Latest news with #meetings
Skift
2 days ago
- Business
- Skift
Head to the Midwest: 5 New and Newly Renovated Facilities for Groups
For the meetings market, upscale brands including Shinola, Signia, and JW Marriott dominate the new openings. The Midwest has always been a popular spot for meetings industry gatherings, with Meeting Professionals International's 2025 WEC coming to St. Louis this June. Chicago is a main chapter hub for every industry association, and Minneapolis is home to the headquarters of several of the major incentive houses. Hotel investment in the region is booming, particularly in major cities like Chicago, Indianapolis, and St. Louis, as well as secondary and tertiary markets like Omaha and Des Moines. Explore 135 exceptional new properties hand-picked for meeting and incentive planners Here are five important new/newly renovated group properties and venues in the Midwest, and take a look at our just-released report on 135 hotels for meetings and incentive travel here. 1. Baird Center (Expansion) Milwaukee, WI Reopened in May 2024, following a $456 million expansion, Baird Center in Milwaukee now totals 1.3 million square feet, 52 breakout rooms, 300,000 square feet of exhibition space, and a rooftop ballroom. The center includes inclusive amenities like gender-neutral restrooms, sensory rooms, and Mamava pods. 2. Duke Energy Convention Center (Renovation) Cincinnati, OH Duke Energy Convention Center is undergoing a $240 million renovation and is expected to reopen in January 2026. The renovation will modernize existing event spaces, improve building systems, add a rooftop terrace, and provide additional outdoor space flowing to the new Elm Street Convention Plaza. A new headquarters hotel is planned, adding 800 hotel rooms to the almost 3,500 currently available, also offering 80,000 square feet of meeting space. 3. JW Marriott Water Square Detroit, MI JW Marriott Water Square is a new hotel development in downtown Detroit, situated at the former Joe Louis Arena site. The 25-story hotel will feature 600 guest rooms, an estimated 50,000 square feet of meeting space, and will be connected directly to the Huntington Place Convention Center via a skybridge. Construction began in 2024 and is expected to be completed in early 2027 on what will be downtown Detroit's second largest hotel. 4. Shinola Hotel Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN Shinola Hotel Indianapolis is estimated to open in late 2027. The $300 million redevelopment will be 13 stories high and feature 170 guest rooms, a retail store, dining options, and meeting space three blocks from the Indiana Convention Center. The mixed-use development will offer a rentable 4,000-square-foot music venue and a pedestrian skywalk connecting Pennsylvania Street to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. 5. Signia by Hilton Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN Expected to open in the fall of 2026, this 38-story hotel will bring 800 additional rooms to downtown Indianapolis, which will then have 5,500+ rooms connected by enclosed skywalks to the The Indianapolis Convention Center. The center itself is undergoing its sixth expansion, adding 143,500 square feet of space, including a 50,000-square-foot ballroom.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Employees Get 46% Less Focus Time Than They Need, Research Reveals
Time to focus getty Modern work can be characterized by a level of busyness unseen in previous years. Our time can get snapped up by sitting in meetings, replying to emails, and responding to urgent requests. For anyone who has sat through a meeting you didn't need to be in, who was cc'd in a group email (for your reference), or feels frustrated by the lack of time to focus, think, and reflect, this article is for you. The recent Microsoft Office Trends Report, sampling over 10,000 Microsoft Office users, revealed some alarming findings about how busy employees are at work. Employees are averaging 6.6 hours of overtime each week, attending 29.6% more meetings than they would like to, and are experiencing an average of 4.7 cancelled and rescheduled meetings per week. Even with working overtime, the results indicate that busy work is up, and focused work is down. Employees surveyed reported that they can access 46% less focus time than they report needing. These statistics are heightened for leaders. The C-suite spends, on average, 10.2 hours per week working overtime. This is 35.3% more overtime than the average employee and adds up to over 50 hours per week. Executives also attend the greatest number of meetings per week, at 11.5, compared with someone in a non-managerial role attending 8.2. Focus time is the time needed for often independent work dedicated to achieving long-term goals or simply getting things done. When asked about challenges relating to scheduling, respondents ranked 'defending enough focus time to get stuff done' as the number one issue (63.9%), followed by managing and syncing multiple calendars (62.9%), and keeping schedules flexible to accommodate urgent changes (60.1%). Providing boundaries to protect work-life balance also featured in the list (47.4%, which is unsurprising when looking back at the amount of overtime workers are racking up each week. Executives, managers, non-managers, consultants, and even students all reported attending more meetings per week than they indicated as their ideal number. This difference between ideal and actual meetings suggests that there is work to do to minimize unnecessary meetings. This could be achieved by better delegation, by asking for higher order summaries and action items to be shared with a larger number following a meeting with only the crucial players, or with technology. AI scheduling tools, such as Calendly, or ClickUp Calendar, can help to automate scheduling, block time for focused tasks, and limit distractions by automatically coordinating schedules and aligning optimal windows in different time zones. According to the report, employees spend an average of 4.2 hours per week just managing their calendars. Executives top this figure with 4.5 hours per week. In their average 50.2-hour work week, that equates to 9.1% of executives' overall work time spent on managing their own time. Strategic thinking occurs when we dedicate time to the important, but non-urgent goals. If it constantly feels like we're putting out fires, when everything is urgent and reactionary, we don't have the time or focus to plan strategically for the big, longer-term goals. While individuals can play a role in protecting their own boundaries, pushing back on unnecessary meetings, and adopting technological scheduling assistants, organizational cultural shifts are needed to stop this trend of busyness from collecting further momentum. Leaders can do this by role-modelling healthy work-life boundaries, encouraging staff to consider their own wellbeing as well as the wellbeing of their colleagues, and by allowing real time for focus by eliminating non-essential practices and procedures.
