Group outdoor yoga at Canyon Ranch in Tucson, AZ Courtesy of Visit Tucson A COASTAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION PUBLICATION FEBRUARY 2024 VOL. 31 NO. 1 $15.00 INSIDE 2024 TRENDS AI IN MEETINGS CALIFORNIA ARIZONA Hustle Culture is Out, Healthy Living is In EVENT WELLNESSWhen 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 | FEBRUARY 2024themeetingmagazines.com 3 FEBRUARY 2024 Vol. 31 No. 1 14 22 30 26 departments features 14 26 30 4 18 22 Event Wellness Hustle Culture is Out, Healthy Living is In By Maura Keller Event Trends Between Positive Trends and Planner’s Pain Points. By Christine Loomis World of Data How AI is Revolutionizing the Meetings and Events Landscape By Alana Castillas California The Golden State for Innovative, Inclusive Events By David Swanson Arizona Exploring the Grand Canyon State By Dan Johnson destinations 6 8 10 34 Publisher’s Message News & Notes Evolving Trends in F&I Meetings A Focus on DEI, Sustainability and Changing Staffing Models By Steve Bova, CAE Hold That Pink Slip! 3 Ways Layoffs Hurt Your Company, 4 Ways to Avoid Them. By Dan Adams Corporate Ladder 18 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 MANAGING EDITOR Maritza Cosano maritza.cosano@themeetingmagazines.com EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Rachel Galvin rachel.galvin @ themeetingmagazines.com CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Alana Castillas Cynthia Dial Marlene Goldman Dan Johnson Maura Keller Christine Loomis Kathy Monte 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 MANAGERS Bob Mitchell 630-541-3388 bob.mitchell@themeetingmagazines.com Lisa Turner 941-400-7419 lisa.turner@themeetingmagazines.com DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS Michael Caffin 914-629-5860 michael.caffin@themeetingmagazines.com Are You Staying Competitive? Are you a baseball fan? If so, you know that major league baseball involves superior strategizing on the manager’s part. Of course, the key to this high-level plan is ensuring the team remains as competitive as possible for every game. Teams unwilling or unable to pay for high- priced talent needed to stay competitive will end up at the bottom of the standings at the end of the season. There is an important lesson here for the insurance and financial meet- ings world. Now, with some businesses trying to economize by cutting back on expenses related to meetings and incentive programs, it is vital to ask: What price is being paid to achieve these savings? The answer is clear. Companies un- willing to maintain adequate spending levels in these critical areas will likely diminish their market positions. This is particularly true for insurance and financial companies, which are highly reliant on educating and informing regarding changing product lines and features and, more importantly, the undivided attention of inde- pendent agents and brokers. Experienced insurance and financial industry executives know that numerous benefits derive from incentive travel programs and corpo- rate meetings. Cutting incentive and meeting budgets will impact sales and operational efficiencies negatively. Any savings may end up as an extremely high price to pay. Like in baseball, you are putting game strategies in motion. Planning an incentive program or meeting at a spa or golf resort will undoubt- edly be a sure bet and prove worth the investment. 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 When you need a team that gets the little details and the big picture, IT MATTERS WHERE YOU STAY. From Team Members who say, “Hi, happy to help!” to Trusted Advisors, an exclusive group of sales professionals, we go beyond what’s expected. We’re passionate about spreading the light and warmth of hospitality. That’s why we listen to what you need and work together on new ways to bring your vision to life, so that it all comes together exactly as planned. Your greatest stays are the moments we live for. Learn more at events.hilton.com. © 2023 Hilton themeetingmagazines.com 4 FEBRUARY 2024 | INSURANCE & FINANCIAL MEETINGS MANAGEMENT | PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE |When you need a team that gets the little details and the big picture, IT MATTERS WHERE YOU STAY. From Team Members who say, “Hi, happy to help!” to Trusted Advisors, an exclusive group of sales professionals, we go beyond what’s expected. We’re passionate about spreading the light and warmth of hospitality. That’s why we listen to what you need and work together on new ways to bring your vision to life, so that it all comes together exactly as planned. Your greatest stays are the moments we live for. Learn more at events.hilton.com. © 2023 Hiltonthemeetingmagazines.com 6 FEBRUARY 2024 | INSURANCE & FINANCIAL MEETINGS