Vince Alonzo

Experts

Stop Apologizing for Exhibitions

For years, the meetings and events industry has been peppered with cautious optimism: “Events are returning,” we said. “People still value face-to-face,” we reassured. “Hybrid isn’t replacing in-person,” we declared. Enough already.

Destinations

Royal Sonesta Kaua‘i Completes Major Repositioning

With its recent multi-million-dollar renovation and transition to the Royal Sonesta brand, one of Kaua‘i’s best-known beachfront resorts has officially reopened with renewed ambition—and a clear focus on the meetings and incentive market.

Incentives

Standout “Cell-ebration” Venues

Why Former Prisons Are Your Next Unforgettable Event Venue The Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield – now an in demand event venue thanks to its starring role as the site where The Shawshank Redemption was filmed – is just one of many former prisons getting a second chance as unexpectedly popular venue options. Once formidable […]

Incentives

Shawshanked: A Historic Prison-Turned-Incentive Venue

Once a penitentiary, then a film set, now an event venue—Mansfield’s Ohio State Reformatory finds unexpected redemption in the incentive travel market. For meeting and incentive planners searching for the next unforgettable destination, one unlikely location is doing hard time as an event venue: the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio.

Event Design

Small Nooks, Big Deals

For the Gadsden-Etowah County Industrial Development Authority (IDA), success didn’t start with site selectors or tax incentives—it started with creating the right kind of space for ideas to flourish.

Best Practices

Digital Tipping 101

Once upon a time, tipping while attending an offsite meeting or event was easy: slip a few bills to the bellman, leave something on the pillow for housekeeping, and hand off a discreet envelope at checkout. But as hotel and event services increasingly shift to digital and cashless systems, the simple act of saying “thank you” has gotten more complex.

Industry Planner Resources

4 Steps to Avoiding a Digital Dumpster Fire

As AI tools like ChatGPT become part of everyday workflows, a federal court ordering OpenAI to indefinitely retain all ChatGPT conversation logs means event professionals must now take a closer look at how they use AI.

Technology

Chat GPT? Try SnitchGPT

Planners beware: a court order says your AI brain dump may now live forever A recent U.S. court ruling has major implications for anyone who uses ChatGPT—including meeting and event professionals who rely on it for planning support, idea generation, content creation, and even contract advice. On May 13, 2025, a court ordered OpenAI to […]

Technology

Hold That Plane!

American Airlines is rolling out new technology that could actually hold your connecting flight—yes, on purpose—if you’re at risk of missing it.

Industry Stats

Tourism Trends Reshape Events

The global tourism industry is experiencing significant shifts in 2025, presenting both challenges and opportunities for meeting and event planners. Understanding these trends is crucial for crafting successful events that resonate with today's travelers.