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NASHVILLE – Lonely Planet announced today that Nashville is one of ten cities around the world it has named as part of its Best in Travel 2016 collection of top destinations to visit in the upcoming year (#BestinTravel). The list, compiled by the world’s leading travel media company, ranked Kotor, Montenegro at No. 1. Nashville came in at No. 9 and is the only city in the United States to make the list.

“It is great to see that Lonely Planet recognizes that the unique culture and welcoming atmosphere of Nashville makes our city a premier tourist destination for travelers the world over,” Nashville Mayor Megan Barry said. “The visitors who choose to vacation or convene in Nashville help to keep our city thriving while also contributing to our economic vitality. From the world-class Music City Center, to our one-of-a-kind music scene, to our growing list of fantastic restaurants, Nashville is a wonderful, creative place to live, work and play.”

Lonely Planet says: “Country music is still the heart and soul of Music City, but poke your head outside the honky-tonks of lower Broadway and you’ll notice new sounds in the air: the grind of construction work, excited chatter at the latest restaurant or art gallery opening and the energetic thrum of new business.” The city’s appeal to young people, its dining scene and its creative class are also cited. Jack White, Warby Parker, Otis James, the Lane Motor Museum and Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack are name-checked in a four-page spread.

“Nashville has established itself as a shining example of economic and cultural growth,” said Dora Whitaker, Managing Destination Editor at Lonely Planet based out of Lonely Planet’s headquarters in Franklin, Tenn. “It continues to draw both start-ups and big name-brands looking to expand, and seemingly overnight, it’s become one of America’s hottest dining destinations, with a particular focus on local ingredients and reinventing classic regional recipes. 2016 promises to be another exciting year for the city, with its perennial event favorites, such as the CMAs, and newer ones, like the 4th annual Music City Food + Wine Festival.”

Along with Top 10 Cities, Lonely Planet also announced today its Top 10 Countries and Top 10 Regions. Botswana was ranked No. 1 on the Top 10 Countries list, with the United States coming in third. Transylvania, Romania was named the Top Region with Hawaii ranked No. 7.

The lists draw on the knowledge, passion and thousands of miles traveled by Lonely Planet’s editors, authors and community to recommend the top destinations to visit in the year ahead. Destinations are scored for topicality, excitement and x-factor.

All three lists are featured in the Best in Travel 2016 book and on the Lonely Planet website. They are part of the inaugural issue of Lonely Planet’s new U.S. magazine, Lonely Planet, which will hit the newsstands on Nov. 3. The magazine also will include a “What to eat in Nashville” article.

Top 10 Cities

1. Kotor, Montenegro
2. Quito, Ecuador
3. Dublin, Ireland
4. George Town, Malaysia
5. Rotterdam, the Netherlands
6. Mumbai, India
7. Fremantle, Australia
8. Manchester, UK
9. Nashville, USA
10. Rome, Italy

Top 10 Countries

1. Botswana
2. Japan
3. USA
4. Palau
5. Latvia
6. Australia
7. Poland
8. Uruguay
9. Greenland
10. Fiji

Top 10 Regions

1. Transylvania, Romania
2. West Iceland
3. Valle de Vinales, Cuba
4. Friuli’s wine regions, Italy
5. Waiheke Island, New Zealand
6. The Auvergne, France
7. Hawaii, USA
8. Bavaria, Germany
9. Costa Verde, Brazil
10. St Helena, British Territories

Lonely Planet

Lonely Planet is the world’s leading travel media company, providing inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveler since 1973. Over the past four decades, Lonely Planet has cultivated a dedicated traveler community and printed over 130 million books in 13 different languages to almost every destination on the planet. The Lonely Planet ecosystem also includes digital and mobile apps, a comprehensive ebook collection, an award-winning website and Lonely Planet, its U.S. magazine launching November 2015. Visit us at lonelyplanet.com, and join us on Facebook (facebook.com/lonelyplanet), Twitter (@lonelyplanet and #lp) and Instagram (instagram.com/lonelyplanet).

The Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp

The mission of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp is to maximize the economic contribution of the convention and tourism industry to the community by developing and marketing Nashville as a premier destination. Visit the NCVC’s website at www.visitmusiccity.com, tune in to our internet radio station at www.highway65radio.com, and follow us on social media:

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

–93 percent are accessible by public train, light rail or subway/metro systems
–90 percent have either achieved or are working towards a sustainability-related certification such as LEED
–80 percent regularly donate excess food to local charities, translating to approximately 1.4 million donated meals
–85 percent participate in sustainability programs or initiatives led by their city
–72 percent can provide event planners a specific waste diversion report for their event
–70 percent have a dedicated sustainability coordinator or sustainability manager on staff

Details of the 2015 Green Venue Report

The Green Venue Report is a joint project of Greenview, a Washington, D.C.-based sustainability consulting firm, and Twirl Management, an Oakland, California-based, ecologically conscious event planning company. Their mission is to examine the overall environmental footprint of the meetings and events industry, highlight best practices of venues with sustainable operations, showcase innovative programs and compile relevant statistics.

“Unverified statistics tarnish the event industry, claiming it to be the second largest waste generator after construction. Even if the statistic was true, it certainly is outdated,” they maintain. Their 2015 data was mined from a 158-question survey filled out by leaders at convention centers in 6 countries and 4 continents. Questions probed venue space, events, energy, waste, water, accessibility, food and beverage, staff involvement and communications in calendar year 2014.

Interesting Findings

In 2014, the reporting convention centers hosted a total of 9,900 events and welcomed 35,740,600 attendees. More than one-fourth of the centers (27 percent) reported that planners are asking for sustainability initiatives, up from 20 percent in the 2014 report (which was based on data from 2013). Another interesting statistic is that today, 42 percent of the responding centers produce renewable energy (mostly solar) onsite, while 59 percent procure renewable energy (most commonly wind) offsite.

The goal of the annual Green Venue Report, according to Johanna R. Walsh, CMP of Twirl Management, is to increase awareness and spur an improvement in sustainability among exhibit and convention center facilities worldwide. She suggests that convention centers are in a powerful position to drive environmental change, and welcomes more convention centers to participate in the survey so their data can be included in the 2016 report.

“We hope this report and subsequent surveys serves as a catalyst for convention centers and show organizers to ‘up their green game’,” the report concludes. “Centers have both the square footage and engineering prowess to incubate and lead sustainable practices for the meeting and convention industry. Planners can make their events and spending power influence great change, benefiting not only their brand but also the world we live in.”

The free 2015 Green Venue Report can be downloaded at greenvenuereport.com. The press release is available in English, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, Thai and Indonesian.

Hyatt Hotels Corp. is making moves to acquire Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. Reuters reports that a deal could be made as soon as next week. Hyatt appears to be the prime choice for taking control of the faltering company. Upon facing mounting financial challenges, Starwood has reportedly been on the verge of a merger or buyout. Hyatt declined requests for comments.

The proposed acquisition comes at the same time two large Chinese companies and CIC, China’s largest sovereign wealth fund, have also shown collective interest in buying Starwood Hotels. The hotel company is currently valued at approximately $12.75 billion. According to Forbes, CIC has purchased more than $7.3 billion worth of global assets since 2012. This would be the first property acquisition for the group, which already has 9.9 percent stake in investment bank firm Morgan Stanley.

Reuters states that Starwood could be bought for more than $100 per share, which potentially puts the company at more than $17 billion. Hyatt Hotels is worth about $7.23 billion, yet analysts say that it is possible that Hyatt could pull off the buyout. Months ago, Starwood considered selling some of its midscale hotel brands and had solicited Wyndham Worldwide Corp. and InterContinental Hotels Group.

In February, Starwood’s former CEO Frits van Paasschen abruptly resigned upon mutual agreement over slow growth in the company’s domestic and international portfolios. Starwood owns St. Regis, W and Luxury Collection within its luxury brands; Sheraton, Westin and Le Meridian in its upper-upscale range; and mid-market hotels including Aloft, Four Points and Elements.

richard-harper Richard Harper, executive vice president of HelmsBriscoe, has been appointed co-chair of Meetings Means Business, replacing David Peckinpaugh effective January 2016.

