Raleigh Debuts New Convention Center
The new 500,000-square-foot Raleigh Convention Center, Raleigh, NC, celebrates its grand opening on September 5. The new $221 million LEED-certified facility, which includes 19 meeting rooms and a grand ballroom, will accommodate groups of 50 to 5,000 attendees for trade shows, conventions and conferences. For more information, visit www.raleighconvention.com.
Windpower 2009 Conference To Be Held In Chicago
The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) and the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau (CCTB) have announced that the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) will host Windpower 2009 Conference & Exhibition in Chicago, IL, at McCormick Place from May 4-7, 2009. The Windpower conference was last held in Chicago in 2004, and the event was recently listed in Tradeshow Week magazine as one of the 50 Fastest Growing Shows in North America. Sold exhibition space for Windpower 2009 has already exceeded that of last year's show, which had been 85 percent larger than the previous year. McCormick Place is the largest exhibition and meeting facility in Chicago and North America, with more than two million square feet of space. For more information, go to www.awea.org. Pictured, bottom row (left to right): Steven Frankel, Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the Governor; Stefanie Brown, Deputy Director for Conference & Meetings, AWEA; Suzanne Malec-McKenna, Commissioner, Chicago Department of Environment. Middle row (left to right): Adrienne Tiritilli, Senior Director of Convention Sales and Marketing, McCormick Place; David Causton, General Manager, McCormick Place; Tim Roby, President and CEO, CCTB. Top row (left to right): Darrell Baker, Director of Sales Eastern Region, CCTB; Juan A. Ochoa, CEO, MPEA.
Sales And Marketing Director Chosen For New Niagara Convention And Civic Centre
The Niagara Falls Convention And Civic Centre in Ontario, Canada, has announced the selection of Jeff Dixon (left) as director of sales and marketing. Dixon was previously manager of convention sales and conference services for Fallsview Casino Resort, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Construction on the convention center is scheduled to begin in early 2009, with an anticipated opening in spring 2011. When completed, the facility will offer over 200,000 square feet of space, including a 100,000-square-foot free-span exhibition hall, a 20,000-square-foot ballroom, 20,000 square feet of meeting space, and a 1,000-seat theater. Reservations are currently being accepted. For more information, visit www.fallsconventions.com.
New Orleans Morial Convention Center Up And Running
The New Orleans Morial Convention Center has reported on September 2, that all of its major systems "are operable, and the center is functioning at 100 percent capacity" in the wake of Hurricane Gustav. "All major systems of the city are expected to be functioning within the next 72 hours including the airport. ...Some levees were overtopped but no serious street flooding was experienced." Most major hotels were closed during the storm, and were expected to reopen by this weekend or early next week. Louis Armstrong International Airport was expected to reopen Wedesday, September 3. For updates, go to www.neworleanscvb.com. For details on the convention center, call 504-582-3023 or visit www.mccno.com.
Earn Double Hilton HHonor Planner Points At Hilton Baltimore
Now through December 31, 2008, meeting planners can earn double Hilton HHonors Event Planner Points if they book a minimum of 10 event peak room nights with a maximum of 700 room nights at the Hilton Baltimore. The new property features 757 guest rooms and 60,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, as well as unprecedented views of Camden Yards. For more information, visit www.hiltonhhonors.com/enroll/Enroll1.aspx or call 1-800-HHONORS.
Increasing Use of Technology Is Biggest Meeting Trend
The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International's (HSMAI) Affordable Meetings National and Event Technology Expo pre-show survey revealed that planners are noticing an increase in the amount of event technology used for meetings, big and small. Respondents also noted they are incorporating technology into their meetings through online registration, video conferencing, social networks and blogs. They also reported that more education about technology and the various options available would make their jobs easier. Planners also reported continuing to incorporate "green" options into their meeting and event planning. More than 2,000 attendees are expected at the upcoming Affordable Meetings National, to be held in September at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC. For more information, visit www.affordablemeetings.com.
Starwood Adds More Properties To Convention Collection
The Sheraton Dallas Hotel, Sheraton Denver Hotel, Sheraton Seattle Hotel and soon-to-open Sheraton Phoenix Downtown have been added to the Starwood Convention Collection (SCC). The SCC now offers 32 hotels in the U.S. and Canada, with more than 30,000 guest rooms, 1,000 meeting rooms and more than 3 million square feet of meeting space. The SCC provides meeting planners with a single point of contact to handle all aspects of the planning process. The four properties combined have a total of 5,325 guest rooms and more than 500,000 square feet of meeting space. For more information, go to www.starwoodhotels.com.
