A SEA OF OPPORTUNITY Courtesy Photo A COASTAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION PUBLICATION APRIL 2023 VOL. 30 NO. 2 $15.00 INSIDE CRISIS CONTROL FOR PLANNERS UNIQUE MEETING VENUES FLORIDA LAS VEGAS Meetings & Incentives at Sea Page 18When you partner with Disney for your meeting or event, you get access to best-in-class planners, industry-leading technology, world-class culinary experts and unforgettable entertainment. But, most importantly, you’ll get Disney’s legendary creativity, storytelling and attention to detail. When you use our imagination, you will transform your meeting into something incredible only found at Disney. Use Our Imagination. Visit us at disneymeetingsandevents.comINSURANCE & FINANCIAL MEETINGS MANAGEMENT | APRIL 2023themeetingmagazines.com 3 APRIL 2023 Vol. 30 No. 2 10 24 28 18 departments features 10 24 28 4 14 18 Crisis Control Ways Insurance and Financial Planners Put Safety and Security First By Maura Keller Memorable Spaces Unique Meeting Venues Offer a New Perspective By Nancy Mueller A Sea of Opportunity Meetings & Incentives at Sea in 2023 By Nancy Mueller Florida Making Meetings Memorable in the Sunshine State By Christine Loomis Las Vegas A Sure Bet For Meeting Planners By David Swanson destinations 6 8 34 Publisher’s Message News & Notes Managing Generations Y & Z Motivating, Recruiting And Retaining Tomorrow’s Workforce By Scott Steinberg Corporate Ladder 14 ISSN 1095-9726USPS 012-991Harvey Grotsky A COASTAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION PUBLICATION PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Harvey Grotsky harvey.grotsky @ themeetingmagazines.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kristin Bjornsen kristin.bjornsen @ themeetingmagazines.com EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Rachel Galvin rachel.galvin @ themeetingmagazines.com CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Sophia Bennett Cynthia Dial Marlene Goldman Dan Johnson Maura Keller Christine Loomis Kathy Monte 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 REGIONAL MANAGER Bob Mitchell 630-541-3388 bob.mitchell@themeetingmagazines.com DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS Michael Caffin 914-629-5860 michael.caffin@themeetingmagazines.com Making Global Excellence Your Goal N ow that the meeting and incentive travel business is gaining mo- mentum, let us examine what I’m sure we all share as a com- mon goal — excellence. Whether you plan corporate meetings or incentive travel programs, chances are you strive for excellence in ev- erything you do. But as the world rapidly changes around us, we need to become even more vigilant about incorporating excellence in our plan- ning. Here’s why. With today’s global, not to mention com- petitive environment, the need to meet and motivate has increased. This requires that you become comfortable as a global player. That simply requires planners to create cost effective, goal oriented events, and the more cost effective the better; hence, the re- newed need for excellence on a global scale. Keeping track of all meeting and incen- tive program’s attendee details with today’s new technology allows planners the ability to do several things simultaneously more easily and with perfection while still assur- ing a certain level of professionalism to en- hance the meeting or incentive program, increase productivity and reach insurance and financial corporate goals. As America and other countries in the 21st century continue to retrain their workforce, meeting professionals are going to find their jobs signifi- cantly more challenging. Here’s where an increased focus on excellence will stand you in good stead.The more oriented you are toward raising planning standards, the better your performance and the more you will increase the significance and effectiveness of your programs. Today, more than ever, meetings and incentives reflect corporate stan- dards and are critical to your company’s bottom line. Therefore, meetings and incentive travel programs must remain a focal point of excellence in the business world. The effort to maintain these high standards should be your primary concern. Insurance & Financial Meetings Management is published bi-monthly by Coastal Communications Corporation, 2500 N. Military Trail, Ste. 283, Boca Raton, FL 33431-6322; 561-989-0600. Single copies $15.00 U.S.A.; back cop- ies $17. Yearly subscription price is $70.00 in the U.S.A.; $135.00 in Canada. Distributed without charge to qualified personnel. Periodicals Postage Paid at Boca Raton, FL, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Insurance & Financial