< PreviousNEWS & NOTES themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIESMAY 2023 Omni PGA Frisco Resort Now Open FRISCO, TX — The wait is over for Omni Hotels & Resorts’ most anticipated open- ing, Omni PGA Frisco resort. Sprawling across 660 acres in the flourishing city of Frisco, TX, the resort boasts 500 guest rooms and suites, along with 10 exclusive four-bedroom ranch houses, in addition to 13 diverse restaurant and bar concepts, a world-class destination Mokara Spa, four sparkling pools, retail and entertainment. The new resort offers nearly 130,000 sf of indoor and outdoor events space, including a 22,000 sf Ryder Cup Ballroom, complemented by a 11,500 sf Wanamaker Ballroom for grand events. Additionally, the resort offers the 5,000 sf Panther Creek Pavilion, an elegantly rustic setting, seamlessly integrated with an adjoining patio and event lawn. Heralded as the new home of modern golf, two championship courses designed by acclaimed architects Gil Hanse and Beau Welling anchor the resort. Golf- ers of all skill levels will have more ways to play, including a lighted 10-hole short course and two-acre putting course, the Lounge by Topgolf dining and simulation experience, state-of-the-art PGA Coaching Center, Ice House restaurant with hitting bays overlooking the Toptracer driving range and more. For more information, visit OmniPGAFriscoResort.com. America’s Center Expansion in St. Louis Celebrates Milestone ST. LOUIS, MO – Explore St. Louis cele- brated a major milestone with the instal- lation of the last piece of roof truss steel above its new 72,000 sf state-of-the-art exhibit space, which is part of the AC Next Gen project. This is part of a $240 million expan- sion and facelift underway at the Amer- ica’s Center Convention Complex in downtown St. Louis and is scheduled to be completed early next year. In addition to the new exhibit hall is an outdoor gathering space, enhancement of the Washington Avenue entrance, more than twice the number of loading docks for access to the exhibit space and other improvements. For more information, visit explor- estlouis.com/meetings-conventions. Four Seasons Hotel Boston Reopens BOSTON, MA — Four Seasons Hotel Bos- ton reopened its doors with a dramatic design update of its arrival area, lobby and porte cochere, revealing artful and inspired new spaces created in partner- ship with AD100 designer Ken Fulk. The hotel, which offers 25,000 sf of meeting space, has several new restaurants, including Coterie, a new lounge and restaurant; Library, where attendees can relax, grab a book and have a cocktail, and Sottovento, a gourmet coffee bar. Sanctuary, a quiet, sixth-floor garden terrace, also makes its debut this month. Making a return to Four Seasons Hotel Boston is Aujourd’hui, the second- floor breakfast and lunch restaurant. For more information, visitfoursea- sons.com/boston/meetings-and-events. 8 Take 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. © 2023. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call 1-888-ADMIT.IT. FINE-TUNE YOUR NEXT MEETING. 22-SHRH-01208_MayJune AC&F ad_Rev2.indd 15/20/2022 4:43:07 PM Atlantic City Convention Center Announces Ongoing Sustainability Initiatives ATLANTIC CITY, NJ – OVG360, the oper- ators of the Atlantic City Convention Center, recently announced its ongoing sustainability initiatives have led to LEED GOLD recertification of the facility. The convention center continues to incorporate energy efficient design elements, such as replacing outdated heating and cooling equipment with a new high efficiency HVAC system and upgraded exterior LED platform lighting at the attached NJ Transit Rail Terminal. Additionally, The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities awarded a grant to the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority for the installation of two Level-Two Electric Vehicle Chargers at the center, which should be ready to use by summer. Participation in the “Energy Sav- ings Improvement Program” will better allow the center to explore and fund long-lasting, energy-related facility improvements aimed at lessening envi- ronmental impact and reducing overall energy usage. For more information, visit accenter.com. COURTESY OF EXPLORE ST. LOUISTake 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. © 2023. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call 1-888-ADMIT.IT. FINE-TUNE YOUR NEXT MEETING.M ost leaders have been there: We see someone who needs help, and we quickly provide it, only to end up feeling taken advantage of. Maybe you helped an employee out of a financial jam, only to see them keep making bad decisions. Or you spent hours coaching a younger colleague and then watched him ignore your advice. Or you stepped in to “rescue” a teammate who wasn’t prepared and later real- ized that she now counts on you to save the day. Especially in a time of so much need, almost everyone feels the pull of generosity. But at the same time, we can’t help but worry that our generosity isn’t really helping the person in the long run—or worse, that it will have negative consequences for us or the organization. Not knowing how to balance these impulses can create inner turmoil. We want to help other people, but are stuck wondering — Does this person even deserve my help? or Am I being taken advantage of? or even Is giving this person a fish keeping them from learning to fish themselves? These are very human feelings and valid concerns. And they pose a real dilemma for would-be givers and helpers. We shouldn’t let these concerns harden our hearts to generosity. But on the other hand, constantly giving to people who are not maximizing their own time and resources might just be an invitation for them to squander ours. To navigate this, we need to embrace a mindset that I call “responsible generosity.” It requires us to examine our own motives and to really think about what the other person needs long-term. It is not a “get out of giving free” card; in fact, it may require us to give more of ourselves, which is so much harder but also more meaningful than writing a check. Here are a few tips on practicing responsible generosity: Take a hard look at why you’re giving. Are you a co- dependent giver? Do you help others because you have a deep need to feel good about yourself, to be loved and appreciated, or to be seen as the smarter, stronger or more capable person? Are you doing it as a manipulation technique to get the other person to do something for you in return? Your focus should be on how the gift will impact the other person’s life, not on what you’re getting out of it. For example, while we’d all like for our generosity to be met with gratitude, do you find yourself thinking, Is this per- son acting grateful enough? This only sets us up for resentment when people don’t react the way we think they should. Or, have you started thinking of yourself a “savior” whose role is to swoop in and save the day? Keep your ego out of the equation and stop worrying about whether the other person “deserves” it. Very few of us, if any, deserve the grace and good fortunate that comes our way. Try to stay focused on the other person’s needs and how you can truly help them. Make sure that by helping others in the short-term, you aren’t setting them up for long-term failure. When we are constantly saving others from the natural consequences of their actions, we rob them of an opportunity to experience accountability. Because they’re not motivated to do better, they don’t improve and grow. By perpetually “helping” them, we keep them from ever becoming self-reliant. Sometimes, the most loving thing to do is to say no. If your teammate has a pattern of coming to meetings VIEW POINT 10 themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIESMAY 2023 “I Want to Help… But Should I?” Five Ways Leaders Can Practice Responsible Generosity BY GARY HARPST Constantly giving to people who are not maximizing their own time and resources might just be an invitation for them to squander ours. unprepared, and you consistently pick up her slack, what you’re teaching her is that you’ll always be there to cover for her. This sets up a dangerous long-term pattern of reliance and makes it harder for her to learn responsibility. Better to let her experience the natural consequences of not doing the work. Constantly saving the day might feel good to you, but it’s not helping her in the long run. Think beyond financial giving. Sharing your time and wisdom may be a more powerful form of generosity. There are many times when simply writing a check is not the best way to be generous. Instead, we should think critically about how to be generous with all our resources, including time and wisdom/knowledge. If you know someone who is constantly in need of financial rescuing, the best way to help might be to guide them to a better way of living. If an employee, coworker or friend is frequently in trouble, we may have the time or money to offer immediate assistance, but guidance, coaching and accountability are often more valuable. You might offer to help with budgeting or time man- agement, for example. Just be sure not to do it in a judgmental way; always come from a place of love. You might even ask them if they’d like you to be their accountability partner in the future to help them stay on track. Consider setting reasonable conditions on gifts. If it’s clear to you that a person is trapped in a self-destructive pattern, you can often help them break out of it by ask- ing them to make small, incremental behavior changes in exchange for your assistance. Tell them up front that if they don’t follow through, there will be no more help. Just be sure to use this tough love not as a club or punish- ment but as a motivation to change. Helping people “win” by taking steps