< PreviousIt’s no secret that last-minute registrations increase the stress factor for all — client, planner and venue. Late reg- istrants mean a last-minute shuffle for the kitchen to have the right amount of meals. It’s harder for attendees to find a hotel room, or they could miss out on any group room rates related to the event. They could miss potentially valuable networking opportunities at pre-con events like happy hours or informal get-togethers. Planners always factor in a certain number of late registrants, but with the noticeable uptick in this practice and its impact on event logistics, many are look- ing at new ways to encourage registering early. “I’m definitely seeing a lot more last-minute registrations since COVID,” says Susan Brooks, “logistics Wonder Woman” with Powerhouse Meetings and Events in Chantilly, VA. “People aren’t as confident in their attendance as they used to be. I had a conference where we had seven people register on-site, and we’d never had anyone register on-site before.” Her theories around this are either people are getting approved to attend later, or lingering effects of COVID are Event Registration Trends BY SARA KARNISH Turning ‘Late Arrivals’ Into ‘Early Birds’ Courtesy of ACCENT New Orleans A ttendees waiting until zero hour to register for an event isn’t exactly new. A recent study by Maritz, however, shows there’s been a definite uptick in this practice over the last few years. Their research found 22 percent of attendees wait until the final week before a show to register, and nine percent don’t register until they arrive on-site. INDUSTRY INSIGHT Offering swag or a special offer to attendees who register early is a good incentive to make sure people don’t sign up last minute. 30 June/July 2024 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.comholding them back. The Maritz study found those most likely to register late are first-time attendees, concentrated in certain industries, and those who live within driving dis- tance of the event. Another possibility is remote workers could be wary of networking in-person and therefore put off registering. Regardless of the reasons why attendees and sponsors are registering late, the basic requirements for hosting an event have all risen. Venue costs are up. F&B costs are up. AV costs are up. And attendees expect a lot more today with their in- person experience. People don’t want to travel to watch what could have been a Zoom call. Nicole Knoderer, CMP, senior director of meetings and events for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) in City of Industry, CA, attributes at least some of the increase in late registrants to SHPE’s membership demo- graphic — approximately 80 percent college students and 20 percent working professionals. The college student demographic comprises most of the event attendance. Professional development workshops on topics such as writing a resume and how to be a leader, as well as valuable networking opportunities, are two hallmarks of SHPE’s events. “I think maybe their funding didn’t come through in enough time. For many of them, their funding is paid by their college,” she says. Due to these limited funds, it’s often nec- essary for attendees to be strategic with attendance. “People are assessing what they want to attend. Do they go to this local event, or the national conference? Or they wait to hear the list of sponsors or presenters before they decide,” Knoderer says. She works closely with the lead- ers of SHPE’s regional chapters to understand the issues or challenges around event registration and pro- pose solutions. “We’ve provided them with com- plimentary registrations to help them advertise in their region,” she adds. “We’ve also done social media pushes to promote the event, and maybe the prize will be a free event registration. A lot of it is trying to understand our regional leaders, who are talking to members about the reasons for late registration. Maybe we can remove that barrier for them.” Their overall attendance numbers are roughly the same or a little higher than they were pre-COVID; there are simply more attendees waiting longer to register. “Our over- all attendance is broken up between attendees and sponsors,” she says. “For us, the lateness — we’ve always had it, but let’s say it was one month out. Now, it’s one to two weeks out. The timeframe for lateness is tighter than it used to be. A lot of the time, people are signing up after we’ve guaranteed our numbers. It may change how we’re doing our seating, and we need more meals. Now, we have to shuffle.” On the incentive side, Josh DeSilva, DMCP, president