hotel-emma-new-and-unique-hotelsPhoto from Hotel Emma

New hotels are springing up in some unusual places, including the former homes of a brewery, model-T car assembly plant and post office.

It’s a trend that is designed to satisfy travelers’ desire to more fully experience the history and culture of destinations. It’s also helping to boost cities’ revitalization efforts and preserve open space.

Many of the hotels are directly addressing the changing demands of clients by emphasizing more of an upbeat vibe and offering public spaces that include trendy restaurants and lobby bars.

Here’s a glimpse at a few of these new properties, noted by cnn.com.

Hotel Emma in San Antonio occupies the spot of a brew house built in 1894, but instead of establishing a totally new identity, it puts a contemporary spin on its roots. The hotel, which opened in November, incorporated distinctive elements of the building’s brewing history.

The 146-room property, located on the banks of the San Antonio River, has preserved the original vaulted ceilings, exposed brick walls and cast-iron staircases. And the clubby bar and gourmet food shop add a modern touch.

Ford Model-T cars once filled the floor of the building that now houses 21c Museum Hotel Oklahoma City. The building, constructed in 1916, was home to a Ford Motor Company assembly plant. Original features of the building—including huge casement windows and weathered concrete pillars—have been restored and recreated.

Like Hotel Emma, the hotel draws on its historical connection by including four site-specific artworks, including a misting steel tree. The property, which opened in June, has 135 guest rooms and 14,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.

Trump International Hotel, Washington, D.C., slated to open on September 12, will occupy a building erected in the 1890s that once was home to the U.S. Post Office Department headquarters and the city’s post office. The Romanesque Revival building is undergoing a $200 million transformation into a hotel that will include 263 guest rooms, BLT Prime steakhouse, a fitness center, a spa and 38,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.

Late last year, Ace Hotel Pittsburgh opened in a structure built in 1920 that housed a YMCA. In a nod to its past, the new 63-room boutique hotel preserved the 4,550-square-foot gymnasium—with a worn wooden floor, vintage benches and a portable bar—as a throwback event space. The property also has preserved the original doors, light fixtures and architectural details.

Embracing current trends, the hotel’s Whitfield restaurant features regionally inspired cuisine and lobby bars offer Stumptown Coffee, craft beer, wine and spirits.

The 174-room The Kimpton Cardinal Hotel in Winston-Salem, North Carolina,  opened in April in the first six floors of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company building, built in 1929.

Formerly the headquarters of R.J. Reynolds company and an inspiration for the Empire State Building in New York City, the hotel maintains the building’s gold-leaf ceilings and lavish brass and marble work. It offers 6,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.

best-beaches

During the summer thoughts turn to sun, sea and sand, and beautiful beaches beckon. Two recent surveys identified the best beaches in America. Grab your flip flops and don’t forget the sunblock! It’s time to hit the beach, baby!

Tipspoke’s Best Beaches

Recreational portal and activity database Tipspoke had 1,000 respondents weigh in on their favorite beaches in the United States. The Southeast was well-represented. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, came in first, with 62 votes. This was followed by Miami Beach, Florida; Clearwater Beach, Florida; Destin Beach, Florida; Daytona Beach, Florida; Siesta Key, Florida; and Cocoa Beach, Florida.

Other beaches that made the list include Venice Beach, California; Huntington Beach, California; Malibu Beach, California; Newport Beach, California; Panama City Beach, Florida; and Jones Beach, New York.

“Florida and California made the strongest overall showings, dominating the Top 10,” notes Tipspoke CEO Stacey Sao. “The Carolinas made an impressive showing with Myrtle Beach coming in first, and Outer Banks [North Carolina] making the extended list.”

Other notable beaches singled out by respondents in the Tipspoke survey include La Jolla, California; Pismo Beach, California; Long Beach, California; Ocean City, New Jersey; and Virginia Beach, Virginia.

“Every single one of these beaches is a real winner, and each has something unique and special to offer,” Sao says.

Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts and Texas, all of which boast lovely beaches, did not appear in Tipspoke’s list.

Dr. Beach’s Picks

Dr. Beach is the alter ego of Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, a professor at Florida International University who has been publicizing his list of the Top 10 beaches for the past 25 years. He evaluates each one based on water and sand quality, as well as safety and beach management. In June, he released his 2016 picks.

