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After 15 years as president and CEO of Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI), Michael Gehrisch announced this week that he is stepping down to oversee his family real estate investments and pursue hospitality-related technology investments.

“Fifteen years in one organization is long enough for any association executive,” Gehrisch said. “My time leading DMAI has been one of the biggest highlights of my career.”

Gehrisch has more than 29 years of experience in the hospitality industry, including 13 years as executive vice president for American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) and vice president of sales for World Res Technologies. Earlier in his career, he held management positions with Marriott and Hilton hotels.

“This was a perfect time to turn over the leadership of the organization, leaving my successor with a healthy, prospering and influential position in the market place,” said Gehrisch, who will consult with DMAI during the leadership transition.

Exclusive Interview

In a recent exclusive interview with Smart Meetings, Gehrisch said that DMAI’s growth is much more than numbers, although the association’s membership has ballooned to more than 600 destination marketing organizations (DMOs) in more than 20 countries under his leadership. Here’s an excerpt from our interview:

“The 600 DMOs in more than 20 countries represents DMAI’s membership network. There’s actually a much larger community of DMOs globally. We are working to engage that broader community more, with an understanding that engagement doesn’t always entail bringing in new members, but rather providing tools and resources that can be used by the global DMO community.

“As an example, we had 327 DMOs from 36 different countries participate in our DestinationNEXT Phase I research. We also held workshops verifying the results of our work in Latin America, Europe, Australia and the United States.

“Just as I mentioned before, DMOs from varying regions of the world will require different tools and resources to tackle the various challenges that they face. But there is still enormous power that comes with bringing the industry together to communicate the tremendous impact that destination market has on communities, and that is something we are working to do on a global scale.”

cleveland-hotbed-of-hotel-development With 25 different projects currently in the pipeline, downtown and suburban Cleveland is a hotbed of hotel development. Eight properties are under construction, 12 will begin construction within the coming year and five more are in early planning stages, according to Lodging Econometrics. If they all come to fruition, by 2017 the Greater Cleveland market will gain 3,452 available guest rooms— a 15 percent increase.

A 28-story, 600-room Hilton connected to the Cleveland Convention Center and the new Global Center for Health Innovation is projected to open in in the downtown district in spring 2016. Kimpton, Drury Hotels and Le Méridien also have downtown properties under development.

The growth has been going on for some time. Over the past two years the city has seen the opening of two new downtown properties—a 135-guest room Aloft Hotel and the 156-guest room The 9 at the Metropolitan, an Autograph Collection property. In addition, a former Crowne Plaza with 484 guest rooms was renovated and rebranded as The Westin Cleveland.

As hotelmanagement.net reports, the resurgence of interest in Cleveland’s downtown district is a result of the new Cleveland Convention Center, which features 225,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, 35 state-of-the-art meeting rooms and a 32,000-square-foot, column-free ballroom with spectacular views of the lakefront.

David Sangree, president of Hotel & Leisure Advisors, an Ohio-based consulting firm, told hotelmanagement.net, “Much of the activity downtown is due to the new convention center. When you add a convention center to a market that didn’t have an effective one for years, it creates high expectations for new groups and conventions coming to the city.”

In the Spotlight

Cleveland was chosen to host the 2016 Republican National Convention, a move that officials hope will thrust the city into the national limelight and highlight it as a choice destination for large scale meetings.

“From a hotel point of view the convention will be a one-time thing, but assuming it all goes well, it’s also a tremendous opportunity to build the reputation of Cleveland as a destination,” Sangree told hotelmanagement.net.

Destination Cleveland reports that year-to-date hotel room occupancy through May 2015 was 59.2 percent, up from 56.3 percent in 2014. The average daily rate rose 4.8 percent to $99.49, and revenue per available room increased 10.2 percent.

Suburban Development

A flurry of development is also occurring in Cleveland’s western suburbs. Two hotels have opened in the past two years, and four more are in the pipeline. A 267-room DoubleTree by Hilton opened last month in Westlake, following a multimillion-dollar renovation and conversion of a Holiday Inn.