Meetings Management, 2500 N. Military Trail, Ste. 283, Boca Raton, FL 33431-6322. Nothing contained in this publication shall constitute an endorsement by Coastal Communications Cor- poration (Insurance & Financial Meetings Management), and the publication disclaims any liability with respect to the use of reliance on any such informa- tion. The information contained in this publication is no way to be construed as a recommendation by I&FMM of any industry standard, or as a recommenda- tion of any kind to be adopted by or 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. Subscriber: Send subscription inquiries and address changes to: Circulation Dept., Insurance & Financial Meetings Management, 2500 N. Military Trail, Ste. 283, Boca Raton, FL 33431-6322. Give old and new addresses including zip codes. Enclose address label from most recent issue and allow five weeks for change to become effective. Printed in U.S.A. © 2023 www.themeetingmagazines.com themeetingmagazines.com 4 APRIL 2023 | INSURANCE & FINANCIAL MEETINGS MANAGEMENT | PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE |LAS VEGAS, NV — The Las Vegas Con- vention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) reported visitor spending reached a record $79.3 billion in 2022, a 24% increase from the previous record set in 2019. The annual report outlines economic impacts associated with the region’s tourism industry and conven- tion travel, including visitor spending on rooms, dining, shopping, sports, local transportation and others. Las Vegas has experienced dramatic growth in recent years with the addi- tion of new resort properties, expanded convention and meeting space, professional sports teams and new venues, such as Allegiant Stadium. The report also notes the tourism industry remained the largest regional employer in 2022, directly employing an estimated 229,440. Other key findings include: • The total economic output related to visitor spending in 2022 (including direct, indirect and induced impacts) reached an all-time high of $79.3 billion, equivalent to about half of the region’s gross economic output. • Per-trip visitor spending climbed to an all-time high of $1,156 in 2022, 3.3% higher than 2021. INTERNATIONAL — CWT has launched a new meetings and events (M&E) car- bon footprint calculator. Combining travel, hotel stays, meeting space and food & beverage carbon consump- tion information for corporate events, it provides detailed environmental impact insights to both CWT event planners, enabling more sustainable choices for global events aimed at audiences of 200 up to 50,000. As the first major global TMC to activate meeting and event emissions data with Thrust Carbon, this M&E carbon calculator launch follows an intensive six-month pilot program, whereby CWT extensively tested the tool on its own and select customer events, culminating in a robust, accurate and secure tool with ease of use at the heart of its formula, ready to integrate with future API connections. For more information, visit mycwt.com. ORLANDO, FL — The Waldorf Astoria Orlando will undergo a comprehensive redesign expected to be completed in December 2023. The project follows an extensive renovation of the hotel’s meeting and events spaces last year. The new project will encompass the resort’s rooms and suites, lobby space, select culinary outlets, spa and 18-hole golf course. Enhancements began last year with the unveiling of the new Central Park Ballroom, which has an 8,000- plus sf ballroom, nearly 2,600 sf of pre-function space and a planned 8,700-sf, covered-outdoor patio. This addition brings the hotels meetings and events space to nearly 60,000 sf. The work will be completed in phases to minimize disruptions to attendees. SAN ANTONIO, TX — The JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa recently completed a refresh of its meeting and event spaces. The resort is renowned for its expansive and customizable convention, meeting and event spaces, which cover more than 265,000 sf and feature the latest audiovisual technology. The Nelson W. Wolff Exhibit Hall, spanning 40,080 sf, has also been completely renovated. For more information, visit jwsanantonio.com. RIDGEFIELD, WA — ilani Hotel celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting celebration recently in Ridgefield, WA. Connected to the casino, the 14-story hotel tower is the lat- est phase of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe’s master development plan. It offers four-diamond level guest service and amenities, includ- ing nearly 300 luxury guest rooms. The hotel also boasts 30,000 sf of multi-use, flexible meeting