MEETINGSMAGS.COM // WINTER 2020 MADE FOR SHARING PHOTOGENIC PLACES INSPIRE CREATIVITY IN REAL LIFE AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA A CORNUCOPIA Food halls offer a bounty of culinary options for all palates {20}
NE.MEETINGSMAGS.COM 1 USA TODAY’S #1 INDOOR WATERPARK & PA’S FAVORITE SKI MOUNTAIN 7 Signature Restaurants • Luxury Spa • USA’s Largest Snowtubing Park • Mountain Coaster • Hiking • Dual 1000’ Ziplines • Laser Tag • Over 100 Treetop Challenge Course Obstacles • Mountain Slides • 4000’ Tandem ZipFlyer • PA’s Biggest Outdoor Waterpark (Seasonal) Groups@CamelbackResort.com • 570.629.1665 • Tannersville, PA MEET ON THE MOUNTAIN NOT THE HIGHWAY TEAM BUILDING WITH A SPLASH WEADVENTUREOFKNOWMEETINGS.AMERICA’S ADVENTURE RESORT.
2 NEM+E | WINTER 2020 EASTWINDOSWALD;MICHAELBLOCKSOM;TAYLORPHOTOS: Winter 2020 NORTHEAST MEETINGS + EVENTS MAGAZINE: IN THIS ISSUE 6 EDITOR’S LETTER 18 EVENT PROFILE NACE Philadelphia’s Dining in the Dark outfitted guests with blindfolds. By Morgan Halaska 20 VENUE REPORT The Northeast has a bounty of food halls. By Kassidy Tarala 48 PEOPLE PROFILE Meet Dana Bartle, vice presi dent of sales and events at Brooklyn Bowl. By Kassidy Tarala DEPARTMENTS 20 FEATURE 24 Snap & Share Tour these venues that are brimming with Instagram-worthy moments. By Megan Gosch, Morgan Halaska & Kassidy Tarala 18
4 NEM+E | WINTER 2020 44 2020Winter MEETING NOTES 9 SELF-SERVE Two companies bring the bar to hotel rooms. By Kassidy Tarala 10 CVB SPOTLIGHT Get to know Altoona, Pennsylvania. By Sophie Jonsson 11 EXPERT ADVICE How to enhance an event with Instagrammable moments. By Bronwen Smith 12 F&B Hire a food and beverage supplier on wheels. By Sophie Jonsson 14 TIPS FROM A PRO Does every event need a theme? By Susan Dunkelman 16 TOURS Emerson Resort & Spa partners with Table to Farm Tours to give guests a taste of the region. By Kassidy Tarala INDUSTRY UPDATE 34 INFOGRAPHIC CWT Meetings & Events’ 2020 Future Trends Report projects growth in the industry. Research courtesy of CWT 36 REGIONAL NEWS What’s happening in the local industry. Compiled by Morgan Halaska 46 SNAPSHOTS Photos from MPI Middle Pennsylvania Chapter’s Rock Your Life ON THE COVER The back bar at Freemans Restaurant in New York. Photo by Steve TungstenFreihon/LLC 1237 BROWN;LILYAVENUE;PARKPESTANAPHOTOS: PHOTOGRAPHYMCGUIRECARRIEMADE FOR SHARING PHOTOGENIC PLACES INSPIRE CREATIVITY IN palates {24} The longshoreman pg 13
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You might remember seeing the onslaught of images on social media from when the Museum of Ice Cream opened in 2016. The museum—which has since opened pop-up locations through out the country—has become synonymous with Instagram, but it doesn’t stop at a perfectly posed picture. I recently attended an educational session with Maria Moyano, the experiential producer at the Museum of Ice Cream, who talked about immersion being more important than Instagrammable. While the social platform certainly played into the museum’s viral success, the intention of the museum is to create moments for guests rather than simply facilitate a photo opportunity. “Captions are more important than images,” said Moyano. “You can’t socially com pare an experience.” Turn to page 24 to read about—and admire—the venues we’ve selected for thisOnfeature.theother end of the spectrum, the National Association for Catering and Events (NACE) Philadelphia Chapter decided to take away attendees’ sense of sight at its September 2019 meeting: Dining in the Dark. In blindfolding its guests at dinnertime, organizers effectively heightened their other senses, making for a truly unique meal. Read more on page 18.
CWT Meetings & Events’ 2020 Future Trends in Meetings and Events report listed “venues that tell a story” as one of its 20 microtrends: “Unusual venues that reflect the aims of the event are booming—think spectacular views, historic spaces or even an underwater event.” (Flip to our Infographic on page 34 for more on this report.)
EDITOR'S LETTER
/NEMEETINGSMAGS
It’s not just about looks, though; an immersive setting is becoming a soft requirement for planners who are striving to engage attendees at every opportunity.
Morgan Halaska, editor MORGAN.HALASKA@TIGEROAK.COM
Sensory Overload
THE NORTHEAST has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to our feature topic in this issue: Instagrammable venues. Restaurants, hotels and event venues in the area continue to up their aesthetics, which made it hard to pare down our list—a good problem, indeed.
6 NEM+E | WINTER 2020 NADEAURACHELPHOTO:
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NE.MEETINGSMAGS.COM 7 EDITOR Morgan Halaska SE NIOR EDITOR Megan Gosch ASSOCIATE EDITOR Kassidy Tarala DIGITAL CONTENT EDITOR Julianna Fazio C ONTRIBUTING WRITERS Susan Dunkelman, Bronwen Smith EDITORIAL INTERNS Hannah Cullen, Dinneen Graff, Megan Ekstrand, 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 P RODUCTION DIRECTOR Dianne Talmage P ROJECT COORDINATOR Brittni Dye C IRCULATION DIRECTOR Jeremy Wieland ACCOUNTS PAYABLE Leanne Warzeka C REDIT MANAGER April McCauley ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE SPECIALIST Jared Lawson W EB DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Sandy Powell W EB ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Angela Beissel ASSOC IATE 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, Winter 2020 © 2019 Tiger Oak Media. All rights reserved Printed in the U.S.A. WINTER 2020 ne.meetingsmags.com $500 SIGNING BONUS For NEW Meeting or Event Bookings For 1st Quarter* 2020 OR 2021 Must Book 25 or More Room Nights BrandywineValley.com/meetings *1st Quarter = January, February and March 2020, 2021. Contact Courtney Babcock for details. Courtney@BrandywineValley.com484-840-7213 In addition, receive a bonus $5.00 per night on picked up rooms during your meeting or event in Q1*
2 SOLAR POWERED HOTELS 6 GOLF COURSES 2 LUXURY SPAS BEST IN CLASS CULINARY PROGRAM WORLD FAMOUS WINE CELLAR COMMISSIONPLANNER’SMEETING15% For more information, please call 877.540.2662 TheCrystalSpringsResort.com | Sussex County, New Jersey MEETINGS AT NYC’S CLOSEST RESORT UNIQUE SPACES IN A PICTURE PERFECT SETTING
NE.MEETINGSMAGS.COM 9 Meeting Notes PRODUCTS, PLACES & INSPIRATION
CVB DRINK
The hotel bar is a fun, convenient option to unwind after a long day of meetings, but with companies like Plum Wine and PourMyBeer, hotels are now taking it one step further: They’re bringing the bar to your room. That’s right—throw on that plush robe and slippers because you no longer need to leave the room to get a drink.
Plum Wine Since opening its first in-room taps in 2018 at the Four Seasons in Silicon Valley, Plum Wine has been bringing wine, beer and spirits to guests’ rooms in 22 hotels across the United States. The Plum amenity houses up to two bottles of wine that can be preserved for up to 90 days using argon gas. “Similar to a Nespresso machine, when a guest wants a glass of wine or spirit in the convenience of their hotel room, they just press a button,” says founder David Koretz. Koretz says meetings and events planners can customize Plum to their attendees’ liking by offering a unique experience to sample many local wines and pair them with the hotel’s menu. “It’s all about exceeding guest expectations. Guests today aren’t just looking for a bed to sleep in; rather, they crave an experience that allows them to indulge and feel catered to. They crave an experience that exceeds what they can get at home,” Koretz says.
A Plum canister, which serves more than 1,000 pours, uses cloud and artificial intelligence to identify the label of a bottle of wine, beer or spirit, and it automatically sets the perfect temperature for each bottle.
PLUM WINE | plum.wine POURMYBEER | pourmybeer.com
POURMYBEERWINE;PLUMPHOTOS:
SPOTLIGHT 10 SIGNATURE
13 TIPS FROM A PRO 14 TOURS 16
BYO BARTENDER
In-hotel wine, beer and cocktail taps are bringing the bar right to your room.
PourMyBeer With self-pour taps in hotel lobbies across the United States and Canada, PourMyBeer offers guests the opportunity the pour their own wine, beer, kombucha or cold brew and bring it back to their rooms. “Guests can use their room key to get a beverage of their choice any time they want and pour it by the ounce. For example, some hotels can have bars only open for a few hours a day, limiting their beverage sales. This is not an issue with self-pour technology, which allows the guest to access the beverages around the clock,” says Tana Rulkova, marketingPourMyBeermanager.allows guests to access only two drinks at a time, but if a guest requests more, hotel staff can give their keycard access to twoThoughmore.
PourMyBeer has the capability to install a tap in each individual guest room, Rulkova says it is more cost efficient and lower maintenance for hotels to serve these kegged beverages in a tap located in the lobby for all guests to use. “We want to offer an easy-to-deploy mobile dispense solution to hotels that they can activate for events or just everyday use in the lobby,” Rulkova says. —Kassidy Tarala
Get Connected
BY SOPHIE JONSSON
The city of Altoona is conveniently located along Interstate 99, two hours east of Pittsburgh. “The location allows conference groups to draw attendees from more than 7 million people within a three-hour radius,” says Mark Ickes, executive director of Explore Altoona.
Over the past two years, Altoona has renovated and added 550 hotel rooms, completed a $12.5 million expansion of Laguna Splash water park, and expanded train trips on the Everett Railroad to cel ebrate Altoona’s deep historical connec tion to the American railroad. With an array of award-winning hotels to choose from, Ickes says “this is an exciting time for groups to explore a small destination with big adventures!”
