facilities & destinations 2012 mid-market review

I2012 Facilities & Destinations Mid-Market

U P F R O N T : C O N S T R U C T I O N & R E N O V A T I O N , W H A T ’ S N E W , C V B W A T C HBEDROCK COMMUNICATIONS, INC.152 Madison Ave., Ste. 802, New York, NY 10016FacilitiesDestinations

FacilitiesDestinations

For Association & Corporate Meeting Planners

&

2012

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Planner Tools: Expanded Sites & Cities DirectoryPage 41

OHIO The Buckeye State Page 56

2012 Mid-Market ReviewValue Destinations & the Planners who use them2012 Mid-Market ReviewValue Destinations & the Planners who use them

COMPLETE( AND COMPLETELY Accessible)COMPLETE

PENNSYLVANIA CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION

With 1 million square feet of usable space, the newly expanded Pennsylvania Convention Center has taken its place as one of the country’s premier meeting facilities. And to complete the package, we’ve put it in the heart of the country’s most dynamic, walkable and historic downtown.

www.MEETPHL.com or 1.855.MEET.PHL@PhiladelphiaCVB

facebook.com/PhiladelphiaCVB

“What we love about Philadelphia is its accessibility. Its central location makes it easy for attendees to get to the city. And, once they’re in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Convention Center is just steps away from hotels, restaurants and attractions. It truly is The Complete Package.”

— GrETcHEn BLiss, DirEcTor of confErEncEs anD EDucaTionaL acTiviTiEs, EDucausE

that’s MY PhILaDELPhIa stORY

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Columns Looking Ahead...................................................................................2Caffin’s Corner....................................................................................4Food & Beverage...............................................................................6Planner Perspectives .........................................................................8Tradeshow Perspectives ..................................................................10Awards of Excellence Ballots ......................................................2, 23

Upfront ....................................................................................... 12-17Convention Center Watch, Shows, Leading Edge Managers, Construction & Renovation, What’s New, CVB Watch

Religious MeetingsA Milestone at MetLife Stadium .....................................................18

State-of-the-Industry Q&AInsurance and Financial Meetings: Incentive Travel Is Back .........20

Hot List Mid-Market Convention Centers ...................................................40

State Spotlight Ohio: The Buckeye State ................................................................56

F&D Mid-Market Review Combining Rich Meetings Infrastructures and Affordability.....242012 Mid-Market Gallery Austin .............................................................................................30Boise ..............................................................................................31Cleveland ......................................................................................32Hartford .........................................................................................33Little Rock ......................................................................................34Pittsburgh ......................................................................................35Providence ....................................................................................36Rochester ......................................................................................37Savannah .......................................................................................38

F&D: Sites & CitiesListings A-Z .......................................................................................41Directory .................................................................................... 42-55Ad Index ...........................................................................................63



For Association & Corporate Meeting Planners

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2012

TM

Mid-Market Review

2 2012 Facilities & Destinations Mid-Market Review

2012 Volume 21 No. 2

Chief Operating OfficerDavid KornAssociate PublisherMichael CaffinContributing EditorAnthony BildenCreative Direction & DesignScott-Goodman AssociatesCirculation ManagerWinny CheungBusiness OperationsNadia Derelieva

© Copyright 2012 by Bedrock Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. Opinions expressed in by-lined articles and advertising copy are not necessarily those of the publisher. Advertisers are responsible for all costs, damages and claims regarding advertising insertions.

Facilities & Destinations is published three times a year by Bedrock Communications, Inc., 152 Madison Avenue, Suite 802, New York, NY 10016. Telephone: (212) 532-4150. Fax: (212) 213-6382.

POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Bedrock Communications, Inc., 152 Madison Avenue, Suite 802, New York, NY 10016. Printed in U.S.A.

Cover ad space is available by contacting a Facilities & Destinations advertising account executive at 212-532-4150 x103.

MEMBERS OF:

ON THE COVERClockwise from the top left: Little Rock, AR; the I-X Center in Cleveland, OH; Austin, TX; the Savannah International

Trade & Convention Center; the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford; Pittsburgh, PA; Boise, ID; the Rochester Riverside Convention Center; and Providence, RI.

It has been a little over a year since I was asked to take the reins of Facilities Media Group, and it has been an exciting year to say the least. When attending tradeshows and conferences during the period, I solicited candid, constructive comments about

our publications from an array of industry professionals. Taking their words to heart, we tried to implement some of the suggestions that were offered. As a result, the progress we have made in delivering a better product has been satisfying, and we unceasingly seek out new ways to further improve.

While our directories remain a staple of our magazines, we are also returning to our roots and continuing to increase content that adds value to our publications. A few of the enhancements include: regional “Spotlight” sections giving attention to key facilities in specific geographic areas; an increase in the number of columns, covering topics that are of greater relevance to a larger cross-section of our readership; and a “Watch” section that highlights recent events at choice venues.

Our online presence is growing as well, with an archive of past issues available on our Web site (www.facilitiesonline.com) and a newsfeed covering breaking developments in the facilities industry around the globe. The global focus will be reflected in our coverage in upcoming issues of venues in Europe and beyond.

The future is looking bright for Facilities Media Group. We are “looking ahead,” as this column is entitled, to great times to come. Thanks are in order to our staff, readers and advertisers for making this a year worth remembering and building upon.

– David KornChief Operating Officer, Facilities Media Group

[email protected]

LOOKING AHEAD

An EARly ThAnksgIvIngFacilities

DestinationsFacilities

DestinationsFor Association & Corporate Meeting Planners

& TM

Facilities Destinations&Awards of Excellence Ballot

Fill Out Form & Mail, Email or Fax Your Vote:Facilities & Destinations152 Madison Avenue, Suite 802, New York, NY 10016Fax: (212) 213-6382; Email: [email protected]

Name of Nominee ____________________

______________________________________

Check Award You want to nominate the above for:

Prime Site Top Destination

Your Name & Title ___________________

Organization ________________________

Phone _______________________________

Email _______________________________

Additional Comments _________________

______________________________________

May We Contact You? Yes___ No___

Please consider the following criteria when voting:

Attractiveness & Functionality of Meeting VenueSize & Quality of Meeting SpaceTechnological CapabilitiesQuality of StaffFood & Beverage OptionsLighting, Acoustics, & Internet AccessOther Meeting/Event Support ServicesAmenitiesRecreational ActivitiesDining & Entertainment OptionsLodging Quality Accessibility to AirportEase of Travel within Destination

32012 Facilities & Destinations Mid-Market

Cleveland has recently invested over $2 billion in visitor-related development, including our brand new high-tech Cleveland Convention Center & Medical Mart slated to open in 2013.

LEED-certified, optimized for energy efficiency, and located in a beautiful setting, the new Convention Center is the perfect place for greener meetings and conventions. Plus, attendees can stay green by walking from hotels to meetings and attractions in the city PCMA ranks fourth in the U.S. for walkability.

Contact Mike Burns at Positively Cleveland for more information on planning what could be your greenest meeting [email protected]

www.clevelandMeetings.comTwitter: @CleveMtgs

Unexpectedly

Choose a

greenermeeting destination.


Caffin’s

MID-MARKET CITIES AND VENUES: GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND

orner

Welcome to our third annual Facilities & Destinations Mid-Market Review, an in-depth

analysis of this important and growing market segment.

Each of the cities chosen to be examined in our 2012 Mid-Market Review — Austin, Boise, Cleveland, Hartford, Little Rock, Pittsburgh, Providence, Rochester and Savannah — has gone above and beyond and has its own unique story to tell. These cities, in the eyes of meeting planners they have worked with, have hosted meetings and events in a successful, enjoyable and profitable way.

Along those lines, we ask planners to take note of two award ballots in this issue — our Prime Site (convention centers) and Top Destination (CVBs) Awards ballot on page 2, and our Meeting Hotel Prime Site Award ballot on page 23. Please take the time to fill these out and send us your votes and

thoughts. Help us recognize the business partners that have made your site-selection process and recent events a success.

Site selection is the most important part of planning a meeting or tradeshow. This is the premise behind the robust coverage in this and upcoming issues of Facilities & Destinations. Look for our 2012-2013 Facilities & Destinations Planner Guide (winter, featuring a special section on European destinations) and 2013 Facilities & Destinations SuperBook (spring, featuring the Awards of Excellence) issues.

Facilities & Destinations remains the best place to begin your site-selection process.

Enjoy the issue.Michael Caffin

Associate Publisher, Facilities Media [email protected]

About MONTEGO BAY CONVENTION CENTRE

For more information | www.mobaycentre.com

Montego Bay Convention Centre | Half Moon P.O. Box #4058, Rose Hall, St. James, JAMAICA | Telephone: +1 876 622 9330 Dittie F. Guise - General Manager

“The new Montego Bay Convention Centre with over 142,000 square feet of indoor

and outdoor event space, is the first of its kind in the English speaking Caribbean and boasts an

Exhibit space that is divisible into two halls, accommodating up to 6,000 persons theatre style.

Located in the resort area of Rose Hall, its close to over 4,000 luxury accommodations, duty free

shopping, restaurants, entertainment, award-winning golf courses, beaches, bars and only 15

minutes from the Sangster International Airport, making the facility the ideal place to meet or to

host your next event.” - Dittie F. Guise, General Manager

57,525 sq. ft. Exhibit Hall 9,737 sq. ft. of Meeting Space

43,000 sq. ft. Outdoor Courtyard 18,471 sq. ft. Ballroom

and Terrace with Ocean View.

An SMG Managed State-of-the-Art Convention Centre Excellent Airlift to Montego Bay from North America, UK and Europe Tax Deductible Expenses* Luxury Accommodations within 5 minutes of the Convention Centre Duty-free Shopping Centres Access to Local Entertainment & Music Gourmet Restaurants & Bars Beaches, Golf Courses and Recreation Cultural Sites & Packaged Tours Reliable Transportation System

Top 10 Reasons to Meet in Montego Bay

facebook.com/mobaycentre twitter.com/mobaycentre


FooD & BeveRAGe FooD & BeveRAGe FooD & BeveRAGe FooD & BeveRAGe FooD & BeveRAGe FooD Food & Beverage

Comfort foods are once again all the rage. It is now chic to dine on macaroni and cheese, a delight that was once found only on the kids’ menu at your favorite family restaurant. Gourmet cheeses can be used to satisfy the adult palate, and

toppings such as pulled pork or lobster can provide a unique twist to this American classic. Take beef as another example: It’s now not only acceptable, but very trendy to replace an entrée of filet mignon with something like prosciutto-stuffed Angus meatloaf.

Ovations Food Services, the exclusive caterer at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati, recently showcased its comfort food concept by hosting an event for local meeting planners called “The Big Bang.” An elegant reception-style setting was created for this event and cuisine such as gourmet flatbread pizza and Black Angus sliders were served. “The focus of this event was to expose local meeting planners to a new concept in menu choices as well as to demonstrate the bang for the buck they can receive with these menu items paired with a unique service method,” explained Ovations’ regional general manager, Pam Zdazenski. “We also like to bring the kitchen experience into the event space,” said Ovations’ Duke Energy Convention Center executive chef, Purvil Chaney. “People want to experience the freshness and the aromas typically left behind in the kitchen.” This is accomplished through the use of induction cooking carts and refrigerated prep tables. The event drove in new business and was so successful that Ovations took the initiative to expand it to other catering venues across the country.

Restaurants that specialize in comfort food are popping up nationwide. The Shula family, known for operating premium steak restaurants, responded to this fast-paced market trend

by opening their first Shula Burger concept last fall. According to Scott Nietschmann, Shula Burger president, “Entering the better burger segment, it [Shula Burger] is a unique twist to American comfort foods.” Shula Burger takes the classic American hamburger and adds chef-inspired gourmet toppings to create items like the “Wine Country Burger” and the “French Onion Burger.” The relaxed atmosphere offers guests a comfortable restaurant setting with quality service.

A favorite farm-to-table comfort food restaurant in my hometown of Tampa, FL is The Refinery. Proprietor Greg Baker has truly adopted the belief that comfort food should not be expensive. Dinner for two with a bottle of wine costs around $40. He explains that “good food, prepared by professionals who are passionate about their craft, who spend their

time learning new techniques, should be made available to everyone.”

Food does not have to be pretentious, and comfort foods can be served at any occasion with unique twists, creating interest. Reception-style catering featuring comfort food provides an alternative to the plated banquet, offering greater menu flexibility, creativity and more substantive meals. With the current drought certain to interrupt future food supplies and rising fuel prices, caterers must continue to drive fresh ideas to overcome soaring prices and tight client budgets.

John LaChance, senior vice president of operations at Ovations Food Services, has been an integral part of building Ovations’ brand and implementing the company’s Everything’s Fresh™ concept into many facilities. With this concept, foods are prepared and assembled fresh, right in front of guests, with ingredients that are locally sourced whenever possible. As a member of the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM), LaChance continues to create new standards for the way Ovations sells and services catering.

C o m f o r t f o o d s r e b o r nW i t h t h e r i g h t C u l i n a r y t W i s t , t h e s e d i s h e s b e C o m e

e n g a g i n g a n d e C o n o m i C a l o p t i o n s f o r g r o u p sBy John LaChance

“reception-style catering

featuring comfort food

provides an alternative to

the plated banquet, offering

greater menu flexibility,

creativity and more

substantive meals.”

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT

In the heart of a vibrant downtown in the midst of a

renaissance. In the middle of a historic city at the

epicenter of the largest population base in the

country. There lies a destination purposefully built

for meetings and conventions, neatly tucked within

a region renowned for its natural beauty, history and

charm. It’s not merely a convention center, but a

convention kingdom. And you are royalty.

To explore your kingdom, call 860.249.6000 or visit ctconventions.com

AND THIS IS YOUR KINGDOM.

YOU RULE.

540,000 sq. feet of space1600 hotel rooms

Retail & dining complex30 acres of riverfront parks

40 – three and four-star restaurantsInteractive science center

250 registered historic sitesWithin a 2-hour drive of 23 million people Beaches, mountains, casinos, museums,

theaters, golf courses...


Planner Perspectives Planner Perspectives PLanner Perspectives PLanner Perspectives Planner Perspectiv

the key to sustained success in today’s ever-changing and fast-paced business environment is no longer just hiring the best graduates and grooming them within the company. It is now a journey of providing opportunities for continuous, self-directed learning in

all its forms — experiential, social/informal, and formal. The most expedient way to do this is by sending employees to conferences, conventions, tradeshows and seminars where participants can combine learning with networking, a process that leads not only to more knowledge, but also to new business opportunities for the company, as participants nurture professional relationships through shared experience.

The emphasis on continuous learning in Corporate America translates to an increased demand for conference facilities that offer much more than the right combination of “dates, rates and space,” along with good air and ground access. Facilities also need to deliver a comfortable environment for extended learning sessions, and consistent, excellent F&B. Think dishes with fresh, local, seasonal ingredients, the kind that maintain energy levels for busy participants. These facilities are destined to get repeat business from groups.

And let’s not forget quality Internet access and the latest technological features. As we move into a world that is consistently more mobile, the requirement for cost-effective, high-bandwidth Internet access is not just nice to have, it is a requirement, along with top-notch AV. If you are a facility that can provide solutions that allow for hybrid and virtual meetings to happen seamlessly, and where mobile phones, tablets and laptops can be used throughout, you have something

to offer that not everyone does. Consider setting up a charging station in a central area. Imagine an oversized stand-up bar with a heap of plug-ins and a few permanent cords, located near a place that coffee is available. That’s a facility-client win!

As a facility manager, you should believe that the last two paragraphs describe your venue. If you cannot jump out of your chair right now and shout out, “This is my facility!” then sit right down and think about how you can make it your facility. What are the gaps you need to fill, and whom do

you need on your team to fill them? Your sales team can sell the space once, but operations and venue features are what bring groups back. From a sales perspective, consider your positioning – is it the most suitable it can be? Are there other group markets that you can tap into by using your peripheral marketing vision?

People still need to meet face to face, even in this age of virtual communications. And companies need to continually train and educate their employees by sending them to offsite meetings. Indeed, lifelong learning isn’t just a buzzword, it’s a practical reality that you, the facility manager, can benefit from. Go for it!

Tahira Endean, CMP, is director, creative and production with Vancouver-based Cantrav Services, a destination and event management company. Her career has included work on three continents and has evolved from 35mm slides to fully produced hybrid events, from fax machine registration to Webcasts, social media and cutting-edge uses of technology to increase engagement. Tahira shares her passion for memorable, relevant events both when she teaches event planning at the British Columbia Institute of Technology and with her supplier partners.

Planner Perspectives

t h e f u t u r e o f C o r p o r a t e l e a r n i n gi t ’ s s t i l l a b o u t f a C e - t o - f a C e m e e t i n g s ,

a n d f a C i l i t i e s m u s t b e r e a d yBy Tahira endean, CMP

“lifelong learning isn’t just

a buzzword, it’s a practical

reality that you, the facility

manager, can benefit from.”

