DMAI-reorganization1
Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) is undergoing a major reorganization under new President and CEO Don Welsh (pictured below).

Don_Welsh

According to a press release issued on April 4, DMAI has vacated nine positions for further evaluation as it moves forward with the realignment. Charles Jeffers, COO and interim CEO since September, is expected to remain with DMAI through May to ensure a seamless transition.

“I truly believe that this organizational realignment will allow the team to accomplish the key tasks that will help take DMAI to the next level,” Welsh wrote in a letter to DMAI members. “We exist for the benefit of our members and moving forward, we will provide the services and products that you want, need and are willing to financially support. In the weeks and months ahead, you can expect regular updates from me detailing our progress.”

Welsh took over DMAI less than two weeks ago. He announced in January that he was leaving his post as CEO of Choose Chicago. He also has served as CEO of Seattle Convention & Visitors Bureau and Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association. His experience in the hospitality industry is far reaching, with stints at Westin Hotels, Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and MGM Grand Hotel Casino in Las Vegas.

“Following significant analysis, discussion and deliberation, the timing of this organizational realignment is appropriate and essential,” said Bob Lander, chairman of DMAI board of directors and CEO of Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The executive committee fully supports the strategies and initiatives that Don plans to implement in the very near future. On behalf of the board of directors, we thank Charles for his commitment to DMAI and wish him the very best in his future endeavors.”

The DMAI leadership team still includes Christine Shimasaski, managing director of empowerMINT and EIC; Julie Hart, CFO; and Paul Ouimet, executive director of DestinationNEXT.

picnics for events

Everyone loves picnics, so as the weather warms up planners might want to come up with creative ways to design and incorporate them into their groups’ itineraries.

Here are several inspiring examples, adapted from BizBash, that are sure to delight your attendees and provide a bounce to their entire meeting experience.

1. The Retreat at the Sparrows Lodge topped a table with floral arrangements, taper candlesticks, games and other objects to create a relaxed atmosphere during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in the Southern California desert last year. The event also included a silk patchwork canopy for relaxed seating amid Native American artifacts, Persian rugs, succulents, kilim pillows and leather accents.
2. Appealing to people’s universal love for pets, Picnic by Design, a fund-raiser put on last year in New York City by Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA), featured a cheerful picnic arrangement with a patterned doggy bed and accessories. Also, rather than featuring spring-like colors and patterns, organizers stepped out of the box by creating a minimalist design using gray felt. At DIFFA’s Picnic by Design event in Austin in 2014, Rebekah Gainsley of Blink Interiors covered a table with a hammock-like lace canopy with lights and potted plants.
3. Starbucks Canada used eye-catching golden fruit as a centerpiece when promoting its Teavan Sparkling Tea Juices at an event last summer.
4. Shock Top, an Anheuser Busch brand, provided simple citrus fruits in crates as tabletop decor when launching its summer seasonal Lemon Shandy beverage at a Ventura County lemon grove in Southern California last year. The guests played bocce ball, which blended perfectly with the casual event. Capitalizing on the outdoor scenery in the orchard, organizers took advantage of the orchard seating by providing an open frame as a photo prop to encourage guests to snap shots and share on social media.
5. The Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic in Los Angeles in 2013 featured bunting hanging over 170 tables for 700 guests in the VIP picnic space.
6. When Adrienne Bosh hosted Glamchella, a motivational event in Miami last summer, she used bohemian-inspired decor, including textured table linens, Buddha sculptures, lanterns and jewel-toned cushions for seating.
7. Red-and-white checked linens topped tables for a classic picnic look at the American Diabetes Association’s annual Los Angles Political Roast in March 2015 in Beverly Hills.
8. Striving to encourage each participant to meet and eat with six others, organizers offered picnic baskets for groups of seven at TedActive in the Palm Springs area of California in 2013.
9. David Stark Designs set up a rooftop garden for a picnic-style event using Adam Lippes blankets, pillows, and travel bags at the Adam Lippes for Target preview in New York City last year.
10. Short rides on tethered hot-air balloons that were branded with the company’s logo were a hit at Stella Artois’ picnic-style alfresco event that launched its Host Beautifully campaign in Los Angeles in May 2015. Guests at the event dined at long, farm-style tables, which had no linens—but were instead topped with abundant white flowers.

salt-lake-city-spas

Apparently, it’s Spring Beauty Week, and the subscriber-based activity discount website Groupon is celebrating by recognizing the most pampered city based on most purchased deals for personal grooming and care, including massages, haircuts, manicures, pedicures, facials, teeth whitening and tanning sessions.