FLORAL;B(OPPOSITE)ALTOONA;EXPLOREPHOTOS: PAULODIOGOHENDERSON;ALICIA SPOTLIGHT» GET TO KNOW … ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA
10 NEM+E | WINTER 2020
VISIT ALTOONA | explorealtoona.com
The city of Altoona embraces its small-town charm while expanding its hotel, meeting, event and outdoor recreation capacities.
Clockwise from top left: The Railroaders Memorial Museum, Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark, DelGrosso’s Amusement Park, Blair County Convention Center
Get Connected
PRODUCTS, PLACES & INSPIRATION
CVB
W ith so many people searching for niche, unique vacations, it can be difficult to find the perfect spot. However, if it’s rich his tory, a variety of event spaces, and a plethora of outdoor recreation activities you’re looking for, look no further than Altoona, Pennsylvania.
Whether you find yourself in Altoona for business or pleasure, there is no shortage of things to experience. Check out what’s going on at the state-ofthe-art convention center or take a trip back in time and visit a reconstructed Revolutionary War fort site. For meetings and events, “the variety and value of meeting and event space within the Altoona/Blair County market is advantageous for any budget,” says Ickes.
NE.MEETINGSMAGS.COM 11 EXPERT ADVICE»
BRONWEN SMITH IS THE OWNER AND LEAD DESIGNER OF B FLORAL, AN EVENT DESIGN AND PRODUCTION FIRM IN NEW YORK CITY. RAISED IN MANHATTAN, SMITH GRADUATED FROM DUKE UNIVERSITY WITH A DEGREE IN ECONOMICS. IN 2010, SMITH FOUNDED B FLORAL, WHICH HAS EVOLVED INTO A TOP EVENT DESIGN AND PRODUCTION FIRM SPECIALIZING IN BRANDING AND CORPORATE EVENTS.
SNAP SHARE&
Pro tips on enhancing an event Instagrammablewithmoments.
BY BRONWEN SMITH WHEN YOU OPEN YOUR PHONE, which app is your go-to? For most people around the globe, from teens to savvy seniors, Instagram is one of the most popular plat forms for sharing experiences with friends and family. Posting images to a profile and adding pictures to Instagram stories are modern ways for users to keep others informed on different aspects of their lives. When it comes to hosting events, making an impression on guests is key to a successful event and its impact on social media. Not only should guests be blown away in per son, but it’s important to entice every attendee to share the event on Instagram. Many brands have turned to featuring Instagrammable moments or installations at their events, which are unique elements that instantly draw the attention of guests and their followers on theOneplatform.wayto make an event Instagrammable is by producing an interactive experience guests can’t resist sharing. An element such as a swing that guests can take photos on not only makes for a great picture, but it allows them to interact with their brand. If you’re hosting a product launch or branded event, adding a logo or hashtag to a backdrop behind a swing is a great way to include branding in every shot. If you’re looking to make a statement on Instagram, a flower bomb is the ultimate photo moment and will become the focal point of a venue. For those not familiar, a flower bomb is an installation where blooms are overflowing out of an object such as a vehicle or a phone booth. The key to achieving a memorable flow er bomb is to add flowers in an unstructured and free flowing manner to make it appear as though the flowers have been growing out of the object for years. Attendees flock to these whimsical installations to take photos and immediately post to Instagram. Neon signs are no longer relics of the past; they can easily make a stunning flower wall even more Insta-worthy. Whether neon signs evoke a feeling of nostalgia or the bright, bold colors catch your attention, they’re the perfect addition to a photo moment. Since there are a wide array of colors and fonts to choose from, a brand can create a sign that matches its aesthetic. Whether you decide to use a slogan, hashtag or quote, adding a bright, bold and eye-catching branding element will seamlessly slip your brand into every image posted to socialHowmedia.will your event be received on Instagram? Exposure on social media is essen tial for the growth and reputation of a brand. Whenever an event is hosted to launch a product or showcase a new collection, an event’s presence on Instagram will create buzz and expose your company to thousands of consumers. As you design your next event, keep these ideas in mind. The next time you check your feed, you’ll see countless posts, tags and hashtags highlighting your event and your brand!
With an event of almost any kind, food and drinks play an integral role. So much so that many mobile food stations become the central gathering point at any event they service. For the Bubble Brothers Prosecco Van and Get Cozy Vintage Mobile Bars, their authentic and memorable experiences have brought people together to interact with one other, all over food and drinks on wheels. The mobile design, function, and ser vice is perfect for an event as small as a few dozen to festivals of thousands. The Bubble Brothers have been utilizing a 2002 Piaggio Ape Prosecco van since they brought their UK-based business to New York in early 2019, while Get Cozy has acquired an array of one-of-a-kind vintage vehicles, from 1950s caravan campers to Piaggio Ape mini trucks, since their founding in 2015. On the outside, each vehicle is beautifully designed to per fectly balance feelings of class and coziness.
Inside, Bubble Brothers has sparkling wine and spritz cocktails on tap, all served by a personable bartender. Get Cozy designs the vehicle’s inner contents based on the client’s wishes and nature of the event, but in the past have provided everything from alcoholic drinks, coffee, and kombucha to cotton candy andFors’mores. planners looking to incorporate a mobile bar into their event, if you can dream it, these mobile bars can make it happen.
FOOD & BEVERAGE ON WHEELS PROVE
VINTAGE IS IN, CLASSIC IS TIMELESS
VINTAGE IS IN! These days, companies and consumers alike are strad dling the popular quirky vintage vibe with a modern, sleek aesthetic. For those finding themselves in this predicament when it comes to planning events, a food & beverage service on wheels may be the perfect solution.
12 NEM+E | WINTER 2020 F&B»
Private hire pricing for Bubble Brothers’ ser vices start around $2,000, while average rent als for Get Cozy start at $1,250 and run in the range of $2,000, all while including drop-off, pickup, bartending, and personalization of food. Clients can make their experience one that is truly original and all their own. Whether the food & beverage on wheels is the focal point or an informal element of your event, it will surely be admired and enjoyed. The classic upscale offerings of Bubble Brothers and Get Cozy pair perfectly with the vintage tinge of the overall experience and is one that is sure to be enjoyed by any who catch it rolling by. Get Connected BUBBLE BROTHERS LTD. bubblebrothersinc.com GET COZY VINTAGE MOBILE BARS getcozybars.com
PRODUCTS, PLACES & INSPIRATION
LTD.;BROTHERSBUBBLEPHOTOGRAPHY;MCGUIRECARRIEPHOTOS: BROWNLILY(OPPOSITE)
Mobile food and beverage services from Bubble Brothers Ltd. and Get Cozy Vintage Mobile Bars are driving events to new places. BY SOPHIE JONSSON
DIRECTIONS Add all ingredients to mixing glass filled with ice. Stir and pour into a Nick and Nora or martini glass. Garnish with a cherry on a Locatedskewer.
Courtesy of The Longshoreman thelongshoremanbk.com
AIN’T NO PARTY LIKE A VR PARTY
LONGSHOREMANTHE
NE.MEETINGSMAGS.COM 13 INGREDIENTS —1.75 oz. Barrell Rye Batch #2 —.5 oz. Averna —.5 oz. Punt E Mes —.5 oz. Vicario Cherry liqueur —glass: martini or Nick & Nora —garnish: cherry
in Columbia Street Waterfront, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Brooklyn, The Longshoreman’s eponymous signature drink takes a twist on the cocktail named for Kings County. The Brooklyn, which is made of rye, amaro and dry vermouth, was made originally as a twist on the classic Manhattan. The Longshoreman swaps the dry vermouth with a sweet vermouth to round out the flavors and gives allegiance to the original Manhattan cocktail. The Longshoreman gives drinkers a subtle hint of spice from the rye, a fruitforward sweetness from the Vicario Cherry mixing with the Punt E Mes, and herbaceous notes from the Averna amaro. Classic Manhattan drinkers instantly fall in love with this amped up twist on a wellknown classic. The Longshoreman is one of a few cocktails that have a permanent home on the restaurant’s menu through the chang ing seasons. The bar team works together every couple of months to bring seasonal craft beverages but have also been trained to create cocktails on request by asking for guests’ flavor preferences (i.e. bitter, spicy, smoky, herbaceous, etc.). Personalized bev erages have become so popular that the team has built them into its private events beverage packages.
Global DMC Partners is teaming up with Balti Virtual in new AR/VR offering.
SIGNATURE DRINK»
Global DMC Partners is bringing on Balti Virtual as one of its strategic alliances to provide a brand-new AR/VR program for meeting and event planner clients. To launch this partnership, Global DMC Partners is debuting its new AR brand mascot, Global Girl or G.G. By downloading the free AppAR8 app from the iTunes app store or the Google Play store and scanning the Global DMC Partners logo, clients can take photos or video with G.G. and experience her repertoire of cultural dances. “The goal of this partnership is to offer something new—augmented and virtual reality event experiences—to our clients around the world,” says Erin Rougeux, Global DMC Partners director of marketing & database management. “Balti Virtual’s capabilities are almost limitless when it comes to creating a custom AR or VR experience—whether it’s a virtual invitation to the event or a live AR event experience that includes a fun photo op.”
TECH»
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).
14 NEM+E | WINTER 2020 TIPS FROM A PRO» Q: DOES EVERY EVENT NEED A THEME?
A: Yes, but it doesn’t have to be an obvious one.
BY SUSAN DUNKELMAN NO MATTER THE SCOPE OR SIZE OF AN EVENT, it’s best to have some sort of common thread that ties everything together. This can be accom plished using décor, lighting, food, floral and even music.