space, equipped with full pro- duction, lighting and sound specialists, as well as customized catering services. Attendees can craft multi-day stays customized to their interests, from taking in headline acts at the Cowlitz Ballroom to indulging in culinary events and offerings, to winning big at table games, slots and sportsbook. For more information, visit ilaniresort.com. WALDORF ASTORIA ORLANDO UNDERGOES REDESIGN JW MARRIOTT SAN ANTONIO ELEVATES EVENT SPACES MUCH-ANTICIPATED ILANI HOTEL OPENS CWT MEETINGS & EVENTS LAUNCHES M&E CARBON CALCULATOR LAS VEGAS TOURISM INDUSTRY HITS RECORD HIGH: $79.3 BILLION IN 2022 themeetingmagazines.com 6 APRIL 2023 | INSURANCE & FINANCIAL MEETINGS MANAGEMENT | INDUSTRY NEWS | Rediscover America’s first resort. An extensive, $140 million investment brings revitalized public spaces, a new, 4,000 sq. ft. event pavilion, 483 renovated guest rooms and a reimagination of 72,000 sq. ft. of distinct indoor meeting space. Enhance your experience with our more than 30 recreational activities such as golf, spa, outdoor pool with lazy river and water slides, sporting clays, zip line canopy tour, fly fishing, horseback riding and falconry. REBIRTH AMERICAN ICON EXPERIENCE THE OF AN OMNIHOTELS.COM/THEHOMESTEAD 800-838-1766 DEPOSITPHOTOS.COMRediscover America’s first resort. An extensive, $140 million investment brings revitalized public spaces, a new, 4,000 sq. ft. event pavilion, 483 renovated guest rooms and a reimagination of 72,000 sq. ft. of distinct indoor meeting space. Enhance your experience with our more than 30 recreational activities such as golf, spa, outdoor pool with lazy river and water slides, sporting clays, zip line canopy tour, fly fishing, horseback riding and falconry. REBIRTH AMERICAN ICON EXPERIENCE THE OF AN OMNIHOTELS.COM/THEHOMESTEAD 800-838-1766themeetingmagazines.com 8 APRIL 2023 | INSURANCE & FINANCIAL MEETINGS MANAGEMENT W hen we speak about adapting to changing business environ- ments, we’re often focused on external environments, such as the larger market for MICE services and the meetings and events landscape at large. But the next time you’re back in the office, take a second to stop and look around, and you may also notice the changing shape of tomorrow’s workforce. In effect, for the first time in history, we now have five gen- erations in the workplace – all of which learn, work, commu- nicate and consume informa- tion in vastly different fashions, which begs the question: How can you better communicate with, engage and inspire all of these audiences? Likewise, as you think about reimagining the future of employee recruit- ment and retention – and what it takes to better attract and retain tomorrow’s leaders – you’ll want to consider just how radically workers’ atti- tudes have shifted. Case in point: More than three years after we all started this grand experiment in remote and at-home work, employees’ priorities, career goals, and even their basic working rhythms have also fundamentally shifted. (Even as all manner of disruptive forces from economic uncertainty to inflation may cause these priorities and rhythms to shift again.) If you’ve read our other columns, you’ve doubt- less heard us mention that the answer to finding success here going forward therefore lies in not only rebooting one’s funda- mental approach to business strategy, operations and gover- nance, but also putting talent- and workforce-related concerns near the top of your agenda. At the same time though, it’s also critical to note that embracing the adoption of more elastic, aka flexible and resilient, and employee-centric working mod- els will only become more necessary going forward. In effect, like we point out in the new board game, The Future is Yours, which can help you build future-proof business and HR strategies, MICE industry leaders would do well to be aware: Millenni- als are still the biggest popula- tion in the workforce, though Gen Z is quickly catching up and getting ready to overtake them. Redesigning working setup, HR policies and busi- ness strategy to better sup- port their working models and learning habits going forward will only become more criti- cal with each passing year. On top of this though, we should also keep in mind that it’s not always easy to paint all mem- bers of a generation with the same brush. For example, Pew Research says that Millennials are often defined as individu- als who were born between 1981-1996, and Gen Z between | INDUSTRY INSIDER | Motivating, Recruiting And Retaining Tomorrow’s Workforce BY SCOTT STEINBERG MANAGING GENERATIONS Y & Z MICE industry leaders would do well to reconsider how they fundamentally