May 2025
Hosted by JT Long, this episode features candid conversations with industry leaders, including our own Mike May and Brie Richards, focused on turning allyship, mentorship, and sponsorship into tangible action. Mike and Brie brought home two powerful lessons in this conversation: treat people as they want to be treated, and make mentorship real.
This episode serves as practical guidelines for turning good intentions into meaningful, everyday allyship within our industry.
May 2025
Northstar Meetings Group consulted with incentive firms, including Brightspot, to highlight 8 hot incentive destinations for 2025. With Brightspot’s guidance, Thailand was included on this list!
In the article, we emphasize that Thailand isn’t just a beautiful destination – it’s a strategic choice for incentive travel. It meets trending demands for novelty, personalization, wellness, and authentic cultural engagement.
March 2025
Brightspot President, Mike May, has been recognized as a leader in supporting the future of the industry in the first-ever Smart Ally category of the Smart Women in Meetings Awards!
With the number of Brightspots recognized as Smart Women in Meetings year after year, this award is a testament to Mike’s unwavering support, mentorship, and advocacy for the amazing women in our industry.
January
2025
THE INCENTIVE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
As the IRF’s Research Advocacy Partner, Brightspot sponsored The IRF 2025 Trends Report. This report shows what lies ahead for the incentive industry, and how incentives are changing in 2025.
November
2024
Small Market Meetings
“By identifying and tailoring the approach to different target audiences, a company can foster engagement, enhance participation and achieve the goals of the meeting.”
Read more about the importance of knowing and choosing your audience in a meeting with commentary from Michelle Crosby, Account Executive.
October
2024
Skift Meetings
“Every Fall, our globetrotters assemble and debate our list,” said Brightspot President Mike May. “It balloons to 40-50 places where recent trips operated or a staffer attended a site inspection visit or FAM. The debate is a blast and spirited enough to narrow down to only 20 favorites when the world offers us so much!”
Read more about our Top 20 destination picks for 2025 and how they compare to the 2024 Global Destination Index.
May
2024
Small Market Meetings
“Second-tier cities have emerged as hidden gems with planners by offering unique opportunities for both business and leisure, without compromising the quality and experience of hosted events.”
Read more about Ombre Travel and how it’s impacting the meetings industry with commentary from Michelle Crosby, Account Executive.
March
2024
CORPORATE & INCENTIVE TRAVEL
“Millennials desire more variety in trip destinations. A recent SITE research study said that 67% would be more motivated to attend a new destination than if the meeting or event is booked in the same destination year over year.”
January
2024
THE INCENTIVE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
Brightspot is proud to sponsor the IRF 2024 Trends Report, a compilation of insights from incentive professionals across the industry. The 2024 report highlights key trends to watch in the coming year and beyond.
October
2023
CORPORATE & INCENTIVE TRAVEL
“The budgets are pretty much the same, but financial departments are starting to backpedal on making commitments.” Read more about navigating meeting and incentive budgets with comments from Mary Muldoon, Sourcing Manager.
October
2023
SALES & MARKETING MANAGEMENT
“Getting your team away from the office really makes a difference in their perception of your investment in them.” Read more about the power of SKOs and insights with Michael Butler, VP of Sales.
August
2023
AUTHORITY MAGAZINE
Brightspot client, Laura Clenney, VP of Marketing Services at BenefitMall, outlines the “Five Things You Need to Know to Successfully Run a Live Event,” including hiring a reputable partner. Read more about Laura’s tips in the latest Authority Magazine article.
August
2023
PRESS RELEASE
“Upon making the decision to sell Incentive Team, I found Brightspot to be the clear and compelling choice due to its established dedication to excellence and integrity. The merging of our capabilities and reach fills me with excitement for the promising opportunities it offers to both Incentive Team’s clients and employees in the future.”
Peter Goldberger, Incentive Team President
June
2023
SMART MEETINGS
Kelly Kunz recently joined an IRF panel discussing the intricate details of incentive design and its profound impact on motivating individuals. “Whatever you do, make sure it is measurable.”
