Healthy Event Activities Are More Important Than Ever DepositPhotos.com A COASTAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION PUBLICATION JULY 2022 VOL. 15 NO. 4 $15.00 CVB UPDATE TECH TRENDS DEI DYNAMICS EVENT DESIGN IDEAS RENOVATED CONVENTION CENTERS CHOOSING THE RIGHT VENUE WINNING WITH WELLNESSTake center stage on your next event and escape the everyday in a truly extraordinary getaway with limitless possibilities. Contact our Sales Team today to learn more and book your group. 800.937.0156 | HardRockHolly.com | #GuitarHotel DISCOVER YOUR RHYTHM. ©2022. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call 1-888-ADMIT.IT. FINE-TUNE YOUR NEXT MEETING.DEPARTMENTSFEATURES 46 28 36 32 24 16 VIEWPOINT 10 Make Events Engaging Think Outside the Box When Presenting to Attendees BY SCOTT STEINBERG 12 Building for the Future of Travel Education, Experience and Change Are the Keys to Growth BY GREG JUNG 14 Generation Gap How to Win the War for Younger Talent in the Gig Economy BY RICK GRIMALDI 16 Back to Business CVBs Took Measures to Stay Strong During the Shutdown BY NANCY MUELLER 24 Time for Tech Planners Are Embracing Today’s Computer Tools BY MAURA KELLER 28 The DEI Dynamic The Meetings Industry Can be a Catalyst for Change BY CHRISTINE LOOMIS 32 Forward Focus Event Design Has Evolved Over the Years BY MAURA KELLER 36 Fresh Paint New & Renovated Convention Centers Attract Attendees BY PATRICK SIMMS 42 Venue Vision COVID-19 Rules Pose Site-Selection Challenges BY DAN JOHNSON 46 Winning With Wellness Healthy Event Activities Are More Important Than Ever BY PATRICK SIMMS 4 Publisher’s Message 6 News & Notes 50 Career Track ISSN 21628831 | USPS 003500 | A COASTAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION PUBLICATION | JULY 2022 | VOLUME 15 | NUMBER 4 JULY 2022 themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIES 3 ISSUECONTENTSA COASTAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION PUBLICATION PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Harvey Grotsky harvey.grotsky @ themeetingmagazines.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kristin Bjornsen kristin.bjornsen @ themeetingmagazines.com MANAGING EDITOR Henry Fitzgerald henry.fitzgerald @ themeetingmagazines.com EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Rachel Galvin rachel.galvin @ themeetingmagazines.com CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Sophia Bennett Cynthia Dial Dan Johnson Maura Keller Christine Loomis Keith Loria Nancy Mueller David Swanson PRESIDENT & CEO Harvey Grotsky VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS David Middlebrook david.middlebrook @ themeetingmagazines.com ADVERTISING SALES OFFICES 2500 N. 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Provide old and new addresses including zip code. Enclose address label from most recent issue and please allow five weeks for the change to become effective. Printed in U.S.A. ©2022 Harvey Grotsky Publisher Triple The Points, Triple The Options We invite you to meaningful, productive meetings at the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort. For any group event contracted by September 30, 2022, for arrival through December 31, 2023, we are oering: Triple Marriott Bonvoy™ points on eligible meetings. All guests enjoy full access to every amenity on property including Mandara Spa, six pools, 22 restaurants and lounges, including five signature restaurants and preferred tee times on nearby Disney® championship golf courses. 1500 Epcot Resorts Blvd., Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 | 407.934.4290 | swandolphin.com/meetings Complex total number of guest rooms 2,619 Complex total sq. ft. of meeting space 348,711 sq. . Complex total number of meeting rooms 99 Complex total number of meeting suites 149 Complex total number of restaurants & lounges 22 The view from the top of the All-New Walt Disney World Swan Reserve FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA linkedin.com/company/ ACFacilities @ACFacilities @ACFacilities facebook.com/ ACFacilities linkedin.com/company/ ACFacilities @ACFacilities @ACFacilities facebook.com/ ACFacilities themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIESJULY 20224 Today’s Tools for Success E conomic uncertainty is no friend to meeting planners and the meetings industry. By the time you read this, we may have tumbled over the so- called fiscal cliff. Concern about the global economy continues to take a toll on our recovery, even though we see a post-pandemic resurgence in face-to- face meetings, planners are being cautious due to the uncertainty surrounding everyday business. So, as a meeting planner in an uncertain environment, what should you do? Use all