of DeSilva Meeting Consultants in Haiku, HI, says waiting too long to sign up could mean having to settle for a second- or third-choice destination. He encour- ages meeting planners to set a deadline for incen- tive-type programs — typi- cally two months prior. “You’ll still have people at the last minute, but make it clear they might get their second- or third- choice option, or have to book the same trip with an outside vendor,” he says. “There’s really no advantage to waiting. As people sign up, there might be a waiting list. You may have to choose a few options, or book on your own, at your own expense, that’s not with your group.” Call on the Keynote and Presenters Book the keynote as early in the planning process as pos- Courtesy of Josh DeSilva Regardless of whether an attendee is an early bird or a late arrival, planners must ensure friendly faces are there to greet them at the registration desk. It’s important to make that cut off date clear, because after the cut off date, we can’t guarantee we can get them a room at the group rate. SUSAN BROOKS Logistics Wonder Woman, Powerhouse Meetings and Events TheMeetingMagazines.com | Corporate & Incentive Travel | June/July 2024 31sible, and make that part of your marketing, as this often drives registration. “For me, it’s a hindrance not to announce the speaker — that really drives my attendees to come,” Kno- derer says. “I make it very clear on what attendees can expect — that can help drive why they want to be there even more.” When the keynote and a list of presenters is set, work with the keynote on exclusive incentives to encourage early registration and lean on them to help promote the event. Nora Burns, speaker, leadership consultant and founder of The Leadership Experts, is a former meeting planner and urges planners to partner with keynote speakers to drive reg- istration, particularly those speakers receiving upwards of $15,000 for their appearance. Burns suggests planners work with the speaker on creat- ing short promo videos for social media, and creating pro- grams that give early registrants additional value. To iden- tify the right incentive, planners need to understand their demographic and what type of program would offer the most benefit. Burns served as an opening keynote at a recent event and offered a pre-conference session the day before the official kickoff. “When I was talking with the meetings team for that con- ference, I asked, ‘What do the registration numbers look like, and what do they need to look like?’ she says. My next question was, ‘What would entice your mem- bers — more learning or more play?’ If your group is driven by additional knowledge or bonus learning, then a pre-con works great.” Burns worked with the event planners to offer a “Choose Your Own Adventure” format — early registrants selected the topic for the three-hour pre-con segment. “Those registered one month before the pre-con received a survey to force-rank seven potential topics, all in the realm of workplace culture.” The price for the pre-conference was set at the same time as the early bird savings. Burns and the planners then did video and social media promotion to register early to get another half day of value for the same price. “I think giving the early birds a say really helped pro- mote,” Burns says. Another suggestion would be the first X number of reg- istrants would be entered to win two free hours of coach- ing or consulting with the keynote speaker. “If you’re paying $15,000, the keynote probably has an extra two hours of con- tent,” Burns says. “I allow the winners to ask whatever they want. I make it as accommodating as possible for whomever they want to give that to. It makes it valuable for all. If it’s a topic they’re going to enjoy, that’s a draw.” Similarly, planners can offer a bonus webinar when regis- tration hits a certain number, to be offered one month before registration closes, and featuring the keynote speaker. “If the members or attendees are driven by the oppor- tunity to learn, another free webinar after so many regis- trants really adds value,” Burns says. “Anybody in the orga- nization — if it’s an organizational membership — can come to that webinar. It can build anticipation for learning at the conference.” An event focused around a hot topic or emerging industry could see more early registrants simply because it’s some- thing new. “For some of my clients, some of their annual meetings are pretty routine, with a lot of the same people,” Brooks says. “Awhile back I worked on a cannabis confer- ence, which was a brand-new type of conference in that space. People were really