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SUMMER
CRUISIN’ Take your meeting to the high seas 16
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Waste Not
A Sacramento organization is fighting hunger with the help of planners
2019
BREAK OUT SESSION Yes, please!
300+ DAYS OF SUNSHINE
meetingsinpalmsprings.com 16K HOTEL ROOMS
ONE OASIS OF INSPIRATION
Summer 2019 CALIFORNIA MEETINGS + EVENTS MAGAZINE: IN THIS ISSUE
FEATURE
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DEPARTMENTS
Take Your Event to the High Seas
4 EDITOR’S LETTER
Holding your meeting aboard a cruise ship can be smooth sailing to success.
14 TREND REPORT The Sacramento Second Helping Task Force is helping planners use surplus food to fight hunger.
By Barbara Beckley
By Marcia Durst, CMP
32 PEOPLE PROFILE Disneyland’s Robert Donahue is ready to guide planners to a new galaxy. By Ann Shepphird
MEETING NOTES 7 PIN IT A sampling of Pinterest’s top 100 trends from 2019. By Megan Gosch 8 RESTAURANT RECOMMENDATION BALEENkitchen at Portofino Hotel & Marina in Redondo Beach. 9 MEETING MUNCHIES Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina introduces the “Neighborhood” culinary immersion. 10 SIGNATURE DRINK Salazar’s Mango Coco Creamsicle
By Karin E. Baker
12 NEW VENUE SPOTLIGHT The Kinney SLO is a “social experience hotel” on the Central Coast.
INDUSTRY UPDATE 26 INFOGRAPHIC “The Future of Meetings & Events” identifies five macro-trends that will impact the future of meetings and events. Research
By Shelley Levitt
courtesy of PCMA Foundation and Marriott International
12 RESORT SPOTLIGHT Nakoma Resort is a Gold Mountain gem. By Jenny Peters
28 REGIONAL NEWS Awards, venue and people news, association updates and more
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ON THE COVER
Travel the world with Seabourn. Photo courtesy of Seabourn Cruise Line
P H OTO : M I C H E L V E R D U R E
11 VENUE SPOTLIGHT Hotel Intercontinental San Diego
Find Your Vibe
Whether you're looking to sink your toes in the sand a�ter a brainstorm, catch a wave between meetings, or host an event at a full-service hotel,
you’ll find it here. VENTURA
OXNARD
VENTURACOUNTYCOAST.COM/MEETINGS
PORT HUENEME
CAMARILLO
EDITOR'S LETTER
From the Moon to the Sea THIS SUMMER MARKS THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE APOLLO 11 LUNAR LANDING. On July 20, 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to
Shelley Levitt, editor SHELLEY.LEVITT@TIGEROAK.COM
land on the moon. About six and a half hours later, Armstrong opened the hatch of the lunar module Eagle, climbed down the ladder and, with more than half a billion people watching on television, proclaimed, “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” California offers a dramatic and moving venue to mark this epic event with groups: The USS Hornet Sea, Air and Space Museum. It was the USS Hornet aircraft carrier that picked up the Apollo 11 crew after their command module splashed down in the Pacific on July 24, 2019. Now preserved as a museum in Alameda, just 20 minutes from San Francisco, the Hornet is commemorating the historic moon landing throughout the year, including with the Splashdown 50th Anniversary Celebration in July. Visitors can enjoy exhibitions dedicated to space and the Apollo 11 mission. Artifacts include a space-flown Apollo command module, a helicopter that took part in recovery, a Mobile Quarantine Facility used to protect Earth’s inhabitants from germs brought back from the moon, and much, much more. Year-round, the USS Hornet Sea, Air and Space Museum has venues that are available for private events of all sizes, from an intimate dinner on the ship’s fantail with bay and city views, to a reception, concert or even an air show for 5,000 guests gathered on the flight deck. (For more information, visit uss-hornet.org.) Meeting aboard a ship can extend far beyond a banquet, trade show or team-building exercise. In the story “Sailing to Success,” which begins on page 16, writer Barbara Beckley provides the lowdown on multiday meetings on a cruise ship. You might be surprised to learn how affordable and accessible a turnkey cruise meeting can be. As we sail through summer, we wish you lovely barbecues, splendid vacations, a ripe bounty of garden tomatoes and, of course, sunny days and balmy nights.
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Who’s your favorite keynote speaker?
EDITOR
Queer Eye’s Karamo Brown at PCMA Emerging Leaders 2019
Shelley Levitt
Morgan Halaska Megan Gosch Kassidy Tarala Julianna Fazio Karin E. Baker, Barbara Beckley, Marcia Durst, CMP, Jenny Peters, Ann Shepphird EDITORIAL INTERNS Taylor Hafner, Kendall Van Horne MANAGING EDITOR SENIOR EDITOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR DIGITAL CONTENT EDITOR CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD
Constance Adamopoulos, Organized Chaos Events • Heather Allison, The Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. Live • Jim Burba & Bob Hayes, Burba Hotel Network • Rob Carson, Patina Restaurant Group Layla Forstedt, Fresno/Clovis CVB • Joyce Kiehl, Greater Palm Falls CVB • Vanessa Kanegai, Wagstaff Worldwide Ingrid Lundquist, The Lundquist Company • David Merrell, AOO Events Daniela Quiroga, Wolfgang Puck Catering • Yvonne Szikla, Events With a Purpose
Bill Clinton
DESIGN DIRECTOR ART DIRECTORS
Courtney Nielsen Traci Zellmann, Taylor Kilgore
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR PROJECT COORDINATOR
Dianne Talmage Brittni Dye
CIRCULATION DIRECTOR SUBSCRIPTION MARKETING SPECIALIST
Jeremy Wieland Emily O’Connell
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & EVENTS MARKETING & EVENTS COORDINATOR SENIOR ACCOUNTANT CREDIT MANAGER ACCOUNTANT WEB DEVELOPMENT MANAGER WEB ADVERTISING COORDINATOR
Lauren Madeja Jen McIlvaine Lisa Sabrowsky April McCauley Katie Bodin Sandy Powell Angela Beissel
Rachel Martin, former NPR national security correspondent and current host of NPR’s Morning Edition Sunday.
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HAVE STORIES TO TELL.
Exceeding expectations by creating experiences. Make plans for holding your event at Atlantis Casino Resort Spa Reno. The stories you’ll tell will be endless. Top notch service complete with state-of-the-art meeting rooms, tech savvy amenities and the only resort connected to the Reno-Sparks Convention Center. Dine in top-ranked restaurants and unwind at Spa Atlantis, the only Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star spa in northern Nevada. Book a world-class experience today.
Contact the Sales Department at 800.994.5900 or visit us at atlantiscasino.com/cameetings to submit an RFP.
PRODUCTS, PLACES & INSPIRATION
Meeting Notes RESTAURANT RECOMMENDATION
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MEETING MUNCHIES
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SIGNATURE DRINK 10
VENUE SPOTLIGHT
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TREND-SPOTTING
Stay ahead of the curve with these crowd-searched trends and topics. B y M e g a n G o s c h
PHOTOS: ISTOCK.COM, GORAN JAKUS, WACOMKA; SANTJE09, NICKY LLOYD FULL REPORT: BUSINESS.PINTEREST.COM/EN/BLOG/100-PINTEREST-TRENDS-FOR-2019
Armed with insights from over 250 million monthly user searches, Pinterest takes the guesswork out of upcoming trend tracking with its official 100 Pinterest trends for 2019 report. From travel destinations on the rise to the superfoods fueling new F&B concepts, current trends with staying power and soon-to-be stars give planners a sneak peek into the event trends of the near future. Keep an eye out for a few of these eye-catching faves:
GLOW UP: From cheeky custom messaging and unexpected branding opportunities to glowing photo backdrops and colorful uplighting, neon takes center stage to create the perfect pop of color.
PHOTOBOMB: For instant intrigue, smoke bombs are on the rise. Opt for a simple white haze to create an unexpected dramatic moment or tailor the smokey effect with bursts of colorful plumes for a playful photo backdrop.
UNEXPECTED ANTIDOTE: Well-known for its medicinal qualities, the elderberry is your next new superfruit. With plenty of vitamin C, antioxidants and antiinflammatory qualities, this berry adds a healthy boost to meeting break smoothies, colorful salads and creative cocktails. HIGH RISE: Greenery is always a welcome addition to any event space, but living walls are having a moment. Transform raw or blank spaces with floor-toceiling vertical gardens for a lush urban jungle aesthetic.