the tools and tactics at your disposal to counter negative trends and keep mov- ing forward. Start with “Time for Tech” in this issue to see how you can embrace today’s computer tools. A combination of smart site selection and negotiation skills — now more than ever for successful events — are necessary to navigate the resurgent marketplace. Also, an added factor of importance is a smart plan to prove your meeting’s ROI for both the organiza- tion and its members. Doing all this will help keep the recovery momentum going. Most of us will agree that we are starting to see an increase in attendance across the board in meetings, and we’re also seeing excite- ment about attendees getting back to face-to-face meetings. The concern today is the cost of trans- portation, including airfare and the disruptions in service. Will this mean fewer attendees going forward? Despite some negativity, there may be a silver lining to the “new normal.” After a deep and enduring pandemic that led to unprecedented drop in meet- ings, sharply reduced budgets and downsized planner operations, the association meetings market is on the road to recovery. One of the leading indicators of change within organizations, relative to the economy and levels of activity, is that organizations have more meetings to talk about new initiatives and organizational strategies. Increases in those types of activities means more meetings, and to hold more meetings, you have to have bigger budgets. Given your perseverance as we move forward, I think association meetings will make a comeback faster than expected. If you haven’t already, don’t forget to register for the ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition to be held August 20-23 in Nashville, Tennessee! PUBLISHER’SMESSAGETriple The Points, Triple The Options We invite you to meaningful, productive meetings at the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort. For any group event contracted by September 30, 2022, for arrival through December 31, 2023, we are oering: Triple Marriott Bonvoy™ points on eligible meetings. All guests enjoy full access to every amenity on property including Mandara Spa, six pools, 22 restaurants and lounges, including five signature restaurants and preferred tee times on nearby Disney® championship golf courses. 1500 Epcot Resorts Blvd., Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 | 407.934.4290 | swandolphin.com/meetings Complex total number of guest rooms 2,619 Complex total sq. ft. of meeting space 348,711 sq. . Complex total number of meeting rooms 99 Complex total number of meeting suites 149 Complex total number of restaurants & lounges 22 The view from the top of the All-New Walt Disney World Swan ReserveNEW ORLEANS, LA — The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (NOENMCC) has been honored with the highly coveted New Orleans Top Workplaces 2022 Award by The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate. This accolade marks the seventh time the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Cen- ter has earned this distinction. The award is given to New Orleans businesses that showcase excellent organizational health, employee engagement, dedica- tion to a people-first culture and other important tenets of suc- cessful businesses. themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIESJULY 2022 HOUSTON, TX — Houston First Corp. continues to lead the charge in building sustainability as the George R. Brown Con- vention Center (GRB) recently achieved its first-ever LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. This year marks a tremendous milestone for the GRB as the 35-year- old building is not being recognized for its construction and design, but its sustainability, maintenance and operational efforts. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, the GRB qualified for the highest version of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification because of its documented building standards. Previously achieving LEED Sil- ver in 2011 and recertification in 2017, the GRB was critiqued in areas including energy conservation, waste reduction, indoor air quality improvement and water conversation for this year’s certification. George R. Brown Convention Center Achieves First-Ever LEED Gold Certification LONDON, UK — Despite some encouraging signs of revival for the overall travel industry in 2022, the business travel sector is witnessing a slower-than-expected recovery, particular regard- ing international travel. Business travel faces several added layers of complexity which affect consumer behavior, purchase decisions and general operations. As a result, many challenges lie ahead for international business travel over the