palm-springs-international-film-festivalTo kick off the new year, Smart Meetings will be heading to Palm Springs to attend the 27th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival and explore some of the area’s top options for meeting groups. The film festival is dedicated to showcasing the efforts of exceptional, new and emerging talents as well as the outstanding work of established directors, actors and others in the industry. Celebrity spottings are part of the fun–last year’s attendees included Reese Witherspoon, Julianne Moore, Keira Knightly and Benedict Cumberbatch. The festival runs Jan. 1–11, and Smart Meetings will be there for the first four days. Follow us as we attend the elegant awards gala and visit some of the city’s top hotels, restaurants, bars and attractions. Highlights will include a desert jeep tour and a glimpse at some of Palm Springs’ finest midcentury architecture and design.

Last Updated Jan. 5, 2016 – 6:47 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

visit-seattle-helicopter

Seattle’s inspirational surroundings and vibrant culture make it an ideal location for meetings, conferences, and events. Your attendees can stimulate their minds during the day, and stimulate their senses as they explore a world-class city throughout their stay.

With a wealth of unique sensory activities for visitors, spectacular views in every direction are just the start. Surrounded by water, trees, and mountains, Seattle is a city that truly exists in harmony with nature.

Boasting a safe, vibrant, and compact downtown, everything is close at hand in Seattle. Dozens of major hotels – with more than 4,400 committable rooms – are within walking distance of the centrally located Washington State Convention Center.

The vibrant culture of the city comes alive the moment you walk into one of the many bustling coffee shops or farm-to-table restaurants. Take in the delicious scents and savor the freshness in every sip or bite – many ingredients are grown within just a short drive of the city.

When attendees have a longer break, there’s an incredible variety of ways they can see and feel the city, whether it’s kayaking or paddle boarding on Lake Union, an Argosy cruise around Elliott Bay, a ride on the Seattle Great Wheel, a trip to the top of the iconic Space Needle, or a once-in-a-lifetime flight in a seaplane.

Late night in Seattle is another great chance to experience the city – particularly its legendary music scene. Hear local rising stars at venues that have launched some of the biggest names in popular music.

If attendees decide to extend their trip beyond your event, there are myriad activities just a short drive away from downtown, including hiking, mountain biking, skiing and snowboarding.

To see the many immersive activities your attendees can enjoy in Seattle, watch real travelers experience the city for the first time in the Seattle First Takes series on visitseattle.tv.

Visit Seattle is your go-to resource for facilitating exceptional events and meetings from beginning to end. The knowledgeable staff can help with all of your needs, including site selection, destination literature, attendance promotion, convention planning, liaison with civic officials, housings services, local publicity and more. Start planning your next meeting, conference or event at visitseattle.org/meetings.

college-football-championship-2016Arizona will be a relatively new frontier for the two football teams and fan bases that will visit Greater Phoenix for the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship.

Alabama Crimson Tide and Clemson Tigers have played more than 2,400 football games during their combined 242-year histories—but only one of those games took place on Arizona soil. That came in 15 years ago, when Alabama participated in the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe.

Since 1939, the Clemson Tigers have played in 37 bowl games. But they’ve never played a bowl game—or any game—in the Grand Canyon State.

That will change on Jan. 11, when No. 1 Clemson squares off against No. 2 Alabama in the 2016 CFP National Championship, which will kick off at 5 p.m. local time at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.

While the big game will be played in Glendale, the majority of fan-centric activities will take place downtown Phoenix.

From Jan. 8-10, five city blocks in the heart of downtown Phoenix will transform into the Championship Campus presented by Ak-Chin Indian Community. The downtown campus will include an indoor fan festival and an outdoor concert series.

Playoff Fan Central, located inside the Phoenix Convention Center, will feature interactive games, exhibits, surprise guest appearances, and pep rallies featuring the Alabama and Clemson bands and cheerleaders. Tickets are $12 for adults and $7 for children, students and seniors.

Playoff Playlist Live! is a free three-day music series that will feature John Mellencamp, The Band Perry, Walk the Moon, Ciara, David Nail, Andy Grammar and Moon Taxi. Each night’s concert will be capped by fireworks.

According to the Arizona Organizing Committee, which is responsible for hosting the 2016 college football championship, more than 300,000 people are expected to attend the three days of activities at the Championship Fan Campus.