to improve their life is good for them and good for you too. I once had a friend who would frequently get into financial jams and ask for a “loan,” which never got paid back. He was constantly job-hopping for an extra 50 cents an hour. Those jobs often looked better to him but turned out to be tempo- rary; he would get laid off and come back asking for more. Finally, after yet another request, I agreed to help if he would agree to stay at his current job for a full year, regardless of how much more he could make elsewhere. He stuck to this agreement and learned the value of steady income that he could depend on. Don’t try to go at it alone. Connect with networks that can amplify the impact of your generosity. Giving money directly to people who need it is not always the best way to help. A classic example is when someone struggling with addiction uses a donation to buy drugs rather than food— perpetuating the destructive cycle they’re trapped in. Com- munity networks are designed to help people through tough times. If you feel called to give, but lack the time/energy to make sure your gift is used responsibly, find a partner in your community who can. In most communities, there are amazing groups like churches, non-profits and charity groups who stay hyper- focused on improving people’s lives long-term. Supporting their work, and then helping connect them with those in need, might be the best way to help. Before giving money, our church gets to know the fam- ily, their needs and what is causing the issue—and then gives strategically to help people address the root cause. Think about it this way: None of us have unlimited money, time or energy. That’s true of individuals, and it’s true of com- panies. We must be good stewards of our resources or they will quickly be depleted. The more responsible we are with our giving, the more we can give. It’s that simple. And giving, when it’s done with the right spirit, feels great to everyone involved. | AC&F | 11 MAY 2023 themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIES Gary Harpst is the author of “Built to Beat Chaos: Biblical Wisdom for Leading Yourself and Others.” He is the founder and CEO of LeadFirst. He is a keynote speaker, writer and teacher whose areas of focus include leadership, business and the integration of faith at work. He has been recognized as one of the Top 100 of the nation’s top thought-leaders in management and leadership by Leadership Excellence magazine. To learn more, visit leadfirst.ai. DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM If you feel called to give, but lack the time/energy to make sure your gift is used responsibly, find a partner in your community who can.V irtual exhaustion.” The very idea that it can be exhausting to sit in front of a screen all day sounds strange — but it’s real. As valuable as virtual events have been for event professionals over the last two years, people are indeed tired of them. And that’s a cause for concern as event teams feel the pressure of projected lower attendance numbers this year. Low attendance numbers scare the hell out of event professionals. In late 2021, the Splash team surveyed more than 250 event professionals for an annual events outlook report, “Get- ting Back to Business,” and learned that their top concern, no matter the size or type of event, is low attendance. Their other main concern is combatting virtual event fatigue. But perhaps a more significant factor that could drive lower attendance rates in 2022 is the onslaught of in-person events this year. With the return of in-person conferences and meetings and a continuance of virtual events, attendees face an over- whelming number of events to choose from. That leaves event professionals facing increasing pressure to make their event the essential one to attend. To do this, there will be challenges, but they’re not insurmountable. Here are some thoughts on how event professionals can overcome those. YOUR EVENT ATTENDEES WANT MORE OPTIONS The first pill to swallow for event professionals is to elimi- nate a “one or other” approach — virtual versus in-person. Event attendees expect more choice now and offering them that choice is the responsible thing to do. Even as the pan- demic wanes, some attendees will still feel uncomfortable going to a large in-person gathering and prefer the relative safety of attending remotely. Rather than alienating a portion of your audience, offer both. Attendees who are still uncomfortable in person will appreciate the virtual component. Those who are present at the event venue won’t have their experience affected by the availability of a virtual option. Having that option alone could make a long-lasting impact on those attendees who still want to go virtual, building loyalty among this segment for future event programs. Another benefit of offering a virtual option is broadening the attendee pool and improving