< PreviousB elonging has an incredible impact on the work- place experience. Studies show it boosts job performance, dramatically improves reten- tion, and makes employees feel great about their work experience and company. It helps people thrive. And inclusion is a vital part of the “belonging” equation — as long as you approach it the right way. Inclusion efforts can drive that vital sense of belonging, but only if you approach them in a way that unites rather than divides. Many well-meaning companies focus their efforts on single identity-focused DEI strategies, but this can backfire by making people, in what has historically been the “in-crowd,” feel disconnected from the true purpose of the DEI paradigm. The only kind of inclusion system that truly perpetu- ates belonging is one that centers on humanity, creating conditions for all people to thrive across their differences and similarities. Moving toward this goal is a worthy res- olution for 2023. While a humanity-centric approach to inclusion won’t happen overnight (it’s an ever-evolving process), you can make big progress in the upcoming year by doing these five things: Appreciatively listen to all voices. Aim to truly hear and understand your employees. Do they all feel safe to speak freely? And if they feel empowered to share their viewpoints and experiences, are they being heard by all team members and leaders? Reflect on whose ideas you promote most often — and whose contributions you are likelier to ignore. If you catch yourself playing favorites, make a goal of focusing only on performance instead of on the person doing the work. To ensure that you are hearing from all voices, I rec- ommend identifying the people you rarely speak to, work with or mentor. Reach out to those people specifi- cally. Make an effort to engage with them frequently in one-on-one meetings, email conversations or hallway chats. Talk about the work, but also get to know them on a personal level. Examine your talent pipeline. Are you hiring and retaining talent from all backgrounds? Be sure to cast a wide net. If you notice that many of your employees attended the same university category (e.g., state schools, alma mater of influential leadership, Ivy League schools), it’s time to branch out. And, make sure you attract talent from a broad spectrum of identities and lived expe- riences. And, don’t stop there. Once you attract a diverse The Year of Belonging: 5 Ways to Create a More Inclusive 2023 (and Sidestep a Common Mistake) BY AMRI B. JOHNSON PERSPECTIVE // Once you attract a diverse group of committed people, create paths for growth, development, and thriving to keep them. 20 March 2023 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.comgroup of committed people, create paths for growth, devel- opment, and thriving to keep them. If you are unsure of how to do so, ask them. Pivot away from single-identity focused belongingness. It’s very important to support and welcome those groups who have been historically excluded — people of color, LGBT, the disabled, older employees, women and others. But, true inclusion must encompass all employees if it is to work for anyone. This includes those who hold longstanding power and privilege. We can advocate for the various individual identities that make up the workforce all day long, but true inclusion happens only when we approach it from a shared humanity standpoint. Humans need inclusion, no matter their identi- ties. DEI is for everyone. If you’re running your organization as a “meritocracy,” stop now. Those are not as fair as they might seem at first glance. In fact, they can be harmful to an organization’s most vulnerable employees. Why? Because the “best” people who rise to the top have often had greater opportunities than those who have historically been underexposed to things that some might take for granted. Top performers are not the only people who deserve to thrive at work. And, those we identify as “top performers” often benefit from being part of in-groups. They have had greater access to information, emerging insights or power. Meritocracy’s myth resides in the erroneous notion that someone who has historically been advantaged is inherently more advanced than someone with less advantage. Allow everyone to develop and grow. Design an inclusion system that accounts for the complexity of today’s world. It is possible for everyone to win and thrive across their differences. Yet, we must understand that the world is far more ambiguous and complex than ever before — and we must design inclusion systems that allow us to make sense of and navigate this ambiguity and complexity. I work with clients to create the conditions critical to inclusion becoming normative — accessible, actionable, sus- tainable and positively contributing to the larger