offerings&meetingsRochester’sExploreevents MEETINGSMAGS.COM // FALL 2019 24 categories including BEST CVB/DMO, RESORT, CONVENTION/EXPO CENTER, CATERER, EVENT DESIGN/PLANNING COMPANY, HOTEL AND MEETING/EVENT VENUE in our 4 areas of coverage Best2019of
› EXPANDING LATE 2019 › MORE THAN DOUBLING IN SIZE: NOW 205,000 SQUARE FEET OF FLEXIBLE CONVENTION SPACE › 18 MORE MEETING ROOMS, FOR A TOTAL OF 33 › ADDING A 38,000-SQUAREFOOT BALLROOM EXPANDING THE IDEAL EVENT EXPERIENCE KalahariMeetings.com Call 855-411-4605 to learn more ©2018 Kalahari Development LLC pocono mountains, pa In late 2019, Kalahari Resorts & Conventions is expanding the venue that consistently delivers attendance-increasing events of all sizes. More space, more amenities and more first-class service means that your convention will be even more incredible.
2 NEM+E | FALL 2019 Fall 2019 NORTHEAST MEETINGS + EVENTS MAGAZINE: IN THIS ISSUE FEATURE 25 Best of 2019 Northeast M+E readers’ choice awards recognize the best in the industry. By Megan Gosch, Morgan Halaska & Kassidy Tarala DEPARTMENTS 6 EDITOR’S LETTER 16 MEET & EAT Casinos are serving up more than entertainment with onsite restaurants. By Roger Gordon 20 VisitDESTINATIONRochester,New York, for an under-the-rader and picture-per fect destination. By Keith Loria 48 PEOPLE PROFILE Ralph Weaver, CEO of East West Connection, shares what motivates him in his fast-paced career. By Kassidy Tarala Jacob K. Javits Convention Center CENTERCONVENTIONJAVITSK.JACOBPHOTO:
CAESARSFORUM.com
ONE COMPANY. ONE CONTACT. COUNTLESS OPTIONS.
SOUTHERNHORSESHOEINDIANA LOUISIANAHARRAH’S DOWNS NORTHHARRAH’SKANSAS CITY RIO HARVEYS
JOLIETHARRAH’S
In 2020, Caesars Entertainment will be debuting CAESARS FORUM, a new 550,000-square-foot conference center, located at the center of Las Vegas Strip. CAESARS FORUM will have a total of 320,000 square feet of meeting space with the two largest pillarless ballrooms in the world at 110,000 square feet each.
CAESARS FORUM will have direct access to 8,500 rooms at LINQ, Harrah’s and Flamingo hotels, and the FORUM Plaza with 100,000 square feet of multi-purpose outdoor space.
CAESARS FORUM LAS VEGAS
HARRAH’S ATLANTIC CITY With its sophisticated marina district setting world-class amenities, Harrah’s Resort has become a premier Atlantic City destination. Harrah’s o ers an array of guest-pleasing features and one-of-a-kind venues like The Pool, a year-round tropical paradise for unforgetta ble group events. With 125,000 square feet of total meeting space, Harrah’s can easily accommodate the largest events, and the world-class Waterfront Conference Center makes this the largest meeting facility of its kind from Baltimore to Boston. Even more impressive is the way Harrah’s dedicated sta makes planning any size event easier and more rewarding.
HARRAH’S HARRAH’S SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PHOENIX AK-CHIN MID-AMERICAHORSESHOEHARRAH’S CENTER COUNCIL BLUFFS
CaesarsMeansBusiness.com
4 NEM+E | FALL 2019 44 2019Fall MEETING NOTES 9 MEET SMART Three wearable gadgets designed to ele vate attendee engagement. By Kassidy Tarala 10 EVENT SNAPSHOT Philadelphia celebrates 4th annual Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival. By Jakob Bermas 11 TIPS FROM A PRO How to prepare your security teams for an emergency. By Susan Dunkelman 12 SIGNATURE DRINK Thyme for Cider, courtesy of Corgi Spirits 12 NEW HOTEL SPOTLIGHT Tour the MC Hotel. By Megan Gosch 14 NEW VENUE SPOTLIGHT Meet lavishly at The Blond in SoHo. By Jakob Bermas INDUSTRY UPDATE 36 INFOGRAPHIC “Room Block of the Future” reveals book ing trends of large-scale, urban conven tion attendees. Research courtesy of Kalibri Labs and Prism Advisory Group; funded by PCMA Foundation, NYC & Company and Hilton 38 REGIONAL NEWS What’s happening in the local industry. Compiled by Morgan Halaska 46 SNAPSHOTS Photos from The ILEA New York Metro Chapter’s Big Apple Celebration ON THE COVER New Jersey Wine & Food Festival’s “Meet the Chef’s After-Party” at Crystal Springs Resort’s Biosphere Pool Complex. Photo courtesy of Crystal Springs Resort 1014 JEFFSCHLECHTER;ANNIEBLOND;THEPHOTOS: TIANYUFORFUSCOofferings&Exploreevents 24 categories including BEST CVB/DMO, RESORT, CONVENTION/EXPO CENTER, CATERER, EVENT DESIGN/PLANNING COMPANY, HOTEL AND MEETING/EVENT VENUE Best2019of in philadelphia
The Results Are In WE DON’T LIKE TO PLAY FAVORITES here at Northeast Meetings + Events. That’s why we ask you—our readers—to vote in the magazine’s annual Best of readers’ choice awards. We’re happy to see some new faces among this year’s Best of 2019 honorees along with some regulars that grace the list every year; flip to page 25 to read about the winners, ranging from event service companies, CVBs, and hotels and resorts across our coverage areas (New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and WhetherPennsylvania).youagreewith the results or not, I hope that you’ll take the time to get to know the winners and finalists. We wish we could recognize every person, company and vendor that makes the Northeast meetings and events industry great; alas, we had to narrow it down to 24 categories. Head Upstate New York with us on page 20 to Rochester, where this friendly midsized city is just right for your group. We also have quite a bit of Regional News this quarter, including myriad hotel openings, promotions and new hires, and venue news—read all about it starting on page 38. Do you have a stellar tablescape or event you’d like to show the Northeast Meetings + Events audience? Do you want to share your expert advice in a column? Send me an email—I’m always looking for new ideas from our readers. Find, Friend, Follow Find us online at ne.meetingsmags.com, and make sure to “like” us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram to stay in the loop between issues. @NEMEETINGSMAGS /MEETINGSMAGS /MEETINGSEVENTSMAGS
/NEMEETINGSMAGS
6 NEM+E | FALL 2019 Morgan Halaska, editor MORGAN.HALASKA@TIGEROAK.COM
EDITOR'S LETTER
NE.MEETINGSMAGS.COM 7 EDITOR Morgan Halaska SENIOR EDITOR Megan Gosch ASSOCIATE EDITOR Kassidy Tarala DIGITAL CONTENT EDITOR Julianna Fazio CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Susan Dunkelman, Roger Gordon, Keith Loria EDITORIAL INTERNS Jakob Bermas, Megan Ekstrand, Taylor Hafner, Sophie Jonsson EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Sarah Anello, Center City District Parks • Jeffrey Cesari, Bristol-Myers Squibb Kristen George, Landmark Hospitality • Matthew Holt, Arena Americas • Mark Ickes, Explore Altoona Marc Kaminetsky, Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board • Tara Marcus, Dillon Marcus Justin Panzer, Eventuosity • Michael Shannon, Destination Canada Patty Stern, PattyStern.Com Creative Marketing Solutions • Scott Sussman, The Peacock Inn DESIGN DIRECTOR Courtney Nielsen ART DIRECTORS Traci Zellmann, Taylor Kilgore PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Dianne Talmage PROJECT COORDINATOR Brittni Dye CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Jeremy Wieland SUBSCRIPTION MARKETING SPECIALIST Emily O’Connell ACCOUNTS PAYABLE Leanne Warzeka CREDIT MANAGER April McCauley ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE SPECIALIST Jared Lawson WEB DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Sandy Powell WEB ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Angela Beissel ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER– NATIONAL SALES Laurie laurieburger@comcast.net586.416.4195Burger California Meetings + Events • 303.617.0548 Colorado Meetings + Events • 303.617.0548 Illinois Meetings + Events • 312.755.1133 Michigan Meetings + Events • 586.416.4195 Minnesota Meetings + Events • 612.548.3148 Mountain Meetings • 303.617.0548 Northwest Meetings + Events • 253.732.7133 Texas Meetings + Events • 469.264.7657 Reprints: For high-quality reprints of 500 or more call 1-800-637-0334 or email reprints@tigeroak.com. For address changes, ordering single copies, cancellations, or general questions about your subscription please contact customer service at 1-800-637-0334 or customerservice@tigeroak.com Northeast Meetings + Events accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or artwork; they will not be returned unless accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. TIGER OAK MEDIA FOUNDER & CEO R. Craig Bednar CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Bill Nelson VICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT Susan Isay DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & Jim Younger BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 900 South Third St., Minneapolis, MN 55415 Phone: 612.548.3180 Fax: 612.548.3181 Published quarterly Northeast Meetings + Events, Fall 2019 © 2019 Tiger Oak Media. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. FALL 2019 ne.meetingsmags.comTapPatiencedancing.I think it could really spruce up my interviewingprocess. “ If you gainimmediatelycouldonenewskill,whatwoulditbe?” To speak speakingPublicItalianfluent I would love to have the skill to sing and play piano. Meet where world-class gardens, wineries and museums transform into magical event spaces. Where top-rated hotels and unique venues feature both indoor and outdoor flexible meeting space. And where the sales & service staff is sure to enhance your planning experience. BrandywineValley.com/meetings Let OutsidetheIn Chester BrandywineCounty’sValleyCourtneyBabcock Director of Sales 4 Courtney@BrandywineValley.com84.840.7213 Terrain Gardens at Devon Yards Longwood Gardens Franklin Commons
A World Above any other meeting space. Experience the largest ballroom in Boston at 37,000 square feet, an outdoor-event lawn right on Boston Harbor, and the largest standard guest rooms in New England. Our new luxury resort is from the hotel company that is rated highest in the world by Forbes Travel Guide. Wynn Resorts introduces Encore Boston Harbor. Take your next meeting or corporate event to a level that is truly A World Above. To book a meeting or event, please contact our sales team at GROUPSALES@ENCOREBOSTONHARBOR.COM or (857) 770-4200
Meeting Notes
MEET SMART
The moment a meeting attendee walks through the door, they should feel engaged. Whether they’re looking for educational sessions to attend, in search of networking opportunities or just want more information about others in the industry, attendees need to be equipped to make the most of the meeting. From badges to buttons, here are some wearable technology products to make your next event as smart as your attendees.
INTERACTIVECRYSTALEXPERIENT,AVENTRI,PHOTOS: klik badge
PRODUCTS, PLACES & INSPIRATION EVENT SNAPSHOT 10 TIPS FROM A PRO 11 SIGNATURE DRINK 12 NEW VENUE SPOTLIGHT 14
NE.MEETINGSMAGS.COM 9
Try these wearable gadgets to elevate attendee engagement.
KLIK With a badge, wristband and button, klik has something for everyone’s event experience. Once an attendee has chosen one of klik’s wearables, they can begin exchanging digital contact information and engaging with digi tized event materials, such as exhibitor infor mation or presentation slides. For planners, klik streamlines event registration, programming, networking, location services, attendee track ing and gamification on one event engage ment platform. —Kassidy Tarala Get Connected AVENTRI SMART TAG aventri.com/products/smart-tag EVENTBIT eventbit.experient-inc.com KLIK smart-wearablescrystalinteractive.net/event-technology/
AVENTRI SMART TAG Dubbed the “attendee’s digital business card,” the Aventri Smart Tag allows attendees to connect with others via Bluetooth technol ogy. Meeting attendees can virtually exchange contact information, share marketing materials, and record connections they make, sessions they attend and exhibitors they visit. EVENTBIT To personalize large events, show organizers can record data to understand what attendees are and are not engaging with on the show floor. When attendees wear eventBit technol ogy, exhibit sales staff can record traffic flow, marketers can understand attendee engage ment and personalize messaging, and educa tors can gauge what sessions are popular with what types of attendees.
HISTORIC PHILADELPHIA, INC. historicphiladelphia.org | 215.629.4026
Lantern Greatness
10 NEM+E | FALL 2019 TIANYUFORFUSCOJEFFPHOTOS: PRODUCTS, PLACES & INSPIRATION EVENT SNAPSHOT»
From May 1 to July 14, Philadelphians were enthralled by Chinese culture at the 4th annual Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival held in historic Franklin Square. Attendees witnessed 27 lantern displays that were larger than life and made of more than 2,000 lit sculptures and 20,000 LEDThelights. lantern displays were created by Chinese artisans employed by Tianyu Arts & Culture. They arrived in Franklin Square at the beginning of April to begin setting up. Each lantern is hand-made by covering steel frames in paper silk, painting the exterior and lighting them with LED lights.
