Don’t assume anything. This idea permeated Prevue’s inaugural Visionary Summit on Global Meeting Planning, held last Friday at Convene Grand Central in New York City. In Morocco, this may mean the difference between a smooth, carefree ride over bumpy desert roads or a ruined itinerary—by not specifying the model of car needed. Likewise, your hotel counterpart in Japan might have nodded as if she understood what you said—but she could be nodding simply to say she heard you.
The Summit kicked off with Beth Hamiroune, president of Global Meetings Portfolio, defining the new global meeting planning landscape for attendees—one of consolidation and radical change. Dino Michael, senior director of global restaurant development at Hilton Worldwide, shared dozens of examples of how his hotels around the globe are incorporating local ingredients and creative presentation into their banquet offerings. In between, attendees traded information and insights during rotating roundtables on topics ranging from contract negotiations to choosing local partners.
An elegant opening night reception Thursday night at the Langham Place Fifth Avenue showcased the renovation plans for the hotel’s meeting space. On hand were original works of art by New York native Alex Katz, part of a multimillion dollar collection that will grace the new meeting space and welcome guests in the lobby when the changes are complete in September. The reception also showed off the hotel’s flair with F&B (its Mediterranean restaurant, Al Fiori, is Michelin–starred), with stations featuring foods inspired by the city’s ethnically diverse neighborhoods.
Registration for the next Prevue Visionary Summit—A Roadmap for Transforming Meetings, to be held at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World on July 26—is now open.