According to Sangree, there is “pent-up demand for new product” in the western suburbs because the past decade has seen no new supply in the region.

The next generation of massive fuel-efficient aircrafts is closer than ever to completion. Last week, Boeing announced the configuration for the 777-9, the first addition of Boeing 777X airplanes to be developed, which also includes a future 777-8 model. The Boeing 777X aircrafts will be the largest and most efficient twin-engine jets in the world.

Designs implement airline customer and supplier feedback and have significantly higher fuel ratings compared to the A350. The planes will consume 12 percent less fuel and cost 10 percent less to operate than competitor models. The Boeing 777X group has received requests for 320 airplanes from six airlines worldwide. Production will begin in 2017.

“It’s great to see the airlines and industry team side-by-side with us as we achieve this important milestone,” said Bob Feldmann, vice president and general manager of the 777X program, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “The team has followed a disciplined process to complete all of the requirements for this stage of the program.”

According to CNN, passengers can expect that the new aircrafts will look and feel nothing like a standard plane. The 777-9 will have 12-foot wingtips that hinge and fold-up so that its wingspan can shorten during taxi. At its fullest, the wingspan measures across 235 feet and 5 inches—the widest of any Boeing aircraft to date.

Travelers can rest assured that interior cabin space will offer improved passenger comfort. The 777-9 model will fit approximately 400 passengers, which is 34 more than the Airbus A350-1000. The cabin will also be built 16 inches wider than the Airbus model. Economy-class seats could measure up to 18 inches wide, and window seats will be placed at eye-level height next to windows that measure 15 percent larger than other airlines.

Emirates Airlines will likely become a customer of Boeing 777x aircrafts. The Dubai-based carrier is the world’s largest operator of the 777 and is also the only carrier to operate all six 777 models.

travel-jacket A multipurpose travel jacket that was created by a married couple for their long-distance relationship has now raised $7.2 million on Kickstarter.

Hiral Sanghavi, who grew up in India and owns a company there, had been traveling frequently to Chicago to visit his wife, Yoganshi Shah, in Chicago. Sanghavi kept forgetting his neck pillow during his flights, which also involved business. Shah wasn’t happy that her husband was spending $25 on a pillow every time he traveled, and that they were accumulating a stockpile of pillows.

This prompted them to design the multipurpose BauBax Travel Jacket, which comes in eight styles—four for men and four for women—and provides travelers with 15 features including a built-in neck pillow, an eye mask and earphone holders. The jacket also features nine utility pockets—for an iPod, portable charger, mobile phone, passport, drink, sunglasses, blanket, gloves and hand-warming.

Part of the jacket’s appeal is that it provides room for items that otherwise might need to be placed into carry-ons and checked luggage. Carry-ons now are more strictly limited and some airlines charge for them, while many airlines are charging fees for checked luggage.

The jacket generally falls in line with the products created by Scottevest, which specializes in designing clothing with plenty of pockets. “We design our clothing around you (and your stuff) to help you achieve pocket nirvana,” Scottevest states on its website.

The couple hoped to raise $20,000 for the BauBax Travel Jacket on Kickstarter, and have now surpassed their wildest expectations. Their campaign has been backed by 36,245 people, through Aug. 31.

Kickstarter is a platform that designers, artists, filmmakers, musicians and others use to generate financial support for their projects. Backers don’t profit financially, but are typically rewarded with something related to the product or the creator’s other items. In the case of the BauBax jacket, backers receive other BauBax clothing products.

Last week, Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta announced that it will soon be able to accommodate bigger meetings in the Riviera Nayarit region of Mexico. The Sanctuary Convention Center is coming to the all-inclusive property this fall, and will be the largest convention center facility in the popular meetings destination. A 12,916-square-foot addition will elevate Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta’s current event space offering to almost 20,000 sq. ft.

According to the Riviera Nayarit Convention Visitors Bureau blog, the new facility is equipped with the latest technology and will hold more than 1,500 people for conventions, seminars, banquets and concerts. The CVB says more than a dozen groups are already confirmed for events in the new convention center in the coming months.

