Vince Alonzo
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 […]
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 […]
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.
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.
Supersize Your Event Strategy
You’re in Orlando on a site inspection tour looking at venues, stuck between another beige ballroom and a rooftop with questionable shade coverage. Then suddenly, like a golden beacon of over-the-top kitsch, you see it—a 30-foot-tall Ronald McDonald, hand raised in eternal welcome.
Greener Gatherings Start Here
Ottawa Tourism has officially launched its Responsible Events Guide, a comprehensive tool created to support professionals in designing greener, more community-connected gatherings in Canada’s capital. The guide was unveiled during IMEX Frankfurt (May 20–22), where Ottawa Tourism highlighted its leadership in responsible destination management.