your numbers. Why give attendees an ultimatum to come to an in-person event or not at all? Give them a third box to check, a virtual choice that provides flexibility and makes the event work best for them. You want all the right attendees at your event, regardless of the format. IF THEY CHOOSE IT, THEY WILL COME After two years of canceling or postponing events, com- panies are redoubling efforts to make up for lost time — and revenue. Naturally, some attendees may feel overwhelmed by the volume of events this year. Hybrid models ease that ten- sion by offering virtual and in-person options. Hybrid events give potential attendees additional choices when deciding which events to prioritize. They might not be able to justify the travel expense to attend an in-person event, but they could attend virtually. More hybrid event options mean more flexibility in attendees’ calendars and schedules, which facilitates them attending more events overall. Another thing to consider is that choice makes for a more engaged and involved attendee. If guests choose to go virtual in a hybrid model, it’s because they prefer to engage in that way, as opposed to attend- ing a virtual event that was replacing a canceled in-person event. EMBRACE THE NEW TECH The technology used to host virtual events has come a long way. Our 2022 event outlook survey found that nearly 6 in 10 companies are increasing their investment in event technology compared to 2021, and 46% anticipate hosting more virtual events this year than last. That’s the right approach — testing and learning new technologies to engage your audience. But the only way to combat virtual fatigue and low vir- tual attendance is to offer a virtual experience that feels new and refined. Earlier this year, we unveiled an all-in-one event platform called Splash Studio to vastly improve the backstage experience and reporting for professionals running a virtual event and elevate attendees’ screen experience. Some of the innovations we developed within a virtual setting include easy access for attendees to engage in polls or chat with attendees or speakers during a session. New networking features also enable several session hosts to mod- erate different networking circles, where attendees can also break out into private chats. Essentially, networking can be as structured or unstructured as event professionals want, from small groups to a wide-open platform for attendees to mix and mingle. VIEW POINT Renew The Experience Attract the Right Attendees, Regardless of Format BY ERIC HOLMEN 12 themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIESMAY 2023BRING IN-PERSON TO VIRTUAL A true hybrid experience also gets virtual attendees engaged with the in-person experience. Event profession- als can do things such as stream live in-booth interviews with exhibitors on the floor, show webcasts of live in-per- son presentations, perhaps launch a drone video of what’s happening on the ground, or stream videos of awards or other presentations. Company events can bring remote attendees to the live stage with streaming and live online chat interaction. The most important part of a true hybrid event experience is integration — the virtual component must be woven into the fabric of the event itself. Too often, the virtual side of a hybrid event feels tacked on, either a static simulcast of what’s hap- pening at the venue or a parallel program that lacks the dyna- mism of the in-person experience. High-performing hybrid events use their virtual channel to augment and complement the live show, not just replicate it. This way, those attend- ing virtually have as full an experience as possible and get as much value from the event as their in-person counterparts. Of course, a seamlessly integrated hybrid event is hard to achieve with outdated event technology. Hanging onto old tech or not paving the way for more choice is the easy option. But now is precisely the time to experiment, learn and improve. It won’t be easy, but it’s the only way to generate renewed excitement and deliver an experience that differentiates your event pro- grams this year. EDUCATE AND EDUCATE SOME MORE Critical to the hybrid model’s success is educating attend- ees and setting expectations, explaining how the virtual and in-person components work together, and highlighting what attendees will recognize or is brand new. For event profes- sionals, this means proactive outreach and communication both before and during the event. For event managers, more interaction with both virtual and in-person attendees will be required. But the payoff in terms of engagement and atten- dance ratios will be well worth the effort. Events this year are launching with added pressure to make up for lost revenue and engagement. Securing more bodies for the show floor or log-ins for a virtual session will be tough. At the same time, companies hosting their events want to create