The CFP is the latest sports organization to bring its showcase event to Greater Phoenix. Last year Phoenix played host to the NFL’s Pro Bowl and Super Bowl, and in 2017 the city will be the site of the NCAA Men’s Final Four. No other city has hosted these mega sports events in consecutive years.

“People ask me why the College Football Playoff selected Greater Phoenix for the second championship game,” Bill Hancock, the executive director of the CFP, told a media gathering in Phoenix on Monday. “There are several reasons. You have everything. Infrastructure. Hotels. A wonderful stadium. A great airport. A great ground transportation system. There’s also the people. … These events don’t just happen on their own. You don’t just open the door, turn on the lights, and have a fantastic weekend for fans. It takes a lot of work.”

best-f&b-ideasPlanners will agree that F&B is a crucial component to a great meeting. Working with creative chefs around the country, planners are expanding beyond humdrum sandwiches and boring beverages to feature cutting-edge culinary offerings. Below, Smart Meetings presents some of the best F&B ideas from 2015.

1. 2015 Food Trends

2015-Food-TrendsHip new food concepts that chefs gobbled up in 2015 included unusual tacos, savory pancakes and sophisticated soft serve ice cream. Read more.

2. Wolfgang Puck Catering Your Event

wolfgang-puck-cateringCelebrity chef Wolfgang Puck offers catering services in 26 locations, across 10 U.S. cities. Bring panache to events by featuring chef stations with Puck-trained culinary artists. Read more.

3. Guy Fieri’s Your Guy

guy-fieri-in-the-kitchenWhen booking events or organizing buyouts at Guy Fieri’s popular eateries located around the country, expect  bold, American-inspired food and drink. Read more.

4. Standout Sandwiches

sandwiches-that-stand-out-at-events (1)The simple yet satisfying sandwich is a staple in schoolchildren’s lunch boxes and at afternoon teas. At meetings, expand the sandwich selection with these creative suggestions. Read more. 

5. Spotlight on Seafood

f-and-b-scallopsFish is a light, easy-to-digest protein that is low in calories, rich in omega-3 fatty acids and can be prepared in a myriad of delicious ways. From lobsters to scallops, here are some great preparation ideas. Read more.

6. Meat & Greet

meet-and-greetNothing satisfies quite like meat. Planners with game are going beyond the ordinary burgers and steak to offer more exotic carnivorous offerings. Read more.

7. Going Green

green-vegetablesFrom deep fried kale to green tea ice cream, chefs are incorporating popular green foods into their menus. Read more.

8. Decadent Ice Cream Treats

ice-creamEvery day is sundae with these new takes on the cold, creamy treat, a perennial favorite of young and old. Read more.

9. Unusual Cocktails

FB-Cocktail1Mixology has been elevated to an art, as creative bartenders are transforming mundane beverages into eye-popping treats. Here are five unusual cocktail ideas. Read more.

10. Celebrate with Champagne

ChampagnePeople often toast the New Year by popping open Champagne, however chefs are incorporating the bubbly beverage into dishes, as well. Read more.

11. Winter Menus

seasonal-winter-foodWhen the weather grows cold, here are some hearty, stick-to-your-ribs winter meal  ideas. Read more.

 

Meetings More Eco-Friendly

From LEED certified convention centers, to airplanes with fewer emissions, meetings infrastructure made great strides in sustainability. More meeting venues are actively striving towards a lowered carbon footprint, and planners, too, are discovering ways to make meetings more eco-friendly and push toward continued progress. Here are the top stories on sustainability from Smart Meetings’ coverage this year:

Aviation

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1. Solar-powered Plane Takes First Flight Around the World

A solar-powered airplane has begun its first journey around the globe without a single drop of fossil fuels. Solar Impulse founders Andre Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard will take turns piloting the single-seat aircraft as it makes nine stops in five different countries.

futuristic-airplane

2. Zero Emission Plane May Fly in 15 Years

Spanish designer Oscar Vinals has devised a zero emission aircraft that could actually take to the skies in the next 15 years. His futuristic-looking, triple-decker design would be able to hold 800 passengers. Like a hotel, it would feature shops, restaurants and rooms.

