Meeting and event planners have a unique opportunity to create immersive experiences that go beyond just logistics and schedules. By infusing the local culture of a destination into their events, planners can elevate gatherings, leaving attendees with a deeper appreciation and understanding for the place they’re visiting.
In San Antonio, we host the annual Fiesta celebration each year as a testament to the city’s heritage. While Fiesta takes place in April, the city encourages visitors to embrace the spirit of “Fiesta” and its vibrant history and culture year-round.
I’ve included below several tips that planners can consider to help fully showcase and celebrate the local culture of their meeting destination.
Read More: Smart Meetings Experience Elevated Events Culture
Learn from Locals
The most important thing to consider when incorporating the local culture of a destination into a meeting or event, is to learn from locals. Each destination has its own personality and nuances, therefore seeking guidance from local experts ensures authenticity and respect. I recommend that planners start by talking to their venue and other vendors about what they feel is the best way to highlight the destination. Their experience and expert knowledge of the location will be vital in planning a seamless, mindful, and unforgettable cultural immersion experience for attendees.
Culture-Infused Cuisine
From décor to entertainment and cuisine, cultural elements of a destinations can be seamlessly integrated into various functions, providing attendees with an authentic taste of the location’s unique charm and energy. For example, at my home base of Hyatt Regency Hill Country in San Antonio, we offer several themed menus that showcase the city’s heritage including everything from authentic Mexican delicacies such as chilaquiles verdes and esquites to a traditional biergarten set-up that showcases the strong influence of mid-1800s German settlers in the region.
In fact, the McGriff Young Performers Conference hosted an event that took place across various venues throughout the resort, each spot hosting different receptions all of which celebrated different elements of San Antonio culture. Attendees rotated through Texas barbecue, Fiesta-themed entertainment, and German-inspired festivities to showcase what makes the destination so unique.
Read More: Food Rules to Effectively Navigate Your Meeting Menus
Find Ways to Support the Destination
When hosting an event where many attendees are from out of town, I highly recommend finding ways to incorporate locally-grown businesses and vendors. Planners can consider hiring local artisans to a sell their unique products at the function, or integrate their goods into a welcome gift.
For example, here in San Antonio, Fiesta medals are a big part of our culture. Local businesses specialize in creating these unique medals that local organizations and residents can then purchase and share among one another. At my home base of Hyatt Regency Hill Country, we have worked with many meeting planners to help them create their very own Fiesta-themed medals that attendees can take home as a fun memento to remember their time in the Alamo City.
Read More: Hyatt Loves Local…and the Why, Where, How and Who of Ecotourism Today
Understand the History
It is also important to consider the history of a location and what makes it so unique. For example, San Antonio is steeped centuries of unique history, from the city’s vibrant Mexican influence to the Native American history and Texas Revolution.
Finding a way to weave the historical details into a meeting can provide a fun, interactive, and educational activity for attendees. I’ve seen groups host everything from a keynote welcome with a representative from a local historical society to actual reenactments by local actors.
About Tony Moraga
With a true passion for hospitality, Tony Moraga oversees events at Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa where there’s over 100,000 square feet of space and an array of unique indoor and outdoor venues to choose from.
