It feels good to do good.
Through World Vision, Site Selection Services has been sponsoring a boy in South Africa named Mongezi Enough since 2008.
After watching him grow up through letters and photos shared over the years, he’s 16 now and our sponsorship recently came to its optimal conclusion - Mongezi is graduating!
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It’s impressive to see how pro sports leagues, the entertainment industry and performing arts organizations are pivoting and adapting to keep creating experiences for fans and followers. The meetings industry can take cues from these ideas, be it tailgating concerts or the revival of drive-in theaters.
A company called Beyond Cinema will bring their Floating Cinema pop-up concept to San Diego in September. Attendees can book one of the 24 mini-boats, which will be properly spaced out and can each accommodate up to eight passengers. It’s an aquatic twist on the drive-in concept and we think it’s genius. Though some racing fans in Poland may have one-upped it. They were so hungry for live action, they rented cranes to get a bird’s eye view of motorbikers competing on the track below—all the while respecting social distance.
More specific to our industry, a company called Social Bands came out with a line of bracelets that indicate if someone prefers no contact, is okay with an elbow tap or high five. It’s reminiscent of the color-coded wristbands used at a music festivals. Meeting hosts can offer these so guests can communicate their social distance preferences and note other’s comfort level. Ideas like these address any social awkwardness head on and can help ensure people feel comfortable mixing and mingling with others.
We are all about being good global citizens and neighbors, starting with wearing a damn mask. That one gesture is an investment in the future of the hospitality industry, not to mention benefits everyone in your orbit. The way we see it, the more widespread masking is, the sooner we can all meet again. And do all of the other things we love to do, including socializing IRL.
As we start looking to the future when larger gatherings are safe, our radar is attuned to creative ways to integrate social distance into events. We share a few recent faves,
Read MoreWe are growing!
Please join us in welcoming the newest member of our team—the esteemed Jay Smith, former Director of Sales with Hotel Irvine. Jay first found his calling in hospitality as an underage busboy at the Chateau Louise Resort outside of his hometown of Chicago. After earning a hospitality degree at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, he entered Stouffer Hotels’ management trainee program and got into the world of revenue management at various hotels in Los Angeles. He served as Director of Sales at landmark properties such as Westin Century Plaza, Beverly Hilton and, most recently, Irvine Company Resorts.
We asked Jay a few questions to help you get to know him better…
Read MorePowered by the U.S. Travel Association, the Meetings Mean Business Coalition is advocating for our industry on the federal level. The group is focused on lobbying for five key legislative priorities to create economic relief for the meetings, events and travel industry:
Extend and enhance the CARES Act relief package.
Ensure businesses are protected from COVID-19 related financial risks.
Incentivize a safe restart of the meetings and events economy offering Meetings and Events tax credit
Strengthen the federal role in COVID-19 testing, production, research and contact tracing.
Temporarily freeze per diem rates.
Another few weeks have passed us by and this new virtual world we’re living in has illuminated the incomparable value of face-to-face meetings. No doubt, virtual will continue to replace in-person gatherings in the short term for the benefit of public health and safety. But there’s a lot happening behind the scenes to advocate for our industry’s recovery. We are encouraged to see that our industry leaders and innovators are charting that path.
We were over the moon to see that the Events Industry Council formed the APEX COVID-19 Business Recovery Task Force.
Read MoreSite Selection Services is a worldwide meeting planning company specializing in hotel site selection and contract negotiations. We offer both free and premium services to help plan your next meeting to perfection.