Aviation's Impact on the environment

3. Aviation’s Impact on the Environment

Some environmentalists are criticizing the impact that the aviation industry is having on our planet. They claim that aircraft emissions are hazardous to human health and are contributing to global warming. The Center for Biological Diversity is just one of many organizations in the process of suing the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to protect the public.

Flying Time and Carbon Emissions

4. NASA App Cuts Carbon Emissions and Flying Time

NASA is testing software it has designed help aircrafts reduce flying time and carbon emissions. Over the next three years, Virgin America and Alaska Airlines will run a trial on the Traffic Aware Planner (TAP) application developed under the Traffic Aware Strategic Aircrew Requests (TASAR) project.

Hotels & Convention Centers

green-venue-report

1. Green Venue Report Tracks Convention Center Sustainability

The 2015 Green Venue Report, which tracks convention center sustainability worldwide, was released earlier this year. Some notable trends emerged in the annual report. Among the 30 convention centers around the world studied—up from 16 surveyed last year.

green meetings industry

2. Green Matters

“It’s not easy being green,” a famous frog once sang, but these days it seems not just easy, but expected for hotels, conference centers and meeting facilities. Of course, sustainability that feels seamless is actually a lot of hard work and takes intricate planning, investment in infrastructure and thorough certification.

green-meeting-venues

3. 6 Tips to Select Green Meeting Venues

Meeting 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.

GMIC-QMApp

4. Green Meeting Industry Council Gets New App

The Green Meeting Industry Council announced today that they are partnering with QuickMobile, the global leader in mobile enterprise meeting and event apps, to provide the mobile event app for GMIC’s annual Sustainable Meetings Conference.

Organize A Green Event

5. Green Meetings Q&A with Paul Salinger and Shawna McKinley

Fresh from our Smart Meetings Webinar Series, we bring you an in-depth Q&A with Salinger and McKinley as they answer some of our audience’s questions and provide insight on the best ways to green-up your events.

Eco-Friendly Meetings

6. Eco-Friendly Meetings: 6 Tips to Green-Up Events

With the ever-increasing demand to go green in every thinkable manner (really, a 1-square meter portable house?), the meetings and events industry is coming under more and more scrutiny for having a heavy carbon footprint.

San Francisco Moscone Center

7. San Francisco and Moscone Center Raise the Green Bar

San Francisco’s premier meeting venue has two buildings that have earned LEED Gold certification. When Moscone’s current renovation and expansion projects are complete, the expectation is that those buildings will earn LEED Platinum certification.

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8. A Cleaner, Greener IMEX America 2015

From waste reduction to educational sessions, a slew of sustainable initiatives happened at IMEX America 2015. This year’s conference implemented results from the MeetGreen Sustainability Report.

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9. Visit Baltimore Achieves New Sustainability Certification

Visit Baltimore, the official sales and marketing organization for Baltimore, has achieved level one certification in the ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) Standard as it relates to the Evaluation and Selection of Destinations for Environmentally Sustainable Meetings, Events, Trade Shows, and Conferences (APEX/ASTM).

Convention Industry Council

The Convention Industry Council (CIC) has announced several new members on its 2016 board of directors. Bonnie Fedchock, executive director of National Association for Catering and Events, is the new board chair. David Dubois, president and CEO of International Association of Events and Exhibitions has stepped down from the position.

Fedchock plans to continue facilitation of new programs and initiatives and build upon major strides achieved last year. “The Convention Industry Council continues to be a leader and driving force for the growth and enhancement of the global meetings industry,” she said.

“The exceptional programs at Convention Industry Council focus on research and education and provide standard setting training and certification. In the coming year, we will look to increase community engagement, as we continue to serve the many stakeholders that make up the important and diverse membership of our council.”

In addition to expanding its global membership, Convention Industry Council plans to continue advocating for economic and social values of the meetings industry through its participation in the Meetings Mean Business Coalition and supporting its own advocates who participate in the Meetings Industry Advocacy Hub.

The Convention Industry Council offers more than 30 member organizations representing more than 103,500 meeting professionals and 19,500 firms and properties within the meetings industry. CIC connects people, forms global partnerships, offers certification and accreditation programs and fosters collaboration on industry issues.

