The 2017 Hot List for Cadence Meetings + Incentive Travel
2017 was a year of unforgettable experiences for us at Cadence. In the spirit of gratitude and sharing, we asked a handful or our team members to pen down their favorite travel destinations, books, products to share with you as we wrap up the year. Take the opportunity to get to know us on a more personal level- we hope you discover something interesting!
Jenny Lutz
Senior Registration Coordinator
Cadence Meetings + Incentive Travel
Favorite travel-related item or product for you in 2017?
FINALLY an overhead sized suitcase- I have been procrastinating as I thought they were too small. Now I have become a more efficient packer and never worry about my bag not fitting in the overhead bin.
What was on your travel playlist in 2017?
ALWAYS, the group Real Estate. They have a great upbeat tone and always gets me in the mood to hit the road and conquer the airport.
What’s the best piece of advice you received in 2017?
Always acknowledge when you mess up…it is better to acknowledge what went wrong, how you can fix it, and move on then. It takes a lot of effort to cover something up, then trying to make it better off the bat.
Where are you aspiring to go in 2018?
Germany. There is so much architecture and food (soft pretzels!!) I want to experience.
Mary King, CMP
Sourcing Manager
Cadence Meetings + Incentive Travel
Where was the most exciting place you travelled in 2017?
My family took a great road trip through Northern California – Yosemite, Lake Tahoe and San Francisco
Favorite travel-related item or product for you in 2017?
Ha! My family’s new camper… travel trailer 😊
What’s the best or most inspirational book you read in 2017?
Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
What was on your travel playlist in 2017?
Always anything by Billy Joel… always in a New York State of Mind!
What was your best meal of 2017 (and where)?
Dinner at the Grant Grill hosted by Brian Griffith at the US Grant!
What was your favorite travel magazine, blog, or website in 2017?
Top 25 Women in the Meetings Industry – Meetings & Conventions
What’s the best piece of advice you received in 2017?
There is no timetable to ambition, plans, and dreams. Maintain your balance but don’t lose your focus!
Where are you aspiring to go in 2018?
I would like to go to the Hosts Global Forum in Belfast
Wendy Burk
CEO + Founder
Cadence
What was the best place you travelled to in 2017?
JAPAN- it is the new old hot spot! Best place, KYOTO-new Four Seasons on a beautiful lake, and the sense of place is incredible
Favorite travel-related item or product for you in 2017?
ALLBIRDS- they weigh 6 oz., they now have slip-ons, great arch support and good to walk in when traveling, made from sheep wool and you can throw them in the washing machine! Second favorite - Rimowa Salsa Deluxe Hybrid Cabin Multi-wheel carry-on luggage with with front pockets outside. You can slip your iPad and computer in there and it's easy to take out during the security... and you don’t have to open your whole bag to access important papers.
What’s the best or most inspirational book you read in 2017?
Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng
What was on your travel playlist in 2017?
Music, always some breathing Jon Kabat-Zinn breathing meditation, Luther Vandross, Sade, Rod Stewart, Nora Jones
What was your best meal of 2017 (and where)?
My house, my cooking, Thanksgiving, YUM
What was your favorite travel magazine, blog, or website in 2017?
www.cadencetravel.com
What’s the best piece of advice you received in 2017?
Travel light, and make copies of your electronic details in case you lose the device
Where are you aspiring to go in 2018?
Bhutan (planning August 2018!)
Monica Lopez Sanchez
Manager of Group Air
Cadence Meetings + Incentive Travel
Where was the most exciting place (or your favorite place) you travelled in 2017?
Jerusalem, Israel
What’s the best or most inspirational book you read in 2017?
Higher is Waiting by Taylor Perry
What’s the best piece of advice you received in 2017?
Do all things out of love & grace
Anna Nelson
Meeting Manager
Cadence Meetings + Incentive Travel
Where was the most exciting place (or your favorite place) you travelled in 2017?
Cancun – Riviera Maya!
Favorite travel-related item or product for you in 2017?
Purel Wipes… for the plane, the hotel TV remote, etc. (seriously….everything gets sanitized). On a trendier note, Wendy Burk gifted me a pair of Allbirds and they really are the best travel shoe!
