THEY SERVE UP DEALS! YOU SAVE!

Romance is in the air throughout February at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Golf & Spa Resort, an adults-only beachfront property listed among “The World’s Most Romantic All-Inclusive Resorts” by Travel + Leisure. For couples looking to celebrate, the 201-room resort just 10 minutes from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and situated along a 1.2 miles of virgin beach, there are a variety of options included that evoke romance, from sparkling wine in the room upon arrival to a private dinner for two on the beach. A couple’s massage, romantic serenade by a three-piece band, a guided tequila or mezcal mixology session, and a keepsake glass heart made by the San Miguel Blown Glass Factory from recycled bottles, are additional options.

www.pueblobonito.com/resorts/pacifica

Book the new Opal Sol in Clearwater Beach, FL by March 31 and receive 30%* savings on stays of three nights or more through June 30.

www.OpalCollection.com/opal-sol.

All-Inclusive ocean view room at the Lighthouse Pointe at Grand Lucayan in the Bahamas, that includes room, taxes, fees, and gratuities3 meals per day, snacks, unlimited beverages, and standard brand liquors if you book by June 30 and use by September 30. The complimentary welcome amenities includes fruit and cheese tray and a bottle of sparkling wine.

Teena McDonald, mcdonald.teena@grandlucayan.com; reservations@grandlucayan.com.

Receive a free Premium Drink Package ($45 value) with each Discovery Cove (Orlando, FL) admission. Must be bought by January 26 and usable through December 31, 2025. In addition to an all-inclusive breakfast, lunch and unlimited snacks, guests with a Premium Drink Package can also indulge in mixed drinks, frozen cocktails, wine and beer, or try one of the park’s signature creations (for guests 21 and older) at the Blue Bamboo or Hibiscus Hideaway bars.

www.DiscoveryCove.com

OK, so maybe not the monetary discount you typically consider, but book an Opal Collection property for your group by June 30 and receive a complimentary blueberry muffin break. The break celebrates the legacy of the late founder of Opal Collection, Thomas Walsh. A favorite of his since the 1960s, Tom’s Blueberry Muffins are one of Opal Collection’s longest-running traditions.

www.opalcollection.com

The 185-room Fairmont Breakers Long Beach (Long Beach, CA) has finished its $150 million renovation and offers its exclusive Discover package to show up the property’s restaurants and spa. Receive 10% off lodging, breakfast for two in Nettuno, $150 dining credit, and 20% off two 60-minute spa treatments. Listen to live music in Alter Ego or dance at Halo on the rooftop.

https://www.fairmont-breakers.com/

Save up to 25% on select rooms and villas at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, HI from January 4 – April 10, 2025. Book five or more nights and receive 25% off. Stay up to four nights and receive 20% off. Bookings available by March 5 and travel must be completed by April 11. Advance rsvp required and must be consecutive-night stays. Limit two rooms per rsvp.

(866) 443-4763 or contact your travel agent to take advantage of this special offer.

Ready for some serious learning while having serious fun? You can with this offer from Margaritaville Lake Resort Lake Conroe (Houston, TX). Book a qualified meeting in any of these time periods to receive a cruise to the Bahamas for two aboard the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise or a Margaritaville Bahamas Frozen Concoction Maker. Partake in the “Serious Learning. Serious Fun. Serious Choices.” Program. Benefits depend on room spend. Book a meeting within the eligible dates listed here to enjoy $179 room rate and reduced $10 Guest Amenity Access. The dates for 2025 are March 2-6, 18-31 and 23-27. Also May 4-9 and May 18-23. August 3-8, 10-14, 17-22 and 24-29.

www.margaritavilleresorts.com/margaritaville-lake-resort-lake-conroe/meetings-events/meeting-special-offers

The Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board (Los Angeles Tourism) offers incentives to book more than 40 hotels in multiple cities with its new “Now Playing” campaign. Planners are encouraged to book their groups through June 30, 2025 by first submitting new meeting or event requests to LA Tourism. They will be eligible for gift cards, rebates, and other financial rewards based on the number of booked rooms.

