Texas Meetings + Events Fall 2020 / Winter 2021

HOMETOWN FAVORITE THE EDITOR’S NEW HOMETOWN DOUBLES AS A HUB FOR MEETINGS AND EVENTS. {14}

Work in the Time of

CORONA VENUES, VENDORS AND PLANNERS HAVE TAKEN SEVERAL MEASURES TO HOST SAFE MEETINGS.

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Area ski slopes make winter easier to bear

BY THE WATER

ICEBREAKER

FOUR DINE LAKESIDE AT LOCAL VENUES (26)

ACTIVITIES BRING NONTRADITIONAL TOGETHER (45) PEOPLE CLOSER

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18 WINTER 20 A G S . C O M //

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SMALL BUSINE T OWNERS SHARE SUCCESS STOR (38)

FORECAST

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See what’s new for 2018 in food, décor, technology and venues

Entertainment and venue options are limitless in Las Vegas (32)

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Off the Beaten Path

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CREATIVE EXPRES

HIP HOTELS

STATUS UPDATE

trends and how CVBs weigh in on planners (26) they best support

Flip to page 30 to meet the Impossible Burger, a plant-based patty that replicates meat.

Minnesota abou with artsy venue

FEELS LIKE HO

littl Find comfort in the and these small hotels

OUT ITS HOTEL BASE DETROIT ROUNDS IQUE HOTELS WITH NEW BOUT

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ADVENTURE ABOUNDS

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MAGS.COM MEETINGS

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SUMMER

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ELEVATE EVENT EXPERIENCES AT THESE 5 MOUNTAIN RESORTS

A G S . C O M // MEETINGSM

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TARIAN VEGAN AND VEGE PACK A RESTAURANTS H FLAVORFU L PUNC

SMALL BUSINESS THEIR OWNERS SHARE SUCCESS STORIES (38)

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PLANNERS GONNA PLAN of

Wear the shoes 4 different industry professionals

CREATIVE EXPRESSION Minnesota abounds (47) with artsy venues

FA L L 2 0 1 7

STAY IN STAMFORD

town This Connecticut from elicits high praise meeting-goers

FEELS LIKE HOME

little things at Find comfort in the and inns (28) these small hotels

Then keep it coming.

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AMERICA’S RIVIERA

Sa mountains in stylish

J

EMPOWERED BY PURPOSE TO

MAKE YOUR VISION OUR MISSION.

Our Team has remained actively engaged behind the scenes, preparing daily to host your next event. We understand the current state of affairs has likely affected your event plans, but rest assured that we’ll be ready when the time is right. The Austin Convention Center staff is continuing to make improvements to our facility, working diligently to make sure we remain the most well-prepared event space in the country.

We can’t wait to show you what we’ve been working on!

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Contents TEXAS MEETINGS + EVENTS MAGAZINE | FALL 2020 / WINTER 2021

FEATURE

19

Work in the Time of Corona Industry leaders reimagine their business plans.

By Teresa Kenney

IN EVERY ISSUE 6 EDITOR’S LETTER 14 DESTINATION The Woodlands is a hometown favorite.

16 VENUE REPORT Team-build like a ranch hand.

34 PEOPLE PROFILE Rodolfo Bianchi offers the recipe to success.

Ultimate Kits delivers meetings to your door

MEETING NOTES

pg 19

8 SIGNATURE DRINK Open Palette’s Local Apple cocktail.

10 IT’S YOUR BIZ How to elevate your hybrid or virtual event. By Mark Miller

INDUSTRY UPDATES HOMETOWN FAVORITE THE EDITOR’S NEW HOMETOWN DOUBLES AS A HUB FOR MEETINGS AND EVENTS. {14}

11 TECHNOLOGY Three San Antonio hotels partner with technology firm weframe.

26 REGIONAL NEWS What’s happening in the local community.

12 HOTEL SPOTLIGHT North Texas welcomes two new hotels with event space.

32 SNAPSHOTS MPI’s World Education Congress comes to Grapevine.

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Compiled by Teresa Kenney

Work in the Time of

CORONA VENUES, VENDORS AND PLANNERS HAVE TAKEN SEVERAL MEASURES TO HOST SAFE MEETINGS.

ON THE COVER

Ellie’s Restaurant at HALL Arts Hotel is open with social distancing practices in place. Photo by e3 Photography

P H O T O : U LT I M AT E K I T S

9 ATTRACTIONS Kalahari Resorts and Conventions opens the country’s largest indoor water park in Round Rock.

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tx.meetingsmags.com

EDITOR T E R E S A K E N N E Y MANAGING EDITOR L A U R E N PA H M E I E R COPYEDITOR S H E R R I H I L D E B R A N DT

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Chris Arredondo, Eclipse Entertainment • Yvette Audrain, Simply Mox • Andy Austin, Andy Austin Entertainment • Kelly Bagnall, Dykema Gossett PLLC • Deborah Elias, Elias Events • Lisa Dalton, Hotel Palomar Dallas • Kevin Foster, Conference & Catering Consultant Services • Christy Hill-Howard, Christy Hill Events Rob Keating, M&M Event Rentals • Steve Kemble, Steve Kemble Event Design • Cindy Lo, Red Velvet Events Inc. • Terri McBride, Austin Convention Center • Jim Monroe, J. Monroe Designs Diana Pfaff, Irving CVB • John Shore, Shore Public Relations Laurie Sprouse, Ultimate Ventures • Leigh Stem, AFR Event Furnishings Dayne Sullivan, Adventures LLC • Marla WatsonWerst, PeaPod Productions

ART DIRECTOR T R AC I Z E L L M A N N

PRINT PRODUCTION DIRECTOR B R I T T N I DY E DIGITAL PRODUCTION DIRECTOR D E I D R A A N D E R S O N PRODUCTION COORDINATOR A L E X KOT L A R E K DIGITAL COORDINATOR A N G E L A B E I S S E L CIRCULATION MANAGER K AT I E R I N G H A N D

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE M E L I SSA D U F F N E Y CREDIT MANAGER A P R I L M CC AU L E Y ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE SPECIALIST C H R I S L E B E N S

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER– NATIONAL SALES R YA N M I L L E R 4 6 9 . 2 6 4 . 7 6 5 7 | R YA N . M I L L E R @ T I G E R OA K .C O M

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EDITOR'S LETTER

Welcome 2021, We’ve Been Waiting for You

Teresa Kenney, editor TERESA.KENNEY@TIGEROAK.COM

IS IT OVER YET? 2020, I MEAN. This doozy of a year has hit the meetings and events industry particularly hard. But as expected, the industry rose to the challenge.

In this issue, we asked industry experts how they were able to pivot during the pandemic. Check out our feature, “Work in the Time of Corona,” on page 19. New programming, innovative safety precautions, and a healthy dose of perseverance have been keeping these companies—and many more—moving forward in these uncertain times.

In our destination article (page 14), I also take you on a little editorial FAM tour of my hometown, The Woodlands. I moved here 13 years ago from out of state and am so proud to call this community and state home.

Also be sure to read our profile on Rodolfo Bianchi (page 34). This past spring, he opened the doors to his new restaurant, The Empanada CookHouse, just as the world was shutting down.

Despite this, he remained persistent and continued catering when on-site seating wasn’t an option.

