< PreviousYOUR NEXT MEETING JUST LANDED IN TULUM. Give your attendees the experience of paradise in this Mexican oasis. Sunny days lie ahead for meeting planners in Tulum, Mexico, thanks to the new Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport (TQO). In addition to the Cancún International Airport (CUN), travel to beautiful Tulum and its premier resort destinations is now even more accessible. Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya, MexicoHilton Tulum Riviera Maya All-Inclusive Resort, MexicoConrad Tulum Riviera Maya, Mexico A NATURAL BEAUTY This sparkling city located on the southeastern tip of Mexico is ready to welcome you. Creating spectacular meeting backdrops, Tulum boasts turquoise waters, white beaches, and revered seaside Mayan ruins. Crystalline cenotes, along with other attractions and excursions, like day trips to Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, await. The Biosphere Reserve hosts intimate tours for conference goers that provide rare access to the region’s spectacular wildlife and Mayan ruins. Another highlight at the Reserve is floating down an ancient Mayan canal once used as a trading route. With your memorable Tulum backdrop in place, two Hilton hotel brands, Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya and Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya All-Inclusive Resort, welcome attendees and accommodate your meeting with style and ease. Each are a short distance from one another on the same gated property. CONRAD TULUM RIVIERA MAYA Discreetly tucked into mangrove forests alongside the coast, Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya marries Tulum’s natural ambience with regional, sophisticated influences. Behind the open-air lobby’s magnificent carved doors, reflective pools lined with palm trees flow to an infinity pool and swimmer-friendly waters. Mayan-inspired artifacts and custom natural art enhance public spaces and guest rooms, providing a true sense of place and comfort. With upscale amenities at every turn, there’s something for everyone who seeks a luxury experience, including five pools, and 11 restaurants with menus creatively presented and made with wholesome, indigenous ingredients. Each of our 241 rooms and suites comes elegantly appointed and with a private ocean or resort view, perfect for your VIPs. HILTON TULUM RIVIERA MAYA ALL-INCLUSIVE RESORT Only a short golf cart or van drive away, the Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya All-Inclusive Resort is an eco-chic oasis, brimming with amenities. One price covers everything at this all-inclusive, including accommodations, food, entertainment and activities. There are 735 rooms and suites with private balconies and oceanfront or resort views, 13 restaurants and bars, and nine pools. All are just steps away from a secluded bay that feels like a natural sanctuary and private beach. MOTTO BY HILTON TULUM Perhaps you or your attendees want to extend your stay after your meeting. Our nearby Motto by Hilton Tulum is the perfect place for a getaway if you need to unplug for a few days on your own. Where local flair is appreciated and celebrated, this unique hotel delivers authentic designs and experiences with locally curated food and beverage options, and two rooftop pools. You will find Motto by Hilton Tulum nestled in Hunab Lifestyle Center, a lively shopping and dining destination. Learn more about our hotels in Tulum at hilton.com © 2023 Hilton MEETING IN THE MANGROVES Both properties share the only dedicated event center in Tulum. This 50,000-square-foot center located at Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya includes: • Tulkal , the main ballroom with 31,000 square feet of flexible space • Tulkalito, our junior ballroom accommodates 900 attendees and can be divided or used as a prefunction space for larger events in Tulkal • Four meeting rooms, each with 581 square feet, for smaller meetings or breakout sessions • Terraza Coba , a covered terrace for starlight receptionsthemeetingmagazines.com 12 APRIL 2024 | INSURANCE & FINANCIAL MEETINGS MANAGEMENT C orporate America is struggling. Few are able to demonstrate a track record of consistently dependable and profitable growth. This makes all parties — boards, C-suite leaders, managers and employ- ees — unhappy. The knee-jerk scapegoat is the external environment (and with a shaky economy and rampant inflation, this certainly feels logical). The labor market is, well … disgruntled. And there’s a long-held suspicion that the short-term financial focus most companies embrace is unhealthy, yet we can’t seem to break the habit. Is there a root cause feeding all this misery? While numerous factors play into the dynamic, a big glaring one is that too many companies are led by executives who’ve drifted far from the Builder mindset (and behavior) that originally made them great. A Builder is someone who behaves like the founder of a company, with a passion to grow by innovating for cus- tomers. Unfortunately, many companies have senior leaders who don’t think like