Breaking News

Breaking News

Philadelphia's Customers Tour Expansion
Jack Ferguson, incoming president, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PCVB) (center) reviews plans for the expanding Pennsylvania Convention Center with Susan Katz, director corporate events & travel, True Value Company, during a recent tour of the expansion by the PCVB’s Customer Advisory Board (CAB). The expanded Pennsylvania Convention Center will open in March 2011 with more than one million SF of saleable space. Also participating in the tour were (l to r) Linda McKinney, Philadelphia Customer Advisory Board Meeting Facilitator; Wanda Johnson, senior director of meetings & education, The Endocrine Society, and Lucas Landis, Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority expansion. To see more expansion photos, check out the PCVB flickr page at www.flickr.com/photos/philadelphiacvb.

Cheryl Kilday Named Chief Of Spokane Regional CVB
The Spokane Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau Board of DIrectors has named Cheryl Kilday as its new president and CEO. She will begin her new position on August 23, 2010. Kilday most recently served as president and CEO of Visit Loudoun, the destination marketing organization for Virginia wine country, just outside of Washington, DC. Said Kilday, a graduate of Willamette University in Salem, OR, "I am thrilled to be returning to the Northwest. Eastern Washington is a region that I have always admired, and I am honored to be joining the team in Spokane." Kilday is a 25-year veteran of the tourism industry. She also has been an association executive for more than 20 years. www.visitspokane.com

Augusta's Trade, Exhibition And Event Center Breaks Ground
The groundbreaking for the Trade, Exhibition and Event Center in downtown Augusta, GA, was held June 16, 2010. The $38 million city project features 38,000 square feet of column-free exhibit space to complete the Augusta Convention Center along the Savannah River. The center will be attached to 49,000 square feet of existing meeting space and the 372-room Augusta Marriott Hotel and Suites. The TEE Center is tentatively set to open in spring 2012.

Greening ASAE & The Center's Annual Meeting
The Convene Green Alliance (CGA), ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership and Marriott International recently met at a CGA Focus Forum held at the Key Bridge Marriott in Arlington, VA, to discuss strategies aimed at greening one of the industry's largest meetings. Three ASAE & The Center staff leaders described everything from carbon offsetting options to use of innovative eco-products as ways to lighten the environmental footprint of their annual meeting and exposition in Los Angeles August 21–24, 2010. Amy Ledoux, CMP, CAE, ASAE & The Center vice president of conventions and expositions noted that Los Angeles is a "city on the move" with green initiatives and pointed out that ASAE & The Center works with all of its vendors to find innovative green initiatives such as biodegradable lanyards, badge holders and registration bags. This year the organization is even using a badge stock that contains grass seeds that will grow when the badge biodegrades. Exhibitors are encouraged to ship toiletries and other essentials to Los Angeles with their booth materials for donation to the Midnight Mission, an independent Los Angeles social service agency. For more information, visit www.convenegreen.com, www.asaecenter.org

Cosmopolitan Of Las Vegas Sets Opening Date
The 2,995-room Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is currently taking reservations for its opening on December 15, 2010. The Cosmopolitan, located in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, will feature two 50-story towers showcasing oversized residential-style living space and expansive private terraces. Resort features include 167,000 square feet for meetings; 100,000 square feet of casino space; 60,000 square feet of shopping; a 43,000-square-foot spa; three pool experiences; multi-level integrated nightclubs and signature restaurants. www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com

PCMA Announces Site Of 2013 Annual Meeting
The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) has announced that the site of its 2013 Convening Leaders Annual Meeting will be Orlando, FL, which last hosted the event in 1999. The Annual Meeting, which will take place January 13–16, typically attracts more than 3,000 attendees. “We are extremely excited to work with Orlando for this future meeting,” said Deborah Sexton, PCMA president and CEO. “Orlando put together a terrific package and so much has happened in Orlando since PCMA was last there. It’s certainly time to return and see the convention center expansion, the new hotel development and all of the great things Orlando has grown to offer. It’s clear that Orlando is very serious about winning our members’ business and the opportunity for everyone to see the latest is great.” www.pcma.org

