Clik here to view.
4 Must-See TED Talks for Planners
You might have missed this year’s TED conference at the Vancouver Convention Centre—more than 90 speakers over five days ending March 20. That’s where some of the world’s most engaged and engaging...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Hospitality on Horizon: Caribbean & Mexico
Luxury hotels opening in the Caribbean and Mexico in 2015 exemplify exactly what today’s top-tier meeting attendees expect—and then some. Here’s a preview. …………………………………………………………………………………………....
View ArticleClik here to view.
New Hotels in the Bahamas, Blooms at Bellagio, and Robots at the Front Desk
News You Can Use for Meetings & Events… Bimini, Ahoy! How about a quick cruise combined with a sun-splashed island sojourn for your next meeting or incentive? Hilton Worldwide is launching a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
3 Epic Makeovers for 2015
For me, 3 legends of hospitality jumped out among the 23 hotels listed by Forbes Travel Guide as the most anticipated renovations of 2015. Even the most jaded of high-end groups will be licking their...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Airlines Put the Squeeze on Seats
You might want to sit down for this blog. On second thought, you may be more comfortable standing, along with me, as we wedge ourselves into a subject area increasingly unfit for human habitation:...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Arianna Huffington to Deliver Keynote Address at Cvent CONNECT
Arianna Huffington will deliver the keynote speech at this year’s Cvent CONNECT conference. As the co-founder, president, and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post Media Group—an influential online...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Explosion in Soft Hotel Brands
What started as a trickle has become a wave. Yet another major hotel company has rolled out a soft brand, the industry term for a collection of independent hotels that want to retain their individual...
View ArticleClik here to view.
San Diego Resort Goes the Brand Route
Independent luxury hotels and resorts pride themselves on offering individual experiences. Branded properties, on the other hand, are more likely to prize consistency and, therefore, be more...
View ArticleClik here to view.
EMA Education Session: Creating Awareness of Human Trafficking
It was shocking to learn that worldwide, an estimated 1.3 million children are enslaved through prostitution. Much of this trafficking is done in hotels. At the EMA meeting in Las Vegas, we were given...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Soaring Profits: The Airline Baggage Business
Not so long ago, one of my biggest fears of flying was that the airline would lose my luggage. These days? I wish! Now that baggage fees have become the cash cow of the airline industry, my greater...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Loews Launches New Luxe Brand
The rebound in the luxury lodging segment notched another milestone on April 15 when Loews Hotels & Resorts unveiled plans to create a luxury Loews Regency brand separate from its portfolio of 23...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Forbes’ Most Stressful Jobs for 2015: And the “Winners” Are…
When I saw the results of the survey, my first reaction was stunned disbelief. How could event coordinators rank only No. 8 on Forbes’ Most Stressful Jobs of 2015? Who has it worse? I’ll give Forbes...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Intriguing Habits of Millennial Meeting Planners (Infographic)
Everyone in our industry is talking about the rise of the millennial (Gen Y) planner generation. Their online-first behaviors, early-technology adopter mentalities, and aversion to conflict are...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Sheraton Announces New “Grand” Plans at Hospitality Conference
A brand known mostly for “big box” convention hotels, Sheraton has trophy properties in cities ranging from New York to Phoenix to Orlando. But Sheraton has apparently fallen behind competing brands...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Stakes Have Been Raised for IMEX America 2015
Can you hear it? That electric buzz of excitement? The contagious whirr of business in progress? That’s the sound of IMEX America celebrating its 5th year with renewed enthusiasm. This topnotch event...
View ArticleWhere Are You Booking? Cvent Reveals the Top 50 Destinations
Each year Cvent unveils the Top 50 destinations for meetings and events, based on booking activity through the Cvent Supplier Network. That’s after reviewing data from some 5,000 cities compiled...
View ArticleClik here to view.
When Hotels Change Operators: A San Francisco Story
Planners find themselves facing a thorny issue when they’ve got an RFP out to a hotel for an upcoming group event, they’re in active negotiation with the hotel or even have a signed contract on that...
View ArticleClik here to view.
“Teachable Moments” Abound with IMEX America’s Smart Learning Line-Up
At next month’s IMEX America in Las Vegas you can not only broaden your business power and contact lists but also your horizons thanks to the extensive IMEX America education program that show...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A Bold Move on Tipping
While planners are tasked with carefully budgeting for the meetings and events they handle, there’s always been one unknown: the amount attendees opt to tip for service in hotels, restaurants and even...
View ArticleMarriott Grabs Starwood: 7 Takeaways for Planners
Hotel companies, owners, managers and analysts woke up Monday morning to some startling and unexpected news: Marriott International had agreed to acquire Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide in a...
View Article
