Destination events like ARCO ampm’s annual incentive trips can take months, even years, to plan down to the smallest detail. Our work on behalf of the safety of our guests requires extensive advance work. We get to know everything at the local level—the venue management and staff, police and first responders, entertainers, food and beverage providers, embassy personnel, and port & shipping agents. These advanced meetings are designed to ensure that we’re prepared for every possible contingency. If our guests have special health needs, we want to know what’s in stock at the nearest pharmacy. If there’s any concerns about security, we’ll create a closed venue. If the venue’s in a hurricane zone…

As it happens, on two occasions our event venue was in the path of a natural disaster. As you can imagine, with all the advance planning we typically do, changing a venue at short notice can present special challenges. Due to hurricane damage in Los Cabos and St. Thomas, we had to change the destination and re‑create entirely new programs within just a few months—at no additional charge to the client, and with the same high safety standards as the previously planned events.