ASAE & The Center To Bestow Leadership Awards
ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership will honor David N. Parker, CAE, president and CEO of the American Gas Association (AGA), with this year’s Key Award; David G. Gabri, president and CEO of Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI), with the Academy of Leaders Award; and R. Norris Orms, MBA, FACHE, CAE, executive vice president and COO of the Healthcare Information & Management Systems Society (HIMSS), with the Professional Performance Award. The awards will be presented at ASAE & The Center’s 2010 Annual Meeting & Exposition, August 21-24 in Los Angeles. www.asaecenter.org

Disney Resorts Score Top Spot In Hospitality Survey
A pool of 35,000 surveyed customers awarded Walt Disney Resorts the highest rating in the hotel upper upscale category. The results are from the Market Metrix Hospitality Index, the largest and most in-depth measure of hospitality company performance available today. For the first quarter of 2010, Disney received an 89.7 numerical rating out of 100 points in the hotel category. “Taking the survey’s top spot is a testament to our world-class facilities, remarkable attention to detail and knowledgeable Cast Members, all of which sets us well above the rest in the meetings industry,” said George Aguel, senior vice president for Disney Destinations. “The impeccable services and accommodations Disney offers make way for one-of-a-kind experiences for meeting attendees, conventioneers and other business professionals. That’s what makes us uniquely Disney." www.disneymeetings.com

Norfolk CVB Unveils New Name
The Norfolk Convention and Visitors Bureau, the official destination marketing organization for the city of Norfolk, VA, has officially unveiled its new name, VisitNorfolk. Recent focus groups and studies revealed the need for a more updated and user-friendly branding, as well as identification of just what role a convention and visitors bureau plays. Said Anthony DiFilippo, president and CEO, VisitNorfolk, “It is our job to successfully market Norfolk as a competitive destination to the potential consumer — the meeting planner, the business traveler and those looking for a vacation getaway. To be successful, we not only need to keep our brand fresh and recognizable, but our marketing efforts need to utilize all of the tools and technology at our disposal.” In late March of this year, VisitNorfolk announced the relaunch of its website, www.visitnorfolktoday.com.

Atlanta Wins New Convention Business
Atlanta will host the upcoming Rotary International and Primerica Inc. conventions. The Rotary Foundation Board voted to move forward with Atlanta as the site for the Rotary International convention June 10–14, 2017. The convention attracts more than 30,000 Rotarians from around the world. "This is a big win for Atlanta and the state of Georgia," said William Pate, president and CEO of Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Statewide support from Rotarian leaders strengthened the city's proposal and helped Atlanta to stand out from the competition." The biennial Primerica convention, the city's largest corporate meeting, with 50,000 attendees, returns June 15–18, 2011. Both conventions will take place at the Georgia World Congress Center. www.atlanta.net

PCMA Adds Newest Chapter In Mexico
The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) board of directors approved Mexico as PCMA's third international chapter and the 17th chartered PCMA chapter. The Mexico chapter is a key part of PCMA's Global strategy. The announcement was made during PCMA's 2010 Education Conference June 12–16 in Montreal, QC. The first PCMA Mexico Chapter President will be Jesus Aparicio, CMP, CMM, CASE, President and CEO of Eventia. The chapter will be based in Mexico City. Aparicio stated, "Opening a PCMA chapter in Mexico is an excellent way to not only attract the attention of meeting professionals planning international meetings but to improve the professionalism of our industry in Mexico through PCMA's education." www.pcma.org

New Projects Revitalize St. Louis
According to the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission, downtown St. Louis continues to reinvent itself with new development projects currently underway. The Laurel, a 630,000-square-foot development adjacent to the America’s Center convention complex district, will be transformed into a 212-room Embassy Suites Hotel, apartments and street-level retail. The new 135-room Moonrise Hotel features the Rooftop Bar and the Eclipse restaurant. The new Four Seasons Hotel offers 200 guest rooms, a 12,000-square-foot spa, a fitness center, pool, a 24-hour business center and restaurant Cielo. The former Adam’s Mark Hotel has been renovated and rebranded as the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch, which underwent a $63 million building-wide renovation. The 910-room property serves as a signature group and convention-oriented destination hotel for St. Louis’ business, convention and leisure visitor market. The former Hyatt Regency at Union Station is now the St. Louis Union Station Marriott. The hotel will undergo a $25 million restoration including all guest rooms, meeting space and public space, and add 20,000 square feet to the current floor plan. explorestlouis.com

