development in Hollywood, California, West Los Angeles, Austin, San Antonio, Chicago and New Orleans.

Co-owned by Lowe Enterprises and Geolo Capital, Two Roads Hospitality is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, with offices in San Francisco, New York, Singapore and Shanghai.

faltiron building meet in toronto

Toronto might not have the scenic views of the West or the je ne sais quoi of Montreal, but with its diverse community, top attractions and urban lifestyle, it’s on the map as Canada’s Downtown. Here are six reasons to fall for Toronto as summer fades into autumn.

Enjoy a Toronto Raptors Game

The NBA Toronto Raptors play at the Air Canada Centre located a quick five-minute walk from the InterContinental Toronto Centre. Before the game, grab a drink or two and a meal at Azure Restaurant & Bar, located in the hotel. The first Raptors game of the preseason kicks off on Oct. 1.

Sea Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada

Fall head over eels this fall with over 16,000 aquatic animals in the heart of Toronto. InterContinental Toronto Centre offers a Ripley’s Aquarium package that includes overnight accommodation, two anytime adult entrance tickets, buffet breakfast at Azure Restaurant & Bar and complimentary Wi-Fi. Ripley’s Aquarium holds a Jazz night every Friday night!

Royal Ontario Museum Chihuly Exhibit Sparkles

Catch an exhibition of dozens of works by one of the world’s foremost artists working in glass today at the Chihuly exhibit that runs through Jan. 2, 2017. Immerse yourself in a world of color and light.

Fall for the Pandas at Toronto Zoo

For only the second time ever, two giant pandas, Er Shun and Da Mao are exhibited in Canada. Meet the Panda Cubs, Er Shun and Da Mao, the zoo’s female giant panda, gave birth to the twins last fall.

High on High Park

Witness the changing fall colors on a walking tour and learn a thing or two about famous High Park. Organized nature walks touch on subjects such as Nuts about Seeds, Alien Invader and Phenomenal Fall.

Great Exchange Rates

The low loonie is the cherry on top when planning an event in Toronto.

Sherine Robinson is concierge at InterContinental Toronto Centre, which offers 584 guest rooms and more than 18,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. Club InterContinental, an exclusive hotel within a hotel, provides three floors with 90 elegantly appointed rooms and suites.

 

tips for meeting presentations

For many in the meetings industry, one of the greatest challenges is to effectively deliver presentations to large groups.

This is quite understandable, considering all that goes into meeting presentations—typically, considerable research, concise but informative content, and a stimulating delivery, among other things. Not to mention that many presentations are highly significant to the speaker’s professional career.

The challenge can be overwhelming, but by developing a sound strategy, speakers can work to make the experience positive and even enjoyable. Nick Morgan, a noted speaker and coach, provided tips for meeting presentations in a Forbes column.

-First, create a picture of yourself delivering a great speech. Make it as detailed as possible, and replay it a couple of times in your mind to make sure that it’s clear and precise.

-Visit the venue where you’ll be speaking. Then go to the exact place where you’ll be standing, and create a picture of yourself giving a great speech to a packed house. If possible, rehearse the speech at that spot.

-Get your body ready. Make sure that your breathing is good and participate in a mild workout, especially using muscles that you know are likely to tense up for you. Flexing and relaxing these muscles helps, as does a brisk walk. Don’t exhaust yourself because this can make you fell agitated due to the elevated amounts of adrenaline you’re likely to experience.

-Warm up your voice every morning, or at least before the presentation. One method is to sing upbeat, cheerful songs that you like ant that are in your range. You can warm up in the shower or a room where you’re staying. Choose upbeat, cheerful songs, and sing gently, with plenty of breath control and sustained pitches.

-Just before the presentation, go through the outline in your mind so that you know exactly how you want the talk to proceed and what it will contain.

-On the day of the presentation, be sure that you have a glass of water nearby.

-Even very experienced speakers often feel a bit nervous before presentation. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and can be a great motivator, but too much nervousness can be debilitating. Invoke positive imagery whenever nerves get the best of you.

new appointments at MPI

Meeting Professionals International (MPI) began implementing an organization realignment this week to better position the association for long-term, strategic growth, which involved the creation of new leadership positions, realignment of management responsibilities, and the restructuring staff roles and teams.

“We have made so much positive progress transforming our association over the past few years and our membership satisfaction scores, market feedback, and community and revenue growth confirm we’re on the right track,” said Paul Van Deventer, president and CEO of MPI. “Our focus has been to increase member value and grow our community with the introduction of the MPI Academy and new educational offerings, the launch of our new membership and chapter infrastructure models, the acquisition of Plan Your Meetings, and other strategic initiatives. However, we recognize there is more to accomplish including becoming more efficient with our operations and we believe this realignment will improve our organization.”