ASAE & The Center Release New Environmental Scan
ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership released a new environmental scan at the 2008 Annual Meeting & Exposition in San Diego, held from August 16-19. "Designing Your Future: Key Trends, Challenges, and Choices Facing Association and Nonprofit Leaders" profiles 50 trends that are likely to have a significant impact on associations and their members in the next five to 10 years. It also provides 100 trends that association and nonprofit executives should consider in strategic planning. The report was written by Rohit Talwar, chief executive officer of Fast Future Research. Copies of the report can be ordered at www.asaecenter.org/marketplace.
Puerto Rico Convention Bureau Announces New Incentive
The Puerto Rico Convention Bureau has launched "Puerto Rico: 36 Hours in Meeting Paradise," a new initiative to help meeting planners conduct their site inspections for their groups' conventions and meetings. The program includes site inspections to four properties that meet the needs of their groups and selection from one of the following: a walking tour of Old San Juan; a visit to the El Yunque rain forest; and a round of golf, a spa treatment, or an alternate selected luxury amenity. Also, participating planners will receive a VIP souvenir gift. Complimentary airlift, hotel and ground transportation, and planned meals and activities are included. For more information, visit www.meetinpuertorico.com.
Hyatt Donates $500K To ASAE & The Center's New Initiative
Global Hyatt Corporation has donated a $500,000 grant to assist with the launch of ASAE & The Center's new Diversity and Inclusion Initiative. The program includes a Diversity Summit to assist organization leaders with developing their diversity efforts, as well as provide a forum for input about the services they need to sustain their diversity and inclusion practices. One hundred participants will attend the Diversity Summit in Baltimore, MD, in December. Attendees will include members of the ASAE, diversity practitioners, board members and CEOs. For more information, go to www.asaecenter.org.
Dolce International Becomes Dolce Hotels and Resorts
Andy Dolce, founder, chairman and managing director of Dolce International has announced the renaming of the company to Dolce Hotels and Resorts. The company's 2007 partnership with Broadreach Capital has allowed Dolce to expand and segment its portfolio of 24 properties into two divisions, "Hotels and Resorts" and "Conference Hotels." Several significant improvements will be made to Dolce properties over the next year, including property refurbishment; food and beverage upgrades; and technological upgrades to meeting spaces and guest rooms. For more information, go to www.dolce.com.
Morial Convention Center Renames Conference Auditorium
The convention auditorium at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, LA, has been renamed The New Orleans Theater at the Convention Center. Center officials hope that the renaming will broaden the venue's appeal for non-traditional events. The new theater includes 3,600 inclined seats and elegant interior decor, and is capable of staging both general sessions and mega-breakout sessions. The venue also features state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment and a 7,000-square-foot tension-wire production grid, one of the few in the U.S. The center hopes to host private corporate and association events during the day, and open the venue up to concerts and theatrical shows at night. The New Orleans Morial Convention Center features 1.1 million square feet of contiguous exhibit space and is the sixth largest convention center in the U.S. For more information, visit www.mccno.com.
LVCVA Sponsors Exhibition And Convention Executive Forum
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) has announced it will be the platinum sponsor of the Exhibition and Convention Executive Forum (ECEF) in Washington, DC, for the next three years. ECEF is a premier gathering of exhibition and convention executives to discuss trends and developments in the convention industry. The ECEF events will take place in June 2009 and June 2010 at the Mandarin Oriental in Washington, DC. The 2011 date has not been set yet. For more information on the LVCVA, go to www.lvcva.com.
Sarfati Joins American Program Bureau As Executive VP
American Program Bureau (APB) has announced that Susan Sarfati, former president and CEO of The Center for Association Leadership and executive vice president of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) will be joining the APB as executive vice president. Sarfati will head up the new Washington, DC, office as she attempts to expand the scope, influence and success of the global speakers bureau. APB is based in Boston, MA, has affiliate offices in 11 countries and is one of the leading global agencies in public speakers and entertainment. Founded by Robert P. Walker in 1965, APB currently represents a roster of more than 500 speakers and entertainers. For more information, go to www.apbspeakers.com.