The following CIC members were elected to the 2016 Convention Industry Council Board of Directors:

-Chair: Bonnie Fedchock, CAE, National Association for Catering & Events

-Chair-Elect: Susan Robertson, CAE, ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership

-Immediate Past Chair: David DuBois, CMP, CAE, CTA, FASAE International Association of Exhibitions & Events

At-large board members elected to a two-year term:

-Martin Sirk, International Congress & Convention Association

At-large board members continuing on the board:

-Vicki Hawarden, CMP, International Association of Venue Managers

-Kimberly Miles, CMP, American Hotel & Lodging Association

-Paul Van Deventer, Meeting Professionals International

CMP Governance Commission Chair:

-Janet Sperstad, CMP, Madison College

CMP Governance Commission Vice Chair:

-Matthew J. DiSalvo, CMP, SER, Exposition Services

Weird Stories from 2015

Every year, Smart Meetings features many lighthearted, weird stories about the meetings and travel industry that make readers laugh out loud and shake their heads in disbelief. They leave readers wondering to themselves or blurting out loud, “Did I just read that?”

Here are some of the best fun, astonishing and weird stories from 2015, including hotels offering a pancake printing machine and guests complaining that the ice cream is too cold.

Weird Stories from 2015

1. Top 5 Strange Luxury Travel Trends

One of the main characteristics of the travel industry is its every-changing trends, some of which are a bit on the odd side. Selfie-drones, underwater tourism, and other new trends, gadgets, accessories and activities became trendy in 2015.

Weird Stories from 2015

2. 12 Unusual Guest Complaints

Virtually all of us believe that at times, we and others have perfectly understandable complaints about the hotels we frequent. But sometimes, it’s hard to empathize with grievances such as “the hotel [in London] had no ocean view,” “the waiter was too handsome” and “I couldn’t leave my bedroom because of a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign hanging from the doorknob.”

Weird Stories from 2015

3. World’s Wackiest Tourist Attractions

A homage to Stonehenge in Alliance, Nebraska that incorporates 38 classic cars—all painted gray and arranged similarly to the original stone structure in England—is one of the highlights of this story, featuring weird tourist spots around the globe.

Weird Stories from 2015

4. Quirky Restaurants to Sink Your Teeth Into

Cutting-edge restaurants now can be found in every major city, and some offer a particularly unusual twist. Ninja New York in Manhattan, for instance, offers Japanese food with a flourish. Diners are whisked in an elevator to a dark cavern where they navigate a long wooden bridge to their seats. Ninjas pop out of nowhere, brandishing knives and flames.

Weird Stories from 2015

5. Baby-Making Package Offered at Lord Baltimore Hotel

Need help making babies?  Lord Baltimore Hotel and Ripley’s Believe It or Not have partnered to produce a weirdly unique baby-making package to assist guests in their reproductive pursuits. The “And Baby Makes Three…or More” package includes taxi vouchers and free tickets to Ripley’s fertility exhibit, where visitors can receive blessings from mystical fertility statues.

Weird Stories from 2015

6. Streets That Raise Eyebrows

During our travels, we occasionally come across streets that are so bizarre that they make us scratch our heads and wonder how they came to be in the first place. One of them,  Maeklong, in Samut Songkhram, Thailand, looks like any other open-air market in Asia, but it sits right on a street that has a railway track running down its middle. So, vendors need to quickly move their goods whenever a train comes.

Weird Stories from 2015

 7. 10 Famously Haunted Hotels in America

The list starts with none other than The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park Colorado. Stephen King, the author of the book that inspired the film The Shining, had a creepy experience during his stay there. He reportedly came across a strange child, yet there were no children checked-in at the time. Many other guests have reported similar stories.

Weird Stories from 2015

8. Unusual Items Confiscated by the TSA

Planners are very familiar with the screening process implemented by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration before they board flights. For most, this has become a routine process, but every once in a while, very bizarre items turn up. They include an inert grenade, a multitool item that someone tried to conceal in a hollowed-out shaving cream can and a knife hidden in a cane.

Weird Stories from 2015

9. Pancake Printing Machine Highlights Airport Lounge Offerings

Not so long ago, airline lounges were simply comfortable, private areas, but some have been transformed into elite spaces that provide several large-screen TVs, strong Wi-Fi and other amenities. Beer-pouring robots, a pancake printing machine and 3-D printed coffee are among the highlights.

Weird Stories from 2015

10. Museums of a Different Sort

Unusual museums definitely are trending, and some stand out because of their truly bizarre themes.  Bad art, toilets, barbed wire and dog collars aren’t normally the types of things found in galleries and exhibition halls, but entire museums are devoted to each of them.