excited for the launch, and there was a lot of push for attendees to come.” Incentivize Pre-Con Opportunities Partner with the event keynote on promoting and Courtesy of Nicole Knoderer Event staff and volunteers for The Society of Hispanic Professionals 2023 National Convention in Salt Lake City, UT. 32 June/July 2024 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.comdeveloping pre-con programs. Think of them as “sneak peeks” or a warmup to the main event. “An interesting and flexible professional speaker can be the meeting and event planner’s ‘secret weapon’ in driving early registration in this ‘wait until the last-minute world,’” Burns says. “Incentivize the behavior you want while partnering with a keynote speaker who understands you’re in this together.” Discounted pricing is another popular incentive for early registration, and one Knoderer has used numerous times. “We try to front load and get the bulk of registrations early. We offer early bird pricing and incentivize those who do it. We’ll give a discounted price — members get a price that’s over $100 less if they register early versus waiting until the last minute,” she says. Incentives with a “feel good” component give early bird regis- trants the opportunity to help oth- ers. Incorporate some volunteer or community service project into a pre-con event where early registrants can get involved. “We feel so much pressure in our lives. You know the community needs your help. We want to give back but don’t have time,” says Diane B. Lyons, CMP CDMP, founder and president of ACCENT New Orleans, Inc, a DMC Network Company. “Build something in. If we go in early and help pack meals for families at homeless shelters, we’re giving back. It’s all about incentivizing and offering a unique team build up front.” Attendees who want to volunteer on their own but don’t have time will appreciate the opportunity to participate in a community service pre-con event and give back. Limited Space Late registrations posed a different logistical challenge for Lyons at a recent event — not enough space. While work- ing on an annual meeting for a physicians’ organization, Lyons and her team planned on 100 attendees. “We’re one of two meetings in the hotel, and we’re not in the biggest of their two ballrooms. We based it on 100 people; we’re now at 130,” she says. She attributes at least some of the last-minute registration rush to the meeting’s location in Washington D.C. — a drivable distance for many of the attendees. Lyons says the last-minute registrations can be good if it’s set up where latecomers can be charged more. “Because the world is so indecisive, we’re willing to pay more at the last minute for hotels and airfare. Meetings have to do the same thing. Start with incentives, build with a lot of mar- keting, and at the end — 10 days out — charge more. It covers the increased costs,” she says. Planners can’t just count on marketing campaigns to draw attendees. In a world full of cluttered inboxes, sending reminder emails and social media posts is less effective than it was even five years ago. “We have to do a lot more marketing, but we get so much of it,” Lyons says. “My challenge is how do you market more without bombarding people?” Lyons’ other challenge is having flexibility with space. “We worked with an organization on their semi-annual meeting, and in the last week and a half, we had people say- ing they’re coming. We looked at the space and realized it wouldn’t work. You just try to accommodate.” Lyons adds she’s seeing more flexibility with food and beverage, as well. “You just can’t get a firm count. I’m seeing more buffets. Our responsibil- ity is trying to find more food products and not necessarily a sit- down lunch or dinner so you can add or decrease as needed.” Buffets are a good option to meet any dietary or allergy needs, and there is less concern about not having enough food. Despite incentives and pre-con “extras” for early registration, meeting plan- ners should not expect this behavior to end anytime soon. Late registra- tions are part of event planning to a certain extent. Venues and plan- ners have learned to be more flexible with the agenda. “We do the best we can,” Knoderer says. “People think we have a ‘magic meeting planner crystal ball’ to know where we’re going to be and understand those behaviors. Sometimes, we have to make hard choices. To get everyone in, we must cut it off at some point. Once we start being more intentional, people will say, ‘Maybe I should have reg- istered earlier.’” Brooks’ best advice for planners is to be prepared for latecomers. “Logistically, we just