Puerto Rico Convention Center Goes Green For LEED Certification
The Puerto Rico Convention Center is among the first properties to undergo conversion into "green" buildings. The convention center and other buildings within its 113-acre district have pledged to decrease water consumption by 30 percent and electricity usage by 50 percent for an annual savings of $450,000. After completing these initiatives, the facility will receive Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Other eco-friendly improvements to the convention center include: automated air-conditioning and lighting control systems; hybrid-car preferred parking; on-property landscaping including local plants and flora; and facility-wide waste reduction and recycling programs. For more information, visit www.prconvention.com or www.meetpuertorico.com.
HSMAI Creates Scholarship To Honor Dimond
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The HSMAI Foundation announced the creation of the Mike Dimond HSMAI Foundation Scholarship Fund, in memory of the hospitality industry leader who passed away in July at the age of 67. "Mike believed in giving back to the industry he loved," said Fran Brasseux, executive vice president of HSMAI Foundation. "This scholarship fund will do just that, awarding scholarships annually to deserving students in hospitality programs who plan to pursue careers in sales and marketing." Widely recognized as one of the top hotel marketing executives in the nation, Dimond’s career spanned more than four decades. Dimond was the recipient of the ASAE’s “Academy of Leaders” award, MPI’s “Supplier of the Year” award, was named “Sales Executive of the Year” for Insurance Conference Planners, and is a member of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International’s (HSMAI) Hall of Fame. For more information or to make a donation to the Mike Dimond HSMAI Foundation Scholarship Fund, please visit www.hsmaifoundation.org.
The M Resort, Spa And Casino Tops Out
Marnell Corrao Associates, the world's leading hotel design and construction firm celebrated the topping out of The M Resort, Spa and Casino, a $1 billion gaming resort set to open in spring 2009 in Las Vegas, NV. The M Resort, Spa and Casino will have 390 guest rooms, nine restaurants, a destination wine cellar and tasting room, more than 60,000 square feet of meeting and conference space, a 23,000-square-foot spa and fitness center, and a 100,000-square-foot pool and events piazza named Villaggio del Sole. The boutique resort will feature over 92,000 square feet of casino space that will house 1,846 slot machines, 64 table games and a state-of-the-art race and sports book. Property executives recently announced a partnership with Cantor Gaming to provide cutting-edge mobile gaming technology to the casino floor and race and sports book. For more information, go to www.themresort.com. Marnell Corrao Chairman and CEO Anthony A. Marnell, III (right) attended the topping out ceremony and reception.
Gast And Moore Begin Terms As DMAI Chair And DMAI Foundation Chair
Maura Allen Gast, FCDME has commenced her term as chair of the board of directors of DMAI. Her term officially began with DMAI's Annual Convention, held from July 28 until July 30th at Caesars Palace Las Vegas. Gast is the third woman to chair DMAI in the association's 94-year history. Gast currently serves as executive director of the Irving Convention & Visitors Bureau (Irving CVB), a position she has held since 2003. She has been with the Irving CVB since 2001 and has been an active DMAI member for 15 years. Steve Moore, president and CEO of of the Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau (GPCVB), has been elected to head up DMAI's charitable foundation. The DMAI Foundation was created to enhance and complement DMAI and the destination-management profession through research, education and resource development. Moore has been a member of DMAI since 1985 and has been the head of the GPCVB since 2002. For more information, go to www.destinationmarketing.org.
MGM Grand Las Vegas Introduces Mobile Concierge
MGM Grand Hotel & Casino Las Vegas (NV) now offers mobile concierge service to guests via personal mobile phone devices and PDAs. Guests now can receive exclusive discounts and updates for services and amenities for MGM Grand's restaurants, spa and salon, and onsite entertainment including the Cirque du Soleil show Ka, as well as Crazy Horse Paris. Guests will receive pre-arrival e-mails after their hotel reservations have been booked with the option of signing up for updates. Guests also may sign up for the service upon check-in at the hotel front desk. For more information about this new service, go to www.mgmgrand.com.
PCMA Offers Free MeetingMetrics Trial
The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and its partner in meeting results measurement, MeetingMetrics is now offering meeting managers the opportunity to familiarize themselves with its online measurement tools at no cost through the MeetingMetrics 30-Day Trial License Program. The trial includes a prerequisite webinar tutorial, choice of pre- or post-meeting survey, 400 survey respondent entries and technical support via phone or e-mail for the full 30-day trial period. More information on MeetingMetrics and the free trial program is available at www.meetingmetrics.com.
