For years, we’ve heard the same question from both sides of the Engage! community. Venues wanted more meaningful access to the planners and creatives shaping today’s most ambitious events. Attendees wanted time and space to build relationships with properties they were curious about, without the pressure or pace of a traditional trade show. Engage!CONNECT was the answer, and we’re so proud to have successfully launched it at Engage!25 Santa Barbara!
Engage!CONNECT at Engage!25 Santa Barbara
This curated venue showcase brought a select group of luxury hotels, resorts, and destinations directly into conversation with the industry’s most influential decision-makers. Set against the lively rhythm of the Summit, the experience was designed to encourage genuine interaction rather than sales pitches, and proved that when the right people are in the room, connection happens naturally. Participating properties each hosted their own dedicated station, so attendees could move freely, linger where interest sparked, and engage on their own terms. With digital-first sharing at each table using QR codes, iPads, and streamlined follow-up tools, interactions stayed focused.
Scheduled at the close of the general session on day two and positioned adjacent to the always-busy Meet the Media Lounge, Engage!CONNECT benefited from natural momentum and foot traffic. Attendees flowed directly into the showcase, ready to explore. To add an extra layer of excitement, guests who connected with participating venues were entered to win two-night stays at each of the properties. This giveaway component generated real buzz and kept energy high throughout the hour.
Our Attendees
The strength of Engage!CONNECT lay not just in the properties participating, but in the caliber of the attendees engaging with them. Engage!25 Santa Barbara brought together 500 of the industry’s leading planners, designers, editors, photographers, and creative directors, many of them founders and business owners with global portfolios and established client bases. These are professionals who regularly produce destination events across the U.S. and internationally, manage high six- and seven-figure budgets, and influence venue selection at the highest level. They plan weddings, social celebrations, and corporate or nonprofit events for clients who value experience, discretion, and exceptional hospitality. In other words, the conversations happening at Engage!CONNECT weren’t hypothetical. They were grounded in real projects, real clients, and real opportunities from all sides. By creating a setting where these decision-makers could connect directly with venues, Engage!CONNECT addressed a long-standing need on both sides.
Participating Properties
Our first Engage! CONNECT featured prestigious hotels, resorts, and venue partners from across the U.S., Mexico, and Europe. Each was hand-selected for their relevance to today’s global luxury event market.
- The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara
- Maroma, A Belmond Hotel, Riviera Maya
- Bodas Xcaret
- Canyon Ranch
- Dorchester Collection
- Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
- Nemacolin Resort
- The Maybourne Beverly Hills
- Hotel de la Ville, a Rocco Forte Hotel
- Masseria Torre Maizza, a Rocco Forte Hotel
- The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island
- The Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas
- The Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain
- The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua
- Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal
What made Engage! CONNECT successful was clarity of purpose and the quality of the interactions. Attendees arrived curious and engaged, while participating properties had the opportunity to share their story with professionals who genuinely influence venue selection for high-level events. Engage! CONNECT delivered meaningful access, genuine interest, and tangible opportunity, all within the flow of the Summit.
Following its debut at Engage!25 Santa Barbara, Engage! CONNECT has firmly earned its place within the Engage! experience. Watch this space for details of the next Engage! CONNECT event!