If you don’t think spa oasis when you think Salt Lake City, Utah, then you’d better take a second look.

“We’re seeing more and more people recognize the importance of taking care of themselves inside and out––and doing it for an amazing value,” said Silvija Martincevic, vice president and general manager of health, beauty and wellness for Groupon.

A quick look at some of the spas the city has to offer will have you booking your next mental health getaway in Salt Lake City. Take the Grand Spa at the Grand America Hotel, for example. It was voted the No. 16 Best Hotel Spa in the United States by the Conde Nast Traveler’s 2014 reader poll . Renovated in 2013, the 20,000-square-foot spa includes 18 service rooms. Three couples’ massage rooms come equipped with an experience shower including 12 body sprayers, four overhead showerheads and a wall shower. Each couples massage service includes creme brulee and the use of the couples relaxation lounge.

Utah’s only Forbes Five-Star spa is located just over the border in Park City. In addition to its world-class skiing and other seasonal outdoor activities, Spa at Stein Eriksen Lodge offers year-round luxury services in its 23,000-sqaure-foot space. 16 treatment rooms, hot and cold plunge baths, a shared private relaxation suite complete with fireplace, and lengthy list of services makes you wonder why anyone would get up and go skiing.

Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City, a Kimpton Hotel is lauded for their sensational in-room spa treatments, from aroma journey massages to body scrubs, wraps, and hand and foot treatments.

No spa list is complete without mentioning The Kura Door, a holistic Japanese spa just steps away from the University of Utah. The spa invites its guests to “relax in a cotton kimono and let the fragrances of green tea and hinoki cypress transport you to another world. Surrender your cares and rediscover the art of relaxation, the inner glow of health, and yourself once again.”

In honor of Spring Beauty Week, Groupon is offering customers a number of ways to pamper themselves and save money at well-known places such as Four Seasons Hotel, Intercontinental, JW Marriott and Ritz Carlton.

Joining Salt Lake City, the other “most pampered” cities included Phoenix, Dallas, Columbus, Austin, Oklahoma City, Denver, Seattle, Cleveland and Los Angeles, respectively.

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Every group is famous when they stay at Hard Rock San Diego. Located in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter the luxurious property is just a step away from the San Diego Convention Center and PETCO Park making it the prime location for all of your meeting needs. It strikes the perfect chord with contemporary interior design, Rock n’ Roll Memorabilia and double platinum service.

Meeting Space

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With 40,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space the property features cutting-edge technology with a modern Rock n’ Roll twist. Every meeting space is fully equipped with WiFi and hosts the latest technology which sets the stage for the perfect meeting. From a 600 square foot boardroom overlooking the lobby featuring 16-foot floor-to-ceiling windows to an expansive 9,200 square foot main event room which can accommodate up to 1,000 guests, Hard Rock Hotel San Diego accommodates every meeting need.

Accommodations

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Get ready to be treated like a rock star as your every need will be met with Four Diamond Star service. Boasting 420 tech-infused guestrooms including 176 suites, every guest is treated to the suite life. Modern, sleek design and rock star service are just a few of the things that will make your meeting rock.

Dining

Unrivaled meeting space and accommodations are paired perfectly with a satisfying selection of dining options. Highlights include a celebrated Japanese restaurant and a classic American style diner with a contemporary twist. All options incorporate the hottest food trends with guests’ dietary needs as gluten-free and vegan offerings are available.