Harper’s new role will have him sitting next to a former colleague and fellow co-chair, Michael Dominguez, senior vice president and chief sales officer at MGM Resorts International. Before joining HelmsBriscoe, Harper was executive vice president of sales and marketing for MGM Resorts International, directing strategic sales initiatives for meetings, transient business and leisure.

“I look forward to working alongside Richard to ensure that Meetings Mean Business continues to promote the industry’s value, build support across the industry and work with leaders from other sectors to spread our messages further,” Dominguez says. “Richard has been an active member of the coalition since 2009 and we are fortunate to have his leadership and vision.”

Created in 2009, the Meetings Mean Business coalition reinforces the value that business meetings and events bring to the U.S. economy by developing resources, tools and information that show impact of the industry, in addition to uniting a variety of key players.

Meetings Means Business Promotes #GMID16

One of the biggest campaigns on the table right now is Global Meetings Industry Day (#GMID16) on April 14, 2016. Meetings Means Business is hoping to build on the success of North American Meetings Industry Day (NAMID) earlier this year.

Peckinpaugh , president at Maritz Travel, has been a co-leader of Meetings Means Business since 2013. Harper has 30 years of experience in the meetings industry. As executive vice president at HelmsBriscoe, Harper’s key objective is to ensure company success in sales and grow its role in the meetings industry.

According to the HelmsBriscoe website, the company ranks as the highest volume purchaser in the meetings and event industry and boasts the most expansive and experienced network of associates in the market. Associates can be found in more than 55 countries averaging 12 years of hotel, meeting planning and industry experience.

indianapolis-international-airport The Indianapolis Airport Authority (IAA) is honored to announce yet another prestigious award for the Indianapolis International Airport (IND). For the second year in a row, readers of the popular magazine Condé Nast Traveler have rated the Indianapolis International Airport the Best Airport in America. The 28th annual readers’ poll was released this week and rates hotels, resorts, airports and travel destinations around the world.

More than 128,000 people took part in the Condé Nast Readers’ Choice survey, the most in the survey’s history. In the publication’s top ten list of best airports, IND ranked higher than airports in Portland, Tampa and Austin, among others.

“This is very rewarding because it is a survey of our travelers choosing us as “Best Airport,” said Mike Wells, IAA board president. “That is something we take to heart because it means that we are fulfilling one of our main goals at IND – providing one of a kind, world-class customer service and putting our travelers first.”

This is the latest in a series of honors presented to our community’s airport based on traveler surveys. Earlier this year, IND was named Best Airport in North America by Airports Council International (ACI) for the fourth time in the past five years. IND was also inducted into the elite ACI Director General’s Roll of Excellence, one of the few airports in the nation to earn this prestigious honor. Travelers often cite IND’s strengths as short waiting times at check-in and security, ease of flow through the terminal, terminal design and great customer service.

“The kindness of our people is the reason the Indianapolis International Airport wins so many awards,” said Mario Rodriguez, IAA executive director. “Our people set the template for compassion, service and professionalism.”
For a partial list of Condé Nast Readers’ Choice Awards, visit_______. You’ll find a complete list in Condé Nast Traveler magazines in fine retailers across the globe.

About the Indianapolis Airport Authority

The Indianapolis Airport Authority owns and operates Indiana’s largest airport system. In addition to the Indianapolis International Airport, its facilities include the Downtown Heliport, Eagle Creek Airpark, Hendricks County Airport, Indianapolis Regional Airport and Metropolitan Airport. IND has received numerous prestigious awards recognizing it as a leader within its class, including best airport in North America in 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014 in Airports Council International’s annual Airport Service Quality awards. It has also been inducted into the ACI Director General’s Roll of Excellence, one of the few U.S. airports to be included in this elite group of worldwide airports. IND is the first airport in the U.S. to win LEED® certification for an entire terminal campus. LEED is a green-building award for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. IND has won additional recognition for excellent customer service, concessions programs, and art and architecture.