mission. The idea is to help organizations to solve existing problems, while continually adapting to whatever new challenges or goals arise over time in the organization. Now is the perfect time to focus on what we all have in common and foster a strong sense of belonging. Organiza- tions can take a big step forward in 2023 by creating con- ditions where everyone can fearlessly be who they are and share their unique perspectives. We can all be who we are, together, and thrive. C&IT AMRI B. JOHNSON is the author of “Reconstructing Inclusion: Making DEI Accessible, Actionable, and Sustainable.” For more than 20 years, he has been in- strumental in helping organizations and their people create extraordinary business outcomes. As CEO/founder of Inclusion Wins, Johnson and a virtual collective of partners converge organizational purpose to create global impact with a lens of inclusion. For more information, please visit inclusionwins.com. Adobe Stock TheMeetingMagazines.com | Corporate & Incentive Travel | March 2023 21T he hospitality industry has lived through its worst-case scenario with the pandemic and now seems to be doing better than ever. This is, in part, due to hotels implement- ing changes that continue to entice meet- ing planners today: cleanliness protocols, efficient check-in protocols and sustainability solutions, among others. Here’s a look at how hotel brands have made things better for their meeting attendees and enticed them to come back for more. Hilton For Hilton, the pandemic reinforced the fact that there is no true replacement for in-person meetings and events. While there was a rise in digital meetings in the past few years, people have been eager to return to in-person business travel. Hilton has implemented some programs to increase convenience for meeting planners and also to respond to planners need for sustainability. To reduce friction for meeting planners, Hilton has started a digital check-in process, contactless arrival and implemented a digital key, which is within the Hilton Hon- ors app. Attendees can use the app on their smartphones to bypass the hotel check-in counter, unlock their rooms and gain access to other areas of the hotel. Since its 2015 launch, Hilton’s Digital Key technology has expanded and is now available in a large percentage of Hilton’s more than 7,000 hotels. In addition, Hilton partnered with Group360 to launch GroupSync Engage, the hospitality industry’s first integrated direct booking solution for group room blocks across the majority of the Hilton portfolio, providing event plan- ners with the ability to view real-time availability and book guest room blocks for small groups at the majority of their properties around the world. To make things even more convenient for meeting plan- ners, the brand has also unveiled new enhancements which allow for the booking of guest rooms for small groups and meeting customers directly on Hilton.com. Business travelers, now more than ever, want sustainable and wellness options when booking meetings and events. Hilton relaunched their Meet with Purpose program to more closely align with their Travel with Purpose On Brand BY KEITH LORIA How Hotels Continue to Entice Meeting Planners as Business Travel Picks Up Steam 22 March 2023 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.com HOTELS & RESORTSgoals. The program continues to evolve to allow planners to integrate healthy, sustainable and locally sourced menus, social impact opportunities and other sustainable elements to help offset carbon footprints and maintain personal wellness. The program also provides cus- tomers the tools to measure and manage the environmental foot- print of their meetings using action- able data from Hilton’s LightStay platform, which tracks and reports on a group’s hotel-related emissions, and allows attendees to volunteer in the commu- nity as part of their stay. Many of their hotels also participate in their Carbon-Neutral Meetings Offer, in which Hilton will offset the carbon footprint of the meeting on their behalf. Hyatt Hyatt has recovered in the meeting-business sector at a pace that’s close to pre-pandemic levels. Although leisure still leads the way, they are seeing an increased demand from meetings. One of the biggest changes they are seeing is more short- term bookings. Last year, for example, most corporate reser- vations for retreats were made within 6-12 months of arrival, a much shorter window than pre-pandemic norms. The post-pandemic meetings business is more flexible, varied in size and hybrid. Hyatt launched Together by Hyatt, a suite of event offerings for planners as they navigate changes to how people meet and work together. Together by Hyatt pro- vides organizers with a range of resources, capabilities and hybrid solutions to streamline event