PRODUCTS, PLACES & INSPIRATION
KRONKKURTISPHOTO:
It’s when you don’t have a cohesive look that the attendee experience can feel disjointed and not provide the outcomes you set out to achieve. The challenge in theming an event is two fold. The first is deciding what your theme will be and the second, how will you best express it to your guests. When you can surprise and delight your attendees, is when you know you have created a unique experience. Sometimes it’s difficult to know where to begin when creating your overall theme. Hiring a creative special events team is a great first step to take, but it’s crucial that whom ever you hire know how to take their ideas (and yours) and transform them, keeping in mind the number of guests, event goals and most importantly your budget. While some event companies may present imaginative mood boards or extensive storyboards that look exciting, a truly successful team will also know how to realistically make them come to life. Even better, they will have the expertise to leverage their vendor relationships to help decide which elements are crucial to express ing your concept versus those that would be nice to have but may not work based on the dollars you have to spend. We find that the most productive way to work with our clients is to initially present them with a few overall themes, as well as the creative elements that will be used to convey each one. Sometimes a client will respond to an initial theme and settle on it immediately. Other times, clients identify with certain cre ative aspects of different themes which we then extract to form yet another overall idea. It’s important to gauge how your client is reacting to the concepts you are presenting, as it is one thing for them to see it in proposal form versus how it gets translated for the actual event. The more you can formally define how your theme will visually unfold, the better it will prevent any misconceptions later in the process. Once you have your team in place, the fun and the planning can begin. Identifying the exact elements of your theme can be challeng ing because they can originate from so many places. Asking a few important questions can streamline your thought process and narrow your focus. For example, what are the demo graphics of your attendees? Are you holding your event in a unique location/city that is known for a certain type of food? Is this a branding event where certain colors/messag ing need be spotlighted throughout? Are you working with a defined budget where floral and linens will represent the bulk of your theming? Does your event space have certain limitations that should be kept in mind before the creative process even begins? An often-overlooked part of theme creation is how to present the unexpected. You don’t ever want your attendees to just have a nice time. Instead, somewhere, or around every corner, there should be some creative elements tying into the theme that are a conversation starter. How about a sports team’s marching band to escort guests from dinner to a main event taking place at a stadium? How about life size neon cowboys as you enter a western themed party? Or a staircase lit with hundreds of candles as you enter an elegant museum? Your theme doesn’t have to be obvious, but it does need to provide a common element or look from start to finish. By the end of your event, your guests should come to the realization that no detail, big or small, was overlooked for them, therefore reinforcing the overall impact of the event itself. Don’t forget: It’s important to convey the theme of the event starting with the invita tion as it sets the tone and helps to form the expectations of your guests. You don’t want to give it all away, but you do want the attendee to be intrigued as to what they will experience upon arrival.
GET UP AND GO Expansive views and limitless venues. The inspiration of a Northern Michigan meeting is more than a vineyard board room, private beach reception, or group sail at sunset. More than renowned service or distinct personalization. It’s having all of those things at your fingertips. You won’t believe it if you haven’t seen it. Get up and go at grandtraverseresort.com/meetings. MEETDINESHOPSPAGOLF GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT AND SPA Owned and Operated by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians
16 NEM+E | WINTER 2020 TOURS»
The tours begin on a passenger van, which can hold up to 15 people, making the Table to Farm Tours a great way to experience the Catskills in small teambuilding“Guestsactivities.willtake a ride in their com fortable custom van and can take travel ers on a full or half-day tour (depending on their time frame), where they have an opportunity to meet individual farmers, hear their stories, learn about their culi nary philosophies and sample local fare,” Murray says. —Kassidy Tarala Get Connected
YourMeetMeal
Learn where your food comes from on Emerson Resort & Spa’s Table to Farm tour. Popular Catskills destination Emerson Resort & Spa has partnered with Table to Farm Tours to educate guests about local history and farming practices. Table to Farm Tours is available yearround, and their tours rotate based on the season. They have partnerships with pro ducers from Ulster, Delaware, Schoharie, and Greene counties in New York State. “The guests tour the various facilities, taste products, learn processes and gain knowledge about the local history. In the Catskills in the winter, the select tours are focused on distilleries, breweries, historical attractions, creameries, farmto-table cuisine and local shopping. The same concepts are used for spring, sum mer and fall, while also incorporating the area’s apple orchards, vineyards, cider ies, cattle farms, and fruit and vegetable farms,” says Tamara Murray, Emerson marketing and sales director.
Tour stops include family farms that feature animals and cheese and a sugar shack where maple syrup is made.
EMERSON RESORT & SPA emersonresort.com | 845.688.2828 TABLE TO FARM TOURS tabletofarmtours.com | 607.218.4805 PRODUCTS, PLACES & INSPIRATION FARMTOTABLEPHOTOS:
NE.MEETINGSMAGS.COM 17 Must be 21 years of age or older to enter the Wind Creek Casino. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER. Our friendly, knowledgeable Events Team will help you plan the perfect meeting or event with over 12,000 sq ft of meeting space and 14,000 sq ft of event space which can be customized just for you. Of course, exceptional dining, nightlife, shopping and entertainment options abound. And when you’re ready for a restful night’s sleep, a comfortable, tastefully appointed retreat beckons. You’re always welcome at Wind Creek Bethlehem. Book Today. Please call Alyssa Lippincott at 484.777.7497 or email her at Alyssa.Lippincott@WindCreek.com. YOUR BUSINESS PARTNER. WIND CREEK BETHLEHEM.
The web-based app allowed users to create a food profile, giving the planners a full report Vendors
While professionals in the events and cater ing industry tend to be open-minded, that didn’t mean there weren’t any hesitations at first. “The word of the night was trust—trust ing in each other and in their senses to guide them through the evening.”
BY MORGAN HALASKA FOR ITS SEPTEMBER 2019 MEETING, the National Association for Ca tering and Events (NACE) Philadelphia Chapter—which serves industry professionals in the Greater Philadelphia, South Jersey and Delaware region—thought it would try something different. Instead of focusing on the visual presentation of food, organizers took away the sense of sight entirely, outfitting diners with a blindfold at dinner.
Catering: Constellation Culinary Group Prosecco Cart: Get Cozy | Vintage Mobile Bars
TV Monitors: DFX Sound Vision Videography, Roaming Photo Booth, Drone: Philly Photo and Philm 5-Piece Student Band: Just Sunday Ice Cream Sandwiches and Scoops: Weckerly’s Ice Cream
CENTERMANNTHEOFCOURTESYPHOTOGRAPHYAUGUSTJORDANPHOTOS:
“There was a handful of restaurants and organizations that have hosted similar events, but in an intimate, restaurant-like set ting,” says Madison Gentile, director of pro grams and education, NACE Philadelphia. “We knew we wanted to do a large-scale, banquet-like setting with everyone being seated and served at the same time.”
EVENT PROFILE DINING IN THE DARK
18 NEM+E | WINTER 2020
Venue/Bar: The Mann Center
Linens, Specialty Glassware and China: South Jersey Party Rental
Chair Cushions: Party Rental LTD
Dinner Music/Entertainment: Silver Sound Entertainment Facilitator: Nick Waller Eye Masks: Mildfold
VISIONARY
The Logistics “When you are dealing with 130 blindfolded people in an open-air venue, you need to make sure everything from seating arrangements to dietary restrictions and the physical dining experience itself are precisely planned out,” says Gentile. Guests were grouped by tables of eight to 10 and were intentionally seated with people they didn’t know. A Blind Ambassador was assigned to each table and responsible for guiding groups to their table, getting every one seated, answering questions and aiding as needed. “We blindfolded guests about 100 yards away from the dining site,” says Gentile. “This was strategically done to disorient them in order to enhance their imagination and stimulate their other four basic senses.” There were about 13 groups, and it took about 15 minutes to get everyone from point A to point B via the human train method. Because guests couldn’t see what was on their plates, attention to dietary restric tions was that much more important. NACE Philadelphia partnered with a new tech platform called Dineable to request guests’ dietary restrictions a week prior to the event.
NACE Philadelphia’s Dining in the Dark treated members to a unique culinary experience.
“It was incredible to see how Dining in the Dark, although a sensory experience, turned out to be a community experience,” says Gentile. “Without the gift of sight, Dining in the Dark allowed our guests to meet and con nect with each other, as well as their food, on another level.”
FIRST COURSE Warm Mushroom Salad: shaved Brussels sprouts, toasted hazelnuts, manchego, truffle, shallot vinaigrette
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On the Menu
MAIN COURSE Creamy Kabocha Squash Risotto: toasted pumpkin seeds and spices, pomegranate, sage mascarpone, lardons of smoked pancetta
NACE Philadelphia hosted a large-scale, banquet-like setting in which guests were blindfolded for the entire meal (above).
on how many people were planning to eat and what food restrictions need to be accommo dated. Dineable provided pre-printed cards with the guests’ name, table number and restriction that were distributed at registra tion. Servers collected the cards when guests were seated, ensuring their restrictions were directly communicated.
Get Connected DINEABLE | dineable.com NACE PHILADELPHIA | nacephilly.com
The Food & Facilitator “We knew we needed to partner with a caterer that was open to creating a menu that engaged the senses—playing up different textures, smells and ingredients,” says Gentile. “Chef John Suley (vice president of culinary for Constellation Culinary Group) took our idea and ran with it. Right before the first course was served, he had his staff walk around with a smoking gun to heighten the sense of smell. He used an under-liner plate of toasted spices beneath the entrée to enhance to aromas of theNickingredients.”Waller, instructor of Hospitality Business Management & Dining Room Manager at The University of Delaware, acted as the event’s facilitator—he was the voice behind Dining in the Dark. “We chose not to tell guests what they were eating until after dinner was over. Nick’s job was help guests tap into their senses during each course,” says Gentile. “Instead of naming the ingredients, he used descriptive words to help guests visualize the dish without giving it away. He was a critical component of keeping everyone engaged and interactive throughout dinner service.”
Federal Galley boasts a constant rotation of new food and beverage offerings.
DANTPETER(OPPOSITE)PETRILLA;LAURAPHOTOS: halls are a one-stop shop for satisfying every craving. BY KASSIDY TARALA WE’VE ALL BEEN THERE: You’re heading out to lunch with a group of people when someone asks, “What are you hungry for?” Everyone responds at once: “Italian!” “Chinese!” “Sushi!” “I could go for a burger!” Well, now what? ¶ Thanks to food halls, you no longer have to choose just one. Here are five food halls across the North east that will satisfy everyone’s cravings (and possibly serve as your next meeting venue!).
BELL MARKET Holmdel, New Jersey Located in the heart of the Bell Works, a local destination full of businesses, startups, tech companies, retail shops and a new public library, Bell Market is a destination within itself. Since opening in summer 2018, Bell Market serves more than 1,000 lunches every day, and its catering for companies inside and outside of the building has gained popularity.
Chantelle Corbo, one of the owners of Bell Market and RBC Hospitality Group, says one of the most important qualities that sets Bell Market apart from other food halls is its hospitality.
VENUE REPORT FOOD HALLS
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HUNGRY HOSPITALITY Food
“At Bell Market, we strive to create inspired, nourishing, craveable food daily. We own and operate all five operations in our 6,000-square-
PARKVILLE MARKET Hartford, Connecticut New to Hartford, Connecticut, is Parkville Market, which just opened this past December. The 20,000-square-foot food hall and European-style market offers food, retail and communal seating.