The leadership appointments, which include two new hires and two promotions, are as follows:

Marianne Strobel – Senior Vice President of Marketing & Community
Strobel is charged with managing MPI’s Membership, Chapter Operations, Creative Services, Brand Marketing and Communications teams. She is a seasoned executive with 25+ years of experience in strategic marketing, sales and communications, and has previously held leadership positions with Alorica, AT&T and Sprint. Strobel has served as a consultant for MPI for the past few months and will assume the new role on October 3rd.

Matthew Marcial, CAE, CMP – Vice President of Education & Events
Marcial previously served as MPI’s Senior Director of Events and has been with the association since 2014. He now has oversight of MPI’s global events portfolio and the MPI Academy educational products, experiences and professional certificate programs. Prior to MPI, Matthew previously led the Meetings & Education Department at NAFA Fleet Management Association and the Meetings & Events Department at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.

Evan Casey – Vice President of Sales
Casey previously served as Senior Director of Business Development. He was with Plan Your Meetings for 16 years before MPI acquired it in November 2015. In this new role, Casey is responsible for leading the association’s business development team in global sales efforts.

Bernie Schraer – Vice President of Revenue & Channel Development
Schraer has served as a consultant for MPI for the past 18 months. In this new role, he manages MPI’s Strategic Alliance, Plan Your Meeting Audience Development, and Publishing teams. Schraer was previously with Northstar Travel Media for 24 years, where he most recently served as Senior Vice President/Group Publisher and was responsible for global media sales and strategic vision.

“We are confident the realignment as well as the additional appointments we made will position MPI very well for long-term financial sustainability. The decision to restructure our organization was not made lightly, but we believe it will strengthen our team so we can better serve our members and the industry,” added Van Deventer.

In addition, Diane Hawkins, MPI’s Vice President of People, Performance and Administrative Services has assumed responsibility for the Volunteer Experience Team, which manages board relations and governance. Jodi Ann LaFreniere Ray, MPI’s current Vice President of Membership and Volunteer Experience, will depart in mid-November; she has been selected as the incoming Executive Director and CEO of the Texas Society of CPAs.

featured

Like many ski destinations, Jackson Hole has lots of activities that appeal to summer and winter visitors. Teton Village offers lots of ski-in, ski-out venues for food, lodging and entertainment, and the hiking and biking culture is perfect for summer. But a press trip in September (on the first day of fall, in fact) proved that the village’s shoulder season provides an equal amount of adventure for groups of all size and purpose.

Check out all there is to do in beautiful Jackson Hole, as we follow a press trip to Hotel Terra and Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa, neighboring hotels owned and managed by Noble House.

Talk about making a first impression — this was the view stepping off the plane at Jackson Hole Airport (the only airport in the country located in a National Park).

Hotel Terra Jackson Hotel and Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa

First stop was the eco-boutique Chill Spa at Hotel Terra Jackson Hole, featuring a rooftop hot tub, infinity pool, eucalyptus steam rooms and a quaint relaxation lounge.

Next, a site tour of Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa showed off the property’s spacious, lodge-like guest rooms and 5,000 sq. ft of meeting spaces.

teton-room

The site tour of Hotel Terra illustrated the distinct difference between the two properties. While similar in design, Hotel Terra has a more modern concept, while the Lodge & Spa appeals more to families. Hotel Terra is also LEED Silver certified, and its green efforts are reflected throughout the hotel.

Energy Star-approved windows are highly efficient for the drastic temperature changes of summer and winter, and low-flow water fixtures conserve water in the sinks, tubs and toilets. Many of the items in guest rooms are created from sustainable materials and the mattresses are comprised of recycled steel springs and green cotton.

Each meeting room at the boutique hotel is connected by a foyer and pre-event space, creating a continuous meeting space that can accommodate any type of meeting or event–inside and out. The 2,885-square-foot Murie Ballroom boasts floor-to-ceiling windows, stylish design, AV systems and views of Teton Village and Rendezvous Mountain. French doors lead to a patio that overlooks the Teton Village Commons and is perfect for outdoor receptions.

The Albright room offers an additional 644 sq. ft. with lots of natural light and mountain views, and the 300-square-foot Craighead room serves as an airy boardroom or smaller breakout meeting space.

Unique Activities and Offsite Venues

Just minutes down the road from Hotel Terra and Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa, Snake River Ranch is a quaint barn repurposed for truly authentic Wyoming events. A lush, gated lawn creates an off-the-beaten-path event space with spectacular views.