“We work very closely with the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation,” Needle says. “Many Chinatown businesses had pandas or signs in their windows, and if visitors go to those locations, they can receive a discount on anything from a dessert to their bill.”
The Lantern Scavenger Hunt, new to this year’s festival, had guests search Franklin Square with a close eye by counting how many pigs or pandas they spotted. If guests completed the hunt, they received a free ride on the Parx Liberty Carousel.
Franklin Square sits next to Philadelphia’s Chinatown, and to partner with local Chinatown restaurants and businesses, the festival had “Panda Promotions.”
All the lanterns this year were new, and some had an interactive feature for guests such as the 200-foot walk-through dragon tunnel or the illustrious fortune telling wheel.
“I see people from multiple generations bring their kids and their grandkids,” says Needle. “It’s a wonderful way to introduce kids to different cultures and a beautiful night out for everyone.”
4th annual Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival lights up Franklin Square. BY JAKOB BERMAS
“People walk into the festival and are literally blown away by how gorgeous everything is,” says Amy Needle, CEO of Historic Philadelphia, Inc. “When you initially walk into the festival you hear beautiful music and feel that you are transported into another place.” Every night, performers from China graced the stage with martial arts demonstrations, folk dancing, a contortionist performance and jarAtjuggling. theDragon Beer Garden, located within Franklin Square, guests grabbed themed cocktails like the Eastern Sunrise, made with rum, lychee juice, orange juice, pineapple juice and pomegranate syrup or the Lantern Lemonade, made with vodka, lemonade and Thai basil. At the Great Lawn Grill, guests dined on authentic Asian cuisine such as spring rolls, mochi ice cream, chicken satay and beef bao.
Get Connected
FIRST
Depending on the scope of your event, you could potentially have many separate security teams for your venue, speakers, C-suite/celeb rity guests, clients and entertainment, all con centrating on their respective responsibilities and not as much on the overall event. There are, however, a few things that you can do to head off any duplication of efforts and ensure that everyone works as a team before and dur ing your event. This first step is to analyze the different security teams that will be present, examine their roles and identify where they will be physically stationed throughout the event. You will also need to confirm the hours they will be on-site, their method of communicating with you (and each other) during the event, and whether they will be carrying any weap ons and other security related items. Once you have all this information documented, look at where responsibilities might overlap. The idea is not to have them change their defined roles, but instead to create a cohesive security team by allocating a main contact to oversee all teams (this might be you) and ensure everyone understands that other security teams will be present and that they will be all be working near each other, and ideally working together. The next step is to first hold a briefing meeting by phone with all team leads prior to going on-site and then finally meeting with all security teams on-site before your event begins. Make formal introductions and clarify the lines of communication in the event of emergency. You may also wish to dedicate one of your event team radio channels to security. Acknowledge that while you respect that each team has its own role on-site, in the event of a true emergency you must have a designated person to lead everyone. Make sure this lead has the best working knowledge of the property, emergency exits, etc. and ensure they understand the chain of command for notifying you of any emergency so you can keep your clients, your team, and your guests updated as necessary. You should also review each team’s standard security procedures and make sure they are appropriate for your event andUponvenue.arrival on-site, you and all security personnel should take a full tour and make note of all entrances, exits, evacuation routes, restrooms and other areas where guests might venture. This provides everyone with a work ing knowledge of the space should something happen. At most venues there will likely be formal emergency procedures in place that you will be required to follow. Make sure you have received information outlining these pro cedures and understand them. Be sure you brief your entire event team so they all understand emergency procedures and the processes in place for handling and communicating an emergency. Provide them with essential numbers and information that must always be carried with them (the info provided can be via an app, a group message, or printed on a card to keep in their pocket as just a few examples). Instruct your team to program essential security numbers and key contacts into their phones in advance of an event for easy access whenever needed. Make sure your team members are alert and aware and prepared to follow “see something, say something” protocol if they notice anything suspicious or unusual.
SAFETY
If your event is serving alcohol, you should all agree on how an unruly guest will be han dled to prevent confusion during the actual event. Many venues require that an EMT be present, so it is vital that everyone be provided with their contact information in case a quick response is needed. You should also know in advance the location of the nearest police sta tion and area hospitals and provide your secu rity teams with their phone numbers as well. Though you might meet some initial resis tance when asking all security teams to be on the same page, everyone’s safety depends on it. AS MANAGING PARTNER OF THE CHARLES GROUP, INC. SUSAN DUNKELMAN CREATIVELY CONCEPTUALIZES MEETINGS AND EVENTS AND PLANS AND EXECUTES THEM TO PERFECTION, DELIVERING MEMORABLE EVENTS BOTH WITHIN THE US AND GLOBALLY. PRIOR TO FORMING THE CHARLES GROUP, INC. IN 1987, SUSAN SERVED AS DIRECTOR OF CONFERENCES FOR THE RISK AND INSURANCE MANAGEMENT SOCIETY (RIMS).
NE.MEETINGSMAGS.COM 11
How to manage multiple security teams at your event. BY SUSAN DUNKELMAN
TIPS FROM A PRO»
WHILE YOU MIGHT FEEL SAFER having multiple security teams at the same event, you may not realize that unless handled properly, this can set up a scenario of confusion and chaos should an emergency occur. When it’s your event, it is up to you to establish a firm chain of command, so if a situation does happen, everyone has a clear understanding of who is in charge and what their respective responsibilities are.
Get Connected THE MC HOTEL | themchotel.com |
DIRECTIONS Fill a shaker with ice add all ingredients and shake vigorously. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice and garnish with a thyme sprig. *To make ginger syrup, combine 1 cup water with 1 cup sugar and one large knob of gin ger, finely diced, in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and allow to steep until cool. Strain and reserve syrup.
The MC Hotel, Montclair, New Jersey’s first full-service hotel since 1938 and Aparium’s first East Coast property, brings a translocal approach to hospitality with a spotlight on the city’s wealth of arts, culture and creative spirit.
BIZZABOHIGHFIVE;(OPPOSITE)HOTEL;MCTHESPIRITS;CORGIPHOTOS:
12 NEM+E | FALL 2019 PRODUCTS, PLACES & INSPIRATION
SIGNATURE DRINK»
NEW HOTEL SPOTLIGHT»
Center Stage Aparium’s newest property celebrates Montclair’s art, culture and creativity.
BY MEGAN GOSCH
THYME FOR CIDER
From fine art and sculpture to music or the culinary arts, “we’ve tapped the local creative community to bring art in all forms to every part of the hotel. Our overall artfocused program is inspired by the Montclair community’s artistic roots,” says Director of Sales Jennifer Varua. Artistic expression can be found around every corner in The MC’s public spaces, which were designed to emulate gallery spaces, including a locally curated collection of paintings, installations, a 30-foot mural by world famous illustrators Ruben and Isabelle Toledo and paintings of Montclair’s surroundings created in the style of ancient Indian miniatures by local artist Siona Benjamin. “Locally inspired art is also showcased in our event spaces and the hotel’s eclectic décor represents the mix of cultures found in Montclair,” says Varua. The hotel’s designinspired aesthetic also features a warm gray-green color palette inspired by the city’s natural landscape to create a calm retreat in its 159 guest rooms and suites. With nearly 8,500 square feet of event space, The MC also offers art lovers plenty of space to meet and celebrate, including the 3,320-square-foot Exhibition Ballroom, which features walls of windows, 12-foot ceilings, and the Alto indoor/outdoor rooftop bar and lounge—one of the only rooftop spaces in town. Located at the highest point in the city, Alto boasts lounge-style seating, live music and sweeping city views creat ing the perfect backdrop for events for up to 300 guests. Allegory, The MC’s on-site restaurant seats 95 and the adjacent lobby bar seats an additional 40 guests. Groups can also work with the hotel’s staff director of lifestyle to coordinate group activities from coffee tasting lessons with local coffee roasters to art classes from local artists, in addition to the hotel’s rotating calendar of events. 844.624.6835
INGREDIENTS —1.5 oz. Corgi Spirits Pembroke Gin —3 oz. fresh apple cider —0.25 oz. ginger simple syrup* —3 thyme sprigs —thyme sprig for garnish
COURTESY OF CORGI SPIRITS CORGISPIRITS.COM
Get ready for fall with this seasonally appropriate cocktail. Corgi Spirits, an inde pendent small-batch distillery located in Jersey City, has hosted a variety of private events including corporate parties; cater ing is BYO. The Lounge—a plush drinking parlor—is spacious yet cozy and the entire tasting room can be rented to accommo date larger groups.
Use Bizzabo at your next event to give attendees a more personalized experience.
Bizzabo’s newest on-site suite of event software solutions is a custom-tailored way for event marketers to strengthen first impressions dur ing the check-in process for attendees. Bizzabo Vice President of Marketing Alon Waks says this new technology stems from Bizzabo’s understanding of how first impressions affect the success of an event. “We created our new holistic suite of checkin solutions to establish a touchstone for the process and to answer the demand for a more personalized, streamlined and resilient checkin Bizzabo’s newestoperation.” systems are designed to empower event marketers with options such as choosing the right check-in flow for events and integrating everything with Bizzabo’s secure online cloud, which functions through net workSince Bizzabo’s technologyoutages. can be custom ized to fit any planner’s needs, Waks wants event organizers to know that with this technology, they will be able to “execute a rewarding and less stressful check-in process, improving the overall experience for both the attendees and organizers.” —Sophie Jonsson Get Connected BIZZABO | bizzabo.com
NE.MEETINGSMAGS.COM 13 TOOLS» Setting up video conferences is made simple with Highfive BY JAKOB BERMAS Highfive video conferencing is “a reimagined meeting room experi ence built for organizations with multiple offices and remote work ers, partners and customers,” says Chris oncamerarequirestheVoice.microphonecameraequippeddirectorHeinemann, Highfive’s seniorofcorporatemarketing. Highfive’s premiumserviceiswitha4KHDRDolbyandahigh-fidelityaudiopoweredbyDolbyWithaCPUbuiltintocamera,setupiseasyandcustomerstoplacetheontopofthetelevisionorawallmount. Setuptakeslessthan15minutes,andjoiningameetingiseveneasierwithnodownloads,PINS,or 1.800 numbers required. “IT teams love Highfive’s uniquely modern hardware-as-a-service model that combines meeting room hardware and software that’s inexpensive, easy to deploy and requires nearly zero maintenance and support,” Heinemann says. The system comes with screen sharing capabilities, intelligent scene framing, dual-screen func tionality, and SIP interoperability to join meetings hosted by other ser vice providers. Get Connected HIGHFIVE highfive.com TOOLS» SOFTWAREOFNEXT-GENBIZZABO LAUNCHESSUITEON-SITEEVENTSOLUTIONS
PRODUCTS, PLACES & INSPIRATION
THE BLOND SEIZES THE DAY
New
Get Connected
RiversCenterEventatCasinoPittsburgh
NEW VENUE SPOTLIGHT»
Rivers Casino Pittsburgh recently opened its new 25,000-square-foot Event Center, which complements its existing banquet lineup. The Event Center’s grand hall is a black box space, meaning the room is wellappointed but intentionally nondescript in color palette and design. Dramatic high ceilings are painted black in aesthetic harmony with polished, natural concrete flooring. Light fixtures and wall coverings are stylish yet neutral. With unobstructed corner-to-corner views, the room allows meeting and event planners maximum flexibility for tailoring the space to deliver unique experiences. The floor plan accommodates up to 800 guests for sit-down dinners and up to 2,000 for stand-up receptions, trade shows, conferences and national acts. The space also features an adjacent prefunction area for receptions or addition al exhibits, as well as a generous green room that’s worthy of rock stars and their entourages, or brides and grooms and their wedding parties. With the added square footage, Rivers has expanded its entertainment program ming to include indoor headliner con certs and other live performances such as boxing, mixed martial arts and more.
14 NEM+E | FALL 2019
THE BLOND | 11howard.com/the-blond | 212.235.1111
NEW VENUE SPOTLIGHT»
The 3,000-square-foot venue is immersed in the cultural hub of SoHo near Canal Street Market, Access Theatre and Washington Square Park. The venue offers a convenient meeting space for corporate meetings or intimate gatherings around the clock. “No matter what time of day, the space is designed to welcome, relax, and create an open platform for conversation,” says Andrea Kelly, general manager of The Blond. “The dark woods, subdued col ors, low lighting and gold accents lend a seductive edge to the space.”