“Parkville Market is expected to become a popular destination, attracting visitors not only from the Greater Hartford region, but from throughout Connecticut and the Jozu at Bell Market serves ramen among other Japanese specialties (left); Bell Market was designed by Nema Workshop to create a communal environment (below).
Federal Galley caters to the trend of “experiential dining,” as there is a constant rotation of new offerings with food, drinks and programming, Mantica says. Federal Galley offers 6,000 square feet of bright, open space and several package options for large-scale events. The space is large and highly customizable, so Federal Galley hosts a wide range of event styles. Buyouts of the entire space are available, as well as various event options from familystyle dinners to hors d’oeuvres and several beverage packages.
NE.MEETINGSMAGS.COM 21 foot food hall, and our team works seamlessly together to deliver delicious food with a high level of quality and service,” Corbo says.
The space was designed with Nema Workshop to create a banquet hall filled with comfortable chairs, shelves filled with cookbooks and live plant chandeliers. Bell Market also features 30-foot-long communal tables with charging stations and free Wi-Fi to encourage gathering and private events.
“We are seeing more and more guests inter ested in less ‘stuffy’ corporate events with white tablecloths and bite-size food,” Mantica says. “People are craving comfort, delicious food and an atmosphere that’s inviting.”
Bell Market connects with local farmers and purveyors to showcase New Jersey agri culture and to support the local economy. It partners with companies like Local 130, Zone 7 and Harvest Drop. Restaurants at Bell Market include Broadfork, Bubz Deli, Corbo & Sons, Honeybell Bakery and Jozu.
“We host a number of different private events and buyouts inside our food hall. We host seated dinners for up to 40 people, and cocktail parties/receptions for up to 150 peo ple,” Corbo says. “We’ve had rehearsal din ners, graduations, baby showers, corporate events, holiday parties and brand launches.”
“Our chefs have the liberty of creating dishes that you may order from a sit-down restaurant while our bartenders craft creative, seasonal cocktails,” he says. Though food halls have become synony mous with a quick, convenient stop, Federal Galley serves as more of a gathering place for longer periods of time. “Given the influx in food halls across the country, popularity will continue to rise, and expectations will be raised for service, quality of food and atmosphere,” Mantica says. “With so many options to dine and drink, guests are less willing to sacrifice quality in exchange for convenience, and they should not have to.”
Additionally, Bell Market’s Chef Team has partnered with Events at Bell Works, which caters meetings and events in the conference space, roof deck, atrium and ballroom, which can accommodate up to 2,000 people.
FEDERAL GALLEY Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Since opening in December 2018, Federal Galley has become one of Pittsburgh’s top eat eries. From locals to tourists, Federal Galley is a popular spot for family brunches, date nights and everything in between. “Federal Galley’s prime location next to Pittsburgh’s two main sporting arenas attract a great amount of foot traffic,” says co-founder BenInMantica.comparison to traditional food halls, which can often be crowded and more on the casual side, Mantica says Federal Galley pro vides a unique, hospitality-driven experience.
“It seems like great employers today are working hard to create engaging and creative environments for their employees, and part of that is getting outside of the office to meet, brainstorm and ideate,” Mouta says. “Food halls and markets provide inspirational spaces with a high concentration of entrepreneurs and great food to enrich a meeting experience and potentially even support team bonding.”
Northeast, as well,” says Chelsea Mouta, direc tor of Moutaoperations.saysthe food hall is aiming to pro vide an assortment of food, products and experiences for the local community, includ ing families, young professionals and univer sity students throughout the area. One of Parkville Market’s greatest attrac tions is its convenience. With more than 180 parking spots and a location that’s only 100 feet from a CTFastrak stop, Parkville Market is easily accessible to people from across the country.
Parkville Market features approximately 50 vendors of culturally diverse, delicious and affordable food offerings—many of which are under $10. There are also multiple bars with locally made beverages, and community retail and event space, which is offered for co-work ing or meeting spaces throughout the week.
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“As the first market and food hall of its kind in Connecticut, Parkville Market is a gather ing space for the community where folks can eat, work and engage,” Mouta says. Parkville Market has a 1,500-square-foot bar and event space that can be used as a meet ing room during the week and an event venue on nights and weekends. Another 500-squarefoot event space offers a more open setting that can be reserved for private parties.
BA-CO tacos at Smallman Galley (above); a spread from Which Came First at Federal Galley (right)
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Smallman Galley’s food offerings include tacos at BA-CO, American comfort food at Home, salads, sandwiches and bowls at Steel City Subs, and a pastry-centric menu at Sultry. The food hall also features a full bar of beer, wine and cocktails, and Commonplace Coffee.
FEDERAL GALLEY federalgalley.org | 412.517.6400
THE PENNSY New York, New York Open every day of the week from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., The Pennsy serves as a New York staple for a meal at any time of day (or night). The food hall features a variety of restaurants including The Cinnamon Snail, Pat LaFrieda Meat Purveyors, Ribalta, Sabi Sushi and Taco Dumbo. If you aren’t there for the food, The Pennsy Bar will surely give you something to talk about. Open during all hours of the food hall, The Pennsy Bar is a convenient spot to grab a drink any time from happy hour with cowork ers to the middle of the night with friends.
THE PENNSY thepennsy.nyc | 917.475.1830
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PARKVILLE MARKET parkvillemarket.com | 860.777.5986
The Pennsy Bar serves a wide range of cocktails including classics like mimosas and bloody marys as well as some original sips like the Pink Diamond (Absolut Peach, Crème de Pêche, pink grapefruit juice, simple syrup) and the Pennsy Long Island (Titos Vodka, Bombay Gin, Bacardi Rum, Cazadores Tequila, triple sec, blood orange soda). The Pennsy also serves as a unique event space with The Platform At The Pennsy. This 6,000-square-foot private event space can be combined with the 8,000-square-foot food hall for large events. There is also an adjacent 4,000-square-foot outdoor terrace with tent ingThecapabilities.Pennsy’s location above Penn Station offers direct transportation from the Long Island Railroad, New Jersey Transit, and 1, 2, 3, A, C and E subway lines, making it a convenient location for travelers coming from all directions.
SMALLMAN GALLEY smallmangalley.org | 412.517.6100
“It really has something for everyone, and that stands true for any type of larger event or meeting that we host as well,” says co-founder Ben“WithMantica.four distinct restaurant concepts, a full bar program, and ample indoor and out door space, food halls—particularly Federal Galley and Smallman Galley—are ideal for event and meeting customization, without having to worry about any lack of quality or service,” Mantica says. Get Connected BELL MARKET bellmarketnj.com | 732.365.2500
SMALLMAN GALLEY Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Like Federal Galley, Smallman Galley is a food hall in the Galley Group located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Open since December 2015, Smallman Galley is located in the historical Strip District and features 6,000 square feet of space available for private events, buyouts of the entire space, and other packages.
Instagrammable The Northeast has a bounty of venues that are made for sharing on social #landmarkhospitalitymedia.@MorganHalaska,@MeganGosch&@KassidyTarala#loganinnpa
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Ace Hotel New York is cool, creative and comfortable.
ACE HOTEL NEW YORK
The Details: Liberty Hall is the largest space and can host a wide range of events like fashion shows, corporate meetings, cocktail parties, gallery shows and live concerts. The flexible 2,700-square-foot event space has parquet floors and 10-foot ceilings. The Boardroom is ideal for meetings, presentations or screenings and features a custom 20-seat walnut meeting table, Smeg refrigerator and office supplies. The 700-square-foot corner Loft Suites can host small meetings or cocktail parties.
Photo-Worthy Features: At the corner of Broadway and 29th Street in Manhattan’s NoMad neighbor hood, Ace Hotel New York’s lobby is abuzz with creative activity, the kind that can only be found in New York City. In collaboration with New York-based design firm Roman & Williams, Ace Hotel New York is layered with a mix of styles, historical periods and objects. At every turn there’s something that catches the eye, from the graffiti mural by collage artist Michael Anderson to the curio cabinet containing taxidermic birds. The myriad seating options have a comfort able, worn-in feel that invites guests and patrons to intermingle (or simply people watch), whether it’s at the 18-foot labo ratory table or around a coffee table at a leather couch. A Stumptown Coffee Roasters adjoins the lobby, as does The Breslin (the Michelin-starred Englishstyle restaurant from April Bloomfield and Ken Friedman) and John Dory OysterRoomsBar.feel like handsomely outfitted, industrially hip apartments and some are appointed with full-size Smeg refrigera tors stocked with food and feature views of the Empire State Building.
acehotel.com@acehotelnewyorkNewYork,NewYork
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BANZARBAR, the 20-seat cocktail bar located on the restau rant’s second floor, opened in January 2018. Inspired by early 20th-century explorers and the BANZARE Antarctic expedi tions, BANZARBAR is a cozy retreat with a speakeasy vibe.
BANZARBAR can host parties up to 25 people.
FREEMANS RESTAURANT freemansrestaurant.com@freemansrestaurantNewYork,NewYork
Photo-Worthy Features: Tucked away at the end of an alleyway in New York’s Lower East Side, Freemans Restaurant has a Colonial feel inside and out; lights are strung at the entrance and taxidermy adorns the tavern-like walls. “The building was moody and brooding and gothic, like an Edgar Allan Poe story,” says co-founder Taavo Somer, who opened the restaurant with William Tigertt in 2004. Its menu, which changes seasonally, features dishes that beg to be photographed first.
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The Details: Freemans can accommodate 30-200 guests in its three pri vate rooms or full restaurant buyout. The Wine Room is a working wine cellar and can seat 10-12 guests; the Blue Room seats 13-20 or up to 30 guests cocktail-style in an elegant din ing room; the Red Room is the largest, seating 20-30 guests or up to 40 cocktail-style; and the Drawing Room can be used in combination with the Red Room and Blue Room and accommodate 30-80 guest seated or up to 100 cocktail-style.
Photo-Worthy Features: Wedged between two TriBeCa brown stones, a three-story pastel pink neigh borhood eatery draws regulars as well as far-flung visitors and influencers in equal measure. But the now iconic façade of the narrow 1810 Federal-style townhouse is just one of the family-run restaurant’s photogenic features. Inside guests will find a whimsical mix of original and restored raw elements, from pressed tin ceilings, exposed brick, embossed wallpaper and salvaged wood paneling to vintage furniture, mismatched table ware, custom banquettes, pew seats and hand-made tile. With one of the city’s only remaining original wood-burning fireplaces, Tiny’s creates a charming, cozy and inviting atmosphere filled with old New York character.