DMAI Announces News And Updates
Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) hosted 1,260 marketing professionals, educators, students and industry partners for its 94th Annual Convention, held in Las Vegas, NV, from July 28th to July 30th at Caesars Palace. The event, entitled "Betting on the Future" offered educational programs, product familiarization demonstrations and networking possibilities for all in attendance. DMAI has also released a study, "The Future of Destination Marketing: Tradition, Transition, and Transformation," geared for destination marketing professionals to understand and respond to strategic trends and developments that shape the industry. Emerging key themes recognized in the study included relevance, visibility and value proportions, as well as eight "super-trends" that capture the essence of more than 200 detailed trends identified in the study. For more information, visit www.destinationmarketing.org.
Visit Fairfax Names New CEO
Visit Fairfax (FXVA), the convention and visitors bureau for Fairfax County, VA, welcomes their new CEO, Barry Biggar. Biggar was previously the president and CEO of Bryan-College Station Visitors & Convention Bureau (TX). There, he spent five years developing successful initiatives and growing the organization. “Fairfax County is an amazing place, combining the very best of the past and the great promise and prosperity of the future. The attributes for visitors and residents alike are incredible,” says Biggar. “To be part of an organization such as FXVA that will play a critical role in the future of Fairfax County and contribute to its success is an opportunity I am humbled to be a part of and am thrilled to have been given." For more information, visit www.fxva.com.
Norwalk Named President And CEO Of Seattle’s CVB
Tom Norwalk was named president and CEO of Seattle’s Convention and Visitors Bureau (SCVB). Norwalk succeeds Don Welsh, who resigned to take over the presidency of the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association. Norwalk, a tourism industry veteran of more than 25 years, has overseen the bureau’s convention sales, marketing and membership departments as senior vice president of sales and marketing since 2005. “Tom brings a wealth of tourism knowledge and marketing expertise to this critical post, as well as an abiding commitment to Seattle and the Pacific Northwest,” said Craig Schafer, chair of the SCVB board of directors. “He has been closely and passionately involved in all of SCVB’s initiatives and we are certain that he will keep the momentum going. With Tom at the helm, we’re not skipping a beat.” For more information, go to www.visitseattle.org.
Welsh Selected As President And CEO Of ICVA
Donald P. Welsh has been selected as president and CEO of the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association (ICVA). Welsh assumed office on August 1st. He previously served as president and CEO of Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau, and succeeds Bob Bedell who announced his retirement in December 2007. For more information, visit www.indy.org.
Atlanta Marriott Marquis Completes $138 Million Renovation
The Atlanta Marriott Marquis, the city's largest convention hotel, has completed a three-year, $138 million property-wide refurbishment. The hotel now features 1,663 guest rooms, including 94 suites, and more than 160,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. As part of the renovation, the Atrium Level of the hotel now features more than 42,000 square feet of meeting space, including the 25,000-square-foot Atrium Ballroom, which can accommodate up to 2,000 people. The Atlanta Marriott Marquis is the third largest property in the Marriott brand profile and is located 10 miles from Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. For more information, visit www.marriott.com.
Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem To Open Fall 2009
The Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania will be the home of the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem when it opens in the second quarter of 2009. The Sands has already started booking meetings, conferences and events for fall 2009. The Sands will offer the largest meeting space in the two-county, three-city region with 46,000 square feet of divisible space that can be broken into 18 meeting rooms. The largest room will be more than 15,000 square feet and able to accommodate more than 1,260 attendees theater-style, 1,260 banquet-style and 1,000 classroom-style. All meeting spaces will be equipped with the high-speed Internet access, Wi-Fi and the latest in audio-visual technologies. A 300-room hotel and 3,000-slot gaming facility will also be part of the complex, as well as eight restaurants, an upscale shopping mall and a nightclub. For more information, visit www.PASands.com.
Denver Gears Up For DNC With Training Program
In preparation for the upcoming Democratic National Convention to be held from August 25-28, the Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau has created the largest hospitality training program in the city's history. Called "Go the EXTRA Mile," the program has trained more than 2,400 people while offering training to more than 500 hotels, restaurants and hospitality businesses. Denver is expecting 50,000 people for the convention, including 17,000 members of the domestic and international media. It will be the largest event in the city's history and is the second time Democrats meet in the Mile High City, exactly 100 years after their first meeting in 1908. For more information, visit www.denver.org.