Luxury Home Rental

Europe’s largest hotel operator, AccorHotels, has purchased luxury home rental service Onefinestay for $168 million. The acquisition, announced last week, follows a trend among hotel groups to stay competitive against the growth of popular home-sharing websites, which have claimed a sizable share of the business and leisure travel markets.

“Onefinestay has successfully captured a sweet spot: a combination of needs that neither traditional hotels nor new actors of the sharing economy can meet,” says Sebastien Bazin, chairman and CEO of AccorHotels.

In acquiring Onefinestay, AccorHotels joins a handful of hotel corporations that have partnered with rival home-sharing startups, thereby diversifying their portfolios. Last year, Hyatt Hotels was part of a $40 million fundraising round for Onefinestay. Wyndham Hotels purchased stake in LoveHomeSwap, a subscription-based home swapping service. InterContinental Hotels Group has a partnership with Stay.com, a group that provides custom guides for tourists.

Onefinestay benefits from joining AccorHotels by capitalizing on the group’s wide customer base and international platform. AccorHotels has an inventory of 3,900 hotels and 510,000 rooms in 92 countries. It has already pledged to invest another $73 million into the home rental service, accelerating its expansion across 40 new cities around the world over the next five years. In that time, Onefinestay hopes to increase its revenue tenfold.

“Today, together with our recent investments, we are accelerating the transformation of our business model to capture the value creation linked to the rise of private rentals and also strengthening our presence in the luxury market,” adds Bazin.

The London-based home-sharing company was founded in 2010 by Greg Marsh, Demetrios Zoppos, Tim Davey and Evan Frank. Onefinestay offers high-end vacation and short-term home rentals combined with quality customer service, which includes a personal welcome on arrival, a team on call 24/7 and professional maintenance and management.

Onefinestay has an asset value of more than $5.6 billion and boasts a collection of 2,600 properties in locations such as London, New York, Paris, Los Angeles and Rome. Under AccorHotels group, the brand will remain an independent entity and continue to be led by its current management.

park-city-utah

Park City is home to two world-class ski resorts. Those who like to shred powder may be hard-pressed to find better ski conditions. But while it prides itself on having the Greatest Snow on Earth®, Park City is more than simply a ski town. Visitors enjoy year round concerts, film festivals and special events. Planners will find a plethora of fine hotels with state-of-the-art meeting facilities, and more than 150 restaurants. The vibrant mountain oasis boasts a strong local economy, with many independently-owned shops, galleries and restaurants.

Follow Smart Meetings’ senior content producer Susan Jacobs as she reports live from Park City, Utah.

Last updated April 8, 2016 – 5:26 PM

 

aloft-denverAloft Denver Downtown

Hotels ready to appeal to the newest wave of business travelers have their ears to the ground discovering what features are going to win over the millennial and Gen Z travelers against their competition.

The more data that comes out about the trends and experiences these groups are looking for, the more ideas hoteliers have about providing those unique experiences, in their hotel rooms, lobbies, outdoor spaces, and even in their marketing campaigns. Some of the basic characteristics they’re after are affordability, tech-savvy, cool and minimal décor, custom experiences, social media connectivity, and authentic, local feel.

It’s a wonderfully creative time to be in the industry, as brands experiment to find what sticks, and what doesn’t. Here are some of the things hotels are doing to attract a younger crowd.

1. Aloft – Based on the explorer nature of younger travelers, brands like Starwood’s Aloft line offer free Wi-Fi work spaces in their outdoor pool areas and at their bars, they’ve unveiled a robotic bellhop, and guests can even order room service by texting a string of emojis (at select locations). Their menus include a hangover kit of Vitamin water, Advil and bananas for $10; a phone charger for $25; a Surprise Me package of what the Aloft emoji room-service menu calls “fun swag and cool stuff” for $25, and more.

They use Foursquare and their own mobile app to share local travel trips with millennials – who tend to explore outside of their immediate area when traveling.

moxy_roomA guest room at Moxy by Marriott

2. Marriott – Marriott has often been lauded for leading the way in creative content marketing, being the first hotel brand to use Snapchat as a promotional tool, and introducing short films on YouTube.