an outstanding experience for employees, customers or partners regardless of how they participate. One thing is for sure: not building out and communicating a hybrid offering will only make your job as an event marketer or professional much harder this year. Leverage the improved event technology that is available, renew the event experi- ence for your guests, and don’t settle for a “one-or-the-other” approach. | AC&F | 13 Eric Holmen is the CEO of Splash, a next-generation event marketing platform designed to help teams build and host virtual, in-person and hybrid events. He is responsible for driving the company’s transformative growth and positioning Splash to help its customers do what they love: create memorable experiences, new connections and business value. For more, visit splashthat.com. MAY 2023 themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIES Not building out and communicating a hybrid offering will only make your job as an event marketer or professional much harder. DEPOSITPHOTOS.COMMANDALAY BAY CONVENTION CENTER TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES, DYNAMIC DIGITAL SIGNAGE AND A FRESH, NEW DESIGN ARE PART OF THE $100 MILLION REMODEL OF MANDALAY BAY’S 2.1 MILLION- SQUARE-FOOT CONVENTION CENTER. FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO BOOK YOUR NEXT EVENT, VISIT MANDALAYBAY.COM IS WHERE WE INVEST IN THE FUTURE.INTERNATIONAL EVENTS themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIESMAY 2023 Global Gatherings The Pros & Cons of Holding Meetings Worldwide By David Swanson hile the resumption of conferences and events in North America has almost returned to pre- pandemic levels, association meeting planners might be surprised to hear how the MICE sector is thriving in many overseas countries, sometimes exceeding 2019 activity. W “We did more business in the last nine months than we did the whole of 2019,” says Catherine Chaulet, president & CEO of Global DMC Partners, a global networks of DMCs. “The business came back beautifully this year, and when we com- pare what we had in the books at this time last year with what we have now, we’re up. It’s very, very impressive.” At the same time, Chaulet says the rapid return to busi- ness has been challenging. “Everything has been extremely last minute, and there has been a sense of urgency as well as fear. So there have been tons of contract negotiations in case of cancellation, but at the same time, things needed to move very rapidly. It’s been very, very busy, and it’s still very complicated for clients and for vendors, hotels, DMCs and restaurants.” Chaulet is among the meeting planners who cite both the unusual advantages of holding events outside North America right now, along with noting a few ongoing challenges — some that have always existed along with others that have emerged as the world reopens. Margaret Stafford, meetings director for a legal associa- tion with both U.S.-based and international members, meets in destinations around the world multiple times a year. “A lot of big law firms have a global presence, and they interface with foreign government enforcement agencies on behalf of their clients,” says Stafford. “Antitrust, for instance, is a global practice, so even if a member is residing in the U.S., they tend to have clients overseas.” Stafford, whose views are not necessarily representative of her association, suggests staffing levels are almost back to normal outside North America. “Coming out of Covid, inter- national hotels seem to be staffing more on par with the pre- Covid days, whereas in the U.S., we have to increase the staff we take because hotels have cut back,” says Stafford. “Plus, in an emergency, such as what we had in 2020, you want a hotel that is equipped to handle it, who’s going to help get you out. The Singapore Tourism Bureau kept us informed at every step of the way, the hotels were spot on and very proactive about providing info. They never said, ‘We’re short staffed.’ Not every CVB is great, but they’ve all reached out and said, ‘How can I help you? What do you need to know?’ So, I’ve found it’s been much easier working internationally.” Sometimes, Stafford’s association meets in locations where new laws are coming out. Others may be tied to particular industries. “Outside Tel Aviv is the Middle East’s version of Silicon Valley, so we held a tech one in Israel,” explains Staf- ford. “We have a workshop that draws practitioners special- TOURISM AUSTRALIA Helicopter Tour outside of Melbourne, Australia 16izing in monopolies and international cartels, so we vary the location, to be able to have discussions with the broader audi- ence — Europe, U.S., Asia.” She adds that the one they did in Lisbon last summer had about 350 attorneys registered. Singapore A decade ago, the New York-based International Trade- mark Association (INTA) decided to schedule some of its annual meetings overseas — in part to raise global awareness around the importance of intellectual property. “We wanted a rotation between Asia and Europe every third year — to reach as many intellectual property (IP) professionals as possible and to spend time with our global membership,” explains CEO Etienne Sanz de Acedo. In 2014, INTA met in Hong Kong; in 2017, Barcelona played host. Singapore was scheduled as the destination for 2020, but the world had other ideas. That event will now take place this year at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre. “We had a great experience in Hong Kong and we are very much looking forward to Singapore. It provides an easy entry and exit point for our international delegates hailing from more than 100 jurisdictions.” Within Southeast Asia, for INTA, Singapore represents a large and growing block of members. “Also, INTA has many strong local and international partners in Singapore, including the IP Office of Singapore, WIPO, Interpol and more,” says Sanz de Acedo. “We can showcase the IP business opportuni- ties in Southeast Asia to our members, and equally, we can dia- logue deeply with the relevant stakeholders on the potential issues that our members may face in the space of intellectual property rights protection.” In addition to certain attractive incentives Singapore offered, Sanz de Acedo notes that the Sands Expo and Con- vention Centre has facilities to comfortably handle large-scale meetings. This year, INTA anticipates upwards of 8,000 delegates, and room blocks at more than two dozen hotels were secured. Adjoining the convention center, the 2,561- room Marina Bay Sands is without a doubt Singapore’s most eye-catching hotel, featuring the world’s largest rooftop pool, a 490-foot-long infinity pool cantilevered atop three separate towers, 627 feet above the ground. With 1.3 million sf of meet- ing space, the largest ballroom in Southeast Asia, and 250 meet- ing rooms spread across five levels, the facility is a prime target for U.S.-based meeting planners holding large-scale meetings. “Singapore offers a variety of different hotel properties that cater to our delegates’ needs,” adds Sanz de Acedo. “The city has a travel infrastructure that includes taxis, ride shares and Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), all of which helps our attendees travel with ease, it offers a gastronomical adventure, and Singapore is a safe city, which helps us ensure the safety of our delegates.” Singapore reopened to the MICE sector relatively rapidly, but Chaulet notes, that although she is seeing interest in Asia, some countries are having a hard time. “Japan, in particular,” suggests Chaulet. “They are struggling with what Europeans struggled with last year. They’re opening up and the demand is through the roof but the capacity to manage it is not there. They are overwhelmed. Obviously, there’s no demand for China, and we haven’t seen much for India, which I don’t understand — maybe it’s a perception issue. For the rest of Southeast Asia, there is very high demand — Thailand, Cam- bodia, Vietnam and Indonesia are among the markets where we’ve had interest. ” Bangkok Cynthia Cortis, event director at Smithbucklin, oversees an unusual portfolio of events on behalf of their client since 2006, the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trad- ing (ISTAT). In addition to educational components and net- working events, five regional conferences are held annually around the world. This year’s Asia gathering just took place in Bangkok, Thailand. “We’re all about growth, so we rotate around the region,” says Cortis. “We like to go where our members are and our members in Asia are predominantly in Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan, so those are on regular rotation. But then, every couple of years, we like to add a place that’s emerging, like Bangkok. Thailand, and Singapore last year, are very cognizant of how difficult the situation has been, and they have strong govern- ment involvement in the tourism industry. They couldn’t be more empathetic.” The Bangkok conference had to be rebooked twice, due to the pandemic, and Cortis notes how understanding the parties were. “I don’t mean to use a cliché, but they see us as a partner, and I just can’t say enough about how great they have been. All I keep hearing from everybody is, ‘We’re just happy you’re coming. It’s been such a long, long haul for us.’” The Thailand 17 MAY 2023 themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIES Catherine Chaulet President & CEO, Global DMC Partners The business came back beautifully this year, and when we compare what we had in the books at this time last year with what we have now, we’re up. It’s very, very impressive. MARINA BAY SANDS The Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore offers 1.3 million sf of flexible event space and has enough room to fit 45,000 people.Next >