Can you imagine hosting an event or cocktail reception in an aerial tram? Take your group to the top of the mountain via tram for 100 to enjoy world famous Top of the World Waffles at Corbet’s Cabin. Or take the Bridger Gondola up 9,095 feet to Piste Mountain Bistro, which offers locally sourced sit down meals as well as a grab-and-go counter perfect for hungry skiers anxious to get back on the slopes. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlook a patio and the Wyoming skyline, and the restaurant can be bought out for events for up to 144 people.

For challenging summertime team-building, there’s the Ropes Course and Drop Tower at the base of the mountain. Three different rope obstacles are color coded per level of difficulty. The drop tower sends participants plunging 35 and 60 feet from two different platforms.

Barker Ewing raft tours took our group on a 2 1/2 hour floating wilderness tour down calm and serene Snake River, where we got an even closer look at the wilderness than we expected.

Simply named Jackson Hole Winery, the town’s premiere winery has a tasting room located in a rustic wood barn. The lawn accommodates picturesque outdoor events with incredible views of the Teton Mountains. The winery, which grows and picks its grapes in Sonoma, has a unique advantage in making the wine: the area’s elevation speeds up the fermentation process, where as in other climates wineries must find ways to slow it down.

One of the greatest advantages to visiting Jackson Hole in the shoulder season, other than the lack of crowds, is the incredible fall weather, perfect for scoping out wildlife. Our group took a safari tour with Wild Things of Wyoming owner Kurt Johnson, where we saw trumpet swans, redtail hawks, mule deer, bald eagles, bison, elk and more while touring  beautiful Grand Teton National Park.

The company also offers guided photography tours and star gazing tours, both at Teton and Yellowstone National parks, and can accommodate groups of all sizes.

wild-things

Local Eats

Located in Hotel Terra Jackson Hole, Il Villaggio Osteria is a hidden slice of Italy, offering handmade pastas and pizzas among other delectable Italian offerings, and seasonal scratch-made ice cream sandwiches.

Just steps from the meeting rooms at Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa is the No. 1 restaurant in Teton Village, according to TripAdvisor: Spur Restaurant & Bar, offering lots of elevated small plates and family-style dining. Executive Chef Kevin Humphries has been voted Best Chef in Jackson for eight consecutive years by the local poll, Planet JH. It was also named The Place to Apres by SKI Magazine.

pc-nametag-header-imageAs a leading source of registration and meeting supplies, pc/nametag makes it our business to cater to the needs of meeting planners, and we do that by providing their smallest big detail: name tags.

We’re so passionate about name tags, we created Namebadges to Go®, a service that prints personalizes, stuffs and organizes your badges  – even sends them directly to your event. Imagine all the time you’ll have left to concentrate on other parts of your meeting.

Founded in 1985 by a certified meeting planner, pc/nametag promotes the name badge as the single most significant item for an event. As savvy planners and attendees know, it breaks the ice and starts conversations, which often lead to lasting connections and ultimately successful meetings.

And, we don’t just do name tags. We provide everything the busy planner needs for the registration table and beyond: lanyards, stack-a-ribbon® awards, on-site printers, badge organizers and promotional products such as padfolios, pens, totes – plus so much more.

While you can count on pc/nametag for innovative, time-saving products (many of which our competitors emulate), here’s what else you can expect from this one-stop shop:

  • Same-day shipping: in-stock orders received by 5pm CT ship the same day
  • Shorter productions times for customized products – 3-day turnaround is typical with rush available for all products
  • Free samples of everything we offer, so you can try before you buy!
  • Mobile apps, plus Meeting Power® event technology

 

At the heart of pc/nametag is an expertise built on over 30 years of event planning. Creative, insightful Meeting Specialists are here to help planners in any way possible – answer questions, place your order, even help problem solve your meeting. Customers who’ve worked with pc/nametag for a while aren’t surprised when a Specialist calls to remind them of an upcoming event!  Our staff is available at 1-800-332-9767 or via email or live chat at www.pcnametag.com, 7am-6pm CT, Monday-Friday.

Whether you experience Namebadges to Go, our customer-inspired products, customized services or the expert advice of a Specialist, pc/nametag is here to help meeting planners and attendees experience a seamless check-in and the most successful events ever.

pc-nametag-namebadges-to-go

jw-marriott-los-cabos Marriott acquisition of StarwoodJW Marriott Los Cabos, Mexico

After a fierce bidding war, a legal challenge from hotel owners and delays in the regulatory approval process, Marriott’s acquisition of Starwood has finally reached the finish line.

