MONTEREY COUNTY, CA IN THE BIRTHPLACE OF OUTDOOR MEETINGS ARE ALWAYS IN. STATE PARKSWith abundant sunshine, wide-open landscapes, an inclusive spirit and anything-goes attitude, it's no wonder California is a magnet for innovation and creativity. This place brings out the big thinker in everyone. And with all the green hotels, open-air venues and industry-leading technology, it's no coincidence that California is a hotbed for groundbreaking ideas. Around here, the impossible becomes possible. And whys become why nots. So discover the perfect environment for getting the most out of your next event. Meet what's possible for your next meeting at VisitCalifornia.com/meetings. CALIFORNIA HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE BIRTHPLACE OF WHAT'S NEXT. WHICH MAKES IT THE PERFECT SETTING FOR YOUR NEXT MEETING.Photo courtesy of Paul Michael Raspa Jr. A COASTAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION PUBLICATION JUNE/JULY 2022 VOL. 40 NO. 3 $15.00 IN THIS ISSUE CRUISE MEETINGS UPDATE DESERT MEETINGS SAVANNAH COLORADO FLORIDA CARIBBEAN CALIFORNIA LOUISIANA Take Measures to Ensure Attendees Choose to Meet in Person El Conquistador Resort in Puerto Rico offered unique entertainment at The Guardians Inc.’s Annual Retreat held in mid-spring this year. A RETURN TO F2FA LEGACY OF MODERN LUXURY 70 YEARS OF WORLD-CLASS EVENT PLANNING FOREVER FONTAINEBLEAU COMING TO LAS VEGAS Q4 2023 FONTAINEBLEAULASVEGASMEETINGS.COM | FBLVSALES@FBDEV.COM VOLUME 40 NO. 3 // JUNE/JULY 2022 10 14 20 26 IN THIS ISSUE features 4 Publisher’s Message 6 News & Notes 66 People on the Move destinations departments TheMeetingMagazines.com | Corporate & Incentive Travel | June/July 2022 3 Southern Charm Meetings in Savannah Offer Many Memorable Experiences BY BRANDI CHAMBLESS Desert Allure Warm Weather, Striking Landscapes and Abundant Outdoor Spaces BY DAN JOHNSON The Waves Await Cruise Meetings Are Again an Option for Planners BY DAVID SWANSON A Return to F2F Take Measures to Ensure Attendees Choose to Meet in Person BY PATRICK SIMMS 60 30 10 30 36 46 52 60 California The ‘Golden State’ Welcomes Back Meetings BY CHRISTINE LOOMIS Louisiana Reigniting in-Person Meetings and Special Events BY NANCY MUELLER Caribbean & Bahamas Bringing a Touch of Magic to Meetings BY CHRISTINE LOOMIS Florida So Many Amazing Attractions and Adventures BY MAURA KELLER Colorado A Destination With Activities for All Seasons BY DAVID SWANSON 20 52 26 ISSN 0739-1587 // USPS 716-450Corporate & Incentive Travel (USPS 716-450) is published bimonthly by Coastal Communications Corporation, 2500 North Military Trail — Suite 283, Boca Raton, FL 33431-6322; 561- 989-0600. Single copies $15.00 U.S.A. only. Yearly subscription price is $135.00 in the U.S.A.; Canada and foreign is $175.00. Back copies $17.00 U.S.A. only. Distributed without charge to qualified personnel. Periodicals Postage Paid at Boca Raton, FL, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Corporate & Incentive Travel, 2500 North Military Trail — Suite 283, Boca Raton, FL 33431-6322. Nothing contained in this publication shall constitute an endorsement by Coastal Communications Corporation (Corporate & Incentive Travel), and the publication disclaims any liability with respect to the use of or reliance on any such information. The information contained in this publication is in no way to be construed as a recommendation by C&IT of any industry standard, or as a recommendation of any kind to be adopted, by or to be binding upon, any corporate/ incentive travel planner or agent. Reproduction of any portion of this publication by any means is strictly forbidden. Editorial contributions must be accompanied by return postage and will be handled with reasonable care. However, the publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited photographs or manuscripts. Subscribers: Send subscription inquiries and address changes to: Circulation Department, Corporate & Incentive Travel, 2500 North Military Trail — Suite 283, Boca Raton, FL 33431- 6322. Provide old and new addresses including zip codes. Enclose address label from most recent issue and please allow five weeks for the change to become effective. Printed in U.S.A. © 2022 Facing Reality With a Strong Offense Let’s see if I’ve got this straight: We are all experiencing the increased cost at the gas pump along with increased hotel rates, airfare and numerous other items. Experts forecast increased costs will continue for the foreseeable future. Is this going to lead us to reducing meetings and incentive trips to save money and improve the bottom line? The big question I am asking is: Does this make sense? It has been proven time and time again that the best defense is a strong of- fense. This is often true in corporate America when experiencing rising costs and supply-chain delays affecting profits. You can’t win a battle or outdo your competitors by standing still with a lack of aggressive action. Astute corporate management knows that when rising costs are affecting the bottom line, it is time to schedule more meetings and incen- tive trips, not less. Doing so enables manage- ment to show the