deal with it. We bring extra blank nametags, extra labels for materials so they feel like they’re part of the conference right from the start. We never want anyone to feel they’re not welcome.” Waiting to register can cause issues, however. “People will call to say they can’t get a room at the group rate, and can we help them? Sometimes we can, sometimes we can’t. It’s impor- tant to make that cut off date clear, because after the cut off date, we can’t guarantee we can get them a room at the group rate,” Brooks says. Above all, be clear about what attendees will get for their registration fee to motivate attendance. “It’s really important for us, when talking about pricing and why people should go, to include what people get for their registration. Be clear on value statements and what people are going to get.” C&IT The timeframe for lateness is tighter than it used to be. A lot of the time, people are signing up after we’ve guaranteed our numbers. NICOLE KNODERER, CMP Sr. Director of Meetings and Events, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers TheMeetingMagazines.com | Corporate & Incentive Travel | June/July 2024 33With a blend of natural beauty, cultural richness and diversity, easy accessibility from many parts of the U.S., and world-class resorts, the Bahamas and Caribbean islands are an ideal choice for an unforgettable event, as they have the matchless power to renew and inspire your attendees. Selecting an island involves more than the venue — there’s the charm, history, culture and personality of the island itself. Some are linked to famous pirates and hidden treasures. Div- ers today still search for gold left scattered amid the reefs. Here are some to be explored as you consider your next island destination. Aruba Maybe Aruba’s tagline, “One Happy Island,” is because it’s located outside the notorious ‘hurricane belt.’ At 70-square miles, the island is known for its soft, white sand and crystal- clear, turquoise water where snorkelers can look down and see colorful fish and even shipwrecks lodged beneath the shallow water. Active adventures for attendees may include kitesurfing and windsurfing off Malmok Beach, waterskiing in several protected shoals, and paddleboarding just off the shore of many swimmable beaches. If nightlife and fine dining are more to your group’s liking, you’ll find such diverse fare as traditional Dutch, Asian, Afri- can or Spanish-influenced food all in the downtown corridor of Oranjestad. One such restaurant is the intimate Ruinas del Mar, located at the 12-acre beachfront Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort, Spa, and Casino. The resort fronts miles of soft white sand, which Jason Gross, VP, Travel for Captive Resources in Itasca, IL, found particularly appealing, in addition to its downtown location. Last winter, Gross planned a gathering The Bahamas & Caribbean BY ERIN DEINZER A Blend of Natural Beauty, Adventure for Your Next Island Destination Photo by David Troeger P icture sundrenched, exquisite beaches with sugar-soft sands lapped by aquamarine waves, plenty of sunshine and tropical breezes. If you’ve imagined someplace in the Caribbean, you’d be right alongside other planners who envision an island location for their next company retreat, incentive trip, or group meeting. DESTINATION UPDATE Enjoying a day at sea while sailing away in the Caribbean. 34 June/July 2024 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.comof 450 attendees and was impressed at the exceedingly high level of service at the property and the easily accessible array of nightclubs and restaurants within easy walking distance. “Out the back door is deep water and a swimmable beach, while out the front door are all of the local restaurants and nightlife,” says Gross, who’s been planning events at the resort for more than 15 years. “The staff at the Hyatt is over- the-top. Their onsite CSM gets things done, and the service is second-to-none. It’s the best Hyatt I’ve ever been to.” New to Aruba is the adults-only Iberostar Grand Aruba and The St. Regis Palm Beach Aruba Resort. Meanwhile, the Aruba Happy One Pass — a digital travel credential sys- tem that lets travelers complete pre-boarding verification to smoothly cross border checkpoints — aims to streamline arrivals to the island. Jamaica If you enjoy the sultry tones of reggae, you’ve got Jamai- can musicians to thank for that. Emblematic of the coun- try’s laidback lifestyle but fused with lyrics that speak to the emergence of Jamaica from British rule in the 60s, today the country is poised to be a major player in the tourism sector. Last year, Jamaica