Monthly Archives: January 2020

ASAE Seeking Nominations for Board Positions

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ASAE has opened the call for association professionals and industry partners to fill open positions on the ASAE, and the ASAE Research Foundation Board of Directors to help lead the association dedicated to furthering the profession of association management.

Association professionals and industry partners are encouraged to serve in leadership roles for the following positions: Secretary-Treasurer, four At Large Directors and one Industry partner. All directors selected will serve on the ASAE Board and two of the four selected will also serve on the ASAE Research Foundation Board.

“If you have a passion for associations, I strongly encourage you to apply or nominate a peer. Joining the ASAE board provides not only the opportunity for professional growth, but you will also be able to use your experience to advance the association industry,” said Stefanie Reeves, MA, CAE, ASAE board member and Executive Director of the Maryland Psychological Association. 

ASAE and the ASAE Research Foundation value and seek diverse leadership as defined by race, ethnicity, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, nationality, disability, appearance, geographic location, and professional level. It seeks leaders from all types and sizes of eligible organizations.

Interested parties should contact Jenna Worley, CAE at jworley@asaecenter.org. Nominations must be received no later than April 24, 2020.

There are many benefits of serving as a volunteer leader, including:

  1. Playing a significant role in advancing the profession;
  2. Having an opportunity to enhance the value of ASAE and the ASAE Research Foundation to the association community;
  3. Accessing up-to-date information about the challenges facing the profession; and
  4. Exchanging ideas and perspectives with other volunteer leaders.

The Leadership Committee has identified a number of desired attributes that will be part of the selection process for new Board members. Applicants should possess:

  1. Demonstrated leadership commitment and involvement with ASAE and the ASAE Research Foundation, and the nonprofit community. Examples include but are not limited to: service on an ASAE and ASAE Research Foundation committee, section council, commission, task force and/or obtained the CAE credential. 
  2. Recognized leader in the association community. Examples include but are not limited to: serving as chair of an Allied Society; ASAE and ASAE Research Foundation committee, section council, commission or task force, or philanthropic organizations.
  3. Relevant expertise in the disciplines of organizational management. Examples include but are not limited to: branding, fundraising, component relations, finance, international and strategic alliances.
  4. Commitment to participate in 3-4 board meetings a year. ASAE board members are asked to provide financial support to the Annual Giving, APAC, The Power of A, and special events and/or campaigns.
  5. Positive leadership attributes, emotional intelligence, ability to work collaboratively and engage in appropriate debate and discussion when needed.
  6. Visionary and strategic thinker. Demonstrated ability of new and innovative programs within their sphere of influence. Examples include but are not limited to: incorporating strategy, leadership, future focus, risk taking and an entrepreneur spirit.

ALHI & Posadas Partnership Expands with 11 Additional Members in Latin America

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ALHI increases their Latin American presence with leading independent Posadas brand to offer more luxury hotels & resorts throughout Mexico and the Dominican Republic

Associated Luxury Hotels International​ (ALHI), the leading global sales force connecting the world’s most prestigious hotels and resorts, cruise ships and destination management companies (DMCs) to the meetings, incentives, convention and exhibitions (MICE) industry, is pleased to announce their expanding partnership with Posadas, the parent company of Fiesta Americana Grand Meetings Mexico.

Posadas has built a strong reputation in Latin America and is known for its unparalleled hospitality that pays homage to the destinations they represent. As ALHI aims to increase international MICE business, the two brands are expanding their ties to add 11 additional Posadas properties into the existing ALHI portfolio, with a total of 15 Posadas properties in strategic locations around Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

“There couldn’t be a more exciting time to grow our partnership with this leading independent hotel brand as they expand their reach in additional luxury markets beyond Mexico,” said Michael Dominguez, president and CEO of ALHI. “As their dedicated luxury global sales organization, we will be able to strategically educate customers about the portfolio, increase brand awareness and book MICE business by leveraging ALHI’s global sales network.”