Hawaii’s Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, a remote beach located on the eastern coast of Oahu, came in at No. 1. One of the attributes that helped push it to the top is the fact that smoking is prohibited on the beach. No. 2 is Siesta Beach in Sarasota, Florida, which also made the Tipspoke list. This is followed by Kapalua Bay Beach, in Maui, on Hawaii. Dr. Beach’s No. 4 pick, Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, also resonated with Tipspoke respondents. No. 5 is Coast Guard Beach on Massachusetts’ Cape Cod.

Rounding out Dr. Beach’s Top 10 Beaches of 2016 are Grayton Beach State Park, on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Coronado Beach in San Diego, California; Coopers Beach in Southampton, New York; Caladesi Island State Park in Dunedin/Clearwater, Florida; and Beachwalker Park on Kiawah Island in South Carolina.

dmai2016

The Destination Marketing Association International Annual Convention takes place Aug. 1−3 in Minneapolis. The premier event for destination marketing and management professionals is being held at Minneapolis Convention Center. The opening gala helps inaugurate brand-new U.S. Bank Stadium, home of the Minnesota Vikings. The headquarters hotel is Hyatt Minneapolis, which is located two blocks from the convention center.

Top-notch speakers for the event include Chip Conley, head of global hospitality and strategy for Airbnb. As convention and visitor bureaus determine which course to pursue when working with Airbnb properties in their cities, Conley’s appearance at the annual DMAI convention allows for attendees to learn more about alternative housing for citywides, for example. Abigail Posner, head of strategic planning at Zoo, Google’s creative think tank for agencies and brands, is a thought leader who delivers fresh perspectives to corporate culture, product development, branding and marketing. Foodie Andrew Zimmern and Twitter phenom Jay Baer are also scheduled to speak.

For the sixth year, DMAI will honor 30 individuals who are 30 years old or younger. The popular 30 Under 30 program drew 95 submissions from national tourism bureaus and local CVBs.

“Identifying and investing in tomorrow’s leaders is critical for our industry to grow,” says Don Welsh, president and CEO of DMAI. “I am confident that the program we have developed for this year’s annual convention will inspire and further educate this incredibly talented team of future destination marketing leaders.”

Last Updated August 3, 2016 – 3:11 PM

borgata-front-lobby

MGM Resorts will acquire Boyd Gaming Corporation’s 50 percent stake in Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey for $900 million.

Upon completion of the acquisition, MGM Resorts will sell all of Borgata’s real property to MGM Growth Properties for approximately $1.175 billion. The real property will be leased back to a subsidiary of MGM Resorts, which will operate Borgata.

After consideration of Borgata’s outstanding debt of approximately $600 million, MGM Resorts will pay approximately $600 million for Boyd Gaming’s 50 percent interest, which MGM Resorts will assume and refinance.

“Borgata is the premier resort in Atlantic City and a great addition to our growing presence in the Northeast. While the market continues to experience challenges, Borgata has outperformed and differentiated itself as the undisputed leader in the city,” said Jim Murren, Chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International. “Our decade-long partnership with Boyd Gaming has been a great one, and Borgata’s talented employee base will complement and strengthen our more than 60,000-member worldwide MGM Resorts team.”

“We are excited to add Borgata to the MGM Growth Properties portfolio, further diversifying our geographic presence. With this transaction, we are executing on our core growth strategy in prudently building a portfolio of high-quality assets with market leading competitive positions,” said James Stewart, CEO of MGM Growth Properties.

“The transactions provide numerous benefits to MGM Resorts and creates significant value for our shareholders,” said Dan D’Arrigo, Executive Vice President and CFO of MGM Resorts International.

The transactions are expected to close in the third quarter of 2016, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

pallet-bar-rahr-and-sons-event-venue-ideasPhoto from  Rahr & Sons Brewing Co.

Brew pubs are trending and so are the event spaces they provide. From a 20th century repurposed brewery in Lexington, Kentucky, to a swanky New York City rooftop, brew pubs and taprooms are the toast of their towns.

Here are six options to help attendees meet, and drink, outside the box.

Taproom Meetings

Located in a former bread factory in Lexington, Kentucky, West Sixth Brewery lets groups meet in the Barrel Room while sipping specially crafted brews like Lemongrass American Wheat (a lemon-flavored non-traditional American wheat beer) and Belgian Blonde (a seasonal beer with spicy hints from the Belgian-style yeast). Free hour-long tours are available for up to 30 people.