The lavish NYC meeting spot opens its doors for a cordial daytime experience. BY JAKOB BERMAS The Blond at 11 Howard is pri marily known for its nightlife for Manhattan’s most elite par ties. Now, after three years since its opening, the venue is available as a fresh daytime meeting spot. When you enter The Blond, you will see soft blue and red velvet banquettes, smoky mirrors against blond wood panels, and sculptures of human heads wearing gold animal masks, inspired by the Stanley Kubrick film “Eyes Wide Shut.” Mushroom-shaped lamps sit atop the long bar and long, arched windows look out to Howard Street and “wel come guests to work, mingle and relax throughout the day,” says Julio Montero, creative director of The Blond. The venue is equipped with state-of-the-art audio capabilities, a private entrance, customizable track lighting and two motorized disco balls. Food and bever age is provided by Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group.
PITTSBURGHCASINORIVERSBLOND;THEPHOTOS:
NE.MEETINGSMAGS.COM 15 STEAMTOWN NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE SCRANTON CULTURAL CENTER AT THE MASONIC TEMPLE PNC FIELD VISITNEPA .ORG 1.800.22.WELCOME OutsideMeet the Box ! TWO HOUR DRIVE FROM NEW YORK CITY & PHILADELPHIA Host your next meeting or event at one of our unique venues for an unforgettable experience. MONTAGE MOUNTAIN RESORTS
WOLFGANG PUCK AMERICAN GRILLE; BORGATA HOTEL CASINO & SPA Atlantic City, New Jersey
MEET & EAT
Wolfgang Puck American Grille at Borgata features two private rooms.
Wolfgang Puck American Grille is just part of an unparalleled travel experience on the East Coast at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. “The hotel casino, located at Renaissance Pointe, presents a destination designed to rival those once found only in Las Vegas with high-caliber entertainment, celebrity chef restaurants, lavishly appointed guest rooms and exciting nightlife options under one roof,” says Becky Schultz, vice president of food and Wolfgangbeverage.PuckAmerican Grille has two private rooms—each with its own unique charm—which can accommodate up to 32 guests each. When combined with the Chef’s Table, a maximum of 84 guests can enjoy a seated dining experience, and up to 125 guests can be accommodated in a cocktailparty setting. A few signature entrees are the roasted beet salad with goat cheese and aged balsalmic, seafood risotto with Maryland crab and gulf shrimp, filet mignon with Armagnacpeppercorn sauce and free-range chicken with rosemary garlic sauce. BREAKCASINOS
Casinos offer upscale dining options. BY ROGER GORDON
FROM GAMING
CASINOS ARE POPPING UP all across the United States. So, too, are on-site restaurants. Here are five casino restaurants that offer private dining space.
16 NEM+E | FALL 2019 SPA&CASINOHOTELBORGATAPHOTOS:
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. MOUNTAIRYCASINO.COM ∙ 1-877-MTAIRY-1 AN EXTRAORDINAIRY EXPANSION NOW OPEN Pennsylvania’s first AAA Four-Diamond casino resort, Mount Airy now offers more fun and more luxurious hotel rooms than ever before. With a 20,000 sq. ft. expanded event center and 100 additional rooms, you can experience everything that makes Mount Airy Casino Resort Spa extraordinAIRY.
It can’t get much better than a restaurant that overlooks the boardwalk and the ocean. Well, that’s exactly what you get at Capriccio, a gourmet Italian restaurant. “It’s quite a spec tacular restaurant,” says William Jackson, director of sales and marketing. “It has a really unique atmosphere in that there are frescos on the walls. It’s like walking into Italy. Almost every seat has an ocean view. The restaurant has mirrors and chandeliers that give you an infinity type of feel to it at night, much like the ‘Hall of Mirrors’ at Versailles Palace in France. It’s one of the oldest casino restaurants in the country. It’s been around since 1978.” Groups can rent the entire facility, which consists of the restaurant, the Cielo wine bar and a patio. It can accommodate up to 150 guests for a seated dinner and up to 200 for a cocktailPopularparty.entrees include Branzino sea bass, Chicken Pollo Milanese, filet mignon and pasta with meat sauce or vegetarian style.
COUNCIL OAK FISH; HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO ATLANTIC CITY Atlantic City, New Jersey If you are looking for an upscale dining expe rience, Council Oak Fish is for you. “Council Oak Fish offers guests the Northeast’s fresh
REVOLUTION CHOP HOUSE; VALLEY FORGE CASINO RESORT King of Prussia, Pennsylvania You can dress formally or just wear jeans at Revolution Chop House. “It’s casual fine din ing,” says Jack Elia, assistant general manager/ vice president of property operations. “The restaurant has a lot of wood to it and has leather banquette seating. It’s a very nice steak house atmosphere. It’s just a really comfortable place to go.”
Thestanding.tenderloin filet is the most popular entrée. It comes in 7 ounces and 10 ounces. Other favorites are the rib eye steak, Aussie rack of lamb, a 14-ounce prime New York Strip and a tasty veal chop. “Guests love the service and quality of food,” says Elia.
RESORTSCAPRICCIO;CASINO HOTEL Atlantic City, New Jersey
private event space that can be broken down into two spaces. The big ger space can accommodate up to 50 guests seated and up to 125 standing. When split up, the larger space can host up to 35 guests seated and up to 50 standing. The smaller space can accommodate up to 15 guests seated and up to 25 standing.
One private dining room that can accom modate up to 22 guests seated and up to 75 standing. A semiprivate section of the restau rant can host up to 50 guests seated and up to 75
18 NEM+E | FALL 2019 MEET & EAT CASINOS
BISTECCA BY IL MULINO; MOUNT AIRY CASINO RESORT Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania Bistecca means good piece of steak in Italian. Thus, the name of the restaurant Bistecca by Il Mulino. “Bistecca by Il Mulino is an Italian Steakhouse,” says Todd Greenberg, chief oper ating officer/general manager. “It’s a steak house that also features Italian dishes. While you can get your filet mignon, T-bone and fish, you can also get a variety of pasta dishes, meatballs and pizza.”
NEWCOMBDANIELJOHN;ST.JOEY(OPPOSITE)CORBIS;PHOTOS:
The chicken parmesan is a specialty of the house. It’s served on a bed of penne with mari nara sauce with the bone in. The filet mignon is a favorite, as is the normal surf-n-turf with filet and lobster. The crab cakes are extremely popularThereappetizer.isonemain
Clockwise
est catches sourced by local fishermen with an a la carte menu focused on ocean-to-table fare,” says Nikki Balles, director of pub lic relations and community affairs. “From table-side caviar service to a fire-burning kitchen, all of Council Oak Fish is set in an elegant dining room inspired by the bold aesthetic of the Seminole culture.” As Council Oak Fish is known for its deli cious seafood, the shellfish pots tend to be a popular option for groups, from the Maine lobster pot to the cornmeal-crusted fried scal lopsTherepot. are four private dining rooms, the largest of which can accommodate up to 100 guests seated. “It’s located off of the board walk, offering gorgeous views of the seal pier and iconic Atlantic City ferris wheel,” says Balles. Two private dining rooms can each host up to 40 guests seated, and a private lounge can accommodate up to 16 guests seated. The restaurant can host up to 150 guests standing between the four private din ing spaces. Get Connected BY IL MULINO mountairycasino.com/restaurants | 877.682.4791 resortsac.com | 609.340.7850 OAK FISH HOUSE vfcasino.com/dining | 610.354.8118 AT BORGATA theborgata.com | 609.317.7294 from left: A beautiful presentation from Bistecca by Il Mulino; bone in rib-eye from Revolution Chop House at Valley Forge Casino Resort; Council Oak Fish at Hark Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City
BISTECCA
WOLFGANG PUCK AMERICAN GRILLE
NE.MEETINGSMAGS.COM 19
council-oak-fishhardrockhotels.com/atlantic-city/restaurants/|609.449.1000 REVOLUTION CHOP
COUNCIL
CAPRICCIO
20 NEM+E | FALL 2019
SWILLBURGER(OPPOSITE)ISTOCK.COM/@ROLIKETT;PHOTOS:
Rochester has plenty for groups to discover. BY KEITH LORIA ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, is an under-the-radar destination in the Northeast. The city is affordable, accessible and offers meeting attendees the best of both worlds—with a bustling metropolitan surrounded by the picturesque views of the Finger Lakes region.
The Rochester skyline
“Signature experiences in Rochester include a focus on arts and culture, unique museums, food and wine and creative play for all ages,” says Rachel Laber Pulvino, director of com munications at Visit Rochester. “We are a city with an incredible history (being the home of Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass) with a bright future.” She adds Rochester is a keen example of a midsized city that can help make meetings magical.“TheGreater Rochester region is home to 18 colleges and universities, so conference organizers are rarely at a loss when it comes to finding high-quality speakers and subject matter experts in a number of fields, including science, engineering, optics/photonics, medi cine, agriculture and more,” she says.
DESTINATION ROCHESTER
For meetings or conventions of any size, the beautiful and versatile Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center has 100,000 square feet of flexible meeting and exhibit space connected to 1,100 rooms in a trio of major hotels, with an enclosed skywalk system and scenic riverside promenade conve niently connecting them all. The convention center includes 25 meetings rooms and seating for 5,000. Dining Destinations Blades Bar & Grill was resurrected January 2019, after being one of the hottest restaurant/ bars in Rochester in the ’80s. “People flocked to it and was known for strong drinks and lines of people waiting to come and stay for hours,” says Lily Sandvik, director of events and oper ations. “Today we are known for having great burgers, pastas and pizzas—our main bar is large and accommodating with big screen TVs for viewing sports events, award shows and other events interesting to our patrons.” It also has two private event rooms that offer a rustic industrial feel. Blades Factory seats 120 guests for dinner, 200 guests for cocktail parties, while the Board Room seats 25 guests for din ner, 50 guests for events. “This is often used for corporate meetings, with large tables accom modating guests that require extra space for laptops used in working dinners or lunches,” Sandvik says. “Both rooms are equipped with big screen TVs connected by HDMI and indi A HIDDEN GEM
1898: YEAR ONE OF THE HIGHLAND FESTIVAL AT HIGHLAND PARK, THE OLDEST AND MOST POPULAR FESTIVAL IN ROCHESTER AND THE LARGEST EVENT OF ITS KIND IN NORTH AMERICA
1788: ROCHESTER WAS ORIGINALLY FOUNDED; INCORPORATED AS A CITY IN 1934 200 -YEAR-OLD ERIE CANAL, A MODERN ENGINEER ING MARVEL THAT RUNS RIGHT THROUGH ROCHESTER IN FOUR DIFFERENT CANAL SIDE VILLAGES, FAIRPORT, PITTSFORD, SPENCERPORT AND BROCKPORT
vidual speakers that play whatever Pandora or iHeartRadio channel our guests like.”
443 FEET THE LARGEST TOWER IN THE CITY IS THE XEROX TOWER 18 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES Max of Eastman Place has been a part of the Rochester food scene for almost 20 years and has seen its share of corporate and social meetings and events. “We offer unique downtown locations with indoor and outdoor capabilities,” says Lauren Lauterbach, market ing manager for the company. “We have the ability to have a private dinner for 30 people or an event as large as 200. We cater all around the Rochester area in spaces like the Memorial Art Gallery and the George Eastman House.” Where to Stay A welcoming, upscale downtown destination, Hyatt Regency Rochester places you in the heart of one of the most vibrant cities in New York. The Hyatt is one of two hotels connected to the Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center, a benefit for meet ing attendees during the winter months. Jay Rettberg, regional director of operations, says the hotel’s ornate 20,000-square-foot function space is a great place for any meeting or event. “You can have a say on the look and feel of any small executive meeting in our space or trans port oversized events across the sky bridge to the Rochester Convention Center.” With 15,000 square feet of meeting space, the Holiday Inn Rochester Downtown has been hosting business meetings for more than 50 years. “With recent renovations, this relaxed riverfront hotel is conveniently located in the convention district and is just a short walk from the convention center and just 8 miles from Rochester International Airport,” The Playhouse/Swillburger is a combination bar, arcade and eatery.
NE.MEETINGSMAGS.COM 21
The Playhouse/Swillburger is a bar, arcade and casual burger joint located in a renovated ’80s church. “We have a private room with tables and chairs for 33 and a private back room that can be rented out for private events or as a unique location for your next meeting,” says Mary Hall, event and social media coor dinator for Swillburger. “Alternatively, groups are welcome to come in without renting the private room for a more casual event.” The venue offers 35-plus arcade games and full bar with craft beer and cocktails. “An impromptu pinball tournament would be a unique way to end your meeting while our 30-foot bar is a great space to mingle after a day of meetings elsewhere,” Hall says.
