Hi, Tiffany here!

Welcome back to The Velvetstyle Viewpoint, where I share updates, insights, and behind-the-scenes moments from my work as an event professional.

This past month took me to three destinations and four different hotels!

Between IMEX America in Las Vegas, a pre-FAM trip to Reno, and Northstar's Small & Boutique Meetings in San Antonio, I've had plenty of opportunities to discover new properties, reconnect with industry partners, and explore destinations for upcoming programs.

Now that November is here, I'm turning my attention to wrapping up 2026 and preparing for what's ahead.

Small & Boutique Hotels in San Antonio

IMEX America: Connections & Opportunities

Post-IMEX Audit

Rediscovering Reno

Wrapping Up 2026 & Planning for 2027

I recently wrapped up Northstar's Small & Boutique Meetings in San Antonio, a hosted buyer event focused on smaller hotels, boutique properties, and destinations.

Many of the properties represented have fewer than 100 rooms, which is exactly the type of inventory I enjoy discovering for smaller meetings, corporate retreats, and incentive programs.

I enjoy discovering boutique properties for corporate retreats, where smaller groups can enjoy personalized hospitality and spend time together without competing with several other events at the property.

My appointments were productive, and I came away with additional properties and destinations to consider for upcoming programs.

If you're considering a smaller hotel or boutique property for a 2027 retreat, I can help you find the right fit.

I hadn't been to San Antonio in years, so I decided to arrive a few days before the conference to spend some time enjoying the city.

I remembered how much I enjoyed the River Walk during my previous visit, and I was looking forward to experiencing it again.

For the first part of my trip, I stayed at the historic Gunter Hotel, a Marriott Tribute Portfolio property with a music theme in downtown San Antonio. I had connected with the hotel's sales manager just a week earlier at IMEX, and we arranged for me to stay at the property.

I was upgraded to the Robert Johnson Suite and really appreciated the hospitality and personalized attention throughout my stay.

The timing was also perfect because San Antonio was celebrating Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. Downtown was decorated for the occasion, and I even had an opportunity to attend Muertos Fest.

One of the things I enjoyed most was how walkable the city was. Whether I was heading to the River Walk, visiting the mall, or simply stopping at Walgreens, I could easily get around without needing transportation.

It's something I appreciate when considering destinations for groups, especially when attendees have free time to explore on their own.

For the conference portion of my trip, I moved over to The Monarch San Antonio, part of Hilton's Curio Collection.

The hotel opened earlier this year, and I'd heard quite a bit about it before arriving.

My experience lived up to what I'd been hearing.

From the moment I arrived, the service was excellent. My car door was opened, my luggage was handled, and I was welcomed with a glass of champagne during check-in.

I appreciated how consistent the hospitality was, from the welcome at check-in to the thoughtful service throughout my stay.

The room had a clothes steamer, espresso machine, a tablet for hotel services, and nightly turndown service.

Both hotels offered completely different experiences, and I enjoyed having the opportunity to stay at each.

Before San Antonio, I attended my fourth IMEX America in Las Vegas.

With more than 18,000 attendees, IMEX is one of the largest gatherings in our industry. It's a very different experience from the smaller hosted buyer events I attend throughout the year.

I had one week at home between IMEX and San Antonio, and I definitely needed that time to recuperate!

I can confidently say this was my best IMEX yet.

My appointments were timely and productive, with several conversations already leading to RFPs and opportunities for 2027. I also had the chance to reconnect with industry partners, meet new contacts, and finally meet several people in person whom I'd previously only worked with virtually.

One of my favorite parts of the week was hosting my first breakfast exclusively for independent planners.

I've been working toward creating a space for independent planners to connect, collaborate, and grow their businesses, and IMEX was the perfect opportunity to bring a group together.

We had a great morning of conversation, and I'm looking forward to building on that experience with additional events and opportunities for independent planners.

IMEX may be over, but now is a good time to evaluate how your client engagement activities supported your business goals. I'm offering Post-IMEX Audits to review your objectives, hosted client events, relationship-building opportunities, and follow-up efforts, with recommendations to strengthen your strategy for IMEX 2027.

Learn more about the Post-IMEX Audit and book here.

Before arriving in Las Vegas, I participated in a pre-FAM trip to Reno, Nevada.

I'll admit that Reno wasn't a destination I had seriously considered for many of my programs before this trip.

That changed after spending time there.

I stayed at Grand Sierra Resort, where the service and hospitality were excellent. Having the opportunity to experience the property and learn more about the destination gave me a much better understanding of what Reno can offer.

I could absolutely see myself bringing a program there.

That's one of the reasons I continue to prioritize destination visits and hotel experiences. I want to understand the properties and destinations I'm recommending, beyond what's presented in a proposal or on a website.

And sometimes, visiting a destination opens up possibilities I hadn't previously considered.

November 8–11, 2026 | Preview Wellness Summit

I'm excited to attend the Preview Wellness Summit this November. Wellness is something I'm looking to incorporate more into future event programs, and I'm looking forward to learning about new properties, experiences, and opportunities that can support that direction.

If you'll be attending, let's connect!

As we move into November, I'm beginning to wrap up my event programs for 2026.

I still have three workshops scheduled this month, but I'm already looking ahead to 2027.

Before I get too far into next year's planning, one of my priorities is auditing this year's event programs.

That means going beyond attendee surveys and taking a closer look at the actual results. I'm reviewing event data, budgets, attendee feedback, and the notes collected throughout the planning and execution process.

What worked? What didn't? Were the objectives achieved? What needs to change before the next event?

I'm also organizing budgets, reviewing planning dashboards, and identifying opportunities to make next year's programs more efficient and effective.

Once an event is completed, it's easy to move directly into planning the next one. But sending a survey isn't the same as conducting an event audit. It's what you do with the feedback and data that matters.

For companies preparing their 2027 event calendars, now is a good time to review existing programs, identify what needs to change, and make adjustments before the next event. Through Velvetstyle, I'm available to support event audits, strategy, and planning for the upcoming year.

Also, I'm continuing to build a space for independent planners to connect and grow their businesses. There's still work happening behind the scenes, and I'll share more as it develops.

Between wrapping up client programs, evaluating the year, and developing what's next, November is shaping up to be another busy month.

Velvetstyle Event Marketing helps companies create events that strengthen client relationships, build trust, and support long-term business growth.

If you're reviewing your 2026 event programs or preparing your 2027 calendar, let's talk about how Velvetstyle can support your event strategy, audits, and venue sourcing.

Schedule an Event Consultation

Thanks for following along! I hope you find something useful in these updates, whether you’re planning your next event or just keeping up with what’s happening in the industry.

I’ll have more hotel and destination updates to share soon, along with what I’m working on for 2027.

In the meantime, feel free to reply to this email or reach out to me directly. I read and respond to every reply.

All the best,

Tiffany English
Founder, Velvetstyle Event Marketing