< PreviousEVERYTHING YOU EXPECT. MORE THAN YOU IMAGINE.1-800-722-2449 A TRANSFORMING EXPERIENCE AWAITS AT THE ROYAL Step inside this legendary property and be captivated by the all-new design. Whether you want to relax in one of our newly renovated rooms, play in our reimagined casino, or enjoy a meal prepared by one of our three Michelin-starred chefs, there’s nothing better than bonding and team building in Paradise.themeetingmagazines.com 12 JUNE 2024 | INSURANCE & FINANCIAL MEETINGS MANAGEMENT W hat do you do when you walk into an organization as the new leader and the organization is struggling with trust and morale issues from both employees and customers, recruit- ment and retention challenges, and reduced productivity? That was what faced me as the new chief executive of my organization. My solution was different than many leaders and considered risky and ill-advised by all but a few. I focused on encouraging and supporting the employees of the organization — as people. This meant getting to know something about them — their jobs, their concerns and their lives as people beyond work. The employees’ trust had been broken many times over. So, how does a leader build trust and create credibility? To do this, I called on my experiences as an employee. I remembered all too well the feeling I had as an employee — like I didn’t matter, I was just a cog in the wheel. I knew that my words and actions had to match, but even more than that — my intentions had to match, too. I began to walk around the offices and schedule open office time — in person and virtually. I listened and learned. I fielded concerns, new ideas and general complaints. Now, before you say that is not the job of the chief executive, pause a moment and consider the following: Where does the responsibility for the entire orga- nization reside? According to a sign on the desk of President Harry S. Tru- man, “the buck stops here.” So, while CEOs might delegate the gathering of the issues to others, I believe that the responsibil- ity for addressing them sits with the CEO. If you, as the CEO, do not know what these issues are, how can you fix them? | INDUSTRY INSIDER | BY CHERYL L. MASON, J.D. RELATIONAL LEADERSHIP MAKES A REAL DIFFERENCE How Leaders Build Trust and Credibility DEPOSITPHOTOS.COMEmployees who do not believe the CEO cares about their problems will not raise them, instead, they fester and grow. In fact, when employees believe they do not matter at work, it shows in their output. The magnitude of a leader’s impact often extends far beyond what you may comprehend, often affecting people’s lives beyond work. Recent studies from Deloitte, StudyFinds and The Workforce Institute, among many others, indicate that a person’s boss or job often negatively impacts their mental and physical health. I knew that treating employees as people and valuing them also impacts the entire organization from hiring to opera- tions to results. As a new CEO, I needed to hear what the problems and concerns of the employees were, and I wanted to learn more about the employees who worked for me. I discovered that the employees needed technological tools to help with their work, but more importantly, they needed and wanted a leader who believed in and championed them. They found this in me. As a legal organization, there was a long-held belief that lawyers were always the answer. If there was a logistics issue, put a lawyer on it. Technology needs, sure, detail one of the lawyers. Public relations — sure, a lawyer can handle that! Although the organization had a team of lawyers detailed to all these operational areas which pulled them off the primary work, the issues continued to grow. Lawyers are trained to research and advise, implementing usually requires subject matter experts. I found we had few of those. As luck would have it, we did have a subject matter tech- nology expert who was also a lawyer! He suggested some technological enhancements that improved workflow for his colleagues and increased output. He also was instrumental in advising me on hiring the right subject matter experts to further develop our technological innovations. This led to more suggestions and solution-based ideas from the employees, some of which I implemented and gave the employees the credit. I fought for an increase in the bud- get to bring in more technology and hire additional people who could provide the support and assistance the employees and the organization needed. I also championed and acknowledged them by thanking and rewarding them for their hard work and celebrating mile- stones for them and the organization. What happened? I did not crash and burn — as some expected or wanted. This ill-advised leadership approach — relating to and engaging with employees as people — succeeded. Interestingly, results were where we saw the first success, increasing outcomes by 50% in year one of my leadership. Retention, morale and recruitment followed in quick succes- sion, supported by data and surveys. New technological tools combined with increased morale