plan- ning and execution, with attendee safety and wellbeing as top priori- ties. Together by Hyatt provides Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR Facility Accreditation for cleanliness proto- cols. It’s a bespoke hosting technology platform to unify on- site and virtual experiences, and many other planning and wellness activations. Hyatt recently unveiled Work From Hyatt: Offsite, so planners have a flexible program that provides groups with experiences to discover the destination they are in and fos- ter team building. This corporate retreat concept allows teams to reconnect, reinvigorate and relax together through curated, signature team-building experiences — from craft cocktail classes to city scavenger hunts. Marriott At Marriott, which leans heavily with big convention hotels, the company has been pleasantly surprised at the return of meetings and events. Officials expected leisure would be the first to return post-pandemic, but it has been Clockwise from left: Hyatt Regency San Francisco; JW Marriott LA Live in Los Angeles, CA; El Conquistador Tucson, a Hilton Resort TheMeetingMagazines.com | Corporate & Incentive Travel | March 2023 23groups and meetings. They are seeing a positive trend of meet- ings booking for short term and into the future. They are find- ing that people want to get back together to see each other after an extended time away, to network and to build camaraderie. So, while virtual worked when needed, for most of those using Marriott’s offerings for conven- tions and meeting space, it is not the solution for the future, though customers are going to keep a hybrid approach for most of their meetings. During the time when things were slow, Marriott made some changes. Early on, every- thing was related to its Connect with Confidence pro- gram, which was about helping customers meet safely, and that included cleanliness and safety protocols. Much of that remains today. They are also really dialing up their digital tools and making sure everyone has the mobile app to use it for mobile check-in, mobile key and mobile chat, to make the on-prop- erty experience a positive one. Planners are asking for more flexibility in this post-pan- demic world. Flexibility is important, they find, because there will always be those last-minute cancelations or, con- versely, more people will show up than expected. Planners also consistently talk about creating experi- ences. If they are going to spend the money to bring people together, they need it to be a great experience. For Mar- riott, this could include hosting an internal sales meet- ing, a board meeting, incentive and recognition programs, or a convention. MGM Resorts If there’s one impact the pandemic has had on the meet- ings and events industry, it’s that it brought tremendous value to meeting face to face. MGM Resorts seems to have thrived during the pandemic and continues to grow today. They started hosting meetings as soon as they could in Las Vegas last year, and have been very busy there. They continue to be encouraged by the return of meetings and conventions. Their numbers show that the demand is high for business travel. Their lead volume and pace is up and they are working to stay ahead of any risk. The hotel brand took measures to focus on health and safety, but also spent time looking at processes. MGM invested millions of dollars into digital and technology to make things better for meeting planners and attendees when they returned. This included the mobile app at check-in and using QR codes. In addition, they continue to change things up to keep the excitement high for planners. They see many of the same groups yearly, so doing things a little differ- ent, and figuring out how to reinvent them- selves, is important so planners don’t feel they are going to the same event every year. They created the Luxury Meeting Dis- trict concept, which refers to their luxury campuses (including Bellagio, ARIA, Vdara, Park MGM, NoMad, T-Mobile Arena, The Park, and Dolby Live at Park MGM). Large groups can take advantage of the amenities and meeting spaces in those properties. Caesars Entertainment Caesars Entertainment found out quickly how important it was for those in the meeting industry to see faces in person. Post-pandemic, interest spiked upward fast. Since the preponderance of business happens in Las Vegas, Caesars is in good Courtesy Photo Courtesy Photo MGM Grand Caesars Palace 24 March 2023 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.comshape. They are doing more meetings and events today than they did pre-pandemic. One of the reasons for Caesars suc- cess is that they worked hard during the pandemic to make sure they were interacting consistently, keeping planners up- to-date and offering them availability for future meetings. The