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THE WEEKLY COMMUNITY NEWS OF ASSOCIATIONS, CVBs AND HOTELS

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AUGUST 3, 2026

TravelAI Acquires Troubled Sonder Brand Repositions as “Curated Guide”

By Jordan Bradley

erty had been operating only electronic games, but with the new license, Resorts World NYC expanded in late April into a casino complete with dealers and table games. Officials added Blackjack, craps, baccarat and roulette games at 240 tables throughout the property, and held a grand opening

TravelAI announced the acquisition of Sonder on July 27, marking a new chapter for the brand as an AI-enabled, curated travel guide featuring boutique hotels and apartment-style accommodations.

Sonder, a former short-term rental firm that operated design-forward boutique hotel and apartment-style accommodations in major cities around the world, made headlines last November when Marriott International terminated its licensing agreement due to Sonder’s insolvency.

The dissolution of the licensing agreement with Marriott sealed Sonder’s fate, at least for the time, leading the company to file for bankruptcy.

Following the November shuttering of Sonder’s operating business, hospitality companies, including Apart-hotel company Kasa, took over some of Sonder’s properties.

While the new acquisition deal from TravelAI relaunches the Sonder website—and includes Sonder’s trademarks, domain names, and intellectual

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Resorts World New York City held a ground breaking ceremony in late July in the city’s Queens borough. The event was attended by Queens, city and state officials, and representatives of Genting Group, which owns the Resorts World brand. The groundbreaking marks the beginning of a $5.5 billion expansion.

Resorts World NYC Holds Groundbreaking on $5.5B Expansion

By Jordan Bradley

Resorts World New York City broke ground on the casino’s next phase of its $5.5 billion expansion on July 23.

The event was commemorated in a groundbreaking ceremony attended by representatives of Resorts World and its owner-operator, Malay-

sia-based Genting Group, and local neighborhood, city and state officials.

Resorts World NYC was one of three companies awarded a casino license last December allowing for operations of a full-fledged casino in New York City.

Since its opening in 2011, the prop-

MCCA Chief Divests from Courthouse Project Amid Lawsuit

By Jonathan Trager

John Barros, interim executive director of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA), is divesting his ownership interest in a development team selected to build a new courthouse in Springfield, amid a lawsuit from losing bidders who allege the state’s selection process was compromised by conflicts of interest.

Barros announced on July 29 that he’s stepping away

from Liberty Junction, the team chosen on July 2 by the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to redevelop a property in downtown Springfield into a new Regional Justice Center. The project would replace the Roderick J. Ireland Courthouse, with the state planning to lease the privately developed building for 40 years and move court operations there in 2030.

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Inside Page 2 U.S. Travel Producing Travel Care Packages During ESTO Cares Page 3 IHG Launches Beta AI Conversation Tool in United States Page 4 Kimberly Kapustein Leads the Show at Visit Issaquah Page 10 Driven by Purpose: ASAE Heads to Indianapolis for Defining Annual Meeting

NCBMP Opens Annual Conference Registration

Speakers Announced for Annual Conference and State of Black Tourism

By Todd McElwee Registration is open for the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals’ (NCBMP) 43 rd Annual Conference in Louisville.

Being staged under the banner of “Be Bigger Than The Moment,” the event will feature a quintet of mainstage speakers during its December 9–12 run in Bourbon City.

“The easy conversations aren’t the ones that move industries forward,” Jason E. Dunn Sr., CEO, NCBMP, told USAE. “We designed this conference to challenge assumptions, elevate thinking, and bring together professional who are willing to have the conversations this moment demands. When you leave Louisville, we don’t just want you inspired, Please turn to page 6

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U.S. Travel Producing Travel Care Packages During ESTO Cares

By Todd McElwee U.S. Travel Association’s ESTO (Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations) is coming to Philadelphia.

And apropos of the spirit of the City of Brotherly Love, show attendees will provide support for those in need via ESTO Cares.

ESTO is August 23–26. This year, attendees will work with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Philadelphia, assembling activity, comfort, or toiletry kits filled with items for children, caregivers, and families staying at Ronald McDonald House Charities

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property—it does not resurrect the once-bankrupt company’s operating business.

“The acquisition is limited to Sonder’s brand and intellectual property: TravelAI did not acquire Sonder’s operating business, including its properties, leases, inventory, or staff,” TravelAI said in the late-July announcement.

Now, sonder.com will operate “as a curated guide to the world’s best ur-

of the Philadelphia Region.