Plan Your Next Experience in the Gateway to Latin America with ALHI & Posadas:

  • Expanding the portfolio now offers planners the best of Mexico’s landscape with thriving urban locations, Caribbean breezes, championship golf courses, bespoke cultural experiences and out-of-the-ordinary luxury destinations.
  • A meeting planner’s paradise can be found in Mexico as their tourism destinations continue to outrank other cities in Latin America for best meeting planner cities.
  • Planners booking Posadas Mexico locations will find competitive pricing, ease of access – 2017 marked one million additional seats to Mexico and 20 additional international direct flights – specialized amenities and a wealth of first-class activities.

Posadas’ Newest Hotel Openings offer the best of the Dominican Republic

  • Posadas expansion into the Dominican Republic will mark the first ALHI members in the country to offer meeting planners.
  • Posadas is strategically opening three resorts in the region’s most desired locations that offer varied landscapes from white sand beaches to lush mountain ranges, championship golf courses and more.
  • With eight international airports, the Dominican Republic is the best-connected Caribbean destination and currently one of the most desired destinations for a combined business and leisure trip due to the competitive pricing and abundance of activities.

“ALHI and Posadas have forged a dynamic partnership where two esteemed companies are strongly aligned and combining efforts to develop international group business. ALHI’s global sales organization will now have access to even more of our leading hotels and resorts throughout Mexico and now the Dominican Republic, with the opening of our very first Dominican Republic resort, Live Aqua Beach Resort Punta Cana,” David Manzella, senior vice president of sales and marketing, Posadas USA, Inc.

ALHI Posadas Members in Mexico

ALHI Posadas Members in Dominican Republic

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About Associated Luxury Hotels International:

Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI) serves as a global sales organization (GSO) for its exclusive membership of the world’s most distinguished independently operated or owned hotels and resorts, cruise ships and DMCs within the meeting, incentive, convention and exhibition (MICE) marketplace. With a dedicated GSO team of nearly 80 professionals located among 26 offices across North America and Europe; ALHI delivers personalized service and connectivity to a select membership of over 250 luxury properties located worldwide. As an extension of its members, ALHI provides unparalleled solutions for meeting and event professionals by identifying and presenting a variety of options based on desired attributes that will create a successful program. Dedicated to the company vision for over three decades, ALHI strives to be intentionally different by offering an exclusive portfolio that embodies an independent spirit and commitment to excellence that consistently earns the most notable accolades in the meeting and events industry.

For more information, visit www.alhi.com.

About Posadas, Fiesta Americana Grand Meetings Mexico:

Fiesta Americana Grand Meetings Mexico is the Group and Incentives brand for Mexico’s leading portfolio of hotels and resorts, leveraging the experience of Hotelera Posadas, the #1 hotel operator in Mexico. With over 180+ hotels in 60 beach and city destinations in Mexico, we offer a unique, customized experience for meetings and events across a diverse range of destinations that is unparalleled in the industry today.

At Fiesta Americana Grand Meetings Mexico, we know that no two meetings are the same. Each one requires a unique mix of environment, facilities and logistics. That’s why we offer premier hotels designed to meet a wide variety of needs, from complex large-scale sales meetings to association conferences and incentive events. Whichever hotel you choose, you can count on our exceptional facilities, spectacular scenery, and warm, Mexican hospitality to ensure your meeting’s success, all in our incomparably grand style.

We feature four distinctly different meeting hotel brands—Live Aqua, Grand Fiesta Americana, Fiesta Americana and The Explorean—in six spectacular settings: Cancún, Cozumel, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Playa Del Carmen and our City Collection … with more to come, to include exciting new openings in 2020 and 2021 in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic and Chemuyil, Riviera Maya Mexico.

For more information, visit fiestamericanagrand.com/meetingsmexico

ASAE Announces New Membership Benefit: The Member’s Edge Program

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ASAE members now have access to the Member’s Edge Program featuring curated benefits that help ASAE members succeed personally and save time and money. 