FLEXIBLE.ACCESSIBLE.AFFORDABLE.COMFORTABLE.INCREDIBLE.Meetings planners love Little Rock. (And so do the people who attend them.)With hundreds of thousands of square feet of newly-upgraded meeting

and exhibit space in a variety of locations throughout the city, Little Rock

also offers your groups world-class attractions, the best New South cuisine,

and cozy accommodations – along with that famous southern charm.

Discover all of Little Rock’s charms at LittleRock.com

or call 1-800-844-4781

BIG DAM BRIDGE ANDARKANSAS RIVER TRAIL

CLINTON PRESIDENTIAL CENTER

THE RIVER MARKETAND RIVERFRONT PARK

OLDSTATE HOUSE MUSEUM

LITTLE ROCKCENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

Planner Perspectives Planner Perspectives PLanner Perspectives PLanner Perspectives Planner Perspectiv

FLEXIBLE.ACCESSIBLE.AFFORDABLE.COMFORTABLE.INCREDIBLE.Meetings planners love Little Rock. (And so do the people who attend them.)With hundreds of thousands of square feet of newly-upgraded meeting

and exhibit space in a variety of locations throughout the city, Little Rock

also offers your groups world-class attractions, the best New South cuisine,

and cozy accommodations – along with that famous southern charm.

Discover all of Little Rock’s charms at LittleRock.com

or call 1-800-844-4781

BIG DAM BRIDGE ANDARKANSAS RIVER TRAIL

CLINTON PRESIDENTIAL CENTER

THE RIVER MARKETAND RIVERFRONT PARK

OLDSTATE HOUSE MUSEUM

LITTLE ROCKCENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL


Tradeshow Perspectives Tradeshow Perspectives Tradeshow Perspectives Tradeshow Perspectives Trade

past a certain age in a career, you don’t often get to do anything new. That’s not to say that the old day-to-day is necessarily boring. As a veteran in the field of financial services, I have seen capital markets over the last five years mimic the old saying

about warfare: “Long periods of boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror.”

Recently, however, I had a change of pace when I found myself manning a booth at one of the country’s largest conferences for registered investment advisors, with something like 1,000 asset managers of all stripes in attendance. In over 20 years on Wall Street I have never actually had to engage in the hand-to-hand combat of the trade show exhibitor. From my time at the conference, I can pass along a few tips on how to grab and hold the attention of that random potential customer passing by:

Force the traffic to your table. In my case, that meant creating a bottleneck next to our stand by strategically placing one of those stand-up round tables meant to offer attendees a place for their drinks. Now, I did notice that other exhibitors had alternative answers to this problem. Many of them seemed to employ former models of both genders to encourage the passing trade. The tactic was fair enough, but I saw little difference in their success. The passing trade seemed too jaded to notice.

Have compelling giveaways. My team went with pen-lights – a pen on one side of the device, and a light on the other – emblazoned with our logo. They were a huge hit with the passing trade, I think because most of them wanted to give these novelties to their children. Other

booths had model cars with their logos; these drew attendees like bears to honey-dipped salmon. Next year my team will have model cars – no doubt about it.

Raffle something. People are reluctant to part with their business cards without some chance of winning an unnecessary bauble. And have some way to record their information quickly. I use CardMunch (a business card reading app) on my iPhone to great efficiency and the envy of other exhibitors nearby.

Be aggressive. You essentially need the personality of a Middle Eastern shopkeeper as the tour bus pulls into your town to succeed at the conference booth game. Make eye contact. Point at the fishbowl receptacle for the raffle. Hand them a pen-light. Make your pitch. While the booth visitor is fishing out his or her business card, you have about 20 seconds to explain the merits of your product or service. Make those seconds count. A few visitors will engage you and learn about the product. Become their best friend,

for those are the leads that matter most.

The upshot of all these points is that customers need a lot of stimulus to be drawn to your booth on a crowded exhibit floor. A great product or service deserves the effort.

Nicholas Colas is chief market strategist at ConvergEx Group, a leading technology company providing proprietary software products and technology-enabled services to asset managers and financial intermediaries globally. Before joining ConvergEx, Colas served as director of research at Rochdale Securities, and prior to that as portfolio manager with SAC Capital. He holds an MBA from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.

Tradeshow Perspectives

e x h i b i t o r s : p u t o n y o u r g a m e f a C em a x i m i z i n g b o o t h v i s i t a t i o n r e q u i r e s m o r e t h a n

a g r e a t p r o d u C t By Nicholas Colas

“While the booth visitor is

fishing out his or her business

card, you have about 20 seconds

to explain the merits of your

product or service.”

Tradeshow Perspectives Tradeshow Perspectives Tradeshow Perspectives Tradeshow Perspectives Trade

Rhode IslandConvention Center

Lots of ChoicesOne Decision

From Mozart to Monster Trucks, basketball to business meetings, the Rhode Island Convention & Entertainment Complex has the flexibility to make your next convention or special event one to remember. Our experienced staff will work with you to choose the facilities and services that best fit your objectives. There are lots of options but only one decision – book your next event at the Rhode Island Convention & Entertainment Complex.

401.456.0200 | [email protected] | GoProvidence.comThe Dunk and Convention Center are managed by SMG and The Vets by PFM.

Photo: Steven Schwartz

Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau


UpFront

Centerplate, a leading hospitality provider and the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center’s exclusive food service partner, served dinner to President Barack Obama on July 25 after his address to 6,000 attendees of the National Urban League Conference at the Center. Executive Sous Chef Stephan Blaser prepared the menu selected by the White House with a nod to the healthy, organic food that is part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s initiative, Let’s Move. The following menu was selected: Beef Tenderloin Steak, Grilled with Mushroom Glacé; Whipped Yukon Gold Potatoes; Steamed Broccoli; Assortment of French Pastries. According to Centerplate, the dinner received an enthusiastic “thumbs up” from the Presidential Food Service coordinator, who oversaw the preparation and delivery of the food to President Obama.

This summer, SMG began operating The Oncenter, in Syracuse, NY, following a unanimous decision by the Onondaga County Legislature’s Ways and Means Committee to privatize management of the facility. “We are pleased to partner with SMG,” said Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney in a statement. “The Oncenter provides world-class venues to attract events and SMG is a leader in this industry. This is a partnership that will benefit everyone in our region.” The Oncenter is comprised of the War Memorial Arena, Civic Center Theaters and the Nicholas J. Pirro Convention Center. It offers 200,000 sq. ft. of meeting, theater, arena and exhibition space, including 2,100-seat and 458-seat theaters.

Convention Center Watch

President Barack Obama addresses the National Urban League Conference.

132012 Facilities & Destinations Mid-Market Review

During the 2012 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition in August, more than 6,000 association professionals and industry partners gathered at the Dallas Convention Center, which is the highest attendance since Chicago in 2007. “This illustrates the value of face-to-face meetings,” commented ASAE President and CEO John H. Graham IV, CAE, in a statement. “It was a fantastic meeting with the different learning sessions and speakers, and buzz from the meeting was extremely positive.”

The attendance number includes 2,780 executives and 1,861 exhibitors who represented a total of 408 companies. The ratio at the expo hall was 60 percent buyers to 40 percent sellers, which is a strong ratio.

“I’m very proud of the association community because they not only took part in learning, but they also donated time and money that will

Leading Edge: Amaury J. PiedraComplex General Manager Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort & Spa and Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel

Piedra has held his current position since 2005 and previously served as resort manager for the Westin & Sheraton at Our Lucaya, Grand Bahamas Island. A recipient of Starwood’s Crisis Leadership Award in 2004, Piedra has also held general manager positions at the Sheraton Hotel, New Orleans; Mayfair House Hotel, Miami; and The Pickwick Hotel, San Francisco. Prior to those roles, he served as a director of sales for hotels in San Diego and Virginia Beach. Piedra holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Miami.

Most Exciting Event: We finished the construction of our new Westin conference center in December of 2009 and in mid January of 2010 the NFL moved into the hotel as we were their headquarters for the 2010 Super Bowl. After only having been open for less than eight weeks, our team had to fulfill the needs and expectations of this very high-profile group which contained many VIPs. Our team did a phenomenal job, and this gave us great exposure and really served as a

launching point for the new facility. Most recently, we had a large incentive group in house which was a lot of fun. Besides using our Westin, they also used our sister hotel, the Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Beach, for a 500-plus person beach barbeque and concert by country music artist Clint Black right on the beautiful beaches of Fort Lauderdale.

What Meeting Planners Want: Planners are looking for value and flexibility. Value doesn’t necessarily mean the lowest rate or lowest food and beverage price. It’s about creating a unique experience for their event at a fair price. They turn to the hotel team to partner with them on creative ideas that will set their meeting or conference apart from others. Ultimately, it’s a partnership between the hotel and the meeting planner; we need to shine and make them look good so they will return and provide us more business in the future. It’s all about creating long-term relationships.

Meeting Industry Forecast: I see the demand for meetings increasing. We are seeing a robust pipeline of leads for 2013, which is encouraging. Decisions are still being made more short term than they were several years ago, but I see the industry picking up steam and growing over the next year. I have also seen companies combining two or three smaller meetings into one. For example, they will bring a larger group into one location, hold a general session and then break off into smaller groups with specific agendas. What it’s doing is making it easier for the top executives to address everyone in one location and easier for the meeting planner, as they only have to plan one event.

UpFront Showsmake a lasting impact in the Dallas community,” Graham added. ASAE attendees raised $61,442 for the North Texas Food Bank, which was ASAE’s Community Connection this year. The donation provided meals for 12,288 children. In addition, the ASAE Foundation raised more than $330,000 through gifts and different events during the meeting.

Attendees chose from more than 120 education sessions. The Opening General Session featured a debate between Democratic Strategist James Carville and Republican Strategist Karl Rove, which was moderated by Michelle Bernard, political analyst for MSNBC. The panel discussed the Republican vice presidential candidate and major issues facing the country.

The 2013 Annual Meeting & Exposition will be held in Atlanta, Aug. 3-6. Visit www.asaecenter.org for more information.

President Barack Obama addresses the National Urban League Conference.


UpFrontConstruction & Renovation

Construction is slated to start by mid-2013 on the Albuquerque Convention Center’s $20-million renovation, which will give the West Complex a look that better represents the unique architectural elements of the region, according to The Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau. The preliminary designs include a new exterior façade, complete remodeling of the ballroom, a new entertainment deck in the ballroom and windows with panoramic views. The west building lower level atrium will be completely remodeled to include a fireplace and a lower-level food court/café. The project will be phased to allow for ongoing convention and meeting business, with completion expected by the end of 2014.

Construction of the Anaheim Convention Center’s Grand Plaza is under way, with completion scheduled by the end of the year. The 100,000-sq.-ft. outdoor and special event space will be located outside of the convention center’s front entrance off of Convention Way. The Grand Plaza will create a pedestrian esplanade that will span from the entrance to the Anaheim Convention Center

The Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) recently completed a major lighting retrofit and controls system upgrade that will reduce energy consumption, as well as operation and maintenance costs, by using more energy-efficient lamps and advanced lighting controls. The project replaced 1,288 lighting fixtures in the GWCC’s 12 exhibit halls, totaling 1.4 million sq. ft. The 1,000-watt metal halide lighting fixtures were replaced with 750-watt pulse start metal halide fixtures, each of which can be controlled at the wall or remotely via iPad. In addition, 260 motion sensors were installed in offices, restrooms, storerooms and other back-of-house closets. Over time, the new fixtures will considerably reduce the amount of energy consumed by the 3.9 million-sq.-ft. facility. Additionally, the convention center is in the process of completing an energy audit – ASHRAE Level 1 energy assessment – in its pursuit of LEED certification.

and flow between the Hilton Anaheim and the Anaheim Marriott hotels. The Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau has debuted a new microsite (http://anaheimoc.org/GrandPlaza/index.html) showcasing the space’s features, which include lush landscaping, expansive walkways, innovative hardscape designs, fountains and a special Transit Plaza for group travel flow.

An artist’s rendering of the Albuquerque Convention Center’s soon-to-be-renovated West Complex


San Francisco’s Moscone Center attracts 50 events annually and is a major generator of demand for hotel rooms in San Francisco, where tourism is the largest industry and generates more than $8.4 billion annually. But, according to San Francisco Mayor Edwin M. Lee, the Center can do better, and in fact needs to. “The recent renovations at Moscone North and South are exciting, but they don’t address San Francisco’s need for more convention and meeting space to remain competitive with cities around the world,” said Lee in a statement. “Tourism is our city’s No. 1 industry, and bringing Moscone into the 21st century will boost our city’s economy.” With this goal in mind, the mayor has announced the development of a 25-year master plan for the expansion of Moscone Convention Center, with completion of the first phase expected by early 2018. The plan would double the size of the existing facility, which recently received a $56 million renovation. Moscone Center was built in a series of phases beginning with Moscone South in 1981; Moscone North and the Esplanade Ballroom in 1991; and Moscone West in 2003 providing nearly one million sq. ft. of meeting and event space. Its new expansion will be funded by a public-private partnership with the San Francisco Tourism Improvement District (TID) and the City.

Starting in late 2013, San Antonio’s Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center (HBGCC) will expand its exhibit space to over 500,000 sq. ft. and add meeting and ballroom space, including a new 50,000+-sq.-ft. ballroom — the largest in the state of Texas. The HBGCC will remain in full operation throughout the duration of the project, which represents an investment of $325 million. The HBGCC currently offers four contiguous exhibit halls totaling over 440,000 sq. ft., 192,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, three ballrooms and the adjacent 2,400-seat Lila Cockrell Theatre. “This expansion will enable us to grow in capacity to host larger and more concurrent conventions while gaining in national prominence as one of the top 10 largest convention centers in the country,” said Michael Sawaya, director of the Convention, Sports, and Entertainment Facilities Department for the City of San Antonio, in a statement. Located in historic downtown San Antonio along the banks of the world famous River Walk, the HBGCC hosts more than 300 events each year. Once the new construction is completed in the middle of 2016, the oldest portion of the convention center located on the west side of the complex will be demolished to pave the way for a new 12-acre transformation of HemisFair Park into a mixed-use central urban park.

The expansion of the San Jose Convention Center is on target for fall 2013 completion with the structural steel arriving at the construction site in early July. The $120-million expansion, planned on the footprint of the old Martin Luther King library, will add 125,000 sq. ft. of flexible ballroom and meeting space. The Convention Center currently offers 425,000 sq. ft. of exhibit, ballroom and meeting space. Since the center’s debut in 1989, San Jose’s hotel and tourism industry has grown to an estimated $123 million hotel revenue industry. “The new Convention Center will increase Team San Jose’s competitive edge in selling San Jose as a destination in the meetings and convention marketplace. We’re thrilled with the progress made to date

with the convention center expansion and renovation,” said Bill Sherry, CEO of Team San Jose, in a statement. Team San Jose manages the convention center, four theaters and the CVB.

An artist’s rendering of the Albuquerque Convention Center’s soon-to-be-renovated West Complex

What’s NewUpFront

The Cleveland Medical Mart & Convention Center (CMMCC) will open in July 2013, two months ahead of schedule, in order to be able to host the 2013 Summer National Senior Games. Construction began in January 2011 on the $465-million, taxpayer-financed project, which includes a Medical Mart to showcase medical technology, on the northeast corner of St. Clair Avenue and Ontario Street, and the connected convention center. Cuyahoga County officials say the convention center project is not only ahead of schedule, but also coming in under budget, and the early opening could help the venue attract more business from event planners. “They want to know that they can have confidence that this facility will be up and running, so this is a great message to be sending out,” says Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald. The CMMCC will offer approximately 230,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, featuring high ceilings and industry-standard column spacing; approximately 90,000 sq. ft. of high-tech, flexible meeting rooms of varying sizes; and a 30,000-sq.-ft. Grand Ballroom offering panoramic views of Lake Erie. The 235,000-sq.-ft. Medical Mart is scheduled open two months after the convention center. The convention center will be mostly underground, with green space and walkways at street level. The walkways are now open to the public, and all the access points to Browns Stadium opened in time for the team’s first home preseason game, on Aug. 24.

After a $2.4-billion investment, Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport has 14 new gates to accommodate international and domestic air service with the opening of Terminal 3, a technologically advanced, 1.9 million-sq.-ft. expansion. The first unit terminal to be constructed in the United States in the post-9/11 era, “T3” includes an expansive ticketing lobby; space for two Transportation Security Administration checkpoints with up to 31 lanes; an eight-story garage with room for nearly 6,000 vehicles; and more than a dozen stores and restaurants. Coupled with the airport’s existing infrastructure, T3 increases McCarran’s annual capacity to approximately 53 million passengers. “Las Vegas expects to welcome a record 40 million visitors in 2012 and the new terminal will help us achieve that goal,” said Rossi Ralenkotter,

president/CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. “The visitor experience in Terminal 3 is unlike any other in the country and delivers on our brand promise. Visitors will immediately have a unique sense of place and receive the type of welcome we want to provide.” Each check-in area is equipped with kiosks that allow passengers on participating air carriers to tag their own checked baggage, and each of T3’s 14 E gates has self check-in equipment to ease the boarding process. T3 also allows McCarran to move some air carriers to relieve peak period congestion at T1. T3 will initially serve 16 international carriers, including Alaska, Frontier, JetBlue, Sun Country and Virgin America.