“Since 2015, ESTO Cares has been an annual tradition rooted in community, compassion and connection and offers attendees a meaningful way to give back to the local community,” U.S. Travel said. “This volunteer-led initiative is organized and hosted by the National Council of State Tourism Directors (NCSTD) Alumni and is one of the most rewarding ways to kick off your ESTO experience.”

Opening in 1974, U.S. Travel said the Ronald McDonald House of Philadelphia was the very first facility of its kind. The Ronald McDonald House’s

website notes it houses provides temporary lodging, transportation, meals, and supportive services to 149 families with sick children every night. Last year 48,082 room nights were provided over 2,210 stays. More than 900 social work meetings with families occurred.

Last year, ESTO Cares partnered with Valley of the Sun United Way in supporting Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central & Northern Arizona to assemble travel-themed care packages. In 2024, the conference teamed with Columbus’ Festa to assemble kits for to help children and families by connecting them with resources and

support. A $5,000 donation was made.

In Grand Rapids, attendees packed literacy kits for Heart of West Michigan United Way. Other past projects include working with the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia in Savannah, beach litter clean up at Spanish River Park to protect sea turtle hatching habitats in partnership with Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton, Florida, clearing construction debris from the banks of the Willamette River in Portland and packing hygiene kits for Los Angelinos experiencing homelessness in partnership with LA Works.

Find more information here.

ban stays, and as a flagship consumer brand built on the memory infrastructure TravelAI is building for the travel industry,” the announcement said.

Sonder was founded in Montreal in 2014 as the Canadian answer to Airbnb. TravelAI representatives say that the brand earned global name recognition, and has garnered more than 50 global trademark registrations.

“Sonder earned something rare: a name people remember and a standard of taste they trusted,” said John Lyotier, co-founder and CEO of TravelAI. “We did not acquire a port-

folio of buildings. We acquired the one travel brand whose name already means what we are building with our memory infrastructure. Where the old Sonder’s technology once lived in the lock on the door, it now lives in discovery, memory, and AI-enabled personalization.”

Through the now-live and resurrected Sonder website, guests are able to book stays in New York City, Los Angeles, Montreal, Ottawa, Philadelphia, London, Boston, Miami, Toronto, and Chicago at boutique hotels or apartment-style accommodations managed through Booking.com, Expedia and Vrbo.

TravelAI is a subsidiary of UpNext Ventures, and applies AI throughout a portfolio of more than 530 travel

brands to create “better travel,” according to the Sonder website. The company set a goal to reach one billion travelers with its technology by 2030.

Through the acquisition, TravelAI will revitalize the Sonder website by integrating its proprietary AI platform into the website to better connect travelers looking to plan trips with personalized accommodation and experience recommendations near their stays based on their personal preferences, the company said.

Lyotier added: “We intend to treat the brand with the respect it deserves: keeping what made it Sonder, and giving it a future. This is a new chapter, written with care, for the one that came before.”

Minneapolis Convention Center Completes Meeting Room Renovation

By Jonathan Trager The Minneapolis Convention Center (MCC) announced on July 28 that it has completed a $25 million renovation of all 87 of its meeting rooms, transforming more than 93,000 square feet of meeting space into more “modern, comfortable, and technologically advanced environments for event planners and attendees.”

“This transformative project will provide our clients with meeting spaces that reflect the expectations of today’s events,” said Jeff Johnson, Executive Director of the MCC. “From enhanced technology and sustainability features to improved comfort and design, these renovations position the Minneapolis Convention Center to better serve our clients and their attendees for years to come.”

The renovation blends functionality and style while prioritizing user experience, comfort, and sustainability, according to the convention center.

Highlights include: • Streamlined technology—Upgraded electrical, data, fiber, and audio infrastructure provide consistent and reliable connectivity throughout every

meeting room.

• Enhanced lighting—New linear LED fixtures with theatrical-grade controls allow for customized ambiance tailored to each event.

• Better airflow and comfort—New linear HVAC diffusers improve ventilation and temperature control.

• Warm and modern aesthetic— Bright, contemporary interiors feature wood wall accents, wood-grain metal doors, and wood-grain metal ceiling tiles that create an inviting atmosphere.

• Sustainable and stylish acoustics—Acoustic wall panels are wrapped in Carnegie’s Xorel fabric, a 100% PVCfree material that is both durable and environmentally friendly.

The MCC continues to budget approximately $10–15 million annually in capital improvements to ensure it meets the evolving needs of meeting planners, exhibitors, and attendees.

