Facilities & Destinations 2018 Year-End Edition by Facilities Media Group

VENUE REVIEWS 24

Facilities YEAR-END 2018

BEDROCK COMMUNICATIONS, INC. 152 Madison Ave., Ste. 802, New York, NY 10016

DIGITAL

EDITION

& Destinations

FOR ASSOCIATION & CORPORATE MEETING PLANNERS & TRADESHOW PROFESSIONALS

ORLANDO: MEETING THE DEMAND MAJOR EXPANSION OF THE ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER ON THE HORIZON 18

ENHANCING CONVENTIONS WITH VIRTUAL AND AUGMENTED REALITY TECHNOLOGIES 16

BOISE 20

CINCINNATI 12

GEORGE AGUEL

PRESIDENT AND CEO, VISIT ORLANDO

$375 MILLION CONFERENCE CENTER OPENING 2020 IN LAS VEGAS

“TAKE OUR TECH FOR A SPIN” our tech stats

802.11 a/g/n/ac Wireless Network

2,500+ CAT 6 Copper UTP Ports

20,000

1,000+ Multi-mode and single-mode Fiber Optic ports

Wireless devices can connect simultaneously

SERVICES OFFERED The Austin Convention Center provides a full suite of services to you to ensure peak performance throughout your event. These services are in place to design an environment speciﬁcally scaled to your event needs. This customization includes: Wireless Internet Access

Wired Internet Access

Network Service & Support

Voice Service & Support

Network support Our team is ready to provide expert assistance to any networking needs you may have during your event. With constant network monitoring, we can quickly solve issues that come up, and proactively address areas of concern.

request a proposAL: Phone 512.404.4200 CHECK US AT:

www.austinconventioncenter.com

EDITOR’S NOTE

THE LEISURE TOURISM SIDE OF MEETINGS

raditionally, leisure and meetings are regarded as mutually exclusive segments of a destination’s hospitality industry. That division is natural, given that the goals and needs of these types of travellers are often different. But while meeting attendees are not leisure travellers, they typically have some time for leisure and destination exploration. DMOs are quite aware that a meeting doesn’t have to be an incentive to benefit from the recreational assets of a city. A common refrain among the DMOs exhibiting at this year’s IMEX America was that the promoted destination is not only well prepared to host meetings, but also one that attendees would want to visit on their own. That appeal can certainly bolster the draw for meetings where attendance isn’t required. And given the more adventurous nature of today’s traveller, a broader scope of destinations may fall within a potential attendee’s “bucket list.” Planners looking for that compelling destination nearly had an embarrassment of riches at IMEX America 2018, which showcased a record 3,500 exhibitors representing 150 countries. Attendees explored more than 60 new booths and 81 expanded booths at the show, which extended into a third hall at the Sands Expo and Convention Center this year. Among the exhibitors was a city that, while not particularly exotic, has proven its allure to the meeting attendee from a leisure perspective. Orlando, as George Aguel points out, is “the fourth most popular international destination in the country” and steadily growing its international meetings business. The president of Visit Orlando related that “I’ve learned that people like to attend tradeshows in places they like to visit personally” (see cover story, page 18). The success of Orlando’s meetings formula is demonstrated by its latest project, a major expansion of the Orange County Convention Center. The investment indicates the kind of demand from groups Orlando is seeing, and the tourist appeal of the “theme park capital” appears to be an attendance builder for many of Visit Orlando’s clients. The city’s theme parks, once perceived as a potential distraction by some planners, are increasingly seen as a valuable attraction. In this issue of F&D Digital, learn more about the perhaps unexpected destination appeal of Cincinnati (page 12) and Boise (page 20). Not every city is an obvious attendance-builder from a leisure perspective, but a little education and promotion can go a long way in making a destination one that attendees would want to visit on their own.

– George Seli Editorial Director, Facilities Media Group gseli@facilitiesonline.com

CONTENTS DEPARTMENTS

In Brief................................................................................................................. 4 Forum Julie Calvert, President & CEO, Cincinnati USA CVB......................................... 12 Photoview IMEX America 2018 .......................................................................................... 14

Features

New Realities for Attendees: Virtual and Augmented Reality Technologies...... 16 Destinations Orlando.............................................................................................................. 18 Boise.................................................................................................................. 20 Venue Reviews Playa Largo Resort & Spa, Key Largo, FL........................................................... 24 Hotel Crescent Court, Dallas, TX....................................................................... 26 Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa, Jensen Beach, FL.......................................... 27 Miramonte Resort & Spa, Indian Wells, CA ....................................................... 36 Advertiser Index................................................................................................ 30 2

FACILITIES & DESTINATIONS DIGITAL YEAR-END For Association & Corporate Meeting Planners & Tradeshow Professionals

2018

Volume 25 No. 4 Chief Operating Officer David Korn Associate Publisher Michael Caffin Editorial Director George Seli Contributing Editors Anthony Bilden Laura Janelle Downey Debi Lander Deborah Shapiro GiAnna Wyatt Creative Direction & Design Scott-Goodman Associates Editorial Assistant Gabriella Davino Business Operations Meir Nochlin

© Copyright 2018 by Bedrock Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. Opinions expressed in by-lined articles and advertising copy are not necessarily those of the publisher. Advertisers are responsible for all costs, damages and claims regarding advertising insertions. Facilities & Destinations is published four times a year by Bedrock Communications, Inc., 152 Madison Avenue, Suite 802, New York, NY 10016. Telephone: (212) 532-4150. Fax: (212) 213-6382. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Facilities, 152 Madison Avenue, Suite 802, New York, NY 10016. Printed in U.S.A. Cover ad space is available by contacting a Facilities advertising account executive at (212) 532-4150.

ON THE COVER The Orange County Convention Center is not resting on the laurels of its recent Capital Improvement Plan, which brought various upgrades to the country’s second-largest convention center. A new $605 million investment will add function spaces strategically designed to meet clients’ needs. For Visit Orlando President George Aguel and other stakeholders, the future of Orlando’s meetings industry is brighter than ever. FACILITIES & DESTINATIONS YEAR-END 2018

IN BRIEF

INDUSTRY PULSE

Jenny Lynch Visit Indy

H. Scott Phelps Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau

CHICAGO, IL — The Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE), International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) and Meeting Professionals International (MPI) have formed the Global MICE Collaborative. The new organization aims to provide professional resources on exhibitions, meeting and event planning, and incentive travel in order to grow the MICE profession in emerging markets. Initiatives include professional competency education, live events for MICE professionals, peer-to-peer engagement, destination consulting, and 4

DIX HILLS, NY — Last year, Rain Protection Insurance introduced Inability to Attend, an attendee and exhibitor refund policy developed in partnership with Lloyd’s of London. Registrants pay for the insurance at a cost that is 3.5 percent of their registration fee. If they need to cancel, they do not contact the host organization. Instead, they visit Rain Protection Insurance’s claims website, upload proof of why they cannot attend, and they are issued a 100 percent refund, even if they cancel on the first day of the event. The host organization retains the registration fees from registrants who cancelled. According to President and CEO Robert Weber, “Our clients have been telling us that they are finding less cancellations and more registrants showing up for their events. This is due to the fact that through the Inability to Attend program, they now need to provide proof of the reason they are cancelling. In previous years, they could just say anything to the show organizer without needing to provide proof.” For additional information, visit rainprotection.net. INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Visit Indy has appointed Jenny Lynch as National Sales Manager, focusing on the

JULIENNE SCHAER

research and advocacy for the MICE industry. For more information, visit micecollaborative.com.