The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center’s new $50-million ballroom is slated to open in January. The 60,300-sq.-ft., column-free space has been dubbed “The Great Hall” in reference to the Convention Center’s first use as the Great Hall of the 1984 World’s Fair. Bob Johnson, president/general manager of the Center said, “In this incredibly competitive industry, it is imperative that you continue to reinvent yourself. One of New Orleans’ competitive disadvantages was not having a large, column-free ballroom. With this development, we address that dissatisfier.” Design elements of the Great Hall will include: 86,000 sq. ft. of total function space; advanced sound, lighting and technology capabilities; energy-efficient LED lighting system; the ability to transition from an intimate setting to a more open room environment with the click of a mouse; divisions that allow for several concurrent but independent session rooms; a 4,660-sq.-ft. junior ballroom with a rooftop terrace; an open landscaped pedestrian plaza; and a multipurpose lounge that can serve as a pop-up restaurant, Internet café or art gallery. The space will also retain standard features of an exhibit hall including utility floor boxes, rigging points, easy access and ample pre-function space. The entryway and ballroom renovations follow $93 million in improvements made to the 27-year-old facility over the past five years, including a complete makeover of the interior lobbies, a repainted exterior, lobby furniture, digital signage and key card entry at meeting rooms, and a fully redundant 1-GIG Internet backbone.



In late June, The Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), in partnership with the Greater Hartford Convention & Visitors Bureau, formed the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau (CTCSB), an entity dedicated to increasing the state’s convention, meeting and sports events business. The CTCSB will intensify outreach and marketing efforts to meeting planners and sports promoters for international, national and regional associations. It will continue to manage convention support and housing services for the Connecticut Convention Center and will head up convention support services, membership staff, the Connecticut Convention Advisory Board and the Sports Convention Advisory Board.

“In a small state like Connecticut, it makes great sense to maximize our resources and represent the hotels, meetings and sports venues, attractions and restaurants throughout the region,” said Michael Van Parys, president of the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau, who headed the former Greater Hartford Convention & Visitors Bureau. The CTCSB will seek to “develop qualified leads

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or serious interest from a variety of group markets.”

For more information about the new organization, call (860) 882-1102 or visit www.ctmeetings.org.

Pictured at the Bridgeport News Conference in the Webster Bank Arena (l-r): Randy Fiveash, director of the Connecticut Office of Tourism/Department of Economic & Community Development (DECD); Michael Van Parys, president of the new Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau (CTCSB); Robert F. Flynn, chairman of the CTCSB; Jillian Alps, a past president of Connecticut Lodging Association and general manager of the Residence Inn Shelton Fairfield County; Joe Kelly, general manager of the Stamford Marriott Hotel & Spa; Wayne Dean, senior associate director of athletics at Yale University in New Haven; Charlie Dowd, vice president of operations for Harbor Yard Sports & Entertainment; and Christopher “Kip” Bergstrom, deputy commissioner of the DECD.


The first of August was a rainy day in East Rutherford, NJ, site of one of the country’s most technologically advanced arenas, the $1.7-billion MetLife Stadium, which opened just a couple years ago. The rain ceased, however, mere minutes before the largest event yet to be held at

the stadium took place. It wasn’t a football game or a rock concert, but rather an event of a very different nature: the Twelfth Siyum HaShas of Daf Yomi. Drawing around 90,000 Orthodox Jews, the Siyum marked the completion of the 12th cycle of Daf Yomi, a page-a-day Talmud-reading program with tens of thousands of participants worldwide. It takes seven and a half years to complete the Talmud at that rate, and the MetLife gathering celebrated the completion of the 12th cycle since the late Rabbi Meir Shapiro launched Daf Yomi in 1923.

MetLife was sold-out, and in fact had to provide an additional 10,000 seats. “Based on previous attendance figures, we were pretty confident” in the turnout, says Rabbi Shlomo Gertzulin, executive vice president for finance and administration of New York, NY-based Agudath Israel of America and COO of the Siyum. “The previous event drew about 52,000, but it was dispersed in different locations: Madison Square Garden, what was then Continental Airlines Arena, and the Javits Center for overflow. So the decision was made early on to bring everybody into one venue.”

That venue attracted Agudath Israel for several reasons. MetLife’s technological features “are incredible,” Gertzulin notes. “The jumbotrons have great image clarity and make

everybody feel like they’re right on top of the action, something that I’ve never seen at a stadium before.” The Siyum was also simulcast to about 60 U.S. cities and more than 20 countries, and the videostreaming went smoothly, he adds. “Also, the commuting was extremely convenient. MetLife is just outside of New York City, near all the New Jersey highways. We had approximately 12,000 people who arrived via New Jersey Transit’s special

service going to the stadium, and about 10,000 through the Coach USA bus service at the Port Authority. We also had our own very wide network of bus pickup points at 11 different places in the tristate area, and many groups and synagogues had their own buses. So there were about 500 buses at the stadium.”

Congestion problems were more serious than normal for an event of this size due to a couple of factors. First, the vast majority arrived just prior to the start time, in contrast to football games and concerts, which are characterized by tailgating and a more staggered arrival pattern. Second, every car and bus had to go through security inspection. “We constantly were reminding people to come early, to make this as if they were traveling internationally and show up an hour and a half, two hours before,”

Gertzulin says. “But many did not or could not, and traffic started getting backed up. But people appreciated that we took these security measures, and the last thing anybody wants is, God forbid, something should happen and they start saying, ‘Why didn’t you take those measures?’”

Security was indeed the primary challenge for the Siyum’s organizers. “This is the first time in the history of this country

A M i l e s T o n e A T M e T l i f e s T A d i u Ms i y u M H A s H A s b r i n g s d i s T i n c T c H A l l e n g e s T o e v e n T

o r g A n i z e r s , b u T T H e r e s u l T i s w e l l w o r T H T H e e f f o r TBy Anthony Bilden

“This is the first time in the

history of this country that

90,000 visibly and identifiably

orthodox Jews were coming

into one location, and given

everything that’s going on in

the world today, this was a

serious concern for us as the

organizing body.”

RELIGIOUS MEETINGS RELIGIOUS MEETINGS RELIGIOUS MEETINGS RELIGIOUS MEETINGS RELIGIOUS RELIGIOUS MEETINGS

Rabbi Shlomo Gertzulin, COO of the 12th Siyum HaShas of Daf Yomi, welcomes the almost 90,000 participants to MetLife Stadium.


that 90,000 visibly and identifiably Orthodox Jews were coming into one location, and given everything that’s going on in the world today, this was a serious concern for us as the organizing body, as well as for the security agents that we met with,” Gertzulin stresses. Agudath Israel abstained from promoting the event in the general media, and had dozens of meetings with New Jersey state police. But the security initiative went far beyond that, involving Homeland Security and Border Protection. “Washington gave the event a very high rating in terms of the requirements to secure it, and once that rating came through it kicked in an enormous amount of security resources. I’ve got to give credit to [New Jersey] Governor Chris Christie because when he received word from the Feds about the level of security, he gave the go-ahead to the superintendent to throw in whatever resources needed.” And those resources were considerable. “Normally at a Giants or Jets game they will have 200 state police assigned to the stadium and perimeter. We had over 1,000 New Jersey police assigned to this event, in addition to the FBI. There were a total of 71 different security agencies and 2,200 security officials involved in the operation, including police helicopters, snipers, and plain-clothed and uniformed personnel. We had 90 canine units, almost every unit in the state,” Gertzulin says.

But even more impressive than these numbers was the fact that every single state trooper was brought down to the stadium two weeks prior to the event, in groups of 100 every day, for a briefing on this unique gathering. “They were explained exactly what was going to be happening, what type of people were coming, what they could expect from the moment people arrive to the moment they leave,” Gertzulin relates. “And we did the sensitivity training on Orthodox customs, including the separation of men and women, the prayer part, the dancing and celebration. It really paid off because the police were totally familiar with what was happening. It was a beautiful thing. I never expected it, but the state troopers said it would help their officers understand the event.”

Gertzulin also has words of praise for Delaware North Corporation, the exclusive food service provider at MetLife Stadium, who “were extremely cooperative. We recommended kosher caterers to them, and they brought in a whole line of kosher snacks. As far as all the snacks that they normally sell, we showed them which ones

were acceptable to us, those that had proper certification.”

Special accommodations also had to be made for the relatively high percentage of elderly and/or handicapped attendees. “Because of the nature of this event and its significance to the community, we had probably several hundred people in wheelchairs and many elderly people, including Holocaust survivors. For them this is a great celebration of victory over the Nazis,” Gertzulin explained. “And the stadium’s guest services department was just amazing.” Agudath Israel supplemented the stadium’s guest services staff with the Chevra Hatzalah Volunteer Ambulance Corps., which provided more than 200 volunteers along with wheelchairs, golf carts, and other equipment. As a result of these efforts, after the event “we haven’t heard any significant issues at all with older people not being able to move around,” he adds.

Ultimately, Agudath Israel was impressed with all of its partners in staging this milestone for Daf Yomi participants, from state and national security forces to the MetLife Stadium organization, who “really threw their entire team behind this, everyone from top down,” says Gertzulin. Yet the admiration was mutual, as police agencies and MetLife management were equally impressed with the Orthodox community. “They assigned a state trooper to me for the entire day, and at six o’clock, about an hour before the event was to begin, the trooper said, ‘Rabbi, I’ve got to tell you, if this was a football game, by now I would have locked up 10 people already’ due to drunkenness, fighting, etc. They were amazed at the decorum, respect, conduct and thank-you’s they got from attendees as they were leaving,” Gertzulin observes. So while the Siyum was in certain ways not the easiest mega-event to manage, in other ways it was a pleasure and a model of civility.

“we did sensitivity training

on (Jewish) orthodox customs.

it really paid off because the

police were totally familiar

with what was happening.

it was a beautiful thing.”

RELIGIOUS MEETINGS RELIGIOUS MEETINGS RELIGIOUS MEETINGS RELIGIOUS MEETINGS RELIGIOUS RELIGIOUS MEETINGS RELIGIOUS MEETINGS RELIGIOUS MEETINGS RELIGIOUS MEETINGS RELIGIOUS

(Right): Gertzulin thanks New Jersey Transit Police Chief Christopher

Trucillo on behalf of some 15,000 Siyum participants who commuted

via the special “Siyum Express” trains from Penn Station in Manhattan.

(Below): State police were briefed on many Jewish Orthodox customs

integral to the event, such as celebration and dancing.


STaTe of The induSTry STaTe of The induSTry STaTe of The induSTry STaTe of The induSTry STaTeState of the Industry

By Anthony Bilden

The bread-and-butter for meeting planners in the insurance and financial fields has always been incentive travel, which is a major motivator for sales agents. And now, well past the height of the recession and the stigma that resulted from the “AiG incident,” companies

are reinvesting in those programs. But the focus on motivational value for the money is keener, so planners must really marshal their resources to pinpoint the destinations, resorts and offsite venues that will deliver the best experiences for qualifiers.

“incentive and recognition events have many layers of complexity,” asserts Koleen M. Roach, director, meetings and conferences, with Securian Financial Group. “it’s important that we provide a high-quality experience and look at the types of properties that companies might not consider for business meetings. We look at resorts and our scouting efforts frequently take us overseas. taking a large group of people to Zambia, for example, requires more attention to detail than you can imagine.”

the site-selection challenge is intensified by the fact that many senior-level sales reps are well traveled and need to be regularly inspired by different travel rewards. “Providing superior experiences every time takes a lot of creativity, ingenuity and very hard work,” Roach adds.

Since the 1950s, one of the key resources for planners

in this area has been Financial & insurance Conference Planners (FiCP), which offers a network of more than 500 professionals. Roach serves as chair of FiCP, and is well positioned for that role given her 14 years at St. Paul, Mn-based Securian, where she is responsible for the planning, implementation and marketing of all recognition and incentive programs, as well as business meetings, board meetings, domestic conventions and international conferences. her background in corporate meeting planning prior to joining Securian includes 13 years as a planner and recognition program specialist with the department Store division of dayton hudson Corporation.

in the following interview with Facilities Media Group, Roach discusses the current state of the insurance and financial meetings industry and gives her perspective on the import of certain popular acronyms in her field. these include corporate social responsibility (CSR), measuring return on investment (Roi), and strategic meetings management (SMM), understood as an enterprise-wide approach to planning. She also shares her thoughts on FiCP’s upcoming annual

conference, FiCP liVe – Connect. learn. evolve., taking place nov. 11-14 at the JW Marriott los Angeles.

Facilities Media Group: Do you think that insurance and financial companies are back to investing in sales incentive

i n c o n v e r s a T i o n w i T h . . .

Koleen M. roachdirecTor, MeeTingS and conferenceS,

Securian financial group

i n s u r a n c e a n d F i n a n c i a l M e e T i n g s : i n c e n T i v e T r a v e l i s B a c k i n T h e s p o T l i g h T

“it’s currently a seller’s

market and it can be difficult to

help management understand

that. The rates, spaces and

short-term bookings we

enjoyed during the buyer’s

market are no longer available.”


STaTe of The induSTry STaTe of The induSTry STaTe of The induSTry STaTe of The induSTry STaTe STaTe of The induSTry STaTe of The induSTry STaTe of The induSTry STaTe of The induSTry STaTe

trips at pre-recession levels?

yes, they are reinvesting. Senior management understands that incentives motivate sales personnel as much as compensation and benefits. Although there were many cancellations and reschedules during the 2009-2011 recession, many companies quietly carried on. Several of my peers at insurance and financial companies will tell you they flew under the radar rather than cancel meetings. Companies also took advantage of those few lean years to reevaluate and restructure rather than eliminate programs, and now are better prepared to deal with the public perception of incentives.

FMG: Have companies begun to use international destinations more frequently?

international destinations continue to be the most desirable, and cruises are surging in popularity. From private charters to buy-in packages on pre-existing cruises, this industry is creating attractive options that offer a variety of venues for private events.

FMG: What are some of the international destinations currently popular with well-traveled insurance sales reps?

Prague and lisbon are experiencing a bit of a renaissance in terms of interest and new property offerings. dubrovnik, Croatia is a popular destination for cruises and land programs, and has strong historic appeal for almost any traveler. South America is an affordable destination and cities like Buenos Aires, Santiago and Cusco are seeing a lot of interest. Cruises of the Greek isles are also popular choices, though Greece continues to struggle with ground programs.

FMG: Based on your experience, is it becoming a seller’s market this year in first-tier U.S. cities, making both finding space and negotiating with hotels more challenging?

yes, it’s currently a seller’s market and it can be difficult to help management understand that. the rates, spaces and short-term bookings we enjoyed during the buyer’s market are no longer available. this is great news for our hospitality partners who’ve struggled during the past four years. it’s also a sign that our economy is finally starting to rebound.

FMG: How popular do you see virtual meetings and “hybrid” meetings becoming in the insurance and finance fields?

We talk about this frequently at industry meetings, and it is not big on anyone’s radar. Financial services is a relationship business, and we do not see virtual meetings coming to the fore from an incentive standpoint. our

advisors want to personally interact with their peers and senior management from the home office. A recent survey of FiCP planners shows only about five percent use virtual meetings.

FMG: Overall, how strong of a priority are sustainable practices at meetings today, compared to a few years ago?

As a society we have incorporated green initiatives into our personal and professional lives. Green meetings have moved from initiative to implementation to expectation.

FMG: Do FICP members exemplify what you consider leading-edge CSR programs at their events?

CSR is somewhere between implementation and expectation. though it must be voluntary for attendees, planners will continue to incorporate CSR into incentive meetings because they enjoy it; it makes them feel better and their attendees appreciate it. Many associations incorporate CSR into their own events. FiCP has taken its CSR commitment one level higher and partnered with Junior Achievement both domestically and internationally. JA is the FiCP’s charity of choice because of its focus on youth education and achievement. With operations in 50 states and an additional 119 areas outside the U.S., this partnership provides the opportunity for local representatives to participate in FiCP activities and maintain the tradition of giving back to the host communities. it’s a great CSR partnership!

FMG: Strategic meetings management programs (SMMPs) are prominent at large pharmaceutical companies where compliance is a big issue. Are insurance and financial firms, whose meetings are subject to the guidelines and legal restrictions set by federal regulators such as the Securities and Exchange Commission and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, centralizing their meetings operations as well?