Builders, but like Decorators, with a focus on “curb appeal” and an obsession with the quarterly financial report. That’s a big problem — one that impacts every corner of the organization. As leaders have drifted away from Builder behavior, they’ve started making unforced, self-inflicted errors that are slowing their companies’ growth. Truly in some cases, the company would grow faster and better if their leaders stayed home and did nothing. My book “Business Builders: How to Become an Admired & Trusted Corporate Leader” explains the four categories of leaders — Builders, Remodelers, Decorators and Real- tors. There’s a place for every type of leader — but Build- ers need to be driving the bus. Companies with Builders in charge not only enjoy sustainable growth, but everyone is just happier. When the wrong people are in the wrong seats, of course boards are unhappy with the lack of growth, but employees are unhappy too. Anyone who’s ever worked for, say, a Decorator and then a Builder knows it’s night and day. The whole company feels different. Here’s the thing: It’s not always obvious who’s who — even to the leaders in question. A CEO might think they’re a Builder but may not be seen that way by others. That’s why the book delves into the mindsets of each type of leader and the havoc the wrong ones can wreak — and it’s why I’m offering a quick and easy free assessment at areyoua businessbuilder.com. Here are just a few insights from Business Builders: There’s a dismaying shortage of Builders at the top. While every company was founded by a Builder, our research suggests only one-third to one-half of them are still led by Builders. The following excerpt from Business Builders explains the methodology and results: To avoid bias in our survey, we didn’t use these four terms: Builder, Remodeler, Decorator and Realtor. We didn’t think many leaders would cheerfully identify themselves as a Decorator. Instead, we asked respondents to character- ize the behaviors of their companies’ senior leaders using the four descriptions below. We added our four labels after the survey. • Driving organic growth by delivering differentiated value to customers. (Builder) • Improving operational efficiency through productivity, quality and costs. (Remodeler) • Presenting favorable financial performance and outlook to investors. (Decorator) • Pursuing external alliances, including mergers and acquisitions. (Realtor) We asked survey respondents to identify the primary passion of senior leaders in their company and 53% of senior leaders gave themselves the Builder description, while only 32% of subordinates characterized their senior leaders this way. More subordinates thought of their senior leaders as Remodelers (41%) focused on operational efficiency. There’s a misconception that once a company is | INDUSTRY INSIDER | Your Company Was Founded by a Builder… But Who’s in Charge Now? BY DAN ADAMS LEADERSHIP INSURANCE & FINANCIAL MEETINGS MANAGEMENT | APRIL 2024themeetingmagazines.com 13 established, it can be safely handed over to other types of leaders. But no company facing competition can maintain profitable growth without aggressively meeting customers’ changing needs. The need for Builder behavior NEVER goes away. Non- builder leaders CAN coast for a long time before the company descends into mediocrity, irrelevance or non- existence. Since the descent can take long, a company can be lulled into thinking Builders are no longer needed. This is an illusion. Being a Builder is a mindset, not a fixed reality. Non-Builders can become Builders by embracing the right beliefs and acting on them. A Builder’s corner- stone belief is a commitment to the “first duty:” Leave your business stronger than you found it. All stakeholders — shareholders, employees, customers, suppliers and communities — benefit when a company’s growth is not just strong and profitable, but also sustain- able. When growth is just unsustainable window dressing, only opportunistic leaders and opportunistic investors ben- efit. When CEOs live for their retirement, without a thought for the lives their decisions impact, they’ve betrayed their first duty and forsaken the Builder mindset. Maximizing shareholder wealth is NOT a worthy goal. GE’s Jack Welch is the prime example of a CEO who focused on this goal in the 80s and 90s, engaging in an intense combination of downsizing, outsourcing, offshoring and “financial engineering.” It worked — for the short-term. But 20 years after Welch’s 2001 retirement, GE’s value was at a quarter of its peak — and the company’s previous repu- tation for manufacturing leadership, employee loyalty and growth was in shambles. Research shows that maximizing shareholder wealth is a lousy goal. It’s not inspiring to employees, quite the opposite. And when you look at how the stock price of a publicly traded company is valued — with 95% being based on expectations of future growth — it’s not hard to see that the short-term focus non-Builders take defies investor logic. Market-facing innovation MUST be your primary focus. Simply put, if you