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ART FACTORY STUDIOS
TINY’S & THE BAR UPSTAIRS tinysnyc.com@tinysnycNewYork,New York
Branford, Connecticut
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Photo-Worthy Features: Used by Steven Spielberg in “West Side Story,” Martin Scorsese, the NFL, HBO, Universal Studios, BET and more, Art Factory Studios is more than just a venue; it’s practically a movie set. In other words, the entire venue serves as the perfect backdrop for your next Insta moment. Featuring a European-inspired courtyard, bridges, lofts, exposed brick and rustic décor, every spot of this venue serves as a photo op. The Details: Art Factory Studios is 400,000 square feet and can be rented for private events of any size, retail space, creative studios, or film/photo space. Owner David Garsia says it’s frequently used for corporate events, weddings and bar/ bat@artfactorypatersonmitzvahs. myfactorystores.com
The Details: The quaint townhouse on West Broadway offers groups a range of pri vate event options. The first-floor dining room, featuring the restaurant’s fire place, is well-suited for business dinners and intimate private social celebrations, while the second-floor “Bar Upstairs,” featuring a copper pressed and marble bar and charming neighborhood views, is ideal for semiprivate seated meals or cocktail-style receptions. Groups can also work with the Tiny’s team to coordi nate full townhouse buyouts.
#tinysnyc
gramercyparkhotel.com@gramercyterrace@gramercyparkhotelNewYork,NewYork
Photo-Worthy Features: Adjacent to New York City’s only pri vate park, the 18-story Gramercy Park Hotel has become a home away from home for creative minds and distin guished guests for nearly a century as a “modern grand hotel with a spirit of bohemia,” says Director of Sales and Marketing Danielle Choi. Originally opened in 1925, the art-focused Renaissance Revival property feels more like a gallery than a hotel, fea turing a playful mix of color, texture, opulent custom-designed furnishings and an impressive rotating collection of contemporary masterpieces (dis playing over $50 million of artwork at any given time). “Boasting a one-of-akind design by artist Julian Schnabel, the [Gramercy Park Hotel] is a true work of art in itself,” Choi says.
#GramercyParkHotel
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The Details: While the hotel offers seven luxury guest suites, a nearly 2,000-squarefoot Penthouse suite and The Park Room—an intimate divisible event space—all well-suited for intimate dinners, business meetings and cocktail parties, the 4,300-squarefoot Gramercy Terrace is a true gem. Perched on the 18th floor, the Terrace’s interior salons feature the works of Andy Warhol, David Salle and others while lush gardens and views of the Chrysler Building and Empire State Building create a roof top oasis for groups of up to 250. Fully weatherized with a retractable glass roof, the enclosable Terrace is also one of the city’s few venues where planners can organize an out door event without need for a plan B.
TERRACEGRAMERCYAT THE GRAMERCY PARK HOTEL
The Details: The Goodwin can accommodate corpo rate meetings and galas with its 3,000plus square feet of event space. The Atrium can seat about 250 guests. The hotel’s on-site restaurant, Porrón & Piña, is the exclusive caterer.
Photo-Worthy Features: Originally built in 1881 as an upscale apartment complex, the hotel was con verted in the late 1980s in conjunction with the Goodwin Square project and later closed in 2009. The original English Queen Anne terra cotta façade was reserved then and again when it was fully renovated and reopened in June 2017. The hotel’s thoughtfully designed guest rooms and interior spaces feature original architectural elements as well as modern amenities.
THE GOODWIN goodwinhartford.com@goodwin_hotelHartford,Connecticut
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GLASSHOUSES New
Photo-Worthy Features: Between its waterfall, covered bridge, dining room, loft and tavern equipped with a cozy fire place, Millwright’s Restaurant and Tavern has more Instagrammable moments than you could ever dream of. General Manager Vanessa Walsh describes the venue as rustic, historical and stunning. “It’s great for all celebrations of life! We are known for our wed dings, bridal showers, baby showers, corporate din ners, pharmaceutical dinners, birthdays and bar/bat mitzvahs,” she says.
Because The Glasshouse is such a large space, Lerchenmuller says it’s ideal for fashion shows, large-scale conferences, trade shows and galas.
The Details: The entire space is 8,000 square feet, which can accommodate 267 people. The dining room can host 90 people seated, the tavern can seat 80 people, and the Loft is the smallest space perfect for up to 50 seated guests. To create a unique event, Walsh says the team at Millwright’s is always willing to accommo date any event planner’s needs. “We are happy to sit down and discuss any event details to make sure that we can tailor our menu and space based upon guest preferences,” she says. “We are extremely accommodating for food allergies and/ or dietary restrictions.” York City, New York
The Details: The modern, multifunctional space is equipped with built-in pro duction infrastructure for hosting corporate, social and nonprofit events. The Glasshouse Chelsea is 7,500 square feet throughout two stories and can host 150 seated or 200 for a cocktail event. The Glasshouse, the newest location, is 75,000 square feet and can host 1,850 theglasshouses.com@the.glasshousespeople.
RESTAURANTMILLWRIGHT’SAND TAVERN millwrightsrestaurant.com@millwrightsrestaurant 860.651.5500
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#glasshousechelsea#theglasshouse#experienceglasshouses #millwrightsrestaurantexperience
Simsbury, Connecticut
Photo-Worthy Features: With two locations in Manhattan, The Glasshouse and Glasshouse Chelsea offer sweeping views of the city and river. “We refer to our spaces as a blank canvas that allows our clients to create their vision through customization and branding. However, the most photo-worthy element is our views,” says Vice President of Strategy Megan Lerchenmuller. “We offer penthouse event spaces with floorto-ceiling windows and outdoor terraces with incredible views of New York City and the Hudson River.”
@wythehotel wythehotel.com Brooklyn, New York
PHOVILLETTODESIGN;PHOTOGRAPHICPRESTIGE/BARKELYHOTEL;WYTHEPHOTOS: STUDIOMARGEURITEMAGGIEBEEKMAN;THE(OPPOSITE)TOGRAPHY;
Photo-Worthy Features: Designed to reflect the creative spirit of the Brooklyn borough, the 70-room Wythe Hotel is industrial-chic done right, blending old and new to breathe life into the nearly 120-year-old space. Exposing the former barrel factory’s original cast iron columns, pine ceilings and original brick work, the Wythe’s meticulous restoration also included the creation of furniture and other accents from the factory’s salvaged wood. Stationed on the Williamsburg waterfront, the property features large and airy loftlike rooms with concrete floors and walls of windows, charming vintageinspired details like pendant lights, bistro tables and Thonet chairs as well as King Kong Manhattan and Brooklyn skyline views.
32 NEM+E | WINTER 2020 WYTHE HOTEL
The Details: “With over 8,500 square feet of meeting space, our seven versatile event venues are rich with original historic character and offer an ele gant setting for everything from meetings and presentations to cocktail parties and weddings,” says Event Sales Director Ashley Edery. The 2,100-square-foot Main Hall, featuring masonry walls, a marble-topped wood bar, steel-framed factory windows and antiqued mirrors, can accommodate up 190 guests for conferences. The hall can also accom modate up to 250 guests for cocktails or 400 when combined with the adjacent Garden Terrace. The open-air, brick walled courtyard paved in European black and white tile is embellished with greenery and over head bistro lights and comes with its own private entrance from Wythe Avenue and is an ideal fit for long-table dinners or al fresco cocktail receptions. The 550-square-foot Cooper Room’s reclaimed wood doors, vaulted ceiling and antique chandeliers create an intimate space rich in historic detail for groups of up to 60 while the 7th- and 8th-floor lofts offer stunning corner suites for presentations and meetings for up to 45 guests. Lemon’s, the Wythe’s nectarine-hued rooftop bar offers groups of up to 200 space for semi-private or al fresco gatherings or guests can descend through a private entrance to meet in the hotel’s speakeasy-style Screening Room and bar with access to a full HD digi tal projector and built-in A/V system. #wythehotel
BILL MILLER’S CASTLE
The Details: The minimum requirement is 75 people, while certain days/months require more due to higher demand. The maximum capacity is 250 guests. “We are family-run and have been in business for more than 50 years,” Smith says. “We pride ourselves in exceptional service and attention to detail.” Bill Miller’s Castle is one part elegant, one part rustic.
billmillerscastle.com@bill_millers_castleBranford,Connecticut
Photo-Worthy Features: Bill Miller’s Castle is a venue literally fit for a queen or king. With a blend of rustic and ele gant features throughout the space, Bill Miller’s Castle is a large one-event-at-a-time facility, according to Victoria Smith, event coordina tor. This venue offers a unique Instagrammable space as each event has exclusive use of the entire castle and grounds—both filled with indoor and outdoor photo ops.
Photo-Worthy Features: Originally one of Manhattan’s first sky scrapers, The Beekman’s rich history as a New York landmark may be a popular draw for visitors, but its striking ninestory glass-capped Atrium has become the hotel’s undeniably photogenic star. Featuring the building’s original wrought-iron railings, the Atrium, like many of the hotel’s spaces, provides an event setting steeped in Gilded Age grandeur. Furnished with vintage Persian rugs, rich leather, antique glass lamps, art deco and industrial light fixtures and chandeliers and accents of polished timber and warm exposed brick, the lovingly restored property blends clas sic glamour and contemporary charm to create luxe, cozy and Insta-worthy moments around every corner.
@thebeekmanny thebeekman.com New York, New York
#TheBeekman
THE BEEKMAN, A THOMPSON HOTEL
Acclaimed chef and restaurateur Tom Colicchio’s team is also on hand to con ceptualize exclusive event menus.
The Details: With four distinct event spaces The Beekman offers groups a total of 4,700 square feet of meeting space includ ing the 1,200-square-foot Clinton Hall. Named after the library that once stood on the same site the stately space fea tures arched entries, crystal chandeliers and floor-to-ceiling windows for plenty of natural light. Groups can also book a combination of The Beekman’s lower level meeting spaces—including the Farnsworth Room, Kelly Room and an adjoining prefunction space—boasting vaulted ceilings and exposed brick, for groups of up to 225 guests. The hotel’s signature Turret Penthouse rooftop oases are also available for private events as well as Alley Cat, The Beekman’s hid den cellar lounge which is available to large party reservations and buyouts.