(L-r): Brad Dean, CEO, Discover Puerto Rico; Lin Manuel Miranda, Host; Charles Flateman, Board Vice Chairman, NYC & Company

Chicago, Wisconsin and Minnesota markets. Lynch brings more than 30 years of hospitality and convention sales experience. Most recently, she spent three years with VisitDallas as Regional Director of Sales for the Midwest, and four years before that with VisitNorfolk as National Convention Sales Manager for the Midwest. Lynch holds Travel Marketing Professional, Certified Travel Industry Specialist and Certified Tourism Ambassador designations. MIDDLETOWN, CT — H. Scott Phelps, President of the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau (CTCSB) and a leader in the state’s convention industry for the past four decades, recently announced that he will retire on Dec. 31, 2018. According to CTCSB Chair Thomas Madden, the organization will conduct a national search for a new president. Effective Jan. 1, 2019, the organization’s Interim President will be Robert Murdock, the CTCSB’s current Director of Sports Marketing and its Director of National Accounts

for S.M.E.R.F. and Affinity Groups. Murdock also will be the 2019 President of the New England Society of Convention & Visitor Bureaus. NEW YORK, NY — On Oct. 23, NYC & Company, New York City’s official destination marketing organization, and Discover Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico’s newly established destination marketing organization, signed a firstever official partnership to boost tourism between New York City and Puerto Rico. NYC & Company Board of Directors Vice Chairman Charles Flateman and Discover Puerto Rico CEO Brad Dean signed the new agreement at a press conference at El Museo del Barrio in Manhattan. The one-year alliance includes the exchange of marketing assets to boost reciprocal travel, the sharing of best practices in tourism marketing, and continued support of Puerto Rico’s successful recovery following Hurricane Maria. “As Puerto Rico continues its recovery, NYC & Company is pleased to do its part to further encourage visitation from New York City to Puerto Rico,” said Continued on page 6

FACILITIES & DESTINATIONS YEAR-END 2018

A MODERN MEETING SPACE THAT ADAPTS TO YOUR BUSINESS.

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IN BRIEF INDUSTRY PULSE Continued from page 4

Jill Hericks Explore St. Louis

Mike Jackson Discover the Palm Beaches

Flateman. “Now more than ever, we need to support and celebrate the island while also creating economic impact for the destination. We are honored to work alongside Discover Puerto Rico to communicate that it’s open for business and welcoming travelers.” Dean commented: “Our partnership with NYC & Company is unprecedented and will help take our strategic tourism efforts to the next level. We are working aggressively to elevate Puerto Rico’s brand and make it visible to the world as a premier travel destination. Puerto Rico is open for business and eager to share its rich and diverse culture with visitors.”

ST. LOUIS, MO — In October, Explore St. Louis restructured its group sales department and appointed three new sales directors: • Jill Hericks, Director of Convention Sales, will lead the team responsible for booking citywide events using the America’s Center Convention Complex and multiple hotels. Hericks has served in senior positions with the Sioux Falls Convention Center, Century Center in South Bend, IN, and Hollywood Casino and Hotel in St. Louis. • Erin Jackson, Director of Executive Meetings Sales, will lead the team responsible for attracting hotel meetings and events to the St. Louis region. Most recently, Jackson served as the Director of Sales of the Moonrise Hotel. • Stephanie Monroe was promoted to Director of Specialty Market Sales to lead a

team in the areas of sporting events, religious conferences, fraternal organizations and military meetings. Monroe joined Explore St. Louis in 2007 as National Convention Sales Manager. WASHINGTON, DC — In fiscal year 2018, the Destination DC convention sales and services team recorded over 100,000 definite room nights and over 100 leads, with the technology sector seeing the strongest activity followed by medical. “Aligning our sales efforts with DC’s local business economy is working,” said Elliott L. Ferguson II, President and CEO, Destination DC. “That’s why we’re launching three new sectors of focus early next year — transportation, government advocacy and sustainability.” Groups meeting in the city will find plenty of new venue options. There are 20 hotels in the pipeline that will add 4,555 guestrooms to the city, including Residence Inn & Courtyard by Marriott and the Moxy Washington, DC Downtown, both expected to open later

this year. In addition, the National Law Enforcement Museum opened Oct. 13; the International Spy Museum moves to L’Enfant Plaza and reopens next spring; the Washington Monument reopens next spring; and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History’s Fossil Hall reopens in June. WEST PALM BEACH, FL — Discover The Palm Beaches, the tourism marketing organization for Palm Beach County, has appointed Mike (“MJ”) Jackson Senior Director, Group Sales. Jackson joins the organization with more than 20 years of experience in hospitality and sales management, with a concentration on corporate, association, religious and multicultural organizations. From 2005 to 2017, Jackson was a National Sales Manager with Destination DC; he held the same role with the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau from 2000 to 2004. In 2016, the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners recognized him as Sales Manager of the Year.

BARCELONA’S VOLUNTEER DAY AT IMEX

The Barcelona Convention Bureau and 13 of its partners — including the Fairmont Rey Juan Carlos I, Melia Hotels International and the Congress Centre Barcelona — came together for a Volunteer Day on Oct. 14, in advance of IMEX America in Las Vegas. The event consisted of a full day of clean up at Bryce Canyon National Park, located four hours outside of Las Vegas in Utah. The activity helped showcase the Bureau’s corporate social responsibility initiative to U.S. corporate meeting planners.

FACILITIES & DESTINATIONS YEAR-END 2018 6

FACILITIES & DESITNATIONS 2018 SUMMER / FALL 6

FROM STEEL TO SUSTAINABLE Located in Downtown Pittsburgh, the LEEDÂŽ Platinum Certified David L. Lawrence Convention Center effectively blends unparalleled space, functionality, and flexibility to offer event producers, exhibitors, and visitors a location for an extraordinary event experience.

THE ALLIANCE DIFFERENCE The Pittsburgh Alliance is comprised of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, VisitPittsburgh, & major hotels in downtown. We are committed to understanding your organizational vision & mission and are ready to deliver an exceptional guest experience. Our customized approach focuses on your distinct needs, and promises to provide quality and cost savings at your next major event.

Contact Kelli Donahoe, CMP, Director of Sales & Marketing David L Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA (412) 325-6174 pittsburghcc.com

IN BRIEF CONVENTION CENTER WATCH

CHICAGO, IL — McCormick Place recently acquired three Mamava lactation suites to support breastfeeding mothers during their visit. The pod-like suites are available in the Lakeside Center on Level 2 near the gift shop, South Building Level 2.5 across from Starbucks, and West Building Level 1 near the main Information Desk. Nursing mothers can unlock the suites by downloading the free Mamava Mobile App, available in the Apple App Store and Google Play App Store. “McCormick Place welcomes a diverse attendee base, from comic conventions to clinical symposiums,” said David Causton, General Manager, McCormick Place/ SMG. “Regardless of the event, we strive to create an exceptional experience, and installing the Mamava suites enhances the experience for nursing mothers.” INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Indianapolis will be adding a 50,000-sq.-ft. convention

Two new hotel towers, totalling about 1,400 rooms, will complement the Indiana Convention Center and its new ballroom. 8

JOE PAINTER

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ — Spectra, Meet AC and the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority have launched a $9.1 million restroom renovation project at the Atlantic City Convention Center (ACCC). The overhaul of the facility’s 32 restrooms is scheduled to be completed by next September. The renovations support the ACCC’s LEED Certification process, which is currently underway. The updated restrooms will have a sleek, contemporary style and include auto-flush toilets, automatic faucets and electric hand dryers. “The project has been planned for some time and we are pleased to be getting underway,” said Spectra’s Dean Dennis, General Manager of the ACCC. “Communication to our clients and our guests while they are here is key; we intend to provide extra directional signage and limit the construction noise and traffic during the process to alleviate any inconveniences to our customers.”

The Pennsylvania Convention Center has launched a website devoted to its art collection. (Above): “That Music Always Round Me,” with artist Astrid Bowlby.

center ballroom and two new hotel towers connected by climate-controlled skywalks, local officials announced last month. The ballroom will be the largest in the state and the additional hotels, expected to be Hilton affiliated, will add approximately 1,400 rooms to Indianapolis’ hotel inventory. The Capital Improvement Board will begin working with the city and Kite Realty Group Trust to obtain all the necessary agreements and legislative approvals sometime in 2019. The ensuing construction project is expected to take about three years. The Indiana Convention Center currently offers three ballrooms totaling about 61,000 sq. ft. of function space. MUSKEGON, MI — A $17 million convention center has been proposed for Muskegon. The 45,000-sq.-ft. facility would be located on Fourth Street between the L.C. Walker Arena and the connected 201-room Holiday Inn Muskegon Harbor. Plans call for 20,000 sq. ft. of convention space and pre-function areas, complemented by more than 10,000 sq. ft. of breakout and banquet space in the adjacent Holiday Inn.

PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Pennsylvania Convention Center has launched a new website to serve as an online platform for the public and art lovers to discover and learn about 131 pieces of fine art installed throughout public spaces within the facility’s 2011 West Wing Expansion. The site, paconventionart.com, provides a detailed map of the facility that identifies the location of each piece of art, images of the artwork itself, as well as biographical information and additional facts on each artist. The website also features video interviews with 38 artists and allows users to search works by title, artist and location within the Convention Center. The Pennsylvania Convention Center invested $1.5 million in the acquisition and installation of the artworks, produced by 69 Pennsylvania artists. ST. LOUIS, MO — The AC Next Gen Project, a $175 million expansion and renovation of the America’s Center Convention Complex, is expected to include 92,000 sq. ft. of added exhibit space, a 65,0000-sq.ft. ballroom, 20,000 sq. ft. of prefunction space, 26 new loading docks and an outdoor pavilion.