Beyond its renovated meeting rooms, the MCC is offering new food and beverage offerings from Kelber Catering, the venue’s exclusive catering and concession partner. New concepts include: Please turn to page 8

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HOTS Bye, Bye Bottie… A school district in rural upstate New York purchased a $60,000 AI-powered, humanoid robot to supplement its robotics and technology classes, but hasn’t yet deployed the bot as it has sparked revolt amongst parents, teachers and local residents, the Associated Press reports. Officials from the Salamanca City Central School District agreed to purchase “Sally” from Realbotix in early June and announced the new tech on July 22. Parents and teachers of the small community became worried about how students’ personal information would be used and unionized teachers called out Realbotix’s sister company, WEEKLY NEWS OF ASSOCIATIONS CVBs AND HOTELS

USAE

Publisher & Executive Editor 1982 – 2021 Anne Daly Heller

Publisher-Emeritus Ross E. Heller ross@usaenews.com Publisher James Heller james@usaenews.com Associate Publisher Todd McElwee todd@usaenews.com

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which makes hyperrealistic sex dolls, AP reports. District officials stressed that the companies operate independently. Still, state officials have gotten involved and the robot pilot program is on hold, giving Salamanca time to work out “enhanced student data privacy agreements,” according to a July 24 Facebook post from the district. Should Sally be implemented, the robot will be able to speak and answer questions, and have moveable arms, but would not have moveable legs. HOTS can’t help but see visions of dystopian school classrooms straight out of science fiction! g g g g g

HOTS Sesquicentennial Late Fee… A public library in the seaside town of Kiama, Australia, received a strange return, AP reports. Librarians at the Kiama Library were shocked to discover an overdue book in the library drop box on July 26 that was 150 years late to be returned. The library was unable to discern exactly when the book in question, “Antiquities of Athens,” was checked out, but a Facebook post from the institution noted that the book was published in 1858. Curiouser still, library officials told AP that they would not be able to find the most recent borrower, but did share that it

Former Atlanta Braves’ outfielder Andruw Jones, is part of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s Class of 2026. Marking the occasion, Delta Air Lines and the Braves officially dedicated Gate A25 at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in his honor. Shown here (left to right): Tim Mapes, SVP and Chief Communications Officer, Delta Air Lines; Jones; and Derek Schiller, Atlanta Braves President & CEO .

was returned by a man who had found it while renovating his home. The library’s manager, Michelle Hudson, told AP that the book had been found inside a tea crate that was bricked into a sealed fireplace. According to Hudson, rules for returning the book from when the library first opened in 1872 were printed inside the book’s

cover. Using the declared overdue fee of three pence per week, the fine for such a late book return would come out to $19,500 (with inflation), the library said. HOTS thinks the curious circumstances surrounding the books rediscovery could be pulled straight from an adventure tale á la Indiana Jones.

IHG Launches Beta AI Conversation Tool in United States

By Jordan Bradley

Managing Editor Jonathan Trager jon@usaenews.com Hotel Editor Jordan Bradley jordan@usaenews.com Creative Director Diane Nichols dkn@usaenews.com Marketing & Circulation Director Christy Pumphrey christy@usaenews.com To ensure publication, all Letters to the Editor must include a telephone number and mailing address in order to verify authenticity.

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IHG Hotels & Resorts is beta testing a conversational AI tool across U.S. digital channels, the hotel company announced on July 28.

The launch begins on the company’s main website and in the mobile app for customers and guests based in the United States, and gives them access to a conversational search function that helps customize trip planning, “making it easier and faster than ever for guests to move seamlessly from inspiration and discovery to booking one of more than 7,000 hotels globally,” IHG said.

The function will also help hotel owners increase their property’s visibility.

The new AI tool works by inviting guests seeking to book a hotel stay to “describe their travel needs using everyday language” to explain their preferred destination, purpose for traveling, or amenities preferences to be shown tailored hotel recommendations. The tool also provides interactive maps, hotel room availability in real time, and pricing and property information.

“Launching conversational search in IHG’s digital channels transforms how guests interact with IHG and discover our incredible collection

of hotels around the world,” said Elie Maalouf, CEO of IHG Hotels & Resorts. “It’s a milestone that builds on years of strategic investment in our digital foundations, including the unification of our data in the cloud and the continued evolution of our best-in-class technology platforms.

With these capabilities in place, and more to follow, we are very well positioned to harness the power of AI at scale and deliver rich, inspiring and seamless travel experiences that delight our guests and deliver benefits to our hotel owners.”