flag, sustain morale and fire up employees. Corporate events are the perfect opportunity to introduce new products, promo- tions and sales techniques. Equally important is the opportunity to learn from one another what problems or new business opportunities have recently emerged and how to exploit them most effectively. The days of ivory-tower management may be over. Today’s most successful businesses stay ahead of shifting trends by meeting frequently with the front-line troops. Professional meeting planners are fully aware that they must be able to demonstrate a viable ROI for corporate meetings and in- centive travel programs. Today, management wants and expects to know exactly what it is getting in return for the expenditure for these activities. If you are unable to provide such vital information, you may be flirting with the pink slip. As belt tightening continues in today’s corporate world, it becomes increas- ingly important that you deliver maximum value for your meetings and incen- tive trips. The expert articles and destination features in this and subsequent issues of Corporate & Incentive Travel, published since 1983 as the source to turn to, can help you discover how to do so in the most professional and suc- cessful manner possible. PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE // A 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. Military Trail, Suite 283 Boca Raton, FL 33431-6322 561-989-0600 Fax: 561-989-9509 advertising@themeetingmagazines.com IL | IN | WI REGIONAL MANAGER Bob Mitchell 630-541-3388 • Mobile: 630-235-0126 bob.mitchell@themeetingmagazines.com DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS Michael Caffin 914-629-5860 michael.caffin@themeetingmagazines.com 4 June/July 2022 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.com Harvey Grotsky Publisher FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA linkedin.com/company/ CorpIncTravel @CorpIncTravel @CorpIncTravel facebook.com/ CorpIncTravelAll profits from resort stays support The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation educational mission and historic preservation. MEMORABLE MEETINGS. AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCES. We’ve taken significant steps to ensure that our event accommodations meet the highest standard of health and safety for our guests. Providing a world-class experience through our five unique hotel properties and allowing our guests to immerse themselves in the world’s largest living history museum, we offer 19 flavorful food and beverage outlets, legendary golf courses, a world-class spa and fitness center, and flexible meeting spaces perfectly suited for every budget. Your stay supports The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s mission to help maintain and preserve these historic and iconic assets so they may continue to be enjoyed by generations to come. Plan your next event with us by calling 800-822-9127 or visit colonialwilliamsburgresorts.com to witness history in the making. 2021 OVER 100,000 SQ. FT. OF INDOOR / OUTDOOR EVENT SPACE 45 HOLES OF GOLF19 FOOD AND BEVERAGE OUTLETSNEWS + NOTES // 6 June/July 2022 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.com RENOVATIONS $65 Million Renovation Elevates Myrtle Beach Experiences MYRTLE BEACH, SC — Following a $65 million renovation deemed the most comprehensive project Myrtle Beach’s hotels and resorts have seen in more than five years, Kingston Re- sorts now welcomes guests to fully up- dated rooms, suites and meeting/event space at Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort and Embassy Suites by Hilton Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort, completing this summer with a new restaurant, pool and two waterparks. The ocean- front Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort has finished a complete refresh of rooms, suites, event space, dining outlets and pool experience. Offering 56,579 sf of meeting space spanning across 24 rooms, Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort’s renovated space serves as the perfect backdrop for all kinds of events, from com- pany retreats to corporate conferences. Embassy Suites Myrtle Beach has completed updates to its suites, event and activity spaces. Featur- ing 61,165 sf of event space and 30 meeting rooms, the property plays host to a variety of cor- porate occasions, featuring a pillar- less Kensington Ballroom expansive enough to accommodate 2,000 people. NEW HOTEL Hyatt Announces Plans for Grand Hyatt Cancún Beach Resort CHICAGO, IL — Hyatt Hotels Cor- poration recently announced plans for Grand Hyatt Cancún Beach Resort, a new-build resort in Quintana Roo, Mexico. Anticipated to open in 2024 in time for the summer season, the 500-room luxury Grand Hyatt hotel will mark another milestone in Hyatt’s ambitious brand growth strategy in Latin America to meet growing travel demand. Situated in the eastern part of the Yucatan Peninsula with expansive views overlooking the Caribbean Sea and nearby Isla Mujeres, Grand Hyatt Cancún Beach Resort will be a capti- vating destination, featuring 500 guest rooms, of which 28 guest rooms fea- ture their