MGM Mirage Changes Name To MGM Resorts International
MGM Mirage shareholders approved at their annual meeting a proposal to rebrand the iconic hospitality leader “MGM Resorts International.” In addition, the company announced that it will relaunch its Players Club loyalty program as M Life. "We believe this evolution honors our entertainment heritage, better represents the growing global presence our company has today and positions us to move forward under a unified brand strategy," said Jim Murren, chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International. "The new MGM Resorts International name will create better clarity and awareness for our collection of assets globally thereby maximizing our best-in-class portfolio of resorts." www.mgmresorts.com

Mock Retires From Daytona Beach Area CVB
In January of this year, Sharon Mock announced her plans to retire May 21 as president and chief executive officer of the Daytona Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. During the bureau's May 12 celebration of National Tourism week she received accolades from industry leaders and a standing ovation from the 175 participants in attendance. "Sharon has been an amazing resource to the Halifax Area Advertising Authority and to our community,” said Larry Fornari, who chairs the HAAA, an organization which oversees the CVB. "We will surely miss her.” Sharon joined the staff of the CVB as assistant director in 1987 and brought with her 20 years of hotel marketing experience. For more information, call 386-255-0415.

Russo Named IACC's 'Legend of the Industry'
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IACC) is pleased to announce that Jacqueline Russo has been selected as the 2010 "Legend of the Industry" for this year’s IAEE Robert L. Krakoff Future Leaders Institute to be held 6–8 August 2010 at the JW Marriott Hill Country Resort & Spa,San Antonio, TX. IAEE and official sponsor, Champion Exposition Services, will provide career development for industry professionals who were selected by the Future Leaders Committee as up-and-comers based on their application and extensive review. Each year, IAEE selects a "Legend of the Industry" whose contributions, innovation and leadership have been truly unique and remarkable. An informal setting then allows each Institute participant one-on-one time with this industry leader. For more information, visit www.iaee.com/futureleaders.

NBTA Convention Registration Ahead Of Last Year
The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) has announced that registration numbers for the 2010 NBTA International Convention & Exposition are ahead of last year, further highlighting the recovery in global business travel and increase in T&E spend. More than 2,150 corporate travel professionals are currently registered to attend the Business Travel Event of the Year, including more than 620 travel and meetings buyers and managers, or 35 percent more than at the same time last year. The 2010 NBTA International Convention & Exposition will be held in Houston August 8–11, 2010. www.nbtaconvention.org

Pennsylvania Convention Center Hosts Its First Paperless Convention
From May 1–5, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) held the first paperless convention at the state-of-the-art expanding Pennsylvania Convention Center (opening in March 2011). All meeting content was accessible via the iPod touch. Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter (pictured center) stopped by to learn more about how AANS went green. Joining Mayor Nutter (from left) Ahmeenah Young, president & CEO, Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority; Troy Tippett MD., president, AANS; Thomas A. Marshall, executive director, AANS; Jack Ferguson, executive vice president/incoming president, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau. www.PhiladelphiaUSA.travel/green

Virginia Beach Convention Center Achieves LEED Gold
The Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) announces that the Virginia Beach Convention Center is the first convention center in the country to achieve LEED Gold certification for Existing Buildings. This achievement also signifies the facility as the Commonwealth of Virginia’s largest building (over 515,000 square feet) to achieve the LEED Gold certified project for Existing Buildings. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings, which was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). www.vbconventioncenter.com/green

Chicago's Tinley Park Convention Center Is Expanding
Officials broke ground in April on an expansion of the Tinley Park Convention Center in Chicago's south metro region that will effectively double the size of the current facility, adding an additional 24,000 square feet of clear-span exhibit space and bringing the total contiguous exhibit space to over 58,000 square feet. Another 9,000 square feet of functional meeting space will bring the convention center's breakout room count to 18. The expansion is expected to be completed by May 2011. www.visitchicagosouthland.com

Travel Professionals Of Color Meet At Sheraton Nasssau Beach Resort
The Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort, located in Nassau, The Bahamas, hosted the Travel Professionals of Color (TPOC) for their 8th Annual Conference & Trade Show from April 22–25, 2010. The TPOC is an organization that promotes training, networking and support of minority travel professionals. During the conference attendees were able to network with hundreds of minority travel specialists from around the world, learn how to market to minorities, as well as meet and hear from top industry professionals. The 694-room Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort offers 25,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor function space, which can accommodate meetings or events of up to 1,200 attendees. www.tpoc.org, www.sheratonnassau.com

Floodwaters Temporarily Close Gaylord Opryland
While the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau's website says the Music City is drying out following record-breaking flooding, no one will be staying at the largest hotel in Nashville, the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, anytime soon, due to extensive flood damage to public areas. According to Gaylord Entertainment Co. the hotel will cease booking reservations for the next six months. That's "not an indication of how long," the resort will be closed for repairs, said Colin Reed, chairman and chief executive officer of Gaylord Entertainment during a conference call. "We believe this hotel will be back functioning by the end of this year," Reed said. Visit www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylord-opryland for updates.