BY THE NUMBERS
22 NEM+E | FALL 2019 DESTINATION ROCHESTER
It is a tribute to the 20th century so there is a mix of art and nostalgia pieces, antiques and old cars,” says Victoria Benz-Gehrke, special events director. “We have over 80,000 square feet of space. We have rooms that can handle 10 people all the way up to rooms that can handle 300.” ArtisanWorks will also offer tours during an event to give attendees a break from the meeting atmosphere. “We have a wonderful caterer on site that can take care of everything for them and they are also allowed to bring food in if that is preferred,” she says.
PHOTOGRAPHYKNILEYPHOTO:
Plenty to Do There are many art galleries, cultural institu tions and museums that call Rochester home, which has helped the city gain recognition on a national level for its commitment to the arts. In fact, the National Center for Art Research recently named Rochester the 17th most artsvibrant city in the country, on the same list as major metropolitans like NYC, Chicago and LosInstitutionsAngeles. like The Strong National Museum of Play, which is home to the Toy Hall of Fame, the George Eastman Museum, Memorial Art Gallery keep visitors returning to Rochester. “History lovers will enjoy a visit to the National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House, home to Susan B. Anthony during her 40 most politically active years, as well as Genesee Country Village & Museum, a 19thcentury brought to life at New York’s largest living history museum—and the third largest living history museum in the country,” Laber Pulvino says. Once the residence of Mayor A. Carter Wilder, East End’s Rochester Club was estab lished in 1860 and in 1911 was renovated to include a grand ballroom lit by four crystal chandeliers, which today still stand. “With light renovations and a name change—now called the Wilder Room—honoring one of Rochester Club’s own, we have modernized a piece of the city’s history and hope to bring it back to life,” says Jenna Knauf of the Bella Events Group. “We have a ballroom available that can seat 150 guests for a dinner-style event with a dance floor, 200 guests without a dance floor, and 250 guests for a cocktail-style event. It has a classic, historical feel that guests will not find at any other venue in the city.”
The Strathallan Rochester - a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, is a dynamic fusion of social hub and urban retreat, while the Woodcliff Hotel and Spa offers spectacular views of the Rochester Skyline, Rochester Bristol Hills and Finger Lakes region.
Get Connected Visit Rochester | visitrochester.com/meetings Max of Eastman Place
Laber Pulvino says. The hotel has a Grand Ballroom plus breakout spaces and can host groups from 5 to 500 guests.
ArtisanWorks, a renovated factory build ing housing many multidisciplinary art pieces, offers event space and recently unveiled its new Casablanca Room themed after the infa mous classic film. It also has themed trib ute rooms such as the Retro Room, Marilyn Monroe room and Bourbon Street Room. “Our space is entertaining in itself for people because there is so much to see everywhere.
1. VALUE OFFERED Valley Forge and Montgomery County offers affordable room rates, low taxes and free parking throughout the majority of our hotels. 2. WORLD CLASS HOTELS AND VENUES Valley Forge features more than 75 world class hotels and over 300 meeting venues. Large or small, we have options to fit meeting needs. 3. UNIQUE TEAMBUILDING POSSIBILITIES Numerous breweries, indoor sky diving, ziplining, escape rooms, culinary challenges, outdoor activities and a world class zoo. 4. A CRAVEABLE RESTAURANT SCENE More than 1,600 restaurants make up our incredible restaurant scene. Our restaurants feature everything from farm to table, top notch steakhouses, unique counter service with many featuring private dining spaces. 5. BEST SHOPPING IN THE UNITED STATES! With the largest shopping mall on the east coast, quaint main street boutiques and shops and tax free shopping on clothing and shoes, we’re a shop-a-holic’s dream come true. 6. COMPLIMENTARY PLANNING SERVICES The Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board offers complimentary planning assistance to help create a productive and memorable Revolutionary Event! TOP REASONS TO HOST YOUR EVENT IN VALLEY FORGE & MONTGOMERYCOUNTY,PA BOOK YOUR NEXT MEETING: meet.valleyforge.org CONTACT US AT: meet@valleyforge.org Valley Forge is one of the 2019 Northeast Meetings + Events Best of Finalists in the category Best CVB (100,000-999,999 in population)
100,000 SQ. FT. OF UNIQUE MEETING & CATERING SPACE ONE HOUR FROM MANHATTAN 2 RESORT HOTELS | 6 WORLD-CLASS GOLF COURSES | 2 LUXURIOUS SPAS | 3 POOL COMPLEXES 10 DINING VENUES & INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CULINARY PROGRAM WORLD-RENOWNED WINE CELLAR | AWARD-WINNING TEAMBUILDING & ACTIVITIES PROGRAM COMMISSIONPLANNER’SMEETING15% For more information, please call 877.540.2662 TheCrystalSpringsResort.com | Sussex County, New Jersey INSPIRING COMPANY RETREATS AT NEW YORK CITY’S CLOSEST 4 SEASON RESORT
NE.MEETINGSMAGS.COM 25 The winners of the Northeast M+E Best of 2019 readers’ choice awards are revealed. BY MEGAN GOSCH, MORGAN HALASKA & KASSIDY TARALA
26 NEM+E | FALL 2019 Best Convention/Expo Center JACOB K. JAVITS CONVENTION CENTER javitscenter.com | 212.216.2000 Situated on the west side of Manhattan, the Javits Center is the busiest convention center in the nation and is currently undergoing a $1.5 billion expansion set to debut in 2021. The expansion will increase the total area of the facility to 3.3 million square feet and add an extra 22,000 square feet to what is already the largest green roof in New York City. Runners-up: Atlantic City Convention Center; Meadowlands Exposition Center AREANORTHEASTGENERAL Best CVB/DMO (1 million+ in population) NYC & COMPANY nycgo.com/makeitnyc | 212.484.1200 This year, NYC & Company endeavored to work with increasingly diverse planners and decision-makers and inventive new conven tions. In June, NYC & Company welcomed its first LGBTQ+ MICE familiarization trip aligned to WorldPride in partnership with LGBT MPA. Additionally, the team secured a brand-new convention for the destination: Fortnite World Cup Finals, a major, global e-sports competition that convened in Arthur Ashe Stadium in July. Runners-up: Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau; Central Jersey Convention & Visitors Bureau BEST (100,000-999,999CVB/DMOINPOPULATION) VISITCOUNTYBUCKS umscruises,alongincludinghaveing,buildingstrategicings,events,varietyandtotination“Bucksvisitbuckscounty.com215.639.0300Countyisagreatdesforbusinesseslookinggetawayfromthehustlebustleofthebigcityforaofoff-sitemeetingsandincludingboardmeetretreats,holidayparties,planningorteam-sessionsinaninspirnature-filledsetting.Wesomeveryuniquevenues,historicmansionstheDelaware,riverboatbed&breakfasts,museandmore.” —Jenna Worrell, business development and events manager BY THE NUMBERS 4,300 guest rooms 30 miles from Princeton 25 miles from Philadelphia 4 full-service hotels Runners-up: Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau; Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board “As part of our 1.2-million-square-foot expansion, the Javits Center will begin offering locally grown food to exhibitors and visitors that will be sourced from a working farm being built on our roof.” @javitscenter on Twitter · July 30 ACMEET(OPPOSITE)HSU;CO./ERIC&NYCCENTER;JAVITSPHOTOS:
BEST EVENT DESIGN/ PLANNING COMPANY
Runners-up: Cape May County Department of Tourism; Discover Lancaster (tie); Visit Hershey & Harrisburg (tie) (STAMFORD/GREENWICH)CONNECTICUT
NE.MEETINGSMAGS.COM 27
BEST CVB/DMO (LESS THAN 100,000 IN POPULATION) AC meetac.com | 609.449.7117
Surf the Atlantic Ocean, ride the third tallest Observation Wheel in the United States and stroll the world-famous Atlantic City Boardwalk without leaving the comfort of your home. In partnership with YouVisit, Meet AC recently launched a virtual reality experience called “Meet Atlantic City “ImmersiveExperience.”experiences perform in ways that our photos and our floor plans have never been able to. They show the beauty of our destination and the flexibility of our facilities in 360 degrees. They make it easier to see how the flow of an event will work from an attendee perspective. They enable the viewer to learn more about the specifics of an event space in less time,” says Sandi Harvey, vice president of sales for Meet AC. “But this is about more than just one event. I see this as a fundamen tal change in the way our industry will be doing business in the years to come.”
SIGNATURE EVENT DESIGN, LLC signatureeventdesign.net | 203.539.8043 At the heart of Signature Event Design, LLC is the belief that no two events should look alike. With more than a decade in the event planning indus try, Signature Event Design experts help clients construct floor plans, operate on a timeline, make budget decisions, collaborate with vendors and more. Signature Event Design is capable of servic ing nonprofit and corporate events of any size.
MEET
Runners-up: Stacie Shea Events, LLC; Wings Unlimited, Inc.
Runners-up: Sweet Relief Catering; Clambake Connection LLC
Best Caterer
BEST IN GOURMET stamfordcaterer.com | 203.978.0360 Founded in 1999, Best in Gourmet has been serving clients deli cious meals for 20 years. From private celebrations and grand openings to corporate functions and holiday parties, Best in Gourmet offers a range of services from a full buffet setup to a simple meal drop-off. Linens, serving utensils, chafing dishes and décor are all included, with an additional cost for paper products.
28 NEM+E | FALL 2019 Best Resort with Meeting/Event Space (Statewide) MOHEGAN SUN mohegansun.com | 860.862.8000 Runners-up: Foxwoods Resort Casino; Water’s Edge Resort and Spa BEST HOTEL WITH MEETING/EVENT SPACE HYATT REGENCY GREENWICH hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/connecticut/hyatt-regency-greenwich/gwich | 203.637.1234 The Hyatt Regency Greenwich hotel has 373 oversized guest rooms located in the picturesque coastal town of Old Greenwich. It caters to both corporate and social clients offering space to accommodate small events up to 700 people. The hotel boasts more than 25,000 square feet of flexible meeting space with the Regency Ballroom at 9,600 square feet. “The hotel features a stunning sky-lit garden atrium— the perfect setting for both corporate and social functions,” says Emily Frank, associ ate director of sales and events. Runners-up: Hotel Zero Degrees Stamford; DELAMAR Greenwich Harbor BEST MEETING/ EVENT VENUE ACCOMMODATIONS)(NO THE LOFT AT CHELSEA CONNECTICUTPIERS chelseapiersct.com203.989.1000 “Our facility is unique in the sense that we can accommo date almost any need for an event. We offer meeting spaces, social event spaces while also being able to do team-building or activity outing-type events. We offer so much variety under one roof,” says Alex Judge, events operations manager. Some of The Loft at Chelsea Piers Connecticut’s most memo rable events this year were a large health expo, home show and wedding expo. It also hosted about 2,000 corporate guests of the winter seasons for holiday parties and events. Runners-up: Bank Street Events; The Landing by David’s Soundview Catering BY THE NUMBERS 275,000 square feet of meet ing space between the Earth Expo & Convention Center and Sky Convention Center 10,000 -seat arena 1,600 hotel rooms 85 acres along the Thames River in Connecticutsoutheastern 80 -plus shops, restaurants and bars 3 casinos 2 world-class spas 1 golf course GREENREGENCYHYATTSUN;MOHEGANPHOTOS: PRODUCTIONS;MACHINELITTLE(OPPOSITE)WICH; SPA&CASINOHOTELBORGATA
BEST HOTEL WITH MEETING/EVENT SPACE BORGATA HOTEL CASINO & SPA theborgata.com | 609.317.1000
» Leadership and Expertise » Continuous Quality » Seamless Integration » Innovative Solutions
Runners-up: Flowerful Events; Eclipse Events
“We have a passionate and seasoned team of professionals working to bring our clients visions to life. Some of our clients have been with us for almost 30 years and we feel that speaks volumes about the level of service and care we give to every single event for every one of our clients. We are known for a first-class service and for creating memo rable special events and meetings.” —Carol Davis-Grossman, managing partner
The Charles Group, Inc. operates on four Pillars of Distinction to design, plan and manage unforgettable corporate meetings and special events across the globe:
Runners-up: The Asbury Hotel; Caesars Atlantic City Hotel & Casino
BEST CATERER SIMPLY CATERINGDELICIOUS simplydeliciouscatering.com | 201.863.7666
Founded by brothers John and Richard Donato in 1986, family-owned Simply Delicious Catering has been pleasing pal ates for groups large and small for over 30 years. Whether catering an intimate dinner party or large corporate event, attention to detail and reliable service are a main priority. Simply Delicious special izes in sandwich platters, salads, and hot and cold buffet dishes and offers special ty menus for vegetarian, vegan, and glu ten free options. Simply Delicious works with groups of five to 2,000 and offers disposable chafing dishes, and quality plastic ware, set-up services, staffing and more for special events.
