EDITOR'S LETTER
Travel and Meet Smart ACCORDING TO THE U.S. TRAVEL ASSOCIATION, in 2018, direct spending on business
Teresa Kenny, editor TERESA.KENNY@TIGEROAK.COM
travel by domestic and international travelers totaled $327.3 billion, and meetings, events and incentive travel accounted for $135.9 billion of that number. In fact, U.S. residents logged 463.6 million person-trips for business purposes in 2018, with 38 percent of those for meetings and events. In this issue, Texas Meetings + Events takes a look at making the most of those trips by meeting at or near our state’s many airports. In our feature article, “Flyby Meetings” (page 47), contributing writer Belinda Lichty Clarke focuses on seven Texas airports and some of their surrounding venues so you can make the most of your group’s travel time. For those looking for their groups to be transported on more of a mental rejuvenation plane, in our second feature, “Where Work Meets Well-Being” (page 40), we take a look at how you can incorporate wellness into your group outings or retreats. Texas is packed with fantastic retreat opportunities, whether they are among the city lights or out under the stars. With it being summer, the natural place for us to head to is the Gulf Coast. Writer Julie Scagell takes us on a road trip, starting north of the coast in McAllen and then skirting the gulf with stops in South Padre Island and Corpus Christi. We also make some stops in one of the region’s hottest trends: food halls. Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio have all welcomed food halls to their streets, changing the way Texans gather ’round the table. Speaking of trends, marketing events has come a long way in a relatively short period of time from traditional invites and advertising. Now, marketing is about making the right connections. Melissa Sersland spoke with some of our state’s experts to learn more about what you should be considering when designing your event’s marketing campaign (page 24). Thank you so much for taking some time out of your summer months to spend with us. Hopefully you’re reading us on a blanket on a beach or poolside, cool drink in hand. As always, be sure to send me any story ideas at Teresa.Kenney@tigeroak.com. I look forward to hearing from you! Cheers,
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TXM+E
| SUMMER 2019
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