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New Orleans Monitors Gulf Oil Spill Cleanup
The New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau has announced that they are closely monitoring cleanup efforts of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and that it is business as usual for visitors to New Orleans. "New Orleans is located approximately 100 miles inland, and we do not anticipate any disruption in guest service or impact to visitors, New Orleans citizens or tourism industry businesses as oil reaches the coastline of Louisiana some 80–100 miles from New Orleans," said a spokesman for the CVB. Visitors traveling to New Orleans should check www.neworleanscvb.com for the latest information.

The Orange County Convention Center Is Turning Green
The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC)has registered with the U.S. Green Building Council for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for existing buildings certification. The 7-million-square-foot facility has implemented numerous operational efficiency upgrades including installation of a solar photovoltaid system; compact fluorescent light bulbs; LED lighting; xeriscaping; drip irrigation; low-flow, metering faucets. The center is utilizing green seal-certified cleaning products; 100 percent recycled-content toilet tissue and hand towels; and 85 percent recycled-content trash bags. The OCCC also hosts a Climate Change Education Center for the general public. www.occc.net/community/green.asp

Chicago CTB Launches Meetings And Conventions Trip Planner
The Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau (CCTB), has launched MyChicagoTrip, an online tool that allows meeting and convention attendees and exhibitors to build customized Chicago experiences. At the conclusion of the event, user travel styles and interests are aggregated and made available to meeting planners to help them market effectively and ultimately create more meaningful and memorable experiences for their attendees in the future. "In this highly competitive and rapidly changing industry, meeting planners are increasingly challenged to deliver value to their attendees and exhibitors," said Tim Roby, president and CEO of the CCTB. "The data from MyChicagoTrip profile reports give the CCTB the opportunity to help meeting planners better understand their attendees." www.meetings.mychicagotrip.com

Renaissance Palm Springs Makes Its Debut
The Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel — the only property connected to the Palm Springs Convention Center — recently unveiled its new makeover. Formerly a Wyndham Hotel, the Renaissance Palm Springs has undergone a comprehensive, multimillion-dollar redesign that included the lobby, restaurants, meeting rooms, accommodations and pool areas. The hotel has 410 guest rooms that offer views of the scenic San Jacinto Mountains. A total of 30,000 square feet of meeting space includes 14 meeting rooms, a unique learning center amphitheater and ballroom of 12,571 square feet. Outdoor receptions for up to 2,000 attendees are accommodated in the pool area, which features a 24,000-square-foot courtyard. The convention center offers another 150,000 square feet of space. www.renaissancepalmspringshotel.com

Industry Leaders Attend 2010 DigitalNow Conference
The 10th annual DigitalNow conference took place at the Walt Disney World Resort April 7-10. More than 250 senior association executives attended the sold-out event, which is co-produced by Disney Institute and Fusion Productions. Pictured from left to right are Peter O’Neil, CAE, CEO, American Industrial Hygiene Association; Eric Rozenberg, CMM, CMP, president, Swantegy and chairman-elect, Meeting Professionals International (MPI); Bruce MacMillan, president and CEO, MPI; George Aguel, senior vice president, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts; Sheri Bango Cavaney, CAE, vice president, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; Hugh Lee, president, Fusion Productions; Red Cavaney, CAE, senior vice president for government affairs, ConocoPhillips; Pam Hemann, CAE, president, Association Management Services, Inc.; Don Dea, co-founder, Fusion Productions; Clark Price, president & CEO, Ohio Society of CPAs; Velma Hart, CAE, chief financial officer, AMVETS and chairwoman, American Society of Association Executives. www.digitalnowconference.com