https://www.discoverlosangeles.com/meetla

Save up to 50% on bookings made now on stays through March 31, 2025 at the family-friendly, all-inclusive, and finally open Wyndham Alltra Samaná, managed by Playa Hotels & Resorts, in the charming town of Las Galeras in the Samaná province of the Dominican Republic. The 404-room resort marks Wyndham Alltra’s first resort in the Dominican Republic.  It won’t be the last. Later this year it will be joined by Wyndham Alltra Punta Cana, also to be managed by Playa. The two resorts earmark Wyndham’s rapidly growing all-inclusive portfolio, which now spans about 40 resorts worldwide. “The Dominican Republic has long been a coveted destination for travelers looking to relax amidst some of the most stunning beaches in the world,” said Fernando Mulet, Chief Investment Officer, Playa Hotels & Resorts… As we continue to add stunning resorts in the Dominican, Wyndham Alltra is the perfect brand to deliver on that promise.” The resort guest rooms and suites have private balconies and garden views.

www.alltrabyplaya.com/samana; www.wyndhamalltra.com; www.WyndhamRewards.com; www.playaresorts.com; www.wyndhamhotels.com

BIRTHPLACE OF THE KAZOO CELEBRATES THROUGH BLACK HISTORY MONTH EXHIBIT

 Macon, GA takes its birthplace of the Kazoo, a simple musical instrument in which the player hums rather than blows into the bigger and flattened side of the instrument, quite seriously. In fact, Visit Macon and the Tubman African American Museum are honoring the 150-year history of the kazoo as part of a special Black History Month exhibit in partnership with the Kazoo Museum & Factory of Beaufort, SC. While a National Kazoo Day (January 28) gala kicks off the celebration, the exhibit will run through February and March. This pop-up exhibit has been created and customized by the original designer/curator of the Kazoo Museum and will feature the instrument and the musicians who ultimately became fans like The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Dionne Warwick and more. Legend has it that freed slave Alabama Vest created the musical instrument in the 1840s. Inspired by the African horn-mirliton or onion flute, Vest brought his original prototype- made from a simple wooden tube with a piece of paper attached to it- to local clockmaker Thaddeus Von Clegg. Together they produced a design that they officially debuted at the Georgia State Fair in Macon in 1852, calling it a “Down South Submarine.” “We believe this brightly colored exhibit featuring a favorite hometown legend of the kazoo is an exciting addition to the Tubman Museum, and our role as the largest museum of its kind in the southeast dedicated to educating people about the art, history and culture of African Americans.” said museum Executive Director, Harold Young. “The story of Alabama Vest as a black inventor is an important one to Macon and we are proud to continue educating the world about it.”

www.visitmacon.org/kazoo; Visit Macon’s Director of Marketing, Marisa Rodgers, at (478) 743-1074 x106 or mrodgers@visitmacon.org; www.tubmanmuseum.com

NOW OPEN OR COMING IN THE NEAR FUTURE

In 2025

Toyota Music Factory (Irving, TX) has finished its renovations. The 500,000-sf complex has new features, such as five sleek new shade structures, surrounded by lush greenery and comfy seating, at the remodeled plaza. The main stage has been relocated to the east side, allowing even more seating and a snazzy hospitality container offering food, drinks, and merch. Music-inspired murals are throughout the property and a rotating gallery of local art exhibit in Artist’s Alley (tucked between Thirsty Lion and Bar Louie). Three new dining spots: Jason Texas Kitchen, Shoals Smokehouse, and Pistil Cocktail Lounge.

https://www.irvingtexas.com/listing/toyota-music-factory/1362;  (469) 840-9730

New name. New menu. Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek (Orlando, FL) has reopened the renovated and rebranded Back Bay Bar & Grill. “We’re always looking for ways to keep our offerings fresh and exciting for guests, which led to this great reimagining of Back Bay Bar & Grill,” said General Manager Cathy Zucker. The newly renovated space decorated in lush Florida tropical colors offers both indoor and shaded deck seating for up to 200 guests. The chef-inspired menu at Back Bay has been revamped to showcase the best of Florida’s bright flavors, including creative shareables like Creamy Spicy Krab Montaditos and Back Bay Jumbo Wings, as well as classic handhelds like the Poolside Burger and Back Bay Fish Sandwich. Craft cocktails include the signature Spicy Passion Fruit Margarita and Mezcal Paloma.

www.WyndhamGrandOrlando.com; (407) 390-2300.

