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Articles by Jennifer Squeglia
Marriott Demonstrated Power of Choice
By JT Long November 17, 2020 It is possible to host meetings in a responsible, sophisticated, cost-effective and enjoyable way. Marriott International proved it this month by hosting “Connect with Confidence,” a hybrid virtual and in-person event as the first part of a global series. Some 30 customers attended in person at The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner in Virginia and 238 virtual attendees streamed in to see what a meeting looks like today.
American Express GBT: Hybrid Meetings Will Dominate 2021
The meetings industry got creative in the wake of global novel coronavirus shutdowns in 2020 and that forced innovation could continue to be the norm going into next year as the industry transitions back to face-to-face gatherings, according to findings from American Express Meetings & Events 2021 Global Meetings and Events Forecast.
Advocating for Events Industry Takes Center Stage at EIC
By JT Long November 16, 2020 It only makes sense that Events Industry Council’s EIC Advance virtual event running Wednesday through Friday of this week includes a focus on advocacy. After all, the new event is described as being laser-focused on advancing the industry, which will be a key catalyst to global economic recovery.
News of Effective Vaccine Sparks Hope for Return to Meeting
By JT Long November 16, 2020 News that two pharmaceutical companies are getting close to releasing vaccines that are overwhelmingly effective gave hospitality, travel and meeting professionals hope that the breakthrough would make gathering both physically and emotionally safer.
Keeping Your Teams and Attendees Engaged in Future Meetings
Eight months into the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly all of us are feeling fatigued by Zoom and similar virtual platforms. We are struggling to stay consistently engaged and motivated in the meetings and events hosted there. In the last Financial & Insurance Professionals (FICP) Chats, participants focused on innovative and creative techniques to keep themselves, their co-workers and their meeting attendees engaged and excited.
How the Events Industry Is Helping Itself Get Back on Track
By Malik Anderson September 2, 2020 Last night, some 75 people showed up to George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston. Guests, including Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, were clad in red, the same color displayed on the outside of the building. On the facade of the convention center, a logo read “Red Alert.” Along with George R.
Concentration Makes for a More Productive Day
Meeting professionals are focusing on minimizing the spread of COVID-19 either by rebooking meetings or putting physical distancing measures in place at the events they are attending—both of which can be distracting. That makes this a good a time to revisit the overall topic of concentration. So, what is it, exactly? Concentration is the ability to focus attention voluntarily, to ignore irrelevant stimuli, and to fix power and effort to a single goal.
Advancing Virtual Elements in Future Meetings
With the continued negative impacts of COVID-19 extending longer than originally anticipated, meetings professionals are finding themselves shifting most of their 2020 meetings to a virtual platform and are seeking creative ideas for addressing the new challenges that accompany digital content delivery.
EventGeek Relaunches Under New Name
By Malik Anderson August 5, 2020 Event management platform EventGeek relaunched under the new name Circa. Initially designed to help event marketers coordinate mulitple in-person events, Circa adds capabilities for virtual event management, allowing event planners and sales teams to combine data across all events, whether in-person, virtual or hybrid.
Why All-Inclusives Now Make More Sense Than Ever
By Malik Anderson August 4, 2020 In these uncertain times, who wouldn’t want to reduce unwelcome surprises and enjoy seamless planning for a return to in-person events? All-inclusives may just be what you’re looking for. In the latest Smart Meetings Accelerator “Expert Tips for Maximizing All-Inclusive Events,” three leaders in the hospitality industry expounded on the benefits of all-inclusives, top destinations and what’s changed in this industry segment in response to COVID-19.
Re-incorporating Sustainability into the Future of Meetings
While meetings professionals and the hospitality partners they work with have been understandably focused on the health and safety of event attendees since the appearance of the COVID-19 pandemic, both groups realize the continued importance of incorporating sustainability measures into those events, as well.
Touchless (and Matchless) F&B
Magic in the kitchen means getting back to basics When the catering teams at meetings hotels slip into their spotless white chef’s coats and don their toques again, they will be faced with pulling off some of the biggest creative feats of their cooking careers. Only part of it will be on the menu—after all, these chefs were already adept at soaring to Insta-worthy culinary heights before the pandemic, and they are fully capable of picking up where they left off.
How an Expert Communicates During a Pandemic
Something as simple as writing an email can be fraught when you don’t know what the person on the other end of the inbox is dealing with—illness, economic setbacks or worse. Now, multiply that risk by a factor of 19 when putting out blanket marketing emails to prospective attendees or presenting your budget to the executive team. Debra Fine, author of The Fine Art of Small Talk, has tips for how to message safely, compassionately—and effectively. 1.
