Apr 11, 2019
Wine regions around the country have many beautiful hotels and gorgeous convention spaces to choose from. But when you’re searching for a more unique corporate event venue, perhaps for a board retreat, more unusual locales can fit the bill. Check out these five inspiring locations — with outstanding vino, to boot.
Benziger Family Winery
When Heather Pilcher of Blue Spark Event Design was searching for a unique venue for a makeup/skincare client based in New York City, she turned to this winery in Sonoma for its wine cave. Held last May, the event included a happy hour, a three-course plated… more
Apr 04, 2019
Implementing sustainable practices isn’t just good for the environment, it’s also good for business, as many convention centers have discovered. According to the 2017 Green Venue Report (the 2018 report has not yet been released), event venues are saving millions of dollars each year thanks to sustainability upgrades through energy, waste or water conservation programs.
Energy tracking for events is also improving, with 88 percent of venues surveyed reporting doing so. Yet technology is constantly changing, and what was good (or good enough) a few years ago is likely behind the times now.… more
Mar 29, 2019
In late February, I had the opportunity to tour a little bit of Japan on the “Meet Japan” trip hosted by Japan National Tourism Organization. In addition to Tokyo Marunouchi, I visited Yokohoma and Matsue. The two cities couldn’t be more different, aside from the fact that both offer subsidies for groups of a certain size bringing international visitors to Japan. Seeing them both helped paint a larger picture of the diversity and unique culture, traditions and venues available within this fascinating country.
Yokohama
A mere 40 minutes by bus, train or car from central Tokyo, and less than… more
Mar 27, 2019
Tokyo, Japan’s capital, is one of the most heavily populated cities in the world. Home to approximately 37 million people, it’s no wonder the city has the modern infrastructure to host such events as the 2020 Olympics.
Yet the city also successfully blends old with new. In the midst of urban areas, you will find tranquil Buddhist temples, such as Sensō-ji, and Shinto shrines, like Kanda Myōjin and Meiji Jingū, all spiritual sanctuaries where people still come to worship and pray for good fortune.
Tokyo is made up of business districts, each of which have their own unique character.… more
Mar 21, 2019
Back in the ‘50s, it wasn’t unusual to spot celebrities like John Wayne and Lucille Ball lounging by the pool at Sportsmen’s Lodge. Being located 15 miles from downtown L.A. in nearby Studio City had the same advantages then as it does now — seclusion, lots of greenery, and precious peace and quiet. That’s a big part of why the property draws small corporate meetings (it can accommodate groups of up to 100 comfortably), and its boutique nature lends flexibility that event professionals love.
Zee Bell, the hotel’s highly personable director of catering and group sales, is particularly… more
Mar 20, 2019
Fresh off a massive $620 million renovation completed in 2018, the LEED-certified Miami Beach Convention Center is an incredible place for large groups to convene in The Magic City. Yet if you’re a smaller corporate group, the 1.4-million-square-foot space might just swallow you up whole — or at least feel a bit overwhelming.
Following a recent trip to the sunny destination, we’ve rounded up some our favorite, more intimate venues for meeting in Miami.
For a Downtown Feel
W Miami boardroomIf your group loves being in the middle of the action (or you’re in the financial industry and want to… more
Mar 13, 2019
The $130 million, 250,000-square-foot expansion of MGM Grand Conference Center is now complete, meaning MGM Resorts now offers a total of 4 million square feet of meeting and convention space on the Las Vegas Strip. (For reference, that’s more than all the convention space in Manhattan combined.)
“With our expansion, upgraded amenities, new outdoor space and user-friendly connectivity packages, we provide our convention customers an enhanced meeting experience with more options,” said Ernest Stovall, vice president of Sales for MGM Grand.
He continued, “I’m proud that many of our clients… more
Mar 08, 2019
Venue management and hospitality company Spectra will become the new provider of venue management for Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas, effective April 1. This marks the first time in the center’s history that it will be run by a private operator.
The City of Dallas City Council unanimously approved this partnership. Spectra will focus on short-term bookings, taking over a role historically maintained by City of Dallas employees. Visit Dallas will emphasize bookings 18 months out or more at KBHCCD, in addition to other venues in the city.
“Partnering with Spectra is going to… more
Mar 05, 2019
You could say the team members behind MAD Event Management are masters of creativity. Based in Warwick, New York, they’re owners and operators of several large pop culture conventions, from Long Beach Comic Expo to C3: Comic Creator Conference. As such, they’re frequently managing events that involve large numbers of attendees dressed in costume, as well as in-depth education sessions designed to help high-level comics creatives learn and grow in the industry.
Yet for its latest challenge, MAD stepped into a similar, yet different role in a new location: Havana, Cuba. Working with the… more
Mar 04, 2019
The University of Alabama at Birmingham is celebrating its golden anniversary this year with the addition of a new on-campus flagship hotel with event space. Hilton Birmingham at UAB opened its doors on Jan. 31.
In November of 2016, UAB purchased the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Birmingham. The property was closed in March 2018 for a multimillion-dollar transformation, renovating and rebranding to reflect both the Hilton brand and the university’s spirit.
“The transformation has been extraordinary,” said Lisa Castagna, general manager, Hilton Birmingham at UAB.
She added, “It’s been a… more
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is more