NE.MEETINGSMAGS.COM 29
THE CHARLES GROUP, INC. thecharlesgroup.com | 973.575.1444 culinary, entertainment, gaming and night life into a destination experience they can enjoy seven nights a week.” The 8,000-square-foot Moneyline will serve as Borgata’s newest destination bar complete with a dining program by executive chef Tom Biglan. Connected to Moneyline through an escalated corridor, the Level One Cocktail Bar & Lounge is an intimate venue for high-end gaming and curated entertainment. Featuring glass link chandeliers over four blackjack tables, the 3,600-square-foot venue will offer customizable seating with lounge chairs, sofas and ottomans for private groups. It will showcase a cocktail menu by master mixologist Craig Schoettler
Runners-up: Chez Alice Catering Company; Encore Catering NEW JERSEY
There are new developments to note at Atlantic City’s Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa: Moneyline Bar & Book and Level One Cocktail Bar & Lounge. The $12 million devel opment was designed by Nelson Worldwide. “Since Borgata arrived in the market more than 15 years ago, we have main tained a steadfast dedication to property growth and development, and we believe our new concepts confirm our posi tion,” says Marcus Glover, president and COO. “When conceiving Moneyline and Level One, we knew we wanted to pro vide our guests with an experience that was more than a transactional venue for sports wagering. We felt Borgata’s guests deserved something that would advance the market by bringing together sports, Best Event Design/Planning Company
30 NEM+E | FALL 2019
BY THE NUMBERS 10 seasonal restaurants 6 golf courses (including New Jersey’s No. 1-rated course) 3 clubhouses 2 day spas 2 hotels 1 mountaintop lake and recreation center BESTEVENTMEETING/VENUE (NO ACCOMMODATIONS) LIBERTY RESTAURANTHOUSEANDEVENTS marketingsaysoutanythingthemes,withchessvolleyball,team-buildingeventsfireworksweddingsaEllisskyline,structedoutdoorexpansiveeventGrandvenuewithdesignedRestaurantJeanneHospitalityCompletedlibertyhouserestaurant.com201.395.0300in2002byLandmarkownersFrankandCretella,LibertyHouseandEventswasastheultimateroomaview.Whilethewaterfrontfeaturesa3,900-square-footBallroom,twosmallerindoorspaces,atentedpavilionandgroundsandgardensforevents,thevenue’sunobviewsoftheNewYorkCitytheStatueofLibertyandIslandaresecondtonone.LibertyHouse’slawnsarealsopopularspotforover-the-top(someevenfeaturingandaerialists),corporateforupto1,500guestsandactivitiesincludingrockclimbing,life-sizeandtugofwar.“We’llworkclientstocreatecarnivalbringinslidesorcabanas,fromaninformalnighttoafullythemedcelebration,”VinSehgal,Landmark’sdigitalmanager. Runners-up: Grounds For Sculpture; MetLife Stadium PHOTOGRAPHY;GIRLA+GUYARESORT;SPRINGSCRYSTALPHOTOS: GAUDETGUILLAUMELLC;EVENTS,ANDMEETINGSGLOBALMCVEIGH(OPPOSITE)
Runners-up: Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City; Ocean Place Resort Spa
Runners-up: Sweet Basil Catering; Deborah Miller Catering & Events NEW YORK (5 BOROUGHS, WESTCHESTER/ ROCKLAND COUNTIES) Best Resort with Meeting/Event Space
thecrystalspringsresort.com | 855.279.1831 “As New York City’s closest resort with full-service meeting offerings and a unique combination of amenities in a stunning mountain setting just one hour from the George Washington Bridge, Crystal Springs is a venue unmatched by any other in the tri-state area,” says Chris Mulvihill, the resort’s chief market ingTheofficer.resort, which hosts over 500 corporate and association meetings annually, boasts over 100,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and group catering space, a dedicated team of in-house conference planners and sweeping valley views. Surrounded by rolling farmland, groups can enjoy a full suite of team-building activi ties and popular experiences like goat yoga, guided nature hikes, canoe races, tours and tastings in one of the world’s best wine cellars, aerial yoga and interactive wellness semi nars—all on-property.
“Fancy Girl Table is a bespoke caterer using exclusively organic, locally sourced and sus tainably farmed products. This approach means a faster path from the farm to your table, better flavor, and higher nutritional value. We take great pride in our presentation and enjoy working with clients to create memorable meals,” says Director of Operations Mark Westin. The full-service company, which accommodates vegan, gluten-free and other dietary needs, serves one-of-a-kind offerings for meetings, cocktail parties, dinners and conferences.
THE CRYSTAL SPRINGS RESORT
&
Home to the state’s most highly-awarded eatery, Restaurant Latour, the resort’s impres sive culinary team also offers a comprehensive variety of event menus and can customize its offerings for theme parties, picnics and more.
Best Caterer FANCY GIRL TABLE fgtable.com | 718.216.9297
“Fancy Girl works with each client to create a customized menu. Product launches and themed presentations are a specialty for us. Recently, while working on a product launch for a beauty company, our team was tasked with designing food that matched the shape and spe cific color of the new product, which was round and purple. As an organic caterer, food col oring was out of the question, but owner Jeanette Maier and her head chef Margaret Dugan were able to experiment to create the correct shade naturally and design a menu around it.”
Runners-up: The Sagamore Resort; Mohonk Mountain House Event Design/ Planning Company mcveigh.com | 212.316.0052
Best
views
guaranteeing
The resort offers nearly 25,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, including The Great Hall, multiple smaller meet ing rooms ideal for board meetings and breakout sessions, three breezy multilevel oceanside decks and five eateries.
Meetings and Events, LLC. After combining “three exceptional companies into a single powerhouse,” MGME has structured itself with six core business solutions to provide tailor-made services, including: » Global Meetings, Incentives & Conventions Management » Hotel Sourcing Solutions » Group Travel Management » Creative Meeting Design and Production » Management Solutions for Associations, User Conferences & Conventions » Strategic Meeting Management Consulting Services “Looking ahead, MGME will continue to excel in the industry and overachieve on our clients’ business objectives through the delivery of creative solutions that nurtures genuine human connections, encourages collaboration, inspires ingenuity, motivates productivity and delivers with a purpose.” —Douglas Hunt, senior vice president, Marketing Runners-up: Northern Lights Events; Kraft Event Management BEST HOTEL WITH MEETING/EVENT SPACE NEW YORK MIDTOWNHILTON hilton.com | 212.586.7000 “As one of New York City’s largest hotels and home to the saysingscelebrityprofilemeetings,lessexecutingrenownedMidtownNewfreelargestcity’scolumn-ballroom,YorkHiltonisforseamcorporatehigh-events,gatherandmore,”Commercial Director Kellie Cahill. With amenities like an on-site event service concierge and stateof-the-art projection equipment, the property offers groups the perks of a large hotel with personalized ser vice to “wow every customer so that every moment stands out. We may be big, but we play small.” Runners-up: New York Marriott Marquis; Conrad New York Downtown BY THE NUMBERS 150,000+ square feet of meeting and exhibit space 3,000 guests can be accommodated 900+ events host ed each year 51 meeting rooms 3 ballrooms
Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa was designed to incorporate as many stunning waterfront as possible, groups a picturesque sea side experience. “Gurney’s is the ideal environment for productive, distractionfree conferences, along the relaxing waterfront in one of Long Island’s last unspoiled outposts. For meetings and corporate events, the beautiful waterfront location in Montauk helps boost produc tivity amongst colleagues in an environ ment that creates a sense of calm and thoughtfulness,” says Michael Nenner, area general manager for all Gurney’s Resorts.
NE.MEETINGSMAGS.COM 31 BEST RESORT WITH MEETING/EVENT SPACE (STATEWIDE) GURNEY’S MONTAUK RESORT & SEAWATER SPA gurneysresorts.com/montauk | 631.668.1717
MCVEIGH GLOBAL MEETINGS AND EVENTS (MGME)
Last June, Fourth Wall Events and WorldTek Events merged with and acquired McVeigh Associates to form McVeigh Global
Already an iconic New York City staple, the historic Tavern on the Green places visitors in the heart of one of the world’s most well-known landmarks. Originally designed by American archi tect Calvert Vaux to house the sheep that once grazed in Central Park, the building was later transformed into a restaurant by Robert Moses in 1934 and has served presidents, royalty, artists and actors, and locals and visitors alike ever since. Co-owners Jim Caiola and David Salama renovated and reopened the modern tavern in 2014 with a warm and inviting new look (inspired by the original sheepfold), and a hearty, rustic menu made of seasonal American fare. Groups can work with the Tavern’s experienced event team to plan every thing from board dinners and holiday parties to weddings and movie premieres in a variety of sophisticated indoor event spaces featuring vaulted ceilings, exposed beams and luxurious décor or plan an al fresco celebration with twin kling bistro lights and lush park views.
32 NEM+E | FALL 2019
PENNSYLVANIA
The Event Group, a global event planning company, specializes in corporate, private and nonprofit meetings and events. “We were hired by VisitPittsburgh to plan the opening and closing events for the PCMA Convening Leaders Conference,” cites Sheila Weiner, president, as a memorable moment from this past year.
THE EVENT GROUP eventgroupproductions.com412.441.9811
Runners-up: The JDK Group Catering & Events; Event FX Productions, Inc. (tie); Corporate Dimensions Ltd. (tie)
Best Caterer BRÛLÉE CATERING brulee-catering.com | 215.923.6000 Brûlée Catering is a full-service catering company that offers catering for a variety of event sizes. They can cater large scale events for thousands of guests, small board meetings with an intimate group of as little as ten attendees and elaborate black tie galas. On a daily basis, they also manage and operate several grab-and-go cafe con cepts in the Philadelphia region. This year, Brûlée Catering opened The Met Philadelphia and partnered with them as their exclusive caterer. The property underwent a $56 million renovation to restore the historical site’s original archi tecture. Large groups can be accommo dated for private events throughout four floors of event space.
Runners-up: The Glasshouse; Brooklyn Winery (tie); Brooklyn Botanic Garden (tie); Gotham Hall (tie)
Runners-up: J Scott Catering; Catering By Design (tie); Garces Catering (tie)
GROUP;EVENTTHECATERING;BRÛLÉEPHOTOS: LODGEHERSHEYART;OFMUSEUMPHILADELPHIA(OPPOSITE)
BEST EVENT DESIGN/ PLANNING COMPANY
Best Meeting/Event Venue (No Accommodations)
TAVERN ON THE GREEN tavernonthegreen.com | 212.877.8684
»
Best
»
LOEWS
“In the fall of 2018, we opened our new res taurant Stir, an intimate dining experience and the only Frank Gehry-designed fine dining restaurant on the east coast that is open to the public. This space is available to rent for dinner and a tour after 5 p.m. As we enter the final phase of our Core Project, we will have many new and excit ing event spaces, services and exhibitions to offer in 2020,” says Camille Focarino, director of special events. From the iconic Rocky Steps to the stunning views of the Philadelphia skyline down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is an excep tional setting to host a meeting or event. “Our teams create memorable experiences through our historic architectural setting, including access to unparalleled works of art from across the globe, inspiring guests at every turn.”
» Loews Philadelphia Hotel is located in the heart of Center City and close to historic attractions like the Liberty Bell and Betsy Ross House
» The Pennsylvania Convention Center is directly across from hotel
BEST RESORT WITH MEETING/EVENT SPACE HERSHEY LODGE hersheymeetings.com | 1.866.726.3387 Meeting space at Hershey Lodge was recently renovated as well as the interior to create more flexibility. The Cocoa Boardroom features outdoor access and the Cocoa Ballroom now boasts natural light. Guest rooms are being renovated over two phases. One of the largest convention resorts in Pennsylvania, Hershey Lodge is centrally located three hours from New York City, two hours from Philadelphia and Washington, 90 minutes from Baltimore and three and a half hours from Pittsburgh. Additionally, Harrisburg International Airport and Amtrak stations are 20 minutes from the resort. The 665 guest rooms and more than 100,000 square feet of flexible meeting space welcome groups of 10-4,000, which can be accommodated throughout 35 function rooms.