PCMA And IMEX America Announce Industry Partnership
The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and IMEX Amercia have entered into a new industry partnership agreement that will see the two organizations collaborating on a range of marketing and educational initiatives, including the co-location of an important PCMA educational event alongside IMEX America when it launches in October 2011. Both organizations intend to use the partnership to generate high quality hosted buyer groups for IMEX America as well as target potential new U.S. trade show attendees. PCMA plans to host approximately 150 buyers to IMEX America and will target top-level association and corporate buyers from the major industry sectors. The addition of PCMA's co-located educational event to the IMEX America calendar means that 40 separate educational seminars and workshops will be available free of charge to attendees over the three-day IMEX America on October 11–13, 2011 at the Sands Expo, Las Vegas. www.pcma.org, www.imexamerica.com

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Convention Industry Council Promotes Kotowski To CEO
The Convention Industry Council (CIC) has announced the promotion of Karen Kotowski, CAE, CMP, from Chief Operating Officer to Chief Executive Officer. The CIC board of directors voted unanimously on this change at their recent board meeting. "Karen has gone an incredible job for us over the past 16 months in managing the day to day activities of CIC and in planning forward on all of our critical initiatives," said Deborah Sexton, chair of the CIC board and president of the Professional Convention Management Association. Kotowski joined CIC in 2008 as COO. She leads a team of professionals in managing the CMP program, APEX and other CIC programs and activities. www.conventionindustry.org

Land Secured For San Diego Convention Center Expansion
The Unified Port of San Diego has authorized the transfer of six acres of land to the San Diego Convention Center Corporation (SDCCC) that would allow for an expansion of the San Diego Convention Center. Plans for the $752 million expansion call for the addition of 200,000 square feet of exhibit space, 100,000 square feet of meeting rooms, 80,000 square feet of multipurpose ballrooms and 40,000 square feet of bayfront retail. With service and support space, the overall gross square footage of the expansion totals 1,266,719 square feet, amounting to roughly one-third of the entire San Diego Convetnion Center upon completion of Phase Three. Carol Wallace, president and CEO of SDCCC commented, "We have lost or turned away 381 events in recent years because of lack of space or available dates. An expansion would allow us to accommodate 89 percent of that lost business." www.visitsandiego.com

Convention Industry Council Launches New Research Effort
The Convention Industry Council (CIC) has issued a comprehensive survey to meeting planners that will develop data necessary to determine the economic significance meetings represent and to produce a basis for ongoing benchmarking and analysis of the meetings sector. The study is being conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, and the survey is being sent to planner members of CIC's member organization. An alliance of 11 of CIC's 32-member organizations is funding the study. This is the most comprehensive study to ever be undertaken for the meetings, conventions, exhibitions and events industry," said Deborah Sexton, 2010 CIC Chair and president and CEO of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), one of the organizations that is funding the research."The results of this study, along with the recently launched "Face Time" messaging campaign, will provide the data and tell the story about the economic, business and human value of face-to-face meetings and events. I urge everyone who receives the survey to fill it out and be part of this vital industry initiative." Those planners who complete the survey will receive an executive summary of the results as well as the option to have their name and organization's name listed in the acknowledgement. www.conventionindustry.org

The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles Opens At L.A. Live
The highly anticipated Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles opened April 2, 2010 as the final piece of L.A. LIVE, the $2.5 billion sports, residential and entertainment district, which was inaugurated with the opening of Staples Center in 1999. Perched on the upper floors of the 54-story tower that it shares with sister hotel the JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE and The Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. LIVE, The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles has 123 well-appointed guestrooms, including 14 suites. The hotel is home to Downtown L.A.’s only full-service hotel spa, The Ritz-Carlton Spa, a luxurious, 8,000-square-foot sanctuary. The hotel also offers meeting and event planners the Gallery Collection, with nearly 100,000 square feet of ballroom and meeting rooms. With the size and flexibility of the event space, The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles provides long-awaited support for the Los Angeles Convention Center. www.lalive.com, www.ritzcarlton.com