Approval from China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) was the last hurdle preventing the agreement from proceeding. The companies had previously cleared the prepurchase antitrust review in the United States and Canada and multiple other jurisdictions. On August 8, MOFCOM requested more time to review the deal, leaving the Marriott-Starwood transaction in limbo. On September 20, both companies announced that MOFCOM approved the acquisition.

As this was the last regulatory approval required to complete the merger, Marriott and Starwood are now able to proceed with closing the transaction and expect to be a combined company on September 23. Upon closing, Marriott will become the world’s largest hotel company. Starwood shares will cease trading on the New York Stock Exchange before the market opens on September 23.

Marriott-Starwood Merger Timeline

  • Starwood accepts a $12.2 billion acquisition offer from Marriott in November
  • Starwood opts for a $13.2 billion bid by Anbang on March 17
  • Marriott sweetens offer to $13.6 billion, which Starwood accepts
  • Anbang allowed to continue negotiations, upping its offer to $14 billion
  • Anbang pulls out of negotiations on March 31
  • Special meeting of Starwood and Marriott stockholders approve merger on April 8
  • Hotel owners in Chicago and New York sue to block transaction on May 10
  • Chinese Ministry of Commerce requests extension to review transaction on August 8
  • Chinese Ministry of Commerce approves Marriott purchase of Starwood on September 20

Further Reading

Lawsuit Aims to Block Marriott’s Purchase of Starwood
Stockholders Approve Marriott-Starwood Deal

how-to-run-a-meeting

Love them or hate them, any business professional understands that a good meeting can be extremely valuable, so long as it’s efficient, goal-oriented, organized and interactive. Does this sound like a meeting you’ve attended? If not, it may be riddled with some of the common elements that make for a doomed meeting. Here are 7 factors that bring down enthusiasm and collaboration in meetings.

1. Don’t invite people who don’t need to be there

What’s worse than leaving a meeting thinking, none of that concerned me? Be thoughtful when sending meeting invitations. What is being addressed and who should be in the know? Conversely, be sure you’re also not leaving anyone of importance out.

2. Don’t avoid eye contact (even with remote employees)

If you’re packing a room with so many people that they’re straining to see the speaker or presentation, you’re creating a negative experience for those attendees. Structure the room so that everyone is seated and facing the speaker. The need to make eye contact holds true on both ends; it’s a sign of respect and attentiveness. If you have remote employees videoconferencing in, position the webcam in a so that they, too, are facing the speaker and can see the group.

3. Don’t use meetings as an opportunity to self-share, prove a point, or share general information

According to Forbes contributor Christine Comaford, the above three means of communication lead to ineffective meetings because they don’t lead to positive action. The most effective means of communication are promises and requests, with a small window for decision-making and constructive debating. This way, you’re creating accountability for yourself and others that you can use to measure productivity at the next meeting. Did you fulfill your promise? Did they fulfill theirs?

4. Don’t depend on your laptop

While bringing a laptop may be necessary for a presentation or note-taking, it’s important to limit its use in order to be present. If you’re the one leading the presentation, share your screen onto a projector or TV rather than having every meeting attendee on their laptops watching the same screen. Other than appearing disengaged, it can also lead to easy distractions, such as checking emails. On that note, discourage the use of cell phones, too.

5. Don’t hold a meeting on the spot

While there’s something to be said for spontaneous brainstorm, you’re potentially going to anger your team by throwing a wrench in their day with an impromptu meeting. You may be overlapping other meetings, phone calls, or gathering the group while some are out of the office. Attendees should always have time to prepare for a meeting, even if it’s only a few hours advance notice.

6. Don’t schedule meetings too early or too late in the day

An early meeting can be a good thing; energy is up, ideas are flowing, and it sets the pace for the rest of the day. But give enough time for your team to get in, have coffee, catch up on emails, and gather their notes for the meeting. There are no perks to a late meeting. Most people are trying to tie up loose ends before the workday is done, and they’re operating at their lowest level of productivity.

7. Don’t rehash items from the last meeting

Meetings should happen regularly, ideally on the same day at the same time so that expectations are set. One person should be in charge of recording the action items and plans addressed in each meeting so that the next meeting can pick up where the former left off. Reiterating the last meeting’s points is redundant and will quickly lose the interest of the team.

choose a green event venueMeeting planners make countless decisions all day long, from venue and equipment to decorations and team-building activities. Now at the top of their list of considerations is environmental sustainability. To promote green meetings,  Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove, California, has come up with six tips to select green meeting venues.