NE.MEETINGSMAGS.COM 33
Runners-up: The Fillmore Philadelphia; The Franklin Institute Hotel withEventMeeting/Space PHILADELPHIAHOTEL QUICK FACTS:
» Bank & Bourbon, the hotel’s on-site restaurant, serves traditional American food with a modern twist There are 569 guest rooms including 12 suites and 54 Club Rooms 47,000 square feet of function space with three ballrooms Flavor by Loews Philadelphia Hotel partners include coffee from La Colombe and bread and pastries from Metropolitan Bakery Complimentary Wi-Fi in every guest room and in public spaces Runners-up: Historic Hotel Bethlehem; Normandy Farm Hotel and Conference Center (tie); Sofitel Philadelphia at Rittenhouse Square Hotel (tie)
loewshotels.com/philadelphia-hotel215.627.1200
Runners-up: Kalahari Resorts & Conventions; Sands Bethlehem Best Meeting/Event Venue PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART philamuseum.org | 215.648.7310
»
»
COOL CITYGRANDdestinationAcraftedformeetings.RAPIDS,MICHIGAN I,you,she or he...by Jaume Plensa at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
3
36 NEM+E | FALL 2019 PEOPLE NEWS 38 HOTEL NEWS 40 SNAPSHOTS 46 PEOPLE PROFILE 48 Industry Update
BEHAVIORBOOKING
The findings could change how cities, hospitality organizations and business event professionals organize meetings and confer ences. “The results of ‘Room Block of the Future’ reflect a shift in the industry that CVBs must adapt to,” says Jerry Cito, execu tive vice president, convention develop ment at NYC & Company. “The findings will help NYC & Company educate planners and suppliers on the need for flexibility, pricing transparency and potential development of a cross-loyalty program.”
Download the full report at pcma.co/roomblockresearch
business travelers attend citywide conventions 25% book in hotels designated as part of the room block, but not through the conference room reservation system50% of citywide con vention attendees book through the conference orga nizer’s room reser vation system book in hotels that are not in the room block or in alternate accommodations in
25%1
“Room Block of the Future” reveals booking trends of large-scale, urban convention attendees. Research courtesy of Kalibri Labs and Prism Advisory Group; funded by PCMA Foundation, NYC & Company and Hilton IN 2018, there were an estimated 500,000 conventions in the U.S. with over 40 mil lion attendees. Conventiongoers have many options when it comes to accommodations, and a positive hotel booking experience plays a part in their overall attendee experi ence. The purpose of “Room Block of the Future” is to better understand attendees’ room booking behavior and determine the influences and motivations that played a part in their decision.
NE.MEETINGSMAGS.COM 37 INFOGRAPHIC
REASONS WHY Kalibri Labs and Prism Advisory Group analyzed more than 2 mil lion anonymous hotel and Airbnb guest records from conventions held in Houston, New York City and San Diego between 2015 and 2018 in addition to surveying a sample of U.S. business travelers who have attended a citywide convention.
“It was very unexpected to learn from the survey of citywide attendees just how much it bothers them to lose control of their hotel booking process—being generally unable to do the things they normally do in hotel bookings, such as accessing their loyalty benefits. It’s this desire for control that creates frustration and prompts a quarter of them to make transient bookings in convention hotels to get what they want.”
“One of the more surprising findings from the research was the fact that almost 25 percent of attendees at large citywide conventions actually booked their accommodations at the hotels specified in the room block but did not go through the traditional room reservation process resulting in them not being recognized in the room block. Clearly, this segment of attendees’ room booking priorities were not being met by the existing process.”
Loyalty An inability to enter in a loyalty program number was among the top reasons attendees booked in hotels that are part of the room block, but not through the conferencereservationorganizer’ssystem.
Room Choice Room variety, or lack thereof, is another factor affecting booking patterns. Among many business travelers, a perceived rigidness and the inability to choose a preferred room type played a role. Age Overall, younger attendees (59 percent) are more likely to use accommodationsalternativelikeAirbnb.
—ELAINE HENDRICKS, PARTNER AT PRISM ADVISORY GROUP
—MARK LOMANNO, PARTNER AT KALIBRI LABS Cost A common differentmisperception—affectingattendeebookingpatternsacrosssizesandtypesofconferences—isthathotelroomswithintheblockaremoreexpensive.However,theresearchprovesthatinmostcases(66percent),roomswithintheblockaremoreaffordable.
Lippman is an experienced commercial event professional who takes vacant space in big cities and builds world-class venues that drive traffic, deliver revenue and raise the pro file of the property. With a focus on program ming, digital advancements and organization al strategies, Lippman’s talents will bring mod ern technology and diverse enhancements to the Hutton Brickyards space. “I’m looking forward to developing Hutton Brickyards with events that engage the community and the region with a robust mix of private, corporate and public programming focused on food, culture, arts and music,” he says.
New Hires at The Kartrite Resort & IndoorCourtneyWaterparkDall’Olmo is the director of marketing for The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark, a Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property located in Monticello, New York, within the Catskill Mountains. “[Courtney] comes to us with keen under standing of the resort market, and as a former Benchmark employee now returned to us, an important awareness of our company’s signa ture Be The Difference service culture,” says David Kohlasch, general manager. Dall’Olmo previously served as the director of marketing and communications for the Topnotch Resort of Stowe, Vermont. Prior to this she held the position of marketing supervisor for the Trapp Family Lodge, also in Stowe. Angel Quiles, CEOE, is the director of facilities. Quiles most recently served as direc tor of engineering for the Great Wolf Lodge in Scotrun, Pennsylvania. He also served as the senior director of engineering at the Grand Hyatt New York, where he began in the role of director of engineering. Francis Vidal is the director of aquatics for The Kartrite. Vidal brings a decade of hos pitality leadership experience to her new role. She most recently served as director of safety and security for Great Wolf Lodge and also served in several additional leadership roles with the Great Wolf Lodge brand, includ ing as director of aquatics, and assistant direc tor of aquatics and safety. Pod Hotels Hires for Expansion BD Hotels has appointed Rani Gharbie as the head of acqui sitions and development for The Pod Hotels, BD Hotel’s micro-hotel concept targeted at progressive-minded and budget conscious travelers. The Pod Hotels currently has five properties in the portfolio, three of which opened over the past two years (the brand’s flagship Pod Times Square opened in January 2018; Pod DC and Pod Brooklyn opened in 2017), with two more hotels in the pipeline (Pod Philly opening in fall 2019 and Pod LA slated for 2020). In this role, Gharbie will be responsible for identifying potential investment oppor tunities and bringing together strategic part ners and investors to fund future projects in numerous markets including Miami, San Francisco, Chicago, Austin, Boston, Nashville, Seattle, Montreal, Toronto and Mexico City.
PEOPLE NEWS»
38 NEM+E | FALL 2019 REGIONAL NEWS
New Director of Sales and Marketing at Hutton Brickyards
Joel Lippman has joined Hutton Brickyards as director of sales and marketing for the 75-acre Hudson River Valley destination. “Joel offers tre mendous talent and expertise that will support the continued growth of Hutton Brickyards,” says Karl Slovin, presi dent, MWest Holdings. “I’m delighted to wel come him to the MWest family as we continue to grow and revitalize the historic Hutton Brickyards into an experiential venue to host world-class events and programming.”
New Hotel Manager at The Redbury NewKevinYorkBarnes has been appointed the hotel manager of The Redbury New York, which is located in the Manhattan’s NoMad neigh borhood. In this position, Barnes will manage and lead the operational and strategic performance of the hotel’s growth and brand development. Barnes has more than 20 years of experi ence in the hospitality industry, previously serving as general manager of the nearby The Evelyn Hotel. Barnes has held previous leader ship positions at high-profile city hotels across the U.S., including The Hollywood Roosevelt in California, The Smyth Tribeca, The New York Palace Hotel, The Regency Hotel in New York and Loews Miami Beach Hotel. “We are thrilled to welcome Kevin to our leadership team,” says Gary Schweikert, man aging director of hospitality at CIM Group. “His deep-rooted expertise will be a driving force to take our guest experience to the next level. This year, we look forward to introduc ing exciting new hotel offerings, and Kevin will be instrumental to ensure that we con tinue to entice savvy travelers who are seeking an elevated and engaging stay.”
Founded in 2016, The Redbury New York features 259 guest rooms and 7,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor events space. The property offers three of Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group enterprises includ ing, Marta, Vini e Fritti and Caffe Marchio.
“Rani joins us at a pivotal time as we scale The Pod Hotels portfolio exponentially in North America” says Richard Born, owner of BD Hotels. “He will undoubtedly be a tre mendous asset as he brings over 20 years of experience in hotel acquisitions, development andGharbieoperation.”formerly oversaw development and acquisitions for North America at Virgin Hotels where he actively contributed to grow the brand’s footprint in key markets. Prior to that position, Gharbie was the managing director and founder at Cedar Funds, a New York Citybased development and investment firm with a focus on progressive hotel and real estate assets, as well as regional director of development with InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG).
Rebecca Soloff has been hired as director of sales and marketing at Six Senses New York, the group’s first North American property, which is currently under development and scheduled to open in 2020; the hotel will be located between Manhattan’s popular High Line and the Hudson River. Soloff has 17 years of experience in sales and marketing and pre viously served as director of sales and market ing at The Mark Hotel, New York. Soloff is a New York native and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the State University of New York at Albany. Dant Hirsch joins the hotel as the general manager. With more than 16 years of experi ence in the international hotel and tourism sectors, Hirsch most recently was with The Dominick New York, where he led his team to attain a AAA 5-Diamond rating. In his new role with Six Senses New York, he will bring all his property-opening experience and will be leading a talented team that shares his focus on well-being and living well.
ALHI Grows Mid-Atlantic Sales Force Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI), has appointed Drew Squeglia as director of global sales, MidAtlantic. Drew will be based out of ALHI’s Global Sales Office in Washington, D.C.
“As we continue to focus on offering unique luxury hotel meeting experiences for our cus tomers and new business opportunities for our member hotels, Drew’s sales expertise and exemplary track record for elevating the presence of luxury hotels in key markets made him the ideal candidate for this position,” says ALHI Regional Vice President of Sales Jennifer Erney. Drew brings more than 13 years of experi ence in the meetings and hospitality industry. He previously served as national sales manag er for the Pebble Beach Company and account director for Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ Global Sales Office.
Chef Marc Vetri Appointed Culinary Advisor at Fitler Club Fitler Club has announced chef Marc Vetri as the culi nary advisor of the luxury lifestyle club. The Philadelphia native is the chef/founder of the critically acclaimed Vetri Cucina and has received numerous accolades throughout his career including the James Beard Award for Best Chef Mid-Atlantic in 2005. “I’m so proud to announce one of the country’s top chefs and Philadelphia’s most beloved restauranteurs will be leading Fitler Club’s food and beverage programming,” says Gutstadt. “Marc Vetri is the ultimate representation of the drive and potential of this city I call home as well the level of tal ent we have brought on for the brand and its inaugural location.”
NE.MEETINGSMAGS.COM 39
Central Pennsylvania CVB Announces New Hires Fritz Smith, president and CEO of the Central Pennsylvania Convention & Visitors Bureau (CPCVB), recently announced the hiring of three seasoned professionals with extensive history in Centre County. The team is an integral part of the CPCVB’s plan to increase summer-timed visitor arrivals, enhance the destination’s local grant program to encourage entrepreneurial growth in the tourism sector, and embark on an ambitious plan to rebrand the destination. Lesley Kistner is the public affairs director and is tasked with enhancing the market ability of the community to local and external tourism economic development audi ences. She was previously the vice president, communications/marketing of the Chamber of Business & Industry Centre County (CBICC). CPCVB and CBICC have agreed to mutually focus on comprehensive community marketing and branding. Tim Boyde joins the CPCVB as chief administrative offi cer. “With our planned increased activity comes a need for strengthening our processes and procedures, and bringing Tim on board will help ensure that we are transparent with our spending,” says Smith. Edward Stoddard joins as communications director. He was previously the marketing director for the Huntingdon County Visitors Bureau.
Fitler Club encompasses 136,000 square feet of high design, leading-edge technology and modern luxury which includes a 14-room hotel, gym and spa, 34,000 square feet of workspace and private office suites, and mul tiple culinary outlets. Read more on page 44. The Ridge Hires F&B Director Orlando Ramos has been named the director of food and beverage for The Ridge, a Benchmark Conference Center located in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. With more than 15 years of fine dining and hotel opera tions experience, Ramos was previously in executive operations for The David Burke Organization and also served as the senior operations for Landmark Hospitality and Bobby Flay Restaurants. Orlando Ramos is a member of The Guild of Master Sommeliers and certified by the Sterling School of Hospitality spirits program. “[Orlando] is immensely talented and cre dentialed as is evident through his previous success in food and beverage operations with celebrity chefs and large hotel brands. Orlando is a welcome addition to our executive leader ship team,” says Mike Taylor, general manager.