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PRODUCTS, PLACES & INSPIRATION
RESTAURANT RECOMMENDATION»
Come for the view and the fine dining fare at this Redondo Beach restaurant. Stay in the hotel for luxe guest rooms and exceptional events. JUST 7 MILES SOUTH OF LAX, BALEENkitchen at the Portofino Hotel & Marina, a Noble House Hotel, in Redondo Beach offers up all the pleasures of dining in a seaport village, albeit a very fashionable one. The waterside restaurant has sweeping views of the King Harbor Marina while the seafood-centric menu offers tapas-style bites like lobster sliders, oysters, ahi tuna tacos, and main dishes that include panroasted diver scallops, grilled lobster tail and miso-glazed salmon. (There are plenty of options for meat lovers—grilled steaks and beef stroganoff—and vegetarians, too, including a Thai green curry and wild mushroom
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flatbread.) Open from 6:30 a.m. for breakfast to 10 p.m. with a midafternoon “social hour,” BALEENkitchen shares space with BALEENlounge, an inviting bar area with stellar cocktails, including the bourbonbased “I’ll Be Your Huckleberry” and the gincentered “Catch Me If You Can.” A private dining room within the sea-chic space—there are crystal chandeliers, a stately fireplace and ocean-hued lounge seating—seats 50. Stylish design, convenience and first-rate cuisine aren’t the only elements that make BALEENkitchen appealing to planners. The Portofino Hotel is a great place to hold a meeting, too. The 161 guest rooms have
been recently renovated and are ultraluxe, all with ocean and marina views. A freestanding meeting pavilion offers more than 8,000 square feet of event space, including two ballrooms with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Pacific Ocean and eight meeting and banquet rooms. The tucked-away Seaside Lawn is a picture-perfect location for cocktail parties, meeting breaks, team-building and more. hotelportofino.com; 310.379.8481 —Shelley Levitt
P H O T O S : G O R D A N A J O VA N O V I C ; B A L E E N K I T C H E N ; ( O P P O S I T E ) M A R R I OT T M A R Q U I S S A N D I E G O M A R I N A
BALEENkitchen
MEETING MUNCHIES»
A NEW LOCAL TWIST ON CATERING Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina celebrates the city’s diverse dining scene. SAN DIEGO IS A CITY OF NEIGHBORHOODS, each with a distinct culinary profile. Now, in a new catering initiative for meetings and events, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina has introduced “Neighborhood,” custom, chefcrafted menus, complemented by theme and décor, that take attendees on an immersive gastronomic tour of the city, all from the hotel’s Marina Terrace, which overlooks the marina and San Diego Bay.
Neighborhood includes: Little Italy—Ciao Bella! One of San Diego’s hottest downtown neighborhoods, Little Italy, comes alive through handcrafted pastas, housemade sauces, freshly baked bread and, of course, custom gelato! Point Loma—Reflective of the rugged peninsula on which it’s built, Point Loma boasts coastal cuisine with a strong seaside influence, inspiring a menu of sustainable seafood offerings. Barrio Logan—An emerging, energetic neighborhood with a Mexican influence, the Barrio Logan menu brings a Cali-Baja vibe and cross-border immersion with foodie favorites, including ceviche, tostadas, and San Diego’s famous fish tacos. East Village/ Ballpark—Proudly representing the San Diego Padres and their home sta-
dium, Petco Park, the East Village menu offers a real home run with a Taste of the Ballpark, including gourmet hot dogs, salted pretzels, homemade chili, cracker jacks and more. Beach Communities—Inspired by the casual and carefree beach communities of Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, and Ocean Beach, this menu keeps it cool with elevated “bar bites” and local favorites to chow down on, including wings, sliders and over-the-top nachos. North Park—The trendy and urban community of North Park is represented through a menu that offers locally brewed craft beer and a hard kombucha bar, antipasto, vegan specialties, and create-your-own artisan pizza station. La Jolla—Breathtaking views and a dramatic shoreline earn this community the title of “jewel of San Diego.” The La Jolla menu draws inspiration from the picture perfect
beach picnic. Offerings include gourmet sandwiches, housemade potato chips, fresh fruit, charcuterie and artisanal cheeses. Gaslamp Quarter—Swimming in a lively bar and nightclub scene, the buzzing Gaslamp Quarter menu slings specialty craft cocktails, mixology stations, and creative libations to really bring the party to life. Tim Herrmann, general manager of the 1,360-room hotel (which has over 136,000 square feet of meeting space) says, “The Neighborhood gives planners power to design a one-of-a-kind experience of San Diego’s culinary culture. As the city’s leading destination for meetings and events, we believe in weaving the ease of our state-of-the-art property with San Diego’s vibrant gastronomic landscape to fully immerse guests in our city’s sights, sounds and flavors.” marriott.com
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PRODUCTS, PLACES & INSPIRATION
GIVING BACK»
SWAG THAT CHANGES LIVES BeadforLife lifts up women in Uganda.
BeadforLife introduces a new way for companies to empower women by bringing recycled paper bead lanyards and jewelry to their meetings and events. The nonprofit partners with women in Uganda who create beautiful jewelry and handcrafted items from recycled paper to earn income and lift their families from poverty. The sustainability goes deeper, as BeadforLife invests profits from bead sales into entrepreneurial training programs throughout Africa, so women can launch small businesses, increase their confidence and income and transform their lives. The organization invites companies to partner by hosting events, providing meaningful co-branded gifts, or through organized volunteerism. beadforlife.org/conference-landing-page
SIGNATURE DRINK»
Mango Coco Creamsicle INGREDIENTS ~ 1 can (13.5 oz.) Thai coconut milk ~ 2 cups mango puree (can be store bought or made at home with ripe mango blended with a tablespoon of water) ~ 2 oz. fresh lime juice ~ 4 oz. agave syrup ~ 2 cups water ~ 1 tbsp. dried coconut ~ 1 Fresno chile ~ 10 oz. tequila or mescal, if desired ~ dash of salt ~ Tajin seasoning and mango slices for garnish DIRECTIONS: Blend ingredients together with ice until achieving a frosty puree consistency. If using, add tequila or mescal; omit for a nonalcoholic cocktail. Serve in Tajin-rimmed glass and garnish with mango slices dipped in tajin. Makes four to five servings. Salazar, in the Los Angeles neighborhood known as Frogtown, occupies the grounds of what was once an auto body shop, and it has what is arguably the best patio in the city. The great feeling of hospitality and fun extends to this cocktail, which can be enjoyed with alcohol or without. “This creamy slushy is perfect for those hot summer afternoons while dining outside, like we do at Salazar,” says Beverage Director Adan Maldonado. “It pairs great with chile and citrus, such as fruit dressed with chile and lime juice, ceviche or a spicy Thai papaya salad.”
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Courtesy of Salazar, salazarla.com
By the Numbers 60,000 square feet of outdoor space, including Lane Field Park and spacious bay view terraces 35,000 square feet of indoor meeting/function space 12,000-square-foot Pacific Ballroom, accommodating as many as 1,500 guests 3,300-square-foot wellness center 500-step walk (approximately) to the Santa Fe Depot
VENUE SPOTLIGHT»
Hotel InterContinental San Diego
Overlooking the blue waters of San Diego Bay, this new 400-room property is sophisticated, luxurious and well-suited to both business and pleasure.