Marriott Continues Eco-Friendly Trend
Bill Marriott, chairman and CEO of Marriott International has joined leaders of the travel and tourism industry to call on Congress for a response to the new energy crisis. Marriott supports an industry letter sent to members of Congress and the President Bush urging them to forego their summer recess and develop a new comprehensive energy policy. Marriott stated how reluctance to travel due to high gas and fuel prices for air and car travel could seriously hinder the travel and tourism industry, which is responsible for 7.5 million jobs in the U.S. In keeping with the company's environmentally friendly approach to the meetings business, the brand has introduced new green initiatives for Marriott meetings, including using recycled paper and products for the writing tools used at meetings, as well as boxed lunch options, recycling bins in meeting areas and reduced use of bottled beverages for refreshment. Also, several Marriott properties are currently seeking LEED certification, and the company has also pledged sponsorship to rain forest anti-deforestation efforts in South America. For more information, go to www.marriott.com/environment.
Baltimore Meetings Business Up
Mayor of Baltimore (MD) Sheila Dixon announced that room night bookings for future years has increased 18 percent, about 70,000 room nights, for the fiscal year 2008. The Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association (BACVA) reported that 2008 will close out with 451,608 future room nights booked. The economic impact of the bookings is estimated at $422 million. The BACVA attributes the increase in business to a number of new strategies, including a larger and more experienced sales staff, a citywide hotel alliance, city partnerships with states such as Texas and California, and a partnership with the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). Also, Dixon has created a joint board of directors for the BACVA and the Baltimore Convention Center (BCC) which will now be known as the Baltimore Convention & Tourism Board. The new board fulfills a promise Dixon made earlier this year to restructure and enhance the already close relationship between the BACVA and the BCC. For more information, visit www.baltimorecity.gov.
Perry Named To Major Tourism Boards
J. Stephen Perry, president and CEO of the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau has accepted positions on the United States Travel and Tourism Industry Board, the Travel Industry of America's Board of Directors as a public policy committee member and Destination Marketing Association International's Board of Directors (DMAI) as their secretary-treasurer. Perry was sworn in to his post with the U.S. Travel and Tourism Industry Board by Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez in late May.
San Diego Gears Up For ASAE Convention
The city of San Diego, CA, is rolling out the red carpet for the 7,000 attendees of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and the Center for Association Leadership Annual Meeting & Expo to be held at the San Diego Convention Center from August 16-19. The expected economic impact of the convention is estimated at $31.2 million, and could potentially generate nearly $2.2 billion in future convention and meetings business for San Diego over the next five years. ASAE last held a convention in the SoCal city in 1999, and the city's travel and tourism industry has prepared its hotels and restaurants for the occasion with various renovations and updates. For more information, visit www.visitsandiego.com.
New Convention Center Slated For Irving
Scheduled to open in 2010, the Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas will be part of a mixed-use entertainment complex on a 40-acre tract in the Las Colinas Urban Center, located adjacent to DFW International Airport. The 275,000-gross-square-foot center will feature 50,000 square feet of column-free exhibit space, a 20,000-square-foot ballroom and 20 breakout rooms. “This facility is right-sized for this market, and rightly thought out,” said Maura Allen Gast, executive director of the Irving Convention & Visitors Bureau. She also announced that the CVB staff has begun preliminary sales and marketing efforts to fill the facility, primarily focusing on groups of 800 to 1,200 people, although the facility’s capacity could accommodate 4,000 attendees for a general session or sporting event. “We’re letting our customers, meeting planners and local corporations know that beginning in November 2010, their meetings and events will have a beautiful new home for consideration in Irving, Texas.”
South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa Adds 830 Rooms
South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa in Las Vegas, NV has added 830 new guestrooms to its inventory, which now totals 2,163 rooms. In addition, the property also has added another 10,000 square feet of meeting space for a total of 160,000 square feet of meeting and conference space. Upcoming renovations include an expansion for the Costa del Sur Spa. Once completed, the spa will host additional treatment rooms, couples suites and a co-ed wet area. For more information, visit www.southpointcasino.com.
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 Hilton Santa Fe Golf Resort & Spa at Buffalo Thunder.
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Hilton Santa Fe Golf Resort & Spa At Buffalo Thunder Opens Late Summer
Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino, located 15 minutes north of Santa Fe, NM, is set to open in August and will offer a variety of lodging, entertainment, dining, outdoor recreation activities and a 61,000-square-foot Las Vegas-style casino. A joint venture between the Pueblo of Pojoaque and Hilton Hotels, the resort will include the Hilton Santa Fe Golf Resort & Spa at Buffalo Thunder, a new 390-room luxury hotel, as well as a new Homewood Suites by Hilton. The Towa Golf Club at Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino will feature 36 holes of first-class golf designed by Hale Irwin and Bill Philips. The resort will offer 66,000 square feet of of meeting space, including a 1,200-seat ballroom. For more information, visit www.buffalothunderresort.com.