Eventually, IHG plans to expand the AI conversational tool to users in

other markets, based on feedback and user behavior during the beta testing period, the hotel company said. IHG has already launched into the artificial intelligence space with the June release of an IHG app in ChatGPT as part of the company’s “broader AI strategy to enrich how travelers discover and engage with IHG.” The app allows travelers to compare different IHG properties around the globe.

Guests based in the United States can test out the conversational AI in the IHG One Rewards mobile app or at IHG.com—though they can also bypass this tool to use the traditional search function if they would prefer.

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Women Leading the Way

Kimberly Kapustein Leads the Show at Visit Issaquah

By Jordan Bradley

Originally from the east coast, Kapustein and her husband have lived in A former trader on Wall Street the city since 2008, and she has been during the Wolf of Wall Street days, an active member of the community Kimberly Kapustein, CMP, CTSM, and her neighborhood, Issaquah HighExecutive Director of Visit Issaquah, lands, from the start of her residency, didn’t set out to lead a DMO, but the holding positions on boards including collection of hats she’s worn through- the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank, out her professional life have created the Issaquah Highlands Cross-Cultural Committee, and earning elected the perfect combination for the gig.

“There are very few people who positions on the Issaquah Highland knew from the moment they were five Community Fund, Issaquah Highlands what they wanted to do,” Kapustein Council Board of Trustees, and more. told USAE. Sometimes, “that’s just Having been heavily involved with the who they are and they’ve gone that city’s governing bodies and commuroute and pursued [their] dream. nity action groups, Kapustein knows The rest of us are figuring it out as it the city well.

“It’s a very volunteer-oriented comes along, and then we take those skills that we’ve learned from what we community,” she said, but it has also “always been very thought we knew and “It’s a very art-focused.” what we wanted to do, Issaquah was the first and we make them work volunteer-oriented city in the state to rein a different way.” community,” she said, ceive a “Washington At Visit Issaquah, Kabut it has also State Certified Creative pustein is a team of one, and her experiences “always been very District” designation in 2020, a demarkaworking on Wall Street art-focused.” tion that acknowledges and handling marketing an area’s cultural and and corporate event planning for startups and other busi- artistic contributions, creative businesses have provided her with the nesses, and public gathering spaces.

Currently, the district encompasses knowledge to lead the DMO. “I think the most that I’ve learned the Issaquah Cultural Business Disabout this role is how entrepreneurial trict, the Gilman Village, and NE Gilit is,” Kapustein said. “I’ve had to from man Boulevard, according to the city’s that corporate marketing thought official government website.

But every so often, Visit Issaquah process where I might have sat in a department, especially in a startup, and the city have to expand the diswhere there were three of us, and you trict’s boundaries to include another had my social-slash-website manager creative business, agency or offering, here, you had me doing trade shows, Kapustein said.

“We’re proud of it,” she said. “The events, marketing social here, but then you have someone else who’s original footprint was the downtown doing webinars—you wore differ- area; every few years, we have to go ent hats, you stayed in your lane, back and we have to expand the area even though you were working all because we’ve added more or we’ve changed.” together.”

The arrival of Jakob Two Trees, a But “as a DMO of one,” Kapustein has to approach the role differently, 14-foot-tall Northwest Troll by Thomas managing community relationships Dambo, was one such addition, and is and both time and fiscal budgets with now included in Issaquah’s Creative District. Jakob is the first troll to have a deft hand.

Just a 20-minute drive from Seattle, a ponytail—made for him by members Issaquah is a small, outdoor-centric of the Snoqualmie Tribe—and the sixth community of around 40,000 in troll in the region.

“I spent three years trying to get a Washington state. Its destination management organization is the second troll in our backyard,” Kapustein told smallest org in the state, Kapustein USAE. “But the troll wasn’t in the dessaid, and Issaquah has always been a ignated creative community, so we had city that has cultivated a population to expand it to include the troll—and full of outdoor enthusiasts. Between then we realized, ‘Oh yeah! There’s the nearby Lake Sammamish and the a pottery thing over here. There’s surrounding members of the Cascade another art piece over here!’ It’s been Mountain range, residents and visitors really fun to be a part of the city for have access to hiking, mountain bik- this long to see how it’s really taken ing, kayaking, paddle boarding, and that art focus and expanded it out.”

Visit Issaquah was established paragliding.

“You can tandem jump off the in 2018, and Kapustein is only the mountain, if you want, and land in the second leader of the organization, following Christy Garrard last OcCostco parking lot,” Kapustein said.

tober. Prior to taking the helm of the DMO, Kapustein spent around 20 years in marketing and corporate event planning. Garrard and Kapustein met while on the Issaquah Highlands Council, an Issaquah neighborhood community board handling the neighborhood’s communications, events programming, community center and brand management. Garrard was the executive director of the council for around a decade and the pair executed events together.