P H O T O S : I N T E R C O N T I N E N TA L S A N D I E G O ( O P P O S I T E ) S A L A Z A R ; B E A D F O R L I F E
BY K ARIN E. BAKER
The Hotel InterContinental San Diego offers sweeping views of San Diego Bay, sublime culinary experiences, a rooftop swimming pool, and a central location just across the street from the Santa Fe train depot and a short stroll from trendy Little Italy. This hotel “blends the energy and excitement of the city with a relaxed waterfront setting,” says Eric Manning, the InterContinental’s director of sales and marketing. Part of a historic neighborhood, it sits on the former site of Lane Field, home to San Diego’s beloved Padres from 1936 to 1957, and is located near the Embarcadero and the 19thcentury sailing ship Star of India, now the centerpiece of San Diego’s Maritime Museum. Each relaxing guest room includes a chaise lounge for taking in the picturesque waterfront through floor-to-ceiling windows, along with luxurious bedding and a sense of tranquil style. The InterContinental offers an in-house A/V team and up-to-the-minute equipment, in addition to an assortment of meeting and event spaces. Natural light floods every indoor space, while outdoor event spaces include spa-
cious bay view terraces and Lane Field Park, a large, welcoming grassy space punctuated by palm trees. For an extra fee, enjoy the InterContinental Club’s Lounge. This serene space, perfect for working, networking or catching up on some reading offers beautiful views and includes delicious food offerings courtesy of awardwinning chef Amy DiBiase that change daily and throughout the day, along with wine, beer and a private outdoor terrace. DiBiase helms the kitchen of Vistal, the InterContinental’s anchor restaurant. Located on the hotel’s third floor, with huge windows affording expansive views of the bay, Vistal’s adventurous, coastal menu reflects influences from the Baja Peninsula, Hawaii and other Pacific islands, Mediterranean fishing villages and more. The highest quality produce, fish and seafood are always on the menu here. As DiBiase says, “It all begins with the sourcing, taking a hyperlocal and hyperseasonal approach.” She has “one-on-one relationships with every purveyor” and makes time to “personally taste
400 guest rooms 24 bay view suites
their best products every week.” That attention to detail comes through in every bite. Bursting with flavor, dishes like ricotta-filled gnudi with English pea or rapini puree and charred baby broccoli, or chili-orange blackened Baja prawns with Meyer lemon salsa, harissa aioli, and grilled artichoke, make Vistal a must-visit for hotel guests and locals alike. Another on-site dining option is Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse. This upscale steak and seafood purveyor offers chic private dining rooms and dishes such as Wagyu beef carpaccio, prime steaks aged for 45 days, caviar service and warm banana bread pudding. A special team-building option at the InterContinental is a recurring two-hour “Get to Know Little Italy” tour with DiBiase. Discover why this historic area is now being called Top Chef Alley. The tour culminates in a cooking class back at Vistal, where DiBiase will teach attendees how to create her signature gnudi dish. Between meetings, lounge by the pool or visit the health and wellness center. Encompassing more than 3,000 square feet, the center is illuminated by sunshine streaming through huge windows. Enjoy views of sparkling blue water while weight lifting, cardio, or stretching and breathing in the fresh ocean air on the yoga terrace. The fitness-on-demand feature offers numerous workout classes via video screens. intercontinentalsandiego.com; 619.501.9400
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PRODUCTS, PLACES & INSPIRATION
NEW VENUE SPOTLIGHT»
THE KINNEY SLO
A new gem in the central coast
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RESORT SPOTLIGHT»
Retreat to the Lost Sierras for an Unforgettable Group Experience
N
There’s gold—and a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed meeting center—in them thar hills.
akoma Resort is a gem of a place, so it isn’t surprising that it sits at the base of Gold Mountain in the Sierra Nevada Mountains high above Lake Tahoe. This wilderness region of California is known as the “Lost Sierras,” as these mountains and buttes are a bit off the beaten path. Nakoma Resort consists of the Lodge at Nakoma, an extremely comfortable, 42-room modern wood frame building nestled in the woods, a full-service spa and the breathtaking Altitude Recreation Center. That 12,000-square-foot facility has everything, from a large swimming pool and a challenging indoor climbing wall to a 30-seat movie theater/media room and an outdoor amphitheater. Nakoma also boasts a famed 18-hole, semiprivate championship golf course. Known as The Dragon, the course is designed to make corporate meetings a walk in the sun, with perhaps a few frustrations. There are some challenging holes, albeit with spectacular views and a family of golden eagles that live on the cliffs nearby. The crowning glory of this hideaway resort that is perfect for a full corporate buyout is the resort’s Clubhouse, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1923 and finally realized here in 2001. Influenced by the shape and look of
Native American teepees, the Clubhouse is a unique wood and hewn stone structure that is enhanced by stained glass windows and friezes throughout that evoke the harmonious design motifs of the Cherokee tribe. The massive building’s large outdoor patio looks down onto the golf course and into the wooded mountains beyond, while inside Wright’s design genius extends to the Wigwam Room Restaurant as well as into various meeting rooms (capacity 20-140), all of which boast high ceilings and large windows that bring the views inside, even in the snowy season. And the food is top-notch, too. In addition to Nakoma’s beautiful lodge and clubhouse, the resort offers numerous opportunities for group experiences, ranging from summer fishing excursions to nearby mountain lakes (including Gold Lake) and along the Feather River or hiking expeditions to famed Mills Peak Trail. Winter experiences including ice skating or skiing at nearby Northstar. No matter what the season, Nakoma Resort truly is a retreat like no other, where an easy pace, crisp mountain air and a welcoming atmosphere create a soothing setting—and a golden opportunity for having a meeting to remember. nakomaresort.com; 877.462.5662 —Jenny Peters
P H O T O S : J I M B A R T S C H ; VA N C E F OX
Make a visit to San Luis Obispo on California’s Central Coast, and you’ll likely find yourself scanning Zillow listings for a possible home, or second home. (Trust us, we’ve done it.) But even if you can’t move to this vibrant college town, home to Cal Poly, you can host a meeting here. Our pick: the recently opened Kinney SLO, a 100room property that describes itself as a “social experience hotel.” That means an open lobby featuring complimentary vintage games like Skee-ball; communal dining tables; self-serve wine and beer on tap at Leroy’s, the hotel’s in-house restaurant that offers elevated pub fare; an outdoor quad with fire pits, string lights, bean bag chairs and more games; a heated outdoor pool, and free parking and Wi-Fi. The intimate meeting space can host groups of up to 100, and there are plenty of other options downtown, which is just a short walk away (or guests can take one of the house bikes), including Luna Red, a lively restaurant with globally inspired fare (including a paella menu) and a sprawling patio that sits adjust to the Mission de Tolosa and San Luis Creek; Old SLO BBQ, and local favorite Big Sky Café. Wineries, including Chamisal Vineyards, the first vineyard planted in the Edna Valley, and Biddle Ranch, featuring small batch wines, are within 10 miles. If your attendees are millennials, be sure to make a stop at Bubblegum Alley, which is decades old but was made for the Instagram era. thekinneyslo.com; 805.544.8600 —Shelley Levitt
Celebrate Your Events AT DESERT DIAMOND CASINO HOTEL IN TUCSON, ARIZONA! It’s time to celebrate as our hotel, conference and meeting rooms have been redesigned and upgraded to higher expectations. Come celebrate with your next event in Tucson, Arizona! •148 well-appointed guest rooms with WiFi •19,000+ sq. ft. of Accommodating conference/meeting space • Complimentary Airport Transportation •Concierge Services •Five On-Site Dining Options •Retail Gift Shop For more information contact: Hotel Sales: 520-342-3020 or hotelsales@ddcaz.com
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TREND REPORT FOOD DONATION
WASTE LESS, FEED MORE BY M A R C I A DU R S T, C M P
CALIFORNIA IS ONE OF THE MOST ABUNDANT AGRICULTURAL regions in the world, but a startling number of residents aren’t always sure where their next meal will come from. According to Feeding America, the nation’s largest network of food banks, one in eight Californians struggles with hunger. The situation is especially startling for children; one in five is food insecure. Hunger is not a supply problem, it’s a logistics challenge. And the meetings and events industry is full of logistics-minded people who are in a position to chip away at it. Without a doubt, it’s a planner’s job to be diligent with projecting accurate food counts. But when event turnout is unexpectedly low,
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there’s an opportunity to get the surplus into the hands of those in need, instead of into the landfill. After seeing far too many perfectly good meals go to waste event after event, a team of industry planners and suppliers in the Sacramento area set out to rally the local
meetings and events industry to donate extras instead of the all too common practice of dumping so much in the trash. And so the Sacramento Second Helping Task Force began. During early meetings, the task force team identified the need for a streamlined process for donation on any sort of scale. While they had their suspicions about how uncommon donation practices were and what objections they were likely to encounter, they surveyed area hotels and caterers. Only half the suppliers surveyed had policies in place to donate surplus food. Liability concerns topped the list of reasons for not
P H OTO S : U N S P L A S H .CO M / @ A N D R E WS C A R B O R O U G H ; M A R C I A D U R S T P H OTO BY I M AG E O U T F I T T E R S P H OTO G R A P H Y
The meeting and events industry is taking aim at hunger.
