When it comes to major sporting events in the U.S., you’re never quite sure what you’ll experience. An overcrowded, rowdy gathering of beer-emboldened fans at a rivalry football or baseball game? Or a serene and respectful gallery talking in hushed tones at Augusta National Golf Club? Don’t even debate a UFC event.

I was fortunate enough to attend a couple of World Cup matches during the six-week tournament which played out in 16 venues across North America for the first time in 32 years. Long a fan of the English Premier League, I loved the atmosphere, the excitement and the action on the field. Though tickets were very pricey, attending a World Cup match is on many bucket lists around the globe and I came away with many wonderful memories.

Tops on the list was the friendly, welcoming level of service I experienced in and around World Cup activities. Traffic cops, ushers [one usher wished me a happy Father’s Day], waitresses and bartenders, concession stand workers, street vendors, and fans themselves. I saw Gail Solomon, legendary Atlanta DMC queen turned retiree, volunteering in the same spot daily, waving, smiling and welcoming people. I hugged her every time! Human decency and polite respect were in the air everywhere and it made a powerful impact on me … probably because it wasn’t what I expected. It wasn’t what I’d grown accustomed to years ago.

And why is that?

I won’t bore you with survey results and statistics that call out the drop-off in service in America in recent years, I think that’s one of the few things these days that garners ‘cross-the-board agreement. The trend began many years ago and fingers can be pointed at many factors — declining parental influence, non-stop geo-political tensions [ugh …], Covid, social media nastiness, and on and on and on.

And that’s why I came away from my World Cup experience hopeful and encouraged that maybe, just maybe, we can return to simpler times of “yes, ma’am” and “no, sir”, holding doors for others, maybe even “Let me help you with that …”. I witnessed people from dozens of countries and cultures coming together and interacting in a spirit of friendliness and service, punctuated with smiles, politeness and enthusiasm. It was uplifting and, for the first time in forever it seems, the U.S. was being embraced on the world stage.

America, take a bow!

A Two-Way Street

And the kindness and respect flowed two ways. In mid-June, following a 2-2 draw between Japan and the Netherlands at Dallas Stadium, most fans headed for the exits. But Japanese fans immediately reached for trash bags and began cleaning their section of the stadium, reaching under seats to pick up cups, straws, food wrappers, and anything else that would otherwise be left behind for someone else to deal with. Meanwhile beneath the stadium, the Japanese men’s team showered, changed and began cleaning their locker room, bagging up trash then folding and stacking soiled uniforms in a neat pile in the middle of the room before boarding team busses.

In Boston, thousands of Scottish fans gathered in a public park to, shall we say, “have a wee bevvy or two”, and in doing so endeared themselves to Beantown barkeeps and local residents. They came together daily in pubs, restaurants, parks and common areas in groups as large as 2,000 people. The Tartan Army not only impressed locals with their capacity to consume … but also their willingness to clean up after themselves. A Boston City Parks Custodian said he was the lone person assigned to clean up after one such gathering and had barely anything to do when he arrived for his shift. “Man, can those people drink but they sure do pick up their trash when the fun is over. I couldn’t believe it,” he told a local news outlet.

Elevate Your Expectations …

I was truly and pleasantly surprised by the exceptional level of service that permeated the world’s most popular sporting event [an estimated 1.6 billion TV viewers worldwide watched the final match]. A whopping 37,000 applications were received for 3,000 volunteer slots in Atlanta alone and those selected were quite obviously well-trained or, by nature, happy and warm-spirited people. There were similar reports of this at many of the other World Cup cities and venues.

No doubt, the demand for hospitality services was the highest since Atlanta hosted the 1996 Olympic Summer Games and boy did those businesses step up. There seemed to be a common mission to showcase the stadium, our community, individual businesses, and Southern Hospitality. I came away heartened that it really can happen.

Reality is, we’ve become complacent when it comes to service. In years past, top-class service was expected and businesses delivered [remember “filling” stations where gas was pumped for you and, yes, there was an oil check and a window wash that came along with it]. As consumers of services – retail, dining, vacation, travel, home services, etc. — we’ve not only come to expect mediocrity, we’ve settled for it. When we don’t receive high-quality service and don’t speak up, it’s on us. And failing to say something means we can expect more of the same.

Having said that, calling out a lack of service or poor service needs to be handled delicately. It’s perfectly acceptable to politely ask for a manager and share your experience. It’s not acceptable to berate a server or bartender at a restaurant in front of others. When you share your candid feedback in a spirit of constructiveness, you enhance the chances of that business acting on your input and, no doubt, your next experience with them will be much better. When handled delicately, everyone wins.