Kelly Kunz, Director of Incentives
May
2023
SMALL MARKET MEETING
Mike May and Michelle Crosby share their expertise about selecting the perfect incentive travel and meeting destinations for your group demographics and company goals.
May
2023
CORPORATE & INCENTIVE TRAVEL
Kelly Kunz recently joined an IRF panel discussing the intricate details of incentive design and its profound impact on motivating individuals. Kelly is an accomplished professional with years of experience in designing successful incentive programs, showcasing her expertise, and offering valuable insights to an engaged audience.
April
2023
THE INCENTIVE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
Brightspot is proud to sponsor The Incentive Research Foundation study, The Future of the Incentives Industry Workforce. The study outlines key recommendations for recruiting and retaining employees in the incentive industry and beyond.
March
2023
SMART MEETINGS
Director of Sourcing, Genny Castleberry, was named a Stellar Performer on Smart Meeting’s Smart Women in Meetings 2023 list! Genny embodies this recognition daily through her expertise and passion – which shines in her work at Brightspot and beyond.
January
2023
NORTHSTAR MEETINGS GROUP
Federal income tax considerations for incentive programs often are overlooked. Mike gives his insight on Tax Tips for Incentive Programs to help make programs more successful — and avoid unpleasant surprises for award recipients
November
2022
PREVUE MEETINGS & INCENTIVES
As face-to-face meetings and incentives move forward, Rudy outlines changes in program design that are crucial to foster purposeful engagement and enhance attendee experiences.
November
2022
MEETINGSNET
Mike May tells clients to expect increases of around 30 percent for airfares, 20 percent for guest rooms, and 10 percent for food and beverage.
November
2022
MEETINGSNET
“We tell clients that the research says attendees want more downtime, so let’s reduce the activities on one day and just let them enjoy the resort.”
– Mike May
October
2022
THE INCENTIVIST
Through Rudy’s committee work he has been able to represent a “diverse range of experience, perspectives, and roles in the incentive industry.”
October
2022
SMART MEETINGS
“It’s great to see the rebound of cruises,” said Rudy Garza, vice president of operations with Brightspot Incentives and Events. Garza pointed out that the survey showed a continued trend to European cruising along with a 50% rebound for Caribbean cruise incentives.
– Rudy Garza
October
2022
INSURANCE & FINANCIAL MEETINGS MANAGEMENT
“Although this may take a short-term hit on their yearly budget, it will ultimately achieve the long-term biggest return on their investment with employee or customer loyalty and increased results across the board.”
– Brie Richards
October
2022
SMALL MARKET MEETINGS
“At the end of the day what our customers are looking for are locations that the winners wouldn’t necessarily take their families on vacation.”
– Michelle Crosby
September
2022
INCENTIVE
To reward Avaya’s top-performing partners in 78 countries, Brightspot developed the Avaya Edge Loyalty Program. Aiming to boost global sales at the business-communications company, the program targeted three groups of participants: partner principles, account managers, and sales engineers. Brightspot won the “Best Dealer/Channel Program” in the 2022 Motivation Masters Awards.
September
2022
MEETINGSNET
“Five of the top-10 destinations are in Mexico… ease of access, many all-inclusive properties, and affordability factor into its popularity. It’s almost the opposite of Hawaii, where interest is high, but the experience is expensive.”
– Rudy Garza
September
2022
MEETINGSNET
Brightspot was recognized by MeetingsNet to the 2022 CMI 25 list, honoring the largest full-service meeting and incentive travel management companies focused on the U.S. corporate market. The annual report from is a key resource for corporations looking for experienced event-planning partners.
August
2022
BEST STARTUP TEXAS
Brightspot made the list of the 101 Most Innovative Event Management Companies by The Best Startup Texas, a publication that tracks over 100,000 Texan startups and over 500,000 people who hold key positions in these companies.
July
2022
SMALL MARKET MEETINGS
The Caribbean is ideal for incentive travel because it has what May calls “podium power.” It attracts a lot of attention because of the luxury associated with it, making it a great reward.