donating, and nearly 75 percent of respondents were unfamiliar with or unsure about federal protections. Only one was familiar with California legislation enacted last year that provides sweeping protections. So, what are those protections? Since 1996, the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Act has provided federal protections when donating food in good faith to nonprofit organizations for distribution to individuals in need. In January 2018, California’s Good Samaritan Food Donation Act (Eggman) further clarified and broadened those protecF O O D D O N AT I O N RESOURCES
The Sacramento Second Helping Toolkit and Planner Toolkit, while providing resources specific to Sacramento, can offer a template for starting similar efforts in other areas. It includes a sample RFP and contract language (courtesy of the Florida and Caribbean Sustainable Events Network) and waivers. (You can find this on MPI Sacramento/Sierra Nevada Chapter’s website.) Change the Flow of Food, created by the American Hotel and Lodging Association, has comprehensive tools to reduce food waste in the hospitality industry, including a focused look at food rescue. From executive and management buy-in, to front line implementation, this is an exceptional site for starting a food rescue plan. hotelkitchen.org Measure the social and environmental impact of donated food using the Whole Earth Calculator at eventmobi.com/rwu. How to locate food pantries in the area of your event: foodpantries.org How to locate food banks in the area of your event: feedingamerica.org/ find-your-local-foodbank How to locate homeless shelters by zip code: homelessshelterdirectory.org
tions as a means of encouraging food donation across the state. In part, the Eggman act specifically protects businesses and organizations when they make a good-faith evaluation that food is wholesome at the time of donation. Plain and simple. To address the second most common objection to food donation, task force members talked to kitchens that were already donating to study their success. It became clear that identifying receiving agencies willing to pick up donations and arrive on-site with their own containers for transferring food was key. So, where to start finding those agencies in a market with hundreds of groups supplying food? The task force enlisted the assistance of Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services, a clearinghouse of sorts for food donation of all kinds in the area. SFBFS then provided a list of nonprofits that fit the criteria. The work of drilling down to the fine details of each agency’s needs and availability then could begin. The result of these efforts is the Sacramento Second Helping Kitchen Toolkit, a document that answers four simple questions: Who can pick up from my location? What days and times can I call for a pickup? What protection do I have from liability? And where can I get updates and additional information? A second toolkit for planners lays out how to coordinate food rescue efforts, including sample RFP and contract language.
F O O D D O N AT I O N T I P S FOR PL ANNERS
The time to plan for potential donation is before the event. At a minimum, ask your venue what their donation policy is and express your wish to donate leftovers. If they agree, include language in your banquet event order so the floor staff is aware. During the event, communicate with your banquet team about any lastminute changes in projected attendance. If a banquet is being served, discuss a plan with the banquet manager for if or when to refresh with food being held in the service area. Unpresented food can be donated. Post-event, document pre-event registration and actual attendance at each food function, as well as quantities ordered and actual quantities served in order to more accurately place orders in the future.
The Environmental Upside Donating extra food not only feeds those in need but also has big environmental benefits. The United States Department of Agriculture estimates that a staggering 30 to 40 percent of the nation’s food supply is wasted. Food waste is the single largest component going into municipal landfills. According to the Whole Earth Calculator, every 10 pounds of food that’s tossed generates 5 pounds of carbon dioxide. That’s the equivalent of the amount generated by idling your car for two hours.
AS THE OWNER OF DURST EVENT STRATEGIES, MARCIA DURST, CMP HAS PLANNED FOOD AND BEVERAGE FUNCTIONS FOR MORE THAN A HALF-MILLION MEETING AND EVENT GOERS. SHE TEACHES THE FOOD, BEVERAGE AND VENUE PLANNING COURSE IN THE SACRAMENTO STATE COLLEGE OF CONTINUING EDUCATION MEETING AND EVENT PLANNING CERTIFICATE PROGRAM.
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SAILING TO SUCCESS Skip the ballroom and take your meeting to sea! BY BARBAR A B ECK LEY
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It's a vacation many of us relish or dream about:
An observation bar on the Seabourn encourages group interaction and brainstorming.
relaxing in luxury on a beautiful ship as the world floats around us and each day brings an exciting new destination.
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ut cruising as a meeting option? We hardly give it a thought. And that very novelty is one of many elements that makes gathering on a ship such a great idea. “Most attendees have never cruised before, so meeting on board a ship provides an enticing new destination,” says Lori Cassidy, Royal Caribbean International’s associate vice president of global corporate, incentive and charter sales. Tanya Barnette, director of strategic key accounts and charter and incentive sales for Seabourn Cruise Line, agrees. “Everyone has been on an incentive program or meeting in a hotel. Offering a cruise program is truly unique in motivating a team or group.” The response from guests is often wildly enthusiastic. “The uniqueness of a cruise is an important factor in boosting attendance for meetings and incentives,” says Barnette. Cassidy concurs: “Increased attendance is the number-one benefit of meeting at sea.” “High value is the second benefit because so much is included on a ship,” Cassidy adds. Food and beverages, activities, entertainment, meeting and event venues, and technical services are all part of the package. “The cost of a meeting or incentive program at sea is, on average, 20-30 percent less than a comparable land-based resort,” says Ailene Sorice, president of Corporate
Cruise Consultants, a specialist in meetings and incentives at sea. “This is because many items that are not typically included in a landbased program are complimentary on a cruise. Meetings at sea give your clients a bigger bang for their budget because groups have access to amenities on cruise ships they might not otherwise be able to afford.” (Sorice stresses the importance of keeping in mind that the cost is less than a “comparable” land-based resort. The cruise industry has different classes of vessels. For example, Royal Caribbean would be similar to Marriott or Hilton. Celebrity would be likened to a Kimpton or W. Luxury ships would be comparable to a Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons or other five-star properties.) Barnette concurs, explaining that the pricing for Seabourn’s five vessels is comparable to an ultra-luxury resort, but “a much better value because dining, receptions, open bars, in-suite bars, meeting space, A/V, food and beverage for meeting breaks, entertainment, room service and gratuities are all included.” There are benefits that extend beyond cost, she adds, including ease of planning and onestop shopping. “With a meeting at sea, there is no need to plan banquets or off-site venues because the ship provides all of those. Planners can also book an international destination
paying in U.S. dollars without worrying about fluctuations in foreign currencies,” Barnette notes. “And there’s tremendous ease of travel because attendees can visit many destinations and only have to pack and unpack once.” Corporate and business groups that have held meetings on the seas seem to agree. Royal Caribbean has “a high percentage of repeat MICE business,” according to Cassidy. The same is true for Seabourn. And for attendees, repeat business doesn’t mean duplicating the same experiences. Because of each cruise company’s diversity of ships and itineraries, groups can sail again and again with the same company and experience something new each time. For example, if you meet twice on Holland America Line, the first meeting might be on a seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruise aboard the Nieuw Amsterdam, and the second a seven-day cruise to Mexico from San Diego on the Eurodam. MEETING AT SEA IS EASY FOR CALIFORNIA PLANNERS AND ATTENDEES Numerous cruise lines call at Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. Princess Cruises, Holland America Line and Carnival Cruise Line are seasonal regulars. Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line and Disney Cruise
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ning to implementation,” including full-time group coordinators onboard each of Royal Caribbean’s 26 ships. If the group is large enough, Cassidy also puts one of her specialists onboard for the duration of the cruise to ensure the program runs smoothly. Each Seabourn ship is available for groups and for charter, says Barnette, adding that “we have someone on the team who works closely with the groups to ensure their requests are met. Our team can customize all excursions for groups to provide exactly the experience they desire, from bicycling and hiking on shore to kayaking, water skiing and banana boats on the water.”