MANAGEMENT MAUI, HI — Maui’s iconic Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, recently opened Kilolani Spa, an all-new open air luxury spa. At 50,000 sf, Kilolani Spa will be the largest in the state and designed to pre- serve the heritage of the landmark hotel and honor local traditions. “Kilolani Spa truly embodies our com- mitment to honoring Maui’s rich wellness culture, while embracing the modern innovations of the spa industry,” said JP Oliver, managing director at Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort. “We look forward to offering our guests personalized treat- ments imbued with local influences, natural ingredients and the aloha spirit.” The approximately $55 million Kilolani Spa encompasses 40 treatment rooms, including couples’ treatment suites, a meditation lounge, reflection lounge, halother- apy-infused infrared saunas, hammam and hydrothermal gardens. HILTON HEAD, SC — Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort has unveiled the completion of its $26 million property-wide renovation. Nestled along the South Carolina shoreline, the resort’s renovation began in August 2022. Boasting a prime oceanfront location, three championship golf courses, access to 11 lagoon trails and unmatched wellness amenities, Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort has long been revered as an idyllic escape. “The completion of this top-to- bottom renovation marks an exciting chapter for our resort,” said Calvin Belknap, General Manager of Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort. “Hil- ton Head is evolving as a vacation destination, and we look forward to offering an updated experience that’s reminiscent of the traditional southern hospitality we’re known for with a contemporary look and feel that appeals to a new generation of travelers.” DALLAS, TX — Hilton Anatole recently invested over $30 million in renovating 718 Tower guest rooms, complete with new furnishings, carpets and art installations. “We’re thrilled to unveil the remarkable enhance- ments to our Tower guest rooms,” said Bruce Roy, general manager of Hilton Anatole. “Each space has been meticulously crafted to elevate comfort. From the introduction of our new suite types to the thoughtful incorporation of meaningful design ele- ments, this renovation embodies our dedication to exceeding expectations and creating unforgettable memories for our valued guests.” KINGSTON, JAMAICA — American Airlines has launched non-stop flights from Miami International Airport (MIA) to Ian Fleming International Airport (OCJ). The new nonstop service to Ocho Rios will operate twice weekly on Wednesdays and Saturday. It joins more than 100 peak weekly flights to Jamaica from American Airlines and complements the carrier’s existing ser- vice from MIA to Kingston (KIN) and Montego Bay (MBJ). With the addition of this new flight, American Airways now offers nonstop flights to Jamaica from eight U.S. gate- ways, including Austin, Boston, Char- lotte, Chicago, Dallas, Miami, New York and Philadelphia. American is currently the only U.S. carrier to offer nonstop service into Ocho Rios. BETHESDA, MD — Following its recent announcement of strong global net rooms growth and a record year of global rooms signings, Marriott Inter- national announced a year of robust room signings and additions across the Caribbean and Latin America (CALA) in 2023. The company nearly doubled its number of organic deal signings in the region versus prior year, signing 57 transactions and nearly 7,300 rooms in 2023 to reach a solid pipeline of 24,000 rooms across the region at the end of last year. In 2023, the company added over 170 properties to Marriott’s portfolio in CALA, growing its footprint to nearly 500 properties. HILTON ANATOLE UNVEILS $30M RENOVATION JAMAICA WELCOMES NON-STOP SERVICE FROM THE U.S. TO OCHO RIOS MARRIOTT ANNOUNCES ROBUST GROWTH ACROSS CARIBBEAN & LATIN AMERICA OMNI HILTON HEAD DEBUTS $26 MILLION RENOVATION GRAND WAILEA UNVEILS KILOLANI SPA | INDUSTRY NEWS | COURTESY PHOTO COURTESY PHOTO COURTESY PHOTOHONOLULU, HI — Hilton, a global leader in hospitality, announces the opening of Ka La’i Waikīkī Beach, LXR Hotels & Resorts. Nestled in the lively center of Waikīkī, Hono- lulu, the 462-room hotel, once a Trump Hotel, launches a new chap- ter for the prestigious brand with world-class amenities, immersive destination-driven programming and personalized service. Estab- lishing a presence in Hawaii, LXR Hotels & Resorts welcomes Ka La’i Waikīkī Beach to its exclusive col- lection in some of the most sought- after global destinations from Kyoto, Japan to Seychelles, Africa that celebrate the timeless pursuit of adventure through a new taste of luxury defined by bespoke ser- vice and curated local experiences. Ka