Today, his restaurant is a Dallas favorite.

In these times of social distancing, space is a valuable commodity. So, head to a Texas ranch— where wide open spaces prevail—for some corporate team building. In this issue’s venue report (page 16), we look at the team-building opportunities at two Texas favorites that cater to corporate and private groups.

And finally, our Snapshots section captures the fun had and precautions taken at MPI’s 2020 World Education Congress held in Grapevine at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center.

Under the theme “Reunite for Recovery,” the event set the bar for future large-scale events, when the world is ready to meet again in person.

Putting together this issue made one thing clear to me: The Texas meetings and events industry will come back from the pandemic stronger than ever. Referring to the Lone Star State, hotelier Conrad Hilton, once said, “There’s a vastness here and I believe that the people who are born here breathe that vastness into their soul. They dream big dreams and think big thoughts, because there is nothing to hem them in.” Let’s continue to dream big dreams and think big thoughts. Because that’s what Texans do.

Cheers,

Find, Friend, Follow

Find us online at tx.meetingsmags.com, and make sure to “like” us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram to stay in the loop between issues. / T XMEE TINGSMAGS

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@T XMEE TINGSMAGS

/MEE TINGSMAGS

/MEE TINGSE VENTSMAGS

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. Complimentary event planning services . Group wine trail, casino and historical tours . Affordable hotel and rental rates . Free Parking

For a Memorable Meeting PHOTO OF 6TH STREET WINERY BY: LEOG PHOTOGRAPHY

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| 940.761.6820

PRODUCTS, PLACES & INSPIRATION

SIGNATURE DRINK»

HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES?

C

To make the Local Apple, combine: ——2 oz. Herman Marshall Whiskey ——1 oz. egg white ——¾ oz. lemon juice ——½ oz. simple syrup ——¼ muddled apple Garnish with a toasted apple moon and a cinnamon sprinkle.

Enjoy!

Courtesy of OPEN PALETTE marriott.com/hotels/travel/ daldh-sheraton-dallas-hotel/

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P H O T O S : I S T O C K . C O M / R I M M A _ B O N D A R E N KO ; ( O P P O S I T E ) K A L A H A R I R E S O R TS ; DA N H A M

ombine two Dallas favorites, stir in one of America’s favorite fresh fruits and what do you get? One tasty cocktail.

Created by a bartender at Sheraton Dallas Hotel’s popular restaurant Open Palette, the Local Apple cocktail is made with whiskey handcrafted

by Dallas distillery Herman Marshall.

ATTRACTIONS»

H2O WHAT FUN

AMERICA’S LARGEST INDOOR WATER PARK OPENS IN HILL COUNTRY.

ROUND ROCK is now home to America’s largest indoor water park: Kalahari Resorts and Conventions. The venue showcases a safari theme and includes 22 life-size sculptures that weigh up to 10,000 pounds each and measure up to 10 feet tall. The collection includes 12 elephants, seven zebras, a mother and baby rhinoceros, and a cape buffalo.

The 350-acre resort complex includes 3 acres of outdoor pools, 975 guest rooms, a 223,000-square-foot water park, 80,000-square-foot Tom Foolerys Adventure Park, five restaurants, 10,000 square feet of retail space, a spa, and 200,000 square feet of flexible meeting space for conventions and events, including a rustic Event Barn. The water park includes 20 pools and whirlpools, 30 waterslides, a rock climbing wall, grotto swim-up bar, cabanas and waterfalls. kalahariresorts.com/texas

TRENDS»

All in a Day’s Work

When you need a break from working remotely.

Are your Zoom work calls punctuated by the frenzied barking of your dog warning you of the shenanigans of a pesky squirrel? Do you long for the days when dressing up for work does not include choosing between pajamas and sweatpants? Are you tired of your office colleagues referring to you as “mom” or “dad” and refusing to pick up their rooms? Well, Sheraton Dallas Hotel in Downtown Dallas might just have the solution: its Work Anywhere Day Pass and Stay Pass options.

The Work Anywhere Day Pass provides guests with the ability to work during the day at the hotel in the privacy of a standard guest room or a suite room, offering a private workspace and peace and quiet.

The pass starts at $84 per day for standard

guest rooms and $150 per day for a suite room, and includes 6 a.m. check-in and 6 p.m. checkout, enhanced Wi-Fi and connectivity, and complimentary bottled water.

Those of you who really need some personal space can work all day and stay the night with the Work Anywhere Stay Pass. Guests will be able to take advantage of hotel amenities and unwind in comfort.

Rates for the Work Anywhere Stay Pass start at $174 per night for standard rooms and $218 for junior suites.

Sheraton Dallas Hotel is the largest hotel in North Texas with 1,840 guest rooms and 230,000 square feet of flexible meeting and convention space. It is located in Downtown Dallas, right off the DART Pearl/ Arts District station. marriott.com

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PRODUCTS, PLACES & INSPIRATION

IT’S YOUR BIZ»

SKILLED A/V PARTNERS ELEVATE HYBRID AND VIRTUAL EVENTS

VIRTUAL AND HYBRID EVENTS will be the norm for quite some time. To effectively host an event that is completely virtual or hybrid, meeting planners will need to partner with a skilled audio-visual (A/V) team to provide the technical expertise

Although virtual events may feel different, they are powerful and scalable—allowing people from around the world to gather remotely. With a hybrid meeting, you can engage both the in-person and remote viewer in a meaningful way. A skilled audio-visual team understands the technical wizardry that is required to bring everything and everyone together, using a combination of professional equipment and software platforms. They will help you navigate the new landscape when it comes to the planning, coordination and execution of your virtual or hybrid event, guaranteeing a professional result that will impress your audience and presenters.

When done right, virtual and hybrid events are engagement-driven, value-added experiences that produce results extending past the screen, generating revenue and supplying recorded sessions that can be used for future promotional opportunities.

Good show flow and scripting are critical for both in-person and virtual events. Professional moderation is the key to creating engaging virtual events that “flow.” During a virtual event, “stage management” comes in the form of carefully timed introductions for videos and presentations, interacting in the comments field and creating a two-way experience for attendees that runs on time.

Speaker coaching is also critical in virtual settings and differs depending on how the presenter will interact with the audience. Your A/V partner will guide presenters through individual “tech checks” to orientate them to the platform, show them how to share documents and make sure their presenta-

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tion is displayed in an engaging way. They will also work with presenters to confirm there are not any connectivity or speed issues that will negatively impact the presentations, as well as advise the virtual presenter about posture, dress code and maintaining eye contact.

To support the live audience, your A/V partner will oversee the chat for those needing technical assistance, create a queue to take live questions and manage audience polling.

Not offering a virtual component in today’s environment is a mistake—attendees expect an option to join virtually. For meeting planners, that means budgeting for elements of livestream or other types of webcasting in addition to anticipated, in-person A/V event costs.

Think of your A/V partner as an extension of your team who enables you to focus on other elements of your event. With all the moving parts in hybrid or virtual events, planners shouldn’t have to worry about the technology—that’s for your A/V partner to handle.

Mark Miller is president of the Rental and Staging Network (RSN) and president and CEO of Markey’s Rental & Staging, a national rental and staging company, headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. With more than 35 years of experience in the event technology business, he leads RSN, a top-tier network of live event production companies throughout North America. The network allows event planners and producers to access the very best in live event production throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.