Line also offer a variety of ships and destination choices from California and other West Coast ports. Cruises to Mexico are especially plentiful, with hundreds of itineraries, from three to 10 days, out of San Francisco, Los Angeles, Long Beach and San Diego nearly year-round. For example, Holland America has three ships sailing round-trip from San Diego on seven-day cruises to Los Cabos, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta from October 2019 through April 2020. Princess is departing from San Francisco and LA to Los Cabos and other Mexican ports from September 2019 to May 2020. Carnival sets sail from San Francisco, Long Beach and San Diego on various Mexico itineraries in December 2019, January to April 2020 and October 2020. Disney is sailing from San Diego in October and November 2019 and March and April 2020. If your California group wants to explore different destinations, such as a seven-day Caribbean, Alaskan or Mediterranean itinerary, the cruise MICE teams are experts at arranging group airlift and transfers to
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the ship. “Airfare isn’t a hurdle,” says Rob Coleman, Holland America Line senior director of sales planning and development, pointing out that the airlift cost is comparable to flying to a resort, and negotiated into the overall budget. Holland American offers an extensive Caribbean cruise network, as does Royal Caribbean, and both offer worldwide cruises. Other lines with international itineraries popular with high-end incentive gatherings for corporate, financial, manufacturing and direct sales groups include Seabourn, Crystal Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Silversea Cruises. ARRANGING A MEETING AT SEA Most major cruise lines have in-house meeting and incentive teams to guide planners through the process from RFP to implementation. Most also work with third-party MICE partners, such as Maritz Travel and Sorice’s Corporate Cruise Consultants. Cassidy leads a team of more than 65 MICE professionals who handle every aspect of an onboard meeting “from sales to plan-
HOW LARGE OF A GROUP? From as few as 10 key individuals to groups in the thousands, the number of attendees is limited only by the size of the ship. Full ship charters (buyouts) are available on most cruise lines. Seabourn’s corporate and meeting groups range in size from 10 suites to a full ship charter of 600 guests, based on double occupancy on the Seabourn Encore and Seabourn Ovation. Holland America’s ships can accommodate from 835 to 2,666 passengers. Royal Caribbean’s ships can accommodate from 2,267 to 6,680 passengers. It recently had a full-ship charter on one vessel, and two corporate meetings of 1,500 attendees each (one a Western U.S.-based manufacturing company, the other a global direct sales company) on different ships. “We have many companies that charter an entire vessel, usually from four to seven nights,” says Cassidy.
P H O T O S : R OYA L C A R I B B E A N I N T E R N AT I O N A L , SEABOURN CRUISE LINES
At the Royal Caribbean's ports, optional activities may include zip lining over the sea.
HOW LONG OF A CRUISE? Three- to seven-day itineraries are a good time frame for meetings and corporate gatherings, MICE cruise executives agree. A three-day cruise usually features one port of call; for example, Catalina on an LA-based cruise, or Ensenada on a San Diego-based voyage. Sevenday itineraries generally have four ports, typically along the Mexican Riviera on California cruises. This length “optimizes the groups’ ability to meet their business needs and their attendees’ leisure experiences,” says Coleman.
FINDING YOUR SEA LEGS Here are some things to keep in mind to make the most of a meeting at sea: You’ll likely want to schedule your sessions on mornings and afternoons at sea. This leaves the evenings free for attendees to enjoy the entertainment options and their time in port for leisure activities. Those entertainment options are plentiful. From Broadway hit shows like "Hairspray" on Royal Caribbean and Lincoln Center Stage live chamber music on Holland America Line, to comedy shows, singers, dancers and bands, multiple free entertainment is offered nightly for all passengers, and that includes your attendees. Daily activities are free to all passengers. Depending on the meeting schedule, attendees are welcome to do as much or as little as they like. Team-building can be built into just about any activity, both onboard and ashore. That ranges from bumper cars and rock climbing on Royal Caribbean to cooking lessons and jungle canopy zip lining in Belize on Holland America.
Venues and entertainment options abound on cruise ships: A Royal Caribbean theater (top); The Royal Promenade with bars and shops (middle); The Seabourn Colonnade (below)
Breakfast, lunch and dinner in the main dining room and at select buffets are included for all passengers. Consider arranging an area in the main dining room for your group. Meals in the specialty restaurants, such as Tamarind, with Pan-Asian cuisine on Holland America ships, and Chops Grille, serving steak and seafood on Royal Caribbean’s fleet, cost extra. Leave it up to attendees to opt for these on their own, or consider negotiating a specialty dinner opportunity into your program. Dozens of shore excursions are offered in each port. While luxury lines may offer some excursion options at no cost, other excursions will be an additional expense. Holland America’s Sales Director Rob Coleman recommends planners negotiate one group tour in one port and then leave attendees free to book any additional tours on their own. On any ship, group shore excursions can be private for attendees and customized.
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CONFERENCE & EVENT VENUES AT SEA Most cruise companies are happy to reserve and customize their ships’ lounges, showrooms, theaters, outdoor spaces, and other public spaces for private group gatherings. Branding with corporate logos can be put on just about anything from menus and room keys to the daily newsletter. Customized activities are equally diverse on and off the ship, from private wine tastings and cooking demos, team-building activities like onboard rock-climbing wall or karaoke, and shore activities from boat races to beach volleyball. You can count on high tech on the high seas. Royal Caribbean features video walls, teleconferencing, touchscreen signage, and the new VOOM, the fastest internet at sea with 4G
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P H O T O S : R OYA L C A R I B B E A N I N T E R N AT I O N A L , SEABOURN CRUISE LINES
Scenes of the Seabourn: The Retreat offers front-row seats to the sea as well as shade (top); a Seabourn ship making its way to a destination (bottom).
TO CHARTER—OR NOT? While it may seem extravagant, “if your group has the number of attendees to fill a ship, chartering is the best value,” says Coleman. Holland America averages 30 full-ship charters a year, he says; “many financial and insurance industry groups charter our ships year after year.” With a charter comes the perk of exclusivity. For example, you can use the main show lounge for evening events such as the keynote address; on regularly scheduled cruises, groups can only use the main lounges during the day. Charter groups can bring on their own entertainment and can often choose the destinations. Holland America has dozens of port choices out of Florida, so once you’ve set the date, the group can select among the line’s Caribbean destinations. Small ship charters such as Seabourn are equally adept. “We can fly your company’s flag on the mast of the ship, develop a cocktail named for your group, and bring on special entertainment and lecturers that fit the group’s demographics,” says Barnette. Another reason charters are popular is because most cruise companies prefer onboard groups to be no larger than half the ship’s passenger capacity, Coleman explains. If your group is 1,500 people and the ship holds 2,267 passengers, it’s appropriate to charter, or to book a larger ship.
Seabourn pool deck at night
and streamlining capabilities. Meeting venues abound. Seabourn’s five vessels offer several spacious function areas. Its three Odyssey class ships can accommodate all the guests onboard in The Grand Salon for meetings and presentations, and in The Restaurant for galas and awards dinners. The Card Room and other public rooms and lounges are ideal for smaller gatherings. Royal Caribbean features dedicated Conference Center rooms for 18-400 attendees on all its 26 ships, in addition to the public spaces for 25-1,394 people. Unique onboard attractions like the ice-skating rink can hold from 775 to 1,000 people for a private reception or general session, and each of the seven “neighborhoods” on its Oasis Class ships features a variety of dining options, activities and venues. The Boardwalk neighborhood, for example, is patterned after old Coney Island-style boardwalks, with a traditional carousel, an arcade with ring toss and other carnival games, and casual eateries including Johnny Rockets, Sabor Mexican food and the Dog House. The Boardwalk opens
onto the AquaTheater, a 600-plus seat openair amphitheater with the largest pool at sea that features nightly high dive and acrobatic shows. Norwegian Cruise Line’s 17 ships welcome gatherings of 600-1,100 people in its onboard theaters, as well as other public rooms. There are also dedicated meeting rooms for up to 50, and luxury suites such as the 1,382-squarefoot Owner’s Suite for VIPs or use as a hospitality suite. Holland America’s 15 ships feature dedicated meeting rooms for 30-120 attendees. The Main Stage show lounge is ideal for general sessions and events, with a capacity of 600 or 900, depending on the vessel. BON VOYAGE! A cruise program delivers a “phenomenal experience,” according to those who have done it. “It exceeded our expectations.” “The program was smooth and seamless.” “We’ll be back next year.” Comments like these, Cassidy and Barnette say, are frequently heard from seafaring groups.
Get Connected CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE carnivalmeetings.com | 877.278.0388 CELEBRITY CRUISES celebritycorporatekit.com | 800.722.5934 DISNEY CRUISE LINE disneycruise.disney.go.com | 800.951.3532 HOLLAND AMERICA LINE hollandamerica.com | 800.599.8256 NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE ncl.com/events | 877.943.3171 PRINCESS CRUISES princess.com | 800.774.6237 ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL royalcaribbeanincentives.com; royalcaribbean.com | 800.529.6916 SEABOURN CRUISE LINE seabourn.com | 800.442.4448
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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION Marina Del Rey Hotel's poolside views
Pechanga Resort Casino event space
HISTORY IN THE MAKING GREAT AMENITIES AT MEETING VENUES ARE ONE THING, BUT WHAT REALLY MAKES A STAND-OUT DESTINATION? CULTURE.