Rustic Space

At the 100-year-old Genesee Brew House in Rochester, New York, meeting groups sip on hand-crafted brew from the six-row barley malt, corn grits and hops from Yimka Valley. Tailored to each group’s needs, meetings can take place in the main dining space or (depending on the season) beer garden. During breaks, guests can speak with brewers, learn how Genesee’s beer is made or tour the historic, repurposed building. Groups of 10 or more need to make a reservation for a tour.

Beers From the Farm

The recently opened Empire Farmstead Brewery, outside of Syracuse, New York, boasts 40,000 sq. ft. of space and 22 acres where groups can visit the working farm to check the empire’s signature homegrown hops (American Strong Ale and Empire Brown Ale, to name a few). Dine on farm-to-table menu items from the kitchen. Post-meeting, groups can end with a walk on the adjacent Burlingame Area Trails, which consists of an additional 216 acres of woodland.

Leader Among Brew Pubs

At Founders Brewery in Grand Rapids, Michigan, groups can experience one of America’s top craft breweries by renting the Centennial Room or enjoying the fresh Michigan air on the outdoor patio. The brewery is walking distance from Amway Grand Plaza and JW Marriott Grand Rapids, which offer beer-oriented spa treatments. Founders will celebrate its 20th anniversary next year. It has won six World Beer Cup medals, four European Beer Star medals and three Great American Beer Festival medals, 13 medals honoring eight different beers.

Texas Beer & Bites

Renowned for its craft brew selection, the award-winning Fort Worth brewery Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. features private meeting space for groups in the Pallet Room. During the meeting, attendees can experience a tour of the brewery, taste select beer tastings, nibble on bites from Fort Worth’s notable food trucks, and enjoy live music and local art.

NYC Skyline Sips

Meetings groups at the Roof at Park South in New York City can take advantage of growlers featuring a rotating selection of summer beers on tap. The large format drinking style can be paired with a selection of dining options from James Beard award-winning chef Tim Cushman, including wood-fired pizzas, mezze and passed canapes. The roof boasts views of the Chrysler Building and provides groups with a range of spaces that can host up to 120 guests including the bar, fireside lounge, umbrella area, fountain area and garden area.

Destination Marketing Minneapolis

Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) will honor four industry leaders on Aug. 2 in Minneapolis during its annual convention. Click here to follow our live updates from DMAI! This year’s Hall of Fame inductees include Ray Bloom, chairman and founder of IMEX Group, and Nicki Grossman, who retired in June after 21 years as president of Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The DMAI Hall of Fame award was created in 2014 to honor individuals who have changed the future of destination marketing for the better, made significant contributions to the advancement of the industry and shaped travel marketing.

“The 2016 Hall of Fame inductees represent the very best in thought leadership and investing in our future,” says Don Welsh, president and CEO of DMAI.  “This year’s inductees are visionaries whom have established a path for the future of our industry.  I look forward to celebrating these true leaders even beyond the DMAI Annual Convention.”

2016 DMAI Hall of Fame Inductees

RayBloom1Bloom founded IMEX Group, which organizes international trade shows for meetings, events and incentive industry. His very popular shows are held annually in Las Vegas and Frankfurt, Germany. He also is heavily involved in numerous industry associations. Bloom built European and Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition (EIBTM) and Incentive World before selling both to Reed Exhibitions in 1997 and 2000, respectively.

Under Grossman’s leadership, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau flourished. Tourist spending increased by more than $8 billion and annual visitation grew from 6.1 million in 1996 to more than 14 million, representing 15 percent of Florida’s total visitation. To recognize Grossman’s contributions, Broward College created a legacy scholarship in her name. The Nicki Englander Grossman Endowed Hospitality and Tourism Management Scholarship will be awarded annually to students who study hospitality-related fields.

Gary Sain is former president and CEO of Visit Orlando. Before he passed away in 2012, he helped put Orlando on the meetings map, as the city welcomed a record 51.5 million visitors in 2010, the first U.S. destination to break 50 million. Sain worked tirelessly with leading associations such as U.S. Travel to help advance important industry initiatives ranging from travel promotion and visa reform to promoting the value of meetings.

