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» CALIFORNIA IS ABUNDANT in rich history, and many of its hotels and venues emphasize just that. History is a way of storytelling, of learning about the places, people, and ideas that came before—it is how we can connect the past with the present. And, oftentimes, a place can have the kind of history that will surprise or intrigue you, leaving a desire to learn more. For instance, I reminisce on my time in Florence, Italy, and my visit to Palazzo Pitti, a 15th-century palace home to generations of history, artifacts, and hints into what life was like in the city centuries ago. My experience in New Orleans exploring the storied past attached to St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square was equally rewarding. Exploring places like these connected me to a story bigger than my own, enticing me to expand my knowledge and understanding.
Now, you may not be keen on crossing the Atlantic Ocean for your next event, but there are endless spots across the Golden State that have their own stories to tell and will add a sense of intrigue and a touch of antiquity to your next event.
Take the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel, a 110-year-old hotel known for its timeless lavishness that makes guests feel like the next stars of Hollywood, or the illustrious Ferry Building in San Francisco dating back to the California Gold Rush of the mid-1800s. There is something special about gathering in a place that has had such prominence over decades and still maintains that value today. While many of these properties still stand on the same blocks on which they were originally constructed, many have also undergone stunning renovations that both align with modern tastes and maintain the character of the original structure. And with a state as big and as old as California (it was the first Western region to become a state), there is sure to be a perfect venue to match any vibe or style a planner may have in mind.
Make use of these historic surroundings to create a night of antiquity, connection, and archival fun that will leave attendees with a new story to tell.
AMANDA CHRISTENSEN Associate Editor achristensen@greenspring.com
855-633-8238 | caesarsmeansbusiness.com
With more than 50 first-class properties spread throughout 20 destinations and 120 sales executives across the country, Caesars Entertainment’s vast empire promises not only a wealth of convenient options but also a commitment to provide unparalleled family-style services. From business meetings and bachelor parties to family vacations and weddings, Caesars’ vibrant hotels are the perfect setting for any occasion. The resorts total 60,000 luxurious guest rooms and 2 million square feet of meeting space across the destinations. From ideating an event to packing up on the last day, Caesars Entertainment ensures an easy, streamlined level of service to top off its continuously evolving collection of cutting-edge meeting spaces, unforgettable resorts, decadent restaurants, and more. Over the past year, Caesars Entertainment has shown concrete proof of its dedication to providing the best of the best, with massive new additions to its Las Vegas properties and beyond.
Part of the company’s latest evolution, CAESARS FORUM put its 550,000 square feet of conference space into action to host the 2022 NFL Draft, welcoming thousands of ecstatic sports fans. For the high-profile event, the FORUM created an enormous stage
and stretched its outdoor space to include the nearby LINQ Promenade parking lot, helping to accommodate the massive audience. Located centrally amid 8,500 hotel rooms at Harrah’s Las Vegas, The LINQ, and Flamingo, CAESARS FORUM provides the two largest pillar-less ballrooms in the world, featuring modern design and flexibility.
The mecca of celebrity chef dining, Paris Las Vegas, welcomed a veritable constellation of star-studded restaurants this year. Sushi legend Nobu Matsuhisa opened a second Las Vegas location of his eponymous Nobu restaurant at the resort. Next door, Bobby Flay debuted his fast-casual concept, Bobby’s Burgers, bringing a decadent take on burgers, milkshakes, and fries for guests on the go. Vanderpump à Paris—part of reality television icon Lisa Vanderpump’s portfolio—brought with it visions of an old Parisian courtyard. At the tail end of the summer, Martha Stewart’s first-ever dining concept, The Bedford, opened its doors.
In addition to huge new meeting spaces and decadent eateries, Caesars Entertainment has not forgotten to update the backbone of any stay: the accommodations. Harrah’s Las Vegas’ rooms and casino floor have undergone extensive renovations. Meanwhile, Bally’s Las Vegas underwent a complete transformation—from its exterior to its rooms and casino floor—and reintroduced itself as Horseshoe Las Vegas late last year.
Situated near Huntington Beach along the Southern California coast, Newport Beach is a vibrant seaside community that blends luxury comforts with casual ambiance. Home to abundant outdoor sites, myriad guest rooms and event spaces, and delectable culinary destinations, the coastal city makes for a versatile haven for any gathering.
VIBE: With a mild, year-round Mediterranean climate, the city offers a sunny setting for meeting attendees. “Newport Beach delivers experiences of refinement without pretension,” says Amanda Kliem, director of sales for Visit Newport Beach. Comprised of appealing opposites, Kliem says the area juxtaposes a cozy beach town atmosphere with an eclectic, upscale downtown home to boutique shops and renowned eateries.
TRANSPORTATION: Serviced by three major airports—Orange County/John Wayne Airport, Long Beach Airport, and Los Angeles International Airport—Newport Beach is reachable to both local and long-distance visitors. “Newport Beach is [also] easily accessible by car due to its strategic proximity to the grid of local freeways,” she says.
HOTELS: “Newport Beach has eight distinctive group-centric properties in our portfolio, representing a combined total of [about] 2,400 rooms,” Kliem says. Some of the latest editions, including VEA Newport Beach, a Marriott Resort and Spa, which was reimagined last spring and offers 68,000 square feet of flexible event space; and Pendry Newport Beach, slated to open in late 2023, will offer additional streetscape opulence.
VENUES: Wow your attendees at the Harborside Ballroom, located in the historic Balboa Pavilion with endless bay and skyline views, or give guests the feeling of luxury at the Newport Beach Country Club, which “allows group clients of Visit Newport Beach to enjoy the exclusivity of a private club with acclaimed service and amenities,” Kliem says. With a full buyout, the venue can host up to 1,000 people. Other venues include the Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina and The Resort at Pelican Hill.
RESTAURANTS: Dining in Newport Beach ranges from tasty Japanese fare at Nobu Newport Beach to authentic Mexican cuisine at Red O Restaurant. “For a taste of a classic old Irish bar replete with live bands, pub games, [and] the best lamb chops around these parts, groups can rent a section of Muldoon’s for a great party,” Kliem says.