Management expects those of us at the director level and above to manage expenses using high standards for financial management, risk assessment, expense analysis and attendee satisfaction. it’s good business and it’s the right thing to do.

“Financial services is a

relationship business, and we do

not see virtual meetings coming

to the fore from an incentive

standpoint. our advisors want

to personally interact with their

peers and senior management

from the home office. a recent

survey of Ficp planners shows

only about five percent use

virtual meetings.”


STaTe of The induSTry STaTe of The induSTry STaTe of The induSTry STaTe of The induSTry STaTe

SMMP relates more to third-party engagement than direct buyer engagement. Some of the publicly held insurance and financial companies use SMMP, but most centralized planning departments with direct buyers have strong meetings management programs in place. Most are centralized and if not, they probably are moving that way. Sourcing through procurement is not standard for many companies and, though it doesn’t work for everyone, most have learned to live in that world.

FMG: Demonstrating ROI for meetings has always been a major focus for insurance and financial planners, especially since meeting budgets were cut back. Do you feel any of FICP’s members use measurement methods that are really ahead of the curve?

like SMMP, Roi is a corporate and third-party buzzword. We are not judged according to some index that moves up and down a chart. our companies expect us to create programs that motivate sales and properly reward our advisors for those sales. We are expected to come in on – or under – budget, and our guests are expected to leave happy and motivated to qualify for the next event. if we do our jobs right, those things will happen.

FMG: Is FICP launching any new educational initiatives in the near future that planners should be aware of?

FiCP is on fire with initiatives this year and our education program is the top priority, which may be why it is one of the most highly rated in the industry. our education offerings are consistent from meeting to meeting. We offer sessions on technology, contracts, negotiations, risk management, security and safety, speaker showcases, production quality, international meeting planning and other important skills. Member attendance and sponsorships sell out within minutes.

FMG: What are some personal highlights for you regarding the upcoming FICP LIVE?

i personally am excited about the two-day technology showcase that planners and hospitality partners may use any time they want to learn more about planning, sourcing, tracking and registration for meetings and events. i also look forward to hearing singer/songwriter Jewel speak and perform as our closing keynote speaker. As FiCP chair i can tell you that we are working on many leading-edge initiatives, and we hope to announce them soon. Stay tuned!

32 Facilities 2010–2011 Booking Guide

Reliant PaRkOne Reliant ParkHouston, TX 77054(832) 667-1400; Fax: (832) 667-1748www.reliantpark.comAssistant General Manager: Jeff Gaines

Snapshot: Reliant Park is the premier entertainment, sports, convention, trade-show and special event complex located in Houston’s South Main corridor. The complex features three distinct facilities – Reliant Stadium, Reliant Center and Reliant Arena. Reliant Park encompass-es 350 acres has 26,000 parking spaces and hosts more 600 events per year.Capacities: Reliant Stadium (71,500 seats and 125,000 sq. ft. of space for general sessions, catered functions and/or exhibits).Reliant Center (1.4 million gross sq.ft/706,213 sq. ft of single level contiguous exhibit space divisible into 11 separate halls also has 61 meeting rooms).

Reliant arena (approximately 8,000 seats and a 2,000-seat pavilion and 350,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space).the key feature of the Reliant Park complex is its flexibility. With four unique and adaptable venues, the Reliant Park complex has the versatility to accommodate any variety of events rang-ing from corporate meetings and team building seminars, to employee apprecia-tion and holiday parties! Backstage areas: 4 meeting rooms and 20,000 sq. ft backstage floor space 2 Locker rooms with showers and 15,000 sq. ft of catering/hospitality area.Marketing: An email database of 170,000 for pre-sales and special offers.Parking: 26,000 spaces.Demographics: Houston is the fourth most populous city in the United States. The greater Houston metropolitan area has a population of approximately 4 million people. The Houston City Statistical Area (CSA) covers 12,476 square miles. Houston is also a major media market, ranking 10th in size.

76 Facilities SuperBook 2009The West

AMERICANBANKCENTER901 N. ShorelineCorpus Christi, TX 78403(361) 826-4100; Fax: (361) 826-4905www.americanbankcenter.comGeneral Manager: Marc Solis

Corpus Christi’s Premier Event CenterSnapshot: AmericanBank Center islocated downtown in the Sparking Cityby the Sea, along the beautiful CorpusChristi bayfront. The architecturallypleasing building includes an Arena,Auditorium, and Convention Center.From sparkling glass to Texas lime-stone, the center’s improved facilitiesare a pleasure to see and experience.The AmericanBank Center Arena ishome to the CHL’s Corpus ChristiRayz hockey team, the Corpus ChristiSharks arena football2 team, and theTexas A&M University-Corpus ChristiSouthern Conference IslandersBasketball teams. The AmericanBank

Center Selena Auditorium, originallybuilt in 1979, has earned an OutstandingAcoustical Rating and has been one ofthe most attended venues for entertain-ment in the Coastal Bend area.Seating Capacities: AmericanBankCenter Arena – 9,000 +; SelenaAuditorium – 2,500.Exhibition Space: 76,500 sq. ft. (total);Bayview Ballroom – 20,000 sq. ft.;Watergarden Room – 25,366 sq. ft.Staging: StageRight brand stage, fullcapabilities for any size event.Sound/Lighting: State-of-the-art arenalighting system and arena sound system.Backstage Areas: 5 dressing rooms, 2 pro-duction offices, 2 loading docks, 2 separateload in/out doors, secure loading dock.Food & Beverage: Award-winningCenterplate provides in-house cateringand concessions.Parking: 2,000-2,500 parking spaceswithin five blocks of the building. Up to6,500 spaces available for large events.Marketing: full-service, in-houseMarketing Department.Demographics: Serves a market ofmore than 500,000; Located just twohours from San Antonio, 3 hours fromHouston.See ad on page 65

TEXAS

DODGE ARENA2600 North 23rd Street (Hwy 336)Hidalgo, TX 78557(956) 843-6688; Fax: (956) 843-5547www.dodgearena.comGeneral Manager: James Bricker

Snapshot: The Dodge Arena is locatedin Hidalgo, Texas, just minutes from theU.S.-Mexico border. Since its openingin October 2003, this $23-million multi-purpose complex is one of its kind in thearea and has consistently ranked in thetop 100 venues worldwide. PermanentDodge Arena tenants include the CHLRio Grande Valley Killer Bees, AF2 RioGrande Valley Dorados, and the NBA-DLeague Rio Grande Valley Vipers.Capacities: 6,800-seat arena that willconfigure up to 5,500-seats for ice hock-ey, football and soccer and a center stageconcert capacity of 6,800-seats.Backstage Areas: 2 main artist dressingrooms; 3 locker rooms that also serve asdressing rooms; private catering room;production office; accounting office.

Food & Beverage: 3 concessions areas;lounge/meeting room in the VIPentrance for club and suite holders; full-service bar off the concourse; suite levelfeatures a small bar exclusively for suiteholders.Audience Amenities: 508 luxury clubseats and 26 private suites, complete withVIP parking passes, and access to exclu-sive VIP bars and lounges.Parking: 2,200 surface parking spaces,with one designated VIP parking lot forsuite and club seat holders.Marketing: full-service in-house market-ing department that offers assistance withthe production and placement of tradi-tional media in both the United Statesand Mexico; marketing tools offeredinclude: email blasts, web advertising,street team advertising, and advertisingon Arena’s closed circuit television,Jumbotron, and outdoor marquee.Demographics: The Dodge Arena has acustomer base of more than 2.7 millionpeople (1 million along the U.S. side ofthe border, 1.7 million along theMexican side of the border), and is locat-ed in an area of South Texas known asthe Rio Grande Valley. The Valley is inthe top 100 television markets, and is the10th largest Hispanic DMA (86% of thepopulation is Hispanic).See ad on page 66

TEXAS

FAIR PARK, DALLAS1300 Robert B. Cullum Blvd at Grand AveDallas, TX 75210P.O. Box 159090 Dallas, TX 75315(214) 670-8400; Fax: (214) 670-8907www.fairpark.orgExecutive General Manager: Daniel HuertaSales Manager: Steven Flores

Snapshot: A 1930’s Art Deco Culturaland Entertainment Venue, a nationalhistoric landmark since 1986, and hometo the 1936 World’s Fair, Fair Park isconveniently located two miles east ofdowntown Dallas and one of the mostunique venues in the country. Duringthe last 10 years a number of the exhi-bition styled buildings have been reno-vated and restored to their original1936 grandeur including restoring thebeautiful Art Deco murals and basrelief ’s on the Centennial Hall, Food &Fiber Building, Automobile Buildingand Tower Building. In addition to the

façade of the Band Shell, an open airamphitheater, the unique lighting hasbeen restored as well as the bench seats.Capacities: over 850,000 sq. ft. ofrentable space including seven exhibi-tion halls ranging in size from 25,000sq. ft. of space to 94,500 sq. feet. ofspace; 6 performance facilities includingthe Music Hall. The Cotton BowlStadium has 90,000+ permanent chair-back seats; Fair Park Coliseum—28,000sq. ft. arena floor with 9,552 seats; TheBand Shell is an open-air amphitheaterwith 3,800 permanent seats and a seat-ing capacity of 4,500; AutomobileBuilding—84,500 sq. ft.; CentennialHall—94,500 sq ft.; Food & FiberPavilion—25,000 sq. ft.; Grand PlaceBuilding—50,000 sq. ft.; TowerBuilding—40,000 sq ft.; EmbarcaderoBuilding—27,000 sq. ft.Parking: 9,251 parking spaces insidethe park and 7,250 formal parkingspaces immediately adjacent to thepark.Market: visited by over 7 million peo-ple each year; site for more than 1,200special events and cultural festivals.See ad on page 67

TEXAS

RELIANT PARKOne Reliant ParkHouston, TX 77054(832) 667-1400; Fax: (832) 667-1748www.reliantpark.comAssistant General Manager: Jeff Gaines

Snapshot: Reliant Park is the premierentertainment, sports, convention,tradeshow and special event complexlocated in Houston’s South Main corri-dor. The complex features three distinctfacilities – Reliant Stadium, ReliantCenter and Reliant Arena. Reliant Parkencompasses 350 acres has 26,000 park-ing spaces and hosts more 600 eventsper year.Capacities: Reliant Stadium (71,500seats and 125,000 sq. ft. of space forgeneral sessions, catered functionsand/or exhibits).Reliant Center (1.4 million grosssq.ft/706,213 sq. ft of single level con-tiguous exhibit space divisible into 11separate halls also has 61 meeting

rooms).Reliant Arena (approximately 8,000seats and a 2,000-seat pavilion and350,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space).The key feature of the Reliant Parkcomplex is its flexibility. With fourunique and adaptable venues, theReliant Park complex has the versatilityto accommodate any variety of eventsranging from corporate meetings andteam building seminars, to employeeappreciation and holiday parties! Backstage areas: 4 meeting rooms and20,000 sq. ft backstage floor space 2 Locker rooms with showers and15,000 sq. ft of catering/hospitalityarea.Marketing: An email database of170,000 for pre-sales and special offers.Parking: 26,000 spaces.Demographics: Houston is the fourthmost populous city in the United States.The greater Houston metropolitan areahas a population of approximately 4 million people. The Houston CityStatistical Area (CSA) covers 12,476square miles. Houston is also a majormedia market, ranking 10th in size.See ad on page 71

TEXAS

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texas

76 Facilities SuperBook 2009The West

AMERICANBANKCENTER901 N. ShorelineCorpus Christi, TX 78403(361) 826-4100; Fax: (361) 826-4905www.americanbankcenter.comGeneral Manager: Marc Solis

Corpus Christi’s Premier Event CenterSnapshot: AmericanBank Center islocated downtown in the Sparking Cityby the Sea, along the beautiful CorpusChristi bayfront. The architecturallypleasing building includes an Arena,Auditorium, and Convention Center.From sparkling glass to Texas lime-stone, the center’s improved facilitiesare a pleasure to see and experience.The AmericanBank Center Arena ishome to the CHL’s Corpus ChristiRayz hockey team, the Corpus ChristiSharks arena football2 team, and theTexas A&M University-Corpus ChristiSouthern Conference IslandersBasketball teams. The AmericanBank

Center Selena Auditorium, originallybuilt in 1979, has earned an OutstandingAcoustical Rating and has been one ofthe most attended venues for entertain-ment in the Coastal Bend area.Seating Capacities: AmericanBankCenter Arena – 9,000 +; SelenaAuditorium – 2,500.Exhibition Space: 76,500 sq. ft. (total);Bayview Ballroom – 20,000 sq. ft.;Watergarden Room – 25,366 sq. ft.Staging: StageRight brand stage, fullcapabilities for any size event.Sound/Lighting: State-of-the-art arenalighting system and arena sound system.Backstage Areas: 5 dressing rooms, 2 pro-duction offices, 2 loading docks, 2 separateload in/out doors, secure loading dock.Food & Beverage: Award-winningCenterplate provides in-house cateringand concessions.Parking: 2,000-2,500 parking spaceswithin five blocks of the building. Up to6,500 spaces available for large events.Marketing: full-service, in-houseMarketing Department.Demographics: Serves a market ofmore than 500,000; Located just twohours from San Antonio, 3 hours fromHouston.See ad on page 65

TEXAS

DODGE ARENA2600 North 23rd Street (Hwy 336)Hidalgo, TX 78557(956) 843-6688; Fax: (956) 843-5547www.dodgearena.comGeneral Manager: James Bricker

Snapshot: The Dodge Arena is locatedin Hidalgo, Texas, just minutes from theU.S.-Mexico border. Since its openingin October 2003, this $23-million multi-purpose complex is one of its kind in thearea and has consistently ranked in thetop 100 venues worldwide. PermanentDodge Arena tenants include the CHLRio Grande Valley Killer Bees, AF2 RioGrande Valley Dorados, and the NBA-DLeague Rio Grande Valley Vipers.Capacities: 6,800-seat arena that willconfigure up to 5,500-seats for ice hock-ey, football and soccer and a center stageconcert capacity of 6,800-seats.Backstage Areas: 2 main artist dressingrooms; 3 locker rooms that also serve asdressing rooms; private catering room;production office; accounting office.

Food & Beverage: 3 concessions areas;lounge/meeting room in the VIPentrance for club and suite holders; full-service bar off the concourse; suite levelfeatures a small bar exclusively for suiteholders.Audience Amenities: 508 luxury clubseats and 26 private suites, complete withVIP parking passes, and access to exclu-sive VIP bars and lounges.Parking: 2,200 surface parking spaces,with one designated VIP parking lot forsuite and club seat holders.Marketing: full-service in-house market-ing department that offers assistance withthe production and placement of tradi-tional media in both the United Statesand Mexico; marketing tools offeredinclude: email blasts, web advertising,street team advertising, and advertisingon Arena’s closed circuit television,Jumbotron, and outdoor marquee.Demographics: The Dodge Arena has acustomer base of more than 2.7 millionpeople (1 million along the U.S. side ofthe border, 1.7 million along theMexican side of the border), and is locat-ed in an area of South Texas known asthe Rio Grande Valley. The Valley is inthe top 100 television markets, and is the10th largest Hispanic DMA (86% of thepopulation is Hispanic).See ad on page 66

TEXAS

FAIR PARK, DALLAS1300 Robert B. Cullum Blvd at Grand AveDallas, TX 75210P.O. Box 159090 Dallas, TX 75315(214) 670-8400; Fax: (214) 670-8907www.fairpark.orgExecutive General Manager: Daniel HuertaSales Manager: Steven Flores

Snapshot: A 1930’s Art Deco Culturaland Entertainment Venue, a nationalhistoric landmark since 1986, and hometo the 1936 World’s Fair, Fair Park isconveniently located two miles east ofdowntown Dallas and one of the mostunique venues in the country. Duringthe last 10 years a number of the exhi-bition styled buildings have been reno-vated and restored to their original1936 grandeur including restoring thebeautiful Art Deco murals and basrelief ’s on the Centennial Hall, Food &Fiber Building, Automobile Buildingand Tower Building. In addition to the

façade of the Band Shell, an open airamphitheater, the unique lighting hasbeen restored as well as the bench seats.Capacities: over 850,000 sq. ft. ofrentable space including seven exhibi-tion halls ranging in size from 25,000sq. ft. of space to 94,500 sq. feet. ofspace; 6 performance facilities includingthe Music Hall. The Cotton BowlStadium has 90,000+ permanent chair-back seats; Fair Park Coliseum—28,000sq. ft. arena floor with 9,552 seats; TheBand Shell is an open-air amphitheaterwith 3,800 permanent seats and a seat-ing capacity of 4,500; AutomobileBuilding—84,500 sq. ft.; CentennialHall—94,500 sq ft.; Food & FiberPavilion—25,000 sq. ft.; Grand PlaceBuilding—50,000 sq. ft.; TowerBuilding—40,000 sq ft.; EmbarcaderoBuilding—27,000 sq. ft.Parking: 9,251 parking spaces insidethe park and 7,250 formal parkingspaces immediately adjacent to thepark.Market: visited by over 7 million peo-ple each year; site for more than 1,200special events and cultural festivals.See ad on page 67