FACILITIES & DESTINATIONS YEAR-END 2018

IN BRIEF

HOTEL HIGHLIGHTS

ATLANTA, GA — InterContinental Hotels Group introduced the Crowne Plaza Meeting Mentors at IMEX America 2018. Four globally recognized industry experts are collaborating with the brand to support clients in the areas of event strategy, design, technology and social media. The experts include Christy Lamagna, founder of Strategic Meetings & Events; Tahira Endean, event-technology and design expert; Michaela Alexis, personalbranding coach; and Julian Lwin, owner and Creative Director of Lwin Design Studio.

GALLOWAY, NJ — Located near Atlantic City, Seaview, A Dolce Hotel will be undergoing a $17 million renovation, scheduled to be completed for summer 2019. The project will include updates to all 296 guestrooms and suites; refreshed meeting spaces, lobby and public areas; renovations to the outdoor pool; and new dining options including a new original restaurant concept within the hotel’s famed Oval Room. Guestrooms and meeting spaces will be closed to visitors for the winter months, reopening starting in March 2019. The hotel’s golf course will remain open.

ATLANTIC CITY CONVENTION CENTER TOTAL MEETING SPACE: , SQ FT EXHIBIT HALLS:   WHICH RANGE FROM , TO , SQ FT MEETING ROOMS:  LOCATED WITHIN A FEW HOURS’ DRIVE OF NEARLY ONE THIRD OF THE NATION'S POPULATLON. CENT CENTRAL TO SHOPPING, ENTERTAINMENT AND  RESTAURANTS.

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FACILITIES & DESTINATIONS YEAR-END 2018 10

The recently introduced Crowne Plaza Meeting Mentors (l-r): Tahira Endean, Christy Lamagna, Julian Lwin and Michaela Alexis.

NASHVILLE, TN — A tribrand Marriott hotel opens in Music City in January. SpringHill Suites, Residence Inn and AC Hotels will each be represented in the 470-room property. More than 9,000 sq. ft. of meeting space will be available, including a 21st-floor ballroom with floor-to-ceiling windows. Guests of the three hotel brands will share amenities including six F&B outlets, a private outdoor rooftop pool and whirlpools, fire pits and cabanas, and a resort-style indoor/outdoor pool bar. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — On Oct. 1, the Omni Oklahoma City Hotel broke ground at 100 West Oklahoma City Boulevard. The 605-room hotel is set to open in early 2021, following the debut of the new Oklahoma City Convention Center in 2020. Groups will have 78,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor meeting space at their disposal, as well as an onsite Mokara Spa. At 17 stories, the hotel will offer panoramic views of Scissortail Park and the downtown skyline. ORLANDO, FL — The Hyatt Regency Grand

Cypress has broken ground on a 25,000-sq.-ft. ballroom that will bring the resort’s total function space to 102,000 sq. ft. The expansion is scheduled to be completed by fall 2019. ORLANDO, FL — Margaritaville Resort Orlando opens in January, adding 40,000 sq. ft. of function space to the city’s meetings infrastructure. The 184-room hotel’s main meeting space is the 8,856-sq.-ft. Compass Rose Ballroom, which can be reconfigured into three spaces. Property highlights include Euphoria Bar & Grill, St. Somewhere Spa and a lagoon-style pool. QUEBEC CITY, CANADA — Hilton Québec, owned by InnVest Hotels and managed by Hilton, will be undergoing a complete transformation that will include the property’s 571 guestrooms, 23,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, public areas and exterior. According to Hilton, the renovation will result in one of the largest investments ever made into a single hotel in Canadian history. To complete the project, the hotel will be closing on Jan. 1, 2020, and reopening in late 2020.

FACILITIES & DESITNATIONS 2018 SUMMER / FALL 10

IN BRIEF

on number of room nights booked over 50. For further details, visit trumphotels. com/planner-privileges.

MEETING DEALS information or to book, call (410) 730-3900 or visit sheratoncolumbia.com.

COLUMBIA, MD — The Sheraton Columbia Town Center Hotel’s “Season of Giving” offer invites planners to earn double Rewarding Events points on group bookings while supporting the Clean the World foundation. The offer is available through Dec. 31, 2018 for meetings held by Dec. 31, 2019. Event planners can donate twice the reward points to a charity of choice at www.giving.marriott.com. Marriott International will donate 2,500 points to Clean the World for every meeting booked. For more

NEW YORK, NY — Planners who book a meeting of over 50 total room nights at a participating Trump Hotels location can earn one of four incentives with the Planner Privileges program. The incentives offered include: Trump Hotels E-Gift Card, Trump Wine Gift Card, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Donation, and an AMEX Gift Card. The value of each varies depending

SCOTTSDALE, AZ — The W Scottsdale’s new Platinum Package grants one year of Marriott Platinum Elite Status for groups who book more than 40 room nights for meeting events. Guests will be able to enjoy benefits at more than 6,500 hotels and resorts across 29 brands in 127 countries throughout 2019. For example, they can score upgraded room nights and exclusive member rates without blackout dates, as well as gifts at check-in, late check-outs and bonus points on every stay. The Platinum Package also includes double loyalty points for guests included in the booking block, free Wi-Fi in meeting rooms, and a

free wine and beer reception included when the group books dinner or a reception on property. Booking must be in place by December 17, 2018 and is valid for stays throughout 2019 (blackout dates apply). For more information or to book, call (480) 970-2132.

SONOMA, CA — The Sonoma County Incentive Program enables planners who book and actualize their first meeting in Sonoma County to receive a cash payment to the hotel master account of $1,000 for 50-100 actualized rooms; $2,000 for 101-200 actualized rooms; $3,000 for 201-300 actualized rooms; or $4,000 for 301+ actualized rooms. For more information on eligibility, or to submit an RFP, contact the Sonoma County Tourism sales team at sales@ sonomacounty.com or (707) 522-5800.

LOOKING AHEAD

FACILITIES & DESTINATIONS 2018-2019 WINTER

Featuring: The annual ELITE Awards, recognizing top CVB and convention center executives Mid-Market Review: Profiles of second-tier cities that go the extra mile for group business Planner Roundtable: Veteran meeting planners discuss industry topics and trends F&D Forums: In-depth Q&As with industry leaders on the move The latest meeting news from Ohio and Texas, as well as Louisville, KY, and Lucerne, Switzerland

• • • • • FACILITIES & DESITNATIONS 2018 SUMMER / FALL 11

FACILITIES & DESTINATIONS YEAR-END 2018 11

FORUM J U L I E C A LV E R T

P R E SIDEN T & CEO C I N C I N N AT I US A C ON V EN TION & V ISITORS BU REA U

By George Seli

ulie Calvert began serving as the new President & CEO of the Cincinnati USA CVB on June 1. Born and raised in Cincinnati, Calvert was a senior executive at the CVB from 2001-2016, most recently Vice President of Communications and Strategic Development. In 2014, she founded and served as Executive Director for Source Cincinnati, an organization that pitches Cincinnaticentric stories to national media as a means of promoting the city’s quality of life. Calvert thus brings a deep knowledge of Cincinnati’s assets to her new position, including those that support its meetings industry. She takes the helm of the CVB at a dynamic time for the city’s hospitality industry: A hotel boom that includes new properties by Marriott, Kimpton, Hilton and Dolce is ongoing, and most significantly, a headquarters hotel to complement the Duke Energy Convention Center is in the works.

and what conventions can we secure that match up with those business clusters and organizations?

Can you describe the current renaissance within the city’s hospitality industry?

CVB Board Chair Jim McGraw has praised your selection as President and CEO, describing you as a “passionate advocate” for the region and an “expert strategist.” What qualities do you personally feel make you the ideal leader for the CVB?

There was not much transition time coming into this role, and I think it’s a benefit that I know the community, have the right partnerships and the credibility to be able to move things forward quickly. I like to move fast and don’t like to wait around for things to happen.

