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B M & T ••• September/October 2026 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 31 REVEL IN THE RIGHT RESORT Yet, one of the all-inclusive model's greatest advantages can also be its greatest logistical challenge: nearly everything hap- pens in one place. Meals, meetings, recre- ation, and networking are easier to coordi- nate, but planners still have to manage attendee movement, schedules, dining, transportation, and special events without losing the relaxed atmosphere that makes the resort appealing. Make sure you under- stand how the property operates and that its systems work with your program rather than against it. One great advantage of meeting at an all- inclusive resort is what happens when the day's business ends. The right property can make recreation, destination exploration or even wellness part of the program. For example, at Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos, groups can pair meetings with pools and beach time, golf, deep-sea fish- ing and excursions around Los Cabos. With 607 guestrooms and more than 96,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor event space, the resort has the capacity to combine serious meeting business with an active Baja experience. ALL ABOUT YOUR ATTENDEES In the final analysis, your meeting at an all-inclusive resort is about the attendees: the camaraderie, the con- nections, and the memories. "My biggest piece of advice for our groups is to have the best possible time, don't schedule every second of your retreat," says Melanie Davis, Account Manager at Team Retreats. "Recently we're seeing teams moving away from retreats that feel like conferences. They still want to incorporate productive meeting time, but they're putting much more emphasis on connection, wellness, and experiences." For groups putting wellness on the agenda, Royalton Riviera Cancun offers yoga, Pilates, AquaFit and other fitness programming, plus tennis, pickleball, spa treatments and hydrotherapy. Its 840 suites and 20,000 sq. ft. convention center illustrate how wellness and recreation can enhance meeting infrastructure. Sandals Royal Curaçao offers a partic- ularly strong destination-immersion option for adult groups. Its 351 rooms and suites are complemented by scuba diving, snorkeling, pickleball, Dutch bikes and live entertainment, while island excur- sions can take attendees farther afield. The resort's 7,573 sq. ft. Arawak Ballroom accommodates up to 700, giving planners considerable meeting capacity alongside the Caribbean experience.