aren’t continuously working to deliver superior, differentiated value to customers, your products and services become inter- changeable with those of your com- petitors. You end up being forced to compete on price — and you fall into the “Commodity Death Spiral.” The only way to avoid this fate is to direct most of your resources into market- facing innovation. Companies that prize market- facing innovation tend to be headed up by Builders. Non-builders tend to put their energies and funding toward things like quality improvements or cost reductions or building a power- house salesforce. These may be fine secondary initiatives, but market- facing innovation isn’t an initiative you turn off and on. Understanding and meeting market needs should define your company. Too many leaders suffer from first-domino fixation — and worse: first-domino amnesia! They take an action thinking they’re tipping just one domino, but there’s always another that tips later. Promote Builders. Put everyone else in a supporting role. When you leave a Decorator in charge — someone who is constantly trying to improve the company but lacks pas- sion or an end goal — you’re failing to inspire employees, and you’re chasing away future Builders. Don’t fire those who aren’t Builders; they can still improve operational effi- ciency, make acquisitions or help you look good on Wall Street. You need them, but in supporting roles. You can’t afford to hesitate with changes at the senior leadership level, but you can take more time with middle management. Give them a chance to show what they can do. Establish new measures of success, starting with their “duty” to leave their business stronger than they found it. When the Builder mindset predominates, it becomes much easier to take the other vital steps, like creating a growth capabilities roadmap and seeking out long-term-growth- minded investors. I’ve seen billion-dollar businesses completely reinvent themselves in this manner. It’s not easy, and it takes several years. But as a leader, you won’t be on your own. You’ll have many very motivated employees coming alongside to join you. I & FMM Dan Adams is the founder of The AIM Institute and author of the books Business Builders and New Product Blueprinting, as well as the blog Awkward Realities and video series B2B Organic Growth. He is a chemical engineer with a listing in the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Adams has trained tens of thousands of B2B professionals globally in the front end of innovation and works with senior executives on driving profitable, sustainable growth. For more information, please visit theaiminstitute.com. If you aren’t continuously working to deliver superior, differentiated value to customers, your products and services become interchangeable with those of your competitors. | THE AUTHOR |I S P I R E D LONG ON STAGE AT THE TERRACE THEATRETHREE AMAZING “TURNKEY” EVENT SPACES WITH SAVINGS OF OVER $1 MILLION Soft, shimmering lights. Bright electric nights. This city chic, walkable beach town rocks from sun up to past sun down with a dynamic downtown brimming with a vibrant nightlife and oceanfront eateries. Create transformative experiences with our ready-to-go meeting solutions — sophisticated spaces to forge lasting connections, decorative chandeliers and built-in, programmable lights, a cool collection of décor and stylish furniture with any type of seating you can imagine and save up to $1,000,000 . A meeting in Long Beach changes everything. Let’s meet now. meetlb.com@VisitLB BEACHReaching New Heights BY MAURA KELLER F rom the expansive summits of Vail Mountain in Colorado to the towering pines of Colorado Springs, mountain meetings offer attendees the chance to experience nature at its best, all while getting down to business. Undoubtedly, there is a richness of scenery created by 14,000-foot peaks tower- ing over stunning lodges and contemporary resorts. Hosting meetings and events in alpine communities offers attendees a vast array of outdoor experiences. In the summertime, this may mean hitting the links at a resort that is at the base of a stunning mountain range or ziplining along mountain ridges and valleys. In the winter, it may include a wide variety of skiing and winter sports adventures. For many planners, when they think of hosting an event in a mountainous area, Colorado comes to mind. And rightfully so. From Denver to Aurora to Colorado Springs, the state is the “go to” favorite among mountain resort aficionados. While Denver’s urban flair complements in Rocky Mountain presence, the city also provides exceptional meeting and event experiences. Just ask Gretchen Bliss, event producer for the Healthcare Financial Management Association Annual Conference, held in Denver in 2022. The HFMA Annual Conference is the premier event in healthcare finance, drawing more than 3,000 attendees from across the nation and offering strategy-focused general sessions, more than 70 educational sessions and multiple content tracks VISIT COLORADO SPRINGS | VENUE SELECTION | themeetingmagazines.com 16 