Marina del Rey Make a splash in LA’s Marina with your next corporate event. Located in the heart of the beautiful Los Angeles coastline and only four miles from LAX, Marina del Rey offers unique waterfront and onthe-water venues for your next event. Imagine your board meeting, client reception, or other program on a multilevel luxury yacht, a harborside patio, or a penthouse ballroom with a panoramic view of Santa Monica Bay. With over 100,000 square feet of waterfront meeting space and 1,100 hotel rooms, the Marina is equally appealing to high-end corporate business programs as it is to tech industry powerhouses that want a laid-back but trendy meeting destination. After business is through, enjoy team-
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building water sports like group kayaking, a paddleboard yoga class, a parasail ride, or a mini sailing regatta. Or, enjoy the water from a distance on a coastal bike trail, harbor dining cruise, or a walk along the Marina Promenade. It’s all only a couple minutes away from Marina hotels and easily accessible with The Free Ride, daily shuttle service within the harbor area to waterfront restaurants and attractions.
Pechanga Resort Casino Great amenities at meeting venues are one thing, but what really makes a standout destination? Culture. No history is ever the same, so a venue with a story can take your event to new heights. Take Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula for example. The now largest
resort/casino on the west coast—after its $300 million expansion in 2018—is owned and operated by the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians. Architecture shows their culture and history interwoven throughout the property. From interior design, to menus, to art installations, event attendees are sure to get a taste of history while they’re here. Get your camera ready, because every third Friday of the month offers an exclusive cultural tour for only 20 guests. Participants experience the magic of the sacred Great Oak Tree and receive an interactive history lesson on the Pechanga Tribe. Pechanga also provides resort experiences at the ready for everyone. Whether your desire is to indulge at Spa Pechanga, play the championship golf course built along the mountainside, grab a cabana at Pechanga’s pool complex and relax with a signature Mermaid Water cocktail, try
P H OTO S CO U R T E SY O F : M A R I N A D E L R E Y C V B , P E C H A N G A R E S O R T A N D C A S I N O
Marina Del Rey's Bayview Ballroom
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Take your next meeting to the Summit Bring your next meeting to the Pechanga Summit, our dynamic, 40,000-square foot events center that is as versatile as you are. After your meeting, indulge yourself in our luxurious, full-service spa, recently awarded Four Stars by the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide. When you’re finished, one of our 1,090 Forbes Travel GuideRecommended rooms and suites await, along with AAA Four Diamond amenities that include 13 restaurants, a 4 ½-acre tropical pool complex and the largest casino on the West Coast. With 275,000 square feet of indoor/ outdoor meeting space, meetings at Pechanga are as easy as playing your perfect combination. 877.711.MEET | PECHANGA .COM 45000 PECHANGA PARKWAY | TEMECUL A, CA 92592 Contact the Sales Department at swilson@pechanga.com MANAGEMENT RESERVES ALL RIGHTS. MUST BE 21 OR OVER TO GAMBLE. PROBLEM GAMBLING HELPLINE 800.GAMBLER.
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION Henderson Convention Center
your luck in the modern bingo hall, or try all 13 restaurants around-the-world-style, it’s yours for the taking.
City of Henderson With over 297 days of sunshine each year, Henderson, Nevada, boasts stunning scenery, one-of-a-kind activities and an abundance of adventures. Take advantage of the breweries and eateries doting the Water Street District after a day spent at The Henderson Convention Center’s 13,000-square-foot meeting space. Adjacent to the conference space is the Henderson Events Plaza, perfect for organizing a festival, trade show or event of your own. Escape to Lake Las Vegas for a lakeside cruise or live concert and stop by Mimi’ & Coco’ Bistro for a wide selection of wines, delicacies and an outdoor patio with breathtaking views of the lake. Henderson also features nine championship golf courses, including the South
Shore Golf Club, Nevada’s first Jack Nicklaus Signature-designed course. For beer, spirit and wine enthusiasts, head to the Artisan Booze District where you can sample some of the finest whiskey at Las Vegas Distillery, grab a pint of beer at CraftHaus Brewery, Astronomy Aleworks and Bad Beat Brewing, or learn the art of winemaking at Grape Expectations.
GET CONNECTED MARINA DEL REY visitmarinadelrey.com 310.306.9900 PECHANGA RESORT CASINO pechanga.com 951.770.8551 CITY OF HENDERSON cityofhenderson.com 877.775.5252
DISCOVER
L.A.’S COASTAL POINT OF VIEW Contemporary Hotels. Yacht Receptions. Poolside Networking. Waterfront Views. Six hotels, 100,000 square feet of meeting space and an abundance of waterfront dining - all just minutes from LAX and world-famous Venice Beach. Marina del Rey is home to six hotels Marriott | The Ritz-Carlton | Marina del Rey Hotel Hilton Garden Inn | Jamaica Bay Inn | Foghorn Inn Contact us to learn how you can save up to $2,000 in incentives for your next meeting.
marinameetings.com • 866.650.4567 • groups@visitmarinadelrey.com
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P H OTO CO U R T E SY O F : C I T Y O F H E N D E R S O N
FOR YOUR NEXT MEETING
Industry Update CVB NEWS 28
WHAT ATTENDEES WANT
New study identifies five macro-trends that will impact the future of meetings and events. Research courtesy of PCMA Fo u n d a t i o n a n d Ma r r i o t t International
“THE MEETINGS AND EVENTS industry’s future is being shaped by so many factors—from people’s desire to be part of a broader community to their expectations when they travel. [‘The Future of Meetings & Events’] brings a real-world and provocative lens to where planners, attendees and suppliers will be heading in the years to come,” says Tammy Routh, senior vice president for global sales at Marriott International. Download the full report at pd.pcma.org/FutureTrends2019.
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FOOD & BEVERAGE 29
PEOPLE NEWS 30
1.
EMOTIONAL Intelligence Designing with the end-user in mind
Meetings and events will need to move past reactive adjustments to adopt a proactive approach to personalized experiences, understanding the needs of participants before they arrive. At meetings and events, participants can no longer be treated as a homogeneous crowd or a series of behavioral data points, but instead must be recognized as an individual, understood on a deeper emotional level, and treated accordingly.
SUPPORTING SUB-TRENDS ––– AI and Tech to Unlock Intelligence ––– Employee Agency to Act on Their EQ
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2.
ORCHESTRATED Serendipity
Engineering and embracing the unexpected for more meaningful moments Experiences must embrace freedom and surprise, freeing consumers from the constant constraint of schedules or agendas. By embracing the unexpected, we can engage participants and leave a lasting impression. “There’s that whole concept of ‘sweatworking’—like SoulCycle—let’s arrange a workout in the morning that fosters some serendipitous connection. That’s how you end up meeting people that you wouldn’t normally meet. I like those things where people who are organizing these structured events are actually thinking beyond the event itself. What will people do outside of our programming? How can we structure that? The point of this whole event is to create these human collisions.” —Amy Blackman, senior advisor, A Hundred Years
SUPPORTING SUB-TRENDS: ––– Create Human Collisions –––Leverage Context ––– Embrace Natural Serendipity ––– Deprioritize Convenience
INFOGRAPHIC
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MULTIMODAL Design
Designing for adaptation and iteration Every event has a unique objective and audience, and a space must reflect each event’s specific personality and needs. From technological infrastructure, to architecture, to furniture and fixtures, space is critical to any event and should be designed to adapt to the ways that participants will engage with one another, with the content of the event, and with the space itself. Investment management company Jones Lang LaSalle predicts that by 2030, 30% of all commercial office space will be consumed as “flexible space” that can transform to fit the needs of individual employees, as well as collaborative group dynamics.
SUPPORTING SUB-TRENDS ––– Design Space that Assumes Change ––– Design for Differences –––Sensorial Tech to Enable Empathy
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BIGGER THAN Oneself
Acting on a meaningful message You can’t just provide content anymore. Every event must have a message. Participants want to understand what’s important to a business and experience events that deliver that message down to the smallest detail. According to a 2018 Mintel report on responsible brands, 51% of consumers in the U.S. agree that an environmentally responsible product is worth paying more for.
5.
CLEAR SENSE OF Place
Leveraging geography for deeper enrichment The most memorable events celebrate local surrounding, enriching visitors, exposing them to the local culture, and connecting them with the community to increase engagement.