Reno-Tahoe Creates New, One-Stop Site
The Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority (RSCVA) has created a new Web portal to facilitate and expedite the user experience for travelers looking for information on the area. Since the site went live, it has seen a marked increase in visits and a more than 50 percent increase in user time on the site. To visit the site, go to www.visitrenotahoe.com.
Pasadena Center Has Topping Off Ceremony
The Pasadena Center Operating Company (PCOC) recently celebrated the completion of the steel structure for the Pasadena Convention Center with a topping off ceremony. The event to celebrate the $150 million expansion was attended by more than 100 guests and city dignitaries, including the mayor of Pasadena Bill Bogaard, city council members and board members of the PCOC. The event concluded with a signing of the ceremonial beam by all attendees. Once completed, the new convention center facility will feature 80,000 square feet of exhibit space, a 25,000-square-foot ballroom, 25 breakout rooms and 800 additional parking spaces. For more information, visit www.visitpasadena.com. (L to r) Bill Bogaard, mayor of Pasadena; Tom Seifert, PCOC board president; Nan Marchand, Pasadena CVB executive director; Mike Ross, PCOC CEO; Richard Bruckner, City of Pasadena director of planning & development.
Eric Allen Named Among Top 100 Most Influential People
Eric Allen, vice president of Kellen Company, an association management company, was named one of the top 100 Most Influential People in the exhibition business by Tradeshow Week magazine. Allen was recently elected vice chair of the Convention Industry Council (CIC) and serves as executive vice president for Kellen client the Healthcare Convention & Exhibitions Association (HCEA). Tradeshow Week''s influential people list is compiled by the magazine's editors to recognize the industry's leading professionals. Allen has led Kellen's HCEA management team for 15 years. For more information, visit www.kellencompany.com.
IAEE Board Assists With Air Travel Woes
The board of directors of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) have taken several actions to alleviate the burdens posed by the ongoing air travel crisis in the U.S. An Air Transportation Crisis Task Force has been formed to develop new practices to conform with recently updated practices and procedures, including the reduction in airlift to several U.S. cities; a newsletter containing details and recommendations of the task force will be put into effect; an increase in involvement and support of the IAEE in the Travel Industry Association; and continuing to lobby legislators to address issues of common interest and concern in the meetings industry. Information will be posted as it becomes available at www.iaee.com.
CIC/ASTM Announce New Green Standards
The Convention Industry Council's (CIC) Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX) and ASTM International have partnered to review and develop the "green" standards for the meetings industry. The process of developing green standards was initiated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in partnership with the Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC). CIC will serve as the umbrella organization coordinating the effort. ASTM International is known as one of the largest voluntary standards development organizations in the world and serves as a trusted industry source for developing technical standards. All interested parties are encouraged to participate in the APEX process as well as the ASTM Task Group. Visit convention industry.org for more information.
Quad Cities Is Still Open For Business
Despite heavy flooding to the Midwest region, including major parts of Illinois and Iowa, Quad Cities is still open and available for meetings business. Major attractions are open and regional festivals are still on schedule, including the IH Mississippi Valley Blues Festival in July. The Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau is working closely with the Cedar Rapids Convention & Visitors Bureau to secure hotel rooms, meeting space for events scheduled in Cedar Rapids as far in advance as October. City and CVB officials have urged visitors not to shy away from the region because of recent flooding events, and hope that the region's tourism expenditures will not suffer. For updates and more information, visit www.visitquadcities.com.
Duffy Joins Philadelphia CVB Directors
Christine Duffy, corporate meetings expert and president and CEO of Maritz Travel, has joined the board of directors of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau. Duffy is an expert in meeting and incentive industry trends, and has served on the Meeting Professionals International (MPI) Board of Directors for six years. She was appointed chairwoman for the 2005-2006 term. She founded MPI's Women's Leadership Initiative and has been a regular supporter of women leadership in the meetings industry. For more information, visit www.PhiladelphiaUSA.travel.