APRIL 2024 | INSURANCE & FINANCIAL MEETINGS MANAGEMENT MEETING IN THE MOUNTAINSover four days. “VISIT Denver and the destina- tion is top notch,” Bliss says. “Our attendees loved the ease of the Colorado Conven- tion Center, the walk- ability of the hotels and all of the energy in the city. VISIT Denver and the Colorado Convention Center staff are a great team to partner with. They were incredibility responsive and many times anticipated my needs before I did.” Denver is an outdoor city with spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains and plenty of urban adventures for all ages. Meeting attendees enjoy exploring The Mile High City’s farm-to-table cuisine, local craft breweries and unique live music venues like the famous Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre. In the two years since HFMA held its conference in Den- ver, the Mile High City has experienced exciting advance- ments and additions to its meetings and events offerings. Opening in spring 2024, the Populus at Civic Center Park is the first carbon positive hotel thanks to its sustainable design and construction and its commitment to plant the amount of trees equivalent to 5,000 acres of forest. Situated in the heart of Denver’s Belleview Station, the Kimpton Claret Hotel will also be opening in 2024 and will feature 10,000 sf of meeting and event space. The hotel’s 19th floor rooftop bar will be a great place for small groups to gather and enjoy the dramatic 180-degree views of the Rocky Mountains. The Denver Coliseum is a favorite venue for large-scale events, and the current renovations will add a significant number of new spaces trade shows, conventions, corporate events, concerts and festivals, to name a few. More than 2 million sf of indoor and outdoor space is being developed, including 20 acres of public plazas and flex- ible stockyards. And the much- celebrated expansion of the Colorado Convention Center has captured the attention of meeting and event professionals across the country. The expan- sion features 80,000 sf of flexible meeting and ballroom space, plus 35,000 sf of pre-function space and a 20,000 sf outdoor terrace located on the building’s roof. COLORADO SPRINGS Nestled at the foot of Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs is the epitome of a classic mountain town. Here, the majestic Rocky Mountains bring a sense of adventure to this vibrant city. Not only does Colorado Springs exude a sense of natural beauty that truly “wows” but it offers a diverse range of experiences that will leave an indelible mark on event attendees. And the Broadmoor is one quintessential mountain resort that’s offers the idyllic mountain resort experience. In the summer, the resort’s award-winning, championship golf courses are teeming with activity. For those non-golfers in a group, the Broadmoor features 5,000 acres where attendees can experience falconry, mountain biking, rock climbing, fly fishing and Wild West experiences aplenty. The resort also features awe-inspiring spa and fitness options for those attendees who may not be golf aficionados. In the winter, attendees can enjoy the winter outdoor adventures, includ- ing hiking and skiing. Or go zip lining at the resort’s Seven Falls, where attendees can experience views of snow- VISIT DENVER COURTESY OF THE BROADMOOR INSURANCE & FINANCIAL MEETINGS MANAGEMENT | APRIL 2024themeetingmagazines.com 17 The Mile High City is a great mix of urban sophistication and natural beauty. (Below): The historic Broadmoor’s Seven Falls in Colorado Springs is perfect for seeing wildlife.SO MANY WAYS TO MEET, ALL IN ONE MAGNIFICENT PLACE. Only The Broadmoor offers so many distinct venues and experiences of all sizes and types. From impressive trade shows at Bartolin Hall to executive dinners. From grand reception halls to eclectic lakeside cocktails at sunset. From state-of-the-art meeting rooms to secluded brainstorming sessions at Cloud Camp 3,000 feet above the main campus. You’ll find all of it and more within our over 315,000 square feet of meeting space, connected by a thread of quality, service and meticulous attention to detail. Visit broadmoor.com and contact us today to explore the wonderful possibilities. 844.205.1730 BROADMOOR.COM1 LAKE AVENUE, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80906 covered canyons. And while Colorado Springs certainly is a haven for out- door enthusiasts, the city also provides many other attrac- tions including delicious local eateries, inspiring cultural events and charming art galleries and boutiques. When it comes time to gather as a group, the resort’s elegant Cheyenne Lodge is teeming with pure coziness, and the outdoor patio showcases breathtaking views of the surrounding area and is the ideal spot for presentations, meetings or cocktail hours. “The Institute for Credentialing Excellence (I.C.E.) has held our annual conference at The Broadmoor twice in the past several years,” says Denise Roosendaal, CAE, FASAE, executive director at the Institute for Credentialing Excel- lence. “The amazing meeting facility, incredible hospitality, and beautiful surroundings has been a crowd pleaser each time. I look forward to bringing the conference back to The Broadmoor in the future.” With its newly completed trade show and exhibition hall, the Broadmoor features more than 300,000 sf of event space. This means that small and large conferences, as well as trade shows and conventions can be held in this magnifi- cent venue. The facility will features 32 breakout rooms, providing additional areas to hold smaller sessions. Also in Colorado Springs is the much-anticipated Hotel Polaris, expected to open at the end of 2024. The new hotel is located at the U.S. Air Force Academy near Colorado Springs. With 26,000 sf of meeting space, as well as 375 guest rooms, the Hotel Polaris will be a welcoming mountain escape at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in the shadow of legendary Pikes Peak. In addition to Colorado Springs and Denver, Colorado’s Vail Valley also offers an array of meeting options. Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa features over 20,000 sf of flexible indoor and outdoor meeting and event space. Located at the base of Beaver Creek Mountain means that attendees can enjoy ski-in/ski-out amenities. In addition, for events held during the winter, groups can enjoy snowshoe- ing and snowmobiling, while warm months offer fly fishing, river rafting and 4x4 adventure rides. As one of the preeminent alpine resorts in the U.S., Vail also offers an array of meeting and event venues options throughout Vail’s alpine villages. Classic, yet contemporary environs provide a memorable backdrop for meeting and dining experiences throughout the resort. One of the most idyllic dining experiences, for up to 300 attendees for a buffet dinner or up to 400 for a cocktail reception, is at the Eagles Nest. This spot offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountain ranges, and in the summer months, attendees can enjoy gathering on the expansive outdoor deck. Of course, no meeting or event held in Vail would be complete without attendees embarking on the many sum- mer and winter activities. From skiing to mountain biking, from cultural events to world-class shopping, Vail is an all- encompassing experience for events of all sizes. AURORA, COLORADO As the up-and-coming destination for “all things moun- tain experiences,” Aurora, CO is proving to be the ideal place to host a meeting or event. In fact, Aurora is fast becoming a premier destination for convention and business events. Overall, the city offers more than 1 million sf of meeting space, including convention centers, resorts and hotels. In addition, the city prides itself on offering some very unique meeting places, including breweries, rooftop decks and retired airplane hangars. In fact, The Hangar is one of the area’s largest indoor and outdoor venue, featuring the origi- nal hangar’s design elements, including steel beams, large wooden wire spools and polished concrete floors. One of the “must see” spots for attendees to explore is Aurora’s Stanley Marketplace. A former aviation factory, this marketplace is teeming with locally owned businesses, shops, eateries, a brewery and galleries. In addition, Aurora boasts a cultural arts district and various historical sites that will entice attendees during their free time. And it’s in the cultural arts district where planners will discover the People’s Building, a unique venue that offers 3,000 sf of flex- ible meeting and event space. For a unique team-building experience, Cre- ate Kitchen and Bar offers a variety of private cooking classes and a full-service bar where attendees can socialize while sipping some unique concoctions. JACKSON HOLE, WY Every year, millions of visitors explore Jackson Hole as it is located on the doorstep of two monumental national themeetingmagazines.com 18 APRIL 2024 | INSURANCE & FINANCIAL MEETINGS MANAGEMENT Denise Roosendaal, CAE, FASAE, Executive Director, Institute for Credentialing Excellence The amazing meeting facility, incredible hospitality, and beautiful surroundings has been a crowd pleaser each time. COURTESY OF THE BROADMOOR Located 75-minutes west of The Broadmoor, along Colorado’s Tarryall River, Fly Fishing Camp is a private retreat that pairs world-class fishing with The Broadmoor’s exceptional standards of hospitality.SO MANY WAYS TO MEET, ALL IN ONE MAGNIFICENT PLACE. Only The Broadmoor offers so many distinct venues and experiences of all sizes and types. From impressive trade shows at Bartolin Hall to executive dinners. From grand reception halls to eclectic lakeside cocktails at sunset. From state-of-the-art meeting rooms to secluded brainstorming sessions at Cloud Camp 3,000 feet above the main campus. You’ll find all of it and more within our over 315,000 square feet of meeting space, connected by a thread of quality, service and meticulous attention to detail. Visit broadmoor.com and contact us today to explore the wonderful possibilities. 844.205.1730 BROADMOOR.COM1 LAKE AVENUE, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80906Next >