“The devil is in the details. I see these organizations that put on events about sustainability, but then they don’t give you a refillable water bottle and have disposable plastic all over the place. You’ve got to pay attention to the details. It’s credibility. Follow through.” —Amy Blackman, senior advisor, A Hundred Years
“It’s not just about utilizing the convention center anymore, and instead, it’s about utilizing all the assets within the city to create that really personalized experience based on the interest of the participants that are going to the conference.” —Sherrif Karamat, CEO, PCMA
SUPPORTING SUB-TRENDS
––– Honor the Place—Keep It Local ––– Distance Helps Disconnection ––– Don’t Forget Human Nature
–––Be Polarizing ––– Design Down to
the Details
SUPPORTING SUB-TRENDS
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REGIONAL NEWS
CVB NEWS»
The Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC), owned by the City of Los Angeles and managed by AEG Facilities, has received the Los Angeles Better Buildings Challenge (LABBC) Innovation Award for its significant energy savings. Recognized in the public buildings category as the “Walk the Walk Energy Award” recipient, the LACC was honored at the fifth annual award ceremony on March 27 at The California Endowment in Los Angeles for achieving the most significant, ongoing energy savings and demonstrating innovative strategy. “The Convention Center isn’t just talking the talk; when it comes to sustainability, they’re walking the walk,” says David Hodgins, executive director, LABBC. The LACC was acknowledged for its 2.21-megawatt solar panel array, bringing the facility’s total solar power to 2.58 megawatts, making it the nation’s largest array on a municipal convention center. Since April 2018, the array has generated more than 3.3 gigawatt hours and reduced facility energy use by 11.4 percent. “Mayor Eric Garcetti has set the goal of making Los Angeles the most sustainable city in the United States,” says Doane Liu, executive director, City of Los Angeles Department of Convention and Tourism Development. “We are proud that the Los Angeles Convention Center is committed to operating in an environmentally responsible manner and is continuously seeking ways to reduce our environmental footprint and promote sustainable efforts within the tourism industry and with the millions of visitors to our great city.” Other acclaimed LACC initiatives include the upgrade of more than 3,000 interior and exterior lights to LED lamps, saving more than 1.5 million kilowatt hours annually and the installation of a 525,000-square-foot “cool roof” that reflects sunlight and heat away from the building.
Visit Napa Valley has released the “2018 Napa Valley Visitor Industry Economic Impact” report, and the news is worth a hearty toast!
Among the findings: - Napa Valley welcomed a total of 3.85 million visitors. - The tourism industry generated $85.1 million in tax relief to residents, an increase of 5.8 percent from 2016. - The tourism industry generated $2.23 billion in total visitor spending inside Napa County. - Almost 70 percent is generated from overnight hotel guests, who spend an average of $446 in Napa County per guest, per day. - Direct visitor spending within the county increased 15.9 percent since 2016, outpacing visitor growth of 8.9 percent in the same time period. - The tourism industry remains the second largest employer in Napa County (after the wine industry), supporting the livelihood of an estimated 15,872 people in the community, with a combined payroll of $492 million. - Wedding or special events represented 11.3 percent of visitors and a conference or business travel represented 5.8 percent of visitors.
InterContinental San Francisco Lights Up for Increased Alertness
Ever notice how spending a few hours in windowless ballrooms and meeting rooms can lead to feelings of fatigue? Experts say it’s in large part due to artificial lighting that doesn’t change throughout the day. The InterContinental San Francisco has done something about that. As part of a massive renovation that includes a redo of 43,000 square feet of meeting and function space, the 556-room hotel recently introduced a circadian lighting system, provided by Ketra, that shifts its color spectrum throughout the day to emulate natural light in its ballrooms. The intent: to keep guests feeling fresh and invigorated at all hours. The redesign also includes architectural lighting on walls and in alcoves that can be adjusted to any number of shades to reflect a client’s brand. In addition, the hotel has partnered with Molekule, an industry-leading air purifier, to provide clear-air systems in some suites with the goal to improve sleep quality. The InterContinental’s event venues include two ballrooms and 21 meeting rooms on upper floors, offering spaces ranging from 400 to 1,600 square feet. In addition to the meeting space makeover, the hotel, located adjacent to the Moscone Convention Center, is updating all of its guest rooms. The renovation project is due for completion this fall. intercontinentalsanfrancisco.com
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P H O T O S : I N T E R C O N T I N E N TA L S A N F R A N C I S C O ; A U G U S T I N E W I N E B A R ; S H E R AT O N L O S A N G E L E S S A N G A B R I E L
SUSTAINABILITY AWARD FOR LOS ANGELES CONVENTION CENTER
The Impact of Tourism in Napa Valley Is Big!
CVB NEWS»
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe Marks Its Territory with Pet Concierge Service Some meeting destinations, Lake Tahoe among them, are so vacation-friendly they seem to beg attendees to bring family members along for some leisure time together before or after the business segment. Many families include dogs, of course, and while a handful of Tahoe hotels are dog friendly, virtually all stipulate that dogs can’t be left unattended in a guest room. So what are owners to do when they want to visit a casino, play golf, go to a show or otherwise engage in activities where four-legged companions aren’t allowed? The pet-friendly Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Stateline, Nevada, on the lake’s south shore, has come up with a solution for those “what to do with Fido” situations. Hair of the Dog Pet Concierge opened in January, marking its territory with an array of services including day care, overnight care, grooming, training, massage, nutri-
tional counseling, a self-service dog wash, dog chauffer service (including pickup and drop-off from South Shore locations), in-home boarding and off-site activities. “Tahoe is very dog friendly; everyone from locals to visitors go everywhere with their dogs, so it was natural for us to go in a dogfriendly direction,” says Brandie Warr, director of resort marketing for the Hard Rock. “The object is for the dog to have a great experience while its people are at Tahoe.” Housed in a former ski shop in the valet area of the Hard Rock complex, Hair of the Dog is co-owned by Pamela Crowell, who’s been involved with canines since childhood. The establishment, an extension of her love for animals and expertise in many areas of their care, includes a pet play area as well as cage banks and a grooming salon with an extensive menu of services. There’s also an emphasis on getting furry friends of all sizes out for walks, hikes and splash time with Crowell’s staff of athletic dog-lovers. hairofthedoglaketahoe.com
FOOD & BEVERAGE NEWS»
Have Wine, Will Travel
Augustine Wine Bar, a beloved Sherman Oaks institution that was named one of America’s Best New Wine Bars by Food & Wine magazine in 2016, is going mobile. With the launch of the new Augustine Wine car, which pulls from Augustine’s extensive wine list of bottles dating back to 1860, the wine-on-wheels enterprise will be serving wine, beer and light bites at catered events ranging from small, private gatherings to large-scale festivals in Los Angeles and throughout California. The custom curated events feature the 10-by-20-foot wine car, which is a fully resorted 1960 Ford Grumman-Olson Kurbside Van. augustinewinebar.com
HOTEL NEWS»
Honors for Sheraton Los Angeles San Gabriel Hotel
With more than 144 Sheraton franchises under the Marriott USA umbrella, the Sheraton Los Angeles San Gabriel has earned the honor of Marriott’s 2018 “Hotel of the Year” award. This distinguished award is bestowed upon a hotel that demonstrates excellence across a stringent array of criteria that encompasses brand, business and corporate culture goals as set forth by Marriott International. These criteria include high standards of personal service, exceptional staff training and mentoring, dominant market share, a high social reputation and high guest satisfaction rates. “This award is truly a testament to the talented team of associates who go above and beyond the needs of our guests in order to deliver outstanding service in the burgeoning San Gabriel/Los Angeles area,” says Wanda Chan, general manager of the Sheraton Los Angeles San Gabriel. “We are proud to be a part of this incredible community and we are proud of our dedicated team of exemplary associates that deliver an unprecedented luxury hotel experience in the San Gabriel Valley.” The Sheraton Los Angeles San Gabriel Hotel, a AAA Four-Diamond property, is located 25 minutes from downtown Los Angeles and has 288 guest rooms, a Grand Imperial Ballroom that can accommodate more than 800 guests, and 8,000 square feet of flexible meeting rooms.
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REGIONAL NEWS
PEOPLE NEWS» Drew Clarke has been appointed director of sales and marketing at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills. This position brings Clarke back to his home state of California after his career in luxury hospitality has taken him around the world. Over the last two decades, Clarke has worked across various capacities including food and beverage, human resources, sales and marketing at the Four Seasons properties in Santa Barbara and Hualalai. Most recently he served as director of sales and marketing at the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest.
