Schedule time with a meeting expert >

+1-866-337-7799

Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic

by | Jun 29, 2021 | Podcasts
DE 41 | Casa De Campo Resort

 

The Caribbean is home to many outstanding incentive spots and luxury resorts, but very few are as prestigious as La Romana’s first private resort, the Casa De Campo Resort & Villas. Whether you’re into golf, adventure treks, scuba diving, all-night parties or simply enjoying the peace and quiet of a private island, this resort in the Dominican Republic has got it all for you. Join our hosts Andy McNeill & Todd Bludworth as they talk to Jason Kycek, the Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Casa De Campo about what makes his resort so great. Jason delves into the many amenities and activities found on the resort, as well as giving us a look at the resort’s best-kept secrets. If you are looking for a Caribbean destination, then this episode is a must-catch.

Andy McNeill and Todd Bludworth are travel and hospitality entrepreneurs and owners of the global meetings organization, American Meetings, Inc. From sourcing hotels in the Dominican Republic to corporate event management around the world, their team selects corporate event venues and meeting planners for a wide array of enterprise business clients, providing ideas for convention themes and strategies for running global meetings and events. Learn more at www.mtgshealth.wpengine.com.

—

Watch the episode here:

Dominican Republic

Luxury Caribbean Experiences With Casa De Campo Resort & Villas

The sunny municipality of La Romana in the Dominican Republic is home to one of the top luxury resorts in the country, The Casa De Campo Resort & Villas. Opened nearly 50 years ago, the Casa De Campo is one of the first and is arguably the best luxury resort in the country. In this episode, Todd and Andy talk to Jason Kycek, the Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing of Casa De Campo about the many amenities and experiences available at the resort.

Casa De Campo is a sprawling 7000-acre resort with beautiful villas and breathtaking views of the sea. The resort started life as a golf course development that has evolved into an exclusive, private gated community. The villas come with private staff and are reasonably priced for vacation-goers.

Originally established in 1975 by Charles Bluhdorn, the former CEO of Paramount Pictures, there is a thriving art school and artist community at the village of Alto De Chavon, headed by Charles Bluhdorn’s daughter, Dominique. The art school also hosts children from all over the world who are studying art. An incredible museum that boasts artifacts that would not be out of place in The Smithsonian rounds out the arts and culture experience.

Avid golfers will enjoy the experience of teeing off on the #1 golf course in the Caribbean, Teeth of the Dog, and two other just as renowned courses, Dye Fore and Links.

Dining and nightlife experiences abound. The main hotel hosts a live band and boasts a discotheque while The Genesis Nightclub in Altos De Chavon keeps the beats rolling throughout the night. Casa De Campo is also called home by many restaurants, seven of them owned and operated by the hotel. The marina is another top spot to go to for parties, so go check it out.

If you are in the mood for an adventure, either solo or in a group, then a day trip to nearby Catalina Island is just the ticket. Go fishing, scuba diving or snorkeling in the calm, beautiful waters. An hour away by boat is the resort’s best-kept secret: a sunken ship that has become a prime diving site. If you aren’t up for the dive, then lunch and sightseeing at the private island would be more your speed.

Polo is another fun activity for many, except, in Casa De Campo tradition, the mounts used are donkeys, instead of horses. A rodeo area is also available for more adventurous guests who wish to go horseback riding.

The resort is easily accessible, with its own airfield. You can also reach the municipality easily from the Punta Cana Airport, or the capital city, Santo Domingo, which takes a 45-minute drive. Traffic is virtually non-existent, making the drive a breeze. With the weather almost always at a balmy 80 degrees, you are guaranteed great weather nearly all year round.

Casa De Campo takes pride in being one of the top luxury resorts in Latin America and strives to ensure guests have an enjoyable stay. Recent upgrades include a family pool area and an adult Infinity Pool. A brand-new indoor and outdoor meeting space has been added too. The Riverside Marina has been spruced up with new rooms, activity areas and dining options for everyone staying to party.

With continuous improvements and changes, Jason and the rest of the staff at the Casa De Campo are not resting on their laurels, and they aim to make every stay at the resort a memorable one for every guest. SO the next time you’re in the mood to take a group to a Caribbean luxury resort, make Casa De Campo Resort & Villas your top choice.

About Jason Kycek

DE 41 | Casa De Campo ResortWith over 15 years of professional experience as a global hotelier, Jason Kycek joined Casa de Campo in the year 2016 and since then had facilitated the company’s growth and marketing strategy with a profound commitment to excellence, improving the satisfaction of our guests and securing the profitability for the shareholders.

Previously, Kycek was Vice President of sales and marketing for the Edgewater Hotel & Spa. Prior to this, he held the position of Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Occidental Hotels and Resorts, overseeing the U.S. sales and marketing initiatives for the company’s Caribbean, Mexican, and Latin American properties. Jason has also worked with Capella Hotels and KSL Resorts along with the luxury consortia markets.