Six Senses New York New Hires
at Lotte New York Palace
The Hotel Indigo Williamsburg Brooklyn opened in early August. The InterContinental Hotels Group property features ultra-contem porary architecture, sleek interior design, a dual-level restaurant, open-air sun deck and nearly 20,000 square feet of flexible event space. The hotel boasts 25 suites, including bi-level Loft Suites and a 1,100-square-foot Williamsburg Grand Suite. The pool is com plete with an open-air sun deck and fully stocked poolside bar and grill. There is also a dual-level restaurant, with outdoor seat ing and a chef-driven menu. Other ameni ties include a large outdoor courtyard, fully equipped fitness center and on-site parking. “We’re looking forward to becoming a part of the incredible Williamsburg community and bringing a fresh hotel and dining experi ence to our guests,” says Tracey Rucks, gen eral manager. “In addition to well-appointed rooms and upscale design, we’re thrilled to have an incredible event space to host corpo rate groups, along with weddings, banquets and other social gatherings.” Hotel Indigo Williamsburg Brooklyn will have one the largest meeting and event spaces in Williamsburg, with a 6,630-square-foot Williamsburg ballroom, a 2,800-square-foot prefunction space and a 480-square-foot Union Mezzanine. The nearly 20,000 square
REGIONAL NEWS HOTEL NEWS»
New Dining and Spa Offerings
Lotte New York Palace recently announced the opening of The Gold Room, the newest addition to the property’s culinary offerings. Featuring original gilt ceilings from 1882, The Gold Room invites guests to experience the glamour and opulence of the Gilded Age along side modern interpretations of classic, handcrafted cocktails and elevated yet approachable cuisine from executive chef Cedric Tovar.
Hotel BrooklynWilliamsburgIndigo DoubleTree Suites by Philadelphia West Hires New Executive Team Crescent Hotels & Resorts has appointed a new executive leadership team at the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Philadelphia West, a 253-room, all-suite property that opened in November 2018. Ryan Cimei joins as general man ager of the property. He has worked for Crescent Hotels for over three years and has more than 20 years of hospital ity experience with 10 years in a gen eral manager role. He has held leadership roles in independent properties as well as Hyatt, Kimpton and Marriott-branded hotels. Cimei is an experienced opera tions leader with a strong background in all facets of the hotel and restaurant business and is committed employee and guest satisfaction. Ashley Ridolfi joins the team as direc tor of sales and marketing. She brings over 10 years of hospitality experience and has held includes leadership roles for Hyatt, Marriott and IHG. She cur rently sits on the board of directors for the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Philadelphia Chapter. Food and beverage director Michael Luongo has been in F&B management and hospitality for over 20 years. His leadership roles have spanned across The Radnor, Loews, Hilton and Marriottbranded properties as well as independent restaurants and hotels. He has been an employee of Crescent Hotels & Resorts for four years, having previously held the role of executive Beginningchef.his tenure with Crescent Hotels & Resorts in 2005, David Backes (Regional Financial Controller) has a total of 21 years of experience in the hospitality industry, including owner/ operator, director of finance and regional financial controller. Backes has demon strated an exceptional talent on collec tions and also establishing productive relationships with vendors.
PEOPLE NEWS»
The hotel has also partnered with skincare and lifestyle brand ila to open its first branded spa in the U.S. The 7,000-square-foot spa and fitness center will offer a full menu of signa ture massages, facials and treatments. “New York has always held a very special place in my heart, the energy and passion has always been something I have felt very strongly when I visit. To develop our own ila Spa in the Lotte New York Palace has been an absolute dream. We have created a menu which suits those that want to escape the fast pace of New York life but also those that are time short and want to experience our Mini Marvel treatments,” says Denise Leicester, founder of ila Spa. “When I first visited the spa area on the eighth floor I was captivated by the view—it really is some thing quite incredible and makes the founda tion for a truly unique and beautiful spa.” lottenypalace.com
Hotel Indigo Opens in Brooklyn
BROOKLYN;WILLIAMSBURGINDIGOHOTELPHOTOS: MITCHELLDAVID(OPPOSITE)
40 NEM+E | FALL 2019
» A Warby Parker Pencil Room, where visitors can fill out custom postcards
The much-anticipated TWA Hotel opened on May 15. The carefully restored Eero Saarinendesigned landmark boasts 512 rooms and 50,000 square feet of event space. The project was a massive endeavor and involved 22 government agencies and more than 170 firms. “Eero Saarinen’s cathedral to aviation has always looked toward the future,” says Tyler Morse, CEO and managing partner of MCR and MORSE Development. “We restored and reimagined his landmark with the same care that he devoted to his design. No detail went overlooked—from the millwork by Amish artisans to the custom font inspired by Saarinen’s own sketches to the one-of-a-kind manhole covers. Starting today, the world can enjoy this midcentury marvel for many years to come.”
» A Phaidon + Herman Miller Reading Room
The hotel’s features include:
» Authentic split-flap boards manufac tured by Solari di Udine » Iconic flight tubes featured in “Catch Me If You Can” that connect to JetBlue’s Terminal 5
NE.MEETINGSMAGS.COM
» An Intelligentsia coffeebar and coffee carts throughout the hotel grounds
» The Paris Café by Jean-Georges, a 200-seat restaurant in collaboration with Tastes on the Fly
TWA HOTEL OPENS AT JFK AIRPORT
Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center Opens The all-new Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center opened on Aug. 12. The 219-room hotel is located atop the 1,121-foot Comcast Technology Center and boasts unob structed views of downtown Philadelphia. “The history and culture of Philadelphia are so often expressed in the characteris tic storytelling of its art and architecture. Now, thanks to the vision of our partners at Comcast and a world-class team of design ers, architects and artists, the Comcast Technology Center stands tall as a new Philadelphia landmark—reshaping the city’s skyline and signifying a new, exciting chapter in its storied history,” says Christian Clerc, president, Worldwide Hotel Operations, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia will feature installations from celebrity floral designer Jeff Leatham, who is the artistic director of the hotel. On the 59th floor, with 40-foot-tall glass walls, is Jean-Georges Philadelphia, a new restaurant by Michelin starred chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. On ground level, James Beard award winner Greg Vernick highlights his unique approach to modern American dining at Vernick Fish, which spills into the street in an easy indooroutdoor environment created by Tihany Design. Vernick has also partnered with Four Seasons to bring Vernick Coffee Bar to the second-floor lobby of the Comcast Technology Center. The spa, which occupies the entire 57th floor, includes a lifestyle boutique, fitness cen ter created in consultation with celebrity fit ness guru Harley Pasternak, and 30,000-gal lon indoor infinity pool. There is more than 15,000 square feet of flexible function spaces including two ball rooms and can host events of 25-500 guests.
» A rooftop infinity pool and observa tion deck with views of runway 4 Left/22 Right plus The Pool Bar oper ated by Gerber Group » A 10,000-square-foot fitness center operated by The Wright Fit (the world’s biggest hotel gym)
When the Trans World Airlines terminal opened in 1962, it epitomized the glamour and optimism of the Jet Age. The structure was designated a New York City landmark in 1994 and, after its 2001 closure, was listed on the National and New York State Registers of Historic Places in 2005. twahotel.com
» A Shinola custom watch bar and leather goods store
» BLADE helicopter service to Manhattan
» The TWA Shop, selling apparel and gear honoring Trans World Airlines’ legacy » Museum exhibitions on TWA, the Jet Age and midcentury modern design curated by the New-York Historical Society
41 feet of flexible event space will cater to corpo rate groups and will have a big focus on local social events. The hotel will also have a Kosher kitchen. indigowilliamsburg.com
» The Sunken Lounge, a cocktail bar operated by Gerber Group » A Lockheed Constellation “Connie” L-1649A transformed into a cocktail lounge operated by Gerber Group » Departures Hall grab-and-go dining operated by Fooda
Renaissance New York Times Square Unveils MultimillionDollar Refresh
Renaissance New York Times Square debuted its completely redesigned 310 guest rooms and suites, following the earlier completion of its unique terrace suites. “This redesign fully encapsulates the pulsating energy of this city,” says General Manager Christine Devers. “We’ve created an authentic New York experi ence for guests to discover from the moment they enter their rooms.”
Dash Design, a leading NYC-based interior design and branding agency, was selected to spearhead the makeover. When envisioning the hotel’s new look, the firm aimed to inspire guests with a sense of endless discovery and unexpected twists at every turn. “Every aspect of each guest room is a piece of art,” says David Ashen, president of Dash Design. “We created a local pied-à-terre for guests with a vision to capture the pulsating energy of Times Square while paying reference to Broadway’s theat rical roots.”
renaissance-new-york-times-square-hotelmarriott.com/hotels/travel/nycrt-
42 NEM+E | FALL 2019
Renaissance New York Chelsea Hotel Coming Soon Set to open in fall 2019, Renaissance New York Chelsea Hotel will be located on the site of former Antique Garage. Drawing inspiration from the surrounding neighborhood and the site’s charming his tory, renowned New York City-based archi tecture and interior design firm Stonehill Taylor (TWA Hotel and The NoMad Hotel) is spearheading the project’s design. “The hotel’s interiors uniquely blend characteristics of Chelsea’s flower district and the site’s rich his tory into an immersive and unexpected guest experience,” says Sara Duffy, senior interior design associate at Stonehill Taylor. “Imbued with a sense of clever ambiance, we designed the spaces to surprise and delight guests with anachronistic and wondrous moments throughout the hotel.”
The 38-floor, 341-room hotel will also feature a signature restaurant helmed by renowned chef Fabrizio Facchini; Cotto will focus on Italian and Mediterranean fare and offer indoor and outdoor seating, with a trel lis-covered courtyard composed of red brick flooring, water fountains and eclectic garden furnishings.Thehotel will boast 7,326 square feet of flex ible event space across three rooms, including the main ballroom, rooftop terrace and 38thfloor lounge. The 2,170-square-foot Cardinal Ballroom will feature floor-to-ceiling win dows that open out to Juliet balconies with city views. The ballroom, with a maximum capacity of 200 people, will be ideal for wed dings and galas, but can also be split into two separate rooms for smaller conferences. renaissancechelsea.com
REGIONAL NEWS
AWARDS» CHAIRMAN’S AWARD OF EXCELLENCE Nate Waldron, director of opera tions at The Ridge in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, is the recipient of the Benchmark’s Chairman’s Award of Excellence. The award annually rec ognizes a Benchmark employee who has exhibited exemplary service, actively demonstrating the com pany’s “Be the Difference” service culture within Benchmark and the recipient’s local community. “[Nate] is a remarkable person and a highly respected Chairman’s Award recipient, having served Benchmark’s customers and fellow team members with distinction for a quarter of a century, while also serving his community in important leadership and life-saving posi tions as a volunteer fire fighter, Fire Commissioner and more. Nate is a most deserving recipient of the Chairman’s Award, and serves as a daily reminder of Benchmark’s ‘Be The Difference’ service platform in his entire approach to life,” says Burt Cabañas, founder and chair man of WaldronBenchmark.isa25-year veteran of Benchmark, initially working in the company’s conference ser vices division. In this role he quickly established himself as Benchmark’s resident expert in this critically important discipline and was called upon to assist in many property transitions and openings.Renaissance New York Times Square
BENCHMARKMAISELMAN;ISAACPHOTOS:
NE.MEETINGSMAGS.COM 43 Must be 21 years of age or older to enter the Wind Creek Casino. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER. SANDS BETHLEHEM IS NOW WIND CREEK BETHLEHEM. We’re proud to begin a new era of Casino Resort excellence with even more guest amenities and special incentives – all enhanced by our signature style hospitality. Located in Pennsylvania’s beautiful Lehigh Valley, we’re only 90 minutes from New York City. Our dedicated Events Team is anxious to guide you through every phase of planning to assure your complete success. Wind Creek Bethlehem meeting resources include: 12,000 sq ft of meeting space 14,000 sq ft of tradeshow space Award-winning cuisine Lavish hotel rooms The area’s best live entertainment & nightlife Book your meeting or conference today by contacting Alyssa Lippincott at (484) 777-7497 or Alyssa.Lippincott@WindCreek.com MEETINGS AND SO MUCH MORE ACCOMPLISH ALL OF YOUR GOALS AT A DESTINATION THAT HAS IT ALL. 1133 BOARDWALK, ATLANTIC CITY, NJ 08401 THE BEST OF MOHEGAN SUN, RIGHT ON THE BOARDWALK. CALL 609.340.7850, VISIT US AT MEETATRESORTSAC.COM OR EMAIL SALES@RESORTSAC.COM TO BOOK YOUR COMPLIMENTARY SITE VISIT. Featuring 64,000+ square feet of flexible meeting & function space, including 17 breakout rooms, 4 ballrooms and the technologically advanced, all-digital Resorts Conference Center. Located on the world famous Atlantic City Beach & Boardwalk, minutes from 2 international airports.