P H O T O S : ( O P P O S I T E ) I N T E G R AT E D V I R A L P R O T E C T I O N A I R ; W E F R A M E

and show production knowledge.

SAFETY»

BREATHE EASY

Integrated Viral Protection is deployed in Texas.

In a continued effort to put the health and safety of their employees and visitors first and foremost, InterContinental - Houston Medical Center, the Texas A&M Health Science Center, and George R. Brown (GRB) Convention Center have all deployed the Integrated Viral Protection (IVP) Air system.

The IVP Air heated-air filtration system is a mobile, plug-and-purify device proven to eliminate SARS-CoV-2 (99.999 percent), anthrax spores (99.8 percent) and other

airborne contaminants through a heated filter that does not impact the temperature of the ambient air.

IVP founder and inventor, Monzer Hourani, has a background in physics, science and engineering. He developed the advanced biodefense system in partnership with Dr. Zhifeng Ren, director of the Superconductivity Center of Texas at the University of Houston, and other scientists at the University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston National Lab and

University of Texas A&M Engineering and Experiment Station. The journal Materials Today Physics published a peer-reviewed study confirming the system effectively eliminates actual SARS-CoV-2 (the virus causing COVID-19), anthrax spores and other airborne contaminants. The research has been publicly supported by research faculty at the Argonne National Laboratory and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

In a statement, Jay Caiafa, chief operating officer, Americas, InterContinental Hotels Group, said: “The safety and wellbeing of our guests and colleagues is core to the True Hospitality we deliver each day— and we know that a priority on cleanliness is more important now than ever before as travel returns. Throughout the response to COVID-19, we have built on an already strong heritage of cleanliness and hygiene by implementing a variety of enhanced processes based on the guidance of health authorities and industry-leading experts and exploring where technology can make a difference. In bringing this innovative IVP Air technology to the InterContinental Houston – Medical Center, we are pleased to support the efforts of owner Monzer Hourani and his team as they offer guests, colleagues and visitors even further confidence in a safe, comfortable hotel experience.”

Get Connected INTEGRATED VIRAL PROTECTION AIR ivpair.com

TECHNOLOGY»

Virtually In-Person

THREE SAN ANTONIO HOTELS INTRODUCE HYBRID MEETING TECHNOLOGY. To help support the recovery of the San Antonio hotel market, meeting room technology firm weframe has partnered with Hilton Palacio del Rio, Embassy Suites by Hilton San Antonio Landmark and Embassy Suites by Hilton San Antonio Airport to offer its weframe One technology. Weframe One is a next-generation meeting room technology that replaces projectors, monitors, flip charts, whiteboards, sticky notes and more with one cloud-based solution. It is also revenue generating, meaning hotels and other meeting spaces don’t pay for the device itself, but offer it to customers through a pay-per-use model.

“We are excited to collaborate with weframe at our Hilton Palacio del Rio, Embassy Suites

by Hilton San Antonio Landmark and Embassy Suites by Hilton San Antonio Airport properties in Texas,” says Brian Getman in a statement, vice president of sales and revenue for Zachry Hospitality, which manages the Hilton hotels in San Antonio. “Providing our clients with a hybrid meeting solution will bridge the desire for traditional in-person meetings with the ability to incorporate today’s need for a virtual one. Face-to-face business meetings have never been more flexible.” hilton.com

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PRODUCTS, PLACES & INSPIRATION

HOTEL SPOTLIGHT»

NOW OPEN

North Texas welcomes two new hotels.

I

n November, Dallas-based Todd Interests opened Thompson Dallas, part of hospitality brand Thompson Hotels. Thompson Dallas features 219 rooms, including 52 suites, two penthouse suites, and two culinary destinations.

The hotel is located at 205 N. Akard St. in the historic George Dahl-designed building, The National. The National is a $460 million preservation project and the largest adaptive reuse project in the history of Texas.

Thompson Dallas guest rooms average over 700 square feet and feature walnut and brass headboards that echo restoration efforts,

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blue lacquered walls, and rich leather upholstered furniture. The fourth floor National Ballroom has 14,000 square feet of uninterrupted space, three walls of floor-to-ceiling windows, 20-foot ceilings, private suites that overlook the space, as well as the ability to load in directly to the ballroom. Two acres of indoor-outdoor space on the ninth floor are home to a full-service spa, fitness and wellness center, and a resort-style pool, as well as Nine at The National, a casual daily dining venue that serves breakfast and lunch. The 10th floor features Catbird, a restaurant, lounge and rooftop bar.

Thompson Dallas’ lobby amenities include Tondeo Hair Lounge, a three-chair barbershop, as well as the floral design studio and workshop, The Botanical Mix. Also opening its doors in North Texas is Grapevine’s Hotel Vin, the city’s first boutique luxury hotel. Part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, the property has more

than 20,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, including the Bordeaux ballroom, and an additional 38,000 square feet at its outdoor plaza. Hotel Vin features 120 guest rooms, including six suites and one presidential suite, as well as Bacchus Kitchen + Bar, an all-day dining venue and full-service bar. Additional amenities include the Rioja Rooftop Terrace and the on-site wine tasting room, Riedel Room.

Hotel Vin is connected to Harvest Hall, an expansive European-style food hall and entertainment destination. It is also located in front of the new TEXRail line, which connects DFW International Airport to downtown Fort Worth.

Get connected THOMPSON DALLAS | hyatt.com HOTEL VIN | hotelvin.com

P H OTO S : H OT E L V I N ; A B BY M O R G A N

Top: Hotel Vin; Bottom: Thompson Dallas

MEET EET DOWNTOWN. DOWNTOWN. DOWN

It’s a new age! Let us introduce you to PROGRESSIVE MEETINGS. Spread out with larger spaces and open air options. Choose from historical buildings, museums and more. Let our experienced visionaries help to guide you through our downtown for your next meeting.

Meet innovative. Meet unique. MEETBEAUMONT.COM

Freddie Willard, TDM Director of Sales 800-392-4401 Freddie.Willard@beaumonttexas.gov

DESTINATION THE WOODLANDS

Clockwise: The Woodlands Resort has 60,000 square feet of meeting space. Woodforest Bank Club overlooks the worldfamous Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. The Westin at The Woodlands features a prime location and luxury amenities.

The Woodlands’ community spirit offers a warm welcome for groups. B Y T E R E S A K E N N E Y SEVEN YEARS AGO, I moved to The Woodlands from out of state to be closer to family. What I was hoping to find was a familial connection that had been missing ever since I moved away from Indiana, where I was born and raised. What I found, however, was so much more: An eclectic, diverse and welcoming community that I am so proud to call home. I also found a wonderful destination for meetings and events.

Located less than 30 miles from Houston and George Bush Intercontinental Airport, The Woodlands is surrounded in nature yet imbued with urban culture and amenities.

It also has a range of accommodations and venues to choose from. “With some of the best hotel and meeting spaces around, The Woodlands is a great location for planners and attendees alike,” says Josie Lewis, director of

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sales for Visit The Woodlands.

W H E R E T O S TAY Here are some spots to consider staying at when you’re in my “new” hometown:

The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Featuring 345 rooms and 66,000 square feet

of event space, The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel is within walking distance of Market Street (an open-air retail village), The Woodlands Mall, The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, cinemas and a variety of dining destinations. The hotel has a full-service spa, fitness center and numerous on-site dining options.