Decor in Sanctuary Convention Center is inspired by record label and recording studio Sanctuary Records Group. Like other Hard Rock properties, the new space will feature artwork and memorabilia honoring iconic musicians. The convention center collection includes a Black Sabbath guitar, a Guns N’ Roses’ amp, Elton John’s beaded jacket and a Jimi Hendrix mural.

In a press release Kevin Edmunds, vice president of meeting and incentive sales stated, “The new convention center will improve the already top-notch, all-inclusive meeting experience offered at Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta. More than 70 percent of the brand’s group business are repeat customers and whether meeting for business or tying the knot, we look forward to serving more needs with the expansion of the resort. We provide the highest level of customization and flexibility to each guest and every group, allowing us to exceed guests’ expectations and add to their memories.”

Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta is an AAA Four Diamond property with 348 guest rooms located in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. The all-inclusive hotel has six restaurants, five bars, two outdoor swimming pools, a kids club, beach volleyball court, basketball court, an 18-hole championship golf course, signature Rock Spa, fitness center and nightly onsite entertainment.

atlantis-paradise-resort Many groups are drawn to the Bahamas because of the warm sun, sandy beaches and crystal-clear water. But the islands also boast unique meeting and event venues at outstanding resorts and hotels, including Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas.

“Redefining meetings, entertainment and luxury in the Bahamas, Atlantis helps groups create once-in-a-lifetime memories for attendees by providing a truly unique meeting experience,” says John Washko, vice president of group sales and marketing.

Located in Nassau, the largest city and main tourist destination in the Bahamas, Atlantis is a member of the Autograph Collection Hotels. It boasts six towers, with more than 3,400 guest rooms, 40 restaurants and water activities such as swimming with dolphins and scuba diving. There are 11 pools, three beaches and 19 water slides.

The state-of-the-art conference center has 200,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, including the 50,000-square-foot Imperial Ballroom, 25,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom, 24 meeting rooms and seven boardrooms.

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atlantis-paradise-resort-pools Attendees can make an entrance into Atlantis via the 60-foot water slide, part of a massive 141-acre water park.

The excitement doesn’t end after dark. The property’s location lends itself to the water-themed adventures that groups can engage in just steps from their rooms, including shallow- and deep-water interactions with resident bottlenose dolphins, an underwater shark walk along the bottom of the predator lagoon and snorkel tours of the “ruins of Atlantis” in another lagoon teeming with local marine life.

Golfers will enjoy the Tom Weiskopf-designed onsite course. Guests can test their luck at Atlantis Casino, the largest casino in the Caribbean, or dance all night in the Jeffrey Beers-designed nightclub, Aura.

“Groups are looking for efficiency, so having these activities on-property is valuable,” Washko says.

One of the top reception venues for small groups is Ocean’s Edge, a multifunctional event space that features an indoor pavilion. The spacious venue is complete with an event lawn that is covered with soft Paspalum grass and outlined with lush landscaping and tropical palms. The pavilion holds 120 for receptions and 60 for a seated dinner. The event lawn accommodates 150 for receptions and 120 for dinner.

mexico-emerging-as-travel-destination Make room for Mexico on your list of meeting destinations to consider. According to the Global Business Travel Association Foundation’s annual report released earlier this summer, Mexico is among the emerging markets along with Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Poland and Turkey.

The GBTA data reveals that the aforementioned countries accounted for $62 billion total market opportunity in 2014 and that number is predicted to climb to $93 billion by 2019.

To help suppliers and buyers look into the future, the GBTA report has identified shifts in global business travel. Sponsored by Visa, Inc., the GBTA report reflects results from an exhaustive study of business travel spending and growth covering 75 countries across 48 industries.

“The global business travel market is incredibly dynamic, with dozens of countries around the world such as China, India and Mexico, growing at remarkable rate,” said Brian Triplett, SVP, head of commercial product for Visa Inc. “As these markets develop, safe and secure electronic payments will help corporations and business travelers around the globe track and manage their business travel spend.”