What’s the best or most inspirational book you read in 2017?
Love Does by Bob Goff. I think it’s a must read for everyone!
What was on your travel playlist in 2017?
Maren Morris, Iron & Wine, Johnnyswim
What was your favorite travel magazine, blog, or website in 2017?
Passport to Friday
What’s the best piece of advice you received in 2017?
Love more – show love to friends, family, colleagues, and strangers.
Where are you aspiring to go in 2018?
Hawaii is high on my list!
John Knob
Sr. Manager, Sourcing + Industry Relations
Cadence Meetings + Incentive Travel
Where was the most exciting place (or your favorite place) you travelled in 2017?
Las Vegas! I attended IMEX less than a week after the tragedy at Mandalay Bay and to see the unity of cause for the city and the travel and tourism industry was incredibly moving. Because of that, IMEX was the best and most important trip of the year.
Favorite travel-related item or product for you in 2017?
My small, navy-blue AWAY suitcase. It’s made me a better, more efficient traveler and it looks great too.
What was on your travel playlist in 2017?
Every day is different but I listen to a lot of Jazz – Bill Evans, Miles, Coltrane, etc. But I’ve also added Bonobo to my travel essentials. His music is eclectic and full of energy, nearly perfect for setting the ideal travel vibe.
What was your best meal of 2017 (and where)?
The Cacio e Pepe at Isola Pizza Bar in La Jolla, CA (and the zucchini fries don’t hurt either!)
What was your favorite travel magazine, blog, or website in 2017?
Cadencetravel.com!
What’s the best piece of advice you received in 2017?
This quote from my favorite artist, the painter Giorgio Morandi: “One can travel this world and see nothing. To achieve understanding it is necessary not to see many things, but to look hard at what you do see.”
Where are you aspiring to go in 2018?
Italy, Japan + Hawaii are on my aspirational list, but in a more practical way, it has to be the Four Seasons Punta Mita.
Lindsay Graham
Senior Account Executive
Cadence Meetings + Incentive Travel
Favorite travel-related item or product for you in 2017?
A luggage scale (because I still haven’t figured out how to pack after all of these years of traveling.)
What was your best meal of 2017 (and where)?
Does my wedding count? Truly was more because of the people than the food (which was amazing as well!) It was on Kiawah Island, SC just this past November.
What’s the best piece of advice you received in 2017?
“How you do anything is how you do everything.” I think about it all of the time as it really rings true to me…not really advice as much as words to live by.
Where are you aspiring to go in 2018?
Somewhere fabulous for our honeymoon!! Right now deciding between Italy or Western Canada.
Meaghan Carfrey
Senior Account Executive
Cadence Meetings + Incentive Travel
Where was the most exciting place (or your favorite place) you travelled in 2017?
Thailand! Getting to spend Thanksgiving with the elephants in Chiang Mai!
Favorite travel-related item or product for you in 2017?
Global Entry!!! And Compression socks. : )
What was on your travel playlist in 2017?
Down by Marian Hill + ILYSB by LANY
What was your best meal of 2017 (and where)?
A beautiful lobster bisque and fresh piece of Cod at the LAVA Restaurant at the Blue Lagoon, Iceland!
What was your favorite travel magazine, blog, or website in 2017?
Travel + Leisure
Where are you aspiring to go in 2018?
The land of my people… Ireland with my mom!
Ashley Case
Director of Operations
Cadence Meetings + Incentive Travel
Where was the most exciting place (or your favorite place) you travelled in 2017?
Thailand… Koh Samui was beautiful, but Chiang Mai touched me in so many other ways… The amazing scenery, overwhelming spirituality and unforgettable interactions with gentle giants… the elephants!
What was your best meal of 2017 (and where)?
Thanksgiving in my home. Best company, best food and best feeling, as it was our little family’s first time hosting.
What was your favorite travel magazine, blog, or website in 2017?
I’m a sucker for The Venue Report and Thrillist. Always something eye catching and short to read about. Both provide daily wanderlust.
What’s the best piece of advice you received in 2017?
Remember that you cannot give what you do not have. If you want to have a bigger impact on the well-being and growth of others, you need to keep growing yourself.