Q A

What kind of community partnerships are you looking to establish, and how would they improve the city’s meetings business? There is an opportunity to partner closely with our Chamber of Commerce, our economic development organizations, and our arts and culture organizations to implement what I call community-based selling. What are the different business clusters that are important to [different sectors of the meeting industry], 12

HE M ISSING P IECE T O O UR CIT Y ’ S R ENA ISSA NCE IS [ T HE CO NV ENT IO N CENT ER HO T EL] , SO T HER E IS A LO T O F AT T ENT IO N O N T HE P R O JECT A ND A LO T O F GR O UP S WO R KING CO LLA BO R AT IV ELY T O M A KE T HAT HA P P EN.

Six hundred hotel rooms are being added downtown, and another 850 are in development throughout our region — everything from boutique hotels to full-service hotels. The hotel growth is a direct result of the influx of visitors and conventions. People want to come to be a part of the energy and vibrancy in the city. The more we can tell our story of what’s happening in the community to meeting planners, the better position we’re going to be in to leverage [those new developments].

Q A

Which infrastructure improvements is the city most focused on?

Our No. 1 priority is the new convention center hotel that needs to be developed in downtown Cincinnati. We feel that a new convention center hotel that competes well with the cities in our competitive set will bring more business to our convention center. It would be a connected hotel of no less than 800 rooms. The missing piece to our city’s renaissance is that hotel, so there is a lot of attention on the project and a lot of groups working collaboratively to make that happen. FACILITIES & DESTINATIONS YEAR-END 2018

Q A

In terms of service to planners, what do you believe sets your organization apart from other CVBs?

Our service team has always believed that while we may not be able to out-market our out-spend some of the tier-one cities like New York and Chicago, we know we can out-service any city for any convention in the nation. From the moment that a meeting planner comes to Cincinnati for a site visit, we partner closely together to help connect them to the community to make their planning process as easy and seamless as possible. It’s a whatever-it-takes attitude. Our surveys consistently come back from planners and conventioneers between 4.9 and 5+ [on a 5-point scale] in terms of satisfaction ratings.

Q A

From a cultural standpoint, which aspects of the city may groups wish to explore?

Cincinnati’s heritage is all around beer; we were founded and built by German immigrants. And just across the river is the Bourbon Trail, which starts in Kentucky. We consider that part of the selling package, as well as our craft brewery scene. There has been an incredible resurgence of breweries over the past seven to nine years, and we tie that back to our heritage. So we have had meeting

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planners host events in many of our breweries, such as Rhinegeist or Taft’s Alehouse. [The latter] is located in a rebuilt Episcopalian church with the original stained-glass windows and chandeliers. It’s really a unique, fun experience. And the arts and culture in this region is second to none. For example, groups do offsite events at Music Hall, a building dating from the 1800s with German architecture, and the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal. [Editor’s note: Music Hall completed a $143 million, 16-month renovation in October 2017. Union Terminal recently reopened after completing a $228 million renovation.] Shakespeare Theater, Ensemble Theatre and others have reopened in this past year.

Q A

Is it fair to say the city prioritizes historic preservation?

Historic preservation is a strong point of Cincinnati. We are a city of old meets new, and many times Cincinnati stands in as 1952 New York [in film], because of the art deco architecture. [Editor’s note: Carew Tower and the Roebling Bridge were models for New York’s Empire State Building and Brooklyn Bridge, respectively.] So we have beautiful new skyscrapers nestled with historic structures; the juxtaposition creates a very beautiful city and a vibrant experience.

We Deliver Unconventional Experiences.

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FACILITIES & DESTINATIONS YEAR-END 2018

PHOTOVIEW

IMEX 2018

Bettina Hughes, National Sales Manager, and Ben Roschke, Director of Research and Strategic Development, Visit San Jose

(L-r): Amanda Peters, Jeremy Handel and Heidi Hayes of the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority

Mike Roebuck, Chief Sales Officer, and Jess Henry, Senior Sales Director/ Conventions, Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission

Barbara Bouman (left) and Kyrsten Solusod, Live Nation Special Events

Taylor Williamson, Sports/ Convention Sales Manager, Boise CVB

Mavoy Smith, Director of Sales, Montego Bay Convention Centre, holds open a spread about the facility in the F&D 2018 SuperBook

Margaret Colon (left), Puerto Rico Convention Center, and Rosa Luke, Discover Puerto Rico

John Washko, VP of Exhibitions and Conventions Sales, Mohegan Sun, displays the F&D 2018 SuperBook with his image on the cover

Joseph Huntenburg, Marketing Services Coordinator, and Jessica Kasunich, Communications Manager, Meet AC

FACILITIES & DESTINATIONS YEAR-END 2018

IMEX AMERICA TOOK PLACE IN LAS VEGAS, NV, OCTOBER 16-18

Posing at Visit Savannahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s booth are (l-r) Visit Savannah Senior Vice President Jeff Hewitt, Sissy Livingston, Lidija Ahmetovic and Michelle Smith

Briana Leite-Ah Yo (left) and Christine Davidson of the Hawaii Convention Center display the F&D 2018 Fall issue

(L-r): Lindsey Fasanello, Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel; Robert Leff and Karl Pietrzak, Visit Pittsburgh; and Linda Paris, Omni William Penn Hotel

Julie Calvert, President & CEO, Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau (see Q&A with Calvert on page 12)

Rebecca Williams, Director of Sales and Marketing, Knoxville Convention Center FACILITIES & DESTINATIONS YEAR-END 2018

Randy Parker, Director of Sales, Maui Visitors & Convention Bureau, holds open a feature on Maui in the F&D 2018 Fall issue

Lexi Sweet, Public Relations Manager, Experience Columbus, holds open Greater Columbus Convention Center coverage in the F&D 2018 Fall issue

(L-r): Ellie Cutler, Iowa Events Center; Brooke Hovick, Hilton Des Moines; and Amber Smith, Catch Des Moines

Lauren Kautz, Director sof National Accounts, Hershey Resorts 15

NEW REALITIES FOR ATTENDEES

E V EN T PROFES S ION A L S FIN D IN T R I G U I N G A P P L I C AT I O N S F O R VI R T U AL A ND A UG ME N T E D R EAL I T Y T EC H N O L O G I ES By George Seli

any is the meeting technology that is touted possible to buy a type of Oculus for $200, Alroy notes. There as “cutting edge,” but there are two related is also a variety of budget VR headsets on the market. Cost of technologies that indisputably deserve the headset aside, a major reason VR can be more expensive that descriptor. Virtual reality (VR) and than AR is that a real space that will be virtually experienced augmented reality (AR), while not meeting must be photographed with a 360-degree camera. So, for technologies per say, are gaining ground example, if a hotelier wants to provide potential clients in that sector as event professionals an experience of the property via a realize their potential for enhancing VR headset, part of the expense is the experience for attendees. having the space mapped out and VR is a 3D, computer-generated photographed with such a camera. In environment that users experience addition, VR requires a special headset, via a headset and may interact with but AR does not. AR apps can be via special gloves or handsets. In installed on mobile devices, some of contrast, the AR environment consists which (e.g., iPhone X) have built-in AR of computer-generated overlays on the functionality. These tools allow users user’s real environment. The use cases to view the augmented environment for both have been increasing across on their screens. More costly is the the meetings industry. “We definitely wearable platform for AR: headsets and see they are taking more and more glasses such as Microsoft’s HoloLens presence at events,” says Alon Alroy, and Epson Moverio BT-300FPV Alon Alroy, Co-Founder, Bizzabo Co-Founder and Chief Marketing that overlay images onto the actual Officer of event tech company Bizzabo, environment the user is viewing. with offices in New York, NY, and Tel But the decision to invest in VR or “ O MPA NIES T HAT Aviv, Israel. Alroy, who has been named AR should not merely be driven by cost a “40 under 40” event industry thought considerations. “Planners first need to think E X HIBIT AT EV ENT S CA N leader and one of the Top 10 Israeli CMOs, about how VR and AR can help drive their D E F I NIT ELY USE V R A ND A R T O business objectives, versus ‘let’s get it and observes that “Already three years ago, we saw an increased number of events where now let’s think what can we do with it,’” Alroy D I F F E RENT IAT E T HEM SELV ES VR and AR were talked about. Augmented advises. “That [approach] will always drive F RO M T HE CO M P ET IT IO N. ” World Expo, one of our customers, was better outcomes.” And while one might one of the first to understand that this think that age demographics may inform is a growing trend, and you see more the decision whether to implement these and more events making [VR and AR] technologies, “I think that at this point it’s so their topic. That’s the first thing we saw. Now, regarding the new it actually goes across demographics,” Alroy opines. “It can implementation itself, this past year was the first year that create an amazing experience for all attendees, whether they’re we started seeing all kinds of interesting use cases at those 40-plus or 20-plus.” An additional consideration is whether events.” According to Alroy, the implementation is primarily the organization wants to be perceived as “ahead of the curve,” happening at tradeshows and large conferences, particularly technologically or in general. The use of VR or AR certainly big technology conferences such as Google I/O. conveys that impression to attendees or clients. “Companies that One factor that may help drive VR into the meetings exhibit at events can definitely use VR and AR to differentiate mainstream is the reduction in the cost of the equipment. For themselves from the competition,” says Alroy. “It is perceived example, the Oculus Rift was once $600 a piece, but now it’s now as an innovative technology that not everyone knows how

FACILITIES & DESTINATIONS YEAR-END 2018

visitBerlin offered delegates a virtual reality experience of the city at IMEX Frankfurt 2016

VISITBERLIN

AR USE CASES

to use. So suppose I am Volvo and presenting at an event, and I’m using those technologies to let attendees experience the cars. I definitely look more innovative than the exhibitor next to me” who does not offer that advanced mode of presentation.