2015 Travel News Stories

Marriott’s acquisition of Starwood topped major hotel news during the past year, but several other major developments also had a significant impact on the travel industry. Here’s a rundown of six 2015 travel news stories, all of which can affect meeting planners as they make bookings for their groups.

marriott-purchases-starwood

1. Marriott Purchases Starwood for $12.2 Billion

In a move that will have major ramifications for the hopitality industry, Marriott International announced on Nov. 16 that it has purchased Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide for $12.2 billion. The purchase of Starwood—which  includes St. Regis, Sheraton, W and Westin—will make Marriott the world’s largest hotel company, with more than 5,500 hotels and 1.1 million rooms worldwide.

the-fairmont-san-francisco

2. AccorHotels Buys FRHI for $2.89 Billion

AccorHotels announced on Dec. 9 that it had purchased FRHI holdings—the parent company of the Fairmont, Swissotel and Raffles brands—for approximately $2.89 billion. The FRHI brands consist of 115 hotels and resorts and 43,000 guest rooms, as well as an additional 40 hotels in development that will provide 13,000 rooms. AccorHotels has nearly 500 properties throughout the world.

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3. Wyndham Hotel Group Expands Meetings Portfolio by Acquiring Dolce Hotels

Wyndham Hotel Group, a subsidiary of Wyndham Worldwide, expanded its presence in the group and meeting industry thanks to the acquisition of Dolce Hotels and Resorts for $57 million on Jan. 30. The Dolce portfolio includes 24 properties with more than 5,500 guest rooms in seven countries. The acquisition allows Wyndham Hotel Group to grow its managed portfolio by nearly 40 percent.

southwest-airlines

4. Southwest Airlines Offers More International Flights

Southwest Airlines, one of the nation’s most successful domestic carriers, announced plans to launch more flights to international destinations beginning Oct. 15. The airline indicated that it would offer service to 12 destinations in eight countries by the end of 2015, and identified 50 other international destinations it may be interested in exploring for future growth.

partner-central-app-from-expedia

5. Expedia to Buy Rival Orbitz for $1.38 Billion

Expedia Inc., seeking to capitalize on increasing business travel, announced on Feb. 12 that it was buying Orbitz Worldwide for about $1.38 billion in cash. Expedia reportedly is seeking to take on larger rival Priceline Group Inc. in the growing online travel industry. Expedia is considered the world’s second-largest travel services company by bookings. Priceline’s market of about $55 billion is more than that of Expedia and Orbitz combined.

 starwood-hotels

6. Uber Teams Up with Starwood to Give Hotel Points for Rides

Ever-expanding Uber made several major moves in 2015, including establishing a partnership with Starwood on Feb. 24 that gives riders a bit more incentive to choose an Uber vehicle over a taxi. By using the San Francisco-based company’s mobile app, Uber passengers can earn one Starwood rewards point for each dollar they spend on a ride in a car found through the San Francisco-based company’s mobile app. Guests who stay in one of Starwood’s 1,200 hotels will earn two to four points per dollar spent, depending on their level of status with Starwood.

ways-to-stay-healthy

In 2015, more professionals witnessed the gap between work and personal life shrink. People are busier and more connected than ever. But instead of compromising on the ability to maintain a healthy regimen, the travel industry has embraced wellness trends and healthy eating in a variety of ways. Travelers can benefit from hands-on teambuilding exercises; destinations that promote active lifestyle; quality food at airports; and hotels that offer top amenities for staying in balance.

Here are highlights from this year’s coverage on ways to stay healthy on the go:

stay healthy on the go

1. Health & Wellness: Stress is a Heavy Topic

There’s a link between stress and weight gain. By understanding when you’re prone to stressing and what to do about it, you will not only feel healthier, but also a little lighter on your toes. Read more.

stay healthy on the go

2. Survey says America’s Healthiest Airport is Baltimore/Washington BWI

This year’s healthiest airport was Baltimore/Washington International Airport. Vegetable and hummus plates, gluten-free quinoa and locally sourced salads helped it earn the top spot. Read more.