IND generates an annual economic impact in Central Indiana of more than $4.5 billion without relying on state or local taxes to fund its operations. About 10,000 people work at the airport each day. IND serves more than 7 million business and leisure travelers each year and averages 140 daily flights, seasonally and year-round, to 41 nonstop destinations. Home of the world’s second-largest FedEx Express operation and the nation’s eighth-largest cargo facility, IND is committed to becoming the airport system of choice for both passenger and cargo service. For more information, visit IND’s Facebook page at Indianapolis International Airport and Twitter page at @INDairport.

Celebrating its 5th year of production in electrifying Las Vegas, IMEX America was alive and buzzing, attracting more than 10,000 participants and suppliers during the three-day event. Always a success, this year’s event attracted representatives the world wide, including those from London, Scotland, Japan, Dubai and Monaco. Truly a jack of all trades, IMEX ‘15, hosted by the Sands Expo and Convention Center, hosted participants from 150 countries. Primarily focused on providing exceptional business opportunities to buyers and exhibitors, the event was also said to be seriously fun, providing an informal platform for attendees to network.

Alongside the endless business opportunities, the event also offered educational and recreational activities, proving that Vegas really does have it all. Las Vegas offered an unforgettable welcome to guests, as the town and event space was absolutely vibrant. Industry pros agree that there has been great momentum within the meetings corner and that intoxicating Las Vegas was the perfect place to host IMEX.

For more on IMEX 2015, click here.

online-booking-scams The message to travelers is clear: When booking a hotel online, be extra careful that you’re on the hotel’s official web site or that of a trusted online booking agency, such as Orbitz or hotels.com.

A study released earlier this year by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) estimated that 2.5 million hotel bookings per year were handled by imposters rather than hotels or legitimate booking agencies, and causing travelers (and hotels) to lose around $220 million to online booking scams.

If that sounds bad, a new study by GFK Custom Research and published by AH&LA paints an even bleaker picture. According to the new study, it’s actually 15 million bookings per year that end up being online booking scams, with a price tag of $1.3 billion. That translates to 6 percent of hotel bookings performed online. An additional 20 percent of customers surveyed said they were “not sure” if they had fallen victim to a scam site. (Not all scams are completely false bookings, some simply don’t count toward a hotel’s loyalty program or have cancellation or refund policies that differ from the hotels’.)

Almost a third of respondents—32 percent—said they worry about scams when book, at least partly because they’ve experience d issues with online bookings.

–32 percent got a room that was different than what was expected
–17 percent were charged unexpected or hidden fees
–15 percent did not get their rewards points
–14 percent were charged an extra booking fee
–14 percent could not get a refund for a cancellation
–9 percent had reservations lost or cancelled
–3 percent had their identity or private information stolen

“These findings clearly show that online hotel booking scams have eroded consumer confidence among third-party vendors,” said Katherine Lugar, president and CEO of AH&LA. “Consumers deserve transparency in knowing who they are booking with. That is why we have been actively working with state and national government agencies, including the FTC, as well as consumer advocacy groups, to ensure that consumers are protected and can feel comfortable in the booking process. It’s always safest to book directly with the hotel.”

New locales, social media habits and authentic experiences—these are trends have begun to define what travel means for millions of globetrotters. But what does the mindset of today’s travelers indicate about the future? Global travel technology company Amadeus looked into its crystal ball and predicted that by 2030, people will identify as one of six types of future travelers.

Amadeus estimates that in 10-15 years, an additional billion people will populate the world, and 20 percent of them will be traveling. To arrive at its travel predictions, the company commissioned consumer trends consultancy The Future Foundation. Findings were based on a survey of 800 U.S. travelers’ personality traits, values, attitudes, interests and lifestyles in a globalized context.

Out of that, categories of future travelers emerged from needs, desires and behaviors instead of demographics based on gender or age. The survey also determined that travel will be largely based on technology upgrades to transportation and expanded social media platforms and connection speeds.

