Blending meetings and business with leisure is a strong meetings trend. BLEISURE means meeting attendees get the best of both worlds and a destination like Palm Springs certainly offers the best of both first-class meeting facilities and out of this world leisure opportunities. With fantastic resorts, amenities and endless outdoor opportunities, if you haven’t thought of Palm Springs before for your next meeting or event you might just have to after hearing from Mark Hontas, Partner/Event Producer with Pinnacle Event Solutions, LLC. Mark shares with us his experience planning a meeting in Palm Springs and how partnering with the Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau supported him throughout the planning process.

Tell us, what does your job entail?

Mark: My job entails full event planning for corporations and associations, including pre-event coordination such as site selection and contract negotiation, as well as on-site management during the event. 

Tell us your favorite meeting planner hack?

Mark: One of the best ways you can save time when it comes to planning meetings is to create and use templates for the items or tasks you do regularly that don’t require creativity.

What is one of your significant job challenges that working with the Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau team helped you solve?

Mark: Working with the Greater Palm Springs CVB team has made the event planning process much easier and smoother, especially when it comes to site selection. When our team was not in a position to get out to see the properties we were proposing, the Greater Palm Springs CVB team stepped in to provide honest venue appraisals and comparisons, as well as information about recent renovations and properties in general.

What are some of the distinctive destination offerings of Palm Springs that helped to make your meeting great?

Mark: The properties in Greater Palm Springs offer the most function space with a resort setting in Southern California. It’s an easy destination to get to, especially if the group is from Southern California. Entering Greater Palm Springs really makes attendees feel like they’re getting away from it all because they’re working in a relaxing and beautiful setting. Plus, there’s great golf!

How would you describe the relationship you have with the CVB? What would you compare it to?

Mark: The Greater Palm Springs CVB is like a trusted friend.

What did your attendees say about your overall experience in Palm Springs? 

Mark: Overall, the feedback we received from our attendees is that their experience in the destination has always been great.

Did you use a unique venue for a gathering or event while in Palm Springs? 

Mark: We have done many outdoor events at properties throughout Greater Palm Springs, as the destination offers plenty of opportunities for outdoor events right at the resorts. Whether you want to be poolside or on the lawn, Greater Palm Springs is perfect for outdoor events.

Plan your next meeting in Greater Palm Springs, CA. Learn more here.