Industry News for February 14, 2025Industry News for February 14, 2025

Venue News

Pacifica Hotels, the largest owner and operator of independent, design-inspired hotels on the West Coast, unveiled its latest rewards program, Pacifica Perks. The program, offering guests special benefits that can be enjoyed while staying at participating hotels, launched on February 1, 2025.

Saddlebrook Resort, the iconic golf and tennis vacation destination in Tampa, FL, recently completed renovations to its event and meeting spaces, transforming over 70,000 sq-ft of flexible indoor venues. These updated spaces now offer facilities designed to accommodate a wide range of events, from corporate meetings to grand social gatherings, with modern, stylish interiors that foster both productivity and creativity. The resort also offers outdoor sporting facilities, perfect for team-building and active events. 

Hot off the Press

Lou Hammond Group now represents Visit Buffalo Niagara. Buffalo offers the perfect blend of big-city amenities and small-town hospitality for meetings and conventions, with the Buffalo Convention Center’s 110,000 square feet of flexible space just steps from nearly 2,000 hotel rooms, top-rated restaurants, and vibrant nightlife. 

Visit Atlantic City has officially announced the integration of the DO AC brand and assets under the unified Visit Atlantic City name. The strategic move combines leisure and meetings marketing and communications efforts to create a cohesive destination brand and message that resonates with both leisure and business travelers. The move was officially announced today during Visit Atlantic City’s Annual Meeting, where destination partners and stakeholders gathered to celebrate the organization’s accomplishments and learn about plans for the year ahead. 

Products on the Market

XL8, a leading deep-tech startup specializing in AI-powered machine translation technology, released the latest version of its EventCAT technology which provides live translations, subtitles, and transcripts for international and in-person conferences, virtual meetings, and live streaming events. Designed to break down language barriers during online meetings, live broadcasts, and in-person conferences, EventCAT supports 42 languages. The technology ultimately saves organizations and event organizers time and resources and improves the accessibility and value of the content for participants and attendees. 

Awards & Accolades

Palladium Hotel Group reaffirms its global leadership in the hospitality industry, kicking off 2025 with yet another prestigious accolade, the Forbes Travel Guide. Six of its hotels have been honored across two distinguished categories: two hotels from the BLESS Collection Hotels luxury brand—BLESS Hotel Ibiza and BLESS Hotel Madrid—received the coveted 5-star rating for the fourth year in a row, while three properties from TRS Hotels brand in Punta Cana, Riviera Maya, and Costa Mujeres, along with The Unexpected Ibiza Hotel, earned the esteemed Recommended distinction.