会展场馆动态：多莉·帕顿主题酒店开业、丽笙发布可持续活动指南、底特律将迎来首家豪华会展酒店

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Dolly Parton's SongTeller Hotel opened in Nashville on Sept. 29, featuring 245 guest rooms and suites, two live entertainment venues, a café, and spaces celebrating the country music icon's career. The hotel's third floor is home to Dolly's Life of Many Colors Museum (pictured), an immersive experience exploring Parton's life and legacy that is also available for private events, including weddings, receptions, and business gatherings.Photo: Courtesy of Dolly's Life of Many Colors Museum

In Case You Missed It

The long-awaited Lucas Museum of Narrative Art made its debut with a sprawling celebration that activated its plaza, galleries, rooftop, and event space—offering a first look at the possibilities for events at LA’s newest cultural landmark. Check out our coverage.

Here are six more things you should know about this month...

1. Radisson Hotel Group is offering a roadmap for more sustainable events.

Radisson Hotel Group and the Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS-Movement) have released a guide to help associations and professional conference organizers put their sustainability goals into practice. Titled “Accelerating Sustainable & Regenerative Events: A Guide for Associations & PCOs,” the publication offers strategies for planning, managing, and measuring more sustainable events.

Drawing on data from the GDS-Index, which evaluates destinations using 74 sustainability indicators, the guide addresses common challenges such as costs, limited access to reliable data, and inconsistent standards across venues and suppliers. Recommendations include working with destination partners earlier in the planning process, incorporating community impact initiatives, and exploring lower-carbon transportation options for attendees.

“We work closely with associations, event organizers, and destinations around the world and understand the practical barriers they face,” said Inge Huijbrechts, chief sustainability and security officer at Radisson Hotel Group. “This guide is designed to move the conversation from ambition to action by providing planners with practical tools, trusted frameworks, and stronger collaboration models.” The full guide is available here.

2. Sustainability certification could get easier for smaller hotels.

Speaking of sustainability, global travel technology marketplace HBX Group has partnered with Bioscore, a sustainability certification and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) specialist, to help more hotels obtain recognized sustainability credentials. The collaboration is part of HBX Group's Sustainable Certified Hotels Program, which promotes properties with independently verified sustainability practices. Through the new partnership, hotels will receive guidance on certification requirements, including how to assess their existing environmental and social responsibility efforts and prepare documentation for independent review. The initiative is particularly aimed at small and midsize hotels that may lack the resources or in-house expertise to navigate the certification process on their own.

The partnership comes as hotels face increasing pressure to back up their environmental claims, particularly under new European Union consumer protection rules that took effect in September.

“Hotels are facing growing expectations to demonstrate their sustainability progress in a way that is credible and transparent, but navigating the certification journey can be complex,” said Elena Pérez, chief HR, communications, and ESG officer at HBX Group. “As a partner to hotels around the world, we can help make that journey easier.”

3. Detroit is getting its first luxury convention hotel in 2027.

The JW Marriott Detroit Water Square is slated to open in February 2027, bringing more than 600 guest rooms and 53,000 square feet of meeting and event space to the city's emerging Water Square district. Located along the Detroit River, the hotel will feature a direct skybridge connection to Huntington Place, Detroit's 2.4-million-square-foot convention center, making it a convenient option for large-scale meetings, conventions, and corporate events. The property will also mark the city's first JW Marriott.

In addition to its meeting facilities, the hotel will offer 44 suites, including a 2,100-square-foot Presidential Suite, four dining concepts, and an 11,000-square-foot Spa by JW. The property is already generating interest from meeting planners, with more than 50 meetings and events booked ahead of its opening next year.

Rendering: Courtesy of JW Marriott Detroit Water Square

4. The Chrysler Building's makeover will include meeting spaces.

One of New York City's most recognizable landmarks is getting a new owner—and plans for a significant renovation. Real estate developer Tishman Speyer has acquired the 77-story Chrysler Building, with plans to modernize the historic Art Deco skyscraper and introduce new amenities for tenants. According to Curbed, the redevelopment will include transforming the building's currently unused lower-level concourse into a space for meetings, fitness, and wellness activities. A new tenants' club is also planned for the 61st floor, once home to a studio belonging to famed photographer Margaret Bourke-White.

The project marks Tishman Speyer's second stint as owner of the landmark, which it previously acquired in 1997 before selling its stake in 2008. Read more on Curbed.

5. A new hotel technology integration lets guests unlock their rooms with their phones or smartwatches.

Hospitality technology company Virdee has expanded its partnership with smart access provider Salto to make hotel check-in and room access more seamless. The integration allows guests at participating hotels to add their room keys directly to their mobile wallets, then unlock their rooms with a simple tap of their phone or smartwatch—no physical keycard or separate app required. The technology can also provide access to other authorized hotel spaces, including elevators, fitness centers, and pools. In most cases, guests can even use their digital keys for several hours after their phone's battery dies.

The new offering connects with Virdee's existing digital check-in platform, which handles tasks such as identity verification, payments, registration, and room assignments before guests arrive. “Our expanded integration with Salto allows hotels to move guests from reservation to room with fewer steps, less friction, and greater operational flexibility,” said Branigan Mulcahy, co-founder and CEO of Virdee.

6. A Los Cabos resort is helping meeting planners stretch their event budgets.

As meeting and incentive travel costs continue to challenge planners, Hilton Los Cabos has introduced a new program designed to help groups get more value from their hotel spending. The 269-room resort's Destination Experience Fund offers qualifying groups a credit worth up to 10% of their eligible room revenue, which can be applied toward additional experiences and expenses without increasing their overall event budgets. Planners can use the funds for everything from airport transportation and private dinners to ocean excursions, golf outings, wellness activities, and entertainment.

The program offers tiered benefits, with larger group bookings potentially qualifying for higher credits. For qualifying programs taking place in 2027, the resort is also offering additional incentives, including 30% off spa services, triple Hilton Honors points on eligible spending, and a one-minute fireworks display, subject to terms and conditions.

Photo: Courtesy of Hilton Los Cabos

About the Author

Senior Contributing Editor

Claire Hoffman is an award-winning writer, editor, and content strategist. She’s been covering the event, meeting, experiential marketing, and hospitality industries since 2007.