The report divided global business travel countries in four segments:

The Stalwarts

This category of countries represent the major players and accounted for $629 billion in total market opportunity. The 2019 estimate puts that figure at $783 billion.

The countries in this segment are United States, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Australia, Spain, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Japan and South Korea.

BRIC Markets

BRIC stands for Brazil, Russia, India and China. The GBTA report has 2014 total market opportunity at $340 billion. Growth will help this total jump to $528 billion in 2019.

India is definitely making some noise. It had $26 billion in business travel spending in 2014 and could top $45 billion by 2019. The report predicts that India will crack the top five in 15 years.

Newly Emerging

See above for further information. The countries are Mexico, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Poland and Turkey.

Midsize Matures

For 2014, this segment accounted for $66 billion in total market opportunity and will climb to an estimated $86 billion in 2019. Note that this figure is less than the 2019 estimate for newly emerging countries.

Cubans-Head-to-Resorts-Before-U.S.-Influx The streets of Varadero, Cuba’s leading beach resort, have been a longtime favorite of foreigners, but now they’re filled mainly with Cubans.

Varadero is one of several Cuban vacation areas to see this change, which is instigated by Cubans wanting to enjoy them before an even greater influx of U.S. visitors.

Some 1.2 million Cuban residents stayed in tourist hotels last year, a 23 percent increase from 2013. The Cuban government has reported another increase this year, without providing figures. Governmental restrictions prohibited Cubans from staying in tourist hotels until 2008.

Many Cuban travelers are using money from relatives, particularly those in the United States, to afford the costs. Plenty of Cubans are staying in some of the top, rather than standard, properties. Melia Hotels International, a Spanish hotel chain that is Cuba’s most important tourism partner, reports that this year 80,000 Cubans have stayed at Melia properties on the island, a 35 percent rise from this time last year. Melia has seen an average annual increase of 32 percent since 2009.

Varadero is a particularly desirable spot due to its all-inclusive hotel and spa complexes, fine white sand, turquoise waters golf course and many other attractions. The beach resort, about 100 miles east of Havana, is too expensive for most Cubans, with the average state salary at around $24 per month. Some hotels offer discounts to locals during slow international tourism periods, however.

A record 3 million international tourists visited Cuba last year, a 17 percent increase from 2013. Much of this growth can be attributed to Americans: They are coming in much larger numbers and tourism industry experts predict that 150,000 of them will visit Cuba by the end of the year, a 39 percent increase from 2014.

U.S. President Barack Obama has eased restrictions on Americans traveling to Cuba, such as allowing direct flights, cruise ships and ferry service providing travelers have an educational propose. Republicans are blocking legislation that would lift a travel ban, but the Obama administration seems intent on weakening restrictions. The administration restored diplomatic ties with Cuba on July 1.

Melora Hathaway

Melora Hathaway joined Tempe Tourism Office as group sales manager. In her new role, Hathaway focuses on the central region for the group sales team. Most recently, she worked for the Desert Belle Tour Boat and Experient, a Maritz Travel Company. Hathaway has 10 years of experience working in hospitality and tourism. She holds a degree in business administration from University of Washington.

Spencer Lane

JW Marriott Houston Downtown welcomed Spencer Lane as director of food and beverage at the 328-room hotel. Lane has more than 15 years of food and beverage management experience. Previously, he was food and beverage director at Hotel ZaZa in Houston. He has a degree in hotel and restaurant management from Johnson & Wales University and is a certified sommelier.

“Spencer brings a wealth of international restaurant and hotel experience and a passion to deliver JW Marriott’s brand promise of quiet luxury, crafted experience and intuitive service, making JW Marriott Houston Downtown a premier culinary destination for visitors and Houstonians alike,” said Natalie Wiseman, director of sales and marketing at JW Marriott Houston Downtown.

