Kimpton Hotels of Washington, D.C. have partnered with Shop Made in DC, a retail initiative that showcases local makers and their goods with a selection of over 100 District-made products.

01.15.19 Update: According to Reuters, German airport security staff have started a one-day strike. Lufthansa said it would cancel around 500 flights, 28 of which are intercontinental.

01.14.19 Update: Lufthansa announced it will cancel at least 414 flights due to a possible strike on Tuesday, January 15 at eight German airports, including Frankfurt. The airline said the cancellations include 386 flights within Europe and 28 international flights.

Airline passengers planning on traveling to, from or through Germany’s Frankfurt Airport during this timeframe may have to find alternative plans.

According to a notification on Lufthansa’s homepage, due to a strike by security staff at the airport, a major European hub, Lufthansa Group flights to and from Frankfurt will be considerably hindered Tuesday, January 15.

Here are seven event planner takeaways from Netflix's "7 Days Out" that show what factors into the success of any event.

Effective January 7, 2019, visitors to Japan will pay a 1,000 yen (about $9 USD) departure tax when leaving the country, regardless of nationality. The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) reported that the tax is expected to expand and enhance the country’s tourist infrastructure.

Orlando World Center Marriott announced the appointment of Robert Bray as general manager. In this position, he will oversee all operational aspects of the 2,009-room property, including everything from financial performance and the guest experience to food and beverage, while maximizing revenue and maintaining focus on strategic goals.

Robert Murdock is the new president of the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau (CTCSB), the state’s official meetings and sports event sales and marketing organization. On January 1, 2019, Murdock stepped into his new job upon the retirement of longtime industry leader H. Scott Phelps, who steered the CTCSB since 2014.

With everything from the high cost of airfare to the popularity of bleisure travel and direct access to local experiences, drive-to meetings have become increasingly favored among attendees in reasonable proximity—from 90 minutes to a few hours. Find out why Asheville, Valley Forge and Boise made our list.

Following an extensive national search, the board of directors for the Norfolk Convention and Visitors Bureau (VisitNorfolk) has named Kurt J. Krause as president and chief executive officer of the organization, effective January 7, 2019.

The Pacific Northwest is a winning choice for adding some team spirit to any function, from attending a game with your group or hosting an event at a sports facility.

W Hotels Worldwide announced the opening of W Costa Rica – Reserva Conchal, the first W hotel in the country. The property is located within a 2,300-acre nature reserve just minutes from Tamarindo, an internationally-renowned surf spot. The 150-room hotel features nearly 13,000 square feet of meeting and event space across eight rooms.