“We had events that we did with each other, everything from opening up our hospitality and doing the open house for that—which was supposed to be 6,000 people who showed up and 12,000 people did instead—to every year doing Culture Fest during the summer, which won awards,” Kapustein recalled. “Everything from Juneteenth—which I started and actually got [on the] front page of the Seattle Times when it became a national event—to different culturals. We’ve done a Ukranian fest, a Japanese spring festival. You name it, we do it.”

For Kapustein and the Issaquah community, highlighting the regions cultural offerings is as integral as the city’s roadways, but establishing the DMO was a step forward in advancing the reach of those events and the Issaquah community, and Kapustein credits Garrard with the advancement.

“We really started to find ways to highlight our community and the diversity of our community, but really having fun with those events, so when she finally spun off of that, when she came into the Visit Issaquah position, we found that it was a perfect fit,” Kapustein. “Obviously doing all the events that she had done, but now as a DMO, you’re really going after that tourism part. You’re speaking to the planner who’s looking for those solutions of how to have an event, where to have an event, and she is what I call a builder. [Christy] really took what was—which really needed a lot of help; it needed a website revamp, for people to understand what a DMO was, all of that—and she rebuilt it and put these parameters in place.”

Kapustein’s transition into the role of executive director for Visit Issaquah “was a great fit,” she said. Because of her extensive background in event and convention planning, she knew

what planners were looking for, what they needed to reach success. Additionally, Kapustein knew the Issaquah community intricately, having worn “all of the other hats that I was able to wear, being part of the art commission for six years, being part of my community as president, knowing the mayor, knowing council, knowing the different members who really make the community work. DMOs are all about relationships.”

Currently, Kapustein is helping community organizers market a brand new, first-of-its-kind festival coming to Issaquah later this month: the Aire Craft Festival, a four-day event to be held August 13–16 celebrating hang-gliding and street arts, the likes of Cirque du Soleil, featuring local vendors, street art, live performances, workshops, film screenings, roundtables, art-making activities, and costumed paragliding demonstrations dubbed “sky parades.”

According to Kapustein, it was born from the community of the mountain town, many of whom are active or retired performing members of Cirque du Soleil.

“We have a lot of members who live here, but they’re all getting older and they have kids and they have their soccer games, and they used to all flee to Europe to do all of their festivals,” Kapustein said, and they found that they were missing the gathering. “So they started to think about how do we create the same festivals that they’re doing in Europe all summer here.”

For Kapustein, reflecting on her first year in the role, she’s been gratified to lead Visit Issaquah and has enjoyed the role.

“It’s really [about] trying to find balance, and understanding that you don’t wear one hat, you wear all the hats, and you’ve got to make sure you get it all done,” she said.

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WE want you equipped to make decisions that still matter years from now.

Come BE BIG” Zeek Coleman, President, Adgenuity; Dr. Angela Y. Davis, scholar, author, activist; Morgan DeBaun, Founder & CEO, Blavity Inc.; Marsha Flanagan, CEM, President & CEO; and Joy-Ann Reid, political analyst, journalist, bestselling author, headline NCBMP’s speaking lineup.

Presenting “Build Your Brand. Expand Your Influence. Own Your Market,” Coleman helps tourism leaders translate complex marketing and economic signals into clear decisions.

Adgenuity is performance-driven media for destinations and travel organizations, NCBMP said.

Through her activism and scholarship, Davis has been deeply involved in movements for social justice around the world, NCBMP said. Teaching credits include UCLA, Syracuse, Stanford University, San Francisco State and more. She spent 15 years at the University of California Santa Cruz where she is now Distin-

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guished Professor Emerita of History of Consciousness—an interdisciplinary Ph.D program—and of Feminist Studies. She’s written 10 books and draws upon her own experiences in the early 1970s as a person who spent 18 months in jail after being placed on the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted List. She was acquitted on all charges in 1972. The National Museum of African American History & Culture said she was the inspiration for John Lennon and Yoko Ono to write “Angela” and the Rolling Stones’ “Sweet Black Angel.” She will present “What Will Outlive You.” “Rewrite Your Own Rules: Becoming Bigger Than the Moment,” is DeBaun’s session. NCBMP called her a “visionary leader in media and technology, adding she is renowned for a dedication to inclusive advertising and tech innovation. Clients include Nike, Microsoft and American Express. She is in the American Advertising Hall of Fame and a bestselling author.