JW Marriott Hotel Los Angeles To Open In 2010
The JW Marriott Hotel Los Angeles at L.A. Live, currently under construction and scheduled to open in 2010, has recently completed 10 floors. Once completed, the property will provide meeting groups valuable downtown accommodations and direct access to the Los Angeles Convention Center. The property will feature 879 guest rooms, 35 suites and 77,000 square feet of meeting space. Guests will also have access to the downtown area's world-class entertainment, dining, sports, theater and music offerings. L.A. Live is an ongoing revitalization project for the downtown Los Angeles area that aims to bring more business and business meetings to the major U.S. city. For more information, visit www.lalivemarriott.com.
Construction Begins On JW Marriott Indianapolis
White Lodging, Whiteco Industries and REI Real Estate Services announced the groundbreaking of the $425 million JW Marriott Indianapolis development featuring 1,623 rooms and more than 105,000 square feet of meeting space in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, IN. With shovels in hand, Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, White Lodging President and CEO Bruce W. White, REI Real Estate Services President Michael W. Wells, along with community leaders gathered at the seven acre site near the White River State Park to break ground on the largest JW Marriott hotel in the U.S. based on the number of rooms. The JW Marriott Indianapolis is scheduled to open in March 2011. For more information, visit www.marriott.com.
Stampfli Steps Down As President Of Courtesy Associates
SmithBucklin, the world's largest association management company, has announced that Sheila Stampfli will step down at the end of the year as president of Courtesy Associates, a Washington, DC-based conference and event planning firm owned by SmithBucklin. Stampfli became president of Courtesy Associates in 1997 and has played a major role in the growth and development of the firm for more than 40 years. Her career as a meetings professional spans more than four decades. Stampfli will relinquish many of her day-to-day responsibilities and continue to serve in an advisory capacity. She currently serves as treasurer of Destination DC, and is a former president and secretary of Destination DC. For more information, visit www.courtesyassociates.com.
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 (L to r) Jay Green, director, Phoenix Convention Center; Phil Gordon, mayor of Phoenix; and Steve Moore, president, Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau.
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Phoenix Convention Center Gets Silver LEED Status
The Phoenix Convention Center (AZ) held a ceremony announcing the facility's West Building has been awarded LEED Silver certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The West Building, which opened in June 2006, incorporates lower water consumption standards, low-flow toilets, low VOC paints and materials, a recycling program, a convenient location next to public transportation, underground parking and Energy Star-compliant roofing materials. Over 50 percent of the materials used to construct the West Building were manufactured within 500 miles of the site, reducing fuel usage while bolstering the local economy. The Phoenix Convention Center is currently undergoing a $600 million renovation which, once completed, will bring the total square footage of meeting and event space to 900,000 square feet. For more information, visit www.phoenix.gov.
Motorcycle Museum Opens In Milwaukee
The first and only Harley-Davidson Museum is set to open in MIlwaukee, WI in early July. The attraction is expected to bring an estimated 350,000 visitors to the city annually, and will also serve as a venue for meetings and private events. The facility can host up to 1,000 for meetings and sit-down dinners for up to 750 people. Outdoor meeting space can handle up to 15,000 people. Onsite catering is provided by Levy Restaurants. For more information, visit www.visitmilwaukee.org.
Convention Hotel A First For Oregon
ThA proposal for a 600-room convention center hotel for the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, OR is due in early July, and could be a Westin-flagged headquarters hotel. The Portland Metro Council commissioned a $600,000 feasibility study that included designing the hotel and submitting it to the city for review. Cost estimates have put the development price as high as $244 million.
Pocono Mountains CVB Achieves DMAI Status
The Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau (PMVB) has achieved accreditation from the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) for 2008-2012. The accreditation is determined by Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) and distinguishes official destination marketing organizations (DMOs) committed to industry excellence. Currently there are a total of 58 accredited destination marketing organizations, and only three in the entire state of Pennsylvania. For more information on the newly accredited CVBs and DMOs, visit www.destinationmarketing.org.
Philadelphia CVB Offers Real-Time Info
The Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau has begun to accommodate travelers who use mobile technology to stay informed and connected on the go, introducing a new Web site on a dotMobi platform for hand-held devices. Blackberrys, Treos, iPhones and other devices can now search for lodging, restaurants, shopping, museums and more. The site was custom built by Weaver Multimedia Group and is easily navigable, offering comprehensive information for today's busy traveler. The address for the new site is www.PhiladelphiaUSA.mobi. For more information, visit www.PhiladelphiaUSA.travel.
