Once Again Open to Visitors, Hawaii Prepares for the Return of Meetings and Events
November 2, 2020
With the launch of its pre-travel testing program on Oct. 15, the State of Hawaii officially began welcoming visitors back to the islands. According to John Reyes, senior vice president and chief meetings, conventions and incentives (MCI) sales officer for Meet Hawaii, the reopening is positive news for groups looking to book meetings and events — even if, at the moment, allowable gatherings are still small.
Currently, Hawaii has limited social gatherings to 10 people inside and 10 people outside. In an attempt to increase that number, Reyes says the tourism industry is urging political decision makers to consider MCI groups separately because of the work being done to implement health and safety protocols specific to the market.
That includes a comprehensive health and safety program developed by venue and event management company ASM Global at Hawaii Convention Center. According to Teri Orton, general manager, HCC is available for meetings as long as they follow State of Hawaii Department of Health and CDC guidelines, which planners can find on the reopening protocols section of the center’s website.
To further aid planners, Meet Hawaii is aggregating the newly implemented protocols along with venue updates and supplier relationship assistance into what they are calling the New Hawaii MCI Blueprint, which will soon be available on the Meet Hawaii website and continually updated with the latest information.
While Meet Hawaii has received an uptick in meeting inquiries for 2021 — especially for smaller groups and hybrid gatherings — they are seeing greater interest for 2022 and beyond. “2022 has strong group bookings, and Meet Hawaii anticipates the return to pre-COVID group demand to Hawaii in 2024,” says Reyes.
Coupled with the introduction of a vaccine, Reyes sees the return of meetings dependent on the industry’s ability to respond to the evolving needs of planners. “The key for Hawaii and our industry is to offer meeting customers the technology that allows them to have on-site attendance and stream to attendees who choose to attend their meetings virtually,” says Reyes. He adds that they’re also seeing a demand for more flexible cancellation policies by meetings customers.
The positive news, says Reyes, is that Hawaii’s health and safety protocols have already created a strong level of confidence among visitors. To build upon those, Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association has launched the “We Are Ready” program outlining the measures implemented at Hawaii hotels. “As a hotel community, HTLA has been proactive in ensuring the health and safety of our hotel guests as well as our hotel employees,” says Reyes.
Hotels with meeting facilities that reopened Oct. 15 with measures in place include Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa, which recently completed a multimillion-dollar renovation and is offering a program that allows groups to buy out all or a portion of the 40-acre resort, and the two Four Seasons resorts on the island of Lanai. Scheduled to reopen in November are Prince Waikiki on Oahu, Mauna Kea Resort on Hawaii Island, and — for smaller groups — the 18-room Plantation Inn on Maui. Also on Maui, Ka’anapali Beach Hotel expects to reopen on Dec. 1 following a $75 million renovation.
Get more information on holding meetings in Hawaii here.
Partner Voices
Just when it seems like Las Vegas can’t get any bigger, brighter or more exciting for groups, MGM Resorts raises the bar again. The company continues to invest and innovate across its portfolio of Las Vegas resorts, with new attractions and upgraded experiences for attendees of all interests.
Remodeled Guest Rooms
MGM Grand is the largest single hotel in the world with over 5,000 guest rooms and an 850,000-square-foot conference center. It is home to the newly remodeled MGM Grand Studio Tower—700 reimagined guest rooms with a fun mid-century vibe. Nearby, the iconic New York-New York Las Vegas Hotel & Casino recently completed a $63M redesign and remodel of its 1,830 guest rooms and 155 suites.
Down the street, Bellagio Las Vegas is sporting renovated rooms in the Spa Tower with sunrise-inspired decor and luxurious soaking tubs in Premier King rooms after a $110-million transformation.
Reinvented Luxury Experiences
The Luxury Meetings District, made up of Bellagio Las Vegas, ARIA Resort & Casino, Vdara Hotel & Spa, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Park MGM and NoMad Las Vegas, is now more connected than ever before. A new interior walkway opened this October for a seamless attendee experience – connecting Vdara, Bellagio, and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, guests can now walk from Park MGM to Bellagio in around 15 minutes.
New on the scene in the Luxury Meetings District is Cathedrale at ARIA, TAO Group’s upscale establishment specializing in exquisite French-Mediterranean cuisine offering elevated private dining experiences that opened in May.
Heralded by World’s Best 50 Restaurants, GQ and VOGUE, LPM at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is opening this fall and will deliver its signature spontaneity and imaginative celebration of France’s Mediterranean cuisine, art, and culture to the unique luxury resort in impeccable fashion.
A “New Wave for Mandalay Bay
A new wave of enhancements and experiences has arrived at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, including Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar, an 8,445-square-foot restaurant that opened this June, perfect for pre- and post-game eats and drinks. Event planner’s favorite, Chef Michael Mina’s StripSteak, received a full renovation and now includes one of the largest private dining rooms on The Strip. Retro by Voltaggio debuts a one-year residency with a fun take on pop culture of the 80s and 90s with classic American dishes. An exciting addition planned for 2024 is Swingers, a 40,000-square-foot oasis of street food, miniature golf and art at Mandalay Bay.
Most exciting for meeting planners, the 2.1 million-square-foot Mandalay Bay Convention Center is undergoing a complete refresh, with lightened space, added eye-catching art, and improved technology infrastructure for even more flexible space. Energy-efficient digital signage now leads the way with faster internet speeds and new AV options.
From renovated guest rooms and meeting spaces to celebrated dining options and dedicated teams, MGM Resorts is dedicated to delivering exceptional and innovative meeting experiences.
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