Cities, major event venues and hotels from around the world showed their support for Paris and its residents following terrorists attacks that occurred throughout the City of Lights on Friday, Nov. 13.

We at Smart Meetings send out our thoughts and prayers to those who were touched by this shocking act of aggression. Here are a few venues that showed their support by lighting up their properties with colors of France’s flag.

San Francisco City Hall frequently uses colored lights to support causes and even featured the French flag in front of this iconic building, which is often a place where local citizens converge when regional, national and international news breaks.

In Cincinnati, Duke Energy’s sign was lit up with France’s national colors of blue, white and red in a poignant display of support for the victims and city of Paris.

Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino features a replica of the Eiffel Tower in front of its property. Following the attack, the tower lights remained dark in memory of the lost lives.

Omni Dallas Hotel showed its support by displaying the colors of the French flag across the outside of its property. The Omni and its well-lighted exterior is a key venue in the Dallas skyline.

The Royal Palace of Dam Square in Amsterdam also used its building to show solidarity with the French following the attack. Government officials have admitted that the threat level in the Netherlands has been substantial for some time.

Gearing up for a Justin Bieber concert on Friday night, the Los Angeles Staple Center lowered flags to half-staff keeping Paris and the people of France in their thoughts as the latest updates continued to pour in from the region.

marriott-purchases-starwoodIn a move that will have major ramifications for the hospitality industry, Marriott International announced on Monday that it has agreed to buy Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide for $12.2 billion in stocks and cash.

Marriott will pay $11.9 billion in stocks and 300,000 million in cash. This amounts to $72.08 per share in cash and stock for Starwood, which includes St. Regis, Sheraton, W and Westin.

The purchase will make Marriott the world’s largest hotel company, with more than 5,500 hotels and 1.1 million rooms worldwide. It’s the second-largest purchase in the hotel industry, trailing only Blackstone Group’s purchase of Hilton Hotels for $26 billion in 2007.

The deal is scheduled to close in the middle of 2016. Marriott expects that it will create $200 million in annual cost savings in the second full year after closing by leveraging back-office and operational procedures.

Marriott and Starwood executives said that the purchase will help to accelerate the growth of Starwood brands. Sheraton, in particular, has been struggling during the past few years.

Arne M. Sorenson, Marriott’s president and chief executive, said that there are no plans to eliminate any Starwood brands. Both Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis are very strong, unique brands that can continue to succeed independent of each other. Starwood’s Tribute brand could be integrated into Autograph Collection because there are so few properties involved, and Starwood Luxury Collection will remain as it is for now.

Sheraton and Marriott have similar consumer bases, but Marriott has been performing better, so there could be some integrating of lower-end Sheraton properties into Marriott’s new Delta brand.

The closest clash of brand identities is Starwood’s Le Meridien Hotels and Marriott’s Renaissance Hotels. Sorenson said this would be discussed with Le Meridien’s executive and creative teams.

After the deal closes, Sorenson will remain Marriott’s president and chief executive, and the company’s headquarters will still be in Bethesda, Maryland. Three Starwood executives will be added to the Starwood board of directors, bringing the total to 14.

ideas-for-positive-energySometimes it’s the simple things that can change your mood—a walk, a bath or a nap. Jane Bluestein, PhD, a New Mexico-based educator, public speaker and author of 19 books, offers 36 practical suggestions of things you can do to feel great. This list originally appeared in her 1997 book, The Parent’s Little Book of Lists: Do’s and Don’ts of Effective Parenting, which contained more than 100 different lists featuring ideas to help build children’s character, reduce conflict and increase success.

–Do something you’ve been putting off for awhile.
–Try a new recipe or restaurant.
–Write a letter to someone special.
–Fix something that is broken.
–Tell someone a joke.
–Get a facial, manicure or massage (or all three!)
–Go for a 20-minute walk, noticing the colors, shapes, textures and sounds around you.
–Write yourself a love letter.
–Help someone who is worse off than you are.
–Have someone read you a story.
–Make a list of 10 things you do great.
–Make a list of 10 things you’re grateful for.
–Give someone in your family a backrub or foot massage.
–Clean out a drawer.
–Play “Hide and Seek” with your family.
–Read or watch something really funny.
–Eat dinner by candlelight.
–Call someone you care about.
–Do something special for someone—anonymously.
–Look at your beautiful self in a mirror. Say “I love you” 10 times.
–Volunteer.
–Do something you used to love doing as a child, something perhaps that you haven’t done since.
–Make music either singing or playing an instrument.
–Do something kind for a stranger or animal.
–Create more space and simplicity in your life. Go through your attic, garage or closets and find at least 3 things to give away to someone less fortunate.
–Buy a wonderful card for a special friend and send it.
–Make your favorite meal or dessert.
–Listen to your favorite kind of music.
–Spend some time on a hobby you’ve been neglecting.
–Curl up on the couch and watch your favorite movie.
–Read something uplifting.
–Take a nap with your child.
–Buy yourself a little goodie or toy—just for you.
–Take a bath.
–Take a nap.
–Hug your child, your dog or your spouse. (or even all three!)