MUST-SEES AND -DOS: Home to renowned designer stores and one-of-a-kind boutiques, Fashion Island is an open-air retail mecca with outdoor cafes for alfresco dining. If groups want to get out on the water, rent an easy-to-cruise electric boat to tour Newport Harbor. “[Guests can] float past gorgeous scenery including waterfront mansions, private beaches, and mega-yachts, followed by delicious food by docking and dining at any number of bayfront establishments,” Kliem says. For outdoor enthusiasts, explore the 9 miles of coastline at Corona del Mar State Beach or Crystal Cove State Park, both nearby. –Amanda Christensen
visitnewportbeach.com
» LAST YEAR, TRAVEL SANTA ANA hired an agency to conduct surveys and interviews with locals to gauge the identity of the city before the launch of its first brand campaign to the public.
“We realized there was something really special about Santa Ana,” says Wendy Haase, president and CEO of Travel Santa Ana. “There is a lot of passion and pride in the community.”
During the first stage of the campaign, the DMO partnered with four local artists representing various cultures to create four different signatures, or logos, for the Travel Santa Ana brand rather than using a traditional corporate logo. These signatures are seen interchangeably throughout DMO’s marketing efforts and exemplify the city as a diverse mecca of ideas and cultures.
The second stage was the Proud Santanero campaign. “We recognized that Santa Ana is made up of a lot of different characters and smallbusiness owners, and we wanted to share their stories,” says Haase. This campaign highlighted local business owners and their answers to two questions: why they were proud to be a Santanero and what they would recommend to visitors.
These interviews were used to create a video series documenting local business owners to offer insight about the city to visitors. “We’re here to share Santa Ana’s story,” notes Haase.
As the new year takes off, Haase says that Travel Santa Ana plans to build on the Proud Santanero campaign to bring tourism to the city by interviewing more business owners and locals to create a brand that’s genuine and true to the city. –Amanda
Christensen» SPA PECHANGA, at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, hosted its eighth annual Mane Campaign last October. In collaboration with the Hair We Share organization, a program that creates wigs and gifts them to those suffering from medically induced hair loss, the Mane Campaign is an initiative that encourages people with long hair to cut and donate it to Michelle’s Place, a cancer resource center.
“The feeling of giving, helping those patients in a time that may be their lowest, [putting] a smile on their face, and [providing] them with a wig is why we do it,” says Rachel Patane, manager of Spa Pechanga. “It’s priceless.”
Spa Pechanga has collected more than 690 ponytails, which is enough hair to create 140 wigs. (It takes approximately four to six ponytails to create just one wig.) This year, with the help of 94 donors, they acquired nearly 80 feet of hair. To donate, participants had to have at least 8 inches available to chop—and following the cut, a voucher was awarded for a complimentary cut and styling by either the Smith Salon or the 11:11 Salon. “Pechanga is a great giver for our community and then some,” Patane says.
Spa Pechanga scored an additional 24 donations after taking the campaign on the road to visit SoFi Stadium last fall. All fans of the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers that partook in the campaign received hairstyle vouchers and tickets to a future game.
“It is great to see the guests wanting to do this for their family or for a loved one, they are just so proud to be here, and it makes our hearts so happy,” Patene says. –Ava
Diazpechanga.com
travelsantaana.com
» THE COVID-19 pandemic brought myriad meetings and events that were months in the making to a grinding halt. Days turned into weeks, and the weeks turned into years. Many hospitality providers were forced to modify their operations. Some closed shop. For those of us still here, the landscape has changed dramatically. Without minimizing the pandemic’s heartbreaking personal toll, I feel immense gratitude for the opportunities we now have to redefine ourselves as an industry and as humans showing up for each other. My friend and industry colleague, Rachel Benedick, executive vice president of sales and services at Visit Denver, calls it a “return to different.”
One silver lining is that organizations have a new level of empathy for the human experience. We saw that as companies considered their return-to-the-office strategies. By having to step back from the busyness of pre-pandemic work routines, we can now be more prescriptive about how we want to work, lead, and live.
One of the areas where I see this newfound empathy is in how we work together as hospitality providers. Before the pandemic, we were all fighting for what each of our individual stakeholders needed. We have now spent nearly three years learning to fight for our industry, and we have seen the development of new associations such as the Live Events Coalition, which represents over 12 million hospitality professionals.
The timing of this new level of cooperation couldn’t be better given the dramatic shift in industry dynamics. Look at the two biggest cost components of live destination events: hotels and transportation. Today, it’s a hoteliers’ market, and the same is true for the airlines where every flight
is filled. These shifts are forcing our industry—and our clients— to completely rethink how we plan and manage live events.
Here’s the current reality: We are in an incredibly competitive market where transient travel is filling the hotels, not groups. People are willing and able to pay a tremendous amount of money to be there, so how will the group travel business provide value? While corporate business is typically more lucrative in terms of food and beverage revenue, supply chain and labor challenges might limit that opportunity for negotiating leverage.
One of our best opportunities for success is to gain a better understanding of the breadth and economic drivers of our industry, including global trends for oil and gas, supply chain, and labor. How can we better demonstrate the value of group events to our hotel partners? What can we learn about airline financial practices so we can budget travel costs more accurately in this time of highly volatile fuel prices? We owe it to our clients to develop this understanding. Only then can we adequately plan and negotiate on their behalf.
» Continue to bring about a new level of awareness and partnership across the industry
» Double down on education and collaboration
» Work to u nderstand our vendors and partners, including their business objectives
» Be more flexible and creative in our planning
» Measure and articulate the value we bring to our partners
The good news is our industry is discussing these topics with a new level of transparency and openness. We are setting egos aside and seizing opportunities to shape our future together in our return to different. The results, I believe, will change meetings, incentives, events, and travel for the better and help us all come back stronger in the true spirit of hospitality. bespokeconnects.com
BY JUSTIN BALL
“By having to step back from the busyness of pre-pandemic work routines, we can now be more prescriptive about how we want to work, lead, and live.”Justin Ball is president and founder of Bespoke, a corporate and nonprofit event and consultation partner.
» HIDDEN AMONG 80-year-old palm and banana trees is The Beverly Hills Hotel, a timeless and iconic property on the streetscape of the namesake city. Known for hosting Hollywood royalty, the property is a favored Los Angeles County hideaway—and, originally built by Margaret Anderson in 1912, the hotel celebrated its 110th birthday last year.
“The Beverly Hills Hotel has really come to signify much more than a luxury five-star hotel—it is more an institution that has become part of the fabric of the community,” says Steven Boggs, director of guest relations for the hotel. “The city was actually named after The Beverly Hills Hotel in 1914, two years after we opened our doors.”