Opal Sol opens in February in Clearwater Beach, FL, making it one of 21 hotels and resorts of the Opal Collection located in Florida. “Like all our Florida properties, Opal Sol offers upscale accommodations, the latest amenities, signature hospitality, superlative dining, and breathtaking Gulf view settings, but with distinctive style and guest experiences that truly set it apart,” said Nancy Cimney, Regional Director Sales & Marketing, Opal Properties. The new Opal Sol features panoramic gulf-view suites, three pools, seven restaurants, a full-service Opal Spa, and 57,194 sf of event space. Guest suites range from studios to three bedrooms. To celebrate their opening, see 30% promo offer above under They Serve Up Deals! You Save!

For more information, or to make a reservation, visit OpalCollection.com/opal-sol.

The renovation of Marriott International’s Westin Sacramento Riverfront Hotel & Spa has finished. The multimillion-dollar renovation updated all 101 guest rooms and meeting spaces. Live plants and artwork inspired by the Sacramento River utilizes natural materials and features a local artisan gift shop. Nearly 7,900 sf of indoor and outside event space. The hotel’s private marina opens this Spring.

www.marriott.WestingSacramentoRiverfront

Universal Stella Nova Resort opened January 21. Universal Terra Luna Resort opens March 25. Both at Universal Orlando Resort.

www.universalorlando.com/epicuniverse; UOMeetingsandEvents.com.

Caesars Virginia, the brand’s first casino resort in Virginia, opened in Danville, with a 320-room hotel tower, full-service spa, and 50,000 sf of meeting and convention space. The casino has 90,000 sf of gaming space. There are 12 restaurants and bars.

https://www.caesars.com/caesars-virginia/hotel?

June 2025, our first Appellation Hotel opens in Healdsburg, CA, deep in Sonoma County in the heart of wine country.

https://www.appellationhotels.com/hotels/california-healdsburg.html

The Pueblo Vantage San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, Pueblo Bonito’s first urban European Plan hotel, officially opens February 15. One of the highlighted amenities is the Aromatika Spa & Wellness, located on the courtyard level adjoining a botanical garden. “Aromatika Spa & Wellness will give guests an experience of refined renewal, allowing them to discover a multi-sensory world designed to please the senses and restore physical, mental and spiritual balance while enjoying the exclusive ambiance of San Miguel de Allende,” said Diana F. Mestre, an award-winning spa consultant from Mexico City who designed the facility with consultant Paulina Mercader and Pueblo Bonito Vantage general manager Lucy Ruiz. The name “Aromatika” honors the scents of San Miguel, notably lavender, rosemary, mint, fennel and sage, “as well as the subtle scents of wine-based therapies and exclusive skin care products” used at the spa, explained Mestre, adding that several factors will set the Aromatika Spa & Wellness apart from all other feel-good facilities. “For starters, Pueblo Bonito Vantage is embedded in the history and culture of San Miguel de Allende,” she said. “The architecture and interior design of both the hotel and the spa are an elegant take on colonial style.” Also, the state of Guanajuato has emerged as one of Mexico’s leading wine regions, and Aromatika Spa has tapped into it. Wine therapies take advantage of the beneficial properties of wine grape derivatives in treatments and rituals to give the skin a healthier improved physical appearance. The high resveratrol content of red grapes acts as a powerful antioxidant with properties that increase collagen production, allow skin regeneration and help to reduce skin irritation and blemishes. Another key spa element is the Biohacking Center, a new-age approach to organically promote the correct function of the body’s systems.

https://www.pueblobonito.com.mx/resorts/san-miguel

Disney Creative Studio is being reimagined at Walt Disney World Resort (Lake Buena Vista, FL). Disney Meetings & Events team will collaborate with meeting planners here at this stand-alone facility. Services from entertainment, décor, floral, AV etc will be under one roof.

