“It’s a new dawn; It’s a new day; It’s a new life…” And we’re feeling good.
Happy New Year! Though written for the 1964 musical “The Roar of the Greasepaint — The Smell of the Crowd,” the song “Feeling Good” was elevated to pop-culture icon status by blues singer Nina Simone. Numerous musicians have attempted to replicate that magic since then, but the nostalgic arrangement and Simone’s raw and hypnotic timbre, coupled with the ambiance of bygone era vinyl, broke the mold. Fast forward to present day, full-speed ahead into the MICE world, and we see not much has changed. Attendees prefer authenticity, with just a dash of panache that says, “You know how I feel.”
We’re kicking off our first issue of the year with a deep dive into how hotels, resorts and destinations are amplifying authenticity in meetings, incentives or conventions. “Meet in the District” explores the role of district development in the cause and “A Day in the Conference & Convention Center Ecosystem” factors in the convergence of centers and their neighborhoods. You’ll need to brush the sand from your feet just from reading our Florida meetings guide and a peek behind the scenes of our latest Visionary Summit in Los Angeles will reveal how playfully built and designed environments can also create meaningful and memorable moments. In Las Vegas, it doesn’t get more authentic than an evening event at the Mobster Museum. Just imagine.
Be sure to peruse our 2018 Mexico Meeting & Incentive Planner, a bonus supplement to this issue, to see what’s new and noteworthy across the country, and how some of the hottest trends are making their mark on events.
Here’s to a year of feeling good,
Johnalee
