A COASTAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION PUBLICATION FEBRUARY 2020 VOL. 38 NO. 2 $12.00 GOLF &SPA RESORTS Thrill Attendees With An Unforgettable Golf & Spa Experience ALSO IN THIS ISSUE UNIQUE VENUES MEETINGS AT SEA CLICK HERE TO VIEW / DOWNLOAD EMPOWERING TABLET VERSION FEMALE LEADERS VIRTUAL SECURITY DepositPhotos.com GLOBAL MEETINGS ATLANTIC CITY VOLUME 38 NO. 2 // FEBRUARY 2020 ISSN 0739-1587 // USPS 716-450 IN THIS ISSUE // features don’t just meet. Memorable Venues 18 18 These Venues Are Sure to Leave a Lasting Impression on Attendees BY CHRISTINE LOOMIS Meetings With an Edge 24 Cruises Offer the Amenities of Meetings on Land, But Are Often Better for the Bottom Line Connect. BY DAVID SWANSON Golf & Spa Resorts 34 Thrill Attendees With an Unforgettable Golf & Spa Experience BY MAURA KELLER No Glass Ceiling? 44 How the Meetings Industry Is Empowering the 24 Next Generation of Female Leaders BY CHRISTINE LOOMIS Virtual Security 50 Don’t Allow Cybercriminals to Hijack Your Event BY MAURA KELLER Going Global 54 Properly Prepared Planners Can Avoid Causing an International Incident BY MAURA KELLER destinations 34 Atlantic City 60 Upgraded Hotels, Infrastructure Improvements Keep This Destination on Planners’ Lists BY CHRISTINE LOOMIS departments 04 Publisher’s Message 50 06 News & Notes 09 Tips & Trends 10 Perspective Air Travel Is About to Change Forever BY JOHNNY QUACH 14 Perspective Get together in Silicon Valley. 2020 Trends and How to Incorporate Them Into Your Events BY MEGAN DIAZ A walkable downtown just 3.9 miles from our international airport. 16 Perspective An innovative convention center with 520,000 square feet of event space. How Does Social Media Impact the And more than 4,000 committable hotel rooms citywide. Attendee Experience? BY MARISA RUSSELL CAIN 60 Find everything you need for your next meeting in San Jose. 66 People on the Move sanjose.org/meetings TheMeetingMagazines.com | Corporate & Incentive Travel | February 2020 3 v PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE // SITE Global Conference Honors Crystal Award Winners A COASTAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION PUBLICATION PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF For three decades, the annual Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) Harvey Grotsky [email protected] Crystal Awards Recognition Program — sponsored by IMEX Group, the world- A MEETING DESTINATION wide exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events — has brought industry CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kristin Bjornsen acclaim to incentive travel companies. The winners are world-class organizations [email protected] LIKE NOTHING ELSE. that excel in the design of unique, memorable group travel experiences. MANAGING EDITOR The 2019 awards were presented at the SITE 2020 Global Conference in Van- Henry Fitzgerald [email protected] Let’s Meet couver, BC, which took place last month. Eight companies were honored for cre- Over 22,000 square-foot Cowlitz Ballroom. EDITORIAL COORDINATOR ativity in program design, marketing, corporate Rachel Galvin social responsibility and business results. [email protected] Well-appointed Cedar Board Room. More than 600 incentive travel professionals DIGITAL CONTENT COORDINATOR Flexible pre-function and event space Christine Smith from 42 global destinations attended this confer- [email protected] ence. “Inspired by the conference theme — Limit- to accommodate multiple groups less — we’ve been dreaming up brand new ways CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Sophia Bennett of various sizes. to connect, learn, discover and, indeed, shape the Sara Churchville Cynthia Dial future of the incentive travel industry. We’re going Maura Keller Christine Loomis for a festival feel this year with multiple stages in Derek Reveron Patrick Simms And more. a venue that’s light filled and inspirational and a David Swanson destination that genuinely knows no bounds,” says PRESIDENT & CEO Jenn Glynn, CIS, CITP, president of SITE 2020. Harvey Grotsky Keynote speakers at the Global Conference in- Located just steps away from VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS cluded New York Times best-selling author, Ben David Middlebrook [email protected] the area’s premier gaming, dining and Nemtin, who spoke on “5 Steps to Making the Im- Let’s Have A Ball possible Possible.” Educational tracks included ADVERTISING SALES OFFICES 2700 N. Military Trail, Suite 120 entertainment destination. “Designing and Innovating Incentive Travel Programs,” “Valuing Creativity in a Boca Raton, FL 33431-6394 561-989-0600 Fax: 561-989-9509 Commoditized World” and “Event Industry Trends and Forecasts.” [email protected] “The SITE Global Conference brought the whole world of incentive travel to