Steven Hurst

The Heathman Hotel in Portland, Oregon made Steven Hurst general manager of the 150-room property. He has more than 20 years of experience and will oversee all property operations. Hurst began his hotel career at Pebble Beach Resorts and Casa Palmero, both located in Pebble Beach, California. In Oregon, he served as resort manager of Sunriver Resort and assistant general manager of The Allison Inn & Spa.

“I am excited to work with the team to further elevate the already extraordinary guest experience at the hotel and bring new offerings that are in line with today’s sophisticated traveler,” says Hurst. “The Heathman has a rich history of community involvement and deep roots with the local arts community, and that is something we will continue and grow in the coming months.”

Tim Terceira

The Ritz-Carlton, Boston Common announced Tim Terceira as general manager of the AAA Five Diamond property, which has 193 guest rooms. Terceira has been a hospitality leader for more than 26 years. Most recently, he was general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto. During his tenure, the hotel achieved AAA Five Diamond status within six months of opening. He was also vice president of market operations for Marriott Hotels and Resorts of Canada. Terceira has a degree in hotel administration from Cornell University.

“This is such an exciting career and personal opportunity,” he says. “I look forward to making Boston my new home and am delighted to begin working with the dedicated ladies and gentlemen at The Ritz-Carlton, Boston Common who have made this hotel a leader in the luxury hotel segment in the city for local residents and visitors alike.”

Roseann Grippo

Roseann Grippo was named general manager of Waterstone Resort & Marina Boca Raton—a DoubleTree by Hilton hotel. Grippo comes to the AAA Four Diamond resort with more than 20 years of experience with a focus on management and food and beverage. Prior to her new position, she was senior director of beverage operations for Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas. She has also served as general manager of The Villa Casa Casaurina in South Beach, Florida, The Kahala Hotel & Resort and Sheraton Waikiki Resort, both in Honolulu.

“I have a true passion for genuine hospitality and appreciate the opportunity to work with a group of outstanding associates,” she said. “I am very excited about what we are going to introduce and build upon at this beautiful resort.”

Maynard-H.-Jackson-Jr.-International-Termnial-1 Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) ranks as the busiest passenger airport in the world for the 17th consecutive year based on 2014 statistics, according to Airports Council International’s World Airport Traffic Report that came out Monday. The Atlanta airport had 96 million passengers pass through its gates last year for an increase of 1.9 percent compared to 2013.

Also among the Top 10 are Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) at No. 5, Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) at No. 7 and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) at No. 9. LAX moved up a spot, Chicago dropped two positions and Dallas/Fort Worth remained the same.

“Atlanta is one of the most accessible destinations in the world with 80 percent of the U.S. population within a two-hour direct flight to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport,” said William Pate, president and CEO of Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Due to our position as a gateway city to the U.S., meeting attendees from all around the world find that getting to Atlanta is a breeze.”

It’s no coincidence that the busiest passenger airports also are among the top cities for meetings and events. Let’s face it: If it’s easy and convenient to get to a destination, your chances of drawing a record-breaking turnout to your convention goes up dramatically.

Citywides Boost Numbers

busiest-passenger-airport Earlier this summer, for example, Atlanta experienced a record-setting 80 percent hotel occupancy rate in July. Citywide events were definitely a big factor as Atlanta hosted the International Gift and Home Furnishings Market, Alcoholics Anonymous 80th International Convention, Primerica International Convention and American Association for Clinical Chemistry. Those four groups drew a combined 217,000 attendees and had an estimated direct economic impact of $262 million.

“Occupancy levels in Atlanta are greater than ever before because visitors are discovering what locals have been raving about for years,” Pate said. “From world-class attractions to restaurants that suit every taste, Atlanta is one of the most appealing and dynamic destinations in the country.”

Beijing Capital International Airport finished second for number of passengers in 2014, with more than 86 million. It experienced a 2.9 percent increase one year after the double-digit growth. London’s Heathrow Airport ranked No. 3, with more than 73 million passengers. Toyko’s Haneda Airport was fourth with nearly 73 million passengers.

While Atlanta ranks as the busiest passenger airport, Chicago took over the No. 1 spot for total aircraft movement, which means more planes went through the Windy City airport than Georgia’s gem.