The Woodlands Resort Located on Lake Harrison, The Woodlands Resort features 402 rooms, lagoon-style pools, tennis courts, restaurants, bars, a lazy river and golf course access. It also includes 60,000 square feet of meeting space, including the 13,430-square-foot Grand Ballroom.

The Westin at The Woodlands The 302-room Westin at The Woodlands offers more than 28,000 square feet of meeting space and a prime walking location near entertainment, restaurants and outdoor recreation.

P H OTO S : V I S I T T H E WO O D L A N D S

HOMETOWN FAVORITE

BY THE NUMBERS

220 MILES OF HIKING AND BIKING PATHWAYS 4,445 ACRES OF OPEN SPACE 60-plus ANNUAL SPECIAL EVENTS 109,000-plus RESIDENTS 1974—THE YEAR THE WOODLANDS WAS FOUNDED 200 ACRES—THE SIZE OF LAKE WOODLANDS

level adventure course, which neighbors the 1,800-acre George Mitchell Nature Preserve.

It’s also available for private events or corporate team-building activities.

Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

For team-building or a fun post-meeting activity, check out Texas TreeVentures.

Hyatt Centric Overlooking the outdoor shopping and lifestyle center Market Street, the 72-room Hyatt Centric is a boutique full-service hotel.

Amenities include a fitness center, infinity pool, destination dining, and approximately 3,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space.

WHERE TO MEET Want to meet off-site? Here are some venues to consider:

Woodforest Bank Club Located at the world-famous Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, the Woodforest Bank Club offers more than 1,600 square feet of event space and two patio decks overlooking the Pavilion stage.

The Pavilion Event Center Also located at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, this multi-purpose, 21,000-square-

foot facility has two movable walls allowing for the space to be divided into three separate rooms, each offering state-of-the-art multimedia capabilities. The event center also has its own entrance and restaurants.

The Woodlands Country Club Offering golf course views and seating for more than 300 people, the country club has a number of private rooms available for VIP receptions or lunch or breakfast meetings.

W H AT T O D O Post-meeting recreation in The Woodlands ranges from high-brow to high-wire.

Glade Gallery Showcasing contemporary artists in a bright, open space, Glade Gallery also hosts weekly live music.

Texas TreeVentures Texas TreeVentures is an outdoor aerial, three-

One of the top outdoor amphitheaters in the world, the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion has hosted an impressive list of performers, including Jimmy Buffett, Dave Matthews Band, Bruce Springsteen, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, Ozzy Osbourne, Jack Johnson, Alabama, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Kenny Chesney. The pavilion also hosts community events, movie nights and performances by the Houston Symphony, Houston Ballet and Houston Grand Opera.

Riva Row Boathouse/Lakes Edge Boat House Take to Lake Woodlands via Riva Row Boathouse or Lakes Edge Boat House, where you can rent stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, swan boats or water bikes.

For post-meeting exploring on their own, your guests can hop on the complimentary The Woodlands Trolley, which will connect them to The Woodlands Mall, Market Street, Town Center, The Woodlands Waterway, and Hughes Landing’s restaurant row and hotels.

Need more help navigating the area? Lewis encourages planners to “Reach out to us anytime so we can help make your planning process a breeze.”

Get Connected VISIT THE WOODLANDS visitthewoodlands.com

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VENUE REPORT RANCH-HAND TEAM-BUILDING ACTIVITIES

RANCH HANDS Lasso up some team-building.

BY TERESA KENNEY

FOR MORE THAN 300 YEARS, ranching has been a way of life—and business—in Texas. The uniquely Texan ranch experience has captured the imagination of the world, and ranches have served as uncredited “stars” for some of Hollywood’s most iconic productions: from Reata, the fictitious ranch depicted in the classic movie “Giant,” to the glamorous Southfork Ranch, home of the primetime soap opera “Dallas.” Longhorns, horses, cowboys, rodeos, 10-gallon hats and cowboy boots: There is an alluring mystique surrounding Texas ranches. So, fully immerse your out-of-state guests in this quintessential Lone Star adventure by heading to a ranch for some good, old-fashioned team-building. As an added bonus, the wide open spaces of “land, lots of land” also encourage an open-air, socially distanced environment.

So, saddle up and check out the team-building activities available at these two Texas ranches.

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P H OTO S : P E D R OT T I ’ S R A N C H ; (O P P O S I T E ) C I R C L E R R A N C H

Pedrotti’s Ranch is located near San Antonio and has its own 16,000-plus-square-foot rodeo arena. Event featured was held prior to COVID-19 restrictions.

CIRCLE R RANCH Set on 60 acres of rolling hills and pastures, Circle R Ranch is easily accessible from the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center for conventions and conferences looking for some off-site team building. The ranch offers a number of options for bringing groups together including:

Cowboy Up Rodeo Challenge Working together as a team under the direction of one of Circle R’s facilitators, teams compete in various ranch activity options, such as rollo roping, target shooting and barrel racing. You can also check out the “The Amazin’ Cattle Pen Maze,” a 5,000-squarefoot wooden maze that challenges team members to assist and motivate each other while navigating the labyrinth’s twists and turns.

Chili Cook-Off Ready to chow down, chuckwagon style? Spice up your team-building program with a chili cook-off. Teams compete to win “Chili Bucks,” which they can use to purchase ingredients to whip up their championship recipes.

Biker Build-Off Through Circle R’s Great Biker Build-Off, your participants will compete in a series of challenges including Road Trip, Trivia, and What’s That Part to earn “Biker Bucks,” which can then be used to buy the parts and tools to build a bike. This fun and interactive company experience not only builds a strong team connection, but also has an equally powerful result: the customized bicycles are donated to children in need.

And if you’d like to conduct some meetings between team-building, the ranch can take care of that, as well. Its 27,000-square-foot Western Pavilion accommodates from 100 to 5,000 guests and includes a game room, stage, on-site catering and a 5,000-square-foot covered patio.

For smaller groups, Circle R’s 5,000-squarefoot Chisholm Ranch House features a main room with a fireplace and elevated stage, as

Circle R Ranch’s team-building activities include the Cowboy Up Rodeo Challenge. Event featured was held prior to COVID-19 restrictions.

well as an adjoining sun room and an outdoor, covered veranda with views of grazing horses and longhorn steers.

PEDROTTI’S R ANCH Enjoy a hearty breakfast and a breakout session before getting down to team-building business at Pedrotti’s Ranch near San Antonio.

The venue has spaces of up to 30,000 square feet and can accommodate groups from 50 to 2,000. Large conferences and conventions can go from plenary session to breakouts to lunch to breakout to team-building activities without ever having to leave the property.

Team-building activities include game shows (“Family Feud,” “Jeopardy”), cooking competitions (Chili Cook-Off, Top Chef Challenge, Margarita Pour-Off), stand-alone games (cornhole, horseshoes, Jenga, Ping Pong), and talent shows (“American Idol”), as well as Tee Pee Builds and Texas Hold ’em. For the full Texan experience, your guests can even sit back and cheer on a rodeo in Pedrotti’s full-featured, private, 16,200-square-foot rodeo arena, complete with bleacher seating.