The 210-room hotel offers a warm and secluded atmosphere with over 25,000 square feet of meeting and event space: The Crystal Ballroom boasts 7,577 square feet for up to 850 guests theater-style, and the intimate Polo Private Salon has 228 square feet for up to 80 guests theater-style.
“[With] history, celebrity, and excitement, your guests feel like movie stars as they glide into the lobby,” Boggs says.
–Amanda Christensendorchestercollection.com
Regional stories on the top meeting and event venues, advice from professionals, and reports on food, beverage, decor, technology and more… AT YOUR FINGERTIPS!
Businesses proffer an on-the-move twist to catered events.
BY AVA DIAZ» MOBILE FOOD CARTS serve a variety of tasty and efficient foods for guests to delve into. We rounded up a list of sweet and savory meals on wheels to cater convenience at your meeting or event.
As the one-stop shop for carnival-themed and street-food gatherings, Barts Carts has offered myriad mobile hand-held options for over 30 years. Serving up to 5,000 people, Barts Carts specializes in large events. And, tailoring the cart to the style of the event, it features 20 cart options from fryer-focused foods and carnival concessions to street-style snacks and frozen drinks. Food is what brings people together, and with choices including churros, cotton candy, Hawaiian shaved ice, hot dogs, Mexican street corn, pizza, pretzels, tacos, and popcorn—to name a few—there is truly something for everyone’s tastebuds. bartscarts.com
Three Italian American friends joined forces to create a gelato store, Gelatogo, inspired by authentic Italian techniques—and quality is at the forefront. They take time to handcraft each chilled delight using fresh and raw ingredients true to the heritage of the dessert. “We make our own gelato base daily with fresh ingredients,” says Alessandro Alvino, sales and marketing coordinator of Gelato-go. “Our secret is the meticulous search of the ingredients used in each of the recipes, imported from our homeland of Italy and from all over the world. Some of the ingredients we use in the production of our gelati are pistachios from Bronte, Sicily; hazelnuts from Langhe, Piedmont; and we exclusively use Valrhona chocolate [a premium French chocolate], which sources cocoa beans of
the finest variety from a plantation in Venezuela.” He adds that they acquire their fruit locally to adhere to optimal freshness for their dairy-free sorbet and gelato flavors.
For catering services, Gelato-go offers three tiered levels varying in cart size and flavors (Bronze: four flavors; Silver: four flavors, and Gold: six flavors), providing an easy and delicious solution to any meeting or event for 50 to 2,000 people. Adapting to the preferences of attendees, Gelato-go gives planners the option to choose from a collection of 33 different flavors ranging from classics like pistachio and chocolate to specialty tastes of cookies and cream, marshmallow, and vanilla bourbon. For a nondairy option, 12 fruity flavors of sorbet—including passion fruit and raspberry—are also available. Although gelato is their forte, the three friends expanded offerings to include other iconic Italian dishes beyond the cone. Staples include pesto pastas, meatballs, risotto, and eggplant parmigiana, and Gelato-go also features other desserts like tiramisu, cannolis, and chocolate mousse. gelatogo.net
Family-owned and -operated, Hookt Doughnuts makes fresh, gourmet doughnuts fit for every event. Offering two lines of services, Hookt encourages planners to choose between the mini doughnut bar or the prefried mini doughnut bar. With the former, attendees can expect fresh-from-the-fryer treats for an event as long as two hours. Extra doughnuts from this configuration are displayed on an innovative and decorative wall for easy guest access. The latter, on the other hand, features a
unique display of mini doughnut-filled cones for venues that may not have the capacity to accommodate frying.
Doughnut flavors include 13 options (10 original flavors and three rotating seasonal flavors) from vanilla glaze and apple pie to ube-coconut and maple bacon, with seasonal flavors featuring tastes of pumpkin cheesecake, peppermint Oreo, and peach cobbler.
For a minimum of 120 servings per catering request, Hookt can serve large crowds at both indoor and outdoor venues. hooktdoughnuts.com
Locolotes brings new meaning to corn on the cob. Delivering the best of authentic Mexican street corn with a modern twist, Locolotes slathers the cobs in creamy mayo and dresses them in savory components like Doritos and chipotle. The mobile mart offers multiple flavors spanning citrus to spice that are served on-the-cob or in a corn cup for easy eating. Flavor combinations include El Diablo with chipotle mayo, Hot Cheetos, chipotle butter, and Tabasco; or, for something that taps into your childhood taste buds, try the Queso Mess-O with chipotle mayo, parmesan, Nacho Cheese Doritos, and creamy butter. If none of the signature configurations are up to your liking, the cart also offers a build-your-own bar where attendees can choose the style, creamy base, toppings, and drizzle.
Locolotes’ catering options include a drop off of the ingredients for self-led setup, the elote build-your-own bar, and the on-site cart for 50 to 100 servings. locolotes.com
For Jason Winters, owner of Speak Cheezy, something as simple as a slice of pizza is what makes him feel whole. Making fresh and tasty food from scratch, he shares his love for creating “something out of nothing with just flour and water, your hands, and the oven.”
A fine-dining chef for most of his career, Winters says that he has always been an entrepreneur and wanted the opportunity to showcase his passions for food more directly with others—turning his dream of lugging a wood-fired oven in the back of his van into reality.
“It gave me an opportunity to get out into the community and build it up until I was able to get a brick-and-mortar place,” he says. “Pizza takes us everywhere.”
Winters creates handmade pizza from the convenience of a mobile van (and also his storefront location), and Speak Cheezy is well known for sourdough pizza in the region. Naturally fermented flour and fresh mozzarella curds from New York that are then hand pulled in house create the flavorful foundation for the legendary pies.
The electric ovens used to bake Winters’ pizzas provide a cleaner energy approach to cooking with their low carbon footprints, plus, they replicate the taste of texture of a wood-burning oven. After being baked three-fourths of the way through at 800 degrees Fahrenheit, the pizzas are then finished in a low-temperature propane oven upon second bake to create the irresistibly crackly crust of a classic and iconic New York slice. “We pioneered sourdough pizza in LA,” he says.
Speak Cheezy offers mobile catered events from the comfort of the van. Setting up in as little as 15 minutes, the van conveniently serves parties anywhere from 25 to
1,500 people. It has even set up shop for an event of 6,000 people. With flexibility for almost any event type and setting, Winters says that Speak Cheezy works with clients to create an event that is uniquely them. speak-cheezy.com
Laura Bernal started her career in the events industry as a wedding coordinator, but it wasn’t until she started assisting at events when she realized the lack of refreshment services available for smaller gatherings. “It was always so difficult to find people [mixologists and drink specialists], or [the bartenders] would be the same as what the caterer was offering because it was easy to use the liquor license,” she says. Bernal adds that the bartenders would not know what they were making in terms of specialty drinks until the day of the event.