Northstar Meetings Group has announced that TEAMS ’21 Conference & Expo will be held in Atlantic City in September 2021.
» The Field House Wellness Club unfolds over 25,000 square feet and boasts studios for spinning, meditation, Pilates and other cardio classes; a 20-foot climbing wall; a 75-foot, three-lane lap pool with hot and cold plunge pools; HD Golf simulator; giant turf training area; and a lounge. A fully equipped spa and salon also reside in the Field House.
Atlantic City to Host TEAMS ’21 Conference & Expo
» The Trophy Room features a two-lane bowling alley with whimsical bowling balls that resemble giant billiard balls, billiards, pop-a-shot and other favorite old-school arcade games, and a custom, walnut pingpong table by Sean Woolsey. It is a flexible space that can be used for cocktail hours, receptions, preparties, after-parties, dinners and brunches. » Off-site is a 34,000-square-foot private, full-service workspace powered by a luxury hospitality team. It contains private executive offices, conference rooms, board rooms, meeting space and open collaborative work spaces. » The 20,000-square-foot private swim club, with one of the largest roof decks in the world, is slated to open next year on the roof of an adjacent building.
TEAMS, the world’s largest gathering of sports-event organizers, was last held in Atlantic City in 2016. “Since hosting TEAMS in 2016, sporting events and sports-related meetings and con ventions have become a growing and impor tant source of business for Atlantic City. We look forward to continuing that growth trajec tory by hosting TEAMS again in 2021,” says Jim Wood, president and chief executive offi cer of Meet AC and the Atlantic City Sports Commission.Attendees at TEAMS ’21, which includes the gatekeepers to the 88 million room nights and $31 billion in direct spending generated by sports-related travel annually, will gath er at the Atlantic City Convention Center, which boasts 500,000 square feet of contigu ous exhibit space and was recently award ed LEED GOLD certification. meetac.com; atlanticcitysports.org
Mount Airy Casino Resort officially revealed its multimillion-dollar luxury expansion that includes a new 20,000-square-foot con vention center and ballroom and 100 new guest rooms. The expansion was designed by the Friedmutter Group, who was tasked with designing a contemporary space that embodied the beauty of the surrounding Pocono Mountains. The 16,000-square-foot meetings and event space can be divisible into six separate rooms and will complement any event, from galas and weddings to trade shows and concerts with full service banquet and catering on-site. The entire space can accommodate 750 seated guests and 1,200 attendees for events and concerts. The interior design of the meeting rooms include wood trimmed ceilings, acous tical wave wall panels and dramatic overscaled glass and bronze ribbon chandeliers.
VENUE NEWS»
Fitler Club—a luxurious stay/work/play destination—officially opened in June 2019. Founded by David Gutstadt, formerly with Equinox Hotels and a longtime hospitality executive, Philadelphia’s Fitler Club is the first in a collection of clubs planned for cities“Thisnationwide.isanext-level club that reflects a new generation of urban sophisticates. They don’t separate social life, work and wellness. They’re well-traveled, with exceptionally high standards. And they want to spend time with a like-minded community of other fearlessly creative people,” he says. “Fitler Club is an evolutionary concept, and it says a lot about how cities like Philadelphia have evolved. Our members are the leaders, innovators and influencers creating that change.” fitlerclub.com
» The Dining Room is a members-only signature dining experience featuring seasonal new-American menu by culinary partner Marc Vetri. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer views of The Schuylkill River. A private dining room offers seats at a chef’s table for private events and exclusive culinary programming.
44 NEM+E | FALL 2019 REGIONAL NEWS
Mount Airy Unveils Convention Center & Hotel Expansion
FITLER CLUB OPENS IN PHILADELPHIA
» The Screening Room features cinema-quality screening with 50 seats. It will host movies and first-run screening opportunities for members in partnership with the Philadelphia Film Society.
LEONARDGARY(OPPOSITE)SCHLECHTER;ANNIEPHOTOS:
» The Bar + Lounge and The Back Bar is an all-day hangout for members with extensive morning-to-night menu, signature cocktails and over 100 brown spirits.
The Empire State Building has partnered with NYC & Company on “NYC: Above and Beyond,” a brand-new interactive experience designed to provide personalized travel rec ommendations to visitors from around the world. The new exhibit, which will open in fall 2019, will be located on the 80th floor of the iconic landmark, which welcomes over 4 million visitors per year. The “NYC: Above and Beyond” exhibit encourages visitors to create a personalized trip itinerary from the top of the Empire State Building—the first stop for many during their visit to New York City. Using an array of engaging questions about their interests and the length of their stay, a comprehensive list of recommendations for seeing Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island will be displayed for users who can then select their favorites. Then, their selec tions can be e-mailed or transferred by near field communication directly to the visitors’ handheld“Whendevices.the Empire State Building researched for the top-to-bottom redevelop ment of its visitor experience, there was a clear call for assistance with itineraries and desire for an all-knowing resource. We immediately reached out to NYC & Company to partner with them, and that resulted in ‘NYC: Above and Beyond,’” says Anthony E. Malkin, chair man and CEO of Empire State Realty Trust. “NYC: Above and Beyond” is part of the second phase of the larger redevelopment currently taking place at the Empire State Building. esbnyc.com
NE.MEETINGSMAGS.COM 45
TOURISM NEWS» Travel Tool
MEETINGS AT HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO ATLANTIC CITY IT’S TIME TO Rockin’ rates starting at $69 PER NIGHT. Visit hardrockhotelatlanticcity.com/meetings or call 609-449-6060 today and receive additional booking incentives. 1000 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ 08401 Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Management reserves all rights. Certain rules & restrictions apply. Must book before 6/20/20. Based on availability. Excludes taxes, fees, holidays & blackout dates. With 150,000 square feet of spectacular meeting space plus 2,000 luxury hotel rooms, we have the perfect place to make your moment shine. Discover how our team of professionals can help inspire yours. Join us on the Boardwalk and feel the new vibe in Atlantic City. Do you love it? en keep it coming. MEETINGSMAGS.COM/SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE and receive quarterly issues chockful of regional content. O BeatenthePath SHAREBUSINESSSTORIES (38) CREATIVE EXPRESSION abounds ith (47) FEELS LIKE HOME + WATERSIDE CHANGE DIRECTION Grand County’s beauty and activities chart the course Trend FORECAST Impossible forwhat’s 2018 food,technologydécor, PLAN MOUNTAIN BUT Majesty ATELEVATETHESE RESORTS VEGANRESTAURANTSPUNCHA CANVAS inspiring GONNASTAMFORD PLEASE Veggies, GALVESTON MODERNIZED COURTS COMEBACK HITROADTHE 8) In Case Emergencyof Pro tips to prepare the scenario(41
46 NEM+E | FALL 2019 SUBMIT YOUR EVENT PHOTOS To have your meeting or event photos featured here, contact the editor at morgan.halaska@tigeroak.com. 7 8 9 6 31 5 Big Apple Celebration: Cirque de New York
1. Dianne Devitt, The DND Group, Inc.
7. Ronni Janoff Weinstein, Crystal Plaza Group; Ray Guanlao, Vision Event Co.; and Max Janoff, Crystal Plaza Group.
8. Entertainment by Total Entertainment. 9. President Elect, Jaclyn Zendrian, CurePSP; Kelly Heaton, Kelleesee Designs; and Candice Soldano, Federal Home Loan Bank of New York. —Photos by Natural Expressions NY
24 SNAPSHOTS ILEA NEW YORK METRO CHAPTER’S BIG APPLE CELEBRATION
2. Travis Pham, CMP, 360 Destination Group; Meredith Reed, Ace Party & Tent Rental; and Amanda Tissue, 360 Destination Group. 3. Catering by Riviera Caterers. 4. Claudia Warner and Melissa Rosenbloom with Gourmet Advisory Services pay tribute to Harriette Rose Katz. 5. Past President, Jennifer Claire Scott, CSEP, Access New York Metro; Current President, Matt Bonavita, Rhythm in Motion; and Immediate Past President, Jessica Alton, Thomas Preti Caterers. 6. Daniela Grafman, CSEP, Vision Event Co.
The ILEA New York Metro Chapter celebrated the end of its year on June 11 at Union Park in New York City. Harriette Rose Katz (founder, Gourmet Advisory Services) was honored with a tribute, and the Hall of Legends Award was presented to Perry Brocco (The Glasshouses). The new 2019-20 chapter officers were also installed.
NE.MEETINGSMAGS.COM 47 Meet your needs. Exceed their expectations. With state-of-the-art meeting spaces and hotels, Westchester County, in the scenic Hudson Valley, effortlessly balances business and pleasure. With close proximity to New York City, accessible by car, rail and our own airport (HPN), Westchester’s historic estates, vibrant art scene, and world-class dining and entertainment offer what meeting planners need and what participants will remember. ® NYSDED Let Westchester County Tourism assist in your planning. Submit an RFP at VisitWestchesterNY.com/meetings or call us at 1-800-833-9282 to learn more about our free lead referral services or to schedule a site visit.
ZELLMANNTRACIILLUSTRATION:
When Weaver first started EWC, he was focusing on buying art from around the world and selling it back home, allowing the east to connect with the west through art. At the same time, he says he had many clients coming to him for help planning meetings and events, which led to EWC’s new purpose. “I started it to bring the far east together with the western world, to bring the best of both cultures together,” Weaver says. “I wanted to show how people can work together and learn from each other. That’s how it evolved and led to doing not only domestic meetings, but inter national, too.” EWC works primarily with pharmaceutical companies, health care organizations, cyber security and construction companies to plan everything from sales meetings and employee events to incentive trips and POA meetings. “We run the gamut of big and small meetings and events,” Weaver says. “Whatever we do, regard less of size, our founding principal is attention to detail and excellent customer service. Size doesn’t matter.”
48 NEM+E | FALL 2019
And he hasn’t looked back since.
Get Connected EAST WEST CONNECTION | eastwestconnection.com
Ralph Weaver, founding president and CEO of East West Connection, shares his love for creativity, event planning and, most of all, people. BY KASSIDY TARALA
Weaver says his favorite part of his job is the creativity. Though, he adds, he wouldn’t be able to do it without his team. “I couldn’t take the company on my own,” he says. “I need my team of people who are really committed to what they do. I’m the proudest of that. Being able to build something from noth ing into this multimillion-dollar organization with 75 people who are passionate about what they do and are committed to excellent service and programs.”
Creative Connections
PEOPLE PROFILE RALPH WEAVER
F rom Baltimore to Boston to brainstorm ing, Ralph Weaver has never been one to say “no” to trying something new. After studying communications and marketing at Boston University, the Baltimore native made his way to New York City where he worked with a public relations agency, allowing him to dip his toes in the world of event planning.
Even if they’ve already done the exact same meeting or event in the past, Weaver says he and his team always treat each client as a new and original opportunity for creativity. An early riser, Weaver starts his day at 5:30 a.m. with meditation and exercise. Once he gets the cre ative juices flowing, he immerses himself in the day-to-day operations with the rest of the team, from creative brainstorming to troubleshooting.
Nearly 29 years ago, Weaver founded East West Connection, a global meeting, event and incentive travel company. “I used to do a lot of international travel, a lot of traveling to the far east,” Weaver says. “I’m an art collector, so I was always purchasing things while traveling.”
USA TODAY’S #1 INDOOR WATERPARK & PA’S BIGGEST OUTDOOR WATERPARK 7 Signature Restaurants • Luxury Spa • Mountain Coaster Hiking • Dual 1000’ Ziplines • Laser Tag • Over 100 Treetop Challenge Course Obstacles • Mountain Slides • 4000’ Tandem ZipFlyer • PA’s Favorite Ski Area • USA’s Largest Snowtubing Park Groups@CamelbackResort.com • 570.629.1665 • Tannersville, PA MEET ON THE MOUNTAIN NOT THE HIGHWAY TEAM BUILDING WITH A SPLASH ADVENTUREOF
thekartrite.comgroups@thekartrite.com Monticello845.397.2500NY resort & indoor waterpark THE KARTRITE RESORT CATSKILLS A DISTINCTIVELY DIFFERENT PLACE TO MEET Meetings and conferences at a new level - absolutely! 324 suites with a flair for fun that are anything but the usual conference hotel rooms. Signature restaurants showcase local farm to table. Meeting spaces that inspire. And everyone’s a kid again at New York’s biggest indoor waterpark. Adult time at NY’s newest casino - Resorts World Catskills. Yep - distinctively different and well above the norm. The Kartrite is a convenient 90-minute drive from most of NYC, NJ and Connecticut.
