produced by This Is Beyond

13-15 NOVEMBER 2024
NEW ORLEANS

OPEN HOUSE
BY SET

In Partnership With
Kimpton Hotel Fontenot.



We headed to the uber-chic Kimpton Hotel Fontenot for a welcome event like no other. Let’s set the scene: the first biz day in NOLA kicked off with a sazerac in hand, flowing between epic thought leadership sessions and relaxed networking with the who’s-who of the entertainment and travel industries.

OPEN HOUSE BY SET — WEDNESDAY 1 NOVEMBER — 12:00-17:00 — OPEN HOUSE BY SET — WEDNESDAY 1 NOVEMBER — 12:00-17:00 — OPEN HOUSE BY SET — WEDNESDAY 1 NOVEMBER — 12:00-17:00 — OPEN HOUSE BY SET — WEDNESDAY 1 NOVEMBER — 12:00-17:00 — OPEN HOUSE BY SET — WEDNESDAY 1 NOVEMBER — 12:00-17:00 — OPEN HOUSE BY SET — WEDNESDAY 1 NOVEMBER — 12:00-17:00 — OPEN HOUSE BY SET — WEDNESDAY 1 NOVEMBER — 12:00-17:00 —

01.
SET
SESSIONS

We had a lineup of killer thought leadership sessions this year, led by experts from EDITION, FOX, United Airlines and more. The SET crew got schooled on everything from the power of generative AI; to weathering the relaunched airline NDC; to a 360-view of the future of entertainment and travel from the pros who know it best — and much, much more.

RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW:

A 360 View on Entertainment and Travel in 2023

SET is *the* place where entertainment and travel intersect — and where leading pros from both industries sync up to power the future. And to kick off both industries coming together at Open House, our all-star panel held a wealth of entertainment and travel expertise, from high-end hotels (Philip D’Antoni, EDITION) to travel agents (Zach Wolf, ASCOT Travel Services) to production (John Saunders, FOX). The SET crewed tuned in as they assessed the current state of the (literal) union of entertainment and travel — from forecasting to future-proofing, growth strategies to inter-industry collaborations.

With Philip D’Antoni, EDITION Hotels | John Saunders, FOX | Nicola Thoma, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group | Zach Wolf, ASCOT Travel Services | Moderated by Bashar Wali, Practice Hospitality

AI IS THE PRIZE:

HOW TO LEVERAGE AI TOOLS IN CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

It’s a sensitive topic right now — but used thoughtfully (and with respect to performers) AI can be a robust ally and permanent game-changer for the entertainment and travel industries. So we leaned in: in this fascinating session, we discovered how generative AI can (and will) revolutionise both sectors. From text-to-image and text-to-video transformations and their impact on storyboarding; to the creation of AI-only media content (entertainment) and logistics management and streamlined big data analysis (travel), there are myriad ways generative AI can support work. We joined Meeting U’s James Spellos for a deep-dive on how these tools work and how the SET crew can start applying them in their biz (if they haven’t already).

With James Spellos, Meeting U

HIT THE RIGHT NOTE:

How Tour Managers, Agents and Hoteliers Can Work Better, Together

With so many moving parts, competing stakeholders and differing priorities, coordinating an artist’s accommodation during tours can be a logistical challenge for all involved. That’s why we brought all relevant parties into one room — travel agents, tour managers and hoteliers from the supplier side — so attendees could workshop solutions to the most common pain points and forge a new path forward. They split into mini focus groups before presenting back their bright ideas to an open forum — from navigating multiple timezones; to issues around billing, amenities and privacy; to keeping lines of communication open. We’re now putting together a summary of the solutions and outcomes into a whitepaper, to be released soon.

With Jason Milner & Giovanni Vargas, Tour Managers | Jennifer Mose, The Windsor Court | Hannah Mursal, Murs Entertainment Travel Touring and Sport | Barry Podob, Springboard Hospitality | Moderated by Erika Spieldoch, Interscope Records

THE SWEET SPOT:

Crafting Strategic Entertainment and Travel Partnerships

One of the main reasons for SET’s creation? To power more partnerships between entertainment and travel, by creating the right context in which they can thrive. That’s why we united both powerhouse industries in NOLA in November — and why we drafted in UTA's Chloe Popescu, W Hotels' Carly Van Sickle, Range Media Partners' Sandra Kang and PS's Lexy Basil to explore how, whatever side you’re on, you can form fruitful partnerships and collaborations that deliver on ROI and brand awareness.

With Lexy Basil, PS | Sandra Kang, Range Media Partners | Carly Van Sickle, W Hotels Worldwide | Moderated by Chloe Popescu, Agent, UTA

A NEW DAWN:

NDC AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOUR BUSINESS

There’s a fundamental shift at play in the airline industry: we’re sure everyone is familiar with the acronym NDC (new distribution capability), but demystifying its permutations and intricacies can leave even the most seasoned travel pro confused. Enter United Airlines, who were at Open House to provide a simple yet comprehensive overview of the changes, what they mean for the SET crowd and their customers, and how to navigate it effectively.

With Mike Fitzgerald, United Airlines

GATHER ROUND:

MEET THE UNSUNG HEROES BEHIND THE HITS

Seeing songwriters “in the round” is a uniquely Nashville tradition — and one we brought to the second season of SET. With the help of some hefty singing superpowers in the form of country icon Phil Barton and multi-Grammy-winner Liz Rose — songwriting partner of none other than Taylor Swift — this was a rare chance to hear their stories, understand the life of a professional songwriter, and, most excitingly, hear their own versions of iconic songs.

With Phil Barton & Liz Rose, Songwriters

02.
TOP-TIER
ENTERTAINMENT AND F&B

Open House had an incredible spread of F&B to feast on while listening to live music, exploring pop-up activations and soaking up the electric atmosphere — the perfect place to get a taste of the impeccable entertainment vibes ahead. Plus, the crew dipped in and out of the Sound Suite by W Hotels x FEMME HOUSE — a decompression zone where they could relax, reconnect and also master basic DJ'ing skills.

03.
NETWORK
LIKE A ROCKSTAR

The SET crowd connected with their fellow industry hotshots over local libations and worked the room like the pros they are, setting the stage for an unforgettable few days on SET.