Costa Rica’s luxury scene expands with the openings of the Waldorf Astoria Punta Cacique and Nekajui, Ritz-Carlton Reserve on the stunning Papagayo Peninsula in early 2025. Astral Hotel (sister property of Origins) will cater specifically to family travelers in a remote area while over on the remote Osa Peninsula, the newly revamped Drake Bay Wilderness Resort will now be named Tibo Hotel.

https://journeycostarica.com/

If your idea of a great time is visiting haunted houses and having immersive scary experiences, then Universal Horror Unleashed, opening in Las Vegas, NV in 2025, should be on your travel itinerary. The year-round attraction will feature four haunted houses, each with their own terrifying stories: Universal Monsters, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Scarecrow: The Reaping, and The Exorcist: Believer. Surrounding the haunted houses are four fully themed immersive entertainment areas, each with individual live horror experiences, plus decadent food and drink offerings.

https://www.universalhorrorunleashed.com/en

Silicon Valley, CA’s Morgan Hill is the recipient for Hotel MOHI by Appellation, the culinary-first hotel brand by American chef Charlie Palmer and luxury hospitality veteran Christopher Hunsberger. The pair have joined forces with vintner Frank Léal of Léal Hospitality to develop Hotel MOHI by Appellation, expected to debut in the Fall. The five-story, 76-room urban retreat will be the first full-service luxury boutique hotel in the area. The 215-seat signature Charlie Palmer restaurant and bar plans to produce key ingredients from scratch, including roasting small-batch coffee or olive oil made from onsite trees. Additional amenities include a terrace pool and deck, marketplace, and flower shop lounge. A café and bakery will transition into a cocktail and wine bar during evenings. Also expected is a 7,730-sf ballroom with a modern organic design flex space able to become a show-kitchen for live-action culinary experiences.

https://www.appellationhotels.com/hotels-california-morgan-hill.html

Kentucky Exposition Center (Louisville, KY) is expanding. Already equipped with 1.2 million sf of meeting space and 300 acres of outdoor space and considered the sixth largest expo in the U.S, the center has broken group for a $393 million expansion to be completed in 2025. Two new multi-purpose buildings planned. Located just minutes from downtown near the Muhammad Ali Louisville International Airport.

www.kyexpo.com

Universal Helios Grand Hotel, a 500-room Loews Hotel resort opens at Universal Epic Universe theme park (Orlando, FL) in 2025. The majestic Mediterranean-inspired resort is designed to blend immersion and relaxation with a rooftop bar, divine dining options, and the hotel’s very own dedicated entrance to the new theme park. There will be 4,648-sf of versatile meeting & function space. As soon as guests enter, they will be transported to a fantastical world within the palace of Helios, the Greek god of the sun, adorned with beautiful details of celestial patterns, dazzling constellations and elegant yet casual Mediterranean design elements. Through the lobby’s floor-to-ceiling windows will be a breathtaking vista of Celestial Park. Many of the rooms will offer views of Epic Universe. Unique to Universal Helios Grand Hotel will be imaginative How to Train Your Dragon Kids’ Suites. The dedicated entrance to Universal Epic Universe located off the lobby will provide direct, convenient access to and from the theme park (valid theme park admission required). Atop the roof, Bar Helios’ menu of creative tapas and familiar favorites and handcrafted specialty cocktails along with unmatched 360-degree views of Epic Universe and beyond. The resort will have a pool, fitness room and three dining options: Flora Taverna, Aurora Market, and Lotus Lagoon. Guests staying at Universal Helios Grand Hotel, or any of the other Universal Orlando hotels, receive Early Park Admission. The addition of Universal Helios Grand Hotel also brings three reimagined hotel categories to Universal Orlando. The Signature Collection – including Universal Helios Grand Hotel, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Royal Pacific Resort and Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, offers full-service amenities. Prime Value Hotels – including Universal Aventura Hotel, Universal Stella Nova Resort (opening January 21, 2025) and Universal Terra Luna Resort (opening February 25, 2025), offer a mix of services and amenities made for comfort. Value Inns and Suites – including Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort and Universal Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn and Suites & Dockside Inn and Suites, are fun, affordable options offering standard rooms and spacious suites with kitchenettes.

www.UOMeetingsAndEvents.com.

By the end of 2024, Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles (St. Charles, MO) will have finished its refresh and upgrade of the resort’s 397 guest rooms. By fall of 2025, the property will have tripled the size of its meeting and convention center to 65,000 sf of event and meeting space.

https://ameristarstcharles.boydgaming.com/

Super Nintendo World, one of five worlds at Universal Epic Universe (Orlando, FL), will open in 2025.

https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/epic-universe/worlds/super-nintendo-world?