and retention led to results never thought possible — a 100% increase, which held steady during my entire leadership tenure even during a pandemic. The reputation of the organization increased as employees recruited new employees. Customers and stakeholders were pleased. Other organizations began to ask how this happened, what was the secret? The secret ingredient is caring for, relating to and investing in your most valuable resource — your employees. By dedicat- ing time and effort to fostering authentic connections with your employees, you nurture and strengthen your most valu- able assets and demonstrate genuine respect and concern for those important to them. People matter. Here are my take aways: 1. Show your employees that you care for them as people by putting them first — in every aspect of your organi- zation — technology, processes and communications. 2. Listen! Be seen and make yourself available to your employees and talk about life outside work — this was extremely important during the pandemic. 3. Invest your time in and on your most valuable resource — the people of your workforce — from office hours to walkabouts & publicly acknowledge the work and ideas of the employees. And keep doing it over and over again. What I found is the people who work for you want to know that you, their leader, is a human being — a per- son. And they want to know that you care about them as another human being — not just a part of the organizational machine. I & FMM INSURANCE & FINANCIAL MEETINGS MANAGEMENT | JUNE 2024themeetingmagazines.com 13 The secret ingredient is caring for , relating to, and investing in your most valuable resource – your employees. Relational leadership and management authority Cheryl L. Mason, J.D. is a TEDx speaker, author and CEO and Chief Catalyst of Catalyst Leadership Management. As the fourth presidentially-appointed, senate-confirmed — and the first woman and military spouse — to serve as the CEO /Chairman of the VA Board of Veterans’ Appeals, The Honorable Cheryl L. Mason has a proven track record of leading with an impactful morale-boosting, trust-based, people-centric approach. Mason also authored “Dare to Relate: Leading with a Fierce Heart.” She can be reached at catalystleadershipmgmt.com. | THE AUTHOR |PHOTOS COURTESY OF HILTON themeetingmagazines.com 14 JUNE 2024 | INSURANCE & FINANCIAL MEETINGS MANAGEMENT Providing the ROI for Corporate Meetings & Incentive Programs BY CHRISTINE LOOMIS | VENUE SELECTION | UPSCALE RESORTS When it comes to corporate meetings and incentive programs in exotic destinations, Hilton Hotels & Resorts has properties across Mexico and the Caribbean that are sure to entice. The Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya is an all-inclusive resort boasting a 50,000 sf event center. The Hilton Vallarta Riviera offers mountains and ocean views between the beaches of Bahia Banderas and downtown Puerto Vallarta. Hilton Tulum Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa Hilton Cancun Hilton Vallarta RivieraM eeting planners for insurance and finan- cial groups work hard and create ROI opportunities at meetings and events across the country. Upscale resorts are often the ideal setting for strategic meet- ings as well as incentive programs that reward top qualifiers. These gatherings are not indulgent. They’re a critical part of many companies’ growth strategy and a proven incentive to retain employees and keep top producers producing. The western United States is often an ideal setting for meet- ings and incentives, whether the events are purely about rewards or are designed to facilitate corporate strategy, thought leader- ship, team bonding, networking and other meeting objectives. Nancy Lee, senior manager, corporate meetings & events with Arch Insurance Group, has set meetings in Deer Valley, Utah, multiple times. Most recently, the company’s Profes- sional Liability Partner Appreciation Offsite was held at St. Regis Deer Valley in May 2023. Prior to that, the company met in 2018 at Chateaux Deer Valley. Lee says Deer Valley’s location, abundant outdoor activities and lodging were draws for both programs. “Park City is widely considered a desirable destination due to its outdoor beauty and activities, popular resorts, Olympic Park, the prestigious Sundance Film Festi- val and, of course, pristine skiing throughout. It’s not often thought of for meetings; however, the destination is so unique and impressive once you’ve visited.” One thing Lee says planners should be aware of is the potential effect of high altitude on attendees. She advises edu- cating groups in advance. Additionally, she says air travel to the destination can be challenging but has increased in recent years. But she adds, “The inherent inspiration makes up for these elements.” In terms of the resorts, both met her needs. “For 2018, it came down to cost, property location and proximity to Main Street, as well as access to and use of Stein Erikson Lodge. In 2023, this was a client appreciation program and the elegance, service, location and