Puerto Rico may have had a massive setback following the disastrous Hurricane Maria in September 2017, but its comeback has been just as colossal, both from an infrastructure perspective and a cultural standpoint.

With its impressive array of film studios, performing arts centers, theaters, museums and distinctive architecture, Los Angeles plays a starring role on the world stage of art and culture. For planners seeking group-friendly venues with an artistic or entertainment-oriented vibe, the city can deliver on these as well or better than any other destination, according to Darren Green, senior VP of sales for the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board.

In September 2018, Hurricane Florence deluged parts of the Carolinas. Hardest hit was North Carolina, with an estimated $17 billion in crop, infrastructure and other losses. Florence went easier on South Carolina, which reportedly saw some $607 million in damages. Experiencing varying impacts, from minimal to destructive, the region’s coastal destinations have made significant recovery efforts.

Meeting and event planners could be hard-pressed to find  a destination that offers as many arts and activity options as Asheville, N.C., in such a tight package. A center of arts and culture, the Blue Ridge Mountains town located a couple hours’ drive from Charlotte, N.C., also boasts a bounty of culinary and brewery options, all set in one of the most scenic areas in the U.S.

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.

Issued every five years, the latest “Arts & Economic Prosperity” study from leading advocacy group Americans for the Arts found that between 2010 and 2015, economic impact from the arts in North Texas tripled from $500 million to almost $1.5 billion. With Dallas, Fort Worth and Irving among the study’s principal participants, contributing factors included expanded public programming; multiple new or renovated cultural venues; and increased spending on hotels, restaurants, parking and more by event attendees.

Combining an intentional service-driven, client-first approach with major infrastructure redevelopment, Rochester, N.Y., continues to establish a ROC-solid position in the Northeast and broader group market. Visit Rochester President & CEO Don Jeffries discussed how the positive momentum from 2018 is carrying New York’s third-largest city forward in 2019.

Roughly 80 to 90 people per day are moving to Nashville, according to recent statistics, and it’s no wonder. Nicknamed “Music City,” this Tennessee melody maker has long tugged at the heart strings of those into country and every other musical genre—from rockabilly and jazz to pop and hip-hop. Today, visitors, including meeting attendees, as well as new residents, are drawn to this city for the endless tunes and then some—a hotel boom, a burgeoning culinary scene that is adding hundreds of restaurants and an ever-creative vibe.

The Gateway Arch, the signature architectural masterpiece of St. Louis and the icon of the Westward Expansion of the United States, is even more emblematic as a symbol of the city’s resurgence. Fresh off the $380 million CityArchRiver project that made massive improvements to the Gateway Arch National Park surrounding the Gateway Arch, the re-do added a wealth of impressive event options.