hotel brand booked more than $600 million worth of contracts in the first 12 months of the pandemic — an all-time record. Caesars is still benefitting from those contracts today. They have many loyal meeting planners so their team mem- bers are happily back at work doing the thing they love. During the time when planners weren’t coming in and gathering face to face, Caesars Entertainment made some changes to entice plan- ners. From a policies and pro- cedure standpoint, everything changed with safety in mind. Caesars is always work- ing to put together attractive offers so that meeting planners will continue to select proper- ties in all their locations. Caesars will continue providing customers with what they want, working hard to be on the forefront of planners’ envi- ronmental, social and flexibility needs. Accor At Accor properties, during the height of the pandemic, there was a significant number of hotels completely closed, and all meetings business was put on hold. Their post-recov- ery, however, has been steady, continuous and almost univer- sal across different countries, according to a representative. In fact, they are approaching pre-pandemic levels, and in some cases surpassing them. They are seeing that planners’ expectations have changed significantly since the pandemic, and many are looking for trips that are longer and with more to do. They have also seen more of a desire to think local and to think about sus- tainability. With that in mind, the hotel brand introduced the ALLSAFE label, which represents Accor’s new elevated cleanliness protocols and standards, and provides assurance that these standards have been met in all hotels. They launched a carbon capture calculator. It enables planners to calculate their carbon usage relative to an event, and they can offset that if they want. Omni Omni Hotels & Resorts and Groups360 announced last year that Omni was the first ever hotelier to offer instant booking for both group rooms and meeting space on GroupSync. GroupSync is Groups360’s proprietary online booking marketplace, with instant booking capa- bilities that enable anyone organizing a meeting or event to book both group guest rooms and event spaces online. This is available at the Omni Frisco Hotel, and soon across Omni’s more than 50 properties in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. They also have a Select Planner program, which offers free nights faster with one Award Credit per $1,000 contracted for a qualified event, and an accelerated path to Platinum and Black Level status with one Tier Credit per $10,000 con- tracted. You can earn for booking events and for stays – all in one Select Guest mem- ber account. The best part is Omni awards your rewards at the time of booking so you can enjoy them sooner. The brand continues to be focused on giving back. Through its Say Goodnight to Hunger program, Omni has donated over 20 million meals to help Feeding America provide nutritious meals for food banks to feed children, families and seniors across the U.S. Additionally, as the Official Hotel of the PGA TOUR, Omni Hotels & Resorts will help provide four meals for a family in need for every birdie-or-better made during each event. This past year, they donated nearly 215,000 meals to the local Feeding America food bank in each tourna- ment’s home city. Peter Strebel, chairman of Omni Hotels & Resorts, was named the recipient of the 2022 Historic Hotels of America Legacy of Innovation and Inspiration Award. The award recognized Strebel’s accomplishments in pioneering innova- tive concepts and programs, achieving uncommon success and being a thought-leader on exceptional service. He has helped with the preservation, restoration and celebration of 15 iconic historic hotels and resorts. Strebel has also spearheaded the development of pro- grams such as An Exceptional Guest Experience Served Up with Local Flavor, the Omni Hotels & Resorts Junior Chefs program, and new concepts in its family friendly hotels, championship golf resorts and spa resorts. Hotel brands continue to implement new protocols and programs to draw meeting planners through their doors as the industry is ever-changing. Due to the determination of brands like these, the industry seems to be moving toward a brighter future. C&IT Courtesy Photo The Omni Frisco Hotel TheMeetingMagazines.com | Corporate & Incentive Travel | March 2023 25Denver, CO When Gretchen Bliss, CMP, DES, director of meetings and conferences for Healthcare Financial Management, hosted her organization’s annual conference in Denver last sum- mer, they had 2,900 attendees. “Denver is centrally located, [and] it has great airlift both domestically and internationally, providing numerous options and ease for attendees to get to and from the city,” Bliss says. “It has a great