welcomed over four million visitors and generated more than $4 billion in revenue. This year, it’s expected to add 2,000 new hotel rooms, such as the all-inclusive Riu Palace Aquarelle, the adults-only Princess Senses The Mangrove (with its own convention center), and the family friendly Princess Grand Jamaica. “Jamaica is the third-largest island, and it’s located in the heart of the Caribbean Sea,” explains John Woolcock, man- ager of groups & conventions at the Jamaica Tourist Board. “We can accommodate large conferences, business events, corporate getaways or trade conventions. Additionally, you can plan an afternoon of watersports, raft on a river, hike to our highest mountain peak or explore underground caves.” One group recently coordinated a team-building event in which each team was supplied with precut, 30-foot bamboo poles and supplies. The teams then built rafts and tested them to see if they were sea-worthy. Group spaces in Jamaica range from the 57,000 sf Montego Bay Convention Centre to Bellefield Great House & Gardens, or Main Street Rose Hall in the Elegant Corridor. And if you’d like your group to interact in a meaningful way, the new Arti- san Village at Falmouth — a historic, experiential attraction — aims to connect local artisans and food producers with visitors. Bermuda If you’re looking for a VIP experience that’s on a more intimate scale, consider Bermuda: a 21-square mile nation made up of 181 islands and islets. Some unique venues include the Unfinished Church — with soaring stone arches and a fairytale atmosphere; the Spirit of Bermuda —a 19th- century tall ship; the Bermuda National Gallery or the Ber- muda Underwater Exploration Institute. Another outdoor venue is Snorkel Park with space for 5,000 attendees, a shallow reef with sunken cannons, or Hawkins Island, a 25-acre private island 10 minutes by boat from Hamilton. The Bahamas Melissa Halliday, director of administrative services for Amergis Healthcare Staffing in Columbia, MD, coordinated an incentive trip to the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island. The group of 780 attendees came from all over the U.S., so Halliday needed to find a property big enough to accommo- date her group but accessible enough for a myriad of events. “We’d been trying to find a place that could cater to all our needs,” explains Halliday. “With the size of Atlantis, we rec- ognized we could take care of our programming needs and still have everyone experience the full benefits of the resort. “It’s a large property, so we were mindful of having to get our group from one place to another. An unexpected thing happened on one of my first nights on property when some band members came out and played music. I asked the man- ager if we could hire them for one of our events. So, he put together a group of about 20-25 musicians. They met us in the meeting space, then walked us to the pool where our welcome event was being held. It really was an awesome experience.” Another Bahamian resort of note, especially for group events is the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in Nassau. Featuring eight pools, watersports, a wildlife sanctuary, arcade and the Baha Bay Waterpark, the resort also includes unlimited activities, shopping, 45 dining outlets, poolside cabanas, a full-service spa and a casino. Courtesy of Atlantis Paradise Island Atlantis Paradise Island offers a 141-acre water park, marine habitats, five miles of pristine beaches, and so much more. TheMeetingMagazines.com | Corporate & Incentive Travel | June/July 2024 35ROOMS AND SUITES RESTAURANTS AND BARS MILES OF WHITE SAND BEACHES CITIES WITH DIRECT FLIGHTS SQ FT OF OUTDOOR EVENT SPACE UNIQUE OUTDOOR EVENT SPACES SQ FT FOR LARGEST INDOOR SPACE MAX PEOPLE FOR LARGEST SPACE SQ FT OF TOTAL AVAILABLE SPACE 3,259 40 5 21 300,000 20 50,000 4,000 500,000+for PLANNERS PARADISE Make your event unforgettable and your planning uneventful. AtlantisBahamas.com/meetings | Call 1.800.722.2449 Radiant Spaces for Every Occasion Explore over 500,000 square feet of unique, flexible meeting spaces – most illuminated by natural light – all in a full- service convention center that offers concierge service, in-house multimedia production capabilities with top-of-the- line A/V equipment, and high-speed internet. The Culinary Capital of the Caribbean Savor a wide array of group dining experiences and sensational flavors from 40 restaurants and bars, curated by some of the most renowned chefs in the world, including three Michelin star-rated Chefs: Nobu Matsuhisa, José Andrés, and Michael White. Limitless Relaxation & Exhilaration Delight your