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4 M e e t i n g & e v e n t P l a n n i n g g u i d e 2 0 14 / 2 0 1 5 b y J A n E d E l S O n Jane Delson is director of business development for Hurley Travel Experts, based in Portland. G one are the days of predictable, same-old-same-old meetings and corporate events. No more predict- able venues, no more predictable menus. Today's savvy business person has come to expect a level of innovation in corporate meeting and event planning that defies expectation and defines the exceptional. Shari Elder, a senior group travel special- ist at Hurley Travel Experts, explains that the No. 1 in-demand amenity for corporate meetings and events is access to WiFi. But not just in a function room. Event-goers want to be connected, property-wide. "The critical factor for our travelers, whether they're at a meeting or a special hallmark event, is connectivity. Even when it's a corporate social event, these profes- sionals want and need to stay in touch with time-sensitive business matters, and WiFi is essential for all of them." Aside from connectivity, meetings and events today are all about the extraordinary. "Of course we continue to book meetings and incentivizing events in banquet facilities and hotel and conference center ballrooms," said Elder. "But we utilize those spaces in new and more inventive ways. It's all about creating a 'signature' experience that honors individual tastes, while underscoring the corporate brand and also the corporate bond." When it comes to selecting menus for business gatherings, Elder notes that she receives more and more requests for special dietary accommodations. "Our clients are more health-conscious today, and they often request gluten-free, allergy-sensitive or vegan alternatives to more traditional fare. We also get frequent requests for menus utilizing organic or locally grown foods." Nothing is off the table, she emphasizes, and the unusual is becoming the usual. When it comes to beverages, the traditional cocktail hour is nearly obsolete. Maine has become noted for its many micro- breweries, and meeting planners frequently request higher-end beers and ales. The trend away from hard liquor at corporate events has been widely replaced by the popular "signature cocktail" that's created specifically for an event, and is usually named after the hosting company or its foremost brand. There's also been an essential format- ting shift in meeting and event planning. Pamela Hurley-Moser, founder and president of Hurley Travel Experts, said, "We've been seeing a trend away from traditional sit-down dinners and a move towards a more informal reception-style event that allows for better networking and enables employees to move from area to area, sharing time with colleagues they may not work with directly on a daily basis. "Culinary 'action stations' are also a popular component in these types of events, and enable attendees to interact with venue chefs who actually prepare custom dishes on-site. It's more relaxed, more personal and more productive. "In addition, we're noting a strong trend towards more activity-based events. Walking tours, progressive meal tours that focus on culinary interests, golf-centered events — which have always been highly popular — and even fitness-oriented events, where hiking and yoga might be central themes." According to Elder, spas have become an important amenity for business clients. "Our clients' meetings are purposeful and demanding, and during break times or evening hours, access to a spa — whether for a beauty treatment or a relaxing massage — is important. For purely social corporate events, it's even more so." "Access to a state-of-the-art gym is equally important, and our clients don't just want high-end fitness equipment. They want classes and one-on-one time with expert trainers. Machines alone just aren't enough anymore," she said. Thinking outside the norm is pivotal in meeting and event travel, and it doesn't matter if the meeting is in Portland or Portugal. The same rule applies: Be creative! Hurley-Moser notes the growing popularity of unique venues for the meetings, corporate social and incentivizing gatherings that the travel management company plans. "Outdoor venues are becoming more and more popular, and Maine, with all its glorious scenery and stunning coastline, is the optimal place to bring the event out- doors," she notes. Hurley Travel Experts has created events at museums throughout the state: in a restored barn, at a lodge in the North Maine Woods, and even aboard a legendary Maine schooner. One such unique venue is Kennebunkport's Hidden Pond, an Arts and Crafts-inspired Maine getaway lodge and gathering place set amidst a rural landscape. The resort's restaurant, Earth, features a floor-to-ceiling fireplace, open kitchen and a menu offering fresh ingredients from two onsite organic gardens, as well as local cheeses, seafood and meats. Located near the Bush family compound, Earth is a favored dining spot of the former President and First Lady. Even the resort's spa is one-of-a-kind. Nestled in the treetops, overlooking the beach forest, is Hidden Pond's new Tree Spa. The three spa rooms, 8 feet above the ground, are connected by a catwalk woven through the trees. Elder notes that Hurley's corporate clients have come to expect such unexpected venues. "We have many companies who have been with us for five to 10 years, or more, and each year they approach the planning of their events with enthusiasm, wanting to make things different. It gets tougher each year!" Hurley-Moser says her agency, a member of Virtuoso, a by-invitation-only executive travel network, is working to make corporate meetings and events "unforgettable." "Our corporate travel managers really thrive on providing 'over-the-top' service. They're highly creative and resourceful in sourcing unique venues and designing one-of-a-kind corporate occasions that facilitate the business objectives of the client company. Just as importantly, they go beyond by offering employees — whether they're meeting locally or traveling to more distant locales within Maine — a remark- able and memorable experience. "And that's what clients are demanding. The bar has been raised." Shifting Trends in Meetings and Events: Expect the Unexpected! p h o t o / c o u r t e s y M a i n e o f f i c e o f t o u r i s M Maine's mid-coast area offers meeting attendees one-of-a-kind attractions.