vibe and energy, with unique restaurants and cultural activities steps from the convention center and hotels. It provides a fun, engaging des- tination that appeals to our attendees.” Denver’s central location offers easy access to the entire country via Denver Interna- tional Airport, the third-bus- iest airport in the world and one of the best-connected air- ports in the country. Denver is also a walkable city, with about 13,000 hotel rooms within walking dis- tance of the Colorado Conven- tion Center (CCC). A variety of infrastructure projects are underway to make Denver an even better convention desti- nation. including the expan- sion of the CCC, which will add state-of-the-art offerings and will feature a rooftop ter- race with unobstructed views of the Rocky Mountains. Other major improvements include the expansion of the National Western Center and the renovation of the 16th Street Mall to create a premiere pedestrian experience. The walkability is key for convention attendees. Every- thing is at their fingertips in downtown, including sports, arts and culture, shopping, dining and nightlife. Western hospi- tality is also something that convention attendees talk about – great service. And if you have a little extra time, Red Rocks Amphitheatre was the highest-attended concert venue in the world last year and is a must-see. Portland, OR Portland offers greater opportunities for meeting and event attendees to venture outside of the meeting venue and explore outdoor activities and adventures in and around Portland’s city limits, within close proximity to the Oregon Convention Center (OCC). The juxtaposition between urban and natural areas that exists here is like nowhere else. Portland is a city in a forest. Forest Park, Portland Japanese Garden, Lan Su Chinese Garden and Pittock Mansion all showcase views of Mount Hood and the ever- green landscapes of the “Rose City,” and are within walking distance of popular meeting venues and lodging. Visitors can also take advantage of Portland’s arts, culture and culinary scenes by booking group activities such as an evening performance at the Oregon Symphony, a tour of Portland’s 500+ food carts, or a private dining experience at one of the city’s unique restaurants. Portland’s culinary scene is made up of international cuisine, fusion, local farm- ers and chefs, making it the perfect melting pot of options for travelers and locals alike. And meeting planners can make meeting experiences truly unique in Portland by hosting them at one of the city’s robust Stepping Up Second-Tier Destinations Work to Elevate Status BY MAURA KELLER While many meeting and event planners set their sights on big cities such as Las Vegas, New York and Miami as “go to” locales for all things meetings and events, second-tier cities are gems just waiting to be discovered. 26 March 2023 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.com SPOTLIGHTselection of flexible spaces packed with personality and charm, and imbued with local artisanal touches courtesy of local mak- ers, designers and artists. For those looking for beautiful back- drops for their next board meeting or a standout venue for pre-conference networking, outdoor locations can be ideal. Portland’s central city hotel room inventory has grown by nearly 50% since 2016. Lodging options improved and opened in the past couple of years include the Hyatt Regency Portland at the Oregon Convention Center. In addition, Portland will soon be home to its first five- star hotel. The Ritz-Carlton, Portland is set to open down- town this year with plans to offer 251 rooms and a pool on the 19th floor. The 35-floor tower will offer an indoor/outdoor restaurant and bar on the 20th floor, with panoramic views of the Cascade Mountains and Portland’s cityscape. Asheville, NC The Blue Ridge Mountain backdrop in Asheville has long served as a source of inspiration, fueling those who call the area home to innovate, create and collaborate. The breathtaking scenery is met with a colorful arts community, diverse outdoor adventures, a vibrant culinary scene, live music around every corner and quality expe- riences that contrib- ute to truly memorable meetings. Asheville also supports homegrown brands and attracts pur- pose-driven companies aligned with local values. This translates into an innovative community prime for group gath- erings. Executives and meetings professionals in search of locations to hold meetings, executive retreats, conferences and incentive trips will be inspired by Asheville’s creative spirit, scenic beauty and fresh mountain air. Asheville has a bountiful array of conference hotel properties, such as boutique hotels, grand resorts, elegant inns and chic, modern hotels downtown. In fact, Asheville boasts more than 9,200 hotel rooms and one of the best- connected regional airports, which offers more than 25 direct destinations. Cybill E. Valentine, CMP, co-owner of Travel with Sun- shyne, recently produced a staff retreat in Asheville. “We selected Asheville because this client wanted a place where the weather was warm, but not overwhelming, and one which provided great food, outdoor activities and was acces- sible for the team from the East Coast,” Valentine says. “Be certain to ask the CVB for any/all assistance. They are the best resource for even the smallest thing. My favorite was our Welcome Bag items. The industry often promotes large companies that make gifting boxes and ‘swag.’ But my CVB representative shared some amazing local companies and that made the bag even more special.” Charlotte, NC Charlotte is a city on the rise that offers endless opportu- nities to craft an unforgettable experience that stretches well beyond the city’s hotels and meeting rooms. According to Mike Butts, executive director of Visit Char- lotte, the Charlotte Convention Center (CCC) is in a com- pact, walkable district. The 600,000 sf center is connected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame and across the street from the 700 room Westin Charlotte. The CCC offers 280,000 sf of exhibit hall space divisible into four halls, and offers 154,000 sf of breakout space, including 50 meeting rooms and two ballrooms. It is also steps from Uptown’s arts and culture attractions, sports venues and nightlife hubs. Charlotte is the largest city in North Carolina and the 15th- largest in the U.S., with more than 2.7 million residents in the region. The “Queen City” has seen 18 new hotels open recently, tremendously increasing its room inventory. Included among them are JW Marriott Charlotte, located in Uptown; the UNC Charlotte Marriott Hotel & Conference Center; AC Hotel by Marriott Charlotte Ballantyne; Grand Bohemian Hotel Char- lotte, Autograph Collection; and Hyatt Centric Charlotte SouthPark, which have all opened in the last few years. Butts says that there have been “over a dozen projects under con- struction in Mecklen- burg County, and more than 40 total projects in various planning stages of the development pipeline, including the highly anticipated Moxy Hotel Charlotte and the InterContinental Hotel at Carolina Theatre.” A few years ago, the CCC completed a $126.9 million expansion, which has increased the total leas- able space from 550,000 sf to 600,000 sf, including 14 new meeting rooms, two customizable 10,000-sf spaces and an over-street pedestrian walkway to the 700 room Westin Char- lotte hotel and the Brooklyn Village LYNX light rail station. The Bojangles Entertainment Complex is an historic auditorium/coliseum complex that opened in 1955 as Char- lotte’s first major civic auditorium, and dedicated sports and concert venue. About three years ago, a 35,000 sf connector opened officially, unifying the complex’s two venues, Ovens Auditorium and Bojangles Coliseum. Centrally located in the connector space is the new 4,400 sf East CLT Room, a private space that can host seminars and meetings for 420 guests and an elegant dinner for 260 guests. “Planners and attendees alike love experiencing Char- lotte’s extensive, dynamic sports and recreation scene,” Butts says. “Charlotte is also home to the Whitewater Center, which is the only attraction of its kind in the world.” Located only 20 minutes from the Convention District, the U.S. National Whitewater Center offers more than 30 different recre- The Colorado Convention Center (CCC) expansion will feature a rooftop terrace with unobstructed views of the Rocky Mountains. TheMeetingMagazines.com | Corporate & Incentive Travel | March 2023 27ational activities. Utilizing the facility’s 1,300-acre footprint, groups have access to multiple indoor and outdoor venues and meeting spaces, full-service catering, activities and pro- gramming to create unique opportunities for teamwork. Seattle, WA Located in the heart of downtown Seattle, the Seattle Con- vention Center Summit Building (SCCS) adds 248,450 sf of exhibit space, 62 meeting rooms, and a 58,000 sf ballroom to the center’s offerings. The addition doubles the building’s current capacity, and introduces a new 30 story residential tower and 16 story office building, along with a number of public spaces. Each component of the building embraces natural light, and major spaces are connected vertically by two large atri- ums. The glass-enclosed stairs along Pine Street positions the interior circulation patterns at the edge of the building, creating dramatic west-facing views to the Pike Place Market and Puget Sound, while open-air terraces on all levels are designed to accommodate a variety of events. Besides offering a wealth of culture, arts and entertain- ment, Seattle offers more than 