Taking these accounts into consideration, Bernal launched The Traveling Saloon Mobile Bar in 2022. The cart affords many configurations for drink service, her selections include a drink trailer, a portable bar table, a champagne cart, and a bartender to aid the creation of the swanky sips.
“We curate a menu for them and make it fit their theme,” she says. Crafting specialized spreads, Bernal says she is also able to create batched recipes for optimal convenience and efficiency for the guests.
“It’s very rewarding,” she says about working with her clients, adding that her favorite part about her business is the ability to play around with unique drink concepts and recipes for each client.
Her services cater to groups as large as 300 in the Contra Costa County region near San Francisco but go as far as Southern California with an additional travel service fee. thetravelingsaloon.com
Across the United States, golf resorts provide planners with an array of world-class facilities in breathtaking settings.
GOLF GOES BEYOND just green grass and on-target putts that drop in the hole—it’s a game that brings people together in the great outdoors. With a variety of globally recognized course styles to choose from, it is important to know the difference between them, how they impact play, and the obstacles each presents—from sandy deserts and breezy waterfronts to forest-lined grassy stretches.
To better understand the role landscapes have in the way people play around the world, we explored the different categories of golf courses across varying topographies.
As courses designed to host tournaments, championship courses are defined by their 18 holes of challenging play. The Omni PGA Frisco Resort in Texas, set to open this May, will offer the chance to play two 18-hole championship courses—Fields Ranch East and Fields Ranch West. If your skill set isn’t up to par to master a championship course quite yet, the resort also features simulation and coaching experiences, as well as a 10-hole course, a par-3 course, and a 2-acre putting area. omnihotels.com
With only the playing corridors—the fairways, putting greens, and tee box—consisting of grass, desert courses are a green oasis in dry, sandy landscapes. Using the natural surroundings to their advantage, the sand dunes and rugged terrain provide a formidable set of natural obstacles on the course.
By Ava Diaz
Ranked as Arizona’s No. 1 public course, the Saguaro at the We-Ko-Pa Golf Club is a year-round escape for golfers who reside in colder regions. The Saguaro—which features a oneof-a-kind course design that follows the natural contours of the land—is also prideful of its efforts toward preserving the native soil of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. wekopa.com
PHOTOS: ADOBE STOCK/DAVID A. LITMAN; OPPOSITE: ADOBE STOCK/VLADIMIR BYCHKOVSKY; ADOBE STOCK/JOHNA simple guide to the topographically distinct varieties of golf courses worldwide
A heath is an extensive area of uncultivated land. Although it is inland, a heathland course contains very few obstructions, and typically contains coarser soil and a spread of heather, or evergreen perennials with woody stems that either support needlelike leaves or small flowers. Heathland courses are usually less manicured and do not require as much maintenance.
While this type of course is most popular in Britain, a well-known course in the United States is the Legends Golf Resort in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. This heathland course, with its lack of dense vegetation, is inspired by courses in the British Isles. legendsgolf.com
Known as the oldest style of golf course, links courses were developed in Scotland—the birthplace of modern golf. Being one with nature, this type of course relies heavily on the surrounding terrain to create ideal play following the contours of the land. Typically built along or near a coastline, links courses are often amid a series of natural hills, ridges, and dunes with very little water or vegetation to obstruct shots.
One of the most well-known links courses in the United States is in Pebble Beach, California. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the Pebble Beach Golf Links is arguably one of the best public courses in the country. Golfers play a stunning course that showcases the diversity of its surroundings with its steep bluffs and expansive seaside views. This acclaimed course has hosted six U.S. Opens and is set to host eight more major championships into 2044.
For a midwestern feel with freshwater serenity, try for one of Boyne Golf’s 10 courses spanning three resorts—Boyne Mountain, the Inn at Bay Harbor, and The Highlands—in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. This group of resorts is also part of a diverse lineup of seven resort properties in Michigan including a collection of 22 golf courses in America’s Summer Golf Capital. (Other resorts in the capital collection include A-Ga-Ming Golf Resort, Crystal Mountain, Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, and Treetops Resort.) The golf club at the Inn at Bay Harbor provides a links experience like no other along the shores of Lake Michigan. With a rugged quarry landscape and a preserve that hosts the first half of a round amid a hardwood forest, the challenging course has breathtaking views. pebblebeach.com; boynegolf.com; americassummergolfcapital.com
Built inland and away from the coastline, parkland courses tend to be greener with more trees and dense grass. The well-manicured and partially constructed details like ponds and bunkers create the feeling of playing in a neighborhood park—hence its name—and provide players with a course that is suitable to various climates.
One of the most famous versions of this course is the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. As host to the Masters Tournament, the course is most well known for its impeccable appearance for optimal play. Magnolia Lane, the road with overarching magnolia trees from the entrance to the clubhouse, leads visitors to a place that accentuates the natural beauty of its environment. To emphasize the role that trees play in the experience, each hole is named after a tree or shrub that can be found at that location of the course—honoring the land’s roots as a former fruit tree nursery. masters.com
This course is classified by the topography found near Melbourne, Australia. Home to sandy soil, this type of landscape makes for an ideal environment to play in because, to many people’s surprise, sand is a desired element due to its light weight and ability to drain excess moisture from the course. In addition, sand can also help level out the green to create a more consistent and smoother surface for year-round play.
Desert Course231-549-6012
boynegolf.com
WHEN YOU ARE PLANNING AN EVENT or conference, nothing is more important than knowing you have chosen the right location to help make it a success. With over 100 room types and more than 3,000 beds, the three extraordinary resorts at BOYNE Golf—Boyne Mountain, Inn at Bay Harbor, and The Highlands—have all the options to meet your needs and create a memorable event.
BOYNE Golf offers one of the top golf venues in the United States to play, boasting 10 championship-caliber courses. These courses include the 2019 National Golf Course of the Year, along with others identified by Golf Digest, Golfweek, Golf magazine, and Golf.com as “Best Courses You Can Play in America.” Designed by legendary architects like Arthur Hills, Robert Trent Jones Sr., and Donald Ross, these outstanding courses offer unexpected terrains, boundless visuals, and a golf experience that defies comparison.
