First, a warm welcome from me to you.
I’m privileged to assume the position of Editor for Prevue Meetings + Incentives and thank the publisher and editorial team for this incredible opportunity. I have an extensive travel industry media background, with a specific 15-year focus on meetings and events. I’ve also been on the “other side of the aisle” as a chamber of commerce director and have personally experienced the challenges and demands of event planning.
I plan to bring a unique perspective to an already amazing publication and look forward to being a part of its future success while continuing to meet your needs and expectations as the reader.
To that end, we invite you to enjoy the latest issue of Prevue. Two Senior Editors explore two vastly different but equally fascinating parts of the U.S. Steve Grasso looks at the Midwest, which is celebrating the rediscovery of iconic cities like Detroit and Kansas City, whose reimagined landscape brings a new energy to familiar landmarks. Event planners, take note! And Sue Pelletier shines a light on Southern California, where year-round sunshine means more outdoor events. In this era of mindfulness about wellness, cities like Palm Springs, Anaheim and Los Angeles bring a breath of fresh air to meetings and group functions.
Sr. Contributing Editor Regina Baraban brings us the cover story: Connecting with Community, which delves into the evolution of meeting and incentive programs, from scratching the surface of a destination to deep dives into the local culture. Locally sourced F&B are just the beginning of the cultural and community immersion groups can experience in Australia, Hawaii, Korea, Las Vegas and Philadelphia. As a complement to the cover story, Grasso and Editorial Director Laurel Herman caught up with Visit Dallas’ Sr. VP and Chief Marketing Officer Jennifer Walker to see what's shaking in that Texas-sized city.
In preparation for this issue, our writers also have traveled north to south to bring you a continent’s worth of amazing onsite reviews to help spark your ideas—from Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Western Montana and Portland, to Toronto, Tampa and Florida’s Charlotte Harbor, home of Sunseeker Resort.
As always, we’re bringing you the latest news on destinations and hotels in Bureau Buzz and Fresh Meets, respectively, and for what’s trending for meetings at sea, check out Seashores.
Enjoy! —Lisa Simundson