Teyla Pitassi
Registration Coordinator
Cadence Meetings + Incentive Travel
Where was the most exciting place (or your favorite place) you traveled in 2017?
England (Cotswood and London), but if we are talking about my favorite place ever, it would be Australia!
Where are you aspiring to go in 2018?
I would love to see Italy to gain a better understanding of my heritage.
Annie Horigan
Manager of Account + Client Services
Cadence Managed Business Travel
Where was the most exciting place (or your favorite place) you travelled in 2017?
Dublin and Kildare, Ireland
Favorite travel-related item or product for you in 2017?
Dry shampoo for fresh hair on the go – my favs are Kevin Murphy (for a splurge) or Battise (for the budget friendly 😊 )
What’s the best or most inspirational book you read in 2017?
Rising Strong by Brene Brown
What was on your travel playlist in 2017?
Vance Joy, Ed Sheeran, Kygo
What was your best meal of 2017 (and where)?
The Farmhouse Inn, Sonoma
What was your favorite travel magazine, blog, or website in 2017?
Conde Nast Traveler
What’s the best piece of advice you received in 2017?
Be true to yourself and don’t measure success or failure by others
Where are you aspiring to go in 2018?
Argentina & Chile - Patagonia
Chelsea Petre
Manager of Host Agency Marketing
Cadence
Where was the most exciting place (or your favorite place) you travelled in 2017?
Paris! I went with my mom, we were both celebrating milestone birthdays.
Favorite travel-related item or product for you in 2017?
I would say Flytographer. It is a vacation photography company that allows you to select a photographer in your destination city, schedule a photo session as short as 30 minutes or as long as 2 hours, or somewhere in between, then they send you a link to an album of high-resolution images 5 days later. I used them in Paris with my mom, and for someone who hates having my photo taken, it was such a painless (and actually fun) process. Plus we have amazing photos to remember the trip by!
What was on your travel playlist in 2017?
This year I was in love with Leon Bridges song "River", Michael Kiwanuka "Cold Little Heart", "Kansas City" from The New Basement Tapes, and any 90s hip hop or R&B
What was your best meal of 2017 (and where)?
We took part in a "Chef's Table" dinner at La Mirande in Avignon, Provence. It was an exquisite 4 course meal prepared in front of us by the chef, in the beautiful 19th century kitchen. The chef used local ingredients chosen at the market that day, and we shared our dinner with 12 other guests from all around the world.
Where are you aspiring to go in 2018?
A family trip to Kauai and a friends trip to Jamaica are currently in the works, and top of my list (for 2018 or 2019) is Thailand!
Chardell Robinson
Manager of Business Travel Sales
Cadence Managed Business Travel
Favorite travel-related item or product for you in 2017?
A blanket because the plane is always so cold! And Still Standing spray- it is a life saver for conventions and work conferences with lots of walking!
What was your best meal of 2017 (and where)?
Everything at Catania in La Jolla, CA
What was your favorite travel magazine, blog, or website in 2017?
The blog Borders of Adventure
Melinda Powers
Director of Marketing + Communications
Cadence
Where was the most exciting place (or your favorite place) you travelled in 2017?
Punta Mita- I was so surprised how jungly (is that a word?) it was. The trees were so lush and beautiful. And I was also pretty amazed at the redwoods at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park! I'm a bit of a tree nerd...
Favorite travel-related item or product for you in 2017?
I was gifted one of those turtle neck pillows that keep your neck straight- it looks ridiculous, but it is amazing for road trips and red-eye flights!
What was on your travel playlist in 2017?
Any 80s power ballad will put me in a good mood during hectic travel... but my personal tradition is to play Big Jet Plane by Angus and Julia Stone at takeoff.
What was your best meal of 2017 (and where)?
I still daydream about the savory tacos at Imanta... I think we ordered them twice in 24 hours.
Where are you aspiring to go in 2018?
As many weekend road trips as possible- and a big exploration of Eastern Mediterranean/Europe.
Have your own to add? Feel free to write in the comments section below.
As always, we're happy to start a conversation for any of your meetings and incentive travel needs. Happy holidays!