Madeleine Willis joined Meetings Today magazine in September 2025 as a content developer, departments and social media. She is a graduate of the University of Iowa where she studied Journalism and Mass Communication with a certificate in Event Management. She writes for news departments: "The Buzz," "Industry Intelligence," "Going Places" and "New & Renovated." Her contributions to Meetings Today's Next Gen initiatives include her involvement as the editor and producer of the Eventualists podcast. Willis also oversees the publications social media platforms.
In Wickenburg, Arizona, Rancho de los Caballeros Resort completed a $100 million renovation in March. The multiyear renovation began in 2021. Spanning across 18 acres, the property boasts 9,000 square feet of meeting and event space.
Located on 300 acres in San Antonio, Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Villas completed a $100 million transformation. After a multiyear renovation, the resort is rolling out a new event venue: Rancher Hall Waterfront Event Venue.
JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo opened, marking the brand’s second JW property in Japan. The JW offers 11 meeting and event rooms and nine breakout rooms. In total, the hotel features more than 12,700 square feet of space.
Chicago’s City Council approved a Tourism Improvement District which now imposes a 1.5% fee on stays at qualifying hotels. The initiative aims to generate $40 million annually for meetings and tourism promotion.
Kansas City and its surrounding areas are welcoming a dozen new hotels to their pipeline, adding more than 1,000 rooms to the area’s portfolio. Ten of the properties are expected to open this year as the city prepares to welcome an estimated 650,000 visitors for FIFA World Cup.
The Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center completed a $33 million sustainability initiative featuring 5,355 solar panels across the center’s roof.