VR USE CASES

Virtual reality is becoming more popular with exhibitors who want to provide attendees with an experience of products that are not physically present at the show — an experience that is more immersive than simply a photo, video, model, etc. Returning to the example of the hotelier exhibitor cited above, an attendee would don a VR headset and experience the hotel’s guestrooms, lobby, meeting space and other areas in a manner almost identical to an actual visual experience. Similarly, “Budweiser has used VR to provide attendees with personal tours of their manufacturing facilities,” Alroy notes. “So this is an example of a low-tech company using VR to connect attendees with their very real life and physical projects.” Budweiser deployed Oculus VR headsets at 2016 SXSW to deliver that virtual tour. (Note that for exhibitors with space-intensive products such as cars or heavy machinery, offering this kind of virtual experience means a smaller, more cost-effective footprint at the show while preserving a high-quality experience of those products.) Buying decisions might be made based on these virtual experiences. In the context of meetings, “let’s say you are an event organizer and you are interested in securing a venue. For some of those venues, after a minute of being onsite you decide ‘this is not what I had in mind.’ Nowadays, [an exhibitor] can work with an event planner to arrange VR venue visits to eliminate some of the options,” Alroy explains. “I’m not saying we’re already at the stage where people need not visit a venue to make a decision, but you can filter your options with that technology and save money.” FACILITIES & DESTINATIONS YEAR-END 2018

Gamification has been all the rage at conventions and tradeshows, and AR-enabled smartphones allow event organizers to implement futuristic games that will pique the interest of many delegates. Alroy cites a game that IBM and The New York Times Company introduced at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show to promote Hidden Figures, a 2016 biographical film about three Black female mathematicians who worked at NASA during the Space Race. Using the AR app called Outthink Hidden, the game had attendees using their smartphones to scan pedestals for QR codes, causing the screen to depict statues of the film’s main characters on the pedestals. “It was an incentive to run around the venue and engage with exhibitors in order to uncover some of those [figures] using AR,” says Alroy. This form of AR is called “marker based,” since a marker such as a QR code prompts the digital images. Another form of AR is projection based, which is essentially hologram technology. Typically, this type of AR would be used in presentations at meetings and tradeshows: presenters interacting with holograms or offsite individuals presenting as holograms. At Computex 2016, Gregory Bryant, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Client Computing Group at Intel Corporation, gave his presentation on stage as a hologram thanks to VNTANA’s telepresence hologram technology. This kind of virtual participation is clearly more costly than the individual simply appearing on video, but it is also more impactful to the attendee. Still, it is not likely to replace in-person attendance of VIPs and presenters except in special circumstances. Intel’s use case “was a nice gimmick to demonstrate the technology and create a wow factor,” Alroy comments.

THE OUTLOOK FOR VR AND AR

Given the multiple uses and the declining equipment costs, it is likely that in the future, most conventions and tradeshows will have VR and/or AR components. From a planner’s perspective, they allow the creation of novel experiences for attendees. And from an exhibitor’s perspective, the technologies are a way to give buyers a compelling encounter with offsite products. Indeed, it’s time for event professionals to realize that attendees’ reality need not be contained to the physical environment at the event. 17

DESTINATION

ORLANDO: MEETING TH

CITY EMBARKS ON MAJOR CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION By George Seli

hile the Orange County Convention Center has undergone a series of enhancements over the last five years under its Capital Improvement Plan, its last large-scale expansion was completed in 2003 with the opening of the North/South Building. The convention center’s current size at seven million sq. ft. of function space — second only to McCormick Place — has been sufficient to serve its clientele. But Orlando’s perennially rising popularity in the meetings industry has made it clear that additional space would be quite useful in allowing existing clients to expand their shows, and in better accommodating multiple groups simultaneously. “The center has been successful for many years and continues to be,” says George Aguel, President and CEO of Visit Orlando. “But we knew we had to look to the future and meet the demand and interest from so many of our existing clients.” Hence, the convention center has launched a $605 million improvement plan that includes the new Convention Way Grand Concourse. The enclosed connection between the North and South concourses will feature additional meeting space and an 80,000-sq.ft. ballroom with a grand entrance to the North/South 18

Building along Convention Way. The project will also add a Multipurpose Venue with 200,000 sq. ft. of divisible, column-free space. “It’s designed to do various things: it can be regular meeting space, exhibit space or a venue where you can have a concert for 18,000-20,000 people,” Aguel describes. “It’s been asked, ‘Why do you need a place to do a concert?’ Because believe it or not, we’re seeing a growing interest in putting on these kinds of special entertainment events. If it gets to be that large, we have to shuttle them down to the Amway Center. Ideally, we wouldn’t have to shuttle them anywhere; we could just keep them right here.” The specifics of the expansion plan were informed by client input, Aguel explains. “This is a classic example of where you base all your decisions on the guidance you get from those that are doing business with you. And we have a very strong fraternity of individuals who bring us a significant amount of business every year. We heard their message pretty clearly that there were elements that needed to be added to our North/South Building. And while there’s no one formula that will work 100 percent of the time for 100 percent of the folks, we think we have a winning formula for this building.” Bringing that formula to fruition will not inconvenience FACILITIES & DESTINATIONS YEAR-END 2018

HE DEMAND

“

HILE T HER E’ S NO O NE FO R M ULA T HAT WILL WO R K 1 0 0 P ER CENT O F T HE T IM E FO R 1 0 0 P ER CENT O F T HE FO LKS, WE T HINK WE HAV E A WINNING FO R M ULA FO R T HIS BUILD ING. ”

— George Aguel, President and CEO, Visit Orlando

clients who meet at the center throughout the expansion. “What’s particularly nice about this process is that it won’t impact anything that happens within the building,” Aguel assures. “We’re actually building on east and west sides of the North/South Building. Until the time when [the additions] connect into the actual building, [the construction] is outside the walls of the building, which is a fabulous way to put this together.” Capital improvements at the center have included additional connectivity with surrounding hotels, via the new International Drive Pedestrian Bridge linked to the Hyatt Regency Orlando. A total of five pedestrian skybridges now connect the Orange County Convention Center to more than 5,200 hotel rooms. There are 7,300 rooms within a mile of the center, and 122,000 rooms in the city overall — the country’s second-largest inventory. A total of 450 properties include about 150 meeting hotels. Yet the demand has been in line with that supply: Orlando’s current hotel occupancy of 78.8 percent is well above state and national averages. And more supply is on the horizon. “We actually anticipate one of our most significant growth spurts in hotel rooms to occur in the next couple of years. It will probably one of the most significant growth spurts in the last 20 years,” Aguel notes. FACILITIES & DESTINATIONS YEAR-END 2018