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The Beekman was one of New York’s first skyscrapers and still dazzles today.
OUTLOOK: GOOD CWT Meetings & Events’ 2020 Future Trends Report projects growth in the industry. RESEARCH COURTESY OF CWT
“The need for live events is becoming more relevant than ever before,” says Kurt Ekert, president and CEO of CWT, with up to 30 percent of marketing budgets expected to be spent on live events in 2020. “Face-to-face meetings are critical to establishing connections between brands and their customers, and employees and their companies, especially during times of uncertainty. Knowing how to manage risks globally while putting together an authentic and measurable experience for all participants will be key for success in this space in the coming year and beyond.”
In its eighth installment, CWT Meetings & Events’ 2020 Future Trends Report identifies key developments in the industry in 2020, including: ATTENDEES
There continues to be a focus on the impact of the millennial genera tion (aka Generation Y, those born between 1980 and 1995). The influ ence of this generation will continue to strengthen the industry as they are expected to form the largest group of business travelers across the world from 2024 onward. Centennials (aka Generation Z , those born from 1996 onward) are starting to enter the workforce. According to Mediakix Research, while their influence, due to their age, is so far limited, this will rapidly change over the next decade as their population reaches 2.56 billion globally by 2020. THE NUMBERS AVERAGE LEAD TIME 59 days PERCENTAGE OF SPEND ON FOOD & BEVERAGE 42% AVERAGE MEETING DURATION 3 days USE OF REGISTRATIONATTENDEEWEBSITES 61% COST PER ATTENDEE PER DAY 2019: $234 2020: $253 (+8% year-over-year) AVERAGE GROUP SIZE 73Digitalization: Mobile devices are adding new functionality with apps to create a higher degree of personalization for attendees. Shifting demographics: Millennials are poised to be the largest group of business travelers from 2024 and onward. Generation Z is right on their heels and can claim to have never known a world without the internet, smartphones and apps. This younger group is all about experience, authenticity and participation. Authenticity: People are craving experiences that feel authentic, where travelers can immerse themselves in a destination like locals. Growing attraction of off-the-beaten track destinations. Socially and environmentally responsible incentives also rank high for 2020, fueled by the next generation that views climate change as an increasingly pressing issue.
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VENUE NEWS 36 PEOPLE NEWS 39 SNAPSHOTS 46 PEOPLE PROFILE 48 Industry Update
Demand for meetings and events in North America is continuing to increase, but the pace of growth has fallen. Despite these headwinds, the U.S. economy continues to be strong with event sizes rising, including many companies in the tech sector that have moved to consolidate their smaller meetings into larger events. “More than ever, political events have a direct impact on compa nies’ quarterly and annual out looks. Some industry segments are pulling back, such as agriculture because of the trade situation, and are being a bit more cautious,” says Tony Wagner, vice president, Americas & South Pacific Regions of CWT Meetings & Events.
Top 1.Cities10 NEW YORK, NY 2. SAN FRANCISCO, CA 3. CHICAGO, IL 4. ATLANTA, GA 5. TORONTO, CANADA 6. SAN DIEGO, CA 7. SEATTLE, WA 8. ORLANDO, FL 9. DALLAS/FORT WORTH, TX 10. LAS VEGAS, NV
cuisine:Instagrammable Food must be sharedInstagram-worthy—inrealtimetoanaudienceofhundredsoreventhousandsatonce—topassmusterin2020.
GLOBAL
Destinations on the rise are locations offering better value rates than firsttier cities. They are also becoming more attractive due to an increase in facilities including new hotels and venues. Read the full report at cwt-meetings-events.com/futuretrends.
CWT identified 20 microtrends that are set to shape the year ahead when planning an event with a creative twist. Here are 5: Dating apps networking:for Tinder-style apps will help event attendees break the ice. Diversity: Greater diversity of presenters can bring an inspiring new slant to content and connect with the full range of attendees. Venues that tell a story: Unusual venues that reflect the aims of the event are booming— think spectacular views, historic spaces, or even an underwater event. First is best in seating: Early arrivals can grab the plush, expansive armchairs close to the speakers, while space at the back is for highboy chairs and stools.
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The global meetings and events indus try is estimated at $840 billion and growing. “The overall growth trajectory in the meetings and events industry is rising at a steady 8 percent rate, which is encouraging,” says Derek Sharp, senior vice president and managing director, CWT Meetings & Events.
CREATIVE EVENTS
and Conventions is more than doubling the size of the convention
VENUE
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Kalahari Pocono Mountains Center Resorts center at its Pocono Mountains location. It is scheduled to open in late 2019. This since the resort opened in July from top left: Zebulon Grace and Mamuyan Jones; together; Courtney Winn, Samantha Seroka, Hollie Flynn and Vanessa Robertson.
Pittsburgh ESPA Celebrate Services Day
36 NEM+E | WINTER 2020 REGIONAL NEWS
Pittsburgh event managers gathered at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center to celebrate Event Service Professionals Association (ESPA) Celebrate Services Day as part of National Celebrate Services Week July 29-Aug. 2, 2019. VisitPITTSBURGH hosted a reception and painting party and organized a clothing drive in partnership with Dress for Success, an organization that helps empower women with professional attire. “Everyone in the event and convention service profession works hard to ensure our work has the kind of positive impact that brings repeat business,” says Jamie Huckleberry, ESPA president and director of event services at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh. “It’s nice to have the opportunity to take the time to appreciate one another and the work we do collectively. It is important that we recognize our impact on successful events and being true partners to meeting planners.” espaonline.org
NEWS»
2015. THE NEW ADDITIONS WILL INCLUDE: » 105,000 -square-foot addition to the convention center, bringing the grand total to 205,000 square feet » 18 new meeting rooms for a total of 33 meeting spaces » 38,000 -square-foot new main ballroom/exhibit space, in addition to the current 25,000 -square-foot ballroom » 12,000 -square-foot new junior ballroom of in addition to the current 9,000 -square-foot junior ballroom » Exclusive Executive Conference Center for up to 400 guests » Sun-drenched prefunction spaces » Substantial registration and client office areas » Enhanced load in and load out Kalaharicapabilitiesfeatures 977 rooms; com plimentary Wi-Fi, free parking, world-class dining and catering, Spa Kalahari and Salon and familyfriendly amenities. Clockwise
The 1,705-room Hotel Pennsylvania, a marvel of innovation at its 1919 opening, is reinvent ing itself at 100 years with a redesign that rep resents an evolution of its history, balancing the best of its original features with modern comforts and a fresh new aesthetic.
Pestana Park Avenue Hotel Pennsylvania
The second phase of Hotel Pennsylvania’s transformation has introduced 230 fully mod ernized, expansive guest rooms on the 14th and 16th floors of the 22-story hotel and fol lows the April 2019 completion of 430 rooms. The renovation continues with a third phase, encompassing the hotel’s expansive suites, including the addition of a new Executive floor, public spaces and event spaces, that is slated for completion in early 2021. The new rooms are known as the Penn Plaza Collection and feature brand-new fit tings, carpeting, oversized wall-mounted HD televisions, and rejuvenated bathrooms that have retained their original subway tiles and cast-iron bathtubs. The Servidors, innovative valet doors pioneered at Hotel Pennsylvania that allowed access both from the hallway and inside the guest room, have been preserved in these redesigned guest rooms. Elevator landings on select guest floors have also been reimagined as combined lounge and co-working spaces, which have been fitted with communal tables crafted from reclaimed materials. In addition, an original Pantry Room on the 12th floor has been transformed into a historical display area that guests can view through a glass wall. Inside are artifacts from the hotel’s heyday, including a laundry “mangle” that was used to squeeze water out of linens before pressing, an original room service phone, a space with pneumatic tubs to place the orders, the hotel industry’s first-ever refrigerator, and a Smithsonian-worthy allcopper fire extinguisher.
The hotel was designed with the intention of evoking a sense of staying in a Portuguese home. Each floor consists of only three or four rooms, which feature elements that serve a specific purpose, such as full-length rotating mirrors with hangers attached for multifunc tionality. The digital television frames doubly function as an electronic display for Pestana’s custom photographs and artwork.
Portuguese Hotel Group to Open its First New York City Location Pestana Hotel Group, a multinational hotel group based in Portugal, is opening its first property in New York. Pestana Park Avenue is expected to open January 2020 and boasts 27 floors and 95 rooms. It is located in Manhattan on 39th Street between Madison and Park avenues.“Aswe continue expanding the Pestana brand internationally, New York’s vibrant and dynamic setting will be the perfect location for our 100th opening,” says José Theotónio, CEO of Pestana Hotel Group. “The hotel embraces everything Pestana Hotel Group has to offer with its modern design and focus on deliver ing outstanding Portuguese hospitality, allow ing guests to create and cherish each moment of their stay.”
Hotel Pennsylvania Completes Phase Two of Transformation
HOTEL NEWS»
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Philadelphia Breaks Visitor Record Nearly 700,000 overseas visitors came to the Greater Philadelphia region in 2018, according to a report from the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau and Tourism Economics. In 2018, 697,000 overseas visitors—a 7.5 per cent year-over-year (YoY) increase—came to the Greater Philadelphia region, marking the fourth consecutive year of growth. Overseas visitors also contributed $723 million in direct visitor spending, generating $1.2 billion in economic impact, both modern-day records. “Hospitality is one of the largest and fastest growing employment sectors in Philadelphia because we continue to see visitation rise across all sectors. Overseas visitors are incred ibly important as they account for 57 percent of all international visitation and 79 percent of all international visitor spending,” says PHLCVB President and CEO Julie Coker Graham. “Every day our team is focused on telling Philadelphia’s story globally. In 2018, our team hosted 96 influential global media and 334 travel trade professionals in-market. By doing so, we’re able to reinforce positive perceptions of the city and encourage and inspire future visitation.” Overseas visitation is expected to grow 13.4 percent over the next five years, despite soft ened projections for the first half of 2019.
» There were 28,700 leisure and hospitality jobs in Bucks County, a 2.9 percent increase over 2017. “The travel industry is a leading contributor to Bucks County’s economic growth and prosperity,” says Paul Bencivengo, president/COO of Visit Bucks County, “Our county’s tourism and hospitality industry continued to break records in 2018 with the total num ber of visitors, and visitor spending, fueling the local economy. Travel matters to every community and makes Bucks County a great place to live, work and play.”