TEXAS

RELIANT PARKOne Reliant ParkHouston, TX 77054(832) 667-1400; Fax: (832) 667-1748www.reliantpark.comAssistant General Manager: Jeff Gaines

Snapshot: Reliant Park is the premierentertainment, sports, convention,tradeshow and special event complexlocated in Houston’s South Main corri-dor. The complex features three distinctfacilities – Reliant Stadium, ReliantCenter and Reliant Arena. Reliant Parkencompasses 350 acres has 26,000 park-ing spaces and hosts more 600 eventsper year.Capacities: Reliant Stadium (71,500seats and 125,000 sq. ft. of space forgeneral sessions, catered functionsand/or exhibits).Reliant Center (1.4 million grosssq.ft/706,213 sq. ft of single level con-tiguous exhibit space divisible into 11separate halls also has 61 meeting

rooms).Reliant Arena (approximately 8,000seats and a 2,000-seat pavilion and350,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space).The key feature of the Reliant Parkcomplex is its flexibility. With fourunique and adaptable venues, theReliant Park complex has the versatilityto accommodate any variety of eventsranging from corporate meetings andteam building seminars, to employeeappreciation and holiday parties! Backstage areas: 4 meeting rooms and20,000 sq. ft backstage floor space 2 Locker rooms with showers and15,000 sq. ft of catering/hospitalityarea.Marketing: An email database of170,000 for pre-sales and special offers.Parking: 26,000 spaces.Demographics: Houston is the fourthmost populous city in the United States.The greater Houston metropolitan areahas a population of approximately 4 million people. The Houston CityStatistical Area (CSA) covers 12,476square miles. Houston is also a majormedia market, ranking 10th in size.See ad on page 71

TEXAS

West v1 1/13/09 8:43 AM Page 76

RiveRCenteR & aDleR theatRe 136 East Third Street, Davenport, IA 52801(563) 326-8500; Fax: (563) 326-8505www.adlertheatre.com www.riverctr.com Executive Director: Rick Palmer, CFE

“The Center With It All”Snapshot: Managed by VenuWorks, the classic, 2,411-seat Adler Theatre is a historic, art-deco yet also state-of-the-art PAC originally built in 1931 and most recently renovated in 2006. The Adler is part of the RiverCenter Complex, which features more than 100,000 square feet of meeting, exhibit and event space. The RiverCenter includes the Great Hall, featuring a seating capacity of 3,200 for general admissions and 2,500 reserved seats and the Mississippi River Hall, which can host 1,400 for general admis-sion and 1,100 reserved. Staging: 40’ deep from the plaster line to the back wall, 80’ wide, 38’ stage left of

center and 42’ stage right of center. The proscenium opening is 59’-4” wide. The height from stage floor to the grid is 69’. Backstage areas: 2 production offices; 800-sq.-ft. wardrobe room. 8 dressing rooms, 2 star dressing rooms; soloist room. Sound: 5 EV XLD281 Loudspeakers in the center cluster; Left and Right Clusters are (8 each side) EV XLC-127+. Soundcraft MH2 24 channel console. lighting: Balcony/Side House fills throughout the theatre. In-House Dimmers are controlled by an ETC Emphasis Server with an Express 125 faceplate.Food & Beverage: Adler Theatre has 2 permanent concession stands and the RiverCenter has 3 permanent conces-sion stands. audience amenities: Premiere Club Seating in loge; Broadway at the Adler Theatre Subscribers; Accessible seating on main floor.Marketing: Full service marketing/promotions coordination available.Parking: 750 covered parking spaces avail-able for Adler Theatre patrons. More than 2,300 additional spaces nearby. See ad on page 35

IOWa

RuShMoRe Plaza CiviC CenteR444 Mt. Rushmore Rd. N.Rapid City, SD 57701(605) 394-4115 or (800)-GOTMINEFax: (605) 394-4119www.gotmine.comGeneral Manager: Brian Maliske

The Center of It AllSnapshot: Rushmore Plaza Civic Center is South Dakota’s premier full-service performance, exhibition, convention and event complex. Since opening its doors in 1977, entertain-ment promoters, professional sports teams and business executives have all discovered that the Civic Center can meet their needs with profes-sional service and competitive pricing. The Complex features a 10,000-seat Arena, 1,746-seat Fine Arts Theatre, and 2 large Convention Halls with 12 various sized Meeting Rooms from 2,000 to 20,000. A new 6,500-seat

Ice Arena was added in Nov. 2008 to accomodate almost 7,500.exhibition Space: 180,000 sq. ft.Capacities: Arena—concerts and other entertainment: 10,000; Sports events seating: 5,700-8,500; half-house setting with seating up to 5,700 (Arena features 34,500 sq. ft. of uninterrupted space); The Rushmore Plaza Civic Center’s Fine Arts Theatre seats up to 1,746.Backstage areas: Arena has 2 star dressing rooms on the 2nd level and 5 locker/dressing rooms on the main floor; Fine Arts Theatre has 2 chorus rooms and 4 individual dressing rooms.Food & Beverage: 9 concession stands, club restaurant, and Food Court, multiple portable stands.audience amenities: Club Seating, Suites, Large Daktronics Video Screens.Parking: 4,000 Free Spaces.Demographics: 250,000 in ADI.See ad on Cover 2

62 Facilities SuperBook 2009The Midwest

ERVIN J. NUTTERCENTERat Wright State UniversitySuite 4303640 Colonel Glenn HighwayDayton, OH 45435-0001(937) 775-3498; Fax: (937) 775-2060www.nuttercenter.comExecutive Director: John Siehl, CFE

“Ohio’s premier spot for sports,concerts, and family events.”

Snapshot: This multipurpose entertain-ment and sports complex features1,000 – 12,000 seats. The venue openedin 1990 and has been renovated toallow hockey to be played and addedreinforced steel rigging along with newmotorized lower level seating, motor-ized center arena scoreboard, renovatedluxury suites and new-look concessionstands.Capacities: Basketball: 10,400;Hockey: 9,900; End-Stage Seating:11,500; Professional Wrestling/ In “TheRound” Seating: 11,500; Extreme

(Motorcross): 9,500.Staging: Stage right 60’ W x 40’ D x4’-7’ H; 2-12’x 24’ sound wings; Stageramping: ADA approved—floor tostage; Riser stock: Variable = 12” – 32”in height.Backstage Areas: Production Office:upstage left, floor level; DressingRooms: Two Star Dressing Rooms—upstage left, floor level; Four TeamDressing Rooms- upstage left.Sound: Center Cluster Unit.Lighting: 4 Lycain 1290 XLT, 2K.Food & Beverage: Ovations is theonsite concession and catering service; 8Concession stands (including the floorportable: limited menu); 2 Hot DogNation stands; 2 Black AngusHamburger stands; 1 Pizziola Pizzastand ; 1: Houssong’s Mexican Cantina;1 City BBQ; 1 Full Service Bar; 2Dippin’ Dots stands.Audience Amenities: Padded Seatingin first six rows; Video board in middleof the arena; Guest service booth.Parking: 4,238 spaces.Marketing: Marketing Departmentand a Group Sales Department.Demographics: 1.2 million people inthe Dayton area and the Greater MiamiValley.See ad on Page 47

OHIO

RUSHMORE PLAZACIVIC CENTER444 Mt. Rushmore Rd. N.Rapid City, SD 57701(605) 394-4115 or (800)-GOTMINEFax: (605) 394-4119www.gotmine.comSales and Marketing Manager:Steve Montgomery

The Center of It AllSnapshot: Rushmore Plaza CivicCenter is South Dakota’s premier full-service performance, exhibition, con-vention and event complex. Sinceopening its doors in 1977, entertain-ment promoters, professional sportsteams and business executives have alldiscovered that the Civic Center canmeet their needs with professional serv-ice and competitive pricing. TheComplex features a 10,000-seat Arena,1,752-seat Fine Arts Theatre, and 2large Convention Halls with 12 varioussized Meeting Rooms from 2,000 to 20.A new 6,500-seat Ice Arena was addedin Nov. 2008.

Exhibition Space: 180,000 sq. ft.Capacities: Arena—concerts and otherentertainment: 10,000; Sports eventsseating: 5,700-8,500; half-house settingwith seating up to 5,700 (Arena fea-tures 34,500 sq. ft. of uninterruptedspace); The Rushmore Plaza CivicCenter’s Fine Arts Theatre seats up to 1,752.Backstage Areas: Arena has 2 stardressing rooms on the 2nd level and 5locker/dressing rooms on the mainfloor; Fine Arts Theatre has 2 chorusrooms and 4 individual dressing rooms.Food & Beverage: 9 concession stands,club restaurant, and Food Court, multi-ple portable stands.Audience Amenities: Club Seating,Suites, Large Daktronics Video ScreensParking: 4,000 Free Spaces.Demographics: 250,000 in ADI.See ad on page 51

SOUTH DAKOTA

SWIFTEL CENTER824 32nd AvenueBrookings, SD 57006(605) 692-7539: Fax: (605) 697-6393www.swiftelcenter.comExecutive Director: Tom Richter

Midwest Hospitality at its Best!Snapshot: Managed by VenuWorks,the Swiftel Center is one of SouthDakota’s premier event centers formeetings and entertainment. With a30,000-square-foot Arena, state of theart Daktronics Banquet Rooms,Concourse, County Rooms, ConferenceRooms and In-House Catering service;the Swiftel Center can plan any eventthat you can imagine. Swiftel Centerfeatures a dedicated staff to make anyevent successful from conception toreality and provide superior service witha friendly smile.Seating Capacities: Basketball – 4,300;End-stage Concert (reserved) – 5,400;End stage Concert (festival) – 7,000.Exhibition Space: 30,000 sq. ft.Portable Staging: 40’ x 60’ x 4-6’ stage;(24) ME-500 supports, 48”-78”; (63)

4’x8’ decks, reversible tech; (12) 4’x8’decks, ground pepper carpet/ tech stage;(15) 8’ guardrails; (3) 4’ guardrails; (15)8’x48”-78” black skirting; (3) 4”x48”-78” black skirting; (8) 4’x8’x 18”-24”supports; (1) 21’x21’ dance floor.Sound: BOSE Quality Systems pow-ered by Crown Amplification.Lighting: Ruud Lights, (120) 400 WattMetal Halide; manually controlled.Backstage Areas: (4) Locker rooms;(2) Dressing room bathroom; (3) meet-ing Rooms.Food & Beverage: 2 Event level con-cession stands; full catering availableon-site.Marketing: full-service marketingdepartment.Demographics: The Swiftel Centerserves the tri-state region of SouthDakota, Minnesota and Iowa.See ad on page 53

SOUTH DAKOTA

ALERUS CENTER1200 South 42nd StreetGrand Forks, ND 58201(701) 792-1200; Fax: (701) 746-6511www.aleruscenter.comDirector of Administration: Vione Jordheim

Snapshot: Managed by VenuWorks,Alerus Center, built in 2001, is theregion’s premier, full service entertain-ment and event center and features both an arena and a conventioncenter. The Alerus Center Arena wasdesigned to serve as a multi-purpose,versatile facility capable of quick conversions while maintaining theintegrity of the “entertainment experi-ence”. Seating Capacities: Total –21,389; Arena Set End Stage: 11,029;Round: 12, 914; Half-House: 8,245;Standard Theater: 2,619.Staging: The stage right portable stageallows a maximum stage of 64’W x52’D x 4’ to 6’ H. Accessories includean accessible ramp, stairs, guardrails,and skirting. The standard mix stage isa 12’W x 24’D platform with heights

ranging from 1’ to 3’.Backstage Areas: 8 locker rooms;private offices, meeting rooms and startdressing rooms are available.Sound System: custom Bose system,powered by Crown amplification, andincludes corded microphones, wirelessmicrophones, CD and cassette players,mixing boards, and a variety of otheraudio-visual equipment.Lighting: mix of metal halide andquartz fixtures with a Douglas pro-grammable controller; full black-outcapabilities via an extensive half-housecurtaining system.Food & Beverage: 8 fixed concessionstands, 7 various portable stands,20 beer domes and 6 portable liquorstands; the Alerus Center also providesexclusive on-site catering service.Parking: 3,388 on-site spaces.Marketing: full in-house marketingdepartment.Demographics: more than one millionpeople within 2-hour driving radius.See ad on page 40

NORTH DAKOTA

Midwest v1 1/13/09 8:26 AM Page 62

sOuth DakOta

62 Facilities SuperBook 2009The Midwest

ERVIN J. NUTTERCENTERat Wright State UniversitySuite 4303640 Colonel Glenn HighwayDayton, OH 45435-0001(937) 775-3498; Fax: (937) 775-2060www.nuttercenter.comExecutive Director: John Siehl, CFE

“Ohio’s premier spot for sports,concerts, and family events.”

Snapshot: This multipurpose entertain-ment and sports complex features1,000 – 12,000 seats. The venue openedin 1990 and has been renovated toallow hockey to be played and addedreinforced steel rigging along with newmotorized lower level seating, motor-ized center arena scoreboard, renovatedluxury suites and new-look concessionstands.Capacities: Basketball: 10,400;Hockey: 9,900; End-Stage Seating:11,500; Professional Wrestling/ In “TheRound” Seating: 11,500; Extreme

(Motorcross): 9,500.Staging: Stage right 60’ W x 40’ D x4’-7’ H; 2-12’x 24’ sound wings; Stageramping: ADA approved—floor tostage; Riser stock: Variable = 12” – 32”in height.Backstage Areas: Production Office:upstage left, floor level; DressingRooms: Two Star Dressing Rooms—upstage left, floor level; Four TeamDressing Rooms- upstage left.Sound: Center Cluster Unit.Lighting: 4 Lycain 1290 XLT, 2K.Food & Beverage: Ovations is theonsite concession and catering service; 8Concession stands (including the floorportable: limited menu); 2 Hot DogNation stands; 2 Black AngusHamburger stands; 1 Pizziola Pizzastand ; 1: Houssong’s Mexican Cantina;1 City BBQ; 1 Full Service Bar; 2Dippin’ Dots stands.Audience Amenities: Padded Seatingin first six rows; Video board in middleof the arena; Guest service booth.Parking: 4,238 spaces.Marketing: Marketing Departmentand a Group Sales Department.Demographics: 1.2 million people inthe Dayton area and the Greater MiamiValley.See ad on Page 47

OHIO

RUSHMORE PLAZACIVIC CENTER444 Mt. Rushmore Rd. N.Rapid City, SD 57701(605) 394-4115 or (800)-GOTMINEFax: (605) 394-4119www.gotmine.comSales and Marketing Manager:Steve Montgomery

The Center of It AllSnapshot: Rushmore Plaza CivicCenter is South Dakota’s premier full-service performance, exhibition, con-vention and event complex. Sinceopening its doors in 1977, entertain-ment promoters, professional sportsteams and business executives have alldiscovered that the Civic Center canmeet their needs with professional serv-ice and competitive pricing. TheComplex features a 10,000-seat Arena,1,752-seat Fine Arts Theatre, and 2large Convention Halls with 12 varioussized Meeting Rooms from 2,000 to 20.A new 6,500-seat Ice Arena was addedin Nov. 2008.