While the golf is epic, the trip is easy. Boyne Resorts and courses are conveniently located near the interstate. Cherry Capital Airport in nearby Traverse City offers direct service from 17 United States cities, and the private airport at Boyne Mountain has recently undergone a $4 million upgrade to handle larger private aircraft.
Start planning your most memorable event ever at one of BOYNE Golf’s resorts today.
972-292-5250
visitfrisco.com
HOME TO SEVERAL PROFESSIONAL SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS, a growing museum district, and more than 9 million square feet of retail and dining space, Frisco, Texas, is the perfect destination for your next event. From world-class event facilities and full-service hotel properties such as Omni PGA Frisco Resort, Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center, Omni Frisco Hotel, The Westin Stonebriar Golf Resort & Spa, and Hyatt Regency Frisco, Frisco can accommodate both small and large events. The properties total 4,400 hotel rooms and 417,000 square feet of meeting space.
Located just 25 minutes north of Dallas, Frisco boasts an impressive golf selection. Dubbed Sports City USA, the city is home to PGA of America headquarters and the Omni PGA Frisco Resort, which opened in spring 2023. The resort features two 18-hole championship golf courses—Fields Ranch East by Gil Hanse and Fields Ranch West by Beau Welling—as well as a 2-acre putting course, entertainment area, and a 10-hole short course. There are also three public courses: Frisco Lakes Golf Club, The Trails of Frisco Golf Club, and Plantation Golf Course.
Choose one of the fastest growing cities in the United States and the home of PGA of America as the location for your next event.
Top-rated resorts and meeting spaces for all the ways you work, play, and stay.
Learn more at VISITFRISCO.COM/MEETINGS
americassummergolfcapital.com
TEE UP BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES at America’s Summer Golf Capital. America’s Summer Golf Capital is a collection of seven resort properties representing 22 golf courses. Located in a picturesque region of Northern Michigan known for its turquoise waters, sandy beaches, and small-town charm, it acts as the perfect combination of long summer days and comfortable weather—great for a round or two.
America’s Summer Golf Capital includes A-Ga-Ming Golf Resort, Crystal Mountain, Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, Treetops Resort, and Boyne Golf—The Highlands at Harbor Springs, Bay Harbor Golf Club, and Boyne Mountain Resort. Each property offers multiple courses to satisfy your group size, skill level, and interest, plus dining options on and off the course. Experience where passion meets perfection.
California boasts opportunities to gather in open-air venues in the heart of the state’s bustling downtowns and oceanside locales.
BY AMANDA CHRISTENSEN» WITH ABUNDANT VIEWS of the Pacific Ocean, the mountains, or lively urban centers, California’s rooftop venues offer memorable backdrops. Gather seaside for an intimate cocktail party at sunset, or host a grand party on a ballpark rooftop— the choices are endless.
Situated on San Francisco Bay and across the street from the city’s Oracle Park, home to MLB’s San Francisco Giants, the 159-room Hotel Via is an independently owned and operated venue. The property was originally purchased by two brothers in 2006 and broke ground for construction in 2014, eventually opening in June 2017. Inside, two meeting spaces have room for
intimate gatherings: the City Room for up to 100 guests and the Shoreline Room for up to 45 guests. Take your event upstairs to the 3,000-square-foot rooftop bar for events of up to 225 guests with endless views of the bayside city.
“We’re south of most of the big hotels in the city, so … when you’re up on the rooftop, you have an unobstructed view of the skyline of San Francisco flowing out to the [San Francisco–Oakland] Bay Bridge,” says Jerry Leap, director of sales and marketing for the hotel. The rooftop venue has both indoor and outdoor areas, allowing the bar to stage events regardless of the weather, Leap notes.
Head south to San Jose for an event at The Tech Interactive, a science and technology center adjacent to the Plaza de Cesar Chavez downtown. Planners can immerse attendees into the urban skyline view of the city on the rooftop terrace for an intimate cocktail reception or seated lunch of up to 180 guests.
For another modern option that will engage attendees in a setting that sparks discovery, host your event at Moxi, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation in Santa Barbara.
“What I love about my job is that I get to help a variety of people and companies celebrate meaningful moments, memories, and milestones in a unique venue,” says Jennifer Corcoran, events manager for the museum. “Plus, working in a museum setting is amazing. … [The museum’s] rental fee is supporting an important mission to ignite learning through interactive experiences in science and creativity.” The museum’s rooftop Sky Garden offers 6,700 square feet of space for flexible events seating up to 200 people. Corcoran notes that the views of the Santa Ynez Mountains at sunset are exceptionally memorable in the garden.
Gather in the Sonoran Desert city of Palm Springs at La Serena Villas’ Sugar High Rooftop Lounge, a chic boho venue with panoramic views of the San Jacinto Mountains.
“What I love about my job is that I get to help a variety of people and companies celebrate meaningful moments, memories, and milestones in a unique venue.”
–JENNIFER CORCORAN, Events manager, Moxi, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + InnovationThe Santa Ynez Mountains make for a naturally stunning backdrop to the Sky Garden at Moxi, The Wolf Museum of Science + Innovation.
Host a private cocktail party for 65 or a seated dinner for up to 46 on the top floor of the venue’s Azúcar Restaurant and Bar. The restaurant serves modern cuisine with fresh, local ingredients, and attendees can take a short walk to the famed Palm Canyon Drive, home to several historic buildings, boutique shopping, and more.
On the west side of the state in Huntington Beach sits the Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton Hotel. With over 50,000 square feet of total meeting space between several private boardrooms and ballrooms, the resort provides guests with Southern California flair. Gather on the ninth floor of the resort’s Twin Dolphin Tower at the Offshore 9 Rooftop Lounge to sip on cocktails, wines, and champagnes while dining on shared plates
including Market Oysters on the Half Shell or Grass Fed Beef Sliders. Breathtaking panoramic Pacific Ocean views provide emotive scenery your attendees are sure to remember.
If you have baseball fans in your group, host your event at San Diego’s Western Metal Rooftop at PetCo Park, home to MLB’s San Diego Padres. The historic building sits in line with the ballpark’s left field foul pole and offers views of both the field and downtown San Diego.
“I think the fact that it’s in the middle of downtown and right across from the convention center makes it really convenient,” says Jaclyn Lash, vice president of special events for the Padres and PetCo Park. The rooftop provides 8,000 square feet of space and the flexibility to host groups as small as 30 or as large as 300.
