When planning an event, the venue is vital to creating an engaging experience for attendees. A meeting space is no longer a place for people to sit and listen to someone talking on stage; it's an opportunity to engage and transport attendees with a memorable and creative atmosphere. To cut through the "predictability," it pays to choose a fresh space that break from convention. Because client entertainment is an important part of doing business, we've identified five venue categories that work as stand-alone experiences or as part of multi-event programs to meet relationship-building, client education and ROI-generating event goals. READ MORE

As meeting planners strive to integrate unusual settings into their events, more and more business is being driven away from hotels and resorts in favor of off-site venues such as zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens and museums. For our industry, it presents both a challenge and an opportunity to evolve our business in a way that meets the needs of meeting planners' shifting priorities. The way to maintain their business on-property is to adapt with creative, inventive ways to ensure hotels are just as authentic to their destination as any of these alternate sites. READ MORE

There is a new breed of traveler emerging, one that places importance on social responsibility, environmental responsibility and overall sustainable travel. This shift in the marketplace will undoubtedly encourage hospitality companies to analyze their current practices and see how they measure up. Legacy Vacation Resorts was seeking a way to do just that and subsequently became a Certified B Corporation. Now, leadership is hoping to use their conscious business model to inspire other companies in the industry and beyond to utilize their business as a force for good and focus on a triple bottom line of serving people, the planet and profit. READ MORE

Jeff Hart, General Manager of the Los Angeles Airport Marriott explores the evolution of airport hotels in 2019 and discusses ways in which the properties can "take off." From challenges to opportunities, Hart gives a 360-degree look at the operations of an airport property and provides tactical advice to elevate offerings and stand out amongst competition. According to hart and the team at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott, 2019 is the year of the airport hotel, and now is the time for properties to look at the ways (small or large) in which they can level up their spaces, offerings and approach. READ MORE

Offsite events in the hospitality industry have become increasingly popular. While these vary in the kinds of activities and venues involved, all of them require some advance consideration of the risks that may arise. For example, some events may involve a greater danger of possible physical injuries while others may create the potential for employment-based claims. As a result, meeting planners, the company sponsoring the event, and even hotels should review these risks during the planning stage of the event along with possible insurance coverages. The following article explores this kind of assessment in greater detail. READ MORE