Do Post-Pandemic Setups with Panache
Safety and sizzle are the goals As restrictions ease, meeting professionals will be eager to get back to—well, meeting. Considerations for maintaining distancing and personal safety will offer challenges, but with them come opportunity to rethink the expected. So, how do you keep your team and attendees protected without sacrificing conversation, connection and overall experience?
How to Protect Ourselves—and Mother Nature | Smart Meetings
As you plan, keep sustainability in mind COVID-19 is our shared enemy now, and as we return to meeting in person, it must be kept at bay. Yet we’ve all seen grim images of what a war zone looks like after the battle. Even as victory was won, the environment was laid waste. But must it be so in our fight against the coronavirus? In our urgency to defeat the virus, collateral damage is being done to sustainability. All that additional packaging, the throw-away masks, the toxic cleaning chemicals.
Safer Meeting Protocols
By JT Long July 31, 2020 How to craft a code that protects everyone The definition of safety is always relative. During a pandemic, finding the sweet spot between strict guidelines and practical solutions is a delicate balancing act. Faced with a haze of uncertainty, the meeting planner has to make the “go” and “how to go” decisions, but the responsibility to do the right thing is shared by venue, community and guest alike. How do you determine the right choice for your group?
Eldorado and Caesars Entertainment Seal Completion of Merger
By JT Long July 20, 2020 On Friday, Eldorado Resorts announced it had received all regulatory approvals required to complete the purchase of Caesars Entertainment Company, a $17.3 billion deal that will create the largest casino and entertainment company in the United States. The combined company, which will adopt the Caesars name, will now own and operate more than 55 casino properties globally, including eight on the Las Vegas Strip with extensive meeting space.
Is Hilton EventReady with CleanStay the New Standard?
By Malik Anderson July 13, 2020 Planners asked and Hilton answered. After soliciting insight from event planners, Hilton will launch Hilton EventReady with CleanStay, the brand’s next step in the CleanStay program, the company’s global cleaning and cleaning initiative, which launched last month. Hilton EventReady with CleanStay is intended to reassure event planners that Hilton has the safety of attendees uppermost in mind. The program has three key tenants.
Nominate the 2020 Planner of the Year
Skip to content By Smart Meetings July 13, 2020 A lot has changed since 17 inspirational meeting professionals were profiled last year in our annual Planner of the Year feature. The last five months have challenged everyone to find new ways to deliver safe, meaningful experiences when bringing people together was not practical—and in some cases illegal. Now, Smart Meetings is looking for nominees who exemplify the creative, resilient spirit of the industry.
IACC Study: Venues Will Carry More of the Load
By Malik Anderson July 10, 2020 Changes in the events industry are so palpable you’d be able to touch them—if it weren’t for social distancing. A changing age demographic of meeting professionals, the increasing role of technology in the industry and the need for stronger cybersecurity are among the major shifts causing meeting venues to rethink their strategy and role in the planner-venue relationship.
FICP Chats: Revisiting the Immediate Future of Meetings
Editor’s Note: This is part of a series reporting on FICP Chats about the future of meetings. You can read previous reports here, here, here, here, here and here. In early May, 82 percent of meetings professionals and hospitality partners within Financial & Insurance Professionals (FICP) had one or more in-person event scheduled for the remainder of 2020. In late June, that number had decreased to roughly half (52 percent) of the community.
Anaheim’s Giant Sports Makeover
By Malik Anderson June 29, 2020 Two new developments will likely make Anaheim, in southern California, an even hotter spot for meetings and events. The 820-acre area that includes MLB Angels Stadium and Honda Center, known as Platinum Triangle, will soon become a district for sports and entertainment, full of restaurants, parks, retail stores, hotels and meetings space.
Destinations International Partners to Address Diversity Gap
By JT Long June 26, 2020 The hospitality industry is about to get graded on how well it is embracing minorities. On Friday, Destinations International, the global association for convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs), announced a partnership with the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals (NCBMP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to development of Black hospitality professionals.
7 Smart Moves in Arizona, California and Abroad
By Malik Anderson June 25, 2020 Amy Overstreet The Virginia Beach native will be right at home as the new sales manager for Virginia Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau. Before joining the city’s CVB, Overstreet worked as director of sales and marketing at Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront.
FICP: Take Care of Yourself as You Prepare for Future Meetings
Editor’s Note: This is part of a series reporting on FICP Chats about the future of meetings. You can read previous reports here, here, here, here and here. Meetings and events professionals, and the hospitality professionals they work with, are accustomed to taking care of clients, executives, colleagues, qualifiers and other stakeholders.