Lighting, branding, in-house catering, entertainment, and furniture are all handled by the events team based on the vision of the event planner. Available year-round, the space can host events on game day or in the off-season—the off-season offers planners the option to extend the event to other floors of the building or onto the concourse. “We allow you to come in and make [the space] your own,” Lash says.
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moxi.org
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626-574-6400 | santaanita.com/events
ome to some of the most prominent horse racing events in the United States, Santa Anita Park is a historic and storied venue—most known for its thoroughbred racetrack—in Arcadia, California. The massive 320-acre property showcases stunning views of the San Gabriel Mountains and is within convenient driving distance of all major Los Angeles area airports.
With many venue options, classic art deco architecture, and a responsive and dedicated event staff, Santa Anita Park is the perfect place for events of all varieties. The track boasts 1 million square feet of flexible indoor-outdoor space for meetings, social events, corporate events, filming, and special events—capable of accommodating groups of up to 10,000. Three options for on-site dining add to the limitless convenience Santa Anita Park has to offer. The FrontRunner, a full-service restaurant, overlooks the racetrack. Silks combines formal with casual, allowing guests to watch the races from a reserved table. Lastly, Clockers’ Corner lies on the far western side of the grandstand, acting as the perfect place to enjoy dining. The numerous venue, entertainment, and dining options make Santa Anita Park the prime location for hosting events in Southern California.
CHECK OUT THE HOTTEST HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, VENUES, AND GROUP EXPERIENCES IN THE GOLDEN STATE.
By Kamala Kirk
As one of the most geographically diverse states, California has plenty to offer with its beaches, deserts, mountains, wine country, and bustling major cities—making it a premier destination for meetings and events. Last year, many of the region’s hotels and venues reopened and underwent extensive renovations due to the resurgence of travel and in-person meetings. The new year promises to be exciting for the Golden State with fresh hotels, conference centers, and event venues on the horizon.
Slated for summer 2025, Gaylord Pacific Resort and Convention Center will feature 418,746 square feet of indoor and outdoor convention space alongside 360-degree views of San Diego Bay and the Pacific Ocean. marriott.com
The city of Marina in Monterey County welcomed the Hampton Inn & Suites in February. Located near Marina State Beach and Gloria Jean Tate Park, the 90-room hotel features 1,200 square feet of meeting space, a fitness room, indoor pool, and outdoor patio. hilton.com
Santa Monica’s The Georgian Hotel relaunched last January after restoration of the iconic 1930s property to its former glory. In addition to 84 rooms and 28 suites, it is also home to two private meeting and dining spaces, The Gallery and The Writer’s Room. “The story of Santa Monica’s First Lady is one filled with magic, intrigue, sophistication, and, quite certainly, a touch of debauchery,” says Nicolo Rusconi, co-founder and president of Los Angeles-based BLVD Companies, which acquired the landmark hotel. “Our vision is that each one of those elements will coalesce with contemporary California culture to once again make The Georgian California’s crown jewel.” thegeorgian.com
Fairmont The Breakers, Long Beach will debut in 2023 as the city’s first luxury boutique hotel and will feature 12,000 square feet of indoor-outdoor function space alongside the rooftop lounge bar with unlimited ocean views, five innovative food and beverage venues, and a lavish two-story spa. fairmont.com
Former “The Bachelor” star Andrew Firestone opened his first hotel, Courtyard Santa Barbara, last December, which is also the first Courtyard by Marriott in the area. Located in the heart of State Street, the 122-room modern hotel features several meeting and event spaces that accommodate 30 to 125 people. marriott.com
Unveiling a refreshed design in early 2023, Kimpton Canary Hotel in Santa Barbara reflects its surroundings while showcasing a brightened version of its original Spanish architecture. “The hotel is great for meetings and events of all kinds, from intimate dinners in our Chapala Terrace room to important private business meetings in one of our five standalone meeting rooms or on our rooftop—the highest rooftop event space in the city, [with] sweeping views of the mountains and ocean,” says Debbie Osborne, sales and marketing director. “In addition, our proximity to State Street offers guests of meetings and events the best dining and entertainment that Santa Barbara has, including easy access to the popular Funk Zone where they can sample local wines and also check out an emerging list of craft breweries, bars, surf shops, art galleries, and more.” canarysantabarbara.com
Opened this March, Moxy Downtown Los Angeles and AC Hotel Downtown Los Angeles is the city’s premiere two-in-one destination. The seventh floor of the dualbranded hotel boasts 10,000 square feet of meeting and event space with capacity for 600 people. The venue’s unique industrial design and proximity to the Los Angeles
Convention Center and Crypto.com Arena makes it a distinguished venue for conferences, special celebrations, and weddings. marriott.com
Conrad Hotels & Resorts’ first California property, Conrad Los Angeles, opened its doors last July as part of The Grand LA, a collection of retailers and restaurants. Designed by Frank Gehry, the 305-room property offers an expansive, outdoor terrace overlooking the the city’s skyline. hilton.com
Downtown L.A. Proper, in Los Angeles’ South Park District, introduced an intimate cocktail lounge, Dahlia, this March. “In the spirit of our unique approach to luxury, Downtown L.A. Proper also has a distinct and nuanced approach to meetings and events,” says Maureen Leary, the hotel’s director of sales and marketing. “Anchored by our historic ballroom, the Cabrillo Club, meetings at Downtown L.A. Proper are not held in typical boxed spaces. By utilizing unexpected, tuckedaway spaces and one-of-a-kind suites to reimagine a creative meeting, groups are folded into the design and soul of the property, sparking endless inspiration.” properhotel.com
The legendary Beverly Wilshire, a Four Seasons Hotel, completed a multimilliondollar renovation of all guest rooms and suites last year. Frequently used to host private events, the contemporary and fresh specialty suites were enhanced by a highly curated art program and collection of custom furniture to create an inviting and comfortable atmosphere.