JW Marriott Indianapolis Reaches Two Milestones
The 1,005-room JW Marriott Indianapolis — the largest JW Marriott in the world — has reached two major milestones. Bookings have surpassed 275,000 room nights, for a total of close to 400,000 room nights booked in the entire Marriott Place Indianapolis complex, and the glass facade of the building is now complete. The JW Marriott Indianapolis will offer 104,000 square feet of meeting, banquet and exhibit space. "We are moving ahead on schedule with the construction of the JW Marriott Indianapolis," said Cory Chambers, director of sales and marketing for Marriott Place Indianapolis. "Not only did the first three hotels in the Marriott Place development open ahead of schedule, but we are on track to open the JW Marriott in February 2011." Chamber added, "We're finding that the uniqueness of Marriott Place Indianapolis is appealing to meeting and event planners. With four Marriott properties on the site, at all different price points, and a variety of flexible meeting spaces, we can meet the needs of virtually any size group. Add that to the fact that we are steps away from all that downtown Indianapolis has to offer, and we have a winning proposition." www.jwindy.com

Washington Hilton Celebrates 45th Anniversary
Since opening its doors on March 25, 1965, the storied Washington Hilton on Connecticut Avenue in Washington, DC, has hosted U.S. presidents, world leaders, politicos and celebrities at countless notable events held at the hotel. On March 25, 2010, the legendary Hilton marked its 45th anniversary by honoring its past, celebrating its future, and thanking three hotel team members who have witnessed it all. As part of its celebration, the hotel also is restoring its name from Hilton Washington, as it is currently known, to Washington Hilton, as it was originally christened in 1965. In 1998, the hotel became known as Hilton Washington as part of a global Hilton branding initiative. The name restoration signals a return to tradition, as the hotel is set to complete a $140 million landmark restoration of the property in June. Washington Hilton has also been listed as a place of significance within the Washington Heights neighborhood on the National Register of Historic Places. The hotel has 1,070 guest rooms and 110,00 square feet of meeting space including the largest ballroom in DC, at 36,000 square feet. www.washington.hilton.com

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Harry Sladich To Leave Top Post At Spokane Regional CVB
The Spokane Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau has announced the resignation of the organization's President and CEO Harry Sladich, whose last day at the bureau is April 23. Beginning May 3, Sladich will be the executive vice president of sales and marketing for Red Lion Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Spokane. He will oversee all aspects of sales and marketing for all 45 Red Lion hotels in eight states and one Canadian province. "Harry Sladich is a tremendous leader, and our community has benefited greatly from having Harry at the helm of the Spokane Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau," said Spokane Mayor Mary Verner. "We will feel his loss at the CVB. Fortunately, though, our community gets to keep him and we expect him to continue to be community booster and a catalyst for change." www.visitspokane.com, www.redlion.com

Cosmopolitan Of Las Vegas Under Construction
Following the settlement of a name dispute, the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, a 2,995-room mixed-use development on the Las Vegas Strip, is moving forward toward an end of the year completion date. Hearst Corp., owner of Cosmopolitan magazine, sued Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas owner Deutsche Bank in 2008 over the use of the name. Details of the trademark infringement lawsuit, which was settled recently, were not available, but resulted in the official name of the development as Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The project, which also has had to weather financial difficulties, will include a convention center, 100,000-square-foot casino, 50,000-square-foot spa, restaurants and more.

Nashville Breaks Ground For New Music City Center
Work began recently on the site of the new Music City Center in downtown Nashville. The new 1.2-million-square-foot Music City Center will more than double the downtown meeting and exhibit space available in the current convention center. The facility will feature a 350,000-square-foot exhibit hall acoustically designed to double as a concert hall, more than 50 meeting rooms, two ballrooms and approximately 36 loading docks.
“This is a great day for Nashville’s hospitality industry,” said Butch Spyridon, president of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau. “The city has great development and construction teams in place that have been preparing for this project for the last few years, and they have hit the ground running.”
The center is scheduled for completion in early 2013. Convention planners have already booked 26 events representing more than 285,000 room nights. www.visitmusiccity.com

Harrah's Cherokee Casino & Hotel To Open Events Center
Harrah’s Cherokee Casino & Hotel, Cherokee, NC, has unveiled plans for a new 3,000-seat Events Center making it a leading concert, events and entertainment venue in the region. Opening celebrations are scheduled for Labor Day Weekend 2010. Hosting top-tier talent across all genres, including country, comedy, and rock, as well as sporting events and production shows, the non-smoking Events Center will have three levels. Among plans for the Events Center are four VIP suites, box seating and more than 1,000 balcony seats. Modular seating will be used for conventions, sports programming, catering and special events with access to a full banquet kitchen. The Events Center is part of a major $633 million expansion scheduled for completion in 2012 that will include the addition of a third 532-room tower, 18,000-square-foot spa, new restaurant and retail outlets, expansion of the casino floor and more. www.harrahs.com