At this year’s Super Bowl, Marriott held a “Suite Stadium Contest” that gave a winner and three guests an overnight stay at Levi’s Stadium the night before the Super Bowl in a converted guest room suite, along with tickets to the game.

Marriott’s Renaissance Hotels now host “Evenings at Renaissance,” a free event for guests featuring local craft beverages chosen by the hotel bartender and local drink experts. The program is part of the brand’s new “It’s Business Unusual” global campaign to appeal to young entrepreneurial business travelers.

Marriott’s Moxy brand positions itself as an affordable boutique hotel with modern design, keyless entry for reward members, and “no rules.”  It’s currently running a social campaign encouraging artists to compete for a chance to have their work featured in the Moxy New Orleans (which opens this month).

3. Hilton – One of the most recognizable connections between brands and younger generations is (and arguably always has been) music, and that’s no different with the millennial and Gen Z crowd. Hilton used that to its advantage when it introduced Hilton Play’s Concerts, a loyalty program that lets users cash in points for shows.

Hilton also uses Twitter to connect with guests by sharing suggestions from travelers around the world about things to do, see, places to eat, etc. on their @HiltonSuggests page.

4. Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) – IHG is testing a pilot program in select hotels that places beacons in their lobbies and restaurants that recognize rewards members, so they can receive personalized notifications and offers based on their location.

Guest room at citizenM New York (left) Hotel lobby, designed to look like a living room (right)
Guest room at citizenM New York (left) Hotel lobby, designed to look like a living room (right)

5. citizenM is the epitome of a minimalist hotel with millennials in mind. Trading conventional hotel services for affordable rooms and authentic experiences, it boasts free WiFi, free movies, anti-jetlag rain shower, 24-hour food service, 1-minute check out, and a MoodPad tablet that lets guests control just about everything in the room.

After doing some research on how time is spent (at hotels and at home) the folks at citizenM decided to do away with closets and use the space for more functional things (a drawer under the bed allows for an open suitcase) and decided the hotel lobby should really feel like a cozy living room with lots of books and other means of entertainment.

6. Ace Hotels – Unique, quirky, and hipster, Ace Hotels have made a name for themselves as a boutique hotel brand with a young soul. Rooms in their Los Angeles hotel, for example, include acoustic guitars and/or turntables, music from a nearby vinyl shop, and local toiletry products (and of course, free WiFi).

meetings-at-mohegan-sunThe 2016 Event by William Raveis was promoted in the hotel lobby

Perhaps the biggest draw for most vacationers and meeting planners heading for Mohegan Sun (other than its three casinos, luxurious 1,200-room hotel and countless onsite amenities) is its undeniably ideal location: a short drive from Boston; Hartford, Connecticut; Providence, Rhode Island, and easily accessible from New York City and Philadelphia—Mohegan Sun is smack dab in the middle of some of the greatest destinations in the Northeast.

But many of Mohegan Sun’s convention and large meeting clientele are repeat customers, and it’s not the location receiving the credit. It’s the familial connections they make with the hotel and casino staff that make them feel like more than a customer.

Take William Raveis, for example, a large real estate company that just wrapped up their annual two-day conference at Mohegan Sun’s convention center (for the fourth year in a row with 800 in attendance).

“They’re a family business, and we are a family business,” says Steven Csejka, vice president of marketing for William Raveis. “So when the chief spoke at our first event four years ago, it became evident that our companies were going down the same path.”

The expression “We treat everyone like family” may be as cliché as they come, but the staff at Mohegan Sun didn’t say it—they showed it. During a tour of the meeting spaces, Mohegan Sun’s director of convention sales Gary Baker, CMP, stopped to greet everyone he ran into—from the in-house meeting planners and A/V technicians to the familiar faces of the William Raveis crew setting up. The conversation was always informal, familiar and friendly.

