WHEN I WALKED into my room at the Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park, in early November, I thought I might never leave. It wasn't the ultra-comfy bed with its down-filled duvet, or the oversized soaking tub, although those were certainly...

BRANDING HAS BECOME one of the buzzwords of modern marketing, and for good reason. A brand is much more than a name: It's an identity that reflects the look, the personality, the consistency, and every other aspect of an organization...

If the Corporate meetings world had a “phrase of the year,” the honor in 2005 would have to go to “strategic meeting management program,” or SMMP. The concept — which in brief connotes a coordinated, centralized approach to vendor sourcing, data...

We are back from the 2005 ICPA Annual Meeting in New York City at the amazing New York Marriott Marquis and what an outstanding meeting! We celebrated a record number of planners in attendance. Congratulations to the Design Team led by Debbie...

Love that dreamy pillow on your hotel bed or those sheets with the thread count that's through the roof? Wish you could have them in your house...

FICP celebrated its last annual meeting as ICPA by returning to New York, the site of its very first meeting 48 years ago. The meeting has grown not only in size but in prestige and recognition, and it was marked by the presence of some incredible...

Guests at Westin Hotels & Resorts in the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean will no longer have the option to smoke in guest rooms or public areas. A smoking ban goes into effect this month at 77 properties, allowing guests to light up...

There's something about TV that brings people together. So, for the semiannual conference at MAC Meetings and Events, St. Louis, the company wove in a television theme, beginning with the agenda in the format of a TV Guide...

Choosing which cruise is best for you and your group has gotten easier. Princess Cruises has a new planning tool, called Searchlight, on its Web site, www.princess.com. Visitors can compare up to three cruises at a time using the proprietary...

IF YOU MISSED the 2005 ICPA convention in New York City, you missed one heck of a good time. Here's what I remember...