attendees with golf, tennis, a state-of-the-art fitness center, shopping, a full-service spa, a world-class Casino, and the unrivaled Aquaventure featuring miles of beaches, pools, waterparks, plus the largest open-air marine habitat in the world with over 250 species. Rooms that get the Royal Treatment Enjoy the suite life with an abundance of unique accommodations across The Reef, The Coral, The Cove, and The Royal, which just underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation. From residential-style to pure luxury, we have every kind of option to meet the needs of your group. Atlantis makes meetings and events exceptional – and exceptionally easy. Cayman Islands This enclave of British manners and sensibilities is a veritable playground for sports like cricket, rugby, croquet and golf, but it’s also where you’ll find Seven Mile Beach. Located on Grand Cayman Island, it’s been named an “Ulti- mate Beach” by Caribbean Travel + Life and one of the top 25 beaches in the world. The Cayman Islands offers a Meet & Greet Service at the airport designed to expedite entry into the country for groups of up to 190, where a customs officer will meet them as they depart the plane, fast track them through the entry process, then escort them to the transportation area. New additions to the island include the Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman, which opened this spring. The 282-room property offers more than 11,000 sf of meeting space includ- ing a 6,700 sf ballroom, outdoor patio and pool deck. Dining options run the gamut from Peruvian to Polynesian. As for next year, new hotels include the 100-room Man- darin Oriental Grand Cayman, located in Bodden Town on a 67-acre property, the 354-room Grand Hyatt Grand Cayman Hotel & Residences, which will feature six restaurants, and the 177-unit One/GT, a boutique hotel with a rooftop venue. Puerto Rico According to Discover Puerto Rico, air arrivals to the island last year were up 21% over the previous year. So per- haps it’s not surprising that more accommodations are being added to the unincorporated U.S. territory’s hospitality inventory this year. Part of the island’s largest developments are from Hilton, which intends to double its presence by 2025. “The com- pany is introducing 10 new hotels, representing five different brands, in San Juan, Ponce and Dorado, amounting to Hilton’s largest growth market in the Caribbean by number of hotels,” states Travel Pulse, which also lists a new $500M Hard Rock Hotel in Old San Juan and the boutique hotel Don Rata Bou- tique Hotel & Residences in Miramar as venues of note. Planners looking to create one-of-a-kind experiences in Puerto Rico — a Caribbean destination that does not require a passport for U.S. citizens — can look at booking rum tast- ings and tours at Casa Bacardi, the world’s largest premium rum distillery. They can also explore Castillo Serrallés, a lux- urious 19th century mansion, as well as coffee tours at locally run plantations like Hacienda Lealtad or the Museo de Café, or coordinate salsa dance lessons with a local instructor. Puerto Rico offers other venue choices such as the Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, with a total of 5,443 sf of event space, including a ballroom and boardroom with ocean views. Dorado Beach was founded in 1958 by Laurance Rock- efeller, who transformed a former plantation on the island’s north shore into a 50-acre luxury resort with access to the beautiful beach. The 11-mile Rockefeller Nature Trail wends its way through the resort, offering attendees night walks, stargazing sessions, as well as scuba diving and underwater photography excursions. Anguilla Tucked away in the Eastern Caribbean is the secluded island of Anguilla, a British Overseas Territory. New on the scene is Entertainment Park, located at the Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club in Rendezvous Bay. The property boasts Anguilla’s only golf courses on beachfront property. Slated to open this year at Cap Juluca, a Belmond Hotel in Anguilla, is Cap Juluca Spa by Guerlain, a $8M facility inspired by the Arawak Indians, Anguilla’s earliest inhabit- ants. The historic Malliouhana — a combination of low-key glamour and historic heritage — is celebrating its 40th anni- versary this year with a new program led by James-Beard award-winning sommelier Shelley Lindgren that showcases unique food and wine pairings. Meads Bay is another great area, consistently ranked among the top beaches in the world. One venue to note is The Four Seasons Resort & Residences, with 181 guest rooms, 13,127 sf of event space. It is near Barnes Bay Beach, and pro- vides snorkeling gear and other beach equipment. 