next four years. As such, it is unlikely it will recover until at least 2026. According to GlobalData’s Tourism Demands and Flows Data- base, international business travel fell by 78.4% in 2020, before falling a further 7.9% in 2021. At the start of the pandemic, experts predicted that 2021 would most likely see some form of recovery. It is only now, after billions of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered, that there is an upward trajectory for international travel. Business travel is far more complex than leisure travel as there are a number of outside factors which both directly and indirectly affect business travel demand. New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Earns 7th New Orleans “Top Workplace” Award International Business Travel Unlikely to Recover Until at Least 2026 WASHINGTON, DC — The next chapter of the U.S. Travel Association will be led by Geoff Freeman, a proven association leader who has a track record of build- ing talented teams and delivering game- changing results for varied industries. He rejoins the U.S. Travel Association after nearly a decade of association leadership — first as president and CEO of the Ameri- can Gaming Association and as the cur- rent president and CEO of the Consumer Brands Association. He will join U.S. Travel on September 1. Over the past 20 years, Freeman has built an approach to association leadership that is centered around industry unity and transformational change. In his previous leadership role at U.S. Travel, Freeman’s strate- gic work led to the industry’s signature bipartisan legisla- tive victory establishing the Travel Pro- motion Act of 2009 and creating Brand USA. Other accomplishments included leading the industry effort behind the creation of TSA PreCheck and establish- ing the Meetings Mean Busi- ness Coalition. As CEO of the American Gaming Association from 2013 to 2018, Freeman led an industry-wide campaign to legalize sports betting and expanded the organization’s membership to include tribal gaming entities. U.S. Travel Association Selects Geoff Freeman as President and CEO 6 Freeman NEWS&NOTESIt’s time. To enjoy in-person gatherings, meaningful connection and engagement with fascinating people and unforgettable experiences. With much in store for your future meetings, jump back into a destination rich with intelligence, creativity and expertise. Jump back into Raleigh, N.C. visitRaleigh.com/meetings JULY 2022 themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIES ROSEMONT, IL — The Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a Division of ISSA, and the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) are expanding their partnership to include GBAC’s Infection Disease Awareness Course in IAEE’s Certified in Exhibition Management (CEM) Learning Program for exhibition and events professionals. IAEE will offer the Infection Disease Awareness Course from GBAC Academy, designed to increase participants’ knowledge of infec- tious disease basics, including how they spread and how people become sick. The course will supplement the Security, Risk, and Crisis Management module within the CEM Learning Program curriculum. Individuals who successfully complete the course within 30 days will receive a Certificate of Completion from GBAC. This course brings increased value to partici- pants’ employers and customers because it demonstrates competence to carry out their responsibilities and their commit- ment to the standards of excellence and continuous learning. The GBAC Infection Disease Awareness Course is offered in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Simpli- fied Chinese and Haitian Creole. For more information, visit learn.iaee.com. IAEE and GBAC Expand Partnership to Add Infection Disease Awareness Education for Events Professionals Visit Baton Rouge Selects New CEO BATON ROUGE, LA — The Visit Baton Rouge Board of Directors recently voted to hire Jill Kidder, current president and CEO of the Louisiana Travel Association (LTA), as its next president and CEO. LTA is a trade asso- ciation and the primary voice for Louisiana’s tour- ism industry, pro- viding promotion, education and advocacy. Kid- der also serves as president and CEO of the Louisiana Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus (LACVB) and previously served as executive director of the Alex- andria/Pineville CVB. “We had the oppor- tunity to spend time with three excellent finalists for this job and were faced with a difficult decision,” says Claude Reynaud Jr., chairman of the Visit Baton Rouge Board. “The board has ambitious goals to take Baton Rouge to the next level as a destination, and we believe Jill has the experience and the love for our city and state to take us there. I’m excited for our future.” Paul Arrigo, current president and CEO who announced earlier this year he will retire in September, congratulated Kidder. “Jill inherits a staff that is second to none,” Arrigo says. “I look forward to working with her and the staff to make this transition as smooth as possible and I wish her much success for Baton Rouge.” Kidder and two other finalists were interviewed at public meetings held by the search committee, with additional opportunities provided for the candidates to meet board members, senior staff and hospitality industry stakeholders. 