Travel Daily News
5 days ago
- Business
- Travel Daily News
Accor develops ecosystem for meetings and events bookings
This global website will be available as a pre-launch version in late 2025, with initial functionality for sales teams connected to Salesforce and online booking for small accommodation groups of up to 30 guestrooms. In early 2026, a more comprehensive suite of features will be introduced, including online booking for meeting rooms and residential seminars, guestrooms and meeting rooms, as well as connectivity to external channels. MeetingPackage, the best-in-class online central reservation system for booking Accor meetings & events space, will be used as the backbone of this future platform, connecting listed sales & catering tools to the Accor website and external third-party channels. The meetings & events ecosystem is also being developed in collaboration with several globally renowned technology providers that will seamlessly integrate their expertise and technologies to enhance the overall meetings & events management experience across Accor's global portfolio. These include: Oracle – OPERA Cloud Sales and Event Management is Accor's new cloud-based application, and the first out of the 4 S&C providers in being fully connected with MeetingPackage and Accor Ecosystem. An integrated component of OPERA Cloud Property Management unifying all Accor's hotel departments, Sales and Events Management will be offered in three versions: Premium for luxury hotels as well as large meetings & events properties, Standard for small and medium hotels, and an Essential version will be offered to cover hotels who manage accommodation only groups Backyou – Accor's trusted European provider and sales & catering solution for small and medium meetings & events hotels in Europe and North Africa. iVvy – is a leading sales & catering solution provider trusted by Accor's Mantra properties and Accor hotels in the Pacific region. iVvy is Accor's preferred sales & catering solution for small and medium hotels in Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa, and The Americas. Amadeus – Delphi is a leading sales & catering solution for the hospitality market, tailored solution for premium and luxury hotels as well as large meetings & events properties, and clustered hotels. Delphi is a trusted solution already adopted by more than 250 Accor properties in the premium and luxury segment. 'At Accor, we are fortunate to collaborate with best-in-class technology providers who are helping us create a seamless and efficient user experience. Through this new digital Meetings & Events ecosystem, Accor's entire event inventory will become more visible, accessible, and appealing. Our venues will be recognized as top destinations to gather with colleagues, clients, friends, or family. This digital transformation aligns with recent research from Accor highlighting that in-person meetings are more valued than ever. Meeting planners consistently report that face-to-face events drive higher revenue than virtual alternatives, that corporate away-days are essential, and that in-person business interactions significantly boost employee mental health. Our new platform will support these vital connections by simplifying the booking and management process, while also integrating our ALL Accor loyalty program to enhance the overall customer experience.'said Julien Houdebine, Chief Sales and Revenue Officer, Accor. According to Allied Market Research, the overall value of the business travel industry is forecasted to rise from US$695.9 billion in 2020 to US$2 trillion by 2028. The forecasted expenditure by business travelers will also rise, according to a survey by GBTA and Mastercard, increasing from US$933 billion in 2022 to US$1.4 trillion in 2026. With a leadership position in Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and Asia-Pacific, where the market still offers strong growth potential, Accor is aiming to expand its footprint, strengthen local partnerships, and deliver tailored, innovative solutions that meet evolving client needs across these key regions. Accor has the most diverse brand portfolio in the hospitality industry, encompassing more than 45 hospitality brands from luxury to economy. The Group's leading brands for meetings & events include Raffles, Fairmont, Sofitel, MGallery, Pullman, Mövenpick, Novotel, Mercure, and ibis as well as lifestyle brands like The Hoxton, Mama Shelter, SLS, and SO/ through Ennismore.
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Could the right question bring some magic to your meetings?