NUMBER OF VISITORS IN 2018
38 NEM+E | WINTER 2020 REGIONAL NEWS TOURISM»
2018 BUCKS COUNTY VISITOR SPENDING IMPACT:
» Tourism generated a total of $1.1 billion in economic impact, a 6.2 percent increase over 2017.
PETRONELLABRITTANY(OPPOSITE)COUNTY;BUCKSVISITPHOTOS:
The PHLCVB also works in con cert with local industry partners like the Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association, Visit Philadelphia and the Philadelphia International Airport. “In 2018, we launched three new overseas routes, including addition al service from Ireland, which saw visitation increase to Philadelphia by over 40 percent,” says PHL International Airport CEO Rochelle Cameron. “Also in 2018, we had 4.2 million international passengers touch down on our runways, a 6 percent increase from 2017 and a 17.1 percent increase since 2004. It’s a trend made possible through the hard work of our staff and partners across the entire industry.”
BUCKS COUNTY ATTRACTS RECORD-BREAKING
More than 8 million visitors traveled to Bucks County in 2018, generating more than $1 billion in economic impact. According to Econsult Solutions, Inc., visitation increased, but most significantly, increases in visitor spending and economic impact were seen, indicating an increase in per visitor spending.
» Bucks County saw 8.15 million visitors in 2018.
» Visitors directly spent $660 million—that’s 6.9 percent more than in 2017. Visitor spending includes food and beverage, lodging, transportation, retail and recreation.
PEOPLE NEWS» NYC
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Renaissance New York Chelsea Hotel has announced the appointments of Chris Rynkar as general manager and Yelithza Gonzales as director of sales and market ing. The hotel officially opened its doors this past fall in Manhattan’s Flower District. “Chris and Yelithza bring extensive industry experience and a passion for hospitality,” says John Parker, COO of Real Hospitality Group. “We could not be more excited to have them lead the launch of this highly anticipated property and key opening for the Renaissance Hotels brand and Real Hospitality Group.”
Left to right: Fred Dixon, NYC & Company President and CEO; Ramona Pop, Deputy Mayor/Senator for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises of Berlin; and Burkhard Kieker, CEO of visitBerlin.
Jim Wood Leaves Meet AC Jim Wood, president and CEO of Meet AC, recently announced his departure from the organization (effec tive at the end of 2019). Wood became the first CEO for Meet AC in 2014 when the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority & Company Partners with visitBerlin NYC & Company and visitBerlin signed a first-ever official city-to-city tourism collabo ration agreement in September 2019. It marks the first time New York City has partnered with a city in Germany for tourism develop ment and management purposes. “New York City and Berlin are world-class destinations that share so much in com mon—from outstanding culture, attractions, entertainment, nightlife and events to beauti ful, multicultural neighborhoods to navigate and explore, the two cities have extraordinary appeal. We’re so pleased to formalize our partnership with our friends at visitBerlin after many years of conversation and informal collaboration,” says Fred Dixon, president and CEO, NYC & Company. The city-to-city partnership includes the sharing of best practices in tourism marketing and destination management, including strat egy around neighborhood promotion, sustain ability and responsible tourism management. “We are excited to sign this first-ever tour ism cooperation agreement between Berlin and New York City, both outstanding destina tions that have unique appeal and showcase the best of what each country has to offer. We are eager to exchange experiences, learn from each other, and develop intensive out-ofthebox ideas with the TestLab students to develop new opportunities that benefit both visitors and residents alike,” says Burkhard Kieker, CEO of visitBerlin.
Rynkar will oversee and lead all opera tions and management at the property. With more than 15 years of hospitality experience in New York City, Detroit, Boston and San Diego, Rynkar has held various managerial and operational positions at brands includ ing Hyatt, Marriott and Real Hospitality. He was awarded General Manager of the Year by Real Hospitality Group and was named Manager of the Year during his career at Hyatt. Along with a strong operational back ground, Rynkar also gained revenue man agement experience during his time as the director of revenue management at the Hyatt Regency Cambridge Hotel in Boston. Gonzales will supervise the overall sales efforts of the hotel, including developing new accounts, maintaining existing accounts, managing rate and inventory, managing TPI, supervising sales-related personnel, and implementing sales and marketing strategies to maximize hotel profits while maintaining guest and associate satisfaction. Gonzales has served as the director of sales at Hotel Indigo Brooklyn and most recently opened the city’s first Hyatt House as director of sales and marketing. In 2017, Real Hospitality Group named Hyatt House Chelsea their Hotel of the Year and Gonzales was awarded Director of Sales of the Year for her efforts.
New Hires at Renaissance New York Chelsea Hotel
During Wood’s tenure, Meet AC has seen year-over-year growth in the meetings and conventions industry, booking over 1.8 million room nights, which has brought in nearly $1.9 billion in economic impact into Atlantic City. “It has been my pleasure to lead a great staff,” says Wood. “The organization is in great shape for the future.”
“Meetings generate incredible value for businesses and communities while contribut ing meaningfully to the U.S. economy,” Dixon says. “In my new role as Meetings Mean Business co-chair, I’m pleased to elevate the importance of this crucial industry segment while also spotlighting New York City’s prow ess as one of the leading U.S. destinations for meetings and conventions.”
Dixon is the second CEO of a convention and visitors bureau elected to lead the coalition and brings nearly three decades of experience to the role. “Fred is an industry powerhouse who brings expertise and connections in major U.S. markets as well as top meeting destina tions globally,” says Camacho-London. “The coalition continues to grow year-over-year, and Fred brings a valuable perspective on market expansion and strategy development. I am greatly looking forward to working with him.”
MMBC Appoints Fred Dixon as Co-Chair
The Meetings Mean Business Coalition (MMBC) has select ed Fred Dixon, president and chief executive officer of NYC & Company, as its next cochair. Dixon will join Trina Camacho-London, vice president of global group sales at Hyatt Hotels Corporation, in leading the coalition and advancing its mission of promoting and protecting the value of faceto-face meetings, conferences, conventions, trade shows, exhibitions and incentive travel.
Under the leadership of Dixon and Camacho-London, MMBC plans to intensify
40 NEM+E | WINTER 2020 REGIONAL NEWS (CRDA) hired a consulting group to form the new sales and marketing organization, now known as Meet AC. In 2015, Wood formed the Atlantic City Sports Commission as a depart ment within Meet AC. Meet AC was successful in attracting the Meeting Professionals International (MPI) 2016 World Education Congress (WEC), the 2016 TEAMS Conference & Expo as well as other prominent industry shows that helped Atlantic City position itself as a meet ing and convention destination. The TEAMS Conference & Expo is set to return to Atlantic City in 2021. “Jim has been a driving force in continuing to position Atlantic City as a top destination for the meetings and conventions market,” says Matt Doherty, executive director, CRDA and board chairman, Meet AC. “We wish Jim and his family the best in the future.”
New Chef at Willow by Charlie Palmer
42 NEM+E | WINTER 2020 REGIONAL NEWS and event space, spa restaurant and seasonal poolsideArnold,café.acertified executive chef (CEC), joins The Hotel Hershey culinary team from Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase, Maryland, where he worked as executive chef for two years. He earned his CEC designation from American Culinary Federation in 2010. “We are very pleased to welcome Chef Nicholas Arnold to The Hotel Hershey,” says John Daly, food and beverage director of The Hotel Hershey. “His leadership with top-tier resorts and country clubs will strengthen our team and culinary program. We are excited to see how our guests enjoy his influence on our culinary offerings.”
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Frank Caiafa has been appointed as the director of food and beverage at The Lexington Hotel, Autograph Collection and beverage director of The Stayton Room. Caiafa will be working closely with The Stayton Room team to curate an innovative cocktail and food menu built around deli ciously classic libations. Caiafa played an integral role as the bever age director of the highly celebrated Peacock Alley and La Chine restaurants at The Waldorf Astoria in New York City, where he worked from 2005 until the hotel’s recent closure for renovations. He is also the author of “The Waldorf Astoria Bar Book” (Penguin), which was a 2017 James Beard Foundation Award finalist and nominated for a 2017 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for Best New Cocktail and Bartending Book. Caiafa also serves as principal of the hos pitality consulting and management enter prise Handle Bars NYC/Global Hospitality. The company has been called upon for its expertise in all facets of operation, including education, training, bar layout and design, menu development, and more. Past projects have included The Fairmont Austin, New York Hilton Midtown, The Long Bar at The Waldorf Astoria Shanghai, The Garden City Hotel and the lauded NoHo bar, The Vault at Pfaff’s, among others. GM Seaview, a Dolce Hotel, locat ed along Reed’s Bay in Galloway, New Jersey, recent ly appointed Rob Morgan as general manager. In this posi tion, Morgan will oversee hotel operations across the historic property’s 298 guest rooms, more than 34,500 square feet of meeting and event space, and two champi onship golf courses. Morgan is a veteran of the hospitality indus try with more than 30 years of experience. Previously, he held the position of senior vice Hudson Valley native and rising culinary talent Thomas Burke is the executive chef of the new Mirbeau Inn & Spa Rhinebeck and its signature restaurant Willow by Charlie Palmer. Burke was tapped for this new role by the world-renowned Palmer, who, in his first upstate New York venture, will oversee all food and bev erage operations at the 50-room resort. “We’ve put together a great team for this project and are thrilled to become part of this community. Our executive chef, Thomas Burke—a Westchester native—and I are looking forward to showcasing all that the Hudson Valley’s farms have to offer,” says Palmer. Before his two-year tenure as chef de cuisine of Tavern at GrayBarns in Connecticut, Burke served as chef de partie of three of the most lauded res taurants on both coasts: most recently The French Laundry in Yountville, California, preceded by Le Bernardin in midtown Manhattan and Boulevard in San Francisco.
NE.MEETINGSMAGS.COM 43 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 AT your FINGERTIPS. SUBSCRIBE for FREE at MEETINGSMAGS.COM --- CALENDAR EVENTS ----- LATEST INDUSTRY NEWS ----- PEOPLE NEWS ----- WEEKLY UPDATES --OUR E-NEWSLETTER
“I’m truly blessed and thankful as I’ve had the pleasure of working with so many wonderful people in an industry I truly love,” Shirley says. “The friendships, wonder ful experiences and amazing people, along with the goodwill of this amazing area of Pennsylvania, will truly last a lifetime.”
