Vince Alonzo

Experts

Can’t Miss, Must to Avoid

I had started to write this column about how some natural phenomena are perfect to build a viewing party around. Then suddenly my apartment in New York City began shaking under the effect of a 4.8 magnitude earthquake that shook a large part of the northeast.

Best Practices

Dancing In the Dark

Eclipses tick several boxes that make them ideal for gathering around to watch: The recent eclipse that occurred in the northeast gives us a good example for how to build a metric for judging what makes an effective theme or centerpiece to build an event around.

Industry Planner Resources

Convene Debuts Event Space Expansion

Convene, a global hospitality company that designs and manages premium meeting, event, and flexible office space, celebrates its newly expanded venue at 101 Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan.  The expansion is in direct response to growing demand for professional meetings and events up to 200 guests.

Event Design

How to Level Up Your Next Investor Meeting

As a pivotal means of strengthening relationships with current investors and attracting new ones, these meetings should be planned and executed to make them engaging, seamless, and accessible. Here are some key considerations when planning them.

Experts

The Tipping Point

This is a true story about tipping gone wrong that happened to me long ago at the beginning of my career. It taught me a hard lesson about who to tip and who not to.

Technology

Match Game

There are many tools that can help ensure that the people who should talk to each other during the course of an event get the face time they need to achieve their goals. Here are three good ones that can make that happen.

Best Practices

Please Be Seated

The most common seating arrangement for a meeting is auditorium style, also known as theater style. But that’s not always the best set-up for an event. Which is best for your needs? Here are some common meeting room set-up styles.

Incentives

Dining In is “In”

According to the most recent Incentive Travel Index, incentive planners are seeing programs changing toward more on-site meals and activities, as well as events to convene a dispersed workforce. Many agree there was a shift toward programs with more on-site meals and activities in 2023 (52%) compared to 37% in 2022.

Destinations

Hawaii May Impose Green Tax on Visitors

Hawaii's governor, Josh Green, has proposed a $25 climate tax on tourists to protect the state's natural resources from the influx of visitors. The bill, HB206, would be collected when visitors check into a hotel or short-term rental.

Industry Hotel & Resort Companies

Hilton’s Off to College

Hilton has acquired the Graduate Hotels® brand, adding a significant growth opportunity for the global hospitality leader in the fast-growing lifestyle hotel market.