New President Of PCCA Announced
Ahmeenah Young has been appointed as president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority (PCCA). Young had been executive vice president and general manager of the PCCA and is credited as a member of the management team that has made the convention center a premier convention destination. Her predecessor Al Mezzaroba will remain on staff through mid-August to smooth the transition and provide guidance on issues related to the center's ongoing expansion plans. Young first joined the staff in 1987 as director of affirmative action and was later promoted director of sales and marketing and vice president of sales and marketing. For more information, visit www.paconvention.com.
Chicago CTB Offers Traveler's Toolkit
The Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau (CCTB) has introduced the Chicago Select program, a toolkit containing value-pricing information on air and ground transportation, entertainment and lodging options, will be available to planners only during the first quarters of 2009, 2010 and 2011, courtesy of American Airlines and CCTB members. Along with discounts for entertainment options and event venues, American Airlines is offering exclusive deals for group travel and other rewards as part of its business travel program. For more information, go to www.choosechicago.com.
Minneapolis Convention Hotel On Hold
A push for a megahotel with 1,000 to 1,200 rooms near the Minneapolis Convention Center has been suspended due to lack of funding and need, owing to the 1,200-plus hotel rooms already in operation. The public funding needed to build the proposed $300 million convention hotel could run anywhere from $40 million to $100 million dollars. City officials do not want to burden taxpayers. An 821-room downtown Hilton is already fulfilling the majority of need for large room blocks.
2008 AH&LA Survey Shows Hotel Trends
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) released its 2008 Lodging Survey, revealing notable trends in all segments of U.S. hotels. The research analyzes feedback from more than 10,000 U.S. hotel properties polled in more than 100 areas, including food and beverage options, number of beds, guest services and amenities. Wireless Internet access is represented in 91 percent of the polled properties, and other in-room technology options are on the rise. The survey also found U.S. properties offer more fitness centers and complimentary access for guests than ever before, and 24 percent of respondents offer allergy-free hotel rooms. Properties are also more environmentally conscious: Sixty eight percent of polled hotels reported using energy-efficient lighting and 21 percent of polled hotels are planning to incorporate LEED standards within the next 12 months. AH&LA members can download the complete survey, and more information can be obtained, at www.ahla.com.
Marriott Wardman Park Completes Renovation
Washington, DC's largest hotel, the Marriott Wardman Park completed a $100 million comprehensive revitalization. The 1,316-room property features 195,000 square feet of flexible convention and meeting space and is a premier destination for meetings and events. All guest rooms are now equipped with 32-inch LCD high-definition plasma screens and feature advanced multimedia capabilities. The hotel's new signature restaurant, Stone's Throw, is a steakhouse with a seasonal menu that uses the region's finest ingredients. For more information, visit www.marriott.com.
Gear Up For ASAE Annual Meeting And Expo
Association professionals and industry partners are preparing to make connections at ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership’s Annual Meeting & Exposition, August 16-19 in San Diego, CA. Building on the momentum of last year’s meeting in Chicago, which drew a record 7,000 attendees, the 2008 meeting is bigger than ever and tailored to bring the best education sessions from our nation's best thought leaders. The opening reception will showcase a sampling of San Diego’s Old Town, the birthplace of California, and provide an opportunity to mingle with colleagues in an enticing and interactive setting. The event's opening session will feature a discussion facilitated by Cokie and Steven Roberts featuring news journalists, broadcasters, and media professionals from several major news channels and radio stations. For more information about the 2008 Annual Meeting and Exposition or to register, visit www.asaecenter.org/annualmeeting.
AMC Institute Announces 2009 Board Of Directors
The AMC Institute, the trade association representing the association management company (AMC) industry, has announced the election of 10 board members for the 2008-2009 term. John P. Francis, president of The Harrington Company, has been named the AMC's 41st president. Other newly elected members of the board are: Steve Drake, Drake & Company; John Dee, Bostrom Corporation; Francine Butler, The Resource Center for Associations; Gregg Taley, Taley Management Group; Jamie Nolan, IntrinXec Management Inc.; Jay Hauck, Hauck & Associates Inc.; Michael LoBue, LoBue & Majadalany Management Group; Rick Cristol, Kellen Company; Russ Snyder, SmithBucklin; Susan Cabrera, Association Management Resources; Richard Green, Marriott International; George Valenzuela, Intelligent Evolution Inc.; and Robert Waller, Association Headquarters Inc. For more information, visit www.AMCInstitute.org.