38 June/July 2024 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.com The five-star Mandarin Oriental Grand Cayman is positioned atop one of the highest elevations on the island’s St. James Point. Atlantis Paradise Island’s championship 18-hole golf course features breathtaking views of Nassau Harbor and the Atlantic Ocean. Courtesy of Atlantis Paradise IslandDominican Republic Located on one of the few islands in the world shared by two independent nation-states, the Dominican Republic comprises two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola. Consider- ing its robust size — for a Caribbean island — it might not be a surprise to learn there’s a resort property that stretches more than 7,000 acres. Originally opened 50 years ago as the first resort in the country, Casa de Campo Resort & Villas is regarded today as the best golf resort in the world. The property includes the Pete Dye course Teeth of the Dog®, which is on many golf- ers’ bucket lists. But for Salwa Scarpone, director of events & supplier marketing for Bluewave Technology Group in Par- sippany, NJ, the main reason for selecting the resort was the overall experience she knew her group would have. “I’ve taken three different groups there because it is an amazing venue,” says Scarpone, who recently coordi- nated an incentive trip for 15 salespeople and their plus- ones. “It’s an all-inclusive property, which makes things easy for the planner and the attendees. All activities are included — like skeet shooting and horseback riding — and there’s an opportunity to go out on a catamaran to a private island where you can snorkel and have a chef pre- pare you lunch. Though the property itself is vast, each villa comes with a golf cart so people can get themselves around independently.” Casa de Campo also features such unusual venues as an outdoor amphitheater which is located at Altos de Chavón, a replica of a 16th century Mediterranean village, that can be rented out for special events. Saint Lucia Rising out of the Caribbean Sea are the volcanic Piton mountains. Considered some of the most iconic mountains in the world, the twin peaks of Saint Lucia are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and many visitors count a climb to the top of Gros Piton among their top things to do. But outside of nature hikes, Saint Lucia offers incredible rainforests, a multitude of animals and its own diverse history. Cornucopia Events, which caters to the meetings and events industry, coordinates an array of activities for groups from exclusive gala dinners at the Governor General’s house, to a boat trip to the town of Soufriere to visit Hotel Choco- late, where attendees can taste, shell and grind cocoa beans, to a St. Lucian Creole cookoff or a “Pirates of the Caribbean” themed dinner party. In recognition of the island as an ideal choice for smaller events, last year the St. Lucia Tourism Authority announced it had won the Caribbean’s Best Corporate Retreat Destina- tion 2023 at the 4th Annual World MICE Awards. U.S. Virgin Islands At this year’s U.S. Travel Association’s International Pow Wow, the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism shared that Trunk Bay, located on St. John, was ranked #1 on the list of The World’s 50 Best Beaches™ 2024. Also on St. John, one of the three islands that make up the U.S. territory, is Frenchman’s Reef Resort, where attend- ees can experience two distinct properties: the Westin Beach Resort and Morningstar Buoy Beach Haus Resort, an Auto- graph Collection Hotel. Collectively offering more than 85,000 sf of indoor and outdoor event venues, the property can accommodate up to 1,000 attendees. Forbes recently declared the Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas, to be the Best High-End Hotel in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The hotel has partnered with local rum brand, Rock City Rum, to create an exclusive rum in the hotel’s signature flavor and scent — lemongrass — which is only available at the property. Look only as far as the Bahamas and the Caribbean for an island location. With their blend of natural beauty, a wealth of cultural experiences, exceptional dining, and stunning sea and mountain views, these island destinations offer high- level venues that set the stage for a successful event. C&IT TheMeetingMagazines.com | Corporate & Incentive Travel | June/July 2024 39 Enjoy the beauty of Anguilla’s beaches at Cap Juluca, which offers a plethora of activities like snorkeling and SCUBA diving. Courtesy Rendering Courtesy PhotoNext >