The familial vibe carried throughout the hotel and casino staff is owed in part to its founders, the Mohegan tribe, who opened the casino in 1996. The tribe is known in the area for its humble selflessness; often donating time and services to the community and rarely publicizing it.

The vibrant colors, natural sounds, waterfalls, and even the meeting spaces named for surrounding tribes are all pleasant reminders of the casinos’ owners and ancestors.

Not Just a Convention Center

Located on 185 acres along the banks of the Thames River in Uncasville, Connecticut, the gleaming, crystalline 34-story tower at Mohegan Sun pays homage to the natural materials the Mohegan tribe used to fashion arrowheads and the ceremonial objects that acknowledged good spirits, such as rock and smoky quartz. The building’s geometric shape and large windows provide panoramic views of the river and surrounding New England countryside.

The Casino of the Wind, Casino of the Sky and Casino of the Earth together provide 350,000 sq. ft. of gaming space, including smoke-free areas, nearly 6,000 slot machines and more than 350 table games.

The Shops at Mohegan Sun offer more than 30 stores and boutiques, and more than 30 restaurants and bars provide every type of cuisine and environment, from casual to upscale.

wombi-rockVista Lounge at Wombi Rock

Casino of the Sky features Vista Lounge, a two-level ultra-lounge with black jack tables, private alcoves and glittering constellations overhead in the largest planetarium dome in the world.

At the Taughannick Falls Bar, guests can sip cocktails at the base of a 55-foot indoor waterfall, or head over to the high-energy Avalon Night Club.

Mohegan Sun Golf Club offers 18 holes of championship golf, and Elemis Spa & Salon features more than 22,000 sq. ft. of space, including 15 spa therapy rooms and a panoramic indoor pool.

One of the biggest draws for meeting planners, Baker explained, was that groups of the largest size can meet at Mohegan knowing confidently that the casino and hotel offer something for everyone, so planners can rest assured that attendees don’t feel the need to go off the property.

Conversely, as more young attendees are looking for the opportunity to explore during their travels, Mohegan Sun’s central location makes it possible for people to extend their stay and tour New England and beyond.

With offices in Massachusetts, Manhattan, Vermont, and New Hampshire, William Raveis first chose Mohegan Sun for its accessibility, says Csejka, but it’s flexibility is part of what keeps them coming back.

“It’s not just a convention center. It’s a destination that can handle the education sessions and the breakout sessions. It’s a big venue and it’s still cozy and intimate. And when the convention is done at the end of the day, [our attendees] can have fun.”

Unlimited Possibilities for Meetings

The 1,200 spacious guest rooms at the hotel include over 170 suites. It also offers a 10,000 square-foot solarium with indoor/outdoor swimming pool, and an outdoor sun terrace offers 17,500 sq. ft. of space.

prefunction_moheganPrefunction space in front of Uncas Ballroom

Meeting spaces include the 38,000-square-foot Uncas Ballroom, which can be broken down into ten meeting rooms and accommodates 3,400. There are 15 additional meeting rooms and a board room on the lobby level.

arena_moheganArena at Mohegan Sun

The Academy of Country Music Awards winner for Medium Capacity Casino of the Year, Mohegan Sun Arena is home to some of the biggest names in entertainment and can seat 10,000 theater-style, and can be transformed into 30,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space. The Wolf Den, which won the ACM award for Small Capacity Casino of the Year, is an intimate stage at the center of Casino of the Earth and hosts free concerts four nights a week. The cabaret theater seats 400 and offers an intimate atmosphere for shows and events.

Comix Comedy Club & Craft Beer Bar features up-and-coming comedians and headliners alike and offers 24 craft beers on tap, and a diverse food menu. It seats 325.

conference-moheganA conference room set up for discussion-style presentation

In total, Mohegan Sun offers more than 100,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space, 30 conference and break-out rooms can accommodate up to 5,300. There are expert CMP/CMM certified event service team members on staff to assist with every detail.