Flanagan has guided IAEE since 2023. Recognized throughout the meetings industry for her collaborations and advocacy, she is a graduate of Texas Christian University and

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Liberty Junction includes FD Stonewater and CoJo Real Estate, a Boston partnership owned by Barros and Conan Harris, the husband of U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley. Suffolk Construction is the proposed general contractor.

The team beat nine other bidders.

“Throughout the process, I made every disclosure required by statute and strictly followed all procurement regulations to ensure my role was legal and proper,” Barros said.

Barros’ involvement became an issue because he joined the MCCA as interim executive director in January while the courthouse proposal was being considered. The Boston Globe reported that Barros filed an ethics disclosure on July 1, one day before the state announced Liberty Junction had won. In the disclosure, Barros described himself as a passive investor without decision-making authority, while acknowledging he’d receive indirect financial compensation from the lease.

Barros’ attorney told the Globe that Barros had consulted MCCA attorneys and the Massachusetts Ethics Commission and was advised he could remain involved provided he didn’t participate in discussions with DCAMM. The attorney said Barros never spoke with DCAMM officials about the project.

Two unsuccessful bidders, led by Springfield businessmen Jeb Balise and Dinesh Patel, sued DCAMM and Liberty Junction. They’re seeking to

earned her Master’s in Education from the University of Arkansas specializing in meeting, tourism and recreation management. Her session is “Leading Beyond the Moment: A Global Outlook on Meetings, Events, and Exhibitions.”

The State of Black Tourism is an annual convening examining the current and future outlook of tourism across

John Barros

overturn the award, alleging conflicts of interest and problems with the procurement process. The allegations haven’t been established in court.

Barros said he was stepping away to prevent the dispute from delaying the courthouse.

“My aim from day one has been to quickly deliver a healthy new courthouse for the people of Hampden County—one that’s also an economic development engine for a part of Springfield that hasn’t seen much investment,” he said.

The state has defended its selection.

DCAMM said its records demonstrate a “fair, thorough, and competitive process,” while the agency cited Liberty Junction’s cost and project delivery schedule among the reasons for its selection, according to the Globe.

A hearing in the lawsuit is scheduled for August 11.

the U.S. and global communities.

Sacks and Tourism Economics supply analytically grounded consulting for governments, destinations, airlines, hotel chains and the entire tourism sector. A frequent industry speaker, he is a graduate of Lehigh University.

Find more information here.

Dayton Convention Center Headquarters Hotel Announced

By Jonathan Trager The Montgomery County Convention Facilities Authority (MCCFA) and Concord Hospitality announced in late July that a highly anticipated Dayton Convention Center headquarters hotel in Ohio will be flagged as part of Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio Hotels brand.

The project will be developed and operated by Concord Hospitality, an award-winning hospitality firm. It’s currently scheduled to open in late 2028.

John Oney, President & CEO of Destination Dayton, called the headquarters hotel a “transformational investment for the Dayton region and a critical asset in strengthening our ability to compete for meetings and conventions nationwide.”

“As the destination marketing organization for Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio, our focus is on driving measurable results by increasing group and convention room nights that directly benefit our local hotels, venues, and businesses,” Oney said. “With modern accommodations connected to our newly renovated Dayton Convention Center and convention campus, we will be able to attract larger, city-wide events, increase overnight visitation, and generate new economic activity throughout the community. As the Dayton convention district continues to evolve, this project will help drive sustained tourism growth and create lasting benefits for the region for years to come.”

In September 2024, through a Please turn to page 10

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Industry Movers

Jennifer Hatcher has been appointed Chief Innovation, Strategy and Membership Officer at FMI – The Food Industry Association. Hatcher has served the organization for more than 25 years as a senior government relations executive, and in recent years assumed an expanded role in member relations. She will lead the organization’s long-term strategic planning and innovation initiatives. Hatcher will focus on enhancing member value, as well as strengthening engagement.

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featuring Queens-native and famous rapper Nas on April 28.

The most recent late-July groundbreaking marked the initiation of the property’s second phase of expansion, which will transform the property into a larger casino and “a first-ofits-kind integrated resort,” according to officials.

Forthcoming developments on the site include an additional 400-room hotel tower adding to the existing Hyatt Regency; a sports and media complex named after sports commentator and former basketball player Kenny “The Jet” Smith, a 7,000-seat multi-purpose arena, a 1,200-room Crockfords branded luxury hotel, a central plaza and a parking garage.

Officials say the groundbreaking puts Resorts World ahead of its proposed schedule.