“Major changes are on the horizon in how travelers seek, consider and select destinations, consume travel services and make purchasing decisions. The travel industry and the technology that powers it needs to focus on evolving along with the travelers who will shape the future,” said Scott Alvis, chief marketing officer of Amadeus North America.

Here are the 6 Types of Future Travelers to Keep on Your Radar:

1. Social Capital Seekers will take social media a few steps further and structure their vacations around their online audiences. They will also rely on tips and suggestions from followers before making a decision.

2. Cultural Purists see vacations as an opportunity to immerse themselves in authentic cultural experiences, even if it means going beyond personal boundaries.

3. Ethical Travelers are concerned about their impact on the environment and strive to decrease their carbon footprint while traveling. They may also seek out volunteerism experiences or other ways to improve the lives of others.

4. Simplicity Searchers want a stress-free vacation and prefer to hand off the planning and organizing of trips to a coordinator or travel agent. They may lean towards all-inclusive packages and bundled offers.

5. Obligation Meeters have a specific purpose in mind when traveling. They may have budget or time restrictions and are keen on combining business and leisure trips.

6. Reward Hunters are luxury-focused travelers that see travel as a kind of indulgence. Vacations will be filled with over-the-top, premium experiences. They require a return on the investment of their hard-working lives.

suppliers-buyers Next week will be a huge time to connect in Calgary, when Convention Centres of Canada (CCofC) and Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE) meet at Calgary TELUS Convention Centre. CCofC will hold its annual convention Oct. 27-28, rolling into the CSAE annual convention Oct. 28-30.

It marks the first time the two major meeting players in Canada have interlinked their conferences, opening the door to exchange and merge knowledge between suppliers and buyers.

“Meetings are about making connections,” says Marcia Lyons, general manager of Calgary TELUS Convention Centre. “By connecting these two conferences, Calgary is facilitating new networking opportunities between industry counterparts.”

Convention centers that will be represented during the CCofC event include Vancouver Convention Centre, Shaw Centre (Ottawa), Metro Toronto Convention Centre and The Palais Des Congres De Montreal. CSAE members include industry and professional associations, charities and issue-specific organizations such as Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Bar Association, Real Estate Institute of Canada, Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Automotive Industries Association of Canada.

There will be a joint conference session on Partners in Event Excellence: Exploring Opportunities for Strategic Cooperation in Optimizing the Meeting Experience, with expert panelists representing suppliers and buyers. Rod Cameron, president of Convention Centres of Canada, and Lyons will moderate the panel. Other participants will be Nina Kressler, president and CEO of Shaw Centre; John Hoyles, CEO of Canadian Bar Association; and Michelle Gravelle, director of meetings and travel management for the Canadian Medical Association.

The downtown Calgary TELUS Convention Centre offers 122,000 sq. ft. of convention space, including a 47,000-square-foot exhibition hall. The eco-friendly facility features solar panels, low-flow water fixtures, extensive recycling and reduction programs and uses green cleaning products.

The convention center is connected by indoor pedestrian bridges to Hyatt Regency Calgary, Fairmont Palliser Calgary and Calgary Marriott Downtown Hotel.

IMEX America, celebrating their 5th anniversary, is reaching new heights in sunny Las Vegas. Several new trends are being noticed across the board, including the undeniable presence of millennials and a surge in health and wellness awareness. These young contemporaries are holding companies to higher standards — and it’s working. Millennials are paving the way for companies to show their corporate responsibility and are applauding them for their integrity. Additionally, many hotels are now offering healthy alternatives to formerly poor choices in diet and are offering features that allow for higher mental acuity and more physical energy.

New trends in economic growth for the meetings industry are popping up, as well. While the 2016 forecast predicts “strong growth across all areas” for the meetings and events industries, cost and a struggling economic climate remain concerns.

This year’s IMEX America is presenting some fascinating booths, including scintillating team-building activities with Cirque du Soleil, technological advances in websites that make it crazy-easy to dial a phone number, and a 6.75 acre roof-top bird sanctuary, just to name a few. Talk about a robust event. Vegas really does have something for everyone!

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