Industry Insights: Fall 2026

MAJOR EVENTS FUEL BUSINESS TRAVEL IN 2026

American Express released its latest “Amex Trendex: Business Travel Edition” report, finding that major events are shaping the business travel landscape as companies seek new ways to strengthen client relationships and drive growth. In fact, 93% of travelers surveyed say they will attend major events, such as sporting events, concerts, festivals or cultural events, while traveling for business in 2026 to build new relationships and stand out from competitors.

“In a landmark year of sports and cultural events, businesses are using travel to deepen relationships, create memorable client experiences and win business,” says Fernando Iraola, executive vice president and general manager of global and U.S. large enterprises at American Express.

American Express also observed spending on business travel increasing in certain destinations where those shifts are taking place. The company identified the Midwestern city of St. Louis, Missouri, as one of the U.S. benefactors.

(Hello, World Cup?)

The U.S. Trending Business Travel Destinations were selected based on American Express commercial customer transactions at U.S. hotels, looking at growth over a 12-month period between 2024 and 2025.

Based on a survey of 1,000 U.S. business travelers and 500 U.S. business travel decision-makers, American Express found major events are raising the bar for business development, with 85% of business travelers and decision-makers agreeing that bringing clients or prospects to major events can be more effective for building relationships than traditional business activities like dining.

This is translating to real results: More than 82% business travelers agree they are more likely to win new business after hosting a client or prospect at a major event, with nearly half reporting that these experiences generate new business opportunities or retain or expand existing client relationships.

A majority of business travelers agree that investing in these memorable experiences represents a more creative approach to business development.

JW MARRIOTT DETROIT WATER SQUARE ANNOUNCES EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

JW Marriott Detroit Water Square, the city’s first JW Marriott, recently introduced its executive committee ahead of the hotel’s February 2027 debut.

Bringing together leaders with decades of experience, the appointments span roles in operations, sales and marketing, finance, human resources and events.

The hotel joins the JW Marriott brand portfolio of over 130 properties globally.

The city’s first luxury convention hotel, JW Marriott Detroit Water Square will add more than 600 guest rooms, four dining concepts, an 11,000-square-foot Spa by JW, and more than 53,000 square feet of meeting and event space with direct access via skybridge to Huntington Place, the 2.4-million-square-foot convention center located downtown.

JW Marriott Detroit Water Square’s executive committee includes:

• Joleisha Bradley, who has nearly 30 years of hospitality experience, as general manager. She will lead the pre-opening journey, overseeing the opening team and guest experience as the hotel prepares to welcome guests in 2027.
• Scott Stinebaugh, who brings more than 30 years of hospitality sales and marketing experience, as the director of sales and marketing. A longtime Detroit hospitality leader, Stinebaugh most recently served in the same capacity at The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit, where he helped lead the hotel’s growth, repositioning and record-setting performance.
• John Ridge, who offers more than a decade of Marriott finance leadership experience, as the director of finance and accounting. He most recently served as the director of finance and accounting at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center.
• Lisa Proctor, who brings experience from human resources and hotel operations, as the director of human resources. She began her Marriott career in the early 1990s at JW Marriott Washington, DC, the first ever JW Marriott property, and has since held leadership roles at The Ritz-Carlton, Dearborn and Vail Marriott Mountain Resort.
• Dale Reyes, who arrives with more than 16 years of hospitality leadership, as director of event planning. She most recently served as the director of event management at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center. She led one of the hotel’s largest operational divisions, overseeing group and catering operations, while driving improvements in event satisfaction, associate engagement and hotel performance.
• Desmond Vasquez, who has 13 years of experience with Marriott International, as resident manager. Most recently, he served as the director of operations at the Dearborn Inn, Autograph Collection, where he led the team through the hotel’s renovation and reopening.
• Daniele Trivero, who brings extensive international luxury hospitality experience, as the director of food and beverage. Most recently, he served as the executive chef at The Ritz- Carlton, Tysons Corner, where he led culinary operations across the hotel’s restaurant, events, Club Lounge and in-room dining.

For more information on the JW Marriott Detroit Water Square, turn to Page 69.

GRAND WAYNE CONVENTION CENTER LAUNCHES GOODMAPS ACCESSIBILITY

The Grand Wayne Convention Center and Fort Wayne International Airport (FWA), along with the WindSwell Foundation, all of Fort Wayne, Indiana, have officially launched GoodMaps, technology designed to make navigating public spaces easier and more accessible for everyone.

The new technology is now available for use for visitors to both the Grand Wayne Convention Center and FWA, giving visitors and community members another tool to independently and confidently navigate two of the community’s most visited public facilities. Those wanting to access GoodMaps in each facility can simply go to the GoodMaps mobile app for easier navigation.

GoodMaps uses precise indoor mapping technology and accessible wayfinding to provide users with real-time, turn-by-turn directions through their mobile devices. Designed with accessibility at its core, this technology offers an especially valuable resource for individuals who are blind or have vision impairment.

The launch of GoodMaps builds upon ongoing accessibility efforts throughout the Fort Wayne community, and reflects a shared interest among community partners to create the best experience possible for visitors and residents.

According to Bart Shaw, the executive director of the Grand Wayne Convention Center, “It is important that we create an accessible and inclusive experience for all that walk through the Grand Wayne doors, so we can continue to position our community as a first-in-class destination for events of all types.”

The adoption of GoodMaps technology was made possible through a grant from the WindSwell Foundation, whose mission is to support children and adults with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities live as independently as possible, be involved in the community, and to live their life to the fullest.

CODY DISBENNET HIRED AS HUNTINGTON PLACE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Huntington Place in Detroit recently announced the appointment of Cody Disbennet as its new director of operations, bringing extensive event operations and venue management experience to the city’s convention center.

In his new role, Disbennet will oversee a large operations team responsible for the environmental and production services of events throughout Huntington Place’s 2.5 million-square-foot facility.

His responsibilities will also include supporting the venue’s ongoing sustainability initiatives, and helping Huntington Place maintain its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification through thoughtful operational practices and collaboration across departments.

Disbennet joins Huntington Place with more than a decade of experience in large-scale event and venue operations.

Most recently, he served more than four years as the assistant general manager of ballpark operations at Goodyear Ballpark, the Arizona ballpark that serves as a Spring Training home for the Cleveland Guardians and Cincinnati Reds.

Prior to his time in Arizona, Disbennet served as the event logistics and operations manager for the Houston Texans, as well as the promotions and game day operations coordinator for the New Orleans Pelicans, building his expertise in event operations and large- scale guest experiences.

As Huntington Place continues to welcome more conventions, meetings, events and visitors to Detroit, he will play an important role in ensuring the facility is prepared to deliver quality experiences from the moment an event moves in until the final piece is moved out.