La’i Waikīkī Beach is owned by Irongate and managed by LXR Hotels & Resorts. KA LA’I WAIKĪKĪ BEACH OPENS IN OAHU COURTESY PHOTO Get the lowest price when you book direct at www.hilton.com/en/hotels/hhhrshh Retreat to our isle of renewed paradise at Hilton Beachfront Resort & Spa Hilton Head. Relax in our well-appointed guest rooms and enjoy a sea of outdoor activities. Take in a round of golf at our Championship courses. Soak up exquisite beach vistas from your private balcony and enjoy an unforgettable stay by the shoreline. Come For The Meeting, Stay For Everything Else NAPA, CA — Silverado Resort, a landmark resort in Napa Val- ley wine country, has finished the $1.5 million renovation of 17,000 sf of meeting and event space encompassing the ball- room, conference and meeting rooms and pre-function areas. According to Todd Shallan, vice president and managing direc- tor of Silverado Resort, the revamped event spaces, ideal for a range of large and intimate functions from corporate events to weddings to private parties, are an integral part of an ongo- ing enhancement program, which is designed to reposition the resort for a new era. For more information, visit silveradoresort.com. NEW MEETING SPACE COMPLETE AT NAPA VALLEY’S SILVERADO RESORT INSURANCE & FINANCIAL MEETINGS MANAGEMENT | FEBRUARY 2024themeetingmagazines.com 7 COURTESY PHOTOthemeetingmagazines.com 8 FEBRUARY 2024 | INSURANCE & FINANCIAL MEETINGS MANAGEMENT T he way businesses operate today is under- going significant changes across various industries, including the financial and insur- ance (F&I) sector. Economic pressures, envi- ronmental concerns and shifts in commu- nication and collaboration have prompted adaptations in business strategies, including in meetings and events execution. Finan- cial and Insurance Conference Professionals (FICP) has been actively reassessing its strategic priorities to effectively sup- port its community of meetings professionals (MPs) in the F&I industry and their hospitality partners (HPs) who help execute best-in-class events. The winter 2023 FICP Pulse Survey focused on key areas such as changes in staffing models, sustainability and diver- sity, equity and inclusion (DEI). The survey revealed notewor- thy insights and shifts in priorities within the F&I industry and the hospitality sector. DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION (DEI) DEI remains a significant focus for F&I companies and the hospitality industry, with nearly three-quarters of MPs high- lighting increased attention in 2023. Additionally, 87% of MPs consider DEI a strategically important area for their companies. The hospitality industry places even greater emphasis on DEI, with 92% considering it strategically important. While DEI is a shared focus, the approach varies. F&I participants prioritize active recruitment for a more diverse workforce, showing a significant increase since 2022. For HPs, active recruitment remains important, but the top cultural priority is developing a sense of belonging. Changes in DEI areas correlate with how events are approached, with diverse speaker selections and content changes being notable shifts for MPs and more than a third of HPs increasing their use of minority-owned businesses as suppliers. FICP is actively engaged in its own DEI journey, estab- lishing a DEI Working Group, publishing its official Statement of DEI in December 2022 and emphasizing its importance in the 2022-2024 Strategic Plan. The organization aims to fos- ter inclusivity, belonging and member engagement, with the newly revealed core message, “You Belong at FICP.” FICP also published a DEI calendar for MPs and HPs on its redesigned website to reference when planning meetings. SUSTAINABILITY Sustainability has become a heightened focus in the past year for both F&I and HP organizations. Three out of four MPs and two out of three HPs noted increased attention to | INDUSTRY INSIDER | A Focus on DEI, Sustainability and Changing Staffing Models BY STEVE BOVA, CAE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FICP EVOLVING TRENDS IN F&I MEETINGS TORI SOPER PHOTOGRAPHYsustainability. HPs show a stronger existing focus on sustain- ability, with 92% considering it strategically important. Top sustainability focus areas for both groups include incorporating sustainability into the organization’s mission and reducing food waste at events. Partner selection and food and beverage choices during events are key areas where sus- tainability considerations come into play. FICP’s approach involves making sustainable choices for its events, including selecting eco-friendly destinations, part- nering with sustainable suppliers, and focusing on water and plastic considerations. • Destination selection: The 2024 FICP Annual