Brad Burlingame is being honored for his work with Visit West Hollywood, serving as president and CEO of the tourism bureau for 18 years before he passed away in 2015. He helped the bureau expand overseas and brand iconic Sunset Strip. A champion of California tourism, he worked to gain the respect of state legislators and to ensure they had a solid understanding of the power of California’s visitor industry.

etihad-first-classEtihad first class Apartment

Middle Eastern airlines have been adding high-end premium offerings as many American and European carriers are downsizing their own first-class areas.

The offerings from Etihad Airways, Emirates and Qatar Airways stem from their fierce competition for passengers. Etihad took the lead in 2014, when it introduced a three-room  Residence and nine Apartments.  They are available on long-haul routes from Abu Dhabi to New York City, London, Melbourne, Sydney and Mumbai. The prices are staggering—but earned airline miles now can be used to book them.

Every Etihad A380 plane has one Residence, which includes a bedroom with a double bed and shower, as well as a private living room with a leather sofa, two dining tables and a flat-screen entertainment system. Costs of the Residence, which comes with a Savoy-trained butler, range from $5,000 on the three-hour route from Abu Dhabi to Mumbai, to about $32,000 for the 14-hour flight to New York City.

Passengers staying in the Apartments spend $960 and $8,400, respectively, for The Mumbai and New York City flight. The Apartments are huge suites that boast benches that fold out into extra-long, twin-size beds. They also come with Poltrona Frau leather armchairs, minibars and a personal chef.

Accumulated airline miles—not just Etihad miles—can be used to book the Apartments. Through Etihad’s non-alliance partnerships, clients can book them by using American Airlines AAdvantage miles and All Nippon Airways Mileage Club miles.

Booking an Apartment from Abu Dhabi to Mumbai costs 32,073 miles each way. London costs 88,048, New York 117,556 and Sydney 128,896 miles.

The Residences can be booked by using Etihad miles, but not miles from other airlines. The shortest and cheapest route for a Residence is Abu Dhabi to Mumbai, requiring 544,629 Etihad miles each way. Abu Dhabi to London requires 2,149,606, Sydney 2,833,283 and New York City 3,555,556 miles.

Coca-Cola Orlando Eye

I-Drive 360 in Orlando’s convention corridor has teamed up with America’s favorite beverage company to reveal a newly bedecked observation wheel. Coca-Cola Orlando Eye was christened last week with red and white streamers and bold contemporary look.

“In just one short year, the Orlando Eye has become recognized as a Central Florida icon. We are delighted to partner with Coca-Cola, an iconic brand globally recognized for sharing moments of happiness and celebration with loved ones,” said Robin Goodchild, general manager of the Orlando attraction. “The Coca-Cola Orlando Eye combines these elements to create an enhanced experience, giving guests the opportunity to create and share new memories.”

Coca-Cola Orlando Eye boasts brand new guest experiences inside select capsules, including an upbeat music selection, special decor, selfie sticks, themed tablets and Coca-Cola coolers. Visitors are encouraged to share their experiences on social media using #cocacolaorlandoeye.

The 400-foot wheel is the tallest of its kind on the eastern United States. The focal point of Orlando’s main entertainment complex contains 30 climate-controlled capsules that can hold up to 450 passengers. It offers 360-degree views of Central Florida, including downtown Orlando, nearby theme parks and Kennedy Space Center. Visitors also have access to a pre-flight 4D cinema experience, featuring sensory simulations of lighting, wind, spray and scent effects.

VailResorts_VCD10777_Jack_Affleck_HighRes_843x342Few Types of Meeting Destinations Embody Inspiration Quite like Mountain Destinations.

And Vail Resorts Meetings & Events is the mountain meetings expert, with iconic resorts in Colorado, Park City, Lake Tahoe and Jackson Hole that take meetings and events to new elevations.

A one-stop-shop for meetings and events of 10 to 2,000, Vail Resorts offers planners seamless access to everything their incredible all-season destinations have to offer—from guest rooms and meeting spaces to lift tickets, activities, ground transportation and more—with one simple call or email. Visit vailresortsmeetings.com for more.

  1. Vail, Colorado
  2. Beaver Creek, Colorado
  3. Breckenridge, Colorado
  4. Keystone, Colorado
  5. Park City, Utah
  6. Heavenly, Lake Tahoe, California
  7. Northstar, Lake Tahoe, California
  8. Kirkwood, Lake Tahoe, California
  9. Grand Teton Lodge Company, Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Featured Resort: Keystone Resort and Conference Center

Surrounded by beauty, built for business, Keystone Resort offers the perfect meeting destination for any group. With three unbelievable mountains, plentiful lodging and dining in two unique villages and tons of outdoor adventure—not to mention the largest full-service conference center in the Rocky Mountains—Keystone can meet the needs of virtually any type of gathering.