“We couldn’t be happier with our newly renovated guest rooms, suites, and specialty suites that were meticulously designed to represent Rodeo Drive luxury while still providing guests with a sanctuary of comfort,” says Melissa Sims, hotel manager. “And with the continued rising trend of throwing events in unique spaces, we saw a great opportunity to redesign
our six bespoke specialty suites with this in mind. Take our Penthouse for instance: You can host an intimate dinner private party around the dining table with its adjoining show kitchen, entertain clients for a private film screening in the modern media room, or celebrate a company’s milestone with hors d’oeuvres and champagne out on the wraparound balcony.” fourseasons.com
The 805-room Signia by Hilton San Jose debuted early last year with over 65,000 square feet of event space, including the largest ballroom in Silicon Valley. The hotel is currently undergoing a modernization of its Main Tower, which is set for completion this summer. hilton.com
Launching this summer, Pendry Newport Beach is a 295-room resort just steps away from Fashion Island, one of Orange County’s finest shopping destinations. The hotel will feature three signature dining destinations, a world-class Spa Pendry, an outdoor pool with sundeck, a fitness center, and more than 14,000 square feet of meeting and event space. pendry.com
The beautiful lakeside DoubleTree Santa Ana will complete a renovation of all guest rooms this summer, followed by updates to its public areas,
including 8,000 square feet of meeting space, a lobby expansion, new in-room technology that includes smart TVs with access to guests’ personal streaming services, and “5 feet to fitness” rooms that feature the ability to work out in the privacy of your room. hilton.com
Open since last May, The Paloma Resort in Cathedral City features 66 modern bungalows and suites along with 360-degree mountain views and a spa.
“The Paloma Resort is an amazing place to host events of all types,” says Amy Brinkman, hotelier of The Paloma Resort. “The resort is the newest boutique property in the Palm Springs area, and our property is bright, colorful, fun, and open—much like the surrounding desert. We have an event space called Date Palm Room that’s great for hosting company retreats, small conferences, or parties for up to 100 people,” she continues. “Our on-site Spanish-influenced restaurant, Sol y Sombra, boasts a
private dining patio featuring a gorgeous outdoor fireplace and can host 50 to 75 for a cocktail party or around 25 for a seated dinner.” thepalomaresort.com
Opened this February in the Santa Ynez Valley, The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern, Auberge Resorts Collection is a draw for wine lovers and features 67 luxury guest rooms and cottages. Originally serving as a popular stagecoach stop, the property remains a lively local
landmark and includes an outdoor pool and bar, signature spa, and modern indooroutdoor event spaces for gatherings in a sophisticated, country-inspired setting. aubergeresorts.com
Last year, Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village saw major developments, including the renovation of its 40,000-square-foot spa, as well as the opening of the Center for Health & Wellbeing, which showcases corporate and group health-centric retreats and programs. The hotel features many choices for planners, from nutrition-driven culinary programs and wellness-themed team-building activities to leading health expert guest lectures, workshops, and oneon-one consultations.
“Many of our corporate groups add a wellness component so that before and after meetings they’re energized, eating healthy, and have gained new knowledge that will help them in their lives,” says Akram Kawasmeh, executive director of health and well-being for the hotel.
“We customize every corporate retreat and experience based on individual needs. Our interactive cooking classes [are] among our popular group activities where participants learn how to make healthier recipes they can enjoy at home while bonding with their colleagues.” fourseasons.com
Just in time for its 100th anniversary, Ojai Valley Inn’s 10,147-square-foot villa, Casa Elar, completed a multimilliondollar renovation in Ojai. With five suites, 12 fireplaces, a chef’s kitchen, an outdoor terrace, and a private pool, guests can enjoy a secluded villa retreat overlooking fields of fruit tree groves and wild herbs. The property also refreshed suites and villas surrounding the 31,000-square-foot Spa Ojai, providing a complete wellness escape. ojaivalleyinn.com
Gen Z embraces hospitality like no other generation.
Born between 1997 and 2012, Generation Z is not only the largest generation in the United States, but it is also the most diverse and digitally inclined. According to the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), as Gen Zers enter the workforce, many are interested in altruistic employers—a primary reason why the hospitality industry has caught the eye of 51% of the generation. This group brings with them unique insights into the digital landscape, along with an investment in social responsibility and professional altruism. If employers treat them well, they will be looking at the next band of well-informed, sociable, and committed industry professionals.
Gen Z is the demographic cohort succeeding millennials and preceding Generation Alpha.
The AHLA says they spend more time online than any other generation, providing a level of media literacy unique to this generation.
45% of Gen Zers are already working part- or full-time, reflecting an interest in good pay and benefits from employers.
The top three things this generation looks for in an employer are ethical and altruistic standards , a fun and friendly environment , and equitable leadership, according to the AHLA. These characteristics are prominent in the hospitality industry, thus making it an attractive career choice.
51% of Gen Zers are interested in hospitality careers. Events manager and hotel manager are the top desired job titles within the industry, the AHLA reports.
Gen Zers Care About
72% 81%
of Gen Zers learn about jobs from job websites (AHLA).
of Gen Zers prefer email to communicate with employers (AHLA).
» According to Salary.com, the average wage in hotel management with five years of experience is $112,966
» The median pay for a graduate with a hospitality management degree with less than a year of experience is $46,400, according to Business Management Degree.
» Glassdoor reports that the average wage for entry-level event managers is around $44,000
According to Data USA, 17,825 degrees in hospitality management were awarded in 2020 in the U.S.
Public two- and four-year universities are the most common institutions to obtain hospitality degrees.
Bachelor’s degrees are the most frequently sought type of degree when pursuing hospitality management.
Median tuition for in-state public institutions is $6,429
The three institutions that awarded the highest number of hospitality management degrees in 2020 are Florida International University, University of Central Florida, and University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Pay and benefits
Engaging work
Opportunity for career growth
Flexible work hours
» IN 2021, VISIT VISALIA embarked on an initiative to transform the Visit Visalia office into a Certified Autism Center. This project inspired a citywide initiative that designated Visalia as the first Certified Autism Destination in the country.
The central California city, situated at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, is the gateway to Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks. It is an agricultural powerhouse with abounding crops including almonds, grapes, and Valencia oranges. The suburb is also the county seat for Tulare County and offers a fast-growing hospitality scene and a pedestrian-friendly downtown area, says Suzanna Bianco, tourism marketing director for Visit Visalia.
The designation as an autism destination was the result of working with the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) to develop a program of training to teach staff at restaurants, hotels, attractions, and venues across the city about what autism is and how to better accommodate the needs of autistic visitors. The IBCCES determines each certification through on-site reviews of each property and the training of staff.
As a destination marketing organization, Bianco notes that Visit Visalia wanted to make travel more accessible to all people, regardless of ability. “When we approached
our partners about this initiative, they jumped in with both feet—they were very supportive and [wanted] to get on board.”