If it can happen for six wonderful weeks in Atlanta and beyond, with high-priced ticket packages that drive high expectations of quality, incredible demand for hospitality-related services, and an army of unpaid volunteers, it can happen on a daily basis. I truly believe that.

The Goodness That Is …

So, I ask: What can we – you, me, everyone – do each day, all day to keep this wonderful dimension of the 2026 World Cup alive? This suddenly reawakened commitment to friendly service. We are a kind and welcoming society, despite the nasty overlay the media likes to promote globally and locally. In truth, you don’t have to dig deep to discover the goodness that is America … land of the free, home of the brave, and one fine place to live. We can do this, everyone!

Cheers,

Kenneth Jones

The post Beyond World Cup: Top-Class Service Should Be Expected appeared first on dynami.

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How many times have you overheard comments like these?

“I wish next year’s sales meeting would land someplace really cool and different for a change.”

“Why do they sign multi-year contracts with the same hotel? I get tired of going to the same place every year.”

“Let me guess, we’re going to either Vegas or Orlando …”

With all due respect to Las Vegas and Orlando which absolutely do offer the total package for a planner – huge room blocks, great convention centers, beautiful properties at all price points, warm weather, myriad off-property attractions, and easy-in/easy-out travel – people want to experience something and somewhere new and different.

It’s not unlike a chef offering the same specials on the menu every night. Yes, they’re all beautifully presented and tasty and delicious but variety is, as they say, the spice of life. [And the spice of corporate meetings and events, as well.]

We all have our favorite cities and properties whether you’re an attendee or a planner. It’s usually due to a friendly staff, familiar surroundings, great weather and the confidence that comes with having been there before and having enjoyed your experience.

But we all have an innate desire to mix it up a bit from time to time. So, take a cue from the fine chefs of the world and strive to keep things fresh and exciting. Let’s take a look at the top meeting and event destinations in 2020. [Some are predictable, others might surprise you. And Orlando didn’t make the top-five, BTW.]

2020 Trendiest M&E Destinations

Once a year, a worldwide association of independently-owned Destination Management Companies [DMC], releases its list of the trendiest cities for meetings and events. Data and feedback are collected from nearly 7,000 programs taking place in more than 500 cities around the globe.

In 2019, the top-five global destinations for meetings and events were:

1. Paris
2. Copenhagen
3. Chicago
4. San Francisco, and …
5. Budapest

Interestingly, the 2020 ranking is 100% new and fresh with all hot spots in the U.S.:

1. San Diego
2. Nashville
3. Las Vegas
4. New Orleans, and …
5. Austin

Let’s look a bit closer at the reasons behind the rankings.

San Diego – Beautiful city, beaches and a year-round climate agreeable to all. Plenty of nearby attractions – Balboa Park, San Diego Zoo, sailing, harbor cruises, mountain biking, shopping, etc. Hotels range from airport properties to five-star resorts, and everything in between.

Nashville – Music City has evolved from its country-fried Hee-Haw roots to a legitimate Who’s Who of hot corporate meetings and events destinations. Large citywide room availability, world-class musical entertainment along Honky Tonk Row, authentic roots, the chance to bump into a country star, and gracious Southern Hospitality.

Las Vegas – Like a fine candy store, Sin City never disappoints. Fantastic hotel options, world-class nightlife, top-quality shows, great golf and, of course, gaming, gaming and more gaming. Throw in a favorable climate and, yes, there is a reason why you feel like that kid in a candy store.

New Orleans – The Crescent City seems to evoke a visceral love-loathe reaction. Apparently, a great number of people are in love with N’Awlins’ legendary cuisine [you can generally walk into any restaurant on any corner and leave quite contented], its famed nightlife, soulful roots of jazz, riverboat tours, the French Quarter and [pick your adjective] seedy/sensational Bourbon Street. Many hotel properties are within walking distance of the fun, making NOLA quite attractive to planners and attendees.

Austin – Any town that’s a combo state capital and home to a major university [University of Texas with 51,000 students! ] is bound to have a unique vibe. Toss in the beautiful Texas Hill County, a vibrant music scene up and down Sixth Street, golf, hiking, biking, and the overall warmth of a big Texas Welcome. [Is Austin Nashville West or is Nashville Austin East?]

