Destination Texas 2021 in Pictures

Sixty planners and suppliers gathered in the charming city of Grapevine for two days of appointments and networking.

Northstar Meetings Group hosted Destination Texas, dedicated to buyers and Lone Star State suppliers, on Dec. 8-10 in Grapevine, home to a dozen wineries and known as the Christmas Capital of Texas for its downtown displays. The event brought together 60 meeting and event buyers and suppliers at the festively decorated Great Wolf Lodge Grapevine.

In addition to our outstanding host property, our partners for this event were the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau, INNOVATX Events, Visit Irving, Visit Fort Worth, Visit the Woodlands and American Airlines.

As with all Northstar events, strong health and safety protocols were in place for Destination Texas. We thank our partner SafeAccess for managing our health documents.

Please view, download and share the wonderful Destination Texas photos (the password is Texas), with credit to photographer Robert Wilson/RC Photographic Productions.

Northstar Meetings Group has a number of in-person gatherings on our 2022 events calendar. Events Planners and suppliers can register their interest in attending upcoming meetings at any time.

Following are highlights from Destination Texas.

Day One


Attendees had a “howl” of a good time during the opening reception at the Great Wolf Lodge, our host property.


Northstar’s James Antaky greets Josie Lewis (left), of Visit the Woodlands, and Gloria Smith, of the Woodlands Resort, at the Destination Texas opening reception.

Day Two


Jeff McKissack, Defense by Design, shared a wealth of great tips for improving event safety. For example, he recommends that event organizers require photo IDs for all attendees and suppliers/exhibitors, so no one can fake someone’s identity to gain access to the meeting or trade show.


Planner Sharon Burstein, Sharon Burstein International, dons her Western hat during the Day 2 lunch at Cowboys Golf Club. The lively event — and the hats and logoed T-shirts — were sponsored by Visit Fort Worth.


Our evening event was held at Grapevine’s stunning new downtown property, Hotel Vin. Pictured left to right are Nancy Trevino, HelmsBriscoe; Connie Ash, Grapevine CVB; Angela Weathersby, AWE Global Meetings; Cybill Valentine, TVG Meetings and Events; and Traci Crews, Etherio Group.


Lisa Grinstead, Visit Lubbock, enjoys a white cranberry Cosmopolitan, with Joel Vazquez, Laredo Convention & Visitors Bureau.


The festive downtown lights are just one reason why Grapevine is known as the “Christmas Capital of Texas.”


Durleen Van Winkle (left), Wichita Falls CVB, and Traci Crews, Etherio Group, get in holiday spirit during our post-reception fun in downtown Grapevine.


Kudos to the Grapevine suppliers for a wonderful evening reception and downtown experience!

Day Three


The Cooper Institute's Meredith Zerner gave the audience plenty of food for thought to create healthful menus for their events. Zerner also shared stretches and ideas for counteracting “the worst position for your body,” a.k.a., sitting.


Planners and suppliers met for productive, one-on-one appointments on both mornings.


Attendees enjoyed a delicious farewell lunch sponsored by Visit The Woodlands.

Interested in other Northstar events? Register now.