Small details in meetings or events can significantly impact participants and the destination. Here are some standout ideas from Northstar Meetings Group’s recent hosted-buyer events. NMG's roster of upcoming gatherings, where more great options will be employed, is filling up fast for 2025.
Wellness Oasis
For Destination Southeast at the Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa in Point Clear, Ala., a wellness suite was outfitted with lounge chairs, leg-compression sleeves and eye masks. An instructor played a sound bowl to promote healing and relaxation, and a refreshment station provided mimosas, nonalcoholic drinks and fresh fruit. Outside the room, a DIY hand-scrub station was stocked with ingredients like brown sugar, lavender and essential oils.
Community Book Drive
At Destination Caribbean + Islands, participants brought new or gently used children’s books to the Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas. Cacique International, the event’s destination management company, distributed the books to Lend a Hand Bahamas, supporting community development in Bahamian communities.
Cool Registration Treat
A sweet surprise welcomed participants at registration for the Independent Planner Education Conference (IPEC) at the Peabody Memphis in 2023, with homemade ice cream from Kaye’s Pints & Scoops, a local family business, sponsored by Kalahari Resorts.
Power Walking
Have a lot of foot traffic at your event? Participants can contribute to sustainability efforts by walking across Pavegen’s new kinetic tiles, which capture energy to power lights and event displays. Thanks to Liz Lathan for the idea; she and her co-creator, Nicole Osibodu, will run their Spontaneous Think Tank for Meeting Professionals in December at NMG's Destination Southwest hosted-buyer event at the Woodlands Resort in Texas in December.
Pick Your Own Poké
At Small & Boutique Meetings–Spring, held at the Margaritaville Resort Lake Conroe in Montgomery, Texas, attendees enjoyed creating custom poké bowls. Among the choices on hand:
- Seafood: snapper, salmon, shrimp, tuna
- Base: sushi rice, brown rice, kimchee, baby kale, mixed greens
- Extras: edamame, roasted corn, pickled ginger
- Sauces: avocado cream, sriracha mayo
- Toppings: chili flakes, crispy onions, sesame seeds, toasted coconut.
Derby Hat Workshop
A Kentucky Derby hat-building activity was held during the opening reception for Small & Boutique Meetings–Summer at the Hotel Distil in Louisville, Ky. The following evening, attendees wore their creations to Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby Museum, enjoying dinner in the Great Hall and a guided tour of the racetrack.