BLM Resources for Meeting Planners
By Smart Meetings June 18, 2020 Do the widespread Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests calling for an end to racial bias leave you wondering how you can join the fight against the long history of discrimination? When it comes to current and future issues in the hospitality industry, meeting planners are uniquely positioned to influence the global discussion of race. From action items to thought leaders and speakers, these BLM resources will help you create a better future for the industry and world.
SITE Crystal Awards Are Now Open
By Malik Anderson June 18, 2020 SITE Crystal Awards, which recognizes memorable and creative incentive programs, are now open for submission. Companies that have offered incentive travel experiences between April 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020 are invited to submit their programs, showcasing how they’ve made the world of incentive travel a better place.
22% of Hilton’s Corporate Workforce Laid Off
By Georgia McMillan June 17, 2020 As COVID-19 continues to depress revenues in the hospitality industry, hotels have been forced to make tough decisions. Yesterday, Hilton Worldwide Holdings announced that it is laying off 22 percent of its corporate workforce, the equivalent of 2,100 employees. The company also announced a 90-day extension of existing furloughs of corporate staff originally sent home in March.
Airline Industry Could Lose $100 Billion Due to COVID-19
By Georgia McMillan June 16, 2020 International Air Transport Association (IATA) has shared projections for the global airline industry’s revenue loss in the coming year. Spoiler alert: It’s not looking good. A devastating hit to airlines’ bottom lines, of course, could have huge ripple effect on destinations and tourism. And to further complicate things, not all airlines are ready to comply with government mandates around COVID-19, which these airlines say will only exacerbate the revenue plunge.
Booking Group Business in the Future of Meetings
Editor’s Note: This is part of a series reporting on FICP Chats about the future of meetings. You can read previous reports here, here, here and here. group business For the short-term, request for proposals (RFPs) do not look dramatically different, if they’re being submitted at all, but there is great optimism that event disruptions and “new normal” considerations will not persist into future-year events.
Your Post-COVID Planner Contract Questions Answered
Editor’s note: The lawyer quoted in this article is not providing legal advice. If you are seeking legal advice, consult with a professional. Addendums, amendments, mutual cancellation clauses, “frustration of purpose”—what do they all mean? And when should each be applied? In the latest Smart Meetings Accelerator “Top Planner Contract Questions Answered,” Lisa Sommer Devlin, an expert in contract law at Devlin Law Firm, answers those very questions (and more) for planners.
3 Lessons on Pivoting to COVID-Era Virtual Meetings
Teaching 101 tells us one of the most effective ways to learn is by doing. Meeting planners also learn by watching others doing. That is why, in this time of repackaging grand destination programs to fit onto confined computer screens, a great way to avoid mistakes is to study how our peers are shape-shifting to meet COVID-era standards. Smart Meetings asked three meeting planners about their pivot to virtual events and the strategies and tools they used to keep everyone tuned in.
Europe Is Slowly Reopening, the U.S. Isn’t Far Behind
With summer approaching, peak tourist season in many countries will look very different this year. Yet quarantine restrictions in many countries and states have begun to loosen to allow residents to go the beach, travel internally or go back to school. Interstate and inter-European travel is picking back up—even as international travel is still prohibited in most countries. Last week, we began updating you on U.S. hotel reopenings. Here is your guide to popular city and country reopenings.
Incorporating Virtual Elements in Future of Meetings
Editor’s Note: This is part of a series reporting on FICP Chats about the future of meetings. You can read previous reports here, here and here. While most meetings professionals agree there’s no replacement for an in-person meeting, our current circumstances find them delving into relatively unchartered waters and finding ways to take upcoming or rescheduled meetings virtual, in part or entirely, and pursuing new virtual options for planning future meetings and events.
ASAE Diversity Executives Define Leadership During Crisis
ASAE’s newly minted 2020-2022 Diversity Executive Leadership Program Class is stepping up during a historic and challenging time in the association community and the larger world.
Accelerating the Pivot to Virtual Events
How are you handling the shift to virtual events? While the meeting landscape is different, it’s also the same. McNeel Keenan, vice president of product management at Cvent, talked about the implications for planners of this and much more in the latest Smart Meetings Accelerator, “Best Practices to Accelerate Your Pivot to Virtual Events.” For instance, he also shared insight into how to keep your attendees engaged in the virtual world. “That [meeting] room is their living room, it’s their laptop.
