Samantha T. Marie, CMP, CITP, CPT

03/27/2025

🏔️ When Elevation Clashes with this Travel & Wellness

Ever wondered how elevation can impact your body during travel? On my recent trip to New Mexico I experienced firsthand how the 7,000-foot altitude can transform a week of engaging meetings and site visits into a personal wellness challenge.

By day, I was exploring amazing adobe architecture and soaking in the vibrant culture. But at night? My heart had other plans. From 9 PM to 1 AM, I found myself wide awake, with my heart working overtime.

Enter one of my favorite wellness secret weapons: Ylang Ylang essential oil.
With a gentle application to my chest and some intentional deep breathing, I naturally lowered my heart rate by 10 BPM. The result? Finally, some much-needed rest.
Not just a personal story - it's a insight for anyone planning travel or wellness experiences in high-elevation destinations. After all, I'm not just an event planner, I'm a wellness expert too. 😉

Travel Wellness Quick Tips:
💧Hydrate more than usual
✈️Arrive early to adjust
💼Pack natural support tools
🧘‍♀️Practice intentional breathing
💡Listen to your body

Travel friends and wellness enthusiasts: How do YOU manage physiological challenges during your adventures?
Share your strategies in the comments! 👇
Full blog post at https://www.omnieralife.com/blog/finding-calm-at-high-altitude-a-travel-wellness-tip-from-the-land-of-enchantment

03/19/2025

While Napa gets the spotlight, Sonoma has held my heart for over 20 years! As your insider guide to extraordinary group experiences, I'm thrilled to share what makes this region PERFECT for your next corporate retreat, team building adventure, or celebration getaway.
I just posted on the blog: my favorite Sonoma discoveries that'll transform your event from "meeting" to "unforgettable experience"!
Did you know you can:

🍇Cruise wine country backroads on eco-friendly trikes with Pushpak Motors (my absolute FAVORITE discovery last year!)
🍇Connect your team with rescued farm animals at Charlie's Acres (CSR + joy = magic!)
🍇Experience sunset receptions with panoramic valley views at Paradise Ridge Winery
🧀Follow the Sonoma Cheese Trail (because who doesn't love artisanal cheese?!)

Plus, insider tips on luxury accommodations that truly understand what groups need:

✨Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa for that ultimate incentive trip experience
✨Hyatt Sonoma Wine Country for the perfect blend of meeting functionality and wine country access

After two decades building relationships with Sonoma's best venues and vendors, I bring more than just knowledge to your planning process—I bring access, preferred pricing, and those special touches that transform good into extraordinary.
Ready to discover YOUR perfect Sonoma experience? Let's chat about creating a customized itinerary that will exceed all expectations! Link to full blog at https://www.omnieralife.com/blog/sunny-sonoma-wine-country-so-good-this-blog-will-have-two-parts-pt-1

03/12/2025

Sometimes you have to walk the talk and make yourself see things from a different perspective than you're comfortable with.

On OmniEra"s newest blog, I share how forcing myself to listen to a certain audiobook can translate into designing your events with a reimagined perspective.

Check it out at https://www.omnieralife.com/blog/expanding-your-horizons-the-power-of-flexibility-in-event-planning
✨

02/19/2025

For this week's blog on OmniEra, I shared getting reacquainted with beautiful Lake Tahoe post-pandemic. With my passion for incentive travel and retreat of all kinds, it was a must!
Let me know what you think. 😊
https://www.omnieralife.com/blog/uncovering-lake-tahoe-your-perfect-retreat-awaits

02/04/2025

🩵Thankful to have shared a bit of my story and led a wellness exercise among a group of fellow professionals at last month 's joint educational program focusing on mental wellness..

✨Taking care of our mental wellbeing should always be a top priority, regardless of what industry you're in.

✨Events and hospitality has extra special needs, with event planners consistently polled as one of the top 5 most stressful jobs, in addition to always having to be "on" with a smile on your face no matter what.

✨Thank you to & for highlighting this need and creating a platform to share, reduce stigma, and develop options on how to improve and take care of ourselves in demanding jobs and personal lives.

✨Read the full article on The Blog

Earlier this January, the Northern California and Napa-Sonoma Chapters of ILEA (International Live Event Association) led their annual joint program at the Lighthouse at Glen Cove Marina with a very...

01/27/2025

Over the next few weeks we'll be highlighting some of our favorite destinations in the Western Region on the blog that are a perfect fit for what we specialize in and love to do: Incentive Travel, Retreats, and implementing wellness.

First up we have the beautiful and conveniently located island of Coronado in Southern California.