Visit Milwaukee Names New President/CEO
After a nationwide search, Visit Milwaukee today named Paul Upchurch as its new president and CEO. Upchurch joins Visit Milwaukee after some 30 years in the hospitality and tourism industry, including five years (2001–2005) as vice president of hotel operations with Milwaukee-based Marcus Hotels and Resorts. He most recently held the position of chief operating officer for Chicago-based TCA Holdings, operator of private sports resorts and clubs in the United States and Canada. "As a Midwesterner, my five years working in Milwaukee stand out as the most memorable," Upchurch said. "It's an honor for me to join this outstanding tourism marketing organization and work to grow our convention, meetings and leisure travel business for the region." www.visitmilwaukee.org

Palm Beach County Convention Center Hotel In The Works
After years of delay, the Palm Beach County Convention Center hotel project appears to have new life. The Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners chose Related Companies, L.P. to develop a 400-room convention center hotel in West Palm Beach, FL, using the Hilton Hotels brand. Related developed CityPlace, the nearby shopping and entertainment district. With a projected opening in 2014, the hotel will be developed to allow for expansion to meet future demand. “Hilton Worldwide is proud to have a role in this important project for Palm Beach County and to be a part of the exceptional team that is collaborating with Related Companies to develop a first-class convention center hotel for the destination,” said Ted Ratcliff, SVP Operations - Eastern North America. www.related.com, www.hiltonworldwide.com

Southwest Washington CVB Launches New Brand
In spite of the fact that the southwest region of the state of Washington is home to Vancouver, the fourth largest and oldest city in the state, it has long suffered from a mistaken identity. The confusion between Vancouver, WA, and Vancouver, British Columbia, has always proven to be a huge hurdle for the Southwest Washington Convention and Visitors Bureau (SWCVB). To overcome this challenge, SWCVB announced that it is redefining itself through the launch of a new branding “Visit Vancouver USA | Discover the Original." “I am confident that this brand will begin clearing up the confusion between the Canadian city and our city, which was really reinforced during the 2010 Winter Olympics,” said Gerry Link, the general manager of the Hilton Vancouver Washington and Vancouver Convention Center. “We received numerous calls from travelers who mistakenly thought they were calling the other Vancouver.” www.visitvancouverusa.com

Association Execs Optimistic As Economy Improves
With the first signs of economic recovery on the horizon, association executives show increased optimism in the operation and financial performance of their organizations, according to a new study released by ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership. “Associations and CEOs: A Report on Two Studies During a Down Economy” is the second installment of the association executives study, and fourth in a series that looked at the impact of the economy on the association community.

The key findings of the study indicate that: An increased number of association executives predict their revenues will increase in the coming year. • More than half of respondents believe membership will decrease, an improvement from 66 percent last year; more than twice as many respondents as last year believe membership will increase. • A larger percentage of respondents believe revenue will increase from multiday events; multi-day education events; sponsorships; and foundation giving. • A majority of executives anticipate online tools will provide new revenue streams, although only a third reported such an increase so far. • Leaders of smaller organizations, which traditionally invest their reserves in liquid investments, are the least confident that their total revenues will increase in the coming year. Conducted between January 26 and February 2, the study surveyed 960 association CEOs. It was preceded by the first study of association CEOs, conducted in the spring of 2009. www.asaecenter.org/economy

PCVB Offers Delegate Discounts
The Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PCVB) has launched the "Show Us Your Room Key or Badge" promotion. Visitors who show their hotel room key or convention badge will receive discounts at more than 40 participating businesses that display the red and white decal in their windows, signifying they are a promotion participant and a source for savings. The PCVB will include the promotion on all of its custom convention microsites for 2010-11 conventions and in Quick Guide delegate booklets provided to convention attendees. www.philadelphiausa.travel, www.philadelphiavisitorschannel.com

ASAE & The Center Announces Future Annual Meeting Host Cities
ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership announced that the cities of Atlanta, Nashville, Detroit, Salt Lake and Toronto have been selected to host the 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 Annual Meetings & Expositions, respectively. It is estimated that 20 percent of the delegates who attend the Annual Meeting & Exposition book their own conventions in the host city within five years. “Even though ASAE & The Center’s Annual Meeting is the premier education and networking event, our members and industry partners attend this event not only to network and learn, but also to see and experience locations for their future meetings,” said ASAE & The Center President and CEO John H. Graham IV, CAE. “So the event is also a major economic boost for the host city." The announced sites join the following cities in hosting ASAE & The Center’s Annual Meeting & Exposition in the next three years: Los Angeles, August 21-24, 2010; St. Louis, August 6-9, 2011; and Dallas, August 11-14, 2012. www.asaecenter.org/annualmeeting

