Why not use Instagram to preview international venues? Or include the wait staff’s children as greeters for an awards evening? Those were just a couple of the many tips shared by both speakers and attendees at Prevue’s Global Meetings Summit, held last week at the Langham Place, New York, Fifth Avenue.
An opening night reception at Meet on Chrystie introduced the 30 meeting planner attendees, all of whom have global meeting responsibility, to this brand new and innovative venue on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Guests were treated to specialties from some of New York’s best local restaurants, including The Meatball Shop, Luke’s Lobster, Momofuku and Red Farm, as well as to a new pair of Revo sunglasses and sample perfumes by Scenterprises.
The morning kicked off with Linda McNairy, director, North America, for global business development & strategy at American Express Meetings & Events, sharing intelligence about hotel trends around the globe, followed by Agnes Canonica, global director, strategic meetings management, Advanced Health Media, who addressed potential visa and passport snags for global meeting travelers. In another session, event guru Harith Wickrema shared videos from programs he had designed around the world and tips for creating an immersive, local experience. Other topics included travel safety and health precautions and researching international destinations.
On the first afternoon, the group had a chance to experience the Langham’s newly renovated meeting space, which has doubled in size to 7,600 sf. Now known as “The Gallery,” it was designed by boutique firm Meyer Davis, with some rooms overlooking Fifth Avenue through floor-to-ceiling windows. A peaceful color palette of grays and whites is complemented by wooden slatted ceilings and pin lighting. A focal point of the redesign—which also touched the lobby, bar, lobby lounge, guest rooms and corridors (and will add a Chuan Body & Soul Spa later this year)—is the permanent collection of artwork by Brooklyn pop artist Alex Katz, featuring 11 originals and hundreds of prints hanging throughout the property.
Event sponsors included Caesars Entertainment, Hard Rock All-Inclusive Collection, Royal Caribbean International and Tourism New Zealand. Additional partners included ACCESS New York Metro and The Muse New York.
The next Visionary Summit will be held August 11-12 at the Kimpton Chicago Hotels—The Gray, The Hotel Allegro and The Hotel Palomar. Register now.