The ranch has a number of facilities where groups can cross off all of those agenda items,

too. The 12,000-square-foot Shooting Star offers easy access to both the rodeo arena and The Corral, an enclosed patio. It includes a bar and a stage (post-team-building awards ceremony, perhaps?).

The 7,500-square-foot Corral is perfect for overflow—or added social distancing—and features an outdoor, covered patio. The largest facility, the Lone Oak, is 14,400 square feet, and can accommodate up to 1,500 guests. It has a stage and a bar, as well.

Spaces can be rented solo or combined for larger events. The ranch also offers virtual team-building and high capacity Wi-Fi, and can equip your meeting with A/V screens, projectors, audio sound systems and stage lighting.

What’s that saying? Everything’s bigger in Texas? That’s certainly true of team-building, Texas ranch-style.

Get Connected CIRCLE R RANCH Circlerranch.org PEDROTTI’S RANCH pedrottis.com

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WOR K Texans are a resourceful bunch, and that goes double for

IN THE Texans in the meetings and events industry.

TIME OF We sat down with some of our industry’s biggest hitters to learn

CORONA how they pivoted quickly to respond to this year’s health crisis.

BY TER ESA KENNEY

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In 2020, Houston First Corp. (HFC) reported that the city was slated to host 252 meetings and 611,000 room nights. By March 14, the Bayou City had already hosted 115 conventions and 137,400 room nights. Then the pandemic hit, and meetings and events across the country came

We asked Michael Heckman, acting president and CEO of Houston First Corp. (HFC) how the health crisis has influenced the organization’s business model moving forward.

How has your organization pivoted its work with meeting and event planners since the pandemic?

Houston First is a unique model in the destination management space. Like most other convention and visitors bureaus, we are responsible for sales, marketing and branding for our city. But, in addition, we own and manage more than 10 city-owned buildings and properties and also oversee a major parking management operation for more than 10,000 vehicles. Given the historic crisis that every destination is facing, our corporate model presents both challenges and opportunities.

I want to focus on the opportunities.

I have challenged my team to develop innovative and creative ways that we can reimagine and redefine our business model, goals and strategies.

Our sales team is working aggressively to stay connected with meeting planners and clients. We are rescheduling as many meetings and conferences as possible.

As we look to the future, we are assisting meeting planners to adjust their space requirements given projected attendance and incorporating the new safety social distancing guidelines.

In the long term, we have developed a Houston First Task Force to develop new ways to add value for meeting planners and our stakeholders. Our strategy includes: » Houston Clean: This city-wide initiative is a cooperative effort between Houston First and our hospitality partners. It provides guidelines which serve as a baseline commitment to practice recommended health safety protocols in alignment with

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orders issued by federal, state and local officials, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. » Avenida Houston Virtual Broadcast Studio: This new 5,250-square-foot, state-of-the-art permanent studio is designed to host virtual events and livestreaming conferences and is located inside the George R. Brown (GRB) Convention Center.

Your digital or hybrid event can include any number of presenters or panel members, with or without an audience. Individual presenters can be integrated from any location. Small groups, panels and audiences can be included from a studio location or multiple live locations.

We provide these services either independently or in coordination with internal IT teams, wherever they are located. Our capabilities are accessible to online, direct feed and satellite broadcast modalities.

We can also include chat, polling and interactivity options on various platforms. » Integrated Viral Protection: In early September, the GRB Convention Center was the first convention center in the country to deploy the Integrated Viral Protection (IVP) system, which includes three mobile units in the studio. This initiative is in partnership with Monzer Hourani, inventor and founder of IVP and CEO of Medistar Corporation.

IVP introduced the world’s first biodefense filtration technology proven to eliminate SARS-CoV-2 (99.999%), anthrax spores (99.8 percent) and other airborne contaminants through a heated filter without impacting the temperature of the ambient air. » Thermal Scanning: We have installed thermal scanners at all 15 entrances of the GRB Convention Center. An additional 15 devices will be installed at entrances across the remaining HFC-owned facilities. The NUCTECH infrared face temperature screening system FeverBlock provides a non-contact solution for large-scene temperature measurement

P H OTO S : (O P P O S I T E ) V I S I T H O U S TO N

to a screeching halt.

» Located in the George R. Brown Convention Center, the Avenida Houston Virtual Broadcast studio hosts virtual events and livestreaming conferences.

and screening. The device can locate the face and avoid interference from unrelated high-temperature objects, using a combination of infrared thermal imaging and visible light imaging technologies. The system will automatically alert if abnormal body temperature is detected. » Electrostatic Spraying: Electrostatic sprayers can clean up to 54,000 square feet of surface area per hour, reducing labor and chemical resources. The GRB now has 20 EMist 360 electrostatic disinfectant sprayers, which will be used at the end of each day to sanitize all common areas throughout the GRB, as well as meeting rooms used during events. An additional eight sprayers will be available for use in HFC-owned venues in the theater district.

What is your outlook for the future of the meetings and events industry?

Houston is resilient and we look forward to the return of business. We know that the landscape of our industry will change, and while in-person meetings will not go away, the needs of meeting planners will look differently. We are a city of innovators, and we are adapting to meet those needs quickly and fully. » Visit Houston | Visithouston.com/meetings

Located in Dallas-Fort Worth, Ultimate Ventures assists clients with a full range of services, including special events, team-building, group excursions, dine-arounds, and transportation logistics and management. On average, the award-winning company manages approximately 160 client programs each year, with program attendance ranging from a few dozen to more than 8,000 participants. This year started out strong, with Ultimate Ventures’ President Laurie Sprouse, CITE, CMP, DMCP, noting that the first two months of 2020 were “perhaps the best in

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What was the immediate effect of the pandemic on your business?

As we have seen throughout our company’s history, the hospitality industry is often the first to feel the effects of an economic downturn—usually before anyone is even talking about any significant concerns. We tend to feel it first because companies start pulling back or modifying their meeting and travel expenditures before they are overtly talking about economic challenges. However, the impact of the pandemic was almost immediate for our company.

In February, a few clients began reaching out to discuss the possibility of canceling their upcoming programs. By the middle of March, every program leading up to May had canceled or postponed. At that time, we had to make the tough decision to lay off or furlough nearly half of our staff. By the end of May, every program through the beginning of September had either canceled or postponed to 2021 or beyond. Once the virus began spiking in July, the rest of the year started to cancel.

We are now largely looking to late February and March before we expect significant programs to return.

How has your organization pivoted its work with meeting and event planners since the pandemic?

» Ultimate Ventures 972.732.8433 ultimateventures.com » Ultimate Kits 888.463.2580 ultimatekits.com » Lagniappe Productions 817.337.1882 lagniappeproductions.com

Our team did not waste any time waiting to see how the pandemic would play out. By the middle of April, we were beta testing a new business plan with business colleagues. We’ve always created custom experiences, so we effectively decided to put those in a box for our clients to send to their employees, clients and prospects when their meetings went virtual.

We officially launched our new company, Ultimate Kits, in May. We unveiled thoughtful and customized packages delivered to people’s doorsteps beginning with a Virtual Meeting Kit. Partnering with long-term local vendors, as well as some new resources, we have created a line of kits ranging from a State Fair Kit to a Texas Game Night Kit. Through Ultimate Kits we have been able to assist our clients pivoting to the virtual meeting world as well as partner with new clients looking for unique ways to make meaningful connections with their employees and clients.