Confer- ence will be held in Denver, which was the first desti- nation to achieve the highest – Platinum – level certi- fication from the Event Industry Council’s Sustainable Events Standards. • Partner selection: Partnering with industry leader, PC Nametag, for more sustainable name badges and lanyards, including a return receptacle for recycling and repurposing. • Water and plastic considerations: Actively encourage attendees with BYOB (Bring Your Own Bottle) to stay hydrated throughout the event, including increased water stations, as well as activations for infused water. Elimination of plastic water bottles for speakers, whenever possible. • Food and beverage considerations: Staff work closely with hospitality partners to develop menus and expe- riences with sustainability in mind, including how counts are defined, and how food waste from an event may be repurposed. As FICP looks toward Denver this November, sustainability will be of increased focus, and we look forward to sharing the event planning process with the FICP community and beyond – before and after the event — to support the industry’s con- tinuing education on this important topic. CHANGING STAFFING MODELS Staffing was among the top issues for MPs coming out of the COVID pandemic, with meetings and events roaring back while experiencing reduced headcount on teams. We dug into how staffing models have adjusted over the past year and expectations for the future — both for internal teams and in the use of third parties and/or incentive houses. • 25% of MPs expect a marginal or significant increase in headcount in 2024, with 67% anticipating no change. • Half of MPs use third parties or incentive houses to supplement the internal meetings and events team(s) regularly (29%) or on an ad hoc/very lim- ited basis (23%). • Of those that use third parties and/or incentive houses, most have not seen a notable change in usage over the past year while 12% have seen a significant increase — and 68% do not anticipate a change in usage over the next two years. • The top three meetings and event functions out- sourced to third parties and/or incentive houses are sourcing (83%), registration (54%) and gifting (46%). HP sales teams are anticipated to grow significantly, with a shift toward more account-based approaches. Incentive travel remains a substantial part of F&I business for many HPs. FICP is addressing the challenges of increased workload by launching regional pop-up networking events (“FICP in” series) and revising its governance structure to enhance vol- unteer experiences. • FICP in: To meet our community where they are, we launched the “FICP in” event series last year. This enables the community to come together at regional pop-up networking events that are free for MPs — first in New York City and then in Boston. We are build- ing off that success this year and expanding to three “FICP in” events, with dates and locations to come. • Volunteerism: FICP’s governance structure was revised in 2023 to increase the number of leadership roles while streamlining the responsibilities for individual volunteer leaders to be more meaningful to them. Combined with clearer, upfront communication about the time commitment the various volunteer roles have, these changes have broadened its volunteer base while providing a more impactful experience. • Rising Professionals: While not all inclusive, another change has been an increased focus on rising profes- sionals (i.e., defined as those with less than 10 years of professional experience) in our education and meet- ing planning upon the recommendation from our Ris- ing Leaders Working Group. From rising professional happy hours at our in-person events to providing easy-to-search recordings and resources in the new On-Demand Education Center, FICP remains commit- ted to being a platform and community to support the growth of rising professionals, furthering the success of F&I meetings and events. FICP is actively adapting to industry changes by prioritiz- ing DEI, sustainability and addressing evolving staffing mod- els. By fostering inclusivity, making sustainable choices and supporting professional growth, FICP aims to contribute to a more inclusive and environmentally considerate world within the meetings and events industry. Share how your organization is making strides on social media using the hashtags #meetingprofs and #hospitalityin- dustry – and don’t forget to tag FICP. For more research insights, visit ficpnet.com/Education- Resources/Industry-Research. I & FMM INSURANCE & FINANCIAL MEETINGS MANAGEMENT | FEBRUARY 2024themeetingmagazines.com 9 Top sustainability focus areas for both groups include incorporating sustainability into the organization’s mission and reducing food waste at events.Next >