New Orleans Secures Six Major Citywide Conventions
The New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, in partnership with the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, have secured the conventions of Club Managers Association of America, Kiwanis International, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles Mystic Shrine, American Society of Plastic Surgeons and Benevolent & Protective Order of ELKS, which will bring 66,000 attendees and $77.6 million to the local economy between 2012 and 2014. “New Orleans is a city with depth, character and soul, lending itself as a premier destination for major conventions by offering attendees a great, convenient hotel package surrounded by the best restaurants in the country,” said Nikki Nicholson, vice president of convention sales for the New Orleans CVB. “With millions of dollars in improvements to the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, and all the elements that make our city so authentic, it's no surprise that New Orleans is the destination of choice for major conventions." www.neworleanscvb.com

Poe Appointed Executive Director Of Georgia WCCA
The Georgia World Congress Center Authority announced that Frank Poe, a 38-year convention center veteran from Dallas, was appointed GWCCA executive director. Poe will assume the reigns at one of the world’s largest convention, sports and entertainment complexes which includes the Georgia World Congress Center, Georgia Dome and Centennial Olympic Park on April 1, 2010. Prior to accepting the GWCCA position, Poe was director of the Dallas Convention Center. Poe will take over the executive director position that Dan Graveline held for 33 years. Graveline announced his retirement in late July and retired at the end of 2009.

Seattle Ranks In Top Five For Best Customer Service
Seattle was rated No. 1 for the knowledge of its service providers and tied for fourth place for best customer service of the 30 largest U.S. cities, according to a first-time national survey of travelers to U.S. cities. Rounding out the top five for knowledgeable service providers were Houston, Charlotte, NC, Las Vegas and San Francisco. The survey also found 85 percent of travelers say customer service is very important to the overall quality of their visit, while only 1 percent say it is not important. The importance of service is somewhat higher among women than men, and increases steadily with the traveler’s age. For best customer service, Charlotte, NC came in as No. 1, closely followed by Nashville, TN, and Austin, TX. Also tied with Seattle for fourth place were Portland, OR, and Las Vegas. Among the top 10 cities, none are located in the East, and only one — Columbus, Ohio, which comes in 10th place — is in the Midwest. The survey was conducted in December 2009 by three U.S. research companies: The Cicerone Group, NetReflector and GMI. The survey was conducted online, and was completed by consumers who were at least 18 years old and had traveled to one or more of the 30 largest U.S. cities in the past two years.

New Hotel To Open Across From Denver Convention Center
The new-build, 403-room Embassy Suites Denver Downtown hotel is scheduled to open directly across from the Denver, CO, Convention Center in December 2010. The hotel is being developed by White/Peterman Properties Inc. in Merrillville, IN, and will be managed by Windsor Management Services, the hotel management arm of Windsor Capital Group, headquartered in Santa Monica, CA. The new 403-room Embassy Suites Denver Downtown hotel will feature 17 function rooms totaling 21,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space. “This hotel is in a prime location, and our convention groups will be very excited about this addition to our skyline,” said Rachel Benedick, vice president of sales & services for Visit Denver, the city’s convention and visitors bureau. www.windsormanagementservices.com

The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa Merges With Diplomat Golf Resort
The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood, FL, recently merged with the Diplomat Golf Resort & Spa, a member of the Starwood Luxury Collection. Together, as one destination, The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa now offers golf, spa and beachfront accommodations and amenities, including the Troon Golf-managed 18-hole golf course, tennis center with 10 clay courts, full-service spa, teambuilding program, infinity-edge pool, Westin’s Kid Club, Westin Destination Club and several onsite dining options, such as the Hollywood Prime signature seafood and steakhouse. The resort offers 952 guest rooms and 106 suites. Total meeting facilities include more than 220,000 square feet of meeting and convention space with an unobstructed, 50,000-square-foot Great Hall, six ballrooms, 41 breakout rooms and ample outdoor venues. westin.com/diplomat