A professionally-managed business center features individual workstations, the latest business technology and shipping and receiving services. The state-of-the-art facilities at Mohegan Sun also make it possible to segment blocks of guest rooms in order to broadcast video-feeds and allow two-way conferencing from guest rooms to meeting rooms. Intra-property video teleconferencing is another high-tech feature available.

Fun On Deck

earth_hotelEarth Tower hotel is slated to open in the fall

A second hotel is being added to the flagship property, slated to open in the fall. The $120 million dollar Earth Tower hotel will feature 400 deluxe guest rooms, an indoor pool and fitness center, and even more functional meeting space.

The property is also preparing to add a Tom’s Urban restaurant across from the Arena in the existing hotel and casino in the next few months. Tom’s Urban offers a wide selection of American street foods, handcrafted cocktails, and more than 40 beers on tap—a great late-night spot after catching a show.

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Responding to guests who asked for smaller meeting space to accommodate banquets and events at the luxury resort, The Cloister on Sea Island in Georgia has added a 5,703-square-foot ballroom.

The Forbes Five Star property now has more than 51,000 sq. ft. of flexible, high-tech indoor and outdoor event space overlooking the Georgia coastline. The property also features a 7,588-square-foot ballroom and a 10,000-square-foot outdoor area. Both spaces can accommodate up to 500. The new ballroom holds up to 300 for receptions.

The addition of the new ballroom precedes the grand opening of the Garden Wing at The Cloister, which is expected to open this spring. The new wing will add 63 guests rooms, bringing The Cloister’s total to 267. The resort opened a new pool last year as part of the property-wide renovation.

The Cloister is one of three properties in the Sea Island resort group. The Lodge at Sea Island and The Inn at Sea Island, which offer 40 and 85 guest rooms, respectively, are located on nearby St. Simons Island. The Cloister and The Lodge at Sea Island are the only Forbes Five Star properties in the state of Georgia.

In addition to earning a five-star rating for eighth consecutive year, The Cloister also features a five-star restaurant and spa.

Sea Island Golf Club

Golfers can take advantage of three championship courses at The Sea Island Golf Club at The Lodge. Two the courses are used for the PGA Tour’s RSM Classic, which takes place in November. The Golf Performance Center is home to an award-winning staff and serves as a training center for top professional players.

The Cloister Tennis Center features the Sea Island Stadium Court and Retreat Tennis Center. It’s home of the Sea Island Jensen Brothers Tennis Academy.

Located off the southern Georgia coast, The Cloister offers lots of outdoor activities, including kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, fishing and sailing. The private beach is another popular amenity.

musician

A gala celebration marked the $325 million transformation of the Henry B. Gonzalez Center on Wednesday night, and marked the beginning of a new era for the facility and for San Antonio in general.

The celebration, Transformation de la Noche (Night of Transformation), drew hundreds of local dignitaries and some of the top U.S. leaders in the travel and hospitality industries, including Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. This underscored the importance of the renovations, which add 270,000 sq. ft. of new exhibit space to the previous total of 230,000 sq. ft.

henry b. gonzalez center

The expansion also includes the new 55,000-square-foot Stars at Night Ballroom; larger and more flexible breakout rooms; and new, well-defined main and secondary entrances.

market

“The expansion is a real game-changer for San Antonio,” Dow says. “The city has more than 4,000 guest rooms within walking distance of the center.

“People who have been booking large meetings and conferences in places like Chicago and Nashville now will think of San Antonio as another option.”

Dow emphasized that the expected increase in meetings and conferences will have a huge economic impact on the city.

“I don’t think people realize what increased travel does for a lot of small businesses,” he says.

fire-dancer

The gala was an elegant affair in which guests proceeded through four new areas, each designed to reflect one of the four basic elements. Attendees started at the plaza (fire) and then were led to the lobby (wind), a new hall (ice) and the Stars at Night Ballroom (earth).

Attendees were offered drinks at each stop, and a buffet meal in the Stars at Night Ballroom. The areas featured high-tech images, people dressed in imaginative costumes to reflect each season, dancers and musicians.