He holds a degree from the University of Wisconsin. Kycek is acknowledged for his achievements in luxury resort, spa, & golf brand positioning, technical services, hotel openings, revenue management, operations and sales and marketing.

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://mtgshealth.wpengine.com/podcast

The Evolution of Virtual Meetings as B2B Events Emerge from the Pandemic

The Evolution of Virtual Meetings as B2B Events Emerge from the Pandemic

by | Jun 24, 2021 | Virtual Meetings

In this podcast episode of Destination on the Left Podcast, AMI Founder Andy McNeill talks about the evolution of virtual meetings as the event industry emerges from the pandemic. From the economic downturns of 9/11, the 2008 recession, and now COVID-19, Andy understands the highs and lows of the industry and how to shift and even grow during them.

What is trending for B2C events and how is it different from B2B meetings? Get answers to that and learn why Andy believes that hybrid meetings (live events with virtual elements) are here to stay. Find out how suppliers are meeting new demands with creative meeting solutions. Hear about the trends hotels are following and what is needed in order to provide the live event safety and security participants will be looking for. And finally, get ideas on how destinations and convention and visitor bureaus (CVB’s) are being innovative with virtual meeting technology and how they are “creating space” to promote their destinations.

As Andy McNeill indicates, “There’s no question that if you want to be able to compete, you want to be able to play in this new normal.”

If you are a destination, global meeting planner, or supplier, this podcast will inspire ideas and bring you up to date on future trends from a 30+ year industry veteran who actually grew the business in 2020. Create amazing virtual meetings with a wider reach and lower cost than in-person events. Start by getting inspired by listening to the latest episode of Destination on the Left Podcast featuring Andy McNeill. Listen here.

How AMI Helps Fortune 500 Companies Host Amazing Hybrid Events

How AMI Helps Fortune 500 Companies Host Amazing Hybrid Events

by | Jun 24, 2021 | Hybrid Meetings

AMI Founder Andy McNeill was recently featured on Slick Talk: The Hospitality Podcast to share his knowledge and experience with hybrid events.

The event industry has always done hybrid meetings; they just didn’t always call them that. And now that virtual meeting technology has allowed more people than ever to work from home with ease, and while many people do not want to travel, the shift in the industry will be towards hybrid events.

In this episode, Andy offers examples of ways he’s seen clients produce engaging and exciting meetings and events with the attendee experience as the priority. AMI uses its broad network of partners worldwide to source the best ideas to bring innovative and fresh concepts to the table to create outstanding events.

“Business is important, but a great experience is still first.”

– Andy McNeill, AMI Founder

Not only are hybrid events here to stay, but virtual events are also creating more opportunities and saving organizations money. Learn how the Four Seasons is being creative and extending their branding to online attendees, how the future of hotels is shifting, including flexible lodging for digital nomads, and how the virtual meeting pushes all generations to advancement through innovative business operations.

Check out the podcast here: SlickTalk Podcast: How Hybrid Events are Here to Stay with Andy McNeill

Get more Hybrid Meeting Resources from AMI here:

Relationships and Community Service Brings Award to Event Industry Professional

Relationships and Community Service Brings Award to Event Industry Professional

by | Jun 24, 2021 | News

 

Recently, Chelsea Litos of American Meetings, Inc. (AMI), was recognized as one of the 40 Under 40 Young Professionals of South Florida – as awarded by The Business Journal of South Florida. This honor is awarded to only the top 10 candidates across four industries: business, legal, healthcare, and real estate. Chelsea serves as our Vice President of Account Management at AMI, and has helped our company to be known as a global meeting and event industry leader.

Chelsea started building connections early in her career, sitting on committees and boards, fundraising, and nurturing relationships that allowed her to become a community leader. In 2016, she was selected to Fort Lauderdale’s Finest, a group of young professionals who excel in their respective fields, by the organization’s local Cystic Fibrosis Chapter. Award recipients are honored throughout the state of Florida for their fundraising and business success.

As the VP of Account Management at AMI, Chelsea has the role of supporting Fortune 500 clients like Bristol Myers Squibb, Pfizer, as well as other pharmaceutical companies, educational associations, and financial organizations. While meeting planners and project managers focus on the event details, Chelsea is responsible for maintaining the great relationships she has cultivated and is happy to boast a retention rate of over 85% over the last six years she’s been with the company – a sure sign of satisfied clientele.

Her award gives credence the AMI organization as well, allowing their vendors and planners the opportunity to work with enterprise-level companies and expose themselves globally through The American Meetings Network. In addition, AMI clients benefit by being connected to a wide diversity of suppliers because of the recognition and integrity these types of awards attract.

Bridging Fortune 500 companies with diverse suppliers is another way AMI brings value to both, which is the true goal of networking, and something Chelsea has helped champion. When asked what advice she’d give to other young professionals, she said simply, “Put yourself out there and make those connections, and don’t let anyone discourage your ambitious attitude.”