own plunge pool, and 46 are luxury suites, including one Presiden- tial Suite, 11 dining concepts that will feature world-class chefs and iconic dishes reflective of the destination, and six bars, including a lobby lounge bar. Courtesy photo STUDY International Arrivals & Spending to Recover by 2025 ORLANDO, FL — The U.S. Travel Association recently released its updated international travel forecast, which projects 65 million international arrivals in 2023, or 82% of pre-pandemic levels. The fore- cast projects that international arrivals and spending will fully recover to 2019 levels by 2025. In an upside scenario, the U.S. could gain an additional 5.4 million visi- tors and $9 billion in spending by the end of 2022 if the pre-departure testing requirement were removed. U.S. Travel’s forecast extends to 2026, and also includes an analysis on where inbound travel should be in terms of growth had the pandemic not occurred. UPGRADES Wynn Las Vegas Unveils New Luxury Accommodations LAS VEGAS, NV — Wynn Las Vegas has unveiled details of a new room concept that will transform its luxury guest accommodations across Wynn Las Vegas and Wynn Tower Suites. Currently un- der construction and scheduled to be completed soon, the project is the largest and most extensive design evolu- tion ever made to the tower’s 2,674 guest rooms, suites, elevator lobbies and resort tower corridors. At its heart, the new guest room design intends to give travelers a sense of escapism that feels comfortable and familiar. In an upside scenario, the U.S. could gain an additional 5.4 million visitors. Photo by Barbara Kraft Rendering courtesy of Hyatt Hotels1133 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ ONE OF A KIND. SHARECARE HEALTH SECURITY VERIFIED® WITH FORBES TRAVEL GUIDE ONE OF A KIND EVENT. MOHEGAN SUN KIND OF EXPERIENCE. With an award-winning staff and an unmatched variety of dining and entertainment options, Resorts Casino Hotel is the one of a kind choice for your next event. Let us help you plan your own unique experience in our 64,000 square feet of flexible space, with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean. All in one of the most acclaimed locations anywhere, the famed Atlantic City Boardwalk, and featuring the quality, service and style of a Mohegan Sun property. Just minutes from two international airports. CALL 609.340.7850, VISIT MEETATRESORTSAC.COM OR EMAIL SALES@RESORTSAC.COM TO BOOK YOUR COMPLIMENTARY SITE VISIT. NEW WEBSITE Visit Lauderdale Launches Website with Accessibility Microsite FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — Visit Lauderdale recently launched its new VisitLauderdale.com website that in- cludes an accessibility microsite in recognition of the tourism bureau’s new focus on accessible travel. Visit Lauderdale launched the new name and brand slogan “Everyone Under the Sun” last year. The slogan is a nod to the destination’s residential diver- sity and lengthy involvement with inclusive travel marketing. Work has been underway with Simpleview since the brand launch on the new destina- tion site. Meanwhile, Visit Lauderdale staff has been working to increase awareness of existing accessibility of- ferings in the destination and to help area businesses provide enhanced of- ferings for travelers with both visible and hidden disabilities. Greater Fort Lauderdale hotels, restaurants and at- tractions create a welcoming space for every guest. Many provide accessible amenities, including handicap ac- cessible rooms, as well as wheelchair ramps; accessible outdoor dining spaces, including spacious outdoor patios; special sensory-inclusive web- sites and sensory-sensitive live per- formances. Area resources listed on the site include information on where to find wheelchair-accessible beaches, and about the Fort Lauderdale-based Special Needs Group, which provides a wide range of equipment, including rentals of wheelchairs, scooters, audio and visual aid necessities and other essentials. DIVERSITY Marriott International Launches Hotel Development Program BETHESDA, MD — At the recent 44th Annual NYU International Hospital- ity Investment Conference, Marriott International announced the launch of “Marriott’s Bridging The Gap,” a multi-year, $50 million development program that aims to address the bar- riers to entry that historically under- represented groups face in owning and developing hotels in the United States and Canada. Recognizing that access to capital constitutes a critical barrier to market entry, Marriott will offer financial and other incentives to qualified historically underrepresented owners and franchisees that will have a controlling equity interest in select branded projects. Over three years, qualifying development projects built or converted under Marriott’s Bridging The Gap are expected to reach $1 bil- lion in total asset value for historically underrepresented ownership groups. In developing the program, Marriott tapped into the company’s develop- ment and franchising teams, as well as current and potential hotel owners and franchisees. TheMeetingMagazines.com | Corporate & Incentive Travel | June/July 2022 7Next >