Coming Summer to the Dominican Republic: Fiesta Americana Funeeq Punta Cana, the newest addition to the Fiesta Americana Travelty Meetings & Events resort family. The 494-guest rooms and 45 suites all-inclusive resort will have over 20,000 sf of function space, eight onsite restaurants, water park, beach access, and is adjacent to the live Aqua Beach Resort Punta Cana.
 https://fiestamericanatraveltymeetings.com/contact-us/

Gaylord Pacific Resort and Convention Center (Chula Vista, CA) opens in late spring of 2025. Seven miles from downtown San Diego, the expansive resort fronts San Diego Bay to the west and Chula Vista Marina to the south. The sixth hotel in the Gaylord Hotels brand portfolio will have 1,600 guest rooms and suites, more than 477,000 sf of function and convention space, including a 140,000-sf carpeted exhibit and meeting Flex Hall. The hotel will have 135,000 sf of outdoor event lawns and a 4.25-acre water park.

https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/sange-gaylord-pacific-resort-and-convention-center/overview

The seven floors of 182 guestrooms and suites in The St. Regis Washington, D.C. (downtown D.C) have been redesigned and refreshed with a light creamy palate and pops of blues, grays and gold. The 2,508-sf Astor Ballroom and 2,500-sf Astor Terrace have both also received restoring touches. Next up: the hotel’s onsite contemporary Mediterranean restaurant, Alhambra, gets a new outdoor terrace, and there will be updates to the St. Regis Bar, as well as redesigns to the Food & Beverage venues in 2025.

www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/wassx-the-st-regis-washington-dc

Wyndham Alltra Punta Cana Sun will open on Uvero Alto Beach, gearing towards newlyweds to families, in 2025 Spa, world-class fitness center, and nearly a dozen dining options with international cuisines, and a new water park will be the draw. Located about one hour from Punta Cana’s airport, the resort will offer 620 suites. “Guests today look for easy, stress-free vacations that don’t break the bank, and all-inclusive resorts can make that happen,” said Gustavo Viescas, President, Latin America and the Caribbean, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. “From Dominican Republic to Mexico, Barbados and Jamaica, Wyndham allows guests to travel the world—and expanding brands like Wyndham Alltra makes international travel possible for guests of all kinds.”

www.wyndhamalltra.com; www.WyndhamRewards.com; www.playaresorts.com; www.wyndhamhotels.com

Hyatt Hotels is busy adding to their collections. The first Hyatt Studios hotel opens in Mobile, AL in 2025.

https://www.hyatt.com/brands/caption-by-hyatt

In 2026

DSRT Surf Resort is building California’s first man-made surf lagoon at Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Desert, CA. Using Wavegarden’s state-of-the-art Cove technology, which enables the creation of “perfect waves” in the 5.5-acre lagoon, about 70 surfers will be able to participate simultaneously. The surf lagoon, part of a 17-acre, full-scale resort with a 92-room hotel, 83 residential units, spa, golf courses, event spaces, and dining and bar venues, is being designed using sustainable processes favored by the Resort for its golf courses and pool area.

https://dsrtsurf.com/

Caption by Hyatt Chattanooga in Tennessee just broke ground and is expected to open in early 2026. Located downtown in the Southside area, the 123-room hotel is being developed by 3H Group Inc. under a franchise agreement with Hyatt. It will feature the brand’s all-day food-and-beverage concept, Talk Shop, serving as a welcome area as well as a rooftop bar and meeting space.

https://www.hyatt.com/brands/caption-by-hyatt

Hyatt Place Sonoma Wine Country, located near Charles Schulz Sonoma County Airport, is slated to open in late 2026. Plans include 165 rooms, meeting spaces, pool, fitness center, and a rooftop restaurant and bar.

Expectations are high for the summer completion of the $275 million transformation of The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin resorts (Lake Buena Vista, FL) . The redo adds 120,000 sf of event space. A new, two-story annex will expand the Dolphin’s current meeting space, featuring 41,000 sf of multipurpose space and 24,000 sf of additional pre-function space on the first floor. A 41,000 sf ballroom on the second floor will also have 14,000 sf of pre-function foyer space. The expansion and upgrades to both resorts will bring total meeting space to 469,000 sf between its three buildings, the Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve.

In 2027

After 30 years in business, The Mirage Hotel & Casino (The Mirage) in Las Vegas, NV has closed and will be transformed into Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and Guitar Hotel Las Vegas. The 700-foot guitar-shaped hotel will be modeled after the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL. Opening is slated for spring, 2027.

FFEA CALLS FOR SPEAKERS

The 2025 Annual Florida Festivals & Events Association Conference occurs August 19 – 21 in Orlando, FL. They seek speakers to provide inspiration and actionable insights to attendees, a diverse audience of municipalities, non-profits, independent event planners, and everything between. Two types of sessions: Breakout Session – 75 minutes (presentation, case study, panel, etc) and Learning Roundtables – 30 minutes. Submit topic by February 22.

https://ffea.memberclicks.net/2025-call-for-speakers#!/

WIN A DREAM HONEYMOON PACKAGE ON HARBOUR ISLAND

Register by February 24 to win a romantic honeymoon on Harbour Island, complete with a three-night stay in a one-bedroom garden view cottage and daily breakfast at Pink Sands Resort, in The Bahamas.

https://app.viralsweep.com/sweeps/full/af64ff-198559?framed=1

HFTP RELEASES REVISED 12^TH EDITION OF UNIFORM SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTS FOR THE LODGING INDUSTRY (USALI™)

Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) has released the newly-revised 12th edition of the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry (USALI™), in soft cover book. This edition was initially released as a digital publication in July 2024, and with the printed version available, users have an additional option for accessing the uniform system’s guidance. Available for purchase on the USALI website, purchasers also receive a two-year digital subscription, which includes access to the e-book with features for users to add notes and comments within the digital platform. Additionally, the subscription grants access to the newly available USALI Revenue and Expense Dictionary, a searchable database of revenue and expense line items and their applicable schedules. The adoption date for this edition is January 1, 2026.

usali@hftp.org or (512) 220-4020.

MEETING PLANNING GUIDES (FREE)

Cambridge, MA – https://visitcambridgeusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/New-Branding-COT-Tradeshow-Presentation-2024.pdf

Greensboro, NC – https://www.visitgreensboronc.com/meetings-conventions-sports/request-meeting-planners-guide.aspx

Pensacola Bay, FL – Insider’s Guide. Can be delivered digitally, by mail or in person. https://www.visitpensacola.com/plan-your-trip/visitors-guide-request/

Scottsdale, AZ – www.experiencescottsdale.com/maps-guides/meeting-travel-planners-guide/

Sioux Falls, SD – https://www.experiencesiouxfalls.com/plan-your-trip/visitor-guide

Stafford, VA – https://form.jotform.com/240735819722057

Salt Lake City, UT – https://www.visitsaltlake.com/plan-your-visit/free-visitors-guide/

St Pete/Clearwater, FL – https://www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/sites/default/files/2023-06/MeetingPlanGuide_23-digi.pdf

Valley Forge, PA – https://www.valleyforge.org/meetings/

FESTIVALS

Nov. 27: Clay Walker concert at Caloosa Sound Amphitheater located adjacent to Luminary Hotel & Co. in Fort Myers, FL. Concertgoers can make their evening even more special with pre-concert perks by showing their concert ticket at Chips Sports Pub, The Silver King Ocean Brasserie, Oxbow Bar & Grill, or Beacon Social Drinkery on the day of the concert to receive a 10% discount off their bill.

www. CaloosaSoundAmp.com.

Karen Kuzsel is a writer-editor based in the Orlando area who specializes in the hospitality, entertainment, meetings & events industries.  She is an active member of International Live Events Association, Meeting Professionals International and the Society of Professional Journalists. Karen writes about food & wine, spas, destinations, venues, meetings & events. A career journalist, she has owned magazines, written for newspapers, trade publications, radio and TV. As her alter-ego, Natasha, The Psychic Lady, she is a featured entertainer for corporate and social events. Karen@KarenKuzsel.com;   www.karenkuzsel.com; www.ThePsychicLady.com; @karenkuzsel; @thepsychiclady. She is also active with Experience Kissimmee CVB.