How To Have An Incredible Experience When Choosing Rural Destinations

How To Have An Incredible Experience When Choosing Rural Destinations

by | Jun 22, 2021 | Podcasts
DE 35 | Rural Destinations

 

Andy McNeill talks with Adam Stoker, the President and CEO of Relic, an advertising agency that specializes in the tourism industry, about rural destinations and why companies should consider going to these places rather than conventional destinations. Adam tells Andy that one of the unique things about rural destinations is the ability to offer a more unique experience than major destinations, making meeting and event travel a more memorable experience for the team. He mentions that rural destinations have Convention and Visitors Bureaus (CVBs) and Destination Marketing Organization (DMOs) that work together to promote these locations to bring in events and continue to generate visitation.

 

Andy McNeill and Todd Bludworth are travel and hospitality entrepreneurs and owners of the global meetings organization, American Meetings, Inc. From sourcing hotels to corporate event management around the world, their team selects corporate event venues and meeting planners for a wide array of enterprise business clients, providing ideas for convention themes and strategies for running global meetings and events. Learn more at www.mtgshealth.wpengine.com.

—

Watch the episode here:

How to Have An Incredible Experience When Choosing Rural Destinations

Traveling for business doesn’t have to be plain and boring. But how do we get away from the usual places everyone’s been to? In this spotlight episode of Destination Everywhere on how to have an incredible experience when choosing a rural destination, Andy McNeill invites Adam Stoker to talk about rural destinations and how you can choose one for your meeting and travel locations.

Adam Stoker is the President and CEO of Relic, an advertising agency specializing in the tourism industry. Adam has worked with destinations for nine years, consulting with leisure travel, stakeholder engagement, destination branding, meeting planner, convention meetings, and marketing.

First, Adam tells Andy about the Convention and Visitors Bureaus and Destination Marketing Organizations present in different states in the country. They work together to promote the destination and, depending on the location, have a marketing team and convention and events sales team whose job is to bring in events and place them in a hotel with the right destination. These organizations are funded by transient room tax or lodging tax.

Different ways rural destinations promote themselves:

  1.   Podcast
  2.   Social Media

 

Adam goes on to share the rural destinations he frequents and thinks would be great choices for others.

  1.   Bryce Canyon, Utah

This destination in Utah has no traditional convention center, but they used their resort called Ruby’s Inn to host smaller meeting areas. Since the start of COVID, they had a campaign called “Upgrade Your Dust” which aims to promote visiting their place to go hiking and use hiking equipment again and upgrade your dust from your garage to the dust in Bryce Canyon.

 

Destination Highlights: 

They offer an intimate outdoor experience opportunity with an incredible view of Bryce Canyon a hundred yards from the rest.

 

  1.   Beaufort, South Carolina 

Beaufort, South Carolina is a beautiful destination located right in the middle of Charleston, South Carolina and Hilton Head, South Carolina. It was a challenge for them to compete with these major destinations with budgets and media spending to promote themselves. To stand out from the competition, Beaufort South Carolina launched a podcast called The Inner Coastal podcast and brought in local stakeholders to talk about the destination and the unique experiences it can offer.

 

Destination Highlights:

They have the Kazoo Factory and museum. A lot of films have been made in this location as well and visitors can fully experience these .

 

  1.   Vernal, Utah

Vernal, Utah is two and a half hours outside Salt Lake City and three and a half hours west of Denver. It’s a big oil community, and they built a state-of-the-art convention center with breakout rooms unique features for catering, so organizations don’t have to worry about food when they come here.

 

Destination Highlights: 

They have a Dinosaur Land with a wall of bones, a rock wall on the side of the mountain where you can find chiseled out hundreds of dinosaur bones. They also have white water rafting that is great for summer.

 

  1.   Knoxville, Tennessee

This is a place with welcoming people and great dining choices. They have a town square with dining establishments and musicians that play music in the middle of the town square.

 

Destination Highlights:

Best dining experience for a great family trip and has great natural beauty.

 

  1.   Laredo, Texas

What is typically perceived as cowboy Texas has so much more to offer. Although it’s a border town, it’s a peaceful town with agencies to keep everyone safe.

 

Destination Highlights:

You can experience authentic Mexico without leaving the USA.

Discover other great destinations at www.destinations-everywhere.com.

About Adam Stoker

Adam Stoker is President/CEO of Relic. He’s been working with destinations for nine years, consulting with leisure travel, stakeholder engagement, destination branding, and convention/meetings marketing. He has been featured in the Utah Business and Utah Valley Business Magazines’ 40 Under 40 issues. He now speaks on different industry subjects at tourism conferences across the country, most recently including Utah Tourism Conference and the Texas Travel Summit. As one of the up-and-coming industry thought leaders, Adam’s impact on the industry is just beginning.

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://mtgshealth.wpengine.com/podcast