Event Planning
Omni Hotels adds instant booking for groups and meeting planners
Omni Hotels & Resorts, along with Groups 360, have announced a new instant booking experience for groups and meeting spaces. GroupSync is Group360's proprietary online booking marketplace, and is available now at the Omni Frisco Hotel in Frisco, Texas, and will...
Survey: Majority of business travelers are ready to return to travel
Business travel was one of the segments affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. As the world got used to online work, there were concerns that it would never return — at least not to the same level it was in 2019. But a new study found good news when it comes to the return...
Feature: Visit Sun Valley on the future of tourism, welcoming new types of visitors
Sun Valley, Idaho came to fame in the 1940s and 1950s when Hollywood arrived, with films from stars like Abbott & Costello, Lucille Ball, Marilyn Monroe, and Glenn Miller. The area was also home to Ernest Hemingway (he wrote For Whom The Bell Tolls there, as well...
Marriott CEO sees new desire for travel
Marriott is seeing the desire for travel — both domestic and international. Marriott International CEO Tony Capuano spoke during their third quarter earnings call, and is optimistic for the future. “It's been wonderful to see so many people traveling again and to...
Connect Meetings partners with World Meetings Forum to expand reach
Connect Meetings has partnered with World Meetings Forum (WMF) to bring their events to Latin American, Central America, and Spanish-speaking Caribbean destination management companies (DMC). "The increased presence of such destinations will meet the increasing demand...
IHG & PCMA introduce digital event course, on-site COVID testing
IHG Hotels & Resorts has partnered with the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) to enhance their on-site and hybrid events, providing education for their employees by developing a Digital Event Strategist Introductory Certificate Course for...
CRVA opens expanded $127 million Charlotte Convention Center
The city of Charlotte's new Charlotte Convention Center expansion opened this week after nearly two years of construction. The $126.9 expansion was welcomed by the city of Charlotte and the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA). The new center broke ground in...
World Travel & Tourism Council’s 2022 Global Summit will take place in Manila
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), has announced their 21st Global Summit will be taking place in 2022. The event, which was last held earlier in 2021 in Cancun, Mexico, will take place from March 14-16, 2022 in Manila Philippines. The WTTC will also be...
Hawaii begins easing restrictions on events
Hawaii is looking to ease restrictions on gatherings, according to a news conference held by Hawaii Gov. David Ige and Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi on Friday, Oct. 8. In August, after a spike in COVID-19 infection rates, Mayor Blangiardi restricted large gatherings,...
New York becomes first state to launch COVID passport for travel & events
New York has become the first state to launch a COVID vaccine passport, for travel, events, and restaurants. Excelsior Pass is a "free, voluntary platform" developed in partnership with IBM, according to a statement from Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office, "which utilizes...
What will the events industry look like in the future?
COVID-19 and 2020 has changed the way event planning is handled, but how much of that will continue on after the pandemic is over? Joanne Dennison, Boston University School of Hospitality Administration adjunct professor of hospitality meeting and event planning, and...
Nevada is allowing 50 percent capacity for large events, with approved plan
Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak announced that, as of March 15, the allowable capacity for large gatherings of more than 250 people will increase to 50 percent capacity — up from 20 percent that was announced in February of 2021. The 50 percent limit outlined in...
Venues & event promoters may be eligible for new SBA grant
Although the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was meant to help businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic, a new grant program is specifically looking to help venue operators. The Small Business Administration (SBA) set aside $15 billion from the latest stimulus for...
Marriott implements new safety procedures to allow for events
Marriott International has announced a series of health protocol options to help event planners and guests into 2021. Those options include COVID-19 testing for groups and events, beginning in January 2021. Marriott recently announced their Connect with Confidence...
More hotels & venues receiving GBAC accreditation, helping them hold safe in-person events
A new certificate program is helping to rank event venues who are providing safe spaces during the COVID-19 crisis. The Global BioRisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a subset of ISSA, has been working with events venues to work through their cleanliness and safety...
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A&K Travel Group acquires Crystal Cruises’ name, 2 ships
A&K Travel Group has announced the acquisition of the Crystal Cruises name, as well as two ships: the Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony. A&K's goal is to relaunch the ships in 2023 after "extensive refurbishment" and will operate under the name "Crystal...
US to end COVID-19 testing requirement for travelers
The White House is expected to announce on Friday that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will lift their COVID-19 testing requirement for travelers re-entering the United States from other countries, according to CNN. The new ruling will go into...
Feature: A conversation with CityPASS on the future of travel
Things have begun to return to normal in the travel industry, but most agree that travel will likely never be exactly what it was prior to 2020. For the companies who survived through the pandemic, the world of travel is a very different place. Companies have adapted,...
Discover Puerto Rico invites visitors to ‘Live Boricua’
Discover Puerto Rico unveiled their latest brand campaign: 'Live Boricua.' Discover Puerto Rico is the Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) of the island, and is launching their campaign along with others in the Puerto Rican tourism industry. "A movement born out...
Diamond Head State Monument to implement reservation system, timed entry
The State of Hawai‘i’s Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) announced that reservations will now be needed for visitors to Lē‘ahi – the Diamond Head State Monument, starting on May 12, 2022. "Diamond Head State Monument is one of Oʻahu’s most sought-after...
‘City of Museums’ Xi’an, China opens 2 major museums
Xi'an, China has two museums for travelers and locals to learn the history of the area. The Shaanxi Archaeological Museum was recently completed in Xi'an, China and will be open to the public on a trial basis from April 28. The Xi'an Museum had also officially...
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