speak with, train and strive to empower and engage young leaders. DEPOSITPHOTOS.COMINSURANCE & FINANCIAL MEETINGS MANAGEMENT | APRIL 2023themeetingmagazines.com 9 1997-2012. That’s a 15-year span for each of these groups – meaning that you’re actually talking about several different generations, who draw on different historical refer- ences and cultural touchpoints, when you’re talking about each of these categories. That said, a few things we know about younger workers: • They’re increasingly stressed and being pulled in multiple directions. • The two biggest reasons they leave jobs are lack of pay and burnout. • The health and culture of working environments plays a huge role in shaping their outlook and mental health. In addition, research also tells us that what they want from employers is more or better: • Work/life balance • Learning and development opportunities • Chances to progress, grow in their career • Positive workplace cultures where they feel that they belong • Sense of meaning from their work • Flexibility in how they do their job Noticeably, higher salaries and financial incentives, while also on the list, are not the most important drivers of interest here. Younger generations are clear in that they want to feel more valued at work, more recognized and that their contri- butions really matter. Also keep in mind that these are genera- tions of Digital Natives, who were raised on the internet, video games and downloadable apps. They often seek interactiv- ity, immediacy and positive feedback at every turn as well. In addition, they’re increasingly looking for more help, insight and mentorship on-demand – all areas where your organiza- tion has opportunities to rethink its strategies and approaches from top to bottom going forward. Moreover, it’s no secret that competition to recruit and retain top talent is becoming increasingly fierce amongst meetings and events providers. At the same time though, topics like employee experience and professional development have also become growing strategic priorities for organizations. Noting this, MICE industry leaders should be aware of several concerns as they think about how to help shape employee recruitment and retention strategies in coming months: • Younger generations are more motivated by organizational mis- sions, chances for individual recog- nition and opportunities to do good in their industry or community than pay and financial perks. • mproving work-life balance, enhancing employee experience and providing more leadership, learn- ing and development opportunities are now the key areas of workplace evolution where most busi- nesses are focused. • Companies which offer flexible working environments clearly enjoy a marked advantage over rivals, as do those that provide personalized benefits and cus- tomized incentives. • To maintain a sense of teamwork and togetherness amongst remote/hybrid teams, it’s also important for organizations to invest in cultural development, mental health support systems, and better ways to collaborate and get work done. All of this being said, changes that your company or association would do well to make here should encompass considering not only how your organization’s talent strategy is evolving, but also how its HR policies and programs are changing to remain competitive. Or, in other words, it’s impor- tant to reconsider if the way “things have always been done” is really still the best way to be doing them in a time of con- stant change and shifting workforce priorities at every turn. MICE industry leaders looking to better connect and commu- nicate with young leaders – let alone recruit and retain them in growing numbers – wouldn’t just do well to consider embrac- ing new working approaches and strategies. They’d also do well to reconsider how they fundamentally speak with, train and strive to empower and engage these employees. I & FMM Hailed as the world’s leading business strategist, award-winning expert witness, strategic consultant and professional speaker, Scott Steinberg is among today’s best-known trends experts and futurists, and the bestselling author of “Think Like a Futurist;” “Make Change Work for You: 10 Ways to Future-Proof Yourself, Fearlessly Innovate, and Succeed Despite Uncertainty;” and “Fast >> Forward: How to Turbo-Charge Business, Sales, and Career Growth.” The president and CEO of BIZDEV: The International Association for Business Development and Strategic Partnerships, his website is FuturistsSpeakers.com. It’s no secret that competition to recruit and retain top talent is becoming increasingly fierce amongst meetings and events providers. | THE AUTHOR |Next >