General Takeaways

There are a number of commonalities among these five cities:

• All are easy to get to with flights available throughout the day, many of them direct.
• All offer great hotel availability [San Diego, 55,000 rooms; Nashville, 42,000; Las Vegas, a whoppin’ 150,000; and New Orleans and Austin, 40,000 each].
• All offer multiple tiers of hotels.
• All have great convention centers.
• All offer a veritable gumbo of nearby attractions, whether it’s outdoor activities, great scenery, exciting entertainment, music, shopping, or world-class culinary.
• But … all tend to be pricey. A hot destination generally means a higher price point [good ol’ supply and demand] but, as any savvy planner knows, a skilled negotiator can pull costs from the stratosphere into the realm of reality with reduced group rates, concessions, and other in-kind offerings (see- ‘Gotchas’ to Watch for When Negotiating Contracts).

Bottom Line …

People want variety.

People want new and different.

People want to return home energized by what they learned during business sessions but also pumped about the great, balanced, work-hard/play-hard experience they just enjoyed. When they’re excitedly telling their family and friends about the incredible meeting or event they just attended, you’ve hit a home run. Make all that TSA stress and other travel challenges worth the hassle because the meeting experience was just so memorable!

And as that conscientious planner, it’s your role to meet and exceed their expectations. Dynami’s depth, experience and far-reaching network can help you do just that!

Cheers,

Julie Thompson-Whelan

The post 5 Hot 2020 Corporate Meeting & Event Cities … And What Makes Them So! appeared first on dynami.

Let’s start with some of this year’s more unusual offerings …

Speaking of robots, up-and-coming Seattle company Picnic is experimenting with automation designed to disrupt traditional methods of food prep; showcasing a pizza-making robot that will actually serve hungry attendees at CES 2020. https://www.hellopicnic.com/

After lunch, hook up with Walker, a robotic yogi from UBTECH that not only helps you find your inner bliss, it can push a small grocery cart, draw pictures and write characters.  https://www.ubtrobot.com/collections/innovation-at-ubtech?ls=en

And now for the “cat’s meow” …

• Caremitou, the eHealth Cat House — Worried about your fat cat that wages war whenever you take it to the vet? Weary of collecting the dreaded cat, er whiz, for medical analysis? Caremitou to the rescue! A “connected litter box” from France-based NovandSat SAS, Caremitou weighs your cat, records how many times it visits the litter box daily, and even takes urine samples. Much of that is done via Bluetooth and a smartphone app but it’s the latter feature that has made Caremitou a curious and popular product entry.

It has two litter boxes — one green, one blue. When you need to obtain a urinary specimen for analysis by a vet, simply remove the green litter box and replace it with the blue. It will collect a urine sample, analyze it, and allow you to keep track of your cat’s various illnesses. The app even links with your vet for follow-ups and results. Caremitou has already won a CES 2020 Innovation Award. https://www.caremitou.com/uk/product

CES 2020 By the Numbers …

As Sin City’s single largest convention, CES posts some impressive numbers:

• 175,000+ attendees
• 4,500+ exhibitors
• 1,100 speakers
• 300 educational sessions
• 11 venues spread out over 10 square miles

Yep, it’s a really big show and one that keeps us aware of “tech-tonic” shifts in electronics, computing, transportation, health and fitness, and how innovation in technology has created one big tech ecosystem that touches virtually all aspects of our day-to-day lives.

As always, CES 2020 will serve up a tantalizing smorgasbord of fascinating gadgets and cool new stuff. But while some products are truly sneak peeks at what you can expect to see soon in stores and via online retailers, many others are akin to concept cars that are unveiled but never actually make it to market in present form.

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Exciting News from dynami: Meet Victoria “Torii” Friedheim

In her role as Business Development Specialist, Torii [no, that’s not a misspelling] “finds the people who need us most then works hard to accommodate them in a unique and memorable way.” Her “edge” is being incredibly genuine and truthful and having a knack for selling a service that meets clients’ needs and expectations.

Prior to joining dynami group, Torii worked seven years at The Manor Golf & Country Club, an exclusive private club in suburban Atlanta; most recently as Captain of Servers after working as a Cart Staffer, Pro Shop Attendant, coach of the club’s swim team, and even a Beverage Cart Operator.

A self-proclaimed ”Air Force brat”, Torii was born in Japan [close to Torii Beach in Okinawa, hence the unique spelling of her nickname] and has lived in Austin, Chicago, Dayton and now Atlanta. She earned her degree in Communications with a focus on Public Relations from the University of North Georgia, and is a “Dog Mom” to Zeus, her beloved Rottweiler.

Welcome, Torii!

Cheers,

Kenneth Jones

The post CES 2020: A Look At The Wacky And The “What’s To Come”! And Some Big News About A New Dynami Team Member appeared first on dynami.