“In less than 3 months after opening our doors as the first casino in New York City’s history, we are already moving towards a day when the city will have a first-of-its-kind integrated resort,” said Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, Executive Chairman of the Genting Group. “Not only are we keeping every commitment we made in our proposal to the state, but we are running well ahead of schedule in starting to build outside of our existing building.”

Since opening table games at the casino, the Resorts World NYC has paid $170 million to the state in casino taxes, officials said. The property also added 1,400 more slot machines on July 21

David Duran has been appointed General Manager for 1 Hotel Austin.

Starwood Hotels made the announcement. The Texas hotel is set to open in August. He has more than 20 years of experience spanning luxury hotel operations and food and beverage leadership. Duran joins 1 Hotel Austin following his role as general manager of Pendry San Diego. He also supported multiple task force initiatives with Montage International.

Georgia LaBelle has been named General Manager of Home2 Suites by Hilton Jacksonville Mayo Clinic Area.

Prior to joining Home2 Suites by Hilton Jacksonville Mayo Clinic Area she worked with Shaner Hotels for three years, Sonesta for five years and Marriott International for 13 years. LaBelle is also an active part of the community and volunteers for ARC Wildlife Foundation and is a strong supporter of Hubbard House Jacksonville.

Marie Browne has joined ReedPop as Sr. Vice President, Head of ReedPop. Since joining RX nearly 25 years ago, Browne has held a number of senior leadership roles spanning strategy, portfolio growth and business development. As the senior vice president, she helped shape RX US’s growth strategy by expanding the Functional Fabric Fair portfolio, supporting the evolution of PGA into a global brand and leading other development.

and expects to expand with more table games by the end of the year.

Resorts World officials are promising the expansion will create 10,000 jobs and “add 2 million square feet of new gaming, entertainment, dining, retail, and convention space to the existing one-million-square-foot property.”

Queens officials tout the expansion as a win-win for Resorts World NYC and borough residents.

“In real time, we are leveling the playing field when it comes to prosperity and culture,” said Donovan Richards Jr., Queens borough president, about the groundbreaking. “It has been an honor to partner with Resorts World on bringing this community-centered expansion to life and I look forward to the ribbon cutting in the not-too-distant future.”

According to officials, Resorts World NYC currently employs around 2,500 employees, and more than half of them reside in Queens County. The expansion is expected to add somewhere between 500 to 2,700 jobs by the end of the summer, according to the New York Post.

“The excitement around this project hasn’t stopped since the day we submitted our bid,” said Robert DeSalvio, President, Genting Americas East. “It carried us through our licensing process and through the first 12 weeks of operating New York City’s first live table games. Today, that same excitement is present as we break ground on Phase Two, which will bring new infrastructure, new parking, and the next wave of hotel rooms that will support

two million square feet of new gaming, entertainment, and hospitality space in the years ahead.”

Prior to Resorts World’s late April expansion, the closest Vegas-style casinos to New York City were located in upstate New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

The New York State Gaming Com-

mission awarded the remaining two licenses to Bally’s Bronx and Hard Rock’s Queens proposals. As new complexes, Bally’s and Hard Rock’s casinos resorts will take years to build, leaving Resorts World, with its existing operation, as the first and only commercial casino to operate in the city in its 400-year history.

Minneapolis continued from page 2

• Mill City Pizza Kitchen—A new quick-service restaurant serving made-from-scratch New Haven-style pizzas, expanding the MCC’s onsite dining options with fresh, made-toorder meals.

• Mill City Market—A convenient grab-and-go outlet in Lobby D offering fresh salads, sandwiches, yogurt parfaits and fruit, allowing attendees to enjoy quality meals without leaving the convention center.

Portable café concepts—Three new mobile café experiences bring added flexibility to events: • Dirty Soda Cafés featuring customizable beverages with creative mix-ins

See more Industry Movers

• Acai Bowl Cafés serving madeto-order bowls with fresh fruit and wholesome toppings • Smoothie Cafés offering handcrafted fruit and protein smoothies for a refreshing, grab-and-go option “These new dining concepts complement our newly renovated meeting rooms and build on Kelber Catering’s outstanding food and beverage program, giving clients an even broader mix of dining experiences to enhance meetings and events of every size,” said Johnson. “It’s another example of how we’re continually investing in our facility and the overall guest experience to meet the evolving needs of our clients.”

Find photos of the renovated meeting rooms here.

