Wish I was there.

We could either do shots together or we could read books together at whatever pool. Stake em out early with your towels, sunnnies and flip flops.

And then Megacon which is massive . I was just in a sea of people for days and I had to kick myself in my room for days to recover. I get you 

Oh man, do you HAVE TO GO to the meetings/awards ceremony?

Can you just go to the pool/beach when they are all there?  I mean, why not? 

Are there lounge areas at the resort where you are that you can ensconse yourself at with your book?

Movies on TV or on your device? 

I vacationed in Cancun on a solo trip. Favorite thing I've ever done. Even though it's a "work" trip enjoy the alone time! 

When I started going to my old job's 911 software vendors conference, I felt like an alien.   Chef didn't come to the first one which was in South Carolina.  The vendors are big bar hoppers after the actual seminars finish.   Something right up Chef's alley, but not something that would be my main thing.   I didn't know anyone but a few from the 911 center.  I was very new to the software and it was hard to follow most of it.   I agree with the others-- head to the resort pool!

Chef came to the next one in Key West but I wondered what I had done to deserve it!  

The next one was canceled due to Covid.  Vendors come from NJ.   Last one was in Nashville which Chef didn't go to.   I'm not an extrovert either but I forced myself to meet the people and make conversation the first one I went to even though they were all "old pros" and knew each other-- which kinda paid off over the years.  

Don't expect the attendees to be mentors or anything.   They all talk a big game and say "we should have a users group" etc etc but I find it never pans out.

I am an introvert as well but I dont care for ppl. I can sit at a table and be ignored. I do attempt to make small talk but dont force it. If you are an introvert, being alone should feel amazing to you. I personally would advise to enjoy food and beverages and maybe see if they have spa services you can book at the hotel. If not, you should do your little skincare and self care routines and enjoy bed/tv/streaming all to yourself

If the pool is crowded, just ask the attendant to add an extra long chair for you. They prob wont mind. Or you can go outside of busy hours and sit at the sunset by the pool

What you are citing is just obstacles that you created in your mind to prevent you from enjoying yourself. Get out of your head and live for yourself:)

No advice - just sympathy! I would hate it as well. It sounds awful. How soon can you come home?

Maybe....how much longer? I went to a conferance like that once. I made friends with a dog who was having the ball thrown to him by the owner's  wife. It led to an amazing opportunity of being shown around and making friends with the locals. Look for the dog!! You will be out of there soon and will be glad to be home.

We just had a huge work meeting in a different location a few weeks ago. I'm actually pretty outgoing, but I absolutely hate walking into meeting rooms, lunches and dinners, and trying to decide where to sit. It puts me right back in high school. I have plenty of people I talk to, but I still feel that way, so I can just imagine when you work on a small team. At this meeting, my work BFF was slightly upset with me (rightfully so), so she was cordial but not trying to sit with me. I walked in and sat down awkwardly at the next table over that looked empty, not realizing a little clique of male asian IT guys already had set their stuff there, and they kind of just kept to themselves and didn't really talk to me. Absolutely awful. 

I hope you are able to find some fun. Keep stalking those beach chairs. Or maybe you can put a towel on the beach and just read a book and have some drinks. There is almost always fun to be had at a swim-up bar, and you don't need to know anyone or really make an effort. It might be outside of your comfort zone, but it's worth a try and you never know, you may enjoy it!

Accomodating large groups is never a satisfying or completely successful thing for the organizers. Someone is almost always not happy.

Groups are made up of individuals with nearly infinate differences.  

I do have a question, which probably makes it obvious that I am not an introvert.  What is the make up of a successful event for introverts, extroverts, single people, married people with their spouses, and married people without their spouses, etc...?

Though I am not an introvert, I observe people.  When I am in a group where I am new, I watch.

That means that likely some of those I am watching will make me cringe, some I am watching will make me smile, some will make me shake my head, some will make me scratch my head, some might even make me laugh.  See if you can find something that peaks your interest, create your own internal dialogue for what they are saying that augments what you are seeing them do. Kind of like the Mystery Science Theater 2000 pop up video show that creates different scripts for footage the characters are reviewing.

Just some advice for anyone in HR that plans these things....please try to remember not everyone is an extrovert.  Please think about the poor souls that are the outliers.  Because they will be like me...stuck in a hotel room alone feeling like they don't belong or matter.

This is such a sad perspective.  Don't be sad. You are a core and foundational part of a successful team.

I really am sorry you are finding this to be such a miserable experience.

Take care of you.