What is your outlook for the future of the industry?

We are realistic about the future outlook for our

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industry and know it is going to take a long time to get back to any semblance of “normal.” Even then, it likely will not look the same as it did before the pandemic.

We believe that it is going to take not only time but some extra steps from Congress to provide additional assistance to our industry in order to sustain companies and their employees through this period.

I have joined forces with other industry leaders to launch the Texas Chapter of the Live Events Coalition. The national and state coalitions are bringing leaders in the industry together to advocate on behalf of the entire live events industry.

The Texas Live Events Coalition was the first state coalition to stage a silent “Empty Event” installation to bring media and political attention to our industry.

Set on the lawn of the Omni Dallas Hotel, the “Empty Event” was held to give a voice to the 12 million Americans who are employed in the live events industry and to ask Congress to take action to support our industry. Similar events have since been staged in New York City, Washington, D.C., San Diego and Colorado.

In Texas, the live events industry includes over 30,000 small businesses and over 1 million employees. Live events contribute over $1 trillion annually to the American economy and most live events businesses are down at least 80 percent with certain sectors, such as those dedicated to live corporate meetings and events, being completely disrupted.

Founded in 1978, Lagniappe Productions produces and provides live entertainment at approximately 250 corporate events annually, as well as at major amusement parks nationwide, including Six Flags, SeaWorld San Antonio and Stone Mountain.

The company also owns two traveling stunt shows which provide entertainment for major fairs all across North America. What Lagniappe may be best known for, however, is its Texas Star Dinner Theater located on Main Street in historic downtown Grapevine. In total, with 94 actors on its roster and a full-time administrative staff, Lagniappe produces 1,000-1,600 performances each year.

Over the years the company has received rave reviews on Tripadvisor and was also named “Best Entertainment Production Company” in Texas three years in a row by readers of Texas Meetings + Events.

Owner and president Chris Whatley shared with us how his company is reimagining its offerings for today’s new “normal.”

P H O T O S : ( O P P O S I T E ) U LT I M AT E K I T S ; L A G N I A P P E P R O D U C T I O N S

our 27 years of business.” She shares how her company has responded to these unprecedented times.

What was the immediate effect of the pandemic on your company?

In March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a “shut down,” every single aspect of Lagniappe’s business came to a halt. We were forced to close the Texas Star Dinner Theater. Twelve hours prior to launching our traveling stunt show, “Tumbleweed Crossing,” to a well-known fair, we received a call informing us the fair would be forced to cancel. Since that time in March every fair contract, equaling more than 100 performance days, has canceled.

Additionally, when the pandemic hit, Lagniappe was sitting on over 100 contracts for corporate entertainment booked into November. By mid-April all corporate contracts had canceled. By the end of April our amusement park partners informed us they were cancelling all live entertainment for 2020.

Because Lagniappe is family-owned, our staff and talent are family as well. It was a difficult decision, but Lagniappe was forced to reduce our office staff by 50 percent. And all 94 of our performers were suddenly without work, as well. In the span of less than six weeks, Lagniappe Productions went from annual revenues measured in seven digits to zero. The end result of COVID-19 for Lagniappe is the loss of 90 percent of all revenue for the entire year.

Are you now open for business?

Lagniappe has been able to reopen the Texas Star Dinner Theater in Grapevine at 50 percent capacity.

Additionally, 80 percent of our corporate entertainment options are available with COVID-19 safety measures in place to keep guests safe. With the help of venues maintaining social distancing, we can still safely offer services from line dance instruction to quick draw to live cowboy music. More information

about our COVID-19 safe entertainment options are outlined on our website.

» (Left) Ultimate Kits bring the meeting to your meeting attendee’s doorstep.

How have you pivoted since the pandemic?

» (Right) Lagniappe Productions is an awardwinning live entertainment company based in North Texas.

Thankfully, Lagniappe Productions is a debt-free company, and we own our office building; so Lagniappe is still in business. However, “in business” without any income and continuing to pay overhead is not sustainable. While brainstorming ways to “re-invent” ourselves, Paula Eyre (our theater manager) came up with the idea of a virtual murder mystery. We wanted to find a way to connect with our audiences and allow for interaction similar to the way we do during our live theater performances. It had to be more than just a movie or a game; it had to be both. The solution? Derailed and Departed: A Virtual Murder Mystery: An online interactive comedy-murder mystery movie game that allows families and friends to gather at home or via a group conferencing platform such as Zoom, watch the scenes unfold, listen for clues, choose questions to ask suspects, and try to solve the mystery. Depending upon which paths a player chooses, there are a total of 28 different versions of the same game. The next step will be to create a live teambuilding version for companies to maintain a sense of teamwork and camaraderie while working remotely.

What is your outlook for the future of our industry?

It will take years to rebuild an industry that is based on social interaction. Some things will never be as they were before, but that’s not always a bad thing.

Ingenuity comes when reinvention is necessary for survival. We hope that our virtual murder mystery is one step towards reconnecting people and bringing a sense of joy during a bleak time for our country.

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» HALL Arts Hotel | 214.953.1717 | Hallartshotel.com

Describe your event space.

The space includes five multi-purpose indoor and outdoor spaces: The 2,500-square-foot Grand HALL Ballroom is the largest venue on-site and is equipped with cutting-edge technology, eye-catching Lasvit chandeliers, commissioned artwork by Claire Woods and floor-to-ceiling windows. Connected to the ballroom is the Urban Garden, an outdoor extension allowing for an additional 1,250 square feet of space.

The 1,800-square-foot highly designed Flora HALL is ideal for smaller corporate or social gatherings, featuring breathtaking views of the Winspear Opera House and Meyerson Symphony Center and commissioned pieces from Lincoln Schatz and Lava Thomas.

The Sculpture HALL offers 780 square feet of meeting space with natural light and original artwork from Antonius-Tín Bui. The HALL Arts Boardroom is a multi-use space for executive meetings and private dining. The 513-square-foot room features a hanging sculpture

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from Tomas Saraceno and incomparable views of the Texas Sculpture Walk.

How have you pivoted since the pandemic?

HALL Arts Hotel has been hosting events in socially distanced meeting spaces and with updated room diagrams. Additionally, we have implemented new COVID-19 sanitation procedures as recommended by the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and we are limiting capacity based on mandates from local government.

What is your outlook for the future of the events industry?

We are excited for the future of hospitality, particularly given our location in the heart of the Arts District in Dallas. We are starting to see demand, as area museums and performance venues thoughtfully reopen around us. Our team was honored to have hosted several intimate weddings and events this summer. We look forward to continuing to host meetings and events where participants feel safe, attended to and inspired by our new property.

In 2019, Lakeway Resort and Spa hosted 212 group meetings and events which exceeded the prior year. The resort began 2020 ahead of 2019’s pace. It

P H O T O S : E 3 P H O T O G R A P H Y ; ( O P P O S I T E ) L A K E WAY R E S O R T & S PA

Located in the Dallas Arts District, HALL Arts Hotel offers 6,000 square feet of meeting and event space. Opened in December 2019, mere months before the pandemic hit, the hotel was booking social and corporate events for groups sized 10 to 200. We spoke with Maxine Pigott, marketing manager for HALL Arts, about the health and safety precautions the hotel has implemented.

was expected to be an incredible year, with potentially record-breaking results. Blake Doran, area general manager for the venue, tells us how his resort has fared during the health crisis.

