Tight budgets, rising costs, increased attendee expectations—how do meeting planners continue to achieve value within these parameters? With strategic thinking, hospitality, efficiency, creativity and diplomacy, says Jennifer Squeglia, CMP, Owner, RLC Events. “Value means partnering with stakeholders and meeting hosts to bring their event objectives to life, creating a setting that allows for impactful connections and showcasing a company’s brand and culture,” she says. “What has been successful for me with being as cost effective as possible is to work closely with my hotel and venue partners—they are a critical part of the process. It is important to be transparent about budgets and never be afraid to ask for a discount and/or have the chef create a custom menu that is more cost efficient. It is a partnership. Asking questions and being straightforward with where I need to be with pricing has provided me with positive results. It also saves a lot of time for suppliers as they’re not proposing things planners cannot afford.”
Read on to learn how Boise, Cleveland, Glendale, Malta and Virgin Voyages work with planners to achieve maximum value for meetings and incentives.
The city of Boise and Boise Centre, Idaho’s largest convention center, offer planners affordability, collaboration, charm and a thriving local culture. “With Boise’s scenic surroundings and walkable venues, planners can stretch their budget while providing a memorable experience,” says Andrew Heidt, Director of Sales, Visit Boise. “Boise’s unique blend of affordability, accessibility and vibrant culture all contribute to exceptional value.”
With 31 versatile meeting and event spaces for groups up to 2,000, Boise Centre boasts beautiful views of the nearby foothills, modern amenities and technology and personalized service. Just steps away are a dozen hotels, local restaurants and breweries, shops, art galleries, entertainment and cultural attractions. This includes the Basque Block, a popular culture-filled neighborhood and outdoor event space that can accommodate up to 1,000 attendees. Boise is home to one of the largest Basque communities in the United States.
“Visit Boise collaborates closely with our hospitality partners and can save planners time and money identifying venues, dining options, transportation and activities that are the best fit for the group,” notes Heidt. “The city’s close-knit nature makes it easy to connect with local vendors and stakeholders, ensuring smooth collaboration throughout the planning process.”
Complimentary services include recommendations for dates and weekday patterns that can save thousands of dollars at hotels and venues; fully hosted site visits for those with active RFPs; marketing and promotion materials, and—as the state capital and home to Boise State University—connections with local professional speakers and subject-matter experts.
The Boise Airport, just 10 minutes from downtown, offers nonstop service to and from 28 destinations. Two new downtown boutique hotels are well suited for small and stylish meetings and incentives. The Avery Hotel + Brasserie, a 39-room gem located in a restored 120-year-old building, features a restaurant operated by acclaimed Michelin-starred Chef Cal Elliott. The 122-room Hotel Renegade has a singular design style, 5,100 sf of event space including a luxurious rooftop ballroom and Boise’s first supper club.
“Cleveland and the Huntington Convention Center have a track record of hosting high-profile events that exceed expectations through personalized, best-in-class service,” says Gordon Taylor III, Chief Sales Officer at Destination Cleveland. “After a recent $51 million renovation, the convention center offers new, flexible meeting spaces, an expanded Atrium ballroom and a stunning roof terrace.”
What might surprise planners, Taylor says, is how impressed meeting attendees are with Cleveland’s world-class amenities—which rival those of major cities at a fraction of the cost. “Think nationally recognized museums, three professional sports teams and a robust restaurant, bar and brewery scene,” he notes. “This city has everything attendees might want, including 5,000 hotel rooms and several restaurants and attractions within walking distance of the Huntington Convention Center.”
Destination Cleveland supports every step of the planning process, says Taylor. “Our Convention Services team helps with everything from venue selection and site visits to logistics coordination, connecting planners with trusted local suppliers and vendors that align with their needs. With our insider knowledge of the best restaurants and attractions, we ensure that planners can make the most of their time in Cleveland while staying within budget.” The team helps planners to create uniquely Cleveland experiences such as neighborhood food tours and cultural excursions, and a recently launched volunteer program connects large groups with local residents for personalized dining and entertainment recommendations.
In hotel news, Taylor gives a shout out to the beautifully restored, 491-room Hotel Cleveland, which reopened in June 2024 after a $90-million renovation. The 97-room Fidelity Hotel, opening in early 2025, offers a sophisticated boutique experience for upscale corporate and incentive groups. Among Cleveland’s iconic event venues, a $150-million renovation of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History has added more than 375,000 sf of new and expanded spaces and more than two acres of outdoor areas. Expected to be completed in 2026, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s $135-million expansion will nearly double the museum’s size and add new event and presentation space.
Located nine miles northwest of downtown Phoenix, Glendale, Arizona has 16 premium, meeting-centric hotels. Planners will be pleasantly surprised by the city’s combination of affordability and quality, says Kristen Hasbell, Convention and Visitors Bureau Administrator for Visit Glendale. “The city’s compact, walkable district provides convenient access to hotels, restaurants and attractions, minimizing transportation costs while maximizing attendee engagement. Glendale also boasts easy accessibility, located just a short drive from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport—offering all the amenities without the hustle and bustle of the big city.”
Visit Glendale’s personalized support services help to stretch planning budgets while delivering a memorable and seamless event experience, says Hasbell. Specifically, the Tourism Investment Fund supports meetings, conventions and events that generate overnight hotel stays, while the Meeting Incentive Program provides funding based on room nights generated. “These straightforward and accessible resources allow planners to maximize value while aligning with the city’s mission to attract high-value events,” she says.
