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From the Editor


I wonder if Sir Francis Bacon, who coined the term knowledge is power, suffered from those dreams of feeling utterly unprepared. You know the ones. Maybe it’s where you walk into a classroom to take an exam, but you don’t recognize anything on the test paper (or, in my case, can’t see it through tired eyes). For my middle school–


age daughter, it might be standing onstage to give a speech only to find empty pockets where her notes should have been. These heart-pounding dreams serve as important wake-up calls—to be prepared with the knowledge and tools to get the job done well.


At Elite Meetings, we strive to give you that and more. This edition of Elite


Meetings magazine is one such resource. First our events calendar (p. 14) fills you in on a year’s worth of industry events to keep you at the top of your game. Next comes First-Class Finds (p. 18), a spotlight on some truly novel and useful items. Then comes our annual Hospitality on the Horizon (p. 26), a sneak peek at the finest Platinum-caliber hotels and resorts debuting in the Caribbean, Europe, Latin America, and North America this year.


Another rich source of information, our Elite Meetings Alliances (EMAs), delivers education, networking opportunities, and all-important face time to connect planners to helpful people and ideas. If you’ve been to one, you know. And if you attended an EMA in 2011, you may even catch a glimpse of yourself in Looking Good (p. 22), our photo homage to you. We know you’ll like what you see at the hotels and resorts profiled in this issue, too. Each profile—complete with pertinent facts and detailed descriptions—relates the characteristics that make each property a standout, giving you the knowledge and tools you need to make informed decisions for your upcoming events. We think Sir Francis Bacon would approve.


Sincerely,


MeetingS ELITE


The Planner’s Ultimate Source For Meeting and Incentive Travel 2012 Platinum Collection


EDITORIAL Editorial Director SUSAN CAMPBELL Contributing Editor ANNETTE BURDEN


Contributors JAY MACDONALD VIJU MATHEW


DESIGN & PRODUCTION Creative Director MURRAY ADAMS


Production Director/ PETE MURRAY Graphic Designer


Graphic Designer JESSIE PUCCINI Contributing Designer TOM LEJA


PLANNER COMMUNICATIONS Director, Planner Communications CAROL LYNCH Regional Director SKYE HOLYFIELD


EVENTS Events Manager MARGARET HOLSINGER INTERNS CHELSEA BOYD MICHAEL LANGE


ANNIE JOHNSON MELANIE LINDALL NATALIE SPANGENBERG


Elite Meetings International Inc. 500 E. Montecito Street Santa Barbara, CA 93103 Phone: 805.730.1000 Fax: 805.730.1088


www.elitemeetings.com info@elitemeetings.com


Susan Campbell Editorial Director


Elite Meetings–The Platinum Collection is published annually by Elite Meetings International Inc. Subscription rates are $7.95 per issue. Shipping and handling is not included. For more information, visit www.elitemeetings.com/store.


All rights reserved. Any reproduction of this periodical, in part or in whole, must be approved and awarded written consent from Elite Meetings International Inc. Although all information is believed to be true at press time, Elite Meetings International Inc. assumes no responsibility for inaccuracies or omissions.


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Photograph: Andrew Shafer


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