REGIONAL MANAGER, Vancouver. We want to harness the wisdom of this powerful community to shape TEXAS/ARKANSAS/LOUISIANA Tim Kedzuch the future of our industry. Last year in Thailand, we started this fascinating con- 630-728-9204 versation and published the “The Bangkok Manifesto,” 10 aspirational statements [email protected] MEETING & about our métier. This year, we are moving from aspiration to action and leaving the conference with a tangible implementation plan for 2020,” says Didier Scail- ENTERTAINMENT CENTER Corporate & Incentive Travel (USPS 716-450) is published monthly let, CIS, CITP, CEO of SITE. by Coastal Communications Corporation, 2700 North Military Trail — Suite 120, Boca Raton, FL 33431-6394; 561-989-0600. Single As a SITE member for more than three decades, I attribute much of my success copies $12.00 U.S.A. only. Yearly subscription price is $125.00 in the U.S.A.; Canada and foreign is $165.00. Back copies $14.00 in this segment of the industry to my membership in this prestigious organization. U.S.A. only. Distributed without charge to qualified personnel. Periodicals Postage Paid at Boca Raton, FL, and additional mailing Book your meeting or conference today offices. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Corporate & Incentive Travel, 2700 North Military Trail — Suite 120, Boca E: [email protected] | P: 360.887.6565 Raton, FL 33431-6394. Nothing contained in this publication shall constitute an endorsement by Coastal Communications Corporation (Corporate & Incentive Travel), and the publication Let’s Strategize disclaims any liability with respect to the use of or reliance on any such information. The information contained in this publication is in no way to be construed as a recommendation by C&IT of Harvey Grotsky any industry standard, or as a recommendation of any kind to be Publisher adopted, by or to be binding upon, any corporate/incentive travel planner or agent. Reproduction of any portion of this publication by any means is strictly forbidden. Editorial contributions must be accompanied by return postage and will be handled with FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA reasonable care. However, the publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited photographs or manuscripts. Subscribers: Send subscription inquiries and address changes to: Circulation Department, Corporate & Incentive Travel, 2700 North Military Trail — Suite 120, Boca Raton, FL 33431-6394. Provide old and new addresses including zip codes. Enclose address label from most recent issue and please allow five weeks for the change to become effective. Printed in U.S.A. © 2019 @corpincentvtrvl linkedin.com/company/ facebook.com/ @corpincentvtrvl corporateincentivetravel corpinctravel 1 COWLITZ WAY, RIDGEFIELD, WA 98642 | WWW.ILANIRESORT.COM 4 February 2020 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.com NEWS + NOTES // RENOVATION The Beverly Hilton to INDUSTRY NEWS Undergo $35 Million Caesars Forum Renovation BEVERLY HILLS, CA — The Bev- to Tour Across U.S. erly Hilton will undergo a complete LAS VEGAS, NV — Caesars Enter- renovation encompassing all guest tainment will be touring to 14 stops rooms, including nine private luxury around the country. The five-week suites, indoor/outdoor event spaces tour, called All Roads Lead to Caesars and meeting rooms, as well as public Forum, begins this month and will spaces and their signature CIRCA 55 offer pop-up Caesars Forum brand restaurant. They expect the renova- experiences. The goal is to give meet- tions to be completed in the spring. ing and event planners a glimpse into The public spaces, including the main the $375 million, 550,000-sf confer- lobby, Oasis Tower lobby and CIRCA ence center, which officially opens in 55, will be the final phase. The goal is The Beverly March. The pop-ups will include culi- to reintroduce this landmark hotel to Hilton nary offerings, industry speakers and The All Roads Lead to Caesars a new generation of meeting planners. live entertainment. Caesars Forum, Forum tour kicks off in Dallas. which will be able to accommodate RECOGNITION 10,000 attendees, is already generat- ing buzz. More than 170 contracts nights, according to company officials. HelmsBriscoe, MPI and PCMA have Visit Orlando have already been booked, represent- Meetings and events industry lead- all selected Caesars Forum as host for ing $460 million and 1.3 million room ers such as ConferenceDirect, Cvent, their annual conferences. Named Best Tourist Board in the World LONDON — Visit Orlando was CAREER six years has led to numer- extensively, connecting with awarded Best Tourist Board Global DMC Partners ous awards and accolades DMC partners and clients during the UK’s Global Travel and the growth of GDP, while building upon the Awards held in London last Names Catherine which