Stella Johnson

United States

Editorial Director at Facilities & Destinations

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Articles

Portland, ORMeeting Space - And Then Some!

1 week ago | facilitiesonline.com | Stella Johnson

What I’ve noticed about some meeting and event planners is that they sometimes tend to stick to what’s familiar, what’s convenient, or what’s already been a proven success with their attendees. Why not? It’s the easy thing to do, and it’s always beneficial to build business relationships for better deals and excellent service. After all, last year’s annual meeting at that fabulous resort just an hour away from the home office was so spectacular and easy to get to, why not do it again?
Travel Pro Reynolds Makes Professional Move from East Coast to the Midwest

3 weeks ago | facilitiesonline.com | Stella Johnson

What’s the latest news coming out of Chicago these days? Well, the city poet Carl Sandburg once called “The City of Big Shoulders” recently welcomed travel and tourism pro Kristen Reynolds to the city’s DMO, Choose Chicago (CC). She does so as the president and CEO. Reynolds, who comes from Destination Long Island, a NYS DMO, where she “spearheaded transformative growth in that region’s visitor economy,” now looks forward to working with city officials, industry partners, and CC team members.
Visit Tulsa Expands Its Group Appeal With A New $390 Million Downtown Project

1 month ago | facilitiesonline.com | Stella Johnson

Everywhere you look these days, cities are caught up in a building frenzy to make their destinations more appealing to tourists and business travelers, especially business travelers. Tulsa is a perfect example. Quite recently, Visit Tulsa, the DMO for Oklahoma’s second-largest city, announced its latest plans for its downtown, 275,000-square-foot Arvest Convention Center. It will soon welcome a sister property to its complex by way of a new, 650-room hotel to be directly connected.
Las Vegas Means Business, Oh Yeah!

1 month ago | facilitiesonline.com | Stella Johnson

Reasons To Meet, Greet, Or Convene in VegasToday, we’ll visit Las Vegas – not that any bona fide meeting or event planner needs to be reminded why Vegas is such a stupendous destination for a group event of any kind or size – but here are 10 reasons why planners should consider it anyway, in no special order. (Special thanks to www.vegasmeansbusiness.com)1 Vegas Weather: Regarding weather in Vegas, it’s “snake eyes.” That is, chances are it won’t rain on your parade.
Houston First’s John Solis to Focus on Growth Trajectory In Convention Sales

1 month ago | facilitiesonline.com | Stella Johnson

Lately, press releases have improved regarding the health of the meetings and events industry. So much so that over in Houston, Texas, the Houston First Sales team reported a record year in 2024 with 759 future meetings booked, representing nearly 862,000 room nights, surpassing the previous record set in 2019 and a 25 percent increase over 2023.
Akron/Summit, Ohio “You’re Gonna Like This Destination!”

1 month ago | facilitiesonline.com | Stella Johnson

Coming up in our soon-to-be-published Spring Issue of F&D is a cover story on Akron/Summit County, Ohio. As a lifelong die-hard northeasterner who is not that familiar with the Midwest, I have to say I was shocked at this Great Lakes destination’s many fine attributes as a travel destination. These attributes are already making a hit with groups of all types and sizes. For instance:• Great Accessibility: within 500 miles of 50% of the U.S. population.
This Spring, Midwest City to Host Major Int’l Event

2 months ago | facilitiesonline.com | Stella Johnson

While some cities across the U.S. might be getting ready for “spring break,” that popular collegiate meetup that hits coastline resorts every year at this time, one Midwest city is preparing for something of another caliber – an international event of world-class status. That is NATO’s upcoming Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) scheduled for May 22-26 in Dayton, Ohio.
At the “New” Sheraton Grand Nashville, Renovated Space, Karaoke Ops, Sushi & More

2 months ago | facilitiesonline.com | Stella Johnson

The hottest news coming from Tennessee is that its downtown Sheraton Grand Nashville hotel recently completed a significant renovation project that put it on the map. There is nothing unusual about that except that the famous brand-named hotel also added some unique enhancements that capitalized on its location, the iconic city of Nashville, which interests all meeting planners and group organizers. How so?
5 Reasons Why Detroit’s “Huntington PlaceExtended Sodexo Live’s Contract For the Next 10 Years!

2 months ago | facilitiesonline.com | Stella Johnson

Recently, ASM Global’s Huntington Place and “Sodexo Live!” proudly announced the extension of their professional partnership for another 10 years. According to the release, “Thesaid extension was driven by a shared commitment to guest satisfaction and delivering best-in-class hospitality experiences.”But first, a little background. Huntington Place is Detroit’s award-winning convention center with 723,000 square feet of exhibit space, among other attributes.
Famous Golf Resort Under Renovation

Mar 10, 2025 | facilitiesonline.com | Stella Johnson

The hottest news to emerge from Florida’s east coast is that its world-famous Saddlebrook Resort, that sports-inspired, golf and tennis vacation destination overlooking Tampa Bay, is in the midst of a major overhaul, one of special interest to meeting and event planners. The ambitious project promises to cover all the bases, from guestrooms to meeting rooms.