Pacific Visions at the Aquarium of the Pacific Opens The highly anticipated Pacific Visions has made its debut at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. At a cost of $53 million, this stunning new wing is the first major expansion undertaken by the Aquarium in its two-decade history. Designed by the San Francisco-based architectural design firm EHDD, Pacific Visions is a 29,000-squarefoot, two-story sustainable, biomorphic structure that houses a state-of-the-art immersive theater, art gallery, and a culmination gallery with interactives, game tables, and live animal exhibits. From the outside, Pacific Visions resembles a giant blue whale. Inside, the cutting-edge technology, including a massive two-story-tall wraparound
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screen in the theater that has wind and fog effects, the scent of salty sea breezes, and rumbling seats, is designed to engage visitors with a single theme: the future of our planet. “After more than a decade of planning and building, we are excited to open Pacific Visions to the public,” says Dr. Jerry R. Schubel, Aquarium of the Pacific president and CEO. “Pacific Visions is unlike any other aquarium expansion project. We are taking a unique, unconventional approach in creating a space where the focus is on the one species that is affecting all others on Earth: humans. Pacific Visions is a place where scientists, policymakers, and the public can come together to explore solutions to create a better future for us all.” It’s also a spectacular setting for inspiring group meetings; the possibilities are endless. aquariumofpacific.org/specialevents/ corporate_events
Ahmed Elassy joins the newly opened AC Hotel Los Angeles South Bay as general manager. With two decades of hospitality industry experience, Elassy has held various positions with Marriott and spent a decade before that with Four Seasons Hotel & Resorts. The new property is part of the design-led European lifestyle Marriott brand
P H OTO S : TO M B O N N E R
NEW VENUE»
Robert Gregson takes the reins at L’Auberge Del Mar, managed by Nobel House Hotels & Resorts. In his new role as general manager, Gregson will be responsible for day-to-day operations of the 121-room oceanfront north San Diego luxury resort. Gregson began his hospitality career more than 25 years ago; his most recent position was with The Sydell Group as general manager for The LINE Hotel in Los Angeles where he served on the hotel’s opening team. Prior to that, Gregson was director of sales and marketing for Thompson Hotels’ Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Other properties he worked at include W Hollywood & Residences; Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, and Mondrian, West Hollywood.
and has 180 guest rooms, a signature AC Lounge, AC Kitchen, AC Library, rooftop restaurant and 2,000 square feet of meeting and event space. Industry veteran Bill Drew has joined the business event management firm PRA as general manager of the San Diego team. Drew brings more than two decades of experience as general manager and sales manager to his new role. Most recently he served as president and general manager for Bright Events rental, based in San Diego. A new culinary team is in place at Park James Hotel, managed by broughton-HOTELS. As the director of food and beverage, Marigene Mabalot will oversee all day-to-day food and beverage operations for the luxury 61-room Menlo Park hotel, including the management of Oak + Violet, O+V Courtyard, and the cocktail curation at the Park James lobby bar. Simona Oliveri is the new executive chef, handling all culinary operations for the property including menu creation and execution at Oak + Violet, featuring California farm-to-fork cuisine, O + V Courtyard, group meetings and events, and room service. Paola Moreno joins Hotel Erwin, the hip Venice Beach boutique hotel, as director of the food and beverage program. Moreno earned her degree in hospitality and tourism in Santiago, Chile, and has held positions at Hotel Sofitel in Miami; the Crowne Plaza Resort in South Carolina; The RitzCarlton in Santiago; and in various properties
in Los Angeles including Mr. C Hotel, Viceroy Santa Monica, Omni Los Angeles and, most recently, she was food and beverage manager at Santa Monica’s Hotel Casa Del Mar. In her new role, Moreno will manage operations for Hotel Erwin’s High Rooftop Lounge and Erwin’s Kitchen & Cocktails, as well as all events, catering and room service. Michael Barber is now cooking at Manchester Grand Hyatt. With more than 20 years of experience with Hyatt, Barber joins the waterfront hotel in downtown San Diego as executive chef. In his new role, he’ll oversee the hotel’s complete culinary operations in addition to individual and team development, emphasizing the property philosophy of “Thoughtfully Sourced. Carefully Served” with a focus on locally grown ingredients. Rob Austin has been appointed area director of finance for The Meritage Collection’s Vista Collina Resort and The Meritage Resort and Spa. Bringing 30 years of financial operations experience in hospitality to this new position, Austin will oversee all finance, accounting and purchasing operations for the two properties. Barry Dorsey is the new general manager of the Kimpton Goodland. A seasoned hospitality pro, Dorsey most recently was the GM at Santa Barbara’s Hotel Milo. Prior to that, he held key positions at Loews Coronado Bay Resort, Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill and Hyatt Hotels and Resorts Corporate office. The pet-friendly, 158-room property in Goleta is known for its bohemian spirit, with features that include
in-room record players and an on-property vintage Airstream. “I was immediately drawn to the Goodland for its laid-back vibe and inviting atmosphere,” says Dorsey. “I’m looking forward to aiding in the growth of the property through local partnerships and unique activations.” Ryan Wollman is the newest addition to the executive team of the Los Angeles Airport Marriott. He assumes the position of director of group sales, for the 1,004-room property, which recently completed a $50 million property-wide transformation. Most recently, Wollman held the position of senior sales executive at the flagship JW Marriott Washington, D.C. The Denver-based hospitality firm Stonebridge Companies has announced the promotion of three California team members into general manager roles. Keno Rodriguez has advanced to opening general manager of the new Hyatt Place-San Francisco/ Downtown property. He previously served as the opening general manager of the company’s Homewood Suites by Hilton-Aliso Viejo/ Laguna Beach. Moving into that position is Martha Marquez. She has advanced into leadership roles after joining the Stonebridge Companies as a front desk agent in 2002. Lastly, Ashley Lopez has been promoted to general manager at Hampton Inn & Suites— Anaheim/Garden Grove. Lopez joined the hotel as front desk manager in 2015 and is a graduate of Stonebridge Companies’ Aspiring Leaders program.
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PEOPLE PROFILE ROBERT DONAHUE
CAM+E: How does the opening of the new Star Wars land fit in with other big events that have occurred during your tenure? RD: A few months after I started in late 2004,
we were celebrating the 50th anniversary of Disneyland Park, which my team was involved with and was a really special time. Then there was the expansion of Disney California Adventure, the addition of Cars Land in 2012 and the 60th anniversary in 2015. All were amazing. But Star Wars is going to be a real milestone for the company—it’s opening at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, and it’s unparalleled in terms of design, creativity and experiential storytelling. For our clients, it’s another great reason to come to the Disneyland Resort. CAM+E: What other new offerings will meeting and event planners find at the Disneyland Resort? RD: Star Wars is the big exclamation point,
Group sales head Robert Donahue is ready to guide planners to a new galaxy. BY ANN SHEPPHIRD
FOR NEARLY 15 YEARS, Robert Donahue
has been responsible for group sales and services at the Disneyland Resort. That includes both theme parks (Disneyland and Disney California Adventure) and hotels (the Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and Disney’s
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Paradise Pier Hotel). This year, Disneyland is unveiling the eagerly awaited Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. The first phase of the new land opened on May 31, with the Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance attraction scheduled to open later this year.
CAM+E: What do you want meeting planners to know about bringing a group to the Disneyland Resort? RD: We want them to know that we’re here to
help them create an amazing experience for their conference and their attendees. We’re very respectful of the fact that their core message should be front and center. Our offerings are all integrated at their direction. We like to learn from meeting planners what success looks like for them and then help create that. disneymeetingsandevents.com/disneyland
I L L U S T R AT I O N : T R A C I Z E L L M A N
A Landmark Moment for a Disneyland Veteran
but we have many great new developments. The first one I like to talk about is the complete redesign and refurbishment of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, which included all of the hotel rooms, lobby, concierge lounge and pool area. The results have been fantastic, and the hotel has never looked better. Downtown Disney also has a lot of great news, with new dining, retail and entertainment options. Notable additions include Splitsville Luxury Lanes, Ballast Point Brewery, Salt & Straw Ice Cream, a virtual-reality experience called The VOID, and the immersive Pop-Up Disney! A Mickey Celebration. Add to that seasonal events like the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival and there’s always something new for groups to experience.
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REIMAGINED & EXCEPTIONAL More than a remodel, we’re transforming what it means to stay in Pasadena.
2.5k guest rooms
230k
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Come Curious. To book, visit PasadenaMeetings.com