--- title: "Lunchtime Links: Hotel Hot Spots For Your Next Conference" id: "19832" type: "post" slug: "lunchtime-links-hotel-hot-spots-for-your-next-conference" published_at: "2013-10-03T18:15:11+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-09T19:01:01+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2013/10/03/lunchtime-links-hotel-hot-spots-for-your-next-conference/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2013/10/03/lunchtime-links-hotel-hot-spots-for-your-next-conference.md" excerpt: "The American Customer Satisfaction Index released its top ranked hotels—locations to consider when planning your next conference. Also: How web designing just got easier, courtesy of Google." taxonomy_category: - "Meetings / Events" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "conferences" - "event planning" - "hotels" - "Meetings" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "C-Level" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Lunchtime Links: Hotel Hot Spots For Your Next Conference When conference time comes a-callin’, the big question remains: Where to host? Look no further—a recently released hotel satisfaction index could well give you some ideas. The details, and more, in today’s Lunchtime Links: **Get in the Marriott groove:** It’s that time of the year—conference wrapped up, next meeting or event to plan. Looking for a hotel hot spot for your next event? Try Marriott. Two of the hotel chain’s brands topped the customer satisfaction charts—and Hilton hotels trailed just behind—in the 2013 *American Customer Satisfaction Index Hotel Brand Study*, [Chicago Tribune travel columnist Ed Perkins reported (opens in a new tab)](http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-10-01/lifestyle/sns-201310010000--tms--travelpkctnxf-a20131001-20131001_1_jw-marriott-marriott-hotels-chains) . The index uses a 10-element checklist in its methodology, including a smooth check-in process, staff courtesy, consistent dining experience, and quality in-room entertainment. Fairfield Inn & Suites, Marriott’s midscale brand, topped the chart, followed by luxury JW Marriott hotels. “You don’t have to pay top dollar to enjoy a great hotel stay,” Perkins noted—but, as he cautions, you shouldn’t “expect miracles from the budget end of the scale either.” A high-ranked experience can add that extra oomph should you choose a hotel for a conference venue. Did someone say Jacuzzi? Sign us up! **Pandora’s box of Crayola colors:** Black slims—but color attracts. And when choosing the best color fit for your association’s advertisement and branding initiatives, the right shade can make all the difference, [reminds Digital Marketing NOW CEO Tom Shapiro in his latest MarketingProfs article (opens in a new tab)](http://www.marketingprofs.com/articles/2013/11665/three-ways-to-juice-your-marketing-results-using-color) . Peek into the palette: Red signifies energy. (Aha, that explains a bit or two about Coca-Cola’s signature shade.) Blue conveys strength and trust; orange imbues excitement. Get girly and romantic with pink or go friendly and optimistic with yellow. “With a color palette that evokes your brand’s true DNA, your marketing will achieve greater success,” writes Shapiro. Shade your association with the tinge that fits, coloring your organization the memorable way. **Creation zone:** Helmet on, creativity and innovation in progress. To get all up to speed: Flash (the web plugin for videos) is slowly fading out (so long) and is being replaced by the hip, new HTML5. Need help embracing the change? Google delivers. As [CMS Wire’s Anthony Myers reports, (opens in a new tab)](http://www.cmswire.com/cms/customer-experience/google-announces-web-designer-for-building-html5-sites-022678.php) the search engine has released its Web Designer, a free animation and website builder that codes HTML5, CSS, Javascript, and XML for web pages and advertisements. The platform’s coding follows a responsive format, meaning your web design creation will shift in size relative to the screen—an essential element in today’s smartphone-tablet-desktop-laptop-viewing world. Best yet, Google’s Web Designer targets all—from those with design experience to the brave with none at all. Think revitalized websites and advertisements with content produced for a post-Flash internet era. Could this be the way to make it happen? What upgrades are you making to your website? We’d love to hear in the comments below! (iStock/Thinkstock) [Emma Beck](https://associationsnow.com/author/emma-beck/) Emma Beck is a contributor to Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/emma-beck/) Tags: [#conferences](https://associationsnow.com/tag/conferences/) [#event planning](https://associationsnow.com/tag/event-planning/) [#hotels](https://associationsnow.com/tag/hotels/) [#Meetings](https://associationsnow.com/tag/meetings/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoAshley Cobb Shares Her Experience at the 2025 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 12, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/08/12/ashley-cobb-shares-her-experience-at-the-2025-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) - [VideoJenny Teeson, CHSE Shares Her Experience at the 2025 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 12, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/08/12/jenny-teeson-chse-shares-her-experience-at-the-2025-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) - [VideoLakisha Woods, CAE Shares Her Experience at the 2025 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 12, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/08/12/lakisha-woods-cae-shares-her-experience-at-the-2025-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) - [VideoKevin Hesser Shares His Experience at the 2025 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 12, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/08/12/kevin-hesser-shares-his-experience-at-the-2025-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2013%2F10%2F03%2Flunchtime-links-hotel-hot-spots-for-your-next-conference%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !