There is no better way to unite international meeting groups traveling to the far reaches of the Asia-Pacific region than to participate in one of the vast teambuilding options on offer. Whether attendees are emulating a traditional dragon boat race in Singapore, sailing on an America’s Cup yacht in New Zealand or climbing Australia’s Sydney Harbour Bridge, there are a variety of ways to absorb the local flavor of each country.

Executive Chef Ben George of Savor… at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas, shared his Bourbon Espresso Glaze recipe that he said works well on any type of beef or on top of smoked brisket.

Last March 2018, Ben George was feeling the madness. As executive chef for Savor… at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas, he was preparing food for the first and second rounds of the 2018 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, hosted by Wichita State University. George led the efforts to provide meals to more than 45,000 guests during the event, including more than 4,000 boxed lunches.

Whether it’s the tranquil seclusion or the fresh air, or a bit of both, mountain settings are often the base for health and wellness retreats. In the meetings world, high-altitude resorts are the perfect backdrop for rejuvenation and relaxation, with groups often integrating outdoor activities, spa treatments, healthy meals and mindful breaks.

Richard Hovel, Mid-Century Modern expert and owner/manager at the Palm Springs' Desert Star vacation rental complex, discusses with Meetings Today’s Marlene Goldman the history of Mid-Century Modern architecture and how groups can experience the popular phenomenon in Palm Springs, California. He also talks about the annual Modernism Week event, this year from Feb. 14 to Feb. 24, 2019.

Michelle Milligan, Society of Government Meeting Professionals National President (SGMP), discusses with Meetings Today the impact of the U.S. federal government shutdown on meeting planners and the meetings industry.

Cosmopolitan hotel in Las Vegas is joining the list of properties offering free self- and valet parking fees for overnight hotel guests as of January 1, 2019. The parking fee was previously $10 per night, however, the hotel is simultaneously raising the daily resort fee by $4 per night, going from $35 to $39. Day visitors at the Cosmopolitan without will still be charged hourly parking fees.

NGALA Wildlife Preserve, located on a private, wooded 42-acre property outside Naples, Florida, caters to corporate events and is a home for a variety of rescued animals that cannot be reintroduced back to the wild. NGALA, which translates from Swahili to “Place of the Lion,” was founded by Donovan Smith nearly 20 years ago and is currently home to about 45 animals in addition to over 100 venomous reptiles introduced to the preserve by Smith’s “better half,” Khara Geders.