70 hotels within walking dis- tance of the SCCS buildings. In addition, the city is celebrat- ing a new international arrivals facility at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, which brings in a new multilevel, 450,000 sf facility complete with an aerial walkway above the existing tarmac for arriving international passengers. Nashville, TN Whether you’re looking for an urban setting or a resort setting, you’ll find it in Nashville, where there are two large convention centers. The Music City Center (MCC) is cen- trally located downtown just steps away from hotels, restau- rants, museums and live music venues. The second conven- tion center, Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, is located just minutes outside of the city. It offers guests a wide selection of restaurants and bars, and is situated just steps away from The Grand Ole Opry House. Nashville’s rich musical heritage provides the ultimate experience of entertainment offerings of all genres of music. Not just country music, but rhythm & blues, jazz, rock, gos- pel, Americana and pop — where music is inspired, writ- ten, recorded and performed. Nashville is also home to more than 180 live music venues, which include the historic Ryman Auditorium, once home to the Grand Ole Opry, and the famous Bluebird Cafe, where Nashville songwriters play their music through intimate writers’ rounds. There has been an evolution in both quality and quantity of hotel rooms in recent years in Nashville — from boutique to five-star properties, such as the recently opened Four Sea- sons Hotel Nashville, as well as the Conrad Nashville and 1 Hotel Nashville. Other new properties include The Joseph, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Nashville; Grand Hyatt Nashville; W Nashville and Virgin Hotels Nashville. Southall Farm & Inn and the Ritz-Carlton, Nashville are scheduled to open in 2025. In addition to the elevated properties, the ‘Music City’ has an outstanding array of unique venues and attractions for off-site functions. One distinctive location that has elevated the down- town experience is Fifth + Broadway. This mixed-use develop- ment opened in early 2021 and houses the National Museum of African American Music and the Assembly Food Hall, which is a great location for private parties and entertainment. Nash- ville’s culinary scene also is hotter than ever with hundreds of new establishments opening across the city in recent years. Joanna Zygmont, who coordinates events at Technolu- tions, recently orchestrated the company’s Slate Summit, an in-person conference with a special keynote, networking and entertainment, and topical sessions presented by users within the community. This year, Technolutions hosted more than 3,200 attendees in Nashville. “Nashville obviously is a city with lots of entertainment options, restaurants and things to do,” Zygmont says. “It’s also nice that it’s centrally located within the U.S. since our attendees come from all over the country. If possible, meeting planners should try to incorporate some live music into their event. It will give attendees a reason to stay and not duck out to a honky-tonk on Broadway to catch a show.” Raleigh, NC There are many reasons to host a meeting in Raleigh. It is centrally located on the East Coast, almost 100 million Americans are within a half-day drive of Raleigh and they are fortunate to be home to one of the best airports in the U.S. The city provides a robust network of intellectual capital in a diverse group of industries. The key industry clusters and connections to the area universities create an opportunity for speakers and unique off-site breakout experiences. Attend- ees of meetings and events are able to fully engage in the cul- Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority Charlotte, NC 28 March 2023 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.com If possible, meeting planners should try to incorporate some live music into your event. It will give your attendees a reason to stay. JOANNA ZYGMONT Experience & Events Coordinator at Technolutionsture of the city while there for a meeting by visiting James Beard Award-winning restaurants, live music venues, shop- ping, relaxation and more. There is something for everyone. Raleigh is currently working on a development project for a more than 500 room upscale convention hotel. In recent years, a number of new luxury and boutique hotels have opened or undergone renovations. Attendees of meetings and events can become immersive in Raleigh, by taking advantage of the diversity of things to do while they are there. There are many unique and signature experiences that leave memorable impressions. However, the most memorable aspect of Raleigh would be the people who call Raleigh and the greater area home, who