Planning and executing a green meeting is becoming far more commonplace with companies looking to improve their environmental footprint and ultimately cut costs. Meetings produce an exorbitant amount of waste, whether it’s food, energy, water or even paper. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, in 2012, Americans generated about 251 million tons of trash and recycled and composted almost 87 million tons, a 34.5 percent recycling rate.

While we are making great strides in conservation, much more can be done. Meeting and event planners can really make their mark simply by asking the right questions when booking a venue. Asilomar Conference Grounds has committed to green business practices in all facets of operation. And now the Asilomar staff has come up with the following six tips to select green meeting venues:

Certified Green Business
Does the property hold an ISO 14001:2004 environmental certification? This shows a facility’s strong commitment to sustainability efforts and green practices.

Energy Consumption
What is the property doing to conserve energy? For example, at Asilomar the entire property uses CFL fixtures or is upgrading to LED lighting. They have also installed occupancy sensors around the property.

Water Conservation
How aggressive is the property with regards to saving water? In areas such as California, it is key. Properties, like Asilomar, are busing large containers for drinking water for conference attendees rather than individual bottles.  They encourage the use of reusable bottles and water fountains are filtered for refilling.

Register for Our Next Webinar “Effective Tips for Organizing a Successful Green Meeting.”

Waste Management
Meeting planners should inquire about a property’s means of disposal. Are there composting and recycle bins around property and in the rooms? Are the restaurants on property composting?

Responsible Purchasing
Green properties should be using biodegradable and nontoxic cleaning products. Cloths napkins should be used as opposed to paper. Marketing collateral that must be printed should be printed on 100 percent FSC certified and recycled paper stock along with vegetable-based inks. Asilomar follows these protocols along with many others including not accepting containers or packaging materials made from Styrofoam.

Sustainable Food
The restaurant should have a plan in place to offer sustainable meals. This means sourcing ingredients from local farmers and vendors. Is the property participating in local sustainable food initiatives like State of California’s Health Foods Initiative or Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Program? Do they strive to use local and organic ingredients whenever possible?

most-fun-cities-in-americaHonolulu, Hawaii

It’s no surprise that the most fun cities in the United States, according to a new report released by WalletHub, are also key meeting destinations.

Las Vegas ranked No. 1 in the poll, which compared the 150 largest U.S. cities in 51 different recreational-type categories, including number of fitness clubs per capita, movie costs and average open hours of breweries. Las Vegas has the most clubs per 100,000 residents at 23.60, which is 70 times more than in Anchorage, Alaska, the city with the fewest at 0.34.

If Las Vegas is the leader among most fun cities, then Florida is the most fun state. Orlando and Miami ranked No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. Fort Lauderdale was No. 7 and Tampa was No. 11.

Some of our favorite up-and-coming meeting destinations made the most fun cities list. Salt Lake City, which will be featured in the October issue of Smart Meetings magazine, checked in at No. 5.

“The fact that we have high-end restaurants and brewpubs is always shocking to people,” says Scott Beck, president and CEO of Visit Salt Lake. “The long-held perceptions that you can’t get a drink and there’s no place to eat here are changing dramatically. The food and beverage culture here is on a scale and scope that is unexpected.”

There seems to be a strong correlation between sports towns and the Top 20 most fun cities. Cincinnati, home to pro football and baseball teams, was No. 6, while St. Louis, which has pro baseball and hockey teams, was No. 8. We’d like to salute a couple of our favorite college towns, including No. 13 Tempe, Arizona, home to Arizona State University, and No. 17 Knoxville, Tennessee, home to the University of Tennessee. (Our publisher, Eric Haase is an ASU grad. Go Sun Devils!)

Of course, our neighbor, San Francisco, made the list at No. 15. The WalletHub report concluded that San Francisco has the highest percentage of the population with walkable park access at 98.0 percent, which is 3.5 times higher than in Charlotte, North Carolina, the city with the lowest at 27.8 percent. San Francisco also has the most performing-arts theaters per 100,000 residents at 101.68, which is 26 times more than in Brownsville, Texas, the city with the fewest at 3.89.

Top 20 Most Fun Cities in America

1 Las Vegas 11 Tampa, Florida
2 Orlando, Florida 12 Portland, Oregon
3 Miami 13 Tempe, Arizona
4 New Orleans 14 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
5 Salt Lake City 15 San Francisco
6 Cincinnati 16 Honolulu, Hawaii
7 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 17 Knoxville, Tennessee
8 St. Louis 18 Reno, Nevada
9 Atlanta 19 Denver
10 Scottsdale, Arizona 20 Minneapolis