Exhibition Space: 180,000 sq. ft.Capacities: Arena—concerts and otherentertainment: 10,000; Sports eventsseating: 5,700-8,500; half-house settingwith seating up to 5,700 (Arena fea-tures 34,500 sq. ft. of uninterruptedspace); The Rushmore Plaza CivicCenter’s Fine Arts Theatre seats up to 1,752.Backstage Areas: Arena has 2 stardressing rooms on the 2nd level and 5locker/dressing rooms on the mainfloor; Fine Arts Theatre has 2 chorusrooms and 4 individual dressing rooms.Food & Beverage: 9 concession stands,club restaurant, and Food Court, multi-ple portable stands.Audience Amenities: Club Seating,Suites, Large Daktronics Video ScreensParking: 4,000 Free Spaces.Demographics: 250,000 in ADI.See ad on page 51

SOUTH DAKOTA

SWIFTEL CENTER824 32nd AvenueBrookings, SD 57006(605) 692-7539: Fax: (605) 697-6393www.swiftelcenter.comExecutive Director: Tom Richter

Midwest Hospitality at its Best!Snapshot: Managed by VenuWorks,the Swiftel Center is one of SouthDakota’s premier event centers formeetings and entertainment. With a30,000-square-foot Arena, state of theart Daktronics Banquet Rooms,Concourse, County Rooms, ConferenceRooms and In-House Catering service;the Swiftel Center can plan any eventthat you can imagine. Swiftel Centerfeatures a dedicated staff to make anyevent successful from conception toreality and provide superior service witha friendly smile.Seating Capacities: Basketball – 4,300;End-stage Concert (reserved) – 5,400;End stage Concert (festival) – 7,000.Exhibition Space: 30,000 sq. ft.Portable Staging: 40’ x 60’ x 4-6’ stage;(24) ME-500 supports, 48”-78”; (63)

4’x8’ decks, reversible tech; (12) 4’x8’decks, ground pepper carpet/ tech stage;(15) 8’ guardrails; (3) 4’ guardrails; (15)8’x48”-78” black skirting; (3) 4”x48”-78” black skirting; (8) 4’x8’x 18”-24”supports; (1) 21’x21’ dance floor.Sound: BOSE Quality Systems pow-ered by Crown Amplification.Lighting: Ruud Lights, (120) 400 WattMetal Halide; manually controlled.Backstage Areas: (4) Locker rooms;(2) Dressing room bathroom; (3) meet-ing Rooms.Food & Beverage: 2 Event level con-cession stands; full catering availableon-site.Marketing: full-service marketingdepartment.Demographics: The Swiftel Centerserves the tri-state region of SouthDakota, Minnesota and Iowa.See ad on page 53

SOUTH DAKOTA

ALERUS CENTER1200 South 42nd StreetGrand Forks, ND 58201(701) 792-1200; Fax: (701) 746-6511www.aleruscenter.comDirector of Administration: Vione Jordheim

Snapshot: Managed by VenuWorks,Alerus Center, built in 2001, is theregion’s premier, full service entertain-ment and event center and features both an arena and a conventioncenter. The Alerus Center Arena wasdesigned to serve as a multi-purpose,versatile facility capable of quick conversions while maintaining theintegrity of the “entertainment experi-ence”. Seating Capacities: Total –21,389; Arena Set End Stage: 11,029;Round: 12, 914; Half-House: 8,245;Standard Theater: 2,619.Staging: The stage right portable stageallows a maximum stage of 64’W x52’D x 4’ to 6’ H. Accessories includean accessible ramp, stairs, guardrails,and skirting. The standard mix stage isa 12’W x 24’D platform with heights

ranging from 1’ to 3’.Backstage Areas: 8 locker rooms;private offices, meeting rooms and startdressing rooms are available.Sound System: custom Bose system,powered by Crown amplification, andincludes corded microphones, wirelessmicrophones, CD and cassette players,mixing boards, and a variety of otheraudio-visual equipment.Lighting: mix of metal halide andquartz fixtures with a Douglas pro-grammable controller; full black-outcapabilities via an extensive half-housecurtaining system.Food & Beverage: 8 fixed concessionstands, 7 various portable stands,20 beer domes and 6 portable liquorstands; the Alerus Center also providesexclusive on-site catering service.Parking: 3,388 on-site spaces.Marketing: full in-house marketingdepartment.Demographics: more than one millionpeople within 2-hour driving radius.See ad on page 40

NORTH DAKOTA

Midwest v1 1/13/09 8:26 AM Page 62

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VOTE for the top Conference Centers, Small to Mid-Size Meeting, University or Special Event Venues, and/or Hotels and Resorts your group has used for its meetings in the last three years. Please base your vote(s) on the following criteria:• Attractiveness and functionality • Technological capabilities • Quality of staff and conference planner • Team Building• Food & Beverage/Catering • Lighting • Acoustics • Climate control • Proximity to airport and other transportation • On or off-site lodging • Other support services • Front-desk operations • Set-ups and breakdowns • Room décor • Quality/Size of Ballroom• Special Packages • Spa • Nearby Attractions

Introducing New Prime Site Awards

corporations, state and regional associations and committees, as well as other independent groups, are increasingly holding their meetings and tradeshows in hotels and conference centers

that provide quality facilities, professional staff and competitive pricing. Recently, we at Facilities & Destinations (F&D) have seen an uptick in the news we receive about construction, remodeling and upgrades of conference centers, meeting hotels and resorts. With a wider range of site choices, and meeting venues doing their best job of trying to stand out in the pack, planners take notice when the product and services delivered exceeds their expectations. And that’s where we come in.For 19 years, Facilities Media Group (FMG) has been bestowing its annual Awards of Excellence to public assembly facilities and meeting destinations in North America. While a few years back F&D consolidated its Prime Site

Awards for conference centers, meeting hotels and convention centers into one accolade, the rising number of ballots received in each of the sectors has led us to reinstate our Prime Site awards for each of the original categories.Our awards are based on the opinions of professionals involved in site selection and meeting management, namely our readers — association and corporate meeting planners and executives. We at FMG ask you, the planner, to take note of and participate in the other half of our annual Awards of Excellence — the 2012 F&D Conference Center Prime Site

Awards and the 2012 F&D Meeting Hotel Prime Site Awards.What are the best conference centers and meeting, university or special event venues your group has used for its meetings in the last three years?Likewise, what are the top hotels and resorts your group has convened in during the last three years?


Combining rich meetings infrastructures and affordability, mid-market cities bring planners peace of mindBy Anthony Bilden

Several years after the height of the recession, tight budgets are still rampant in the

meetings industry, both on the association and corporate side. While nearly 60 percent of respondents to Meeting Professional International’s latest FutureWatch industry survey (conducted last year) said their number of meetings would increase, over 60 percent indicated meeting budgets would only rise “slightly” or remain the same. continued on

Taking the Middle WayTaking the Middle Way


Taking the Middle WayTaking the Middle Way

“Because we are located within

such a population-dense area of the Northeast, travel to our city is generally convenient and affordable.”

–KrIstIn McGrath,

ProvIdence WarWIcK cvB

“What I found when the recession

hit is that I was asked to cut budgets about 30 percent across the board. And I am not seeing those budgets increase.”

–PeGGy MarIlley, PrecIsIon

MeetInGs & events, Inc.


continued from Page 24this year, that cost-consciousness has been confirmed by third-party planners such as Peggy Marilley, founder and ceo of alexandria, va-based Precision Meetings & events, Inc. “What I found immediately when the recession hit is that I was asked to cut budgets about 30 percent across the board,” Marilley recalls. “and I am not seeing those budgets increase. I really believe people are still scrutinizing how every dollar is spent. It just means you, as a planner, have to be more creative in order to deliver a quality event.”

Indeed, from a planner’s perspective, it’s not about simply

looking for low prices in hotels, transportation, F&B, activities and so on, in order to come in under budget. rather, it’s about seeking value and a strong return on investment, even if the investment has diminished. that persistent objective explains why mid-market cities, otherwise known as “second tier” destinations, have remained on planners’ radar this year: they generally offer more affordability and rate negotiability, combined with a robust meetings infrastructure, including quality convention centers, hotels, offsite venues and attractions for attendees to enjoy during their free time. overall, mid-market cities are also freer of traffic congestion and crime than their first-tier counterparts.

of course, there are lodging space constraints given that second-tier cities are smaller; they have a population of between 300,000 and 1 million, according to a criterion given by Meeting Professionals International. Planners won’t find an MGM Grand-like property in colorado springs or nashville. and the airlift will usually be limited compared to a new york, san Francisco or chicago. But assuming that a second-tier city is logistically viable for a group and in line with meeting objectives, it merits a site inspection. “Meeting planner requests for site visits are trending up in 2012 versus 2011,” observes Kristin McGrath, vice-president of sales and services for the Providence Warwick cvB. and that goes along with more group business in general for this northeastern mid-market city. “Providence meetings business is trending up compared to 2011. We are seeing increased attendance at association meetings and an increasing volume of corporate inquiries. additionally, we are seeing the booking window lengthen. although we aren’t quite back to pre-recession levels, we consider key indicators to be trending in a positive direction,” McGrath says.

several other mid-market cities are also experiencing an upswing in group business this year, akron, oh being one of them. “In 2012, Greater akron continues to experience incremental and positive growth throughout the meeting sector. this includes countywide business and bookings at the akron/summit cvB-managed/marketed John s. Knight convention center,” notes Gregg Mervis, cvB president and ceo, and his sales executives. the city has “remained on a path of positive growth” since late 2008/early 2009, during which it only suffered “a modest negative effect” in meetings business, Mervis adds. savannah, Ga is another example of a thriving mid-market city. “our visit savannah sales team has been doing an outstanding job in what has been a less-than-ideal climate. last year was a record year for future bookings, and we are currently 14 percent over last year’s booking pace,” says Jeff hewitt, vice president of business development. “I expect that number to improve a bit between now and year end. We are just now returning to our pre-recession occupancy levels. and while the association side has been much stronger than corporate, we remain optimistic that the corporate sector may improve

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“The greatest advantage that a

second-tier city provides is their full and complete attention. You’re always the big fish in a smaller pond.”

–JeFF heWItt, vIsIt savannah


after the elections.”

For hewitt, “second tier” certainly doesn’t imply second rate in terms of group or planner experience. In fact, many second-tier cities are known for delivering highly personalized service due to the smaller number of groups they handle. “tier really has little to do with guest experience; it’s simply a matter of capacity. It’s about gross square footage and the number of hotel rooms in proximity to the event venue,” hewitt maintains. “the greatest advantage that a second-tier city provides is their full and complete attention. you’re always the big fish in a smaller pond.” Marilley, who recently staged a corporate meeting in savannah, confirms that level of attention. “My client fell in love with the city because they worked so hard to earn her business. From the moment we arrived to the moment we left, they were always involved and willing to help in any way that they could,” she relates. “they don’t have as many [group business] opportunities as a first-tier city, so when the opportunity comes along they are so excited about it. It shows how much they love their destination and want to welcome the group.” that kind of enthusiasm is magnified in the case of a citywide convention. “the client will be given the vIP treatment as they are ‘the convention’ in town,” notes tracy armstrong, director of community convention sales and marketing for visitrochester. “there are better press opportunities, and the hotels and cultural attractions, restaurants and merchants are eager for the business.”

apart from savannah, Marilley cites Portland, or, Milwaukee and Pittsburgh as great second-tier options in her experience, as well as Fort Worth, tX. “I believe if we can get clients there to look at these cities, they would agree the cities are great site choices, and the next step is the marketing,” she says. “For example, clients don’t always think of Fort Worth, even though it’s right in the dallas metropolitan area and near dFW airport, but it’s a fabulous city.” attractions like the Fort Worth stockyards and log cabin village (a “living history” museum) show that a city like Fort Worth is relatively small in size yet big on culture. and that goes for many mid-market cities, from austin to cleveland. since these

towns are less-trodden than new york, orlando and the like, planners may be giving many of their attendees a new, interesting travel experience – and come in nicely under budget to boot.

the cvBs of mid-market cities tend to have a good grasp of the unique experiences they can offer groups and the destination product they bring to the meetings market. For the akron/summit cvB, “being a second-tier city is a title we proudly wear,” says Mervis. “as an organization, we have always been realistic about our place within the market. leveraging our geography, venues, attractions and accommodations is what allows us to carve out a niche in the Midwest region. Meeting planners quickly recognize that our area’s accessibility and affordability are simply the proverbial icing on the cake.” served by both akron-canton airport and cleveland-hopkins International, akron is an example of a mid-market city that is quite accessible, contra the stereotype. the same goes for Providence, remarks McGrath: “Because we are located within such a population-dense area of the northeast, travel to our city is generally convenient and affordable.”

In rochester, hotels offer complimentary airport trans-portation and “daily parking rates do not exceed $8, many are in the $5 range, and in many cases there is no charge for parking at all,” armstrong notes. to make events even more affordable, visitrochester “offers many convention services at no charge, for example a staffed information table, convention bags with materials, etc.,” she adds. since mid-market cvBs regularly deal with clients on strict bud-gets, they have naturally become very experienced in cost control and maximizing value for groups. “Generally, our clients are cost-conscious, and rightly so in these uncertain (but optimistically improving) times,” Mervis says. “there-fore, it is important that we communicate the value/impact of potential additional expenditures, as they relate to the overall experience the meeting planner is creating for the attendees. ensuring that expenditures are warranted within the context of the event demonstrates our commitment to the client and their bottom line.”

Just like their client meeting groups, many second-tier cities and their hoteliers are making well-warranted in-vestments. this latest installment of our Mid-Market review covers various venue and infrastructure upgrades in the nine second-tier cities we feature, from two up-scale, 1,000-room hotels coming online in austin, to a ballroom renovation at the statehouse convention center in little rock, to a new pedestrian network in hartford. of course, the idea behind these projects is not to com-pete with the likes of a las vegas or an orlando. rather, second-tier cities are busy honing their own distinct value propositions. they’re sure to make offers many planners can’t refuse.

“Being a second-tier city is a title

we proudly wear. As an organization, we have always been realistic about our place within the market.”

–GreGG MervIs,

aKron/suMMIt cvB

From the street…

…to the wide open spaces–the extraordinary is just steps away! Pittsburgh was named by National Geographic Traveler as one of the world’s top 20 great places to visit in 2012. Plan your visit today and bring your colleagues later!

1000 Ft. Duquesne Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15222 (412) 565-6000 www.pittsburghcc.com | www.greenfirst.us


Austin, tX www.austintexas.org

With nearly 200 live music venues, there are always new gigs to catch in the

“Live Music Capital of the World.” Mean-while, the big news in Austin’s meetings scene is the JW Marriott Austin that will be opening on Congress Avenue in early 2015. With an impressive 110,500 sq. ft. of meeting space, the hotel will be just two blocks from the Austin Convention Center (www.austinconventioncenter.com). That same year, the 1,000-room Fairmont Aus-tin will debut east of the ACC with over 70,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.

“We are really excited about Austin’s potential for enhanced opportunities with the announcement of several downtown hotel projects expected to come online over the next several years,” said Paul Barnes, assistant director – sales, marketing, event services for the ACC.

In keeping with Austin’s progressive character, the ACC is the first convention center in Texas, among two in the Unit-ed States, to achieve LEED® Gold Certification for Exist-ing Buildings. Its 370,967 sq. ft. of function space includes a 246,097-sq.-ft. exhibit hall, a 43,300-sq.-ft. ballroom and 54 meeting rooms, complemented by a 20,333-seat the-ater. One of the country’s most technologically advanced convention centers, the ACC offers complimentary wireless Internet access, high-speed Internet2 access, plug-and-play capabilities and an onsite technical staff.

Just eight miles from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, the ACC is surrounded by 19 hotels with 6,000 rooms in the downtown business district, located between the shores of Lady Bird Lake and the Texas State Capitol. A 296-room Hyatt Place Austin/Downtown will open near

the ACC next year. The city’s newest downtown hotel is the 251-room W Austin, with 10,050 sq. ft. of meeting space.

During their free time, attendees can enjoy everything from fine dining in four-star restaurants to down-home barbe-cue and authentic Tex-Mex. Downtown entertainment districts include Sixth Street, Warehouse, Market and Red River; South Austin is also replete with restaurants, concert halls and vintage shops on South Congress and around the University of Texas. Cultural attractions include the State Capitol, the LBJ Presidential Library, the Texas State His-tory Museum and the Blanton Museum of Art. Outdoorsy attendees can visit Lady Bird Lake, bordered by 10 miles of trails enjoyed by runners, walkers and cyclists. Surrounded by three lakes and a network of parks, Austin offers the perfect environment for enjoying the best of nature, not to mention the best in meeting facilities.


Boise, iDwww.boise.org

“Boise is a surprise to most of our clients – a vibrant city with great

weather. We are small with a big city feel,” says Terry Kopp, director of sales with the Boise Convention & Visitors Bureau. And, as is typical of second-tier cities, Boise’s CVB takes a very hands-on approach in working with meeting groups. “We customize our services to our clients’ needs and offer everything from brochures to bids, site visits, promotions and fam trips,” she adds.

Boise is an up-and-coming destination in the second-tier market, with the long-anticipated JUMP Project in the works. Jack’s Urban Meeting Place will house five working studios, civic event and meeting spaces, antique tractor sculptures, a dynamic urban park and an outdoor amphitheater. Completion of the 65,000-sq.-ft., $70-million facil-ity in downtown Boise is expected for the summer of 2014. In addition, The Riverside Hotel, a 304-room property with 21,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, has been renovated and rebranded from a Doubletree. Boise’s largest hotel sits on 14 acres along the banks of the Boise River and features rose gardens, a large outdoor pool and a magnificent sandstone terrace with fire-pit. It is also in walking distance to the new Boise River Recreation Park.

The Riverside Hotel is among Boise’s 800 total downtown hotel rooms and complements Boise Centre, Idaho’s largest convention facility, which hosts an estimated 230 events and conventions annually. Re-cently, Boise Centre has upgraded its Wi-Fi and bandwidth capabilities, and installed new digital signage and carpeting in public spaces. The facility houses 50,000 sq. ft. of meet-ing/exhibition space, the Summit Room (349 fixed seats; amphitheater-style seating) and the Eyries Room (2,900 in theater-style room set). The facility also offers a full-service in-house Audio Visual Department.