“The Member’s Edge Program provides members with unique offerings designed to make their lives easier at special ASAE-negotiated rates,” said Betsy Piper/Bach, JD, CFP®, CIMA®, President, ASAE Business Services, Inc. “We have worked diligently to find companies that can help us deliver real value to our members, and we look forward to expanding that list as the program continues to evolve based on our members’ needs.”

Offerings currently available to ASAE members through the Member’s Edge Program: 

  • ASAE Concierge Service Powered by Circles 123 – This concierge service can help manage stress by helping individuals to accomplish a range of tasks quickly and efficiently. From booking travel, to planning events, to securing tickets, to sourcing service providers, the ASAE Concierge Service powered by Circles123 is designed to assist with important activities. 
  • The ASAE Business Book Summary Program Powered by The Business Source: This program provides a smart, easy way to boost business knowledge. Concise summaries of the best ideas and strategies from today’s top business books are provided in a variety of formats – print, digital, audio, and video – that can be downloaded to any device to provide access when and where the user wants it.

 “As an organization, we are committed to continuously looking for new and unique products and services that will add to the value of an ASAE membership – the work Betsy and her team have put into the Member’s Edge Program reflects that commitment,” said Susan Robertson, CAE, Interim ASAE President and CEO. 

For more information, or to sign-up for the ASAE Member’s Edge Program, visit: asaecenter.org/membersedge. 

MEDIA CONTACT: Lauren Precker, CAE, lprecker@asaecenter.org, 202-626-2735. 

New Events Are GREAT creative promotes UK as top destination for business events

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National tourism agency VisitBritain has refreshed its Events Are GREAT creative to highlight to global meeting and incentive planners why the UK is a leading destination for international business events.

The new creative content showcases the country’s business events offer by celebrating the industry’s passion for events, inspiring planners to choose the UK. New imagery targets meeting, incentive and event planners by highlighting the country’s world-renowned research and expertise, global travel connections, high quality infrastructure and range of venues and incentive experiences.

VisitBritain Head of Business Events Kerrin MacPhie said: 

“Our new creative is all about celebrating our passion for hosting successful events and promoting what great achievements and successes event planners can create in the UK whether from an association, corporate or incentive perspective. Delegates are drawn to the UK because of what can be achieved when they meet here, unlocking the country’s knowledge, research, innovation, imagination and entrepreneurial spirit. 

“We are looking forward to a very busy year as we work to deliver more business events for the UK. We are identifying key events and engaging with international planners to show them our outstanding destinations, venues and exclusive incentive travel programmes, providing world-class delegate experiences and promoting our universal message of welcome.” 

The new brand creative was officially unveiled this week at the ‘PCMA Convening Leaders’ in the USA. Attendees heard from VisitBritain’s Head of Business Events Kerrin MacPhie on the brand’s development, and how VisitBritain can support planners to bring their events to the UK. Audience members were also given a first look at the artwork that is driving the campaign. The new brand creative will take centre-stage at all business events activity including VisiBritain’s flagship event MeetGB, taking place in April in Wales, and The Meetings Show in London in June. 

VisitBritain promotes business events worldwide under the Events are GREAT brand, part of the UK Government’s GREAT Britain campaign. Events are GREAT drives awareness of Britain’s destinations and products, to increase the number of business events and grow international delegate attendance, boosting local economies.

ALHI ADDS SUNSEEKER RESORT CHARLOTTE HARBOR TO ITS GROWING PORTFOLIO OF LUXURY EVENT DESTINATIONS

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The first resort from Allegiant Travel Company provides event planners with 785 guest rooms and 55,000 sq. ft. of meeting space on the Florida shoreline accessible by five major airports

Associated Luxury Hotels International​ (ALHI), the leading global sales force connecting the world’s most prestigious hotels and resorts, cruise ships and destination management companies (DMCs) to the meetings, incentives, convention and exhibitions (MICE) industry, is pleased to announce Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor as the newest addition to their Florida portfolio.

Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor, the inaugural resort subsidiary of Allegiant Travel Co., is currently in phase one of construction and is set to open its doors to the public in Spring of 2021.

“In an increasingly competitive hospitality landscape, it’s our mission to represent a collection of member hotels that are independent in spirit and unparalleled in luxury. Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor is a perfect addition to our portfolio and will offer authentic group experiences and MICE facilities that will cater to a variety of programs,” said Michael Dominguez, ALHI president and CEO. “We continue to see high demand in the luxury meetings market and are excited to have the opportunity to educate planners on this premier destination resort.”

The Newest Resort on the Gulf Coast Makes Meeting Planning a Dream

  • 22 acres that reflect the natural beauty of the destination
  • Convenient access to five airports
  • 785 guestrooms – many with inspiring coastal views
  • 55,000 sq. ft. of meeting space
  • An array of industry-leading dining options
  • A mind-body spa experience with two outdoor pools
  • Access to retail along the scenic Charlotte Harbor walk
  • High-tech touch points through the resort’s smartphone application, offering simple reservation capabilities for room, golf, spa and dining, as well as keyless entry while on-site

Experience the Gulf Coast Through Sunseeker

  • Downtown Punta Gorda is just minutes from the resort with plenty of restaurants, shopping and events
  • A newly imagined championship golf course is a short driving distance away
  • An array of outdoor activities can be planned within Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park, a 42,000-acre preserve offering 70 miles of shoreline

“Partnering with ALHI provides us with a global network of industry experts and experienced sales executives who can connect planners with the services they need, when they need it,” said Ryan O’Byrne, vice president of sales and marketing of Sunseeker Resorts, a subsidiary of Allegiant Travel Company. “This partnership is critical for creating strong business opportunities and establishing Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor as the go-to destination for events in Southwest Florida.”

To learn more about Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor, please visit their ALHI listing.

ASAE Announces Partnership with Meeting Professionals International

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ASAE and Meeting Professionals International (MPI) announce a partnership in which the two organizations will collaborate on projects and education programs to benefit the association and meeting professional communities. ASAE is the premier source of education, community and advocacy for association professionals around the world. This partnership with MPI will cement both organizations position as leaders in experience design and will focus on developing and certifying expertise among association meetings professionals in tailoring events to the needs and motivations of attendees.

“Providing opportunities for association professionals to transform society through the power of collaboration is a focus for ASAE. The partnership with MPI will allow members from both organizations to take advantage of educational opportunities and relationships with industry partners in the experience design space while reaching a more diverse group of association meeting planners too,” said Susan Robertson, CAE, interim ASAE president and CEO. 

“MPI is thrilled to share resources and best practices with the ASAE team. ASAE is the leader of the association industry,” said Paul Van Deventer, MPI president and CEO. “This collaboration promotes a larger context for business events industry professionals by combining resources and insights in ways that build on the value that we provide to our members while extending our reach. This partnership exemplifies these efforts.”

The upcoming collaborative programs will provide attendees with ASAE’s essential elements of experience design education with the added benefit of working towards MPI’s certificate in experience design. These initiatives will support ASAE’s planner members as well as MPI and its association members, with joint educational experiences.

● MPI will collaborate on the education line-up for ASAE’s Xperience Design Project:
   May 19-20, 2020 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, MD.

● ASAE will offer education for MPI association attendees at WEC:
  June 6-9, 2020, Grapevine, Texas.

● MPI will provide education at ASAE’s Annual Meeting & Exposition on Experience Design:
  August 8-11, 2020 Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV.

● MPI and ASAE will collaborate on key programs during IMEX Association Day:
   September 2020, Sands Expo, Las Vegas, NV.

MEDIA CONTACT: Lauren Precker, CAE, lprecker@asaecenter.org, 202-626-2735.