We're rounding up the biggest venue news of the month—in one convenient place. Got a tip? Get in touch!
In Case You Missed It
This month, BizBash's editorial team has been rounding up new event-friendly spaces around the world. So far, we've showcased 85 standout spaces in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami/South Florida, Nashville, New York, and Philadelphia—with many more to come!
Here are six more things you should know this month...
1. Hotels are celebrating women's empowerment.
March is Women’s History Month, and hotels are thinking outside of the box to celebrate. A standout idea comes from the 295-room Grand Cayman Marriott Resort, which has created an “Empowered Women Empower Women” initiative that encourages guests to leave an uplifting, anonymous note to be shared with another woman traveler this month. On March 8, the hotel also hosted a vision board-making session with 20 young women from The Frances Bodden Girls Home.
Similarly, Canopy Bethesda in Washington, D.C., has introduced its “Total Betty” campaign in honor of Women’s History Month and the launch of the hotel’s seasonal Hello Betty boat bar. The idea is to recognize self-sufficient women in the community—whom the hotel calls “Bettys”—that are making waves in their fields. Nominations can be submitted through a Google form between now and March 19, and the winner will get an overnight stay at the hotel plus dinner for two at Hello Betty.
Another hotel marking the occasion? The 236-room Mondrian Los Angeles, which is hosting an art exhibit featuring four local woman artists—each presenting abstract and sculptural fine art in a variety of media reflecting on subjects related to feminism and empowerment. The hotel lobby’s “magic box” exhibit space is acting as a rotating pop-up art gallery to showcase the artist; the property is also offering a suite package where guests can take home an exclusive art piece from the collection.
2. Sustainability and local impact are still hot topics for travelers.
Venues continue investing in sustainability in major ways—like Noble House Hotels & Resorts, which has partnered with Green Seal to continue its eco-friendly efforts. Over the next few months, 13 of Noble House's properties across North America will earn Green Seal's Standard for Hotel and Lodging Properties (GS-33) following an extensive review and on-site visit. “Now more than ever, travelers are looking for proven-green destinations, with 70% of global travelers more likely to book a green accommodation,” points out Stefan Műhle, Noble House’s VP and regional managing director. “Working with Green Seal ... allows us to live at the forefront of wellness tourism and act as environmental stewards in the diverse communities our portfolio reaches.”
That’s not the only hospitality group striving to make a difference. Kind Traveler—which bills itself as the world’s first socially conscious hotel booking platform—has teamed up with Visit Greater Palm Springs on a "regenerative tourism" program. To mobilize the new opportunity, participating hotels in the Southern California city are sharing exclusive offers that incentivize travelers to donate a portion of their booking dollars to select nonprofits. The program can also set up unique experiences that get visitors involved with local charities, such as nature walks and culture classes, as well as sustainability-focused neighborhood guides.
3. A new partnership aims to simplify room-block management.
Destinations International—the global trade association for CVBs and tourism boards—has teamed up with hotel booking company Groups360 on an easy-to-use, tech-forward group-housing solution. Once the product launches later this year, convention bureaus will be able to use Groups360’s existing GroupSync online marketplace to handle room-block management for large, multi-venue events. The partnership will also give DMOs the chance to add info and images to their listings in the GroupSync marketplace.
“Streamlined solutions for destination organizations are here to stay,” says Don Welsh, president and CEO of Destinations International. “This new partnership provides our destination organization members with unparalleled, streamlined solutions to meet the evolving needs of their stakeholders."
4. Hotels are investing in a great night's sleep.
Did you know that it’s National Sleep Awareness Week? Getting a good night’s sleep is a crucial part of wellness, and many hotels are working to improve the experience for their guests. At Dubai’s Madinat Jumeirah resort, for example, a new wellness program includes sleep hypnotherapy and sleep-aiding nutritional coaching, while the spa at the Waldorf Astoria Atlanta Buckhead offers a new “enchanted sleep” treatment to realign circadian rhythms, and Phoenix's Arizona Biltmore, a Waldorf Astoria Resort, has a magnesium scrub and essential oils that target restful sleep. Orlando’s Lake Nona Wave Hotel takes it even further, offering private access to a certified sleep therapist along with Well+ech rooms hardwired with the AI-powered Restorative Bed via Bryte, plus accessories like snoring aids and smart windows to create an optimal sleeping environment.
Kimpton partnered with Plant Kween—a Brooklyn-based Black, queer, and non-binary influencer specializing in plants—to curate a unique selection of region-based, native plants for each property.Photo: Courtesy of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants
Studies show that plants have the ability to boost moods and increase productivity—and Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants is taking notice. The brand is launching a new global guest amenity program called the Kimpton Plant Pals Program, which provides regionally sourced plants for guests to enjoy in-room, upon request. Choosing from Kimpton’s native plant menu, dictated by each property’s location, guests can select their plant pal—each coming with a fun name tag like Morgan Treeman or Snake Gyllenhaal. The program is rolling out in April in honor of Earth Day.
6. This venue greatly improved its customer satisfaction with an in-house "event experience team."
Here's an interesting case study on the power of hotel event teams. The Marriott Marquis Houston was already a popular choice for events, boasting the largest ballroom in Houston (almost 40,000 square feet!) along with a Texas-shaped lazy river on the roof. But last summer, the property expanded its offerings by introducing its own Event Experience Team (EET), a personalized team for each event held at the 1,000-room property. The EET aims to bridge the gap between event planning and event operations, with team members sitting in on meetings weeks in advance to smooth the transition and provide customized service. The result? The hotel has seen its on-site event coordination scores increase by 20%.