MGM Roars with a ‘7-Point Safety Plan’
By Gary Diedrichs May 14, 2020 With experience reopening its casino resort in Macau already under its belt, MGM Resorts International has released its plan for new health and safety protocols for its U.S. properties and resorts. The “Seven-Point Safety Plan” is a multilayered set of procedures designed in conjunction with medical and scientific experts. Its aim is to deter the spread of the coronavirus to MGM customers and employees and rapidly respond to potential new cases.
Lessons from Leaders with Carina Bauer
Skip to content Never miss the latest news, events, products, or webinars to earn CEUs! Click here. By Smart Meetings May 14, 2020 In this fascinating and insightful podcast, Bauer discusses her career start, how she followed in her father, Ray Bloom’s footsteps at IMEX, her opinions on successful leadership traits, and speaks about the heart-wrenching decision to cancel the IMEX Frankfurt show originally scheduled in May 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Big Leadership Changes at Marriott
By JT Long May 13, 2020 One of the largest hotel chains in the world will come out of the COVID-19 downtime poised to transition to new leadership at the board and executive level. Marriott International announced on an earnings call this week that J.W. “Bill” Marriott, Jr. will transition to the role of chairman emeritus in 2022.
Many Questions Persist about the Future of Meetings
Editor’s Note: This is part of a series reporting on FICP Chats about the future of meetings. You can read previous reports here and here. There are still more questions than answers about meetings and events scheduled for the second half of 2020, and meetings professionals anticipate that the rapid pace of change (regulatory, public health and economic) will require them to reassess circumstances for each event on a case-by-case basis for the foreseeable future.
2018 Smart Stars Award Winners Copy
Best Airport Hotel Best Attraction/Theme Park Best Ballroom Best Beach Hotel Best Boutique/Lifestyle Hotel Best City Hotel Best Coastal Hotel Best Conference Center Best Convention Center Best Convention Center Hotel Best Cruise Line Best Desert Hotel Best Eco/Green Hotel Best Executive Retreat Best Family-Friendly Hotel/Resort Best Gaming/Casino Hotel Best Golf Resort Best Historic Hotel Best Hotel Pool Best Hotel Spa Best Incentive Hotel Best Island Hotel Best Mountain/Ski Hotel Best...
Meet Green and Easy in Vancouver, BC
By JT Long May 5, 2020 Sustainable pioneers in BC, Canada, deliver Monitoring your meeting’s carbon footprint can require advanced degrees in waste management, F&B best practices and building maintenance—or finding the right venue partners. Tourism Vancouver in British Columbia has a sustainable destination development specialist on staff, an executive chef who is leading the way in planet-friendly menus and a facility designed to make doing good easy.
How Live Events May Survive: Go LIVE Together Coalition
By Gary Diedrichs July 9, 2020 Editor’s Note: On July 9, Go Live Together Coalition announced that it had raised more than $500,000 to support legislative actions that will aid the industry and its workforce. The advocacy effort now counts more than 1,700 partners. Just how will live events bounce back?
New York State Features Buoyant Festivals for Groups
Skip to content By Megan McDermott April 29, 2020 Outdoor festivals can be experienced in all corners of New York state and at all times of the year. They offer groups an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the areas—and have a lot of fun doing so! Here’s a summary of three of the main annual festivals in The Empire State.
The Future of Meetings Requires Flexibility and Collaboration
Editor’s Note: This is part of a series reporting on FICP Chats about the future of meetings. You can read accompanying reports here and here. Attendee and employee comfort with risk will vary widely, as will the regulations for meetings in every destination and the sanitation protocols in each venue. The situation relative to COVID-19, while temporary, will also continue to evolve.
Dominguez Leads EIC’s COVID-19 Recovery Task Force
By JT Long May 1, 2020 With the prospect of meetings resuming again in the foreseeable future, Event Industry Council (EIC) is bringing together leading voices from the global planner and hotelier community to collect best practices and standards. The group, a revival of EIC’s Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX), has been dubbed the APEX COVID-19 Business Recovery Task Force.
ASM Global Unveils New Hygiene Program
By Malik Anderson April 30, 2020 As locations throughout the United States devise plans for reopening, restaurants, venues and high-traffic facilities are doubling down on ways to make their spaces safe and virus-free so that visitors are reassured they need not worry about getting sick. Major hotels are debuting comprehensive new health protocols for employees and guests.
The Future of Meetings Starts with Rebuilding Trust
Temperature checks, reduced occupancy and increased physical distancing in shared spaces—these were some of the protocols floated by hospitality partners and meetings professionals as they sketched out what a return to travel after COVID-19 shutdowns will require.
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