Surrounding the center is the BoDo shopping and res-taurant district, just five miles from Boise Airport. Other interesting neighborhoods include Historic North End, Hyde Park and Bown Crossing. Among the local attrac-tions are Basque Museum, Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial, Idaho Botanical Garden and the World Center for Birds of Prey.


Why Cleveland?Location. We draw heavily from western Pennsylvania, western New York and Michigan in addition to Ohio – 30+ states total. In addition, Cleveland is a fun, happening city with lots to offer attendees, such as a new casino and aquarium, Little Italy, West Side Market, Playhouse Square and Arts at University Circle. It’s very walkable and culturally diverse. We are also excited about the new Cleveland Medical Mart opening in 2013.

CVB AssistanceIt’s the friendly, helpful people who work with us that make EastWest great, including the staff at Positively Cleveland. They interfaced with the Public Auditorium so parking was not an issue when vendors had to load and unload. They also help us arrange room blocks with hotels, and provide workers for classroom monitors and the registration desk. We use their parking maps.

Offsite EventsWe host an exclusive Friday night party at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and a leadership dinner at Blue Point Grille. Vendors use various sites for activities to entertain clients, including House of Blues or Fat Fish. There is much to choose from.

Recommended Local VendorsHughie’s for audiovisual, Excel Decorators and Brecksville Transit for bus transportation.

Linda FetteAssociate Executive DirectorOhio Optometric Association

The Ohio Optometric Association (OOA) has met annually in Cleveland since 1997, most recently from Oct. 20-23, 2011. Providing quality continuing education for optometrists and an exhibit hall for optometric vendors, the EastWest Eye Conference is the premier conference of its kind in the Midwest and last year drew about 2,000 attendees to the Cleveland Marriott Downtown and Crowne Plaza. This year, the OOA will partner with the DoubleTree, Embassy Suites and the Hyatt Regency.

ClevelAnD, OH www.positivelycleveland.com

Cleveland is renowned for major attractions such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Cleveland Museum of Art, PlayhouseSquare Theater District and Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Apart from 4,000 downtown hotel rooms, Cleveland offers three major convention centers: The International Exposition (I-X) Center (more than one million sq. ft. of exhibit space), the Kalahari Resort (215,000 sq. ft. of function space) and the new Cleveland Convention Center & Medical Mart, set to debut in July 2013 with 319,099 sq. ft. of meeting space. The new convention center is just a part of Cleveland’s $2 billion tourism-related development project, bringing multiple new hotels and restaurants to the city.

Celebrity Chef Michael Symon gives a talk at the I-X Center.


HArtfOrD, Ct www.enjoyhartford.com

When planners think of Hartford, the cutting-edge Con-necticut Convention Center (CCC) certainly comes

to mind. But it’s not all business for attendees here; acces-sible sightseeing is a major plus. Downtown Hartford is an unusually compact historic district packed with more than 45 cultural assets and destinations within a 15-minute walk, including museums, performance spaces, historic landmarks, modern architecture and public art. The city’s iQuilt Plan links those assets with a vibrant and innovative pedestrian network. Its centerpiece is GreenWalk, a one-mile chain of parks and plazas connecting the gold-domed Capitol in Bushnell Park to the waterfront of the Connecticut River. (The oldest park in the United States, Bushnell is set to undergo renovations.) And then there’s the 47-acre urban revitalization project known as Adriaen’s Landing, the cor-nerstone of a five-year, multifaceted state and city economic development plan. The anchor of this rapidly developing area is the 540,000-sq.-ft. CCC, which includes the at-tached AAA Four Diamond, 409-room Marriott Hartford Downtown, offering an additional 13,500 sq. ft. of meeting space. Attractions in Adriaen’s Landing District include

the Connecticut Science Center, which houses a 3-D movie theater. Across from the CCC and the Marriott is the new Front Street District, where the Spotlight Theater opens this fall; the theater will include four auditoriums with about 800 total stadium seats. The facility will also have party rooms and its own 75-seat restaurant.

In Hartford, attendees can also visit The Mark Twain House & Museum, Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, Wadsworth Atheneum and Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, as well as experience Connecticut Whale hockey and UCONN athletics. Downtown Hartford is also home to more than 40 fine restaurants offering all types of cuisine. In the architec-turally rich West End, groups can find the official Connecti-cut Governor’s Residence and Elizabeth Park, the oldest municipally operated rose garden in the nation.

Planners have at their disposal 1,600 hotel rooms within Hartford and 6,500 within a 15-mile radius. Major proper-ties include the 393-room Hilton Hartford (over 15,000 sq. ft. of meeting space) and the 215-room Hartford Plaza Hotel (9,000 sq. ft. of meeting space). The CCC itself has a 140,000-sq.-ft. exhibit hall, a 40,000-sq.-ft. ballroom and 19 meeting rooms. PSAV provides AV services. ISDN, T-1 and other special data circuits are available, as well as temporary LAN/WAN/VPN networks, Webcasting and cyber-cafes.

The Connecticut Convention Center boasts a 40,000-sq.-ft. ballroom (left).


little rOCk, Ar www.littlerock.com

la Petite Roche, French for Little Rock, is the name given the destination on the bank of the Arkansas River

by early explorers and riverboat captains. A capital city with a national airport, Little Rock offers more than 9,000 citywide hotel rooms complemented by Southern hospital-ity and charm, as well as a national airport. The Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport is completing Phase I of its 2020 Vision Plan, with $67 million in terminal renova-tions, next year.

Also completing renovations next year ( January) is the 18,362-sq.-ft. Wally Allen Ballroom at the Statehouse Convention Center, which houses 83,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space and the 2,609-seat Robinson Center Music Hall and Performance Theater. The SCC has also recently augmented its mobile broadband coverage. The center is complemented by the attached 418-room Peabody Little Rock (40,000 sq. ft. of meeting space), and the nearby 287-room Doubletree Hotel (40,000 sq. ft. of meeting space) and 220-room Wyndham Riverfront Hotel (over 14,500 sq. ft. of meeting space). Groups can also look forward to a new 100-room Residence Inn by Marriott being constructed in downtown Little Rock (219 River Market Avenue), as well as improved capacities on highways I-630/I-430 by 2014, for those driving into town. What is more, planners work-

ing with the Little Rock CVB will soon be able to utilize the CVB’s latest customized attendance-building strategies based on Internet and digital technologies.

These are among the diverse new developments in Little Rock, a mid-tier city that offers attendees much in the way of free-time activities. The River Market District, adjacent to the SCC, is replete with dining and entertain-ment options, including the state’s largest outdoor farm-ers’ market and an indoor market where shopkeepers offer everything from gourmet coffee to fresh sushi. Arkansas’s River Trail, a 15-mile loop connecting Little Rock and North Little Rock via three pedestrian bridges, winds through Riverfront Park, home to the city’s namesake “La Petite Roche” Plaza, the Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden, Ottenheimer Hall, Bill E. Clark Wetlands and the William J. Clinton Presidential Park & Bridge. Just a short distance from River Market is the area of restored 19th-century homes around MacArthur Park and the governor’s mansion known as the Quapaw Quarter. At-tendees in search of trendy eateries and boutiques can visit The Heights. Cultural attractions in the city include Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, Arkansas Symphony Or-chestra, Audubon Nature Center and MacArthur Mu-seum of Arkansas Military History.


Support From the CityWe received tremendous support from Visit Pittsburgh, and they were extremely good to work with. All of the hotels we partnered with were very good to work with. NACo facilitated joint meetings with all the hotels to educate them on the conference and the purpose of it in advance. The hotel community works very well together.

Offsite EventsWe held a reception at the Heinz History Center. That was a great facility and they were also very pleasant to work with. We used Common Plea catering and they did a fantastic job. Many attendees held offsite dinners at restaurants, etc. They made good use of those venues.

Recommended Local VendorsWe used Talent Network for all of our entertainment needs. I would recommend them as they were accommodating and worked to find what I needed.

Attendee FeedbackAll attendees were very pleasantly surprised with Pittsburgh. Many had not been to Pittsburgh in many years or at all, and were in awe of how far the city has come. It’s a compact destination that is very walkable, friendly and relatively inexpensive. It has a lot of history, from the architecture you see while walking down the street to its history of the steel mills and sports. The Convention Center is outstanding, very open and airy. I would highly recommend Pittsburgh as a destination to anyone considering it for their next meeting.

Kim Struble, CMPDirector, Conferences and MeetingsNational Association of Counties (NACo)

The NACo 2012 Annual Conference and Exposition brought approximately 2,300 attendees to Pittsburgh from July 13-17. Allegheny County (Pittsburgh) bid on the conference in 2007, and the NACo Board approved the proposal. During the meeting NACo elects its officers, conducts its annual business meeting and confirms legislative platforms. The association used the David L. Lawrence Convention Center for all meeting space and the following hotels for lodging: Westin, Courtyard by Marriott, Doubletree, Marriott City Center, Renaissance, Fairmont and Omni William Penn.

PittsBurgH, PA www.visitpittsburgh.com

The 1.5 million-sq.-ft., Gold and Platinum LEED-certified David L. Lawrence Convention Center (www.pittsburghcc.com) is the centerpiece of Pittsburgh’s meetings industry. Characterized by a dynamic architectural design with open terraces and panoramic views, the SMG-managed facility features 313,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, 37 loading docks, 53 meeting rooms, a 31,000-sq.-ft. ballroom and a 250-seat theater. As the first “green” convention center in the world, the DLCC’s motto remains “Built Green, Working Green, Every Day!” and its various environmentally sound initiatives can be explored at www.greenfirst.us. The facility is connected to the 616-room Westin Convention Center Pittsburgh, which offers 42,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. Surrounding the DLCC is Pittsburgh’s Cultural District, home to the performing arts community with theatres and galleries, as well as the Strip District, where attendees can explore open markets, restaurants and shops. Major downtown attractions include Heinz Hall, Benedum Theatre, O’Reilly Theatre, Heinz Field, John Heinz History Center, Andy Warhol Museum, The Carnegie Science Center and Rivers Casino.


Why Providence?Providence is an affordable, historical location in the New England/East Coast area, and has several great advantages, including easy access to Boston. We fit perfectly into the convention center, which has four hotels less than two blocks away. Having the Westin hotel attached to the convention center allowed staff and attendees to flow easily between facilities in a few minutes; the Westin staff was also outstanding to work with before and during the meeting. The two cafes in the convention center allowed for easy access to food throughout each day of our meeting, and excellent dining and shopping options are within walking distance.

TransportationThe number of flights offered from various cities was a concern in the original planning, but did not appear to be a problem for our attendees as a greater number than usual could drive or take the train. And Boston was still convenient for airlift if someone had scheduling challenges. For ground transportation we used Academy Express Bus Transportation, which employed some of the nicest bus drivers I have worked with.

CVB AssistanceThe CVB staff was wonderful, from sales to services; they all went the extra mile to assist in any way they could to make my job easier and ensure a successful meeting. From helping me choose facilities to recommendations for vendors and suppliers to providing an extra hand at the meeting, Convention Services Director Erin Degulis was outstanding. Degulis, my right hand colleague through the meeting, knew that I was short staffed on Sunday afternoon with our Opening Reception for 1,400 people and one of our offsite events for 350 people overlapping with the departure of our buses. Without a blink, Erin offered to arrive at our offsite event mid-afternoon on Sunday and check last-minute logistics and then graciously greet our buses and guests when they arrived at the event. She waited until I arrived to make sure everything went smoothly before she left for home Sunday evening. And I know she was back at work at her desk early Monday morning – now that is service!

Betty FordAnnual Meeting PlannerAmerican Phytopathological Society

The Saint Paul, MN-based American Phytopathological Society met in Providence from Aug. 4-8, drawing approximately 1,600 attendees from 42 countries to share scientific research and findings in the area of plant disease. A variety of scientists, researchers and argricultural professionals gathered at the Rhode Island Convention Center and utilized the Westin Providence, Biltmore Hotel, Marriott Courtyard and Hilton Providence for lodging.

PrOviDenCe, ri www.goprovidence.com

Providence is a multifaceted draw for groups with its combination of stellar restaurants, rich history, natural beauty and stunning architecture. It’s also a very accessible city within the densely populated Northeast: about 25 percent of the United States’ population lives within 500 miles of the Providence. T.F. Green Airport in nearby Warwick is 10 miles from the Rhode Island Convention Center (RICC), and rail and highway transportation is robust. The airport now offers the Continued on Page 64


Site Choice AdvantagesThe meeting is well suited for Rochester and the optical research community that exists there. Certainly the second-tier cost structure facilitated holding the meeting in Rochester.

A Good FitThe convention center is the right size for this event and attendees and exhibitors appreciate the convenience of the fit of the facility to the event. We have used in-house AV at the convention center for several years and they have been very good to work with. They are responsive and flexible.

Convenient HotelsBoth the Hyatt and the Radisson are conveniently located to the convention center (moreover, connected), and that allows for convenient access to the meeting at the convention center. It also allows for evening and affiliate functions to be held in proximity to the meeting for quick and easy access.

Randy Cross, CMPDirector of Event Services and VenuesSPIE (Society of Photographic Instrumentation Engineers)

SPIE Optifab, the largest optical fabrication event in North America, is expected to bring 1,200 industry professionals to Rochester from Oct. 14-17. Held every two years, Optifab last took place at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center in 2011. Lodging is provided by the 338-room Hyatt Regency Rochester and the 460-room Radisson Hotel Rochester Riverside. Randy Cross, SPIE’s director of event services and venues, cites the city’s prominence in manufacturing, particularly the photonics industry, as a means of drawing members to Rochester. The CVB, VisitRochester, provided SPIE the following compelling data for its marketing materials: “In the latest quarterly analysis of how the nation’s 100 largest metro areas are recovering from the recession, Rochester was again placed in the category of the 20 strongest performers. Rochester’s ‘technologically cutting-edge manufacturing’ is the horse pulling the economic cart.”

rOCHester, nYwww.visitrochester.com

Rochester, located on the southern shore of Lake Ontario, is not only a major corporate hub – home to the world headquarters of Kodak, Bausch & Lomb and Paychex – but is also the western gateway to the famous Finger Lakes Region, one of top wine-producing areas in the country. Rochester’s prime areas for meeting groups during free time include the East End district, where they can experience the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra at Eastman Theatre or the latest in independent cinema at The Little, and St. Paul Quarter, with numerous restaurants and nightclubs. Major cultural attractions include the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film (the National Historic Landmark home of the founder of Kodak), the National Susan B. Anthony Museum and House, and the Genesee Country Village & Museum. Rochester’s hospitality industry is also strong, with many hotels having completed (or undergoing) major renovations. The 338-room Hyatt Regency Rochester Hotel (20,000 sq. ft. of meeting space) has recently completed an overhaul of its main

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Exterior and interior of the Rochester Riverside Convention Center

Most Recent EventIn February we staged an “update” meeting for a corporate client at the Westin Savannah. Our client requested a city that had a colorful history in a warm climate. Savannah offered both. It’s also friendly, charming and easy to get around, whether via ferry, horse-drawn carriage or on foot. It is large enough to feel like a city but small enough to feel that the city belongs to you.

CVB AssistanceFrom the initial site visit through the close of the meeting, the CVB treated us like VIPs. We saw the hotel, the city, restaurants, offsite

venues, activities and tours. We needed to utilize the services of local vendors (DMC, transportation, florist, entertainment). The CVB made certain we had everything and everyone that we needed to promote and deliver our meeting. They were willing to go above and beyond to create the experience for the group.

Hotel FlexibilityOur client had recently announced that they were acquired by another firm. Service and flexibility from the hotel was a top priority. We had 38 2012 Facilities & Destinations Mid-Market Review

Peggy MarilleyFounder and CEOPrecision Meetings & Events, Inc.Alexandria, VA

Home to the largest Historic Landmark District in the nation, Savannah is known for stylish boutiques, galleries, and restaurants featuring Coastal Cuisine, not to mention moss-draped oak trees. Attendees can partake of trolley and riverboat tours, play golf and visit cultural sites like the Jepson Center for the Arts, The Telfair Museum of Art, Mighty Eight Air Force Museum and more. And Tybee Island, Savannah’s beach, is just 14 miles from the Historic District. Yet Savannah is also serious about hosting association and corporate meetings. The Savannah International Trade & Convention Center (www.savtcc.com) is located on picturesque Savannah Harbor. Groups have at their disposal 100,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space and 50,000 sq. ft. of flexible space including 13 meeting rooms, four executive boardrooms, a 25,000-sq.-ft. Grand Ballroom and a 367-seat theater. Additional meeting facilities include the Coastal Georgia Center and the Savannah Civic Center. By December, a new 45 ft.-by-30 ft. hangar

sAvAnnAH, gA www.savannahvisit.com

a unique situation. We did not know until the last moment what executives were attending from the “parent company.” And we needed the customers to feel confident and comfortable that they would receive the same level of services with the ownership change. We made multiple requests from the Westin staff to take care of everyone (new team and customers). The hotel performed flawlessly, setting up hospitality in the lobby allowing the current executives to greet customers as they arrived. The hotel was also able to accommodate additional suite and amenity requests at the last moment.