Describe your meeting space.

Lakeway Resort and Spa offers extensive meeting and event space, including over 24,000 square feet and 18 spaces for pre-functions, meetings, weddings and events, accommodating a range of gatherings from 10 to 300. Notable ballroom spaces include: » Vistas Ballroom: A 5,150-square-foot space suspended 150 feet above Lake Travis with a wrap-around terrace, vaulted ceilings and dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows. It is a great fit for general meetings, classroom-style training or elegant dining affairs. » Rio Ballroom: A 5,800-square-foot general session room at the lobby level with easy access to guest room floors. It is fit for large presentations with classroom- or theater-style seating. » Colorado Ballroom: A 4,000-square-foot space located just below TR Restaurant Bar and Lounge.

Built to break down into three smaller rooms, the conference center is fit for any business event.

What was the immediate effect of the pandemic on your resort?

The beginning of the pandemic was extremely challenging, and Lakeway Resort and Spa lost 95 percent of all group meetings and events, as well as leisure business. It was devastating and an immediate eye opener that we must adapt and change the way we operate to survive. We did not close our operation, but unfortunately had to furlough 95 percent of our team and close various outlets and amenities. Our staff and our industry were extremely impacted and continue to be impacted by this pandemic.

Is business picking back up?

The beginning of May is when our leisure business bounced back, and Lakeway Resort and Spa began to exceed monthly occupancies of 70 percent. We have taken many steps and actions to ensure the safety and well-being of our associates and guests.

We created the program UltraTouch by Remington Hotels that places extreme focus on retraining, safety, PPE, and sanitation/deep cleaning of all guest and associate high-touch points in all areas of the entire resort.

We have implemented fun and structured social distancing measures in all meeting rooms to ensure meetings and events planners feel extremely safe while hosting their events.

Food and beverage had the opportunity to be innovative and creative with their presentation.

Safety was top priority, while at the same time delivering spectacular flavors.

We have the option to deliver virtual meetings through our audio-visual company, JSAV, as well.

» (Left) HALL Arts Hotel showcases 6,000 square feet of meeting and event space. » (Right) Floor-to-ceiling windows grace Lakeway Resort & Spa’s Vistas Ballroom.

What is your outlook for the future of the hospitality industry?

I am optimistic and believe that our industry will continue to improve month by month. It will be a slow process, but signs of recovery are ahead of us. I believe that hospitality and the event industry will be impacted through the first quarter of 2021, and then we will begin to see the true signs of recovery in the second quarter of 2021. Our industry should see 2019 results by 2023, and I strongly believe that our industry will adapt and execute outstanding processes to ensure people feel safe to travel and conduct meetings and events once again. » Lakeway Resort & Spa 512.261.6600 | lakewayresortandspa.com TX.MEETINGSMAGS.COM

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REGIONAL NEWS

MEETING INCENTIVES»

Heavenly Incentives HYATT REGENCY HILL COUNTRY RESORT AND SPA

History Lesson El Paso’s historic property Hotel Paso del Norte (Marriott Autograph Collection) has been undergoing a multimillion-dollar, multi-year renovation to bring it to the grandeur of yesteryear with a wide array of modern amenities. The hotel will be among the world’s first Marriott Autograph Collection Hotels to install a state-of-the-art air filtration system throughout the hotel’s entire HVAC system. The Plasma Air system has been shown to kill 99 percent of bacteriophage in the air after 10 minutes of use. Common areas, bars, restaurants, hallways, ballrooms, meeting rooms, spa and fitness rooms, and all guest rooms will utilize the filtration system.

Nestled aside the Franklin mountains of El Paso, Hotel Paso del Norte was originally built in 1912 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The property has 351 guest rooms, three restaurants and 33,000 square feet of meeting and event space. The hotel showcases more than a century of architectural treasures, including the restored bronze statue of Mexican General Pancho Villa, a 25-foot Tiffany-style glass dome ceiling, and the 10th floor overlook where people would gather to safely watch the escapades of Pancho Villa during the Mexican Revolution. hotelpdn.com

COMING SOON»

Hotel Drover to Open in 2021 The Fort Worth Stockyards will be welcoming HOTEL DROVER in early 2021. Located just steps away from the Mule Alley district, the hotel will offer 200 rooms and suites, 12,000 square feet of meeting space, retail, and 2 acres of outdoor living space with a pool, courtyards, fire pits, music stage, and outdoor games. hoteldrover.com

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P H O T O S : H O T E L PA S O D E L N O R T E ; H YAT T

RENOVATION NEWS»

near downtown San Antonio is introducing its “7th Heaven” incentive to its meeting options for 2020 and 2021 meetings. When planners book the promotion, they receive six meeting add-ons paired with one meeting enhancement of their choice. The add-ons include one complimentary hour of wellness activities, a golf and spa package for two guests, a complimentary planning or board meeting for up to six people including a one-night stay, complimentary basic Wi-Fi in the general session, 10 percent off of current banquet menus excluding alcohol, and double World of Hyatt points, up to 100,000. Planners can also select one of the following meeting enhancements: a one-hour complimentary beer and wine reception or a 3 percent rebate on all paid guest rooms. The “7th Heaven at Hyatt Hill Country” program is available for meetings with at least 100 rooms that are booked and held before December 31, 2021. hyatt.com

REGIONAL NEWS

Delta Hotels by Marriott™ Dallas Southlake

NOW OPEN»

New Venues to Choose From DELTA HOTELS BY MARRIOTT™ DALLAS SOUTHLAKE has opened for business. The hotel features 240 guest rooms, complimentary Wi-Fi throughout, hydration stations on each floor, a chef-inspired grab-and-go food market, a 24-hour elite pantry, a premium full-service fitness center, an outdoor pool and lounge area, and the restaurant Sky Creek Kitchen and Bar. In addition, the six-story hotel includes 10,000 square feet of meeting and conference space, including the Chisholm Trail Ballroom.

Hotel Magdalena

Taking design inspiration from swimming holes in Austin and 1970s lakeside culture, the Magdalena features four buildings connected by outdoor walkways and courtyards dotted with porches to create a treehouse feel inside the grounds, which also include a rock quarry and 900-square-foot pool with a guests-only pool bar. Event space includes the 4,000-squarefoot event lawn with indoor-outdoor space, the 2,500-square-foot pool and bar space, the 700-square-foot terrace suite, and the full-service restaurant Summer House on Music Lane. hotelmagdalena.com

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P H O T O S : M A R R I O T T I N T E R N AT I O N A L ; N I C K S I M O N I T E

HOTEL MAGDALENA has opened on Music Lane in the South Congress neighborhood of Austin. Featuring 89 rooms, it is the first mass timber hotel constructed in North America. Assembled in pieces, this renewable resource is visible in the hotel room ceiling design and the exterior walkways.

We should meet here every year.

WE HEAR THAT A LOT. Here, power brokers carry clubs.

With over 160,000 square feet of world-class meeting spaces alongside more than 28,000 acres of nationally acclaimed shopping, dining and leisure activities, The Woodlands is the perfect place to mix business and pleasure.

