Who's News in Special Events for March 3, 2022

Products on the Market

There’s a new mitt in the market making life a little more germ free as we navigate the current climate and beyond – and with the success of its online sales, this new mitt is on its way to stores and hotels. As people continue to get out more - from traveling via airports and staying at hotels to dining at restaurants to simply running more and more errands - sanitizing efforts are still top of mind and there’s a new product making headlines: Fend Wellness Antibacterial Hand Wipe Mitts. These mitts are the first wearable hand wipes that provide a protective liner between you and all surfaces that come in contact with your hands. This wearable, multi-use sanitizing mitt kills germs and 99.9% of bacteria on your hands with its 75% alcohol sanitizing solution – ideal for traveling in airport and hotels and for anyone concerned about germs, sanitizing efforts, and fending off bacteria. And they won’t dry out your hands – this one-size-fits most mitt has a comfortable liner to create a barrier around the hands and keep them completely insulated from whatever is lurking on the surface you’re touching.

Los Angeles-based Postal Petals is a farm-to-table fresh flower delivery service designed for people who like to make their own flower arrangements.

Hot Off the Presses

Global experience company WRG, the events and experiential division of The Creative Engagement Group, is launching a ground-breaking 12-month internship scheme to help passionate people from all backgrounds break into the exciting world of experiences. Year ONE is a paid internship offering high-level training and work placements in different areas of WRG’s business, giving a fully rounded view of what life in an experiential agency is about. The Year ONE programme starts in July and interns will be placed at either one of WRG’s UK offices in London or Manchester or in the North American office in Philadelphia. The scheme is open to anyone over the age of 18 whether school or college leaver, university graduate or those simply looking for a change from their current role. No prior experience in events or exhibitions is needed. Year ONE is designed to support interns navigating through the many different skills and roles that come together to create world-leading experiences. By rotating through WRG’s Environments, Events, Technical Production, Logistics and Delegate Experience teams, interns will be given a well-rounded ‘springboard’ of skills to enabling them to turbo charge their careers in the experience industry. Those on the scheme may also get an opportunity to travel, COVID permitting, as 80% of the agency’s work is international.  

Party Reflections, Inc., Charlotte, NC, announced today that it has acquired the assets of Old South Collection, LLC, based in Catawba, NC. Party Reflections, Inc. is one of the country’s leading special event rental companies, routinely listed as a “Top 30” event rental company in the U.S. and is based in Charlotte, NC, operating from five locations.  Old South Collection is the leading special event boutique rental company in the greater Charlotte, NC market. Samantha Mason founded and operated Old South Collection and will stay on with Party Reflections as a consultant for a transition period.  

Madrid Marriott Auditorium Hotel & Conference Centre enters the RendezVerse, as a development partner enhancing their commitment to the flexible future of meetings and events. As the tech tide shifts in corporate events, The Madrid Marriott Auditorium Hotel & Conference Centre is exploring the future of the events industry by partnering with RendezVerse in a project that will help shape the rapidly unfolding landscape that is the corporate metaverse. The Madrid Marriott Auditorium Hotel & Conference Centre will work with the technical team at RendezVerse to evolve the traditional face to face and hybrid meeting models. The vision is to simplify the current and outdated booking processes of the hospitality industry, with new technological processes that will make it easier and more convenient for event planners to inspect a property and decide between different spaces. This will reduce the costs, both money and time, associated with visiting a property as well as reducing the carbon footprint. 

Industry Accolades

Lizz Torgovnick, the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Sequence, has been awarded for the entrepreneur category in the 7th Annual Smart Women in Meetings Awards for her inspiration and creative ideas in the events industry. 

People on the Move

Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa announces Lenne Goslin as its new director of group sales.  In her new role, Goslin is responsible for managing and overseeing the group sales operations at the resort. Goslin has been working with the resort since August 2001, before the resort’s doors opened in September, and most recently served as its senior sales manager. 

Venue News

The charming beach chic Goodland hotel in Santa Barbara is catching a wave of investment and a renaissance under its new name, “The Leta”. AWH Partners has purchased the property and Spire Hospitality is the new management company of this landmark property formerly known as the Kimpton Goodland. This beachy boutique hotel is now named the “The Leta” (a nod to the city of Goleta in Santa Barbara county). The ideally located property in Goleta is prized for its cool, hip, carefree Californian personality and it’s artful, quirky, unexpected, open and soulful chemistry. Local art, music, food and wine are at home here and the hotel boasts 6,000 square feet of meeting space welcoming locals and out of town guests alike for one-of-a-kind meetings and events. 

Today opens Hilton Singapore Orchard, the company’s largest hotel in Asia Pacific. Located at the heart of Orchard Road, the 1,080-room property sets a new benchmark of hospitality for the city’s renowned shopping district with a vibrant blend of contemporary design, innovative dining experiences and extensive meeting spaces. The hotel’s location also ensures easy access to the best global brands and gourmet offerings, as well as premier specialist medical centers and the central business district. 

Remington Hotels announced today that it has signed an agreement to manage Le Méridien Fort Worth, a redevelopment of the 13-story historic building formerly known as the Hotel Texas Annex, conveniently located in downtown Fort Worth. In partnership with premier real estate investment and development company Blueprint Hospitality, Remington Hotels will oversee day-to-day operations of the city’s first Le Méridien, a Marriott International brand known for its playful sophistication and timeless chic design. The redevelopment of the 189-room hotel, which kicks off in January 2022, is slated to open in 2023. The property will sit adjacent to the Hilton Fort Worth, another Remington Hotels’ property. Le Méridien will excite guests through a phenomenal experience and fresh look, with planned improvements led by Premier and Sandvick Architects, Inc. The historic reimagination includes new ground floor restaurants and a rooftop bar, 3,000 square-feet of meeting space, and a refresh of sixth floor pool deck. Le Méridien Fort Worth will also boast thoughtful details including nods to cartography and mapping alongside a masterful combination of rugged Texas bravado and European flair to offer a mid-century-inspired build that fits within the hotel’s surroundings.