Stella Johnson

United States

Editorial Director at Facilities & Destinations

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Articles

Las Vegas Means Business, Oh Yeah!

1 week 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

3 weeks 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

1 month 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

1 month 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

2 months ago | 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.
World’s First Zero-Carbon-Certified Convention Center Underway in Austin

2 months ago | facilitiesonline.com | Stella Johnson

It is April 2025, and construction has begun on the new Austin Convention Center. The whole world is anxiously waiting for it to open in 2028. That’s because the new facility, which promises to be the crowning jewel of the city’s downtown transformation:• It will nearly double from 365,000 square feet to 620,000 square feet of rentable space.
How to increase revenue in a way that costs less.

2 months ago | medium.com | Stella Johnson

Stella Johnson·Follow6 min read·--If the thought of this possibility has ever crossed your mind, then you might want to hang around and allow me to introduce you to your answer-upselling. According to custify, there are only three ways to increase monthly recurring revenue, and they are:1)Sell to more customers2)Sell more products to the same customers3)Sell the same products to the same customers repeatedly. Number 3 is where upselling comes in with a twist. What is upselling?
Planners Who Book Sports Cities Often Hit Home Runs With Groups

Dec 2, 2024 | facilitiesonline.com | Stella Johnson

If you are a meeting planner who regularly hits home runs with groups when booking sports-oriented destinations for corporate meetings or national conventions, check out the personal finance website WalletHub.com, which recently released its report on the Best Sports Cities in 2024 – the ones that “help fans get the most bang for their buck while enjoying games they love.” In the report, WalletHub compared 400 cities across more than 50 key metrics related to the five most significant sports...