Smart Meetings will profile Jane Bluestein’s newest book, The Perfection Deception: Why Trying to Be Perfect Is Sabotaging Your Relationships, Making You Sick and Holding Your Happiness Hostage, in the December issue. In this work, Bluestein makes the case that perfectionism has toxic effects on our thinking, relationships, work and sense of worth, and is a contributing factor in depression, insomnia, anorexia and suicide.

Trends in Incentive Travel

Predicted trends in incentive travel indicate a positive impact on spending and new destinations for travel programs, according to a 2015 Fall Pulse Survey from Incentive Research Foundation. Based on responses from 190 industry professionals, an improved economy has helped boost next year’s outlook for incentive travel, non-cash programs and budget changes.

About 61 percent of those surveyed said that the current state of the economy has allowed them to better plan incentive travel programs, and 67 percent said they would be able to increase travel budgets for next year. But for merchandise and gift card programs, 54 percent said the economy had little effect on their decisions.

One of the biggest impacts has been to per person budgets, which are expected to jump in 2016. Thirty percent of travel professionals said budgets are estimated to be between $2,000 and $3,000 per person; 29 percent reported that $3,000 to $4,000 would be spent per person; and 36 percent said they would be able to spend more than $4,000 per person.

The Caribbean is anticipated to be a popular incentive destination for U.S. travelers next year. Half of respondents said they would choose to plan meetings on one of the islands. Overall, international destinations were looked upon more favorably—23 percent intend to plan programs abroad.  Other top international destinations include Canada (40 percent), Europe (38 percent), Central America (26 percent), South America (14 percent) and Asia (10 percent).

Lead times are increasing because of additional pressure to source quality hotels for incentive travel programs. Forty-one percent of professionals book seven to 12 months ahead, and 45 percent said they book more than a year in advance due to stagnant growth in the supply of destination hotels.

Although the economy has improved, most respondents report that measuring travel programs remains important. About 72 percent measure programs annually or multiple times during the course. Only 24 percent measure at the request of management

Social media and corporate social responsibility are important components of incentive travel, largely due to interest from millennials. More than half stated that social media plays a role in their programs, and 43 percent include corporate social responsibility in some aspect.

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Monterey County is the West Coast’s most inspirational destination for meetings and conferences, and is an ideal location to host innovative meetings. The area boasts 12,000 rooms in 250 lodging properties, and a 65 degree average year-round temperature. Monterey County stretches from the artichoke fields of Castroville through Monterey Peninsula and down the Big Sur coast, all the way to the Salinas Valley.

The area is easily accessible by flying on one of more than 500 direct and 1-stop flights into the Monterey Regional Airport, but far enough away to open minds and inspire new thinking.

As the ideal host to your next corporate retreat or association conference, Monterey County offers the picturesque background to dream up your next product, incentivize your sales team, or expand a network of peers. Known as the greatest meeting of land, sea and sky, magnificent Monterey County is teeming with iconic California experiences.

The options for meetings are as expansive as the landscape. Large group venues ranging from the Hyatt Regency Monterey to the Monterey Conference Center that is soon to undergo a $50 million renovation; extraordinary spaces such as Asilomar Conference Grounds and the world renowned Pebble Beach Resorts; and a vast array of other unique places, Monterey County provides the inspirational setting that will drive new thinking for organizations and life-enriching moments for attendees.

Situated between the Gabilan Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, this postcard-worthy destination boasts 99 miles of pristine coastline and was voted one of the top ten wine destinations in the world. Monterey County has more than 40,000 acres of plush vineyards, 26 championship golf courses, the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and the Monterey Bay Aquarium on world-famous Cannery Row.

All year long, there are events and special activities for visitors to enjoy within close proximity to meeting and hotel venues. Festivals abound throughout the year and any day of the week can include wine tasting, adventure tours, horseback riding on the beach, hikes in the redwoods, new culinary experiences – the list is as endless as the destination’s scenic beauty. For a full list of activities and venues, visit meetinmonterey.com

Face-to-Face-Meetings

Smart Meetings Dallas will be kicking off on Dec. 3 at The Highland Dallas, an unbelievable hotel! You already know the industry, but Smart Meetings is setting you up with a killer game-plan for your next corporate event. We’re doing the hard part by bringing all the big names in the biz to Dallas!

This one-day event will play host to 50 premier hotels and destinations, and will offer an exciting array of networking activities, educational sessions with expert speakers and a delicious breakfast reception, to boot. Planners will have prescheduled eight-minute back-to-back appointments with targeted properties. In just a single day, planners could meet with more than a dozen suppliers!

Register for Smart Meeting Dallas

Planners of citywide events will benefit from the exciting array of CVBs that are eager to connect with you. Likewise, those who are planning a meeting in a casino shouldn’t miss the chance to meet with our many casino suppliers. Smart Meetings is also turning up the heat for planners of resort- and spa-based meetings. We’ll have tons of the industry’s top-tier resort-style properties and destinations, all boasting a higher level of luxury.