Plan your meeting at visitthewoodlands.com/betterevents

REGIONAL NEWS

NEW HIRES» Remington Hotels appointed Keith Oltchick senior vice president of acquisitions and development. Bringing over 20 years of experience and connections in the hospitality industry to his new role, Oltchick has held a variety of senior leadership roles with wellrespected industry brands, such as Hersha Hospitality Trust and Marriott International.

Most recently, Oltchick served as senior vice president of business development at Pyramid Hotel Group.

Happy Glampers Collective Retreats, a luxury glamping company, has reopened for its fourth season in Wimberley. This season welcomes reimagined guest activities and a revamped food and beverage experience, including:

FARM-TO-RANCH TASTING MENU » The six-course seasonal menu will provide a taste of land and sea with ingredients natural to the fall season.

CHARCUTERIE JOURNEY » Guests will learn the secret to the perfect charcuterie board and have a chance to take home or give customized charcuterie boards.

COLLECTIVE WINE PAIRING » This package will give overnight guests a chance to taste local wines under the stars and enjoy a curated charcuterie board of local meats and cheeses.

WORK FROM TENT » The retreat will provide a desk, high-speed Wi-Fi and complimentary bottle of wine for a productive and relaxing workday.

COLLECTIVE POD » This group package will offer four to eight couples who have formed a “COVID pod” the perfect getaway with a curated itinerary of F&B experiences and local activities. collectiveretreats.com

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Ginger Martin has joined

HALL Arts Hotel as general manager. Martin has worked for a variety of established and respected hospitality brands across the country, including Starwood Hotels and Resorts and HEI Hotels and Resorts.

Haydee Hernandez has

been appointed general manager of HALL Arts Hotel’s Ellie’s Restaurant & Lounge. Hernandez comes to HALL Arts Hotel from The Joule in Dallas.

P H OTO : H A L E Y P LOT K I N

ACTIVITIES»

The San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter and San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk have appointed Loris Menfi as general manager. She brings over 25 years of hospitality experience to the properties. In addition to 17 years with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, Menfi worked with Loews Hotels and Resorts as general manager in San Francisco and New Orleans, and as hotel manager in Philadelphia. Most recently, she served as general manager of the JW Marriott Houston by The Galleria.

WE’RE HERE TO HELP YOU NAVIGATE THE PLANNING OF YOUR NEXT MEETING OR EVENT.

www.VisitMcKinney.com/TME

888-649-8499

When it’s time

COME TOGETHER

It’s all here. The sights, the sounds, the

people and the places of Plano. All ready to welcome you back, when you’re ready.

TX.MEETINGSMAGS.COM

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SNAPSHOTS MPI’S WORLD EDUCATION CONGRESS

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Heard it at the Grapevine

MPI’s World Education Congress brings planners together.

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Nearly 700 MPI members gathered in Grapevine for Meeting Professionals International’s World Education Congress (WEC). Held at Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, the hybrid convention’s in-person attendees were joined virtually by 1,000-plus additional participants, all coming together under the theme “Reunite for Recovery.” The 2020 WEC set the tone for future events and raised the bar with its Duty of Care health and safety procedures.

These included sending name badges, lanyards, masks and personal hand sanitizers in advance to attendees, requiring temperature checks each day as delegates entered the event, incorporating responsible F&B/seating/ barriers precautions, and having social activities with made-to-order and individually packaged food items.

1. Arrival at DFW. 2. Guests line up at the state-of-the-art TAURI temperature check tablet. 3. The new handshake, 2020 style. 4. Precautions taken included acrylic screens. 5. The art of social distancing as a group. 6. A guest safely checks in at the reception desk.

7. Attendees were required to wear masks. 8. Indie pop sensation Fitz and the Tantrums revved up the crowd at the opening celebration. –Photos by Grapevine CVB/MPI

SUBMIT YOUR EVENT PHOTOS To have your meeting or event photos featured here, contact the editor at teresa.kenney@tigeroak.com.

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the perfect galveston island retreats for business or pleasure Hotel Galvez & Spa and The Tremont House provide a unique and historic setting for corporate meetings and retreats. The beachfront location of Hotel Galvez offers expansive Gulf views and more than 13,000 sq. ft. of meeting space in eight rooms including two grand ballrooms.

The Tremont is located in Galveston’s historic Strand District and has nearly 16,000 sq. ft. of meeting space in eight rooms including its 7,946 sq. ft. ballroom. Call today and let us assist you in meeting your goals.

2024 SEAWALL BLVD., GALVESTON ISLAND, TX

409.765.7721 | HotelGalvez.com

2300 SHIP’S MECHANIC ROW, GALVESTON ISLAND, TX

409.763.0300 | TheTremontHouse.com

TX.MEETINGSMAGS.COM

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PEOPLE PROFILE RODOLFO BIANCHI

A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS One Texan entrepreneur called on his 20-plus years of restaurant experience to navigate a shutdown that happened just as he opened up. B Y T E R E S A K E N N E Y

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The Empanada party boxes are best for larger groups as they serve up to eight guests,” says Bianchi. “Customers can pick up to four different empanada flavors and choose from our various salsas. These boxes are perfect for watch parties, a business lunch, and more.”

Get Connected THE EMPANADA COOKHOUSE | theempanadacookhouse.com

I L L U S T R AT I O N : T R A C I Z E L L M A N N

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odolfo Bianchi began his career building furniture and cooking equipment for the Pollo Campero brand in 1998. He worked his way through the ranks, becoming an integral part of opening the brand’s first 100 restaurants in the United States before becoming vice president of operations over the U.S. market. He left Pollo Campero in 2017 to begin a new culinary journey and is now building his own restaurant brand with plans to franchise.

“Since I was a kid, I wanted to open a sandwich restaurant. Throughout my career, my passion for restaurants has continued to grow. I’ve been in the restaurant industry for 20 years and have had the opportunity to know many restaurateurs and chefs. Meeting others who had the same dream as I did, I felt it finally begin to materialize. I did a lot of research and decided to change the theme to incorporate my Latin heritage,” says Bianchi.

On March 13, 2020, 10 days before the Dallas shelter-inplace order, Bianchi’s The Empanada CookHouse opened its doors to the public. Though the pandemic was looming at the time of the initial opening in early March, Bianchi knew that opening his doors for however short a time would be beneficial to getting the word out about his new restaurant. He was right. Now fully reopened, the restaurant has become a local favorite.

Located near downtown Dallas’ historic West End District, The Empanada CookHouse also caters breakfast, lunch and dinner for events as small as eight and as large as 300. “We offer individually packaged meals for smaller gatherings….

Meet successfully.

MEET IN LUBBOCK.

Imagine meeting among the largest collection of windmills in the world when you hold your event at the American Windmill Museum. Contact Visit Lubbock today to plan your next memorable meeting in the 806!

In 2021, our stunning new Sky Tower will be unveiled, making Choctaw Casino & Resort–Durant one of the largest gaming resorts in the world. It will boast 19 stories of luxury hotel rooms, 3,400 slot machines, a new poker room, new restaurants and bars, and a three-acre pool. Add that to our current 100,000 square feet of flexible meeting space with the latest A/V capabilities, and that’s how you raise the game on events.

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groupsales@choctawnation.com

DURANT