stay healthy on the go

3. Kimpton’s F&B Survey Reveals Exotic Ingredients and Healthy Foods will be Trending in 2015

Exotic ingredients such as sorghum, salsify and sour cherries, as well as all sorts of smoked, aged and pickled foods, are hot in 2015 according to Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants’ Culinary & Cocktails Trend Report. Read more.

stay healthy on the go

4. Healthy Fast Food Drive Thru Opens

Amy’s Drive Thru is taking on McDonalds, one veggie burger at a time. The new eatery offers healthy fast food choices with no genetically modified ingredients (GMOs), and plenty of gluten-free and vegan options. Read more.

stay healthy on the go

5. Study Links Chronic Jet Lag to Increased Health Risks

For flight attendants and other frequent flyers that experience jet lag on a regular basis, a recent study has linked chronic jet lag to increased health risks. Read more.

stay healthy on the go

6. 9 Ways to Stay Healthy While Traveling During the Holidays

This holiday season, more than 38 million people will travel on domestic airlines. That means it’s more important than ever to stay healthy during the winter travel period, which also coincides with the peak of the flu season. Read more.

stay healthy on the go

7. The Rapid Rise to Wellness

The strong emphasis on wellness in the meetings and hospitality industries parallels the rapidly increasing importance it has to people around the world. Read more.

stay healthy on the go

8. Make Wellness an Action when Meeting in California

When meeting here, you’re likely to include healthy menu options and wellness breaks, matching your attendees’ needs and interests with the improved engagement and ROI you need. Read more.

stay healthy on the go

9. Kicking Some Serious Butt at Westin Wellness Escape

Smart Meetings editor Susan Jacobs attended Westin’s inaugural Wellness Escape event in San Diego, an all-women retreat led by fitness guru Holly Perkins. Read more.

stay healthy on the go

10. 8 Steps for a DIY Wellness Retreat

Here are eight cost-effective and convenient ways for anyone to experience the benefits of a wellness retreat. By taking small steps towards building up fitness and health, reap the same benefits without a trip to Bali. Read More.

stay healthy while on the go

11. Healthy Hot Spots

From hybrid medical/fitness studios to beachfront yoga, resorts are making wellness a priority. Read on to learn about 10 more healthy hot spots. Read more.

Top 10 global Trends for 2016

In the New Year, 24/7 connectivity and an increasing awareness of the most pressing global issues will be at the forefront of our evolving geopolitical landscape. Broader implications are also predicted for cities, business, media and climate change, with technology at the center of it all.

These topics are part of an annual trends report from Havas PR, which has forecasted the next set of buzz words and uber trends for 2016. As technology becomes more ingrained in everyday life, renewable materials and a focus on all things local will also gain prominence. And as the world evolves, so too, will meetings.

Here are 10 global trends for 2016 that planners can expect to see in business, meetings and everything in between:

1. Fear and Unease: A pervading sense of fear could surface as the world becomes a more chaotic place and more threats loom ahead.

2. Tech Addiction: Once it was considered rude to text during a presentation or keep phones out while at the dinner table. As smart phone usage rises, so will the number of self-control programs for cyber and technology addiction.

3. Fact vs. Fiction: With more people having the means to express themselves with the Internet and social media, facts and truth could be harder to decipher or disappear altogether in the morass.

4. Renewable Chic: With climate change on everyone’s mind, renewable materials, goods and technologies will become more consumer-oriented. Sustainability will become less optional and more necessary.

5. Apps for Everything: In a massive wave of crowdsourcing, apps will come to fill a void in the realm of problem solving. And soon, even non-techie people will be able to create and build their own apps.

6. Too Smart: Every item—from watches to clothing—will come with a built-in chip. More products will be described as smart, premium and advanced—to the point that the terms are overused.

7. Cloud Cover: Activities that once required a physical presence may be phased out for cloud storage. Look out for increased sharing of data, information and resources across more devices.

8. Smaller Cities Rise: As cost and space become a premium in larger cities, second and third tier destinations are on the rise. Just this year, Cvent reported that smaller cities are already climbing within the ranks of its Top 50 Meeting Destinations in the United States.

9. Experience is Key: In a changing workplace, training and additional education will be critical. Employees will see a need to adapt to new tools and technologies. Internships, workshops and mentoring will be necessary to advance business.

10. New F&B Trends: Even with the farm-to-table food as ubiquitous as it is today, the foodie movement could phase out for easy-cook and no-cook ingredients.