As well, Visit Glendale provides free support for venue selection, group activities and itinerary planning by connecting planners with local partners and resources. This includes promoting events through social media, the Visit Glendale website and local media partnerships; connecting planners with local attractions such as State Farm Stadium tours or Rainbow Ryders Hot Air Balloon Company that offer exclusive group discount packages; linking planners with trusted local vendors for off-site catering, decor and entertainment at competitive prices; and for qualifying events, assisting with cost-effective transportation such as shuttle services between venues, hotels and attractions.
New on the hotel scene, the 324-room Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Spa, with more than 100,000 sf of flexible meeting space, completed a $30-million, property-wide renovation in 2024. And this year, the first phase of the eagerly awaited $1-billion VAI Resort—Arizona’s largest full-service hotel and entertainment destination—is due to open. VAI will have four hotel towers with 1,100 rooms, suites and villas; an 11,000-seat amphitheater; five acres of sandy beaches; a 50,000-sf, European-inspired party venue called Konos Island; a 130-ft-high Konos Sky Bar; tethered hot-air balloon rides and a Mattel Adventure Park. The first of 11 signature VAI restaurants, Bar Mar, is the inaugural Arizona restaurant for acclaimed Michelin-starred Chef Jose Andres.
Despite spanning a mere 122 sq miles and ranking as the world’s 10th smallest country, Malta offers extraordinary potential for meetings and incentive programs. “What might initially appear constrained quickly transforms into a revelation of unexpected depth and diversity,” says Michelle Buttigieg, North America Representative, Malta Tourism Authority. The compact size of the Maltese Islands ensures seamless mobility and minimal transit times, Buttigieg notes. “This geographical advantage translates directly into practical benefits for event planners: dramatically reduced transportation costs and logistical complexity. Moreover, Malta’s Schengen membership [allowing free movement among member countries] and Euro currency further streamline international event planning.”
Malta’s unique Mediterranean heritage, with both European and Arabic influences, dates back thousands of years. While enjoying modern comforts and technology, attendees “can still visit the village baker or try their hands at traditional pottery decoration,” says Buttigieg. A wide range of group experiences range from immersive culinary journeys exploring farm-to-fork tradition to rich historical explorations and from artisanal craft experiences to active adventures like trekking, climbing and canoeing. Buttigieg points out that Gozo (part of the Maltese Archipelago) is a destination in its own right—providing additional group options for activities, excursions, accommodations or events.
Planners may be surprised by the many international hotel brands in Malta, such as Westin, Hilton, Hyatt, InterContinental and Marriott, says Buttigieg. “Even better,” she says, “most of them are located within walking distance to each other and they often collaborate with each other to meet planners’ requirements.” Recent hotel openings include DoubleTree by Hilton, Best Western ME by Melia and Villa Barumbara Relais & Chateaux in the countryside. On the venue front, MICAS (Malta International Contemporary Arts Space) is an exciting, revamped historical setting with state-of-the-art facilities for spectacular events.
The Visit Malta Incentives & Meetings (VMIM) department within the Malta Tourism Authority maintains close relationships with local suppliers and offers free and impartial information to planners looking to host their next event on the Islands. One key initiative is the Association Support scheme, offering financial support to international associations hosting their event in Malta. As well, VMIM encourages and supports sustainable and local practices.
The inherent Maltese approach to hospitality means that every event is treated with great attention to detail, says Buttigieg. “Suppliers understand that true success lies not in mere logistics, but in creating an environment where attendees feel genuinely welcomed, comfortable and valued.”
Launched in late 2021, exclusively adult Virgin Voyages has a fleet of three chic, contemporary “Lady Ships,” with a fourth due to hit the high seas in September 2025. All can accommodate up to 2,700 passengers. There are several creative strategies that planners can use to maximize cost savings and value for charters on these stylish ships, says John Diorio, Virgin Voyages’ VP of North American Sales. Less popular or off-peak dates are often more cost-effective and still offer a premium experience, he says.
He recommends select sailings in late fall or early spring to benefit from reduced rates and have more freedom to personalize the group experience with custom activities, themed events or exclusive entertainment.
“Customizing a venue, such as transforming one of the ship’s restaurants for a themed dinner event or private concert adds an extra level of engagement and excitement without needing to outsource,” Diorio notes. And,“opting for a less traditional event space, like a lounge or theater, can often come at a lower cost than booking formal conference rooms or ballrooms at a hotel. Virgin Voyages’ venues can be easily adapted for business events, teambuilding activities or product launches.”
The many event spaces for groups on the ship can accommodate up to 400 people for receptions at The Manor and the Red Room and 435 seated in the theater, to name just a few.
Virgin Voyages is known for offering all-inclusive cruise packages that cover most of the essentials such as meals, gratuities, fitness classes, etc. For charters, says Diorio, planners can work with Virgin Voyages to create a tailored all-inclusive package that helps streamline budgeting and minimize unexpected costs, while also adding value to the attendee experience.
At ports of call, Virgin Voyages’ curated shore excursions can be customized for groups. For maximum value, Diorio recommends selecting one or two exclusive group activities—such as a private beach day or a yacht excursion—that all attendees can enjoy together. On board, he recommends private group activities like a yoga session, karaoke gathering or wine tasting event.
For groups sharing the ship with leisure travelers, “creating a sense of privacy on a Virgin Voyages ship, even when sailing alongside leisure passengers, can be achieved with a mix of careful use of exclusive spaces and personalized services,” notes Diorio. “For all size groups, planners can work with Virgin’s Meetings & Events Operations Team to reserve venues and spaces exclusively for your group.”
visitboise.com/meetings; thisiscleveland.com/meetings; visitglendale.com/meetings; visitmalta.com/en; virginvoyages.com/charters-incentives