After receiving the certification, various measures were taken to enhance the traveler experience at these certified properties, including sensory guides with photos and descriptions about what to expect at the destination. Details like this make a new place feel less jarring to visitors with sensory disabilities and allow them to acclimate to the environment before arrival.
Visit Visalia also offers the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program, which produces pins, lanyards, and rubber bracelets for visitors to wear at partnering restaurants, venues, or hotels to discreetly indicate a hidden disability they or someone they are traveling with may have.
“This just underscores the concept that [Visalia] is a friendly, welcoming community, and [we] want all people to feel comfortable traveling here,” says Bianco. visitvisalia.com
While San Diego has long been a destination for leisure travel, the San Diego Tourism Authority’s new meetings and events campaign seeks to target industry professionals and emphasize the coastal city as the “it” spot for professional gatherings.
“There is so much great brain power and innovation in San Diego,” says Kavin Schieferdecker, chief sales officer for the organization. The new campaign, Meet America’s Brightest City, launched mid-2022 and highlights the sunny weather and bright minds of the people that call San Diego home and reflects a sense of growth and sincerity for industry visitors.
“[The goal] is to position San Diego as a great place for corporate events in addition to association meetings,” notes Schieferdecker. With thousands of hotel rooms to choose from and myriad event spaces like the San Diego Convention Center, the campaign only seeks to “[offer] more of a reason to book San Diego.” sandiego.org
» IN THE SOUTHERN END of the Santa Ana Mountains in the Temecula Valley southeast of Los Angeles sits Cross Creek Golf Club. Home to a 72-par championship course and full practice range, plus an on-site eatery for quick bites, the club now features an event space for gatherings.
“It really reflects and brings out the scenery of the area,” says Scott Black, general manager of the property. The new space, The Oaks at Cross Creek, boasts 3,000 square feet of open, flexible space for events as intimate as 30 to as large as 200. “The space overlooks the entire [Temecula Valley] with California oaks set behind you,” he notes. There is also a nearby stone patio landing overlooking the golf course perfect for a bar and high-top tables for cocktail hours and other social gatherings.
Following the addition of the event space, a refresh of the club house will begin in the next few months, followed by a renovation and expansion of the eatery into a full-service bar and restaurant—all slated to be completed this year. Currently, guests can stop by the restaurant for quick bites including breakfast sandwiches, wraps, and hamburgers. The eventual renovation will focus on elevating all kitchen spaces as well as partnering with local chefs to create a menu that guests will savor. The attached deck overlooks the valley, and the practice range will also receive an upgrade.
“We are only 10 minutes from the freeway and from [downtown Temecula], but when you get out here, you feel like you are in a whole new state,” Black says. “You feel [like] you have just taken a three-hour road trip and [arrived] somewhere majestic, beautiful, and completely away from the big city.”
crosscreekgolfclub.com
CharterUP, a tech platform marketplace for charter bus booking, launched a mobile app, Corporate Shuttles. Since the inception of CharterUP in 2018, the company has grown to feature over 3,000 buses across 500 bus companies, servicing more than 25 cities nationwide—including Irvine, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and San Jose.
“We saw a very strong demand [from] corporations across the country wanting a secure mobile app [that was] fully dedicated to their employees,” says Armir Harris, founder and CEO of CharterUP. The mobile app is available to corporate partners and offers customized bus contracting with features like the ability to contact drivers, engage live trip tracking, and enable push notifications on delays and traffic.
charterup.com
The San Diego County Lodging Association released its 2023 Hotel Economic Forecast last November, predicting that the region’s hotels will continue to recover this year from pandemic shutdowns. While leisure travelers chose the county as the preferred vacation destination in the state in 2021 and 2022, the association is excited to see business and convention travelers make the choice to gather in the Southern California hub as well.
The forecast suggests that San Diego hotels are likely to see a 9.8% increase in business and convention travel compared to last year, in addition to staffing stabilization as hires appropriate for projected occupancy increases. lodgingsd.com
Emmy-winning Ioana Vladescu has a lifelong history of building things from humble beginnings.
BY TODD R. BERGER» IN AUGUST 1989, Ioana Vladescu immigrated from communist Romania to the United States with her parents at just 10 years old. When her parents applied to leave the country to get her father medical treatment abroad, the Romanian government declared her parents “traitors of the country,” confiscating all their property. But her parents persisted, and the family left for New Hampshire with just $400.
“To have $400 and going to a new land and new opportunity is pretty scary, but they were very determined,” Vladescu says.
Such determination runs in the family. Vladescu started college at 16, and during her freshman year, she landed a job as a production assistant at the NBC television station in Springfield, Massachusetts. After working at the station for several years, she moved to San Diego in 1998 to finish her undergraduate studies; she also worked at the city’s CBS affiliate, where she won an Emmy in 2003 for her coverage of wildfires.
An interest in nonprofits led Vladescu to switch careers in 2004, accepting a position as special events operations manager at Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego. Today, she serves as director of special events and group sales at the aquarium, leading a team that stages 200 events annually at the self-supporting organization that only began to host events 19 years ago.
Vladescu is understandably proud of what she has built at Scripps. She says, “Since 2004, I have worked really hard in building relationships with the community, from organizations to community leaders to corporate partners. [We] created a business where we now are over $1 million a year [in event revenue]. … My father used to say, ‘Be financially independent, and never depend on anyone.’ Working hard you will be recognized for. I think that motto always stuck with me.”
Currently, Vladescu is pursuing an MBA at the Rady School of Management at UC San Diego to further her personal goals and enhance her career—which includes passing her expertise along to the next generation of meeting planners. “Something close to my heart is [that] I love to mentor students at UC San Diego but also new leaders in the community. … The mentorship of the students and leaders results in independent, capable, young minds and managers. It’s been a win-win collaboration for me and for them.”
In 1974, the rst environmental themed World’s Fair was hosted right here in Spokane, Washington. The Garbage Goat (who actually eats trash) was created for this spectacular event and is still in use today, serving as a reminder of Spokane’s long standing commitment to reduce our environmental impact.
Meeting in Spokane’s LEED Silver Certi ed riverfront Convention Center and connected hotels will have you overlooking 100 acres of green space and rushing urban waterfall. With a plethora of wineries and over 120 restaurants nearby, you can experience the ease of convening in an walkable, mid-sized city.
Everything you expect a city in the Northwest to have ... plus meeting here comes with a reduced carbon footprint!