Long-Time HVAB Sales Director Retires
44 NEM+E | WINTER 2020 REGIONAL NEWS
Shirley spent 35 years in the tourism industry with the last 22 in Centre County. She began her career with the Williamsport-Lycoming County Chamber of Commerce working in the motor coach market and developing new attractions to support eco nomic growth through increased visitation. She joined the now HVAB in 1998, where she witnessed the 2000 opening of the current Visitors Center facility in the footprint of Beaver Stadium and began focusing on the burgeoning sports market. Shirley will continue to assist the HVAB’s recently formed sports committee, which encourages collaboration and communication among various Centre County stake holders in the youth, university and adult organized sporting events.
president of transitions and operations strat egy for Davidson Hotels & Resorts in the Atlanta area. He also held several management positions with Starwood Hotels & Resorts including senior director of portfolio and proj ect management. He also held roles with HEI Hotels and Resorts as the regional vice presi dent of the company’s largest region. Joseph Pergine has been hired as the general manager for their Aloft and Super 8 Hotel properties in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. In this position, Pergine will direct all areas of guest relations, sales and daily opera tions for the 234-room hotel complex located at the corner of Route 73 and Fellowship Road. Pergine began his career as a food and beverage shift supervisor at Caesars Atlantic City. Since then, he has held many positions, including general manager, assistant general manager, executive chef, banquet, restaurant and bar manager. Most recently, Pergine was employed by Chickie’s & Pete’s of Marlton as the assistant general manager. Prior to that, he operated the Aloft and Super 8 Mount Laurel for Delco Development. Sales Katrina Stewart has joined the NYC & Company con vention sales team as regional director, national accounts, Midwest. In her new role, Stewart is responsible for sell ing New York City as a premier meetings and conventions destination in the Midwest region for groups requiring 151 rooms and above on peak. Her territory includes Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and“WeWisconsin.havepartnered with Katrina for many years, and we are confident that her sales knowledge and industry network will benefit our members and simultaneously drive eco nomic growth across the five boroughs,” says Jerry Cito, executive vice president, conven tion development, NYC & Company.
Happy Valley Adventure Bureau (HVAB) President and CEO Fritz Smith announced the retirement of long-time Sales Director Shirley Smith on Sept. 9. Shirley undertook special project work for the HVAB until her official retirement on Dec. 1, 2019. “Shirley is well-respected and well-known in the tourism industry, particularly in the field of sports marketing,” Fritz says. “Her career has evolved as travel itself has evolved. Her longevity in the field is testament to her tremendous lifelong passion for destination marketing.”
A hospitality professional with nearly 20 years of experience in the industry, Stewart has held positions in destination sales for several NYC Marriott hotels over the past decade, most recent ly at the New York Marriott Marquis. Stewart will support NYC & Company members, including hotels, event spaces, restaurants, nightlife ven ues and more. Stewart is a national member of PCMA and MPI and is CMP certified. With the goal of improving Centre County’s presence in one of its top feeder markets, the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau (HVAB) has hired Jenny McConnell as regional sales manager. McConnell will rely on her past destination marketing and sales experience at Explore York and Destination Gettysburg to concen trate HVAB efforts in the Greater Harrisburg area. She will focus on opportunities with state associations and agencies, corporate business, and the group tour market while based out of York,“BeingPennsylvania.strategically based ‘in market’ will allow Jenny to spend more time in Harrisburg creating necessary relationships in an effort to bring more events, conferences and meetings to the county,” says Dave Gerdes, vice presi dent of sales and marketing. “Centre County is a wonderful meeting destination, with top-
NE.MEETINGSMAGS.COM 45 notch facilities and great dining and entertain ment options. We believe there is opportunity for growth in this area.” In overseeing the HVAB’s efforts in the group tour market, McConnell will focus on enhancing Centre County in the eyes of tour operators and group leaders. “Jenny’s efforts will help us generate midweek business for our hotels and attractions,” says Fritz Smith, presi dent and CEO. “I am delighted she is bringing her great experience to our team.”
PHL Sports Selects Two Vice Chairs for Advisory Board
PHL Sports Advisory Board Chair Don Smolenski has selected two vice chairs to its executive committee: Dr. M. Grace Calhoun, the T. Gibbs Kane, Jr. W’69 director of ath letics and recreation at the University of Pennsylvania and Dr. Eric Zillmer, Drexel University director of athletics. “I am excited to have the privilege of serving PHL Sports alongside Grace and Eric,” says Smolenski. “They are both tre mendous leaders, not only at their respective institutions, but in the NCAA community and throughout Philadelphia. Their diverse backgrounds and wealth of experience will strengthen PHL Sports opportunities to attract and obtain future athletic events to Philadelphia.”“Iamvery much honored to serve PHL Sports as vice chair and to assist in champion ing Philadelphia as a great sports destination,” says Zillmer. “Drexel Athletics has been very engaged with PHL Sports as a host for a variety of highly successful events over the years. I am also looking forward to working closely with Don, Grace, and Larry. This is a terrific team of ambassadors for PHL Sports.” PHL Sports, a business development divi sion of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB), brings together the area sports community to attract major sporting events to Philadelphia. Smolenski, Philadelphia Eagles’ president, was intro duced as PHL Sports’ new chairman in June 2019, a position that had been held by the late Phillies Chairman David Montgomery for the past decade.
SUCCESSFUL MEETINGSWHEREAND EVENTS ARE ALWAYS IN-SEASON From corporate retreats to big time concerts to antique car shows, and everything in between, its no wonder year after year meeting and event planners choose the Wildwoods Convention Center! • 75K square foot exhibit arena, a 12K square foot Ballroom and 10-Meeting Rooms • 380 – 10’ x 10’ exhibit booth space or seating for up to 7,500 • Modern amenities / State-of-the-art communication systems • Full in-house Catering/Concession services • Adjacent to the world-famous Wildwoods Boardwalk and 5 miles of FREE white sand beaches • On-site parking for over 700 vehicles • 30K square feet of pre-function space • Free Wi-Fi for attendees To schedule your next meeting or event, call us at 800-992-9732 or visit us at WildwoodsCC.com
24 SNAPSHOTS ROCK YOUR LIFE
46 NEM+E | WINTER 2020 PENNSYLVANIAMIDDLESPRING/MPIMELANIEPHOTOS: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
On Wednesday, Oct. 2, over 50 attend ees gathered at the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square for MPI Middle Pennsylvania Chapter’s Rock Your Life event. Members connected and networked for half an hour before the welcome and opening remarks. Donations were collected for the Griffith Family Foundation to benefit Sideline Cancer, an organization dedicat ed to preventing and finding a cure for pancreatic cancer. Attendees collectively raised over $1,200 for the cause. The event featured Melanie Spring, brand storyteller, international keynote speaker and speaker trainer. Melanie engaged the audience with her themes of defining your personal brand, identifying your purpose, and putting together a plan for making that happen while also incorporating interactive exercises for the listeners. 1. Brian Griffith. 2. Brenda Keller and Daniel Mies. 3. Margo DeRouchie and Stephanie Shaak. 4. Speaker Melanie Spring. 5. Kevin Bergman, Gwen Weaver, CMP, Christine Stewart and Randy Byler. 6. Michael Baker and Peter Sorensen. 7. Jesenia Lepiz and Kaitlin Luckenbaugh. 8. Ben Cavallaro and Melanie Spring. 9. Amanda Shomper, Cindy Conaway and Kristina Voss.
MPI YourChapter’sPennsylvaniaMiddleRockLife
Bavarian Inn Lodge & Conference Center One Covered Bridge Lane, Frankenmuth, MI 48734 frankenmuthmeetings.com • 1-877-213-7664 Bavarian Inn Lodge & Conference Center • Conference Rooms for 500 Delegates • 10 Breakout Rooms • Complimentary Wireless Internet • 2 On-Premise Restaurants & Lounges • Nightly Entertainment • 360 Bavarian-Themed Guestrooms • 4 Pools and 2 Water Slides • Walking Distance to Main Street • World Famous Frankenmuth® Chicken Dinners Experience small town charm with big city results. Conduct your meetings at the Bavarian Inn Lodge where we create enjoyable experiences. Located In the Heart of Downtown Frankenmuth
PEOPLE PROFILE DANA BARTLE
If there’s one thing Dana Bartle will never stop doing, it’s learning. Having earned a degree in history and attended both film and sommelier school, Bartle has done it all. She’s been a bartender, a film producer, a som melier and—for the past nine years—the vice president of sales and events at Brooklyn Bowl. When Bartle first joined Brooklyn Bowl, she was a one-woman show. Now, she relies on her team of all women to push the envelope with bigger and bet ter events than ever before.
From bartending to sommelier school to film production, Bartle says the two constant loves in her career have been storytelling and hospitality, themes she has carried over to every job. “I’ve been really lucky with how all of my experiences have come together. A big part of making documentaries is sto rytelling, and hospitality is just taking care of people,” Bartle says. “Bartending is a lot of chatting with people and making sure everyone is happy and taken care of. I realized that all I was doing in these jobs was storytelling and hospitality.”
“I have an all-female team, and I want to make sure I am always uplifting them and encouraging them to keep learning, too,” Bartle says. “Before I was doing everything on my own and was relying only on myself. I didn’t have a team yet, so I had to learn how to rely on others.”
Though Bartle has been met with a lot of, “You work at a bowling alley? Why?”, she has quickly proven that Brooklyn Bowl is much more than that. From galas and presidential events to concerts and high-end events, Brooklyn Bowl has become a popular venue for all sorts of meetings and events.
JUST KEEP LEARNING
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Now, Bartle says she has a great team which she can bounce ideas off and share some of the workload with. “I used to do everything myself, so sometimes I forget I can have someone else take on tasks. They’re a great asset, and it truly makes me realize how much more we can get done when we work as a team,” she adds.
With a love for storytelling and hospitality, Dana Bartle has taken the industry by storm. BY KASSIDY TARALA
“It’s all about the vibe and creating a safe space for people to come and make memories that will mean something for the rest of their lives,” Bartle says. “I wanted to help [Brooklyn Bowl] craft something that would be their events department. I want to tell their story. This is exactly where I want to be.”
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.
