Prevue July/August 2014 - (Page 45)

View from the Rendezvous terrace at Secrets Puerto Los Cabos [Secrets Resorts & Spas] IRF Invitational Secrets Puerto Los Cabos hosts the biggest incentive event yet [ON LOCATION] KATE M C CLARE I f you need proof that the incentive market is back, look no further than the Incentive Research Foundation's 2014 Invitational. The biggest edition in the Invitational's 21 years, it attracted some 400 attendees-about 35 percent of them ﬁrst-timers, which IRF President Melissa Van Dyke and others took as a sign of great optimism in the industry. They met at AM Resorts' sublime all-inclusive Secrets Puerto Los Cabos. Joining the resort as destination sponsors were Hilton Los Cabos Beach and Golf Resort, Sheraton Hacienda Del Mar Golf & Spa Resort and AM Resorts' Secrets Marquis Los Cabos. Attendees got the full group experience from Amstar DMC, which organized recreation and sightseeing excursions. They also competed in a golf tournament organized by Questro Golf. Opened in December 2013, the 500-room Secrets Puerto Los Cabos resort includes a spa, two swimming pools, championship golf and ﬁve gourmet restaurants. Its 16,000 sf of meeting space has attracted mostly medium-sized groups of 20 to 100 pax for meetings and 200 to 500 for incentive programs, said AM Resorts Corporate Director of Groups Violeta Sales, CMP/CMM. It's been popular with insurance, ﬁnancial and medical groups. "Secrets is really the (AM Resorts) brand that offers unlimited luxury in an adults-only atmosphere," Sales explained. "In Cabo, we offer the complete experience: golf, spa, a wide variety of local cultural experiences." The setting in Cabo San Lucas also means guests can experience ocean, mountain and desert all at once, she added. Sales was happy that Secrets could host the IRF event. "I've been a supporter for about 10 years," she said. "I like the fact that they are working hard to improve the way the incentive market is working." That was the goal of Education Day, which attracted 275 attendees to sessions on topics such as technology, engagement and wellness. IRF Board Chair Sandi Daniel said the numbers "speak to the thirst for education in this industry." "Engagement" was the word of the week at the Invitational, and the IRF demonstrated it in real terms with The Happiness Game on the event's mobile app. The game gave attendees points for emailing and otherwise engaging with each other and for doing other activities such as posting photos of events or of their "happy place" on the property. One education session had attendees brainstorming this question: If the incentive industry didn't exist and you were going to create it, what would you differently? Answers ranged from doing a better job of educating people about the importance of incentives, to creating a formal, college-level academic discipline. And then there was this bit of advice from Rodger Stotz, the IRF's Chief Research Ofﬁcer: "Life is not the passing of time. Life is a collection of experiences. We are in the business of creating experiences." theirf.org; secretsresorts.com/puerto-los-cabos; hiltonloscabos.com; sheraton.com/haciendadelmar; marquisloscabos.com; amstardmc.com; questrogolf.com prevuemeetings.com | 45 34-45_Caribbean_Secrets.indd 45 7/3/14 12:45 PM http://www.theirf.org http://www.secretsresorts.com/puerto-los-cabos http://www.hiltonloscabos.com http://www.sheraton.com/haciendadelmar http://www.marquisloscabos.com http://www.amstardmc.com http://www.questrogolf.com http://www.prevuemeetings.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue July/August 2014

Planner’s Pick: The Franklin Institute
Fresh Meets: Marriott Hotels
Bureau Buzz: Bermuda Tourism Authority
Good Business: Anaheim/Orange County CVB
Sea Shores: Table for 2 (Hundred)
Table Talk Creativity and engagement add flavor to culinary events
SPECIAL SECTION: THE CARIBBEAN More than a vacation spot, paradise for meetings
IRF INVITATIONAL Secrets Puerto Los Cabos hosts the biggest incentive forum yet
On Location: Dominican Republic
On Location: Westin Hilton Head
On Location: Vancouver
LOUISIANA Culture, dramatic venues and immersive tours surround the Big Easy
ORLANDO AIBTM host city is a top draw for meetings
On Location: Auckland
SUSTAINABLE MEETINGS GMIC helps planners minimize their footprint
Checkout: Thompson Chicago

Prevue July/August 2014