Check out our blog post in the comments for key insights on the destination and ideas for your next travel program!

https://www.omnieralife.com/blog/discovering-charismatic-coronado

01/20/2025

Don't like what's going on in social media but not ready to leave?
Easy free things you can do for now:

1) Don't click on or buy from ads. Go directly to the website if you want to buy something.
2) EVEN BETTER: Can you think of a local shop, or even a friend that has a business or can make something similar?
3) Hide ads & suggested posts, esp if they're irrelevant, like it's a game. Keep clicking that "X".
4) DO like or react to as many friend posts as you see to help your algorithm.
5) DO respond to events you see. Respond "interested" to things you may be remotely interested in to help that algorithm.
6) Follow your friends on their other social media platforms or their OWN website/ blog.

Less mass media. More local/ independent. Support your friends and small businesses! 🙂

12/10/2024

This Friday at -
is having a release party for our .suprimo - .
Join us along with his remixers and friends in the lounge:

LSD25 Remixers/DJs:






I hope to see you there! 🙂🎶✨

11/22/2024

We packed a lot into Day 2 with Discover Coronado and with all the photos I took, there were still many moments and pictures missed.

Started off the beautiful morning with a breakfast boat ride on the Bay, walked to the Glorietta and Hotel Del Coronado with it's beautiful unique history along the beach and delicious lunch, continued to walk downtown and ended our evening at Lowe's with a team building dinner and gorgeous sunset. 🌅😍

Thank you to all the teams that hosted and special thanks to Danielle from and as well!

Thankful I got to see and experience so much on my first visit to Coronado and hope to bring an Incentive or Retreat there soon!

10/31/2024

Excited and honored to be nominated for the Change Maker Award at this year's BAMIES. What a wonderful group of nominees to be a part of!

Thankful that progressing attributes such as mental wellness, inclusive events, and prioritizing community are being more recognized in our industry.
Looking forward to seeing everyone at the annual awards gala in San Francisco on November 13th!

09/27/2024

Love this unique space, Four One Nine Venue, in San Francisco with its relaxing ambiance in areas outside the main gathering room.
It was an ideal location for yesterday's full day program with the Hewlett Foundation supporting the arts in the Bay Area and beyond.
Greatly enjoyed being a part of this event and had a wonderful experience working with all involved.
Thanks to BN Events & hope to be back soon!

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05/09/2024

Come together to celebrate the life of a legend and everyone's best friend, Carlos Alfonzo this Friday May 10th 8p-2am at 581 5th St Oakland
https://facebook.com/events/s/friendship-friendship-a-night-/1273960220274209/

05/08/2024

This year’s L.E.A.P. by PCMA Northern California Chapter in Monterey was a beautiful location at their convention center by the bay taking a deep dive into a variety of important topics such as DEIA, sustainability, and utilizing AI in our meetings & events industry.
Thank you to this year’s committee for putting together a wonderful 2 day program for us all to enjoy!

04/09/2024

Breathtaking first visit to Round Pond Estate yesterday in having a guided tasting with charcuterie, experiencing the expansive property and wonderful hospitality by all the staff.

Plenty of space for your next event - big or small - and my tasting buddy was so impressed he joined the wine club!

First of many visits to come, whether private events, members only dinners, or a quick day trip to the tasting room on our own. ☺️

Many thanks 🥂

03/09/2024

I'm at a loss for words at the conclusion of this year's Annual Conference Experience by MPINCC - Meeting Professionals International Northern California Chapter
From starting off as VP of Education this program year, to ending with Dima Ghawi's impactful shattering of the vases that made me tear up a bit, it's been quite the Experience and ride with my fellow committee peers and board members.

I wish I had two clones to have been able to see all the education I wanted to and take part in all the fun activations that there didn't seem to be enough time for, but I love seeing everyone enjoy themselves and leave with smiles.

We did it!!!

Thank you to everyone who made this year possible. You're all amazing!

02/23/2024

02/23/2024

Chase Center ➡️ Mission Rock ➡️ PCMA'S Town Hall at the Jay Hotel & Site Tour ➡️ The Midway Open House
It was a beautiful sunny day to tour in
🌞
Thank you to all my industry peers and friends that continue doing the amazing things you do!

02/17/2024

Over the next two weeks I have one question for you:
Will I be seeing you at ACE?!? 🤩

The redesigned Annual Conference Experience by .ncc turns the traditional conference and expo on its head by bringing you an education festival with all things meetings, events, hospitality and creative design.

Immerse yourself with new ideas and ways of thinking at this can't miss event for the best of the best in from San Francisco to all over North America!

See you there. 😎