room rate of St. Regis Deer Valley just fit the bill.” The group has made good use of offsite venues and the area’s many activities. “In 2018, we took the management team to High West Nelson Cottage and the full group to High Star Ranch for teambuilding and a dinner. In 2023, we took the group to Riverhorse and also offered individual activities including golf, fly fishing, a mines & wines tour, historical park city walking tour and shopping. But it was really Park City as a destination that was the draw. Ever since my first site visit in 2017, I’ve been promoting Park City. It’s just so beautiful and so different from where most meetings take place and it’s so worth it.” Not surprising, the staff stood out. “The sales personnel at both Chateaux Deer Valley and St. Regis were lovely to work with. The CSM at St. Regis was wonderful and accommodat- ing, and really made our program work. The outdoor firepits at both properties were a big hit, as were the guest-room fire- places. And you just don’t get tired of the views.” Lee also acknowledges Alex Hagn with the Park City Cham- ber of Commerce/Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Alex is such a wealth of knowledge about the destination. He knows every- one at every resort and restaurant, has great customer service, comes prepared with info and documentation you need and will gladly get you any additional information required. I met Alex in 2017 when he conducted my first site visit of both properties and the destination. We’ve kept in touch ever since and he again conducted my site visits for our 2023 program. Even my sourc- ing partners have commented on how wonderful he is. He really makes your visit worthwhile so shout out to him and the Park City Chamber of Commerce/Convention & Visitors Bureau.” While services at both resorts were excellent, Lee says the St. Regis really stood out — especially when a problem arose just prior to the first session on the first day. “I was advised by my executive vice president 40 minutes before the start of the session that our corporate trainer didn’t make it in the night before. He was to lead the entire day’s session for our internal attendees for which pre-work was assigned and completed and the results were being discussed. We quickly approached Encore to see if it was possible to pivot to a webinar at best, but really wanting and needing a two-way interactive virtual COURTESY OF HIGH STAR RANCHCOURTESY OF NANCY LEE The Arch Insurance Group has taken their group to offsite venues such as The High Star Ranch in Kamas, UT, where they held many team-building activities during the day and sat by a fire pit at night, which was a big hit among the group. INSURANCE & FINANCIAL MEETINGS MANAGEMENT | JUNE 2024themeetingmagazines.com 15session. I couldn’t have been more impressed with how quickly, and pleasantly, Encore was able to implement the two-way virtual session all within 30 minutes! That was a big win. My executive was so relieved and pleased, as we all were.” Arizona is a western state offering a compelling combina- tion of engaging cities, rich and diverse culture and the dra- matic backdrop of the Sonoran Desert. It’s often the destina- tion of choice for meetings and incentives, especially in winter months when much of the country is buried in snow. Lisa Jeans, the managing director of leadership adminis- tration with CLA, held an owner meeting for 350 at the Phoe- nician in Scottsdale, AZ, in the winter. She says the Phoenix area’s weather and abundance of direct flights from across the country make it perfect for a January meeting. Every- thing took place on resort property with the exception of an afternoon of networking when offsite activities were offered. “The Phoenician is a spectacular resort. It’s all luxury and has everything you could possibly imagine onsite. We always do a golf outing, along with buying out the spa, so golf and spa are a must for this particular event. We bought out the golf course for an afternoon, and the golf staff took care of every single detail. They made it incredibly easy for me as the planner and for the golfers. Our golfers love the course.” Jeans says a number of attendees enjoyed the spa before and/or after the meeting, but the company also used it as an important networking opportunity. “Many of our attendees said it was one of the best spas they’ve been to,” Jeans notes. Perhaps most important, Jeans calls the entire process from RFP to the site visit to the planning a great experience. “And once we were onsite, the Phoenician team took great care of our attendees. It was such a success that I immediately booked the same event at The Phoenician for 2028, which is the next time it will be out West,” she says. Her best advice to planners considering the resort is to book early. “It’s a very popular resort for leisure and group busi- ness, so booking early is key. Being flexible with dates is key with this property as well, especially if you can’t book a year or two (or three) out. If you’re looking for a luxury property out West that