BREAKOUT VIEWS

VISION BUILDING TEAM CONNECTING

RESULT-DRIVEN COASTAL COLLAB

Host your next meeting or retreat where Southwest Florida beauty meets cutting-edge facilities. Enjoy 44,000 square feet of waterfront meeting spaces at the Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center or 60,000 square feet of luxury spaces at the Sunseeker Resort Florida Gulf Coast, Curio by Hilton. Beyond the boardroom, discover biking trails, Blueway paddling, and waterfront dining. Seamless planning ensures every detail inspires success.

PureFloridaMeetings.com

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USAE

August 3, 2026

The Final Word

Driven by Purpose: ASAE Heads to Indianapolis for Defining Annual Meeting

By Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE, AAiP, President & CEO, ASAE

The association community is heading to Indianapolis, and ASAE, Visit Indy, and local partners are ready to welcome attendees for an unforgettable 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition.

This year’s theme, “Driven by Purpose”, sets the stage for meaningful conversations about how associations can lead with clarity, stay anchored in mission, and accelerate their impact.

We’re ready, we’re excited, and we can’t wait to bring the association community together for a purpose-driven experience that will exceed expectations. The ASAE Annual Meeting is always a special opportunity for association professionals from across the country and around the world to learn, challenge one another, exchange ideas, and imagine what’s possible. This year feels especially meaningful because we’re gathering in Indianapolis at an exciting moment for our profession and at the beginning of a new chapter for ASAE. That new chapter will take center stage in Indianapolis as ASAE unveils its new strategic framework—the result of the most inclusive strategic planning process in the organization’s history. Developed with extensive member input over the past year, the framework will guide ASAE’s priorities

Dayton

continued from page 6

public bid process, the MCCFA Board of Directors approved the selection of Concord Hospitality Enterprises Company as the developer of a full-service, nationally branded headquarters hotel.

“This $77 million transformative investment represents a major milestone for Dayton and our convention district. Partnering with Concord Hospitality and Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio brand ensures we are delivering a high-quality, unique hotel experience that will elevate our competitive position and drive significant economic impact for the region.” said Pam Plageman, Executive Director of CEO of the MCCFA.

over the next three to five years while providing the flexibility to respond to an increasingly dynamic environment.

This framework gives us strategic clarity while allowing the agility to adapt as our profession evolves. It is designed to help ASAE deliver even greater value, impact, and relevance for the association community. We’re excited to share it with our members in Indianapolis and immediately begin putting it into action.

Enthusiasm for the meeting is already evident. Registration is pacing ahead of last year, with a notable increase in first-time attendees. To help new participants make the most of their experience, ASAE has expanded opportunities for networking, orientation, and engagement throughout the meeting.

Attendees can also look forward to a dynamic lineup of learning, inspiration, and celebration, including: A world-class keynote lineup featuring Emmy Award-winning mentalist and bestselling author Oz Pearlman; Amy Edmondson, Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School and one of the world’s leading management thinkers; and CNN host and Emmy Award-winning producer Van Jones.

Insightful Catalyst presentations from Justin Patton, founder of The Trust Architect Group and an expert on operationalizing trust; Sheri Ja-

In addition to offering modern guest accommodations, the property will feature 197 guest rooms, flexible meeting and event space, a restaurant, fitness center, and amenities designed to serve both convention visitors and the broader Dayton community.

Belinda Kenley, Chairperson of the MCCFA, said the day “marks an important milestone for our community and for the future of tourism and economic development in Montgomery County.”

“The announcement of the Marriott Tribute branded headquarters hotel represents a transformational investment that will create approximately 90 permanent new jobs and more than 300 construction-related jobs, while generating an estimated

cobs, FASAE, CAE, CEO of Avenue M Group and bestselling author on association strategy and growth; and Anthony McClean, acclaimed speaker and screenwriter focused on mental well-being and helping professionals thrive.

A sold-out Expo showcasing the latest products, services, and innovations from industry partners dedicated to helping associations succeed.

Signature networking and celebration events, including the Opening Celebration featuring 13-time GRAMMY Award-winning artist Babyface at White River State Park; the ASAE Re-

search Foundation’s The Classic at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway; and the Closing Celebration at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts.

From visionary education and practical solutions to meaningful connections and memorable experiences, the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition will embody what it means to be Driven by Purpose, bringing the association community together to strengthen leaders, advance organizations, and accelerate the impact associations make every day.

Find more information here.

$1.2 million annually in new sales tax revenue to help support essential community services,” said Kenley.

“This project strengthens our ability

to attract conventions, visitors, and new business opportunities, while delivering long-term economic benefits for residents throughout the region.”