VailResorts_KEY8638_Jack_Affleck_HighRes_843x342

And with two of the nation’s most respected championship golf courses, Keystone offers groups incredible golf opportunities. Imagine teeing off on what may seem like the edge of the world, launching your ball in the crisp Rocky Mountain air. Rated as one of the best golf resorts in America by Golf Magazine and Golf Digest, you and your attendees will be golfing in one of the most spectacular natural settings in the world.

VailResorts_KEY8812_Matt_Bass_HighRes_843x342

Keystone at-a-glance:

  • 1,200 total lodging options, including hotel rooms, condominiums and private homes
  • 100,000 square feet of meeting space, including the 60,000-sq-ft Keystone Conference Center—the largest full-service conference center in the Rocky Mountains
  • Unique dining options include the Bavarian-style Der Fondue Chessel, Colorado frontier meets fine dining in an original 1930’s homestead at Keystone Ranch, and Alpenglow Stube, the highest AAA Four-Diamond dining experience in North America
  • Two championship golf courses: Keystone Ranch Golf Course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and The River Course at Keystone, designed by Dr. Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry

travel-hall-of-leaders

The U.S. Travel Association has announced that longtime travel industry leaders Caroline Beteta and Christopher J. Nassetta are the 2016 inductees into the U.S. Travel Hall of Leaders. This is the single highest honor the association can bestow upon members of the travel community.

The selection of Beteta, president and CEO of Visit California and a past national chair of U.S. Travel, and Nassetta, president and CEO of Hilton Worldwide and chairman of U.S. Travel’s CEO Roundtable, was announced at U.S. Travel’s summer board meeting today. Both Beteta and Nassetta will be officially inducted during a dinner commemorating U.S. Travel’s 75th anniversary, attended by more than 100 travel industry leaders on November 16th in Washington, D.C.

Hall of Leaders inductees are honored for “sustained, noteworthy contributions that have positively impacted the travel industry, stimulated greater achievement, and raised industry-wide standards.”

“Caroline and Chris have not only demonstrated exceptional leadership at the helm of two premier travel brands—they’ve also used their authority to serve as passionate advocates for the travel industry,” said U.S. Travel President and CEO Roger Dow. “When Brand USA was first launched, Caroline stepped into multiple leadership roles within the nascent organization, and worked tirelessly to prove that a public-private partnership to promote America to the world could succeed. Chris, meanwhile, has successfully transformed Hilton into one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing hospitality companies, while also doing incredible work to promote travel and tourism as a whole. During his tenure as CEO Roundtable chairman, he has driven the industry’s advocacy agenda through active engagement with policymakers on key issues.

Dow added: “The time and effort both Caroline and Chris have dedicated to advancing our community’s goals has paid off multifold, and I heartily thank them for all they have done to show our nation’s leaders that travel is serious business. This recognition is well-deserved, and as a longtime colleague and personal friend to both, I look forward to honoring them this November.”

In addition to leading Visit California, Beteta serves as the Director of Tourism in the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. As national chair of U.S. Travel, she guided the merger of the Travel Industry Association and the Travel Business Roundtable. She has managed high-profile trade and promotional activities in countries around the world, including planning and participating in many international tourism and trade missions. Among other industry honors, she was named the 2009 State Tourism Director of the Year.

Nassetta, who joined Hilton as president and CEO in 2007, has led the company through a major transformation, rallying employees around the shared goal of being “the most hospitable company in the world.” This year alone, Hilton has been recognized as a Great Place to Work in more than a dozen countries, including on Fortune Magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list in the United States. Nassetta also serves on the Executive Committee for the World Travel & Tourism Council, promoting the value of the travel industry worldwide. During his service as chairman of U.S. Travel’s CEO Roundtable, he has focused on actively engaging policymakers in efforts to recognize the importance of the travel industry—which is responsible for one in nine American jobs—to the U.S. economy.

Beteta and Nassetta will join 92 previously inducted industry luminaries in the Hall of Leaders, which was established in 1969. The 2015 inductees were Michael A. Leven, chairman and CEO of the Georgia Aquarium, and W. Stephen Maritz, chairman and CEO of Maritz Holdings, Inc.