HOTEL BUSINESS REVIEW

September FOCUS: Hotel Group Meetings

In our post-pandemic hospitality landscape, conference and meeting hosts have high expectations. How can hotels provide experiences that keep guests talking long after they've returned to their everyday lives? In this article, Taryn Fontenette, director of catering and conference services at The Hotel at the University of Maryland, shares several strategies to elevate your next event through personalization and creativity. READ MORE

Ideally situated in the heart of Fort Worth's Cultural District, The Crescent Hotel ¬– debuting in late September 2023 – will boast more than 14,000 square feet of special event space across 10 unique venues, featuring a mix of indoor and outdoor spaces, perfect for galas, corporate meetings, special events and legendary celebrations. READ MORE

  • Group Travel Today

Groups today are looking to go beyond the boardroom by visiting hotels and resorts that offer unique experiences for corporate travelers, whether it's for team building activities, incentive travel, or group retreats. Properties now must look at providing experiential offerings that speak to the destination and provide a sense of place, boast authentic dining and culinary offerings, or provide unique wellbeing experiences that go beyond your typical hotel spa menu. READ MORE

In-person meetings are back. After years of virtual events, meeting organizers and attendees are used to the perks of meeting online. So that means there's a new normal hotel group managers need to adopt: hybrid meetings. Explore the pros and cons of hybrid events, their challenges, and how the right event tech can mitigate them. READ MORE

After an attempt of virtual events and hybrid meetings, the enthusiastic return of in-person conferences, conventions, and incentives has felt like a homecoming for many in hospitality. While virtual engagement has benefits, there is nothing that can truly replace the power of in-person events for collaboration, relationship building, and fostering a sense of community. Events are returning and better than before. READ MORE

When it comes to meetings and events visionaries, beware of vested interests overstating the role of technology. Of course, it is important, of course it has a role. But humanity will always outweigh technology. Whatever innovation arrives, nothing but nothing will ever beat the primal need to meet. This article explains why, and the clear balance you need to strike READ MORE

Vice President of Sales for the Westgate Resorts collection, Michael Luther, speaks to the world-class facilities, experiences, and amenities combined with an ideal location right off the Las Vegas Strip that make Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino the top choice for any event or meeting and provides guests with a true taste of all that Nevada has to offer. READ MORE

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More from our online Library Archives...

Kimberly Wilson

Focusing on the ideal that "change creates opportunity," corporate travelers should view the setbacks they have faced since the onset of the pandemic as unique openings to innovate the way they engage with clients and do business, from conducting smarter meetings – and who should be involved in those – to making shrewd budgeting decisions and more. READ MORE

Jed Arrogante

Entering this new era of public health, hotels and destinations are required to take precautionary steps to accommodate safe gathering spaces, with outdoor group meetings serving as the perfect solution. The destination of Carlsbad, California has recently put efforts in place to provide hosted groups with more opportunities for outdoor meetings that maintain health and safety precautions. Jed Arrogante, Business Development Manager at Visit Carlsbad, reflects on best practices as well as the benefits of outdoor group meetings. READ MORE

Coming up in October 2023...

Hotel Revenue Management: The Age of Big Data


The future of hotel revenue management lies in the adoption of ever more sophisticated software and technology, especially as it pertains to forecasting and pricing. For revenue professionals, the Age of Big Data has arrived. Managers are utilizing systems that employ leading-edge algorithms and machine learning, along with business analytics and data visualization tools. These tools communicate complex information more effectively, allowing managers to understand the key components driving demand and revenue. They have the ability to analyze real-time external and internal data, produce reports, and integrate information - all on a single platform - in order to improve performance. Managers are also utilizing  geographic information systems (GIS) which incorporate geographic data into forecasting. GIS also help decision-makers identify information in a visual way that cannot be detected through traditional data analysis. The October issue of the Hotel Business Review will report on how some hotels are integrating Big Data into their revenue management strategies.