July
2022
SMART MEETINGS
Program Manager, Brette Rainforth, was named one of Bizzabo’s Top 55 Event Experience Leaders of 2022! Brette was nominated by her industry peers as an influencer who helps redefine the events industry, and we couldn’t agree more!
June
2022
FEEDSPOT
Program Manager, Brette Rainforth, was named one of Bizzabo’s Top 55 Event Experience Leaders of 2022! Brette was nominated by her industry peers as an influencer who helps redefine the events industry, and we couldn’t agree more!
June
2022
PRESS RELEASE
“Brightspot and EventLink both have a proven commitment to excellence and integrity. With the merging of our talents and scope, I am excited about the future opportunities this provides both EventLink’s clients and employees.”
– Teri Abram, President of EventLink International
April
2022
THE INCENTIVIST
“During the last two years, the MICE industry was forced to shift its thinking on everything. Right now, 2022 is a more robust version of 2019 for the incentive travel industry. Close the door on the Covid years and old thinking.”
– Mike May
April
2022
REWARDS & RECOGNITION
“We need to be consultants sharing advice, because if we are not, we become an administrator. We need to push back when appropriate. Clients want to have a good healthy exchange.”
– Mike May
January
2022
NORTHSTAR MEETINGS GROUP
Mike May, CMP, president of Brightspot Incentives & Events, agreed. Based on incentive industry surveys and his own experience with clients, “75 to 90 percent of consumer attitudes have already shifted to this virus being consistent, limited and managed. People are moving on and resuming the old normal.”
November
2021
INSURANCE & FINANCIAL MEETINGS MANAGEMENT MAGAZIN
Our very own Genny Castleberry was quoted in this article. Here’s a quick preview: “We also have to stay on top of emergency protocols in the event attendees test positive for COVID on-site during the event and how to manage such situations.”
October
2021
SMART MEETINGS
There is a teeter that is tottering, and incentive travel is rebounding. Brightspot partners with Smart Meetings to provide insights into the tipping point of post-pandemic incentive travel.
September
2021
INCENTIVE
PTC turned to Brightspot Incentives & Events to revamp its online motivation and engagement platform. This platform was able to “move the middle” and was both accessible and fun for the sales reps. Brightspot won the “Best Channel Program” in the 2021 Motivation Masters Awards.
August
2021
THE INCENTIVE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
Brightspot is proud to partner with The Incentive Research Foundation on its newly released Incentive Travel Toolkit. Like the IRF, Brightspot believes incentive programs are powerful and effective employee motivators – especially when designed for success!
August
2021
SMART MEETINGS
Sr. Program Manager, Nicole Chattin, CMP, CMM was named as one of Smart Meetings’ Meeting Planners of the Year. Nicole was recognized for her integral role in helping rebound during the COVID-19 pandemic by implementing virtual & hybrid events for Brightspot clients.
July
2021
PRWEB
“I am excited for this opportunity and eager to lead Brightspot through our next season of growth. Facing this post-pandemic economic rebound head-on, we are positioned well to execute on the great opportunities ahead. The future never looked brighter!”
– Michael Butler
March
2021
SMART MEETINGS
Director of Strategic Accounts, Julie Blank, was named a Smart Women in Meetings Industry Leader for 2021! Julie’s expertise and enduring spirit grabbed the spotlight and made her a shining star in the industry.
February
2021
PREVUE
“When the world opens back up, group space will fill up quickly and rates will increase. Don’t be late to the party.”
– Julie Blank
October
2020
REWARDS & RECOGNITION
“I just don’t believe that the disclosure of HR practices will have much, if any, impact on the decisions made by the Global 2000.”
– Mike May
September
2020
INCENTIVE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
“The most critical elements of effective reward program design are essentially the same, indeed more so, as when I was asked this question during the financial crisis one decade ago…”
– Mike May
September
2020
INCENTIVE
”There’s going to be more work to set up rooms, ensure that cleaning procedures are in place, and monitor social distancing.”
– Mike May