Contributing to that guestroom surge will be Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort’s new 15-story tower, adding more than 500 rooms to the property. Meeting space expansions have been completed at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club, DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld and Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek. In addition, many of the city’s meeting hotels have completed renovations, including DoubleTree by Hilton at the Entrance to Universal, Caribe Royale All-Suite Hotel & Convention Center and Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort. Orlando’s expanding convention center and hotel package is making the city even more appealing from a logistical standpoint, but its theme park attractions also add to its drawing power. In the international meetings market, the draw is increasing. “We’re the fourth most popular international destination in the country, and a lot of shows at the center have seen growth in their international attendance,” Aguel reports. “People like to attend tradeshows in places they like to visit personally, and we’ve seen that has expanded our international delegations.” The city is also hosting more large corporate meetings, such as user conferences staged by major tech companies. For special events, “some of these organizations are going into a theme park and taking over an entire land or even the whole park, showing how much they like that type of environment,” he observes. “And if you don’t go the theme park route, you have 75 attractions and restaurants” within two miles of the convention center. Groups can book venues at Pointe Orlando, Universal CityWalk, Disney Springs or Restaurant Row, which is the closest to the center. All of these attractions and venues will likely see more traffic from meeting attendees once the Orange County Convention Center expansion is complete and its level of business increases. Although the construction schedule wasn’t finalized at press time, Aguel estimated three to four years, perhaps less. For planners who are fans of the facility and would benefit from more of a good thing, the expansion can’t come soon enough. Their patience will be rewarded. 19

DESTINATION

BOISE’S BEEN BUSY A N EX PAN DE D C O N V E N TIO N C E NT ER A N D N EW H O T E L S H AVE EN H A N C E D THE C ITY ’S ME E T IN G S PR O D U C T By Debi Lander

oise has become one of the Northwest’s most vibrant hotspots — ablaze with new building projects, renovations and upgrades. Idaho’s capital and largest city is home to a population of approximately 250,000. Not terribly big, but Boise is sure to impress meeting groups with its character and charm. “From the beautiful surrounding foothills to the vibrant, walkable, safe downtown with over 100 different restaurants and many unique shops, Boise is a great choice,” says Carrie Westergard, Executive Director of the Boise CVB. Compared to competing markets in California and the Northeast, meeting costs in Boise are more budget friendly. “Many planners comment on the price of a gallon of coffee at Boise Centre — $32.00, while in other cities a gallon of coffee is often double if not triple that amount,” says Pat Rice, Executive Director of the Boise Centre, Idaho’s largest convention center. Getting to Boise is a snap. The airport offers 20 nonstop 20

flights from U.S. cities, predominately in the West, on major airlines — with Dallas, Houston and Chicago the farthest east. Boise’s airport couldn’t be more convenient; it’s just four miles from downtown, and many hotels offer free shuttles. Boise wants planners’ business and is prepared and willing to assist. According to Westergard, “The Boise CVB team is ready to listen and help with everything from securing the right venue and hotel rooms to unique offsite venues and attractions. We are also more than happy to assist with promotion to encourage event attendance.”

BOISE CENTRE

The Boise Centre completed a $47.5 million expansion in 2017. The project includes the addition of nine meeting rooms, a 14,000-sq.-ft. ballroom with an airy glass-enclosed lobby, and connected concourse. The Boise Centre now offers meeting planners more than 86,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting and event space. The largest function room is 24,426 sq. ft. FACILITIES & DESTINATIONS YEAR-END 2018

“

A NY P LA NNER S CO M M ENT O N T HE P R ICE O F A GA LLO N O F CO FFEE AT BO ISE CENT R E — $32. 0 0 , WHILE IN O T HER CIT IES A GA LLO N O F CO FFEE IS O FT EN D O UBLE IF NO T T R IP LE T HAT A M O UNT. ”

—Pat Rice, Executive Director, Boise Centre

All 109 guestrooms feel posh and include private butler pantries, allowing guests to receive deliveries without opening their door. Themed rooms highlight sports, wildlife, museums and art locations in Boise. All rooms include gas fireplaces and double vanities. Outdoor balconies and terraces are available in 80 percent of guestrooms.

The convention center is a standout both in terms of technology and F&B. Groups can take advantage of stateof-the-art wireless networking. Kitchens provide in-house catering services, showcasing Idaho as one of the biggest dairy and beef producing states in the country. Surrounding Boise Centre is a compact, walkable downtown filled with shops, restaurants, microbreweries, cultural attractions and entertainment. There are more than 1,000 hotel rooms within walking distance, and new hotels are sprouting up like potato buds.

LODGING OPTIONS

Residence Inn Marriott City Center The 185-room Marriott-owned hotel opened in 2017. The hotel’s four event rooms occupy 4,748 sq. ft. The meeting rooms, set on the third level, open up to the stunning outdoor roofdeck. A boardroom on the 10th floor boasts fabulous views. The welcoming hotel lobby dedicates one area to grabn-go food. In the morning they serve an above-average, full buffet breakfast. Inn at 500 Capitol The Inn at 500 Capitol in the heart of downtown is a new luxury, art-filled boutique hotel that contains 1,800 sq. ft. of meeting space. The Capitol Room can be divided into East and West, each seating approximately 60 or 85 people theater style. An additional boardroom seats up to 12 and a Sanctuary Hospitality Room offers an ideal gathering space that includes a 65-inch flat-screen TV, wet bar, bathroom and private terrace.

FACILITIES & DESTINATIONS YEAR-END 2018

Hotel 43 Hotel 43, the Grove Hotel and Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Boise are operated by one team and include a total of 525 guestrooms, three business centers, two highly acclaimed restaurants and one full-service spa. They offer 17,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, with an additional 22,000 sq. ft. of event space in the attached arena. Hotel 43 is a boutique hotel, taking its name from the 43rd Parallel in the 43rd State. The hotel has an upscale urban style and is suited to the business traveler. With 1,757 sq. ft. of flexible event space, the venues can be configured into multiple layouts. Hotel 43 also offers two private dining rooms. Many consider the onsite restaurant, Chandler’s, the best steakhouse in Boise. Think prime corn-fed steaks, Kobe-style beef and seafood along with Idaho-sourced ingredients. The Grove Hotel The Grove Hotel, currently under renovation, is attached to the 5,400-seat CenturyLink Arena, making it the best place to stay for connections to arena events such as ice hockey and concerts. Planners can hold a special event in the viewing room overlooking the arena action, yet within the Grove Hotel. The Grand Ballroom spans 6,800 sq. ft. and is divisible into three rooms. The Riverside Hotel The Riverside Hotel, a sprawling complex on 14 acres, lies along the Greenbelt — Boise’s riverside green space with 25 miles of walking and biking paths, fishing and watersports. The hotel offers groups 300 guestrooms, including 33 suites. A total of 20,000 sq. ft. of meeting space includes the first floor 21

The Basque culture isn’t limited to France and Spain: It’s alive and well in Boise

white tablecloth private dining rooms to casual meals and tastings in breweries. Planners can even arrange a beer or wine tasting along with dessert sensations from a local ice cream shop, STIL. There are 19 breweries (www. boisealetrail.com) and 25 wineries within 32 miles of Boise (www.idahowines.com).

UNIQUE THINGS TO DO

Grand Ballroom, divisible into four rooms, and a registration/ reception size foyer for 1,200 guests with a separate street entrance. An additional Fireplace Foyer for breaks spans 1,600 sq. ft. The second floor contains six meeting rooms and a boardroom seating up to 18. Located one mile from downtown, the Riverside offers free parking and a free airport shuttle. Holiday Inn Express This Holiday Inn is located in the University area of the city within walking distance of the stadium. All guestrooms include a refrigerator, microwave, coffeemaker and free Wi-Fi. The hotel offers 4,000 sq. ft. of meeting and banquet space for up to 300 people. The breakfast area with doors opening to the pool makes a perfect spot for casual cocktail receptions. Hampton Inn and Suites The lovely 11-story Hampton Inn near the State Capitol and Boise State University has 186 guestrooms. The 1,250-sq.ft. Payette Meeting Room accommodates 100 attendees theater-style, 80 in banquet setup and up to 90 at a reception. The property also has a dedicated boardroom for 12 and two large rooms that can be divided into smaller spaces to fit a group’s needs. Hilton Garden Inn Located just two blocks from the Boise Centre, this 132room property opened in July 2018. The Hyatt Place Conveniently situated downtown, the Hyatt Place offers 150 guestrooms along with free Wi-Fi, free parking and a 24/7 gym.

RESTAURANTS, BREWERIES AND WINERIES

Boise has no shortage of dining options, ranging from 22

Boise offers so many activities that meeting planners have to whittle down the list. The Basque Museum is the only museum in the country devoted to preserving the history of the Basque. Its boarding house takes guests back to the “old country.” Planners can bring this colorful culture to life by arranging a tour, a meal and a performance of Basque dancing. Indeed, the Basque culture thrives in Boise. More people of Basque descent live in the Boise area per capita than any other place outside the Basque regions in Southern France and Northern Spain. The World Center for Birds of Prey serves as headquarters for the international Peregrine Fund. Tourists get an up-close look at the California condor and learn about hawks, falcons, eagles and owls. Entering the Old Idaho Penitentiary feels like walking onto the set of a movie. Built in 1870 and used between 1872 and 1973, the historic site is fascinating in an eerie way. Visitors feel the dark isolation of solitary confinement, walk down the cells lining death row, and learn stories of the inmates. An outing to the Old Pen will leave attendees talking about it for a long time. The Idaho Capitol looks like a smaller version of the U.S. Capitol. The building is only U.S. capitol heated by geothermal water. The hot water is tapped and pumped from a source 3,000 feet underground. Tours showcase the beautiful rotunda, marble staircase and legislative chambers. Boise State University football stadium includes the famous blue turf. Tours of the Sports Hall of Fame include an up-close view of the blue field. Bus your attendees to the Payette River for a halfday of river rafting. Guests will experience the thrill of Idaho’s Class 3 whitewater rafting adventures in the very safe hands of the Cascade Raft and Kayak Company. The family-owned business includes not just the rafting experience, but also dining facilities along the river. No experience is necessary. Professional guides handle all abilities and ages. FACILITIES & DESTINATIONS YEAR-END 2018

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VENUE REVIEW

PLAYA LARGO RESORT & SPA

K E Y L AR G O ’ S L ATES T L U X U R Y PR O PER TY IS A N AT U R AL F O R THE I N C E N T I VE M AR KET By Debi Lander

he Florida Keys are with a wheelchair ramp and justly famous for their elevator. Its pool deck offers Jimmy Buffet lifestyle: 1,200 sq. ft. of event space. A sun, fun and relaxation. professional-style kitchen allows Key Largo, the most full meal preparation or catering. northerly, offers the Planners can rent it for top advantage of being just an hour’s executives or, if available, for a drive from Miami International special event. Airport. To calm any concerns, Key Largo suffered little damage MEETING FACILITIES from Hurricane Irma. Groups have 40,000 sq. ft. of comPlaya Largo Resort & Spa, an bined indoor/outdoor Autograph Collection hotel, event space at their offers the carefree Keys atmodisposal, including “ L AYA L A R GO R ESO R T O FFER ED GO O D A CCESSIBILIT Y sphere but in an understated, luxury a variety of options setting. Situated on a former pineapple and backdrops for F RO M MIA M I, A LUX UR IO US A ND SECLUD ED plantation, the property provides the and meals. AT M O S P H E R E, A ND WELL LA ID -O UT M EET ING FA CILIT IES. meetings quintessential backdrop for a Keys Groups can move sunset gathering. around the property … P L U S , P LAYA LA R GO IS R ELAT IV ELY NEW, SO EV EN As the first luxury hotel on indoor meeting PART I CI PANT S WHO M AY HAV E BEEN T O T HE KEY S WO ULD from Key Largo in over 20 years, the rooms to banquet property generated much interest space and outdoor PRO B AB LY NO T HAV E STAY ED T HER E. ” when it opened in September 2016, — Fiona Bailey, President, Fiona Bailey Events function areas, perparticularly from incentive travel haps never using the groups. Participants can stay in a same area twice. colorful villa, kick back on the beach, The 7,200-sq.-ft. Tavernier Ballroom features elegant chill around the zero-entry pool whose cabanas feature flathanging crystal lighting. The Miramar Courtyard, outside screen TVs, or sail away from the marina. the ballroom, spans 5,200 sq. ft. The outdoor lawn with gazebo spreads across 8,600 grassy sq. ft. and provides a stunning LODGING OPTIONS view of the blue-green bay. The extended lobby or Sunset Playa Largo offers 177 spacious guestrooms and suites, all with Terrace overlooks the resort, and of course, affords panoramic sunset views. The lobby features terrazzo flooring with inlaid bay views and chic pastel Caribbean-style décor. An in-room wood, shell chandeliers and eye-catching artwork created with iPad, connected to a smart TV, welcomes guests and allows oyster shells. them to make reservations for dining and recreational activities. The hotel’s manmade beachfront measures 6,000 sq. ft., The Hammocks, a resort-within-the-resort, includes allowing flexible seating and dining arrangements. A smaller 10 two-story bungalows secluded in a tropical forest. The group (20 or under) might go barefoot and feast around a low Caribbean-style little villas provide a gourmet kitchen and table hovering over the sand. Attendees can meander around dining area, a comfy living room and a sofa that sleeps two. The first floor boasts a full-bath and separate shower room. the beach, the marina or poolside to watch the sun make its The second floor reveals a master bedroom and luxurious stunning exit. Afterward, they can return and sit on beach bath. The foliage-surrounded balcony guarantees privacy for pillows to enjoy a multi-course meal. (Standard table and morning coffee or afternoon cocktails. chairs are also available.) The Hammocks’ ultimate lodging space is Playa Largo’s Fiona Bailey, President of Fiona Bailey Events, took posh three-bedroom, four-bath Beach House and its private a corporate group of 50 to the resort in November 2017. plunge pool and beach. The house is fully ADA compliant “Playa Largo Resort was a great location for our exclusive

FACILITIES & DESTINATIONS YEAR-END 2018

event [a sales conference],” she comments. “It offered good accessibility from Miami, a luxurious and secluded atmosphere, well laid-out meeting facilities and several exciting program enhancements and activities for the group to do outside of the meeting program. I think it was the uniqueness of the destination that was a big incentive. Plus, Playa Largo is relatively new, so even participants who may have been to the Keys would probably not have stayed there. We took full advantage of the diversity of rooms, bungalows and the private Beach House for our meetings and events. The hotel’s meeting and banqueting team did a superb job in offering two evenings with very different ambiances.”

DINING LOCALES

• • • • •

Sol by the Sea offers fine waterfront dining as well as more casual meals on a whitewashed table and driftwood benches. The elevated open-air restaurant overlooks the marina and (naturally) features seafood. La Marea, an indoor/outdoor restaurant, sits beyond the pool enclosure. A bounteous breakfast buffet is its signature offering. The cocktail lounge off the lobby, Las Olas, serves conch ceviche, sushi and specialty drinks, many made with the house specialty — rum. Everyone ends up at the poolside Sand Bar — the place for cocktails and casual fare. Waiters happily serve guests in their beach chairs or cabanas. No visit to the Keys is complete without a slice of key lime pie, available in all restaurants.

RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES

• Attendees will find an array of massage options or other pampering treatments, like a tropical sugar scrub with

FACILITIES & DESTINATIONS YEAR-END 2018

coconut cream, at the 6,000-sq.-ft., top-of-the-line Ocean Spa.

• In addition to wading, floating and swimming in the pool • •

and bay, water sports include stand-up paddle-boarding and kayaking. Early risers can take a beachside yoga class. Jogging, biking, tennis, basketball and bocce ball are all available with free equipment rental. At the Marina, Captain Dan leads Caribbean Watersports at Playa Largo. Groups can take a daytime cruise or watch the evening glow from a sailboat, catamaran or yacht. Teambuilding activities are focused on the Keys lifestyle and include a team shipwreck, build your own shelter, mixology class and treasure scavenger hunt.

KEYS ADVENTURES

While Playa Largo includes a variety of onsite diversions, many classic Keys adventures await nearby. You might recall the lyric “Sailin’ away to Key Largo,” from the 1981 song by Bertie Higgins that refers to the 1948 film Key Largo, starring the legendary Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Attendees can cruise on the official African Queen, the restored steamboat used in the movie. Key Largo boasts North America’s only living coral barrier reef. It’s scuba heaven. Divers can search for a statue called Christ of the Abyss on the underwater dive trail in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Islamorada Key, just 18 miles south, was devastated by the Hurricane Irma but is now restored. Fishing boats can be chartered for enthusiasts, and non-fishermen can kayak through the extensive mangroves. Landlubbers will love feeding the tarpon that congregate at Robbie’s Marina. Key Largo is home to many quirky and eclectic art galleries, filled with nautically themed photos, paintings and souvenirs for visitors.