Is there enough magic in your meetings? I can hear the hollow laughter from here. Research from the London School of Economics found that more than a third of meetings are considered unproductive, which seems awfully low to anyone who has been to a meeting, ever. 'People throw meetings at problems,' Priya Parker, meeting specialist and author of The Art of Gathering, lamented on the Fixable podcast recently, before offering her solution. Asked for a quick fix, she suggested kicking off with 'a magical question': one that everyone would be interested in answering and in hearing others answer. Her suggestion: 'What was your first ever concert, and who took you?' I've spoken to Parker and found her exceptionally impressive. But this seems like madness. Wouldn't a round of prolonged reminiscences about first Glastos and bad dates (or in my case, slightly eccentrically, Everything But the Girl in Harrogate with my mum's colleague's husband, Andrew) add a minimum of 10 minutes to even the smallest gathering? Aren't we all just desperate to get it over with? But with my life mercifully meeting-free these days, perhaps I'm missing the nuances of 2025 meeting etiquette. I enlisted my husband to test this out at his daily team meeting and listened in, clipboard (OK, coffee) in hand. His colleagues seemed a little startled but played along, and the answers were fun: from some very unexpected metalheads to a 15-year-old punk being dragged along to Kool & the Gang to impress a girl. To my ears, the remainder of the meeting sounded exactly like it always does (loudly conducted in what I usually refer to as 'business Martian'), but afterwards my spouse claimed it went well. If you're tempted, Parker offers other magical question ideas on her Instagram, including 'When was the last time you blew up a balloon by yourself? What was the event?' and 'What's the weirdest thing you have ever found in your pocket?' But I reckon the cartoonist Sam Lau had a better idea in her New Yorker cartoon with the tagline How to run short & effective meetings: it's three people gathered around a laptop, all doing planks. Emma Beddington is a Guardian columnist
Skift
23-05-2025
- Health
- Skift
Yoga, Vegan Menus: Events Get a Wellness Makeover
Wellness at meetings has evolved from a perk into an intentional business strategy, making them more productive for both the organizer and the attendees. These days, going to a conference isn't just about the keynote speakers or networking sessions — it's also about how attendees feel when it's over. More events are prioritizing wellness, from the food on your plate to the air in the room. 'If I'm taking time out of my schedule to go to an event, I want it to be balanced and help me become stronger for myself and my company,' said Rachael Riggs, general manager of environmental strategy and subject matter expert on wellbeing at Maritz. Hotels and destinations are responding. At Hilton, Kelly Knowlen, vice president of sales engagement, said attendees are arriving with new preferences and the company is providing healthier food options and spaces that foster relaxation. Hyatt has launched a Wellbeing Collective Advisory Board that includes Deepak Chopra, Ally Love, and Dr. John Scott. The First Ingredient: Food For many planners, food is the core of wellness programs. 'What you eat during the day contributes to how social you want to be and how open your mind will be,' said Riggs. 'Many planners don't realize how significant food choices are for physical and mental well-being.' Hyatt's 'menu of the day' features ingredients that are locally sourced and in season, said Steve Enselein, SVP of events, Hyatt Hotels. 'In addition to conserving on food waste, it also helps with dietary preferences. ' Seasonal vegetables and fruits, mains like chicken, fish, and vegetarian offerings, and healthy desserts are featured. At MGM Grand Las Vegas, Stay Well menus are approved by Cleveland Clinic nutritionists. One planner had the chef speak at a lunch she hosted at the hotel. 'Many properties say they offer healthy options, but to have the chefs walk you through how the food is prepared takes it to another level,' she said. Caesars offers fruit, yogurt parfaits, quinoa salads, and kombucha. Beyond food, the wellness menu includes curated activities like yoga, tai chi, guided hikes, and sound bath meditations. Mindful Meeting Design Wellness also shows up in how meetings are structured. Hyatt's Mindful Meetings Guide builds in reflective moments and pause points. In addition, attendees can access in-room and onsite content from Headspace, Peloton, and MasterClass. At MGM Resorts, Stay Well Meetings use circadian lighting and air purification systems designed in partnership with the Cleveland Clinic. One corporate planner said, based on the favorable attendee response, that she returned to the MGM Grand Las Vegas for three consecutive years. 'Attendees loved the air purification systems in the guest rooms and meeting rooms, and how they left after three days feeling healthier than when they arrived. With so many meetings in big hotels, it's the exact opposite — the air can make you sick.' Avoiding Wellness-Washing As more events add wellness elements, superficial gestures like a mid-morning smoothie break can come across as 'wellness-washing.' 'It's not about checking a box,' said Riggs. 'You have to think about human behavior and design events around that from the very beginning.' That means rethinking structure: longer breaks, buffer time between sessions, and short, optional movement bursts throughout the day. Hotels and conference centers that embed wellness into their physical and programmatic design have an advantage. Wellness in Action Chartis, a healthcare consulting company, dedicates an entire afternoon of its internal events to wellness activities like yoga, meditation, sound healing, and bootcamp workouts. 'Wellness is a must for us. We want our colleagues to find time to relax at our event, allowing them to feel recharged coming out of the week,' said Emily Nuzzo-Fouts, events and connectivity manager at Chartis. 'We also think it is important to get colleagues up and out of their seats, connecting with others and enjoying a shared experience together. We really try to strike a balance between content and connectivity.' The annual Art and Science of Health Promotion conference, led by the Global Wellness Institute's Workplace Wellbeing Initiative, integrates wellness throughout. Attendees start and end each day with activity sessions, from tai chi to meditation. Meals eliminate sugary sodas and emphasize vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free choices. Plenary rooms feature standing tables. And late-night receptions are off the agenda entirely. 'We don't want attendees dragging by the end,' said Jessica Grossmeier, who chairs the initiative. 'They should leave energized, not depleted.'