7 Kidderthemeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIESJULY 2022 ATLANTIC CITY, NJ — Caesars Entertainment has announced additional property enhancements at Caesars Atlantic City this year, including dramatic upgrades to its valet, hotel lobby and casino floor, along with a new outdoor pool experience. The enhancements are part of a $200 million resort transformation, which also includes Nobu Atlantic City, a restaurant and distinct hotel experience within Caesars Atlantic City’s hotel; Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen, the first restaurant of its kind on the East Coast; and more than 750 newly renovated rooms and suites in Caesars’ Centurion and Ocean towers. LAS VEGAS, NV — Resorts World Las Vegas recently unveiled its Las Vegas Convention Center Loop passenger station, pro- viding direct underground access to the Las Vegas Conven- tion Center (LVCC) in an enjoyable, efficient and environmentally friendly way in minutes in all- electric Teslas. Resorts World Las Vegas is now also poised to connect to the expanded Vegas Loop system when devel- opment efforts move forward on the proposed innovative transportation system. The LVCC Loop is an innova- tive, all-electric, zero-emissions, underground public transpor- tation system in which passengers are transported non-stop to their destination. The Resorts World Las Vegas passenger sta- tion will be the first of more than 55 stops anticipated to form the Vegas Loop, which aims to eventually transport thousands of passengers per hour throughout the city. Caesars Entertainment Announces Additional Property Enhancements at Caesars Atlantic City Resorts World Las Vegas and the Boring Company Officially Open the Property’s Passenger Station WASHINGTON, DC — The largest world- wide network of independent Destination Management Companies (DMCs) and spe- cialized event service providers, Global DMC Partners (GDP), has announced its newest DMC partner, Destination Fabu- lous, based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The highly motivated team has more than 35 years of experience with top vendors in the business. With a tagline of “What Happens in Vegas Should Be Fabulous,” the team knows how to create the ulti- mate Vegas experience for meetings, incentives and events. Belinda Maguire, founder and president, incorporates her customer-first philosophy into every cli- ent interaction and has worked with top companies such as Capital One, LinkedIn, Venafi, Pitney Bowes, Body Armor, Cox Communications, Purina, Valvoline, Hen- nessy and GMC Buick. Destination Fabu- lous also works with the hottest hotel properties on and off the Strip, including Resorts World, Wynn/Encore, ARIA, Bel- lagio, The Cosmopolitan and Red Rock Resort. Destination Fabulous delivers highly personalized, white-glove service to every one of their clients, offering a full suite of experiences and services, such as: • Motivating incentive events to reward top performers • Team-building meetings that forge new friendships • Engaging off-site activities for meaning- ful networking • Upscale intimate meetings that impress even the most discriminating attendees • Flawless mega-conferences that will have attendees pre-booking for next year. Global DMC Partners Teams up With Destination Fabulous SAN ANTONIO, TX — Hyatt Regency San Antonio announces the completion of a $38 million renovation. The project trans- formed the hotel’s 602 guest rooms and 28 suites to reflect an upscale urban experience showcasing its location as a connect- ing feature between Alamo Plaza and the River Walk. When guests arrive to the updated guest rooms, they will immedi- ately notice floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing sweeping downtown views. The hotel boasts 37,000 sf of function space, including two ballrooms and 21 meeting rooms. Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk Announces Completion of $38 Million Guest Room Renovation 8 ANYTHING BUT BUSINESS AS USUAL caesarsmeansbusiness.com | 855-633-8238 NEWS&NOTESANYTHING BUT BUSINESS AS USUAL caesarsmeansbusiness.com | 855-633-8238Next >