• • • •

VENUE REVIEW

HOTEL CRESCENT COURT

ONE O F D A L L A S ’S FIN E S T B O U T I Q U E P R O P E R T I ES O F F ER S AN UP S C A L E ME E TIN G E X PER I E N C E By Gabriella Davino

ocated in North Texas, Dallas offers groups a memorable encounter with the largest inland metropolitan area in the United States. From natural wonders such as the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens to top-tier entertainment at Globe Life Park, home of the Texas Rangers, located just 15 miles west of Dallas, the area caters to attendees with diverse tastes. On the lodging side, Hotel Crescent Court exemplifies the artistic and historical sides of Uptown Dallas. Situated only a half hour away from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Hotel Crescent Court lies within the flourishing 11-acre grounds of the Crescent, a beautiful mixed-use development standing stately after a $33 million revitalization. Just steps away from the nation’s largest art district, the 226-room Hotel Crescent Court offers an array of elite dining, first-class shopping and, of course, wellappointed meeting facilities. The hotel’s 32,320 sq. ft. of flexible event space includes seven variously sized spaces all equipped with Wi-Fi access. The Crescent Ballroom can hold up to 300 guests, while The Executive Boardroom offers a more intimate feel, equipped with conference-style seating and AV and telecommunications systems. There are also four elegant rooms ideal for groups of 12-15 attendees, including the English Hunt Room, Pool Suite and Court View Room. On the wellness side, the hotel offers a brand-new spa and fitness center featuring an open design that creates an oasis 26

of color. There are men’s and women’s lounges equipped with freshly squeezed organic juice and champagne. The spa includes a whirlpool with a hot and cold dip, dry sauna and steam room. A yoga instructor offers classes in the beautiful garden room with floor-to-ceiling windows displaying the courtyard flora and fauna. Upon entering the hotel, guests will notice a swanky new champagne bar and cocktail lounge in the main lobby. Beau Nash, open seven days a week, offers an inviting atmosphere with live music on certain nights and toasts until midnight. The bar’s gold flakes submerged in a champagne flute is a standout. Moxie’s Bar & Grill, owned by Dallas Stars owner and hockey fanatic Tom Gaglardi, offers fresh, savory dishes and quality wines and spirits. Located on the 50th floor of the Reunion Tower with floor-to-ceiling windows and a 360-degree rotation, Five Sixty Dallas, owned by Wolfgang Puck, offers unforgettable views of the city as well as contemporary Asian cuisine. The hotel’s location allows attendees to explore Deep Ellum, one of Dallas’s most eclectic, hip and historic neighborhoods. Deep Ellum is home to some of the city’s most iconic outdoor art, from colorful murals and street art to stainless steel sculptures. The neighborhood’s BrainDead Brewery is one of the best brewpubs in Dallas. Both Globe Life Park, home of the Texas Rangers, and the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens make for memorable group outings. The latter venue offers private tours and meeting space with beautiful views of the grounds. FACILITIES & DESTINATIONS YEAR-END 2018

VENUE REVIEW

HUTCHINSON SHORES A FINE CHOICE FOR CORPORATE RESORT & SPA RETREATS IN JENSEN BEACH, FLORIDA

By Deborah Shapiro

he Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa is an ideal site for small and midsize business functions. The luxurious 178-room resort offers 8,000 sq. ft. of divisible meeting space that is set off from hightraffic areas, affording uninterrupted time for both conference-goers and vacationers alike. The two-building resort is connected by an indoor bridge hallway that gives beautiful views of the outdoor areas while attendees transition from their rooms to the conference area. The Sea Turtle Ballroom can seat 400 guests easily and has state-of-the-art lighting that can be configured to coordinate with specific company colors or themes. The Hutchinson Shores Resort, however, is known more for hosting intimate retreats than large gatherings. The facility can simultaneously accommodate multiple small groups in different sections of the resort, ensuring privacy and dedicated service. Private meeting rooms are also available in the recreational areas of the resort by the spa.

The onsite events manager takes care of every detail, including catering by Executive Chef Michael Voglerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Drift Kitchen Restaurant. Guests can enjoy fresh pasta made onsite daily along with brick-oven pizzas and fresh local seafood selections. The resort restaurant is set up so that patrons can view the chefs hard at work while enjoying their meals. There are private dining rooms available within the restaurant as well. A 24-hour fitness facility along with a full-service spa provides plenty of wellness opportunities for meeting attendees. Nothing, however, tops views from the secluded oceanfront location. The Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa has direct beach access, and with over 50 percent of its guestrooms being oceanfront, conference attendees will feel relaxed and ready to tackle any task ahead. Hospitality suites are also available, and can be connected to beachfront decks for corporate mixers and receptions. Jensen Beach is located about 40 miles north of West Palm Beach International Airport. FACILITIES & DESTINATIONS YEAR-END 2018

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VENUE REVIEW

MIRAMONTE RESORT & SPA

A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIAN ESCAPE WITH RENOVATED MEETING FACILITIES By GiAnna Wyatt

ast year, Miramonte Resort & Spa in Indian Wells, CA, unveiled an $8 million renovation, the final phase of a multiyear makeover. The 215-room property, managed by Curio Collection by Hilton, upgraded its guestrooms and meeting spaces. Most recently, the chic lobby bar, Well Spa and Citrus & Palm restaurant were given a Bohemian look, inspired by the local desert. But most of all, the 20,000 sq. ft. of redesigned meeting space has made Miramonte Resort & Spa a standout in Palm Springs’ meetings industry. Neighboring Joshua Tree and Coachella Valley, the resort is ideally situated for attendees looking to have a little fun and relaxation pre or post session. The Southern Californian landscape is perfect for daytime hikes within a 10-minute drive from the resort. In addition, the property partners with a local DMC, Big Wheel Tours, to provide open-air Jeep drives to the San Andreas Fault. Within an hour, attendees are removed from the chic modernism of Palm Springs to a sheer canyon filled with desert flora and fauna. The most colorful portion of the fault line includes the dazzling Slot Canyon, where attendees can jump off the Jeep and into a mysterious landscape of rock formations. If hiking, dust and desert doesn’t appeal to your group, 29

consider a driving tour of Palm Springs luxury homes. The mid-century aesthetic has had a huge renaissance, and collectors are heading to Palm Springs to view the best of the genre. Modernism Week has brought architecture and design enthusiasts to the area every spring, which has given the destination more opportunities to host large groups. As evening approaches, guests can head to the Palm Springs Visitors Center for a quick photo shoot of the sprawling windmills over the hills. The unforgettable view illustrates the dense landscape of the desert. When attendees return to the resort, they can rejuvenate at the Well Spa, which offers multiple treatments, plunge pools and personalized service. The resort’s F&B offerings are also sure to replenish participants. At Citrus & Palm, which serves three meals daily, Executive Chef Paul Hancock offers a seasonal menu utilizing citrus, fresh herbs and vegetables grown on-property. The menu is lean and healthy, but intensely flavorful. Guests can dine on the patio with views of the hotel’s watering hole and desert mountains in the background. At sunset, they can gather around one of the hotel’s many firepits, with plush seating and surrounding bougainvillea — the perfect ending to a Southern Californian meeting. FACILITIES & DESTINATIONS YEAR-END 2018

FAC I L I T I E S & D E S T I N AT I O N S

PRISM PRIME SITE MEETING H OT E L AWA R D W I N N E R S 2018

2019 Prime Site Meeting Hotel Awards Ballot

VOTE for the top hotels, resorts and conference centers your group has used for its meetings in the last three years. Please base your vote(s) on the following criteria: • Attractiveness and functionality • Technological capabilities • Quality of staff and conference planner • Teambuilding • Food & beverage/catering • Lighting • Acoustics • Climate control • Proximity to airport & other transportation • Onsite or offsite lodging • Other support services • Front-desk operations • Setups and breakdowns • Room décor • Quality/size of ballroom • Special packages • Spa • Nearby attractions

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Conference Center

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ADVERTISER INDEX Atlantic City Convention Center..................10 Austin Convention Center................................ 1 Boise Centre......................................................... 13 Caesars Entertainment...................................C2 David L. Lawrence Convention Center...............................................7 Explore St. Louis................................................C3 Greater Ft. Lauderdale/ Broward County Convention Center........C4 New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center........... 9 Greater Miami CVB..............................................5

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Meet AC................................................................... 3 FACILITIES & DESTINATIONS YEAR-END 2018

SAY GOOD NIGHT. THEN GO HAVE ONE. If you step outside America’s Center and stroll down Washington Avenue, you’ll find no work and all play. With a diverse slate of restaurants and bars, boutique shops, and nightspots, you’ll have plenty of memories to share after your meeting. Turn your good meeting into a great adventure at explorestlouis.com/meet.

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