are very wel- coming and inviting and appreciative of the positive impact that meetings and events bring to the city. Jennifer Suber, event coordinator for All Things Open, recently planned a technology conference in Raleigh, which brought in thousands of attendees from all over the world. “The proximity of the Raleigh Convention Center to downtown res- taurants and attractions was the biggest draw,” Suber says. Austin, TX Austin is still considered a relatively new city for conven- tions, but has a long tradition of attracting leisure visitors. The city’s central location in the U.S. is ideal for easy air access and the walkable entertainment districts offer visi- tors a convenient opportunity to explore the city. There are so many memorable experiences attendees can have in Austin. No visit to the Live Music Capital of the World is complete without enjoying live music at any of the endless number of live music venues around the city. Austin also features beautiful outdoor experiences, amazing dining options, exciting sports events and much more. Some of Austin’s newest unique venues perfect for a group off-site event include Moody Center, Moody Amphi- theatre at Waterloo Park and Q2 Stadium. Brad Spies, manag- ing director at CoinDesk, held a more than 20,000-attendee crypto, blockchain and Web3 Festival in Austin called Con- sensus that utilized about 250,000 sf of exhibition space at the Austin Convention Center (ACC), and included six satel- lite venues with special programming, off-site dinners each night at iconic Austin restaurants, two music shows each night and much more. “Austin is such an approachable, fun city with a huge base of tech and culture communities, terrific venues and restaurants, and a phenomenal infrastructure for large scale events,” Spies says. “Austin offers an unbelievable platform to create bespoke events, so be sure to take advantage of the different venues, restaurants and local businesses that can all add up to a totally unique experience.” Baltimore, MD What makes Baltimore a truly unique place is its authen- tic culture and resilient community. Baltimore’s walkability and affordability are also reasons why the city is great for meetings. Convention attendees will be able to experience all the culture that the city has to offer by taking in a show at one of their performance venues like Baltimore Center Stage or the Hippodrome Theatre; checking out a game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards or M&T Bank Stadium; tak- ing a walk through one of the city’s incredible museums or winding down at a local watering hole to enjoy Baltimore’s live music scene. The Baltimore Convention Center (BCC) is just steps away from the picturesque Inner Harbor, which is home to restaurants, shopping, the National Aquarium and other cul- tural institutions. Baltimore is a city known for its neighbor- hoods, each with a distinct personality — from the cobble- stone-lined waterfront of Fell’s Point to kitschy Hampden; from historic Federal Hill to trendy Harbor East; from the cultural hub of Mount Vernon to Canton and Pigtown. There are also the Station North, Bromo Tower and Highlandtown arts and entertainment districts. Steeped in rich history and culture, Baltimore is no stranger to reinventing itself, keeping a keen eye on the future while honoring its legacy. All across Baltimore, former industrial zones and historic buildings are coming back to life, thanks to a wave of new development and innovative re-use sweeping the city. Span- ning the housing, entertainment, business and transporta- tion sectors, these exciting new projects will bring endless one-of-a-kind experiences to Baltimore. As an added bonus, many of these remodels are just a short drive away from the BCC, so meeting attendees don’t have to travel far to experi- ence all that’s new. Other notable projects include Port Covington, a 25-year project that will include up to 18 million sf of new mixed-use development, 2.5 miles of restored waterfront and 40 acres of parks and green space. In addition, the Warner Street District master plan will transform a previously underuti- lized industrial zone into an energetic and walkable corridor bridging the Horseshoe Casino and M&T Bank Stadium. The planned district will include a new Paramount music venue, Topgolf facility, Yards Social Bar and more than 34,000 sf of retail space. America’s oldest public market, Lexington Market, has undergone a massive makeover. The newly opened and fully modernized communal gathering space upholds the insti- tution’s more than 200 year spirit of entrepreneurship and vibrancy, while celebrating Baltimore’s diverse array of local and minority-owned businesses. C&IT Visit Austin Austin, TX TheMeetingMagazines.com | Corporate & Incentive Travel | March 2023 29Next >