Citywide Events
These colossal events can pose a special level of excitement (and challenge) for CVBs, in particular, as their needs can include banners, airport welcomes, electronic marketing tools, coordination with municipal governments and more.

At Smart Meeting Dallas, you can meet:

• Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board
• Dallas Marriott City Center
• Dominican Republic Tourism Board
• San Diego Tourism Authority

Meetings in Casinos
Gaming resorts and casinos often provide state-of-the-art facilities and outstanding dining, recreation and entertainment. And because casinos offer an all-inclusive experience, guests never have to leave the property. Bonus: This can cut down on transportation costs and security concerns. Win-win.

A few of the casino suppliers are:

• Wynn Las Vegas
• Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe
• MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas

Resort and Spa-Based Meetings
Many resorts offer a putting green, allowing guests to play a round or 12 of golf, aka the networking game du jour. Guests have the much-needed opportunity to balance work with play, so they’ll be able to refresh and reflect when the day is done.

Network with these resort and spa suppliers at Smart Meeting Dallas:

• Hilton Waikoloa Village, Big Island of Hawaii
• Chaminade Resort & Spa, Santa Cruz, California
• Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas

Don’t miss this event and run the risk of losing valuable connections. Meet with top industry players and get crazy while gaining good ROI at this super-exciting and profitable event. Come check out this Smart Meeting event to see what all the fuss is about!

 

 

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International meetings expert, Eduardo Chaillo, who was formerly on the Mexico Tourism Board, spoke with Smart Meetings TV at IMEX America 2015, and called the event “vibrant” and a “booster” for the industry. Chaillo says the IMEX platform provides great momentum for meeting planners and suppliers, adding that meetings are on the rise.

The pundit says he recognizes a spike in international corporations based in the United States and American associations, as well. Chaillo says that companies need to globalize the language and eliminate boundaries within communities. He says companies need to implement a global strategy, with a local execution, placing importance on respecting local customs, traditions and culture.

Chaillo says meetings follow the economy and notes the Pacific Alliance Agreement, which forms solidarity among Chile, Peru, Colombia and Mexico, and allows them to create a vertical market.

 

 

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Smart Meetings TV caught up with Brian Slot, director of meetings, conventions, incentives and events for Travel Alberta at IMEX America 2015, who says that Alberta’s two major cities are experiencing major changes. A new arena is being built in Edmonton which will seat up to 20,000 and Calgary is adding a brand new international terminal to the airport. Slot says this addition will allow for more flights and easier access into Alberta.

The director says the Canadian dollar is currently low, and the Canadian tourism sector is benefiting from it, adding that association and incentive groups are increasingly leaning toward Canada.

Slot adds that Canada is focused on the “100 mile diet,” noting that visitors can enjoy local food and products at all of Canada’s hotels. He shares that Canada is a three to four hour flight from the United States, and he recognizes the importance of reminding visitors that they must have a passport to enter Canada.

 

 

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CEO of Access Destination Services, Chris Lee, interviewed with Smart Meetings TV at 2015’s IMEX America, who spoke about the importance of consolidation in the meetings industry. He says there has been more DMC consolidation in the past ten years than there has been in 40 years. He calls Access Destination Services a pioneer in the DMC industry, and describes it as a seamless organization comprised of independently owned DMCs around North America that are brought together under one brand.

Lee states that many DMC organizations are membership based, which poses a challenge for clients because the need to individually source destinations is still present. He says Access Destination Services allows for locally owned and operated DMCs to go to market as one company, noting that customers can have a single point of relationship.

The CEO shares that, combined with their partner Pacific World; Access Destination Services covers 100 destinations worldwide. Lee adds that clients can enjoy efficiency and consistency of service, and says that many industry partnerships are plagued by an unfortunate combination of locations which are exceptional, adequate and sometimes subpar.

Lee adds that Access Destination Services is the slowest-growing national brand. He says the company has been in service for 40 years and only in the last seven years have they become a national brand. He attributes this to strategically planned and meticulous growth.

 

 

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Senior Director of Group Sales for Casa de Campo, Patricia Perez-Sahin, interviewed with Smart Meetings TV at IMEX America 2015 that said her property is an extremely unique destination because it is home to 7,000 acres of experiences. She says guests of the hotel can participate in signature golf, skeet and trap shooting, pottery classes, equestrian riding with the hotel’s polo club, yachting and more. The hotel boasts more than 100 unique venues to host an event.

Perez-Sahin says Casa de Campo will open a new restaurant, Pubelly in their marina in Nov., as well as another marina lounge. Pubelly has enjoyed great success in Miami Beach where it is based and offers Asian-fusion cuisine. Perez-Sahin adds that Casa de Campo offers an array of wellness options, including retreats that encourage detox, yoga, exercise and healthy eating. The hotel has also recently formed a new partnership with Pinecrest to offer opportunities for health and wellness to their guests.
Perez-Sahin says Casa de Campo is able to remain a leader in hotels for the groups industry in the Dominican Republic because it continues to reinvent itself.

 

 

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