With Zoom-fatigued attention spans on the wane and pandemic-weary people eager to get back into the world and converge face-to-face again, is a traditional conference center really what the doctor ordered for your next meeting or event? If not, maybe it’s time to get creative and aim for an out-of-box alternative venue to help create excitement and enhance attendee engagement. Here are five fun, unique and creative venues to keep on your radar for your next meeting or special event.

While the pandemic may have sidelined events at convention centers and other venues for a while, several made great use of the downtime to continue constructing new venues or expanding existing facilities. Check out five of the most notable new developments in 2021.

The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, Fla., has become the first facility of its kind to receive GBAC STAR Facility Re-accreditation from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association.

To help promote racial equity and overcome underrepresentation in its local travel and tourism industry, Experience Columbus and the Greater Columbus Sports Commission are partnering with Tourism Diversity Matters, a tourism and events industry resource for diversity expertise, to launch the Diversity Apprenticeship Program (DAP).

The global hospitality industry continues readying itself for better times ahead with an array of new builds, remodels and expansion projects aimed to lure meeting and event groups through their doors. Take a look:

New Properties

The Industrial Hotel

Destinations International, the world’s largest and only association dedicated to destination organizations, CVBs and tourism boards, has released its 2021 DestinationNEXT Futures Study, an updated study of key trends and strategies that will help thousands of destination organizations around the world stay thriving and relevant.

New York City has opened its arms to the world again, ready to host groups with an impressive lineup of recently opened or soon-to-open venues. 

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee, N.C., is gearing up to complete a $250 million expansion this fall. The four-year project, which broke ground in June 2018, includes a new 725-room hotel tower, an 83,000-square-foot convention center and new food and beverage offerings, among additional amenities.

One of the many effects of the pandemic was the movement of many city residents to nearby suburbs. The same reasons for the mini-exodus, namely cost and convenience, could also lead more events to make similar leaps.

After a successful innovation festival in 2018, all systems were a go for a sequel in 2020. Well, it goes without saying those plans were delayed. Surely by April 2021, the show would go on. COVID-19 wasn’t consulted, but fortunately, the folks at Visit Flanders were. Rather than canceling the And& Festival in Leuven, show organizers worked with the tourism bureau to develop a platform for our times.