Offsite EventsWe used Old Fort Jackson for our closing evening. Guests were transported to the Fort by river boat, greeted by soldiers upon arrival and even raised the corporate flag over the Fort just as a cannon shot over the river. They also enjoyed a low country boil catered by the Westin Savannah. The evening concluded with a beautiful fireworks display.

Client FeedbackOn the meeting evaluations, we received very high marks from both the client executives and customers. The attendees loved Savannah and many indicated that they would return again on personal travel in order to experience all that Savannah has to offer.

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Name:

Age:

Seeking:

About me:

Savannah

279 years old

Convention attendees of all ages

Not to brag, but I’ve been told I’m incredibly beautiful, warm, and have that old Southern charm.

I have access to over 3,000 committable hotel rooms and 100,000 square feet of state-of-the-art exhibit space, but I also know all the best places to eat and have fun! :)

Interested? Let’s meet.

SavannahMeetings.com


1] Kansas ExpocEntrE www.ksexpo.com

The SMG-managed Kansas Expocentre is located in the capital of Kansas, within a one-day drive of 75 percent of the U.S. population. The Expocentre offers a total of 210,000 sq. ft. of function space, including a 44,500-sq.-ft. exhibit hall and 27,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. Landon Arena, which accommodates 10,000, is supplemented by venues such as the 5,750-sq.-ft. Heritage Hall and the 17,800-sq.-ft. Agriculture Hall. On the technological side, the Expocentre offers WiFi, digital video boards and in-house live video production. In addition, a Long Range Strategic Plan to renovate and expand the Landon Arena and exhibit hall is being developed; the project is valued at over $60 million.

2] statEhousE convEntion cEntEr

www.littlerockmeetings.com/convention-centerThe Statehouse Convention Center houses approximately 220,000 sq. ft. of public and function space, including 83,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, the 18,362-sq.-ft. Wally Allen Ballroom and seven meeting rooms. In addition, The Robinson Center Music Hall and Performance Theater features a 2,609-seat proscenium hall, approximately 15,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space and seven additional meeting rooms. Free WiFi and digital plasma monitors throughout the facility, as well as onsite AV and telecommunications teams. A 650-space parking deck is located one block away. The Statehouse Convention Center Ballroom is slated for renovations at the end of 2012, to be completed by January 2013.

3] tinlEy parK convEntion cEntEr

www.meetchicagosouthland.comSince completing a $22-million expansion last summer, Tinley Park Convention Center houses 58,000 sq. ft. of contiguous exhibition space, over 30,000 sq. ft. of banquet and meeting space, and 18 breakout rooms ranging from 750 to 2,000 sq. ft. Chicago Southland’s largest meeting venue is easily accessible via six interstates, and offers 1,500 free parking spaces on hotel and convention center grounds. The convention center also features 30-ft.-tall waterfalls in the lobby, a full-service business center and a direct connection to the 202-room Holiday Inn Chicago-Tinley Park-Conv Ctr. Nearby attractions include First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre, Odyssey Fun World, Riverboat Casinos and Chicagoland Speedway.

4] MinnEapolis convEntion cEntEr

www.minneapolisconventioncenter.comThe Minneapolis Convention Center offers ample meeting facilities in the “City of Lakes,” including 475,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, 87 meeting rooms and two ballrooms (55,000 sq. ft. and 28,000 sq. ft., respectively), complemented by the award-winning Kelber Catering. A major highlight at the MCC is its world-class, 3,433-fixed-seat auditorium. The facility allows a general session to break down into four separate sound-proof sections in less than 30 minutes, and features three circular lecture rooms, each seating 428 people. Leading-edge AV equipment

includes front and rear screens, wiring for digitized video, the latest technology for satellite links, fiber-optics, and ISDN and T1 lines.

5] st. charlEs convEntion cEntEr

www.stcharlesconventioncenter.comThe St. Charles Convention Center opened in 2005 just 10 minutes from Lambert St. Louis International Airport and a few minutes from the Missouri River. This prime Midwest facility houses 66,000 sq. ft. of total exhibit space, including 27,600 sq. ft. of exhibit hall space (expandable to 35,700). Meeting spaces include a 16,200-sq.-ft. Grand Ballroom, a 6,025-sq.-ft. Junior Ballroom and 19 breakout rooms. Wireless and ethernet cabling is available throughout. The 296-suite Embassy Suites St. Louis-St. Charles/Hotel & Spa is connected to the center and offers 70,000 sq. ft. of function space. Nearby attractions include Frontier Park, Historic Main Street, Ameristar Casino. Downtown St. Louis is only 20 minutes away.

StatuS: HotCategory: Mid-Market Convention CenterSFyi: Many groupS don’t require tHe MaMMotH Meeting SpaCeS oF a MCCorMiCk plaCe. Many don’t Mind being in a SeCond-tier City, and indeed eConoMiCally beneFit FroM tHat Site CHoiCe. tHeSe Meeting groupS do well to explore tHe top-notCH, aCCeSSible Convention CenterS oF tHe Central StateS’ Mid-Market CitieS. tHe CenterS in tHiS SaMpling are “Hot” For diFFerent reaSonS: tHe kanSaS expoCentre, StateHouSe Convention Center and tinley park Convention Center all Have newSwortHy iMproveMent projeCtS to tHeir Credit. tHe MinneapoliS Convention Center boaStS a Cutting-edge auditoriuM, wHile tHe St. CHarleS Convention Center iS a relatively new FaCility in an ideal loCation.

5 St. CharleS, MO

2 little rOCk, ar

1 tOpeka, kS

3 tinley park, il

4 MinneapOliS, Mn

F & dHotl i S t


Austin Convention Center................... 44

Boise CVB ............................................ 44

Positively Cleveland .............................. 44

Connecticut Convention Center ......... 44

Cox Convention Center ....................... 44

David L. Lawrence

Convention Center ............................... 44

Delta Center ......................................... 46

Fairplex ................................................. 46

John S. Knight Center .......................... 46

Kansas Expocentre ............................... 46

Little Rock CVB .................................. 46

Montego Bay Convention Centre ....... 46

Visit Norfolk ......................................... 46

Oklahoma City CVB ........................... 46

Pennsylvania Convention Center ........ 50

Rhode Island Convention Center ........ 50

Providence Warwick CVB ................... 50

Rochester Riverside

Convention Center ............................... 50

St. Charles Convention Center ........... 50

Visit Savannah ...................................... 50

Listings A-Z

We know you want ample meeting and hotel space, a convenient location, and a compact, walkable downtown. We’ve got all that and something more. In the Creative Capital, exhibit space becomes more than tradeshow screens and potted plants. Let us inspire you to meet with a new perspective ... in Rhode Island.

401-456-0200 [email protected] GoProvidence.comProvidence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau

Meet with a New Perspective ...

Another Way to Frame Exhibit Space


t e x a s

A winner of the Prime Site Award every year since 1995, the Austin Convention Center, a LEED® Gold-certified building, has emerged as a leader in the convention and meeting

industry. A premier facility located in the heart of the capital city’s downtown business district, the Center spans six city blocks with 370,967 sq. ft. of exhibit and meeting space. The five column-free exhibit halls, totaling 246,097 sq. ft., accommodate 1,289 10’ x 10’ exhibit booths. Seven ballrooms ranging from 3,896 to 43,300 sq. ft. in size and 54 meeting rooms, and show offices totaling over 58,000 sq. ft., complete the four-story convention center. Ample parking is provided in two parking garages with a total capacity of 1,700 spaces.

What’s NeW•LEED® Gold Certification demonstrates ultimate green building leadership and signifies a model of sustainability that sets the standard in the industry. The first convention center in Texas, among two in the country, to achieve LEED® Gold certification. •A new overhead open air skyway connects the 3rd and 4th levels, making movement between Levels 3 and 4 significantly easier.

techNological FeaturesRated one of the most technologically advanced convention centers in the country, this gigabit rated facility moves voice, video, and data at over one billion bits per second. The Center’s high-tech capabilities help create the perfect Technology Partner for the annual SXSW international convention. The facility has a proven track record of handling 7,000 simultaneous connections. It offers a variety of in-house services including complimentary Wireless Internet access, redundant high-speed Internet II access, plug and play capabilities, and an onsite technical staff to help with networking needs.

LOCateD IN tHe HeaRt OF tHe CaPItaL CItY’s DOWNtOWN, tHe LeeD® GOLD CeRtIFIeD CONVeNtION CeNteR sPaNs sIx CItY BLOCKs.

500 E. Cesar Chavez Street, Austin TX 78701 • (512) 404-4200/fax: (512) 404-4220 • www.austinconventioncenter.com

a u s t I N C O N V e N t I O N C e N t e Rhotels Austin offers more than 30,000 hotel rooms, with 6,000 located downtown, including the 800-room Hilton Austin adjacent to the convention center. Additional nearby hotels include: Four Seasons Hotel Austin; Courtyard by Marriott; Residence Inn by Marriott; Hilton Garden Inn Austin Downtown; Radisson Hotel & Suites; Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown; Driskill Hotel; Omni Austin Hotel Downtown; Intercontinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel; and the new W Austin.

austiN by NightAfter conventions and meetings wrap-up each night, attendees may choose to enjoy Austin’s entertainment districts — Second Street, the Warehouse District and famous Sixth Street. The Austin Convention Center is just down the street from the city’s vibrant nightlife, where visitors can also enjoy everything from fine dining in four-star restaurants, to down-home barbecue and authentic Tex-Mex. As the Live Music Capital of the World, Austin echoes with the sound of country, rock ‘n’ roll, blues, jazz and Tejano. On any given evening, one can find live music playing in nearly 200 different venues.

austiN by DayDuring the day, visitors can enjoy the capital city’s many historical attractions, including the State Capitol, the LBJ Presidential Library, the Texas State History Museum, the Blanton Museum of Art, and many more museums and art galleries. Or, one can experience the beauty of central Texas, captured by downtown’s Lady Bird Lake, bordered by 10 miles of trails enjoyed by runners, walkers and cyclists. Surrounded by three lakes and a network of parks, Austin offers the perfect environment for enjoying the best of nature.

Fast FaCts:Facility•Location: Downtown Austin•Total Area: spans six city blocks•Exhibit Space: 246,097

contiguous sq. ft., column free •Ballrooms: 43,300-sq.-ft. level 4;

23,418-sq.-ft. level 1•Meeting Space: 54 meeting rooms

totaling over 58,000 sq. ft.•Technology: Gigabit rated facility,

wireless Internet access, plug and play capabilities

Austin•Hotels: 6,000 downtown hotel

rooms; adjacent 800-room Hilton Austin

•Airport: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, eight miles from facility

•Nearby Attractions: State Capitol, Sixth Street Entertainment District, Warehouse Entertainment District, University of Texas, LBJ Presidential Library, more than 20 museums including The Texas State History Museum, dozens of art galleries and historical attractions, Lady Bird Lake

Contacts•Mark Tester, Director of Austin

Convention Center Department•Paul Barnes, ACCD Assistant

Director – Sales, Marketing and Events

•Lisa Kidder, Director of Sales

(512) 404-4200www.austinconventioncenter.com

When you book your next meeting at the Austin Convention Center, the

movers and shakers are already here. With six entertainment districts and a safe and walkable downtown, it’s easy to enjoy our famous live music.

And with more than 200 venues, honky-tonks and dance halls, everybody

leaves with their toes tapping.

246,000 square feet of column-free space

★

Gigabit+ bandwidth, supports up to 7,000 wireless connections

★

Awarded LEED® Gold Certifi cation

First convention center in TX

facebook.com/

AustinConventionCenter

ACON_TSAE_2012_FP.indd 1 3/26/12 9:11 AM


MID-MARKETContinued

SavannaH From Page 38: door will allow the convention center’s exhibit hall to accommodate large equipment and aviation-oriented trade shows. Nearly 4,500 hotel rooms are available within the Historic District and more than 14,000 total hotel rooms in Savannah and the surrounding counties. Upscale properties include the 403-room Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa (35,000 sq. ft. of function space), 383-room Savannah Marriott Riverfront (36,000 sq. ft. of meeting space), 347-room Hyatt Regency Savannah (33,000 sq. ft. of meeting space) and the 246-room Hilton Savannah Desoto (20,000 sq. ft. of meeting space). The Hyatt Regency Savannah refurbished all existing meeting space in the fall of 2010, including its 11,000-sq.-ft. harbor-side ballroom that overlooks the Savannah River. Upcoming hotel enhancements include a total redesign and renovation of its 351 guestrooms, which is planned for next year.

Austin Convention Center500 E. Cesar Chavez Street, Austin TX 78701(512) 404-4200; Fax: (512) 404-4220www.austinconventioncenter.comDirector of Sales: Lisa Kidder Live Music Capital of the World A LEED® Gold certified, technologically advanced convention center. Located near downtown’s famous entertainment districts. Multi-level facility spans six city blocks, features 370,967 sq. ft. meeting/exhibit space, including 5 column-free, contiguous exhibit halls (256,097 sq. ft. of total exhibit space), 7 ballrooms (43,300 sq. ft. is largest) and 54 meeting rooms. Complimentary high-speed, high density wireless services throughout; onsite engineers; proven track record of handling 7,000 simultaneous connections. Pre-function spaces offer downtown views. New walkway connects 3rd and 4th levels. Nearby 6,000 downtown hotel rooms.

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Boise Convention & Visitors Bureau1199 West Main Street, Boise, ID 83702(208) 344-7777, ext. 323 / (800) 635-5240www.boise.orgDirector of Sales: Terry Kopp

Boise is home to Idaho’s largest convention facility, the Boise Centre, surrounded by the BoDo shopping and dining district, as well as approximately 800 hotel rooms (5,600 citywide). The Centre offers 50,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, including a 25,000-sq.-ft. ballroom and a 25,000-sq.-ft. main exhibit hall. Boise Centre has a full-service, in-house Audio Visual Department featuring upgraded Wi-Fi and bandwidth capabilities, new digital signage throughout the facility and new carpet installation in public spaces. Major local attrac-tions include the Basque Museum, Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial, Idaho Botanical Garden and the World Center for Birds of Prey. The Boise CVB customizes its services to its clients’ needs and offers everything from brochures to bids, promotions and trips.

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Positively Cleveland334 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44114(216) 875-6630/(800) 321-1001; Fax: (216) 621-5967www.clevelandmeetings.comwww.positivelycleveland.com V.P. of Sales: Dan Williams

The vibrant lake-side city of Cleveland is filled with world-class arts, choice accommoda-tions, hip eateries, bars, concert clubs, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland Museum of Art. $2+ billion tourism-related development is underway – Horseshoe Cleveland Casino, Greater Cleveland Aquarium, new hotels and restaurants. Cleveland Medical Mart & Convention Center—opens 2013—combines permanent medical showrooms, a Class-A exhibition hall and state-of-the-art conference facilities; $465-million facility, features 270,000 sq. ft. meeting space, 35 meeting rooms, 30,000-sq.-ft.; 88,000-sq.-ft. main exhibit hall, 3,578-seats theater; 22,000 hotel rooms citywide, 4,000+ downtown.

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Connecticut Convention Center100 Columbus BoulevardHartford, CT 06106(860) 249-6000; Fax: (860) 249-6161www.ctconventions.comDirector of Sales & Marketing: Michelle Hughes“The Spotlight’s On The NEW Connecticut Convention Center”

The views are stunning, the space is immense, and the ease of booking an event is superior. 205,000 sq. ft. of meeting/exhibit space, dramatic riverfront setting, accessible to 23+ million people within a 2-1/2 hour drive; 19 meeting rooms; 40,000-sq.-ft. ballroom; 180,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space and a 140,000-sq.-ft. main exhibit hall; 3,200-seat ballroom. Attached to 409-room Marriott Hotel; 700 hotel rooms (downtown); 6,500 rooms (within 30 miles). Attractions: The Old State House, Wadsworth Atheneum, Mystic Seaport & Marinelife Aquarium, Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mohegan Sun Resort, Essex Valley Railroad.

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Cox Convention CenterOne Myriad Gardens, Oklahoma City, OK 73102(405) 602-8500; Fax: (405) 602-8505www.coxconventioncenter.comDirector of Sales and Marketing: Tim Linville Spanning more than one million sq. ft. and four city blocks, this complex is located at the heart of downtown Oklahoma City – a city both accommodating and afford-able; multi-purpose venue hosts everything from intimate meetings to major conven-tions, tradeshows, concerts and sporting events. 27 meeting rooms; 25,000-sq.-ft. ballroom; 100,000-sq.-ft. exhibit hall, 15,000-seat arena. Free Wi-Fi available; Internet access speeds up to one Gb; 1,400 of Oklahoma City’s 15,000+ hotel rooms across street