has all the amenities, The Phoenician is the answer. They make it very easy for planners, and attendees will ask to return,” she adds. Another global insurance group also chose Scottsdale for an incentive program. The President’s Award event, set at the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa in Spring of 2025, will draw two waves of 600 attendees from across the nation and planning is well underway. A.S., CMP, cites the weather, good airlift and a robust infrastructure for large groups as determining factors, but also notes that the topnotch culinary program and long tenure and dedication of the hotel staff also impacted her decision to book this hotel. She calls the decision relatively easy. “The promise of warmth, sun and little to no rain helped sway my decision,” she says. “Having ample indoor space for backup in case it’s too warm was also important. And having a tremendous number of talented industry professionals in this area is also a big draw.” The group will use nearby restaurants for dinners, and A.S. says having high-quality options open to buyouts and servic- ing groups is imperative. “We need six to eight places of simi- lar caliber and ample seating within 20 minutes of the hotel. In some destinations this is hard to find, but not in Scottsdale. There are so many choices. We’ll also look to use one of the many offsite venues available for a full-group event. It seems like there are new options popping up every day, so I’m not worried about finding the right one.” As for the resort, A.S. says, “Camelback Inn Resort has the intimacy of a boutique hotel, but with 453 rooms and a themeetingmagazines.com 16 JUNE 2024 | INSURANCE & FINANCIAL MEETINGS MANAGEMENT Scan QR code to learn more! EXPERIENCE MEETING IN PARADISE Give your attendees the gift of once-in-a-lifetime memories. With everything bundled together in one convenient price, planning just got easier—and more extraordinary. Rooms Meeting Space (ft 2 ) Restaurants & Lounges MEXICO Hilton Cancun, an All-Inclusive Resort 71568,00012 Hilton Cancun Mar Caribe All-Inclusive Resort 5403,87012 Hilton Playa del Carmen, an All-Inclusive Adult Only Resort 5246,7958 The Yucatan Playa del Carmen All-Inclusive Resort, Tapestry Collection by Hilton 60 Inquire with Hotel 4 Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya All-Inclusive Resort73563,66913 Hilton Vallarta Riviera All-Inclusive Resort 44416,20014 CARIBBEAN Hilton La Romana, an All-Inclusive Resort (Dominican Republic) 77417,18310 Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa (Jamaica) 49514,6476 Mangrove Beach Corendon Curaçao All-Inclusive Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton. (Curaçao) 3997,5029 The Rif at Mangrove Beach Corendon Curaçao All-Inclusive Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton (Curaçao) 3857,5027 COMING SOON Zemi Miches All-Inclusive Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton (Dominican Republic) Coming late 2024 50220,0009 EXPLORE OUR PORTFOLIO OF ALL-INCLUSIVE RESORTS. DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM COURTESY OF MGM RESORTS PHOTO BY ANTHONY MAIR / COURTESY OF MGM RESORTS When it comes to luxury, many planners head to Las Vegas, NV where the options seem endless. MGM Resorts offers high-end locales such as ARIA, The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas and The Bellagio, each with plenty of amenities and meeting space. The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas Resorts Ironwood Terrace at ARIA The Bellagio Scan QR code to learn more! EXPERIENCE MEETING IN PARADISE Give your attendees the gift of once-in-a-lifetime memories. With everything bundled together in one convenient price, planning just got easier—and more extraordinary. Rooms Meeting Space (ft 2 ) Restaurants & Lounges MEXICO Hilton Cancun, an All-Inclusive Resort 71568,00012 Hilton Cancun Mar Caribe All-Inclusive Resort 5403,87012 Hilton Playa del Carmen, an All-Inclusive Adult Only Resort 5246,7958 The Yucatan Playa del Carmen All-Inclusive Resort, Tapestry Collection by Hilton 60 Inquire with Hotel 4 Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya All-Inclusive Resort73563,66913 Hilton Vallarta Riviera All-Inclusive Resort 44416,20014 CARIBBEAN Hilton La Romana, an All-Inclusive Resort (Dominican Republic) 77417,18310 Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa (Jamaica) 49514,6476 Mangrove Beach Corendon Curaçao All-Inclusive Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton. (Curaçao) 3997,5029 The Rif at Mangrove Beach Corendon Curaçao All-Inclusive Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton (Curaçao) 3857,5027 COMING SOON Zemi Miches All-Inclusive Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton (Dominican Republic) Coming late 2024 50220,0009 EXPLORE OUR PORTFOLIO OF ALL-INCLUSIVE RESORTS.20,000 sf ballroom. The western town event space at the base of Mummy Mountain is charming. Pool improvements and spa renovations are also compelling — I can’t wait to see it all.” That’s important because the program will include spa and golf. “Attendees select two out of three days of activity offerings, and spa and golf always sell out,” she adds. A.S. encourages planners to build downtime into their agendas so attendees can relax and enjoy the resort’s desert vibe, and to have plenty of sun protection and water readily available. Finally, she suggests, “When appropriate for the group, use Uber and Lyft, which are ample in this destination and give attendees autonomy and flexibility on their travel plans while also saving budget dollars.” Pinnacol Assurance is a Colorado company, so events are typically set at Colorado resorts. For all its mountain rugged- ness and rustic options, Colorado has no lack of upscale resorts and hotels. Many are in the state’s well-known, and deservedly lauded, mountain towns, including Vail, Aspen and Telluride. But Amanda Crocker, CMP, manager of special events & com- munity affairs with Pinnacol Assurance, booked the company’s Summer 2023 meeting and retreat for 25 at Garden of the Gods Resort & Club in Colorado Springs, CO, overlooking the spec- tacular Garden of the Gods Park — arguably one of the most dramatically visual city parks in the country. The resort has a focus on wellness, recently completed an extensive renovation, reopened its restaurant overlooking the park, and features a spa and golf course among many other amenities. Being in the mountains is great, Crocker says, but she points to the challenges that come with getting to and from mountain resorts, including weather, road closures and the infamous congestion that can bring traffic to a standstill at certain times on I-70, the route from Denver to most moun- tain towns. Instead, she chose a resort on the very edge of the mountains, an easy drive from Denver International Airport and an even easier drive from the state’s second busiest air- port, Colorado Springs Airport. She lists ambience, rate and the distance from Denver as primary draws for setting the meeting at Garden of the Gods Resort & Club. “We’re headquartered in Denver, so to drive just one to 1.5 hours to Colorado Springs is an ideal distance — not too far but well out of Denver. Garden of the Gods Resort is a good fit for us as it gives our team access to nature and the ability to meet both outside and inside. The resort offers fantastic views and a great location.” The group used the resort’s meeting space as well as its preferred AV vendor, catering and restaurants. In terms of offsites, there were outdoor dinners and Crocker says the group held a team-building event at nearby Cave of the Winds Mountain Park, which features the natural caves for which it’s named as well as a challenge course at the edge of a 600-foot- deep canyon, zip lines, climbing walls, a Via Ferrata route and the aptly named Terror-dactyl ride, among other things. From planning to executing the meeting, Crocker says she faced absolutely no challenges at Garden of the Gods Resort & Club. “It backs right up to the moun- tains without the hassle of I-70. You get the beau- tiful views and also ease of access.” Across the country, groups can find many destinations with stunning upscale resorts that provide companies with exactly what they need, whether that be an appropriate and memorable reward for incentive qualifiers, or a place well equipped to help corporate groups meet or exceed critical goals and objectives. These are just four excellent options. Where will you meet next? I & FMM themeetingmagazines.com 18 JUNE 2024 | INSURANCE & FINANCIAL MEETINGS MANAGEMENT HERE, EVENTS ARE COLLABORATIVE AND CONNECTED In the center of the Las Vegas Strip sits a connected luxury resort experience, designed to bring your business event to the next level. Here, you’ll enjoy: - Six luxury resorts that includes an interior bridge for a seamless attendee experience - Ability to accommodate a 5,000 peak guest room block - Over 20 distinctly unique venues - Four theaters/arenas Book your next event at a venue that caters to your every need. Visit MGMResorts.com. COURTESY PHOTOS For planners seeking a mountain getaway, not far from Scottsdale, AZ, is The Phoenician, nestled at the base of Camelback Mountain. Or perhaps the Rocky Mountains is more convenient. The Garden of the Gods Resort & Club is located beneath Pikes Peak, a National Historic Landmark. Lisa Jeans Managing Director Leadership Administration CLA We need six to eight places of similar caliber and ample seating within 20 minutes of the hotel. In some destinations this is hard to find, but not in Scottsdale. There are so many choices. HERE, EVENTS ARE COLLABORATIVE AND CONNECTED In the center of the Las Vegas Strip sits a connected luxury resort experience, designed to bring your business event to the next level. Here, you’ll enjoy: - Six luxury resorts that includes an interior bridge for a seamless attendee experience - Ability to accommodate a 5,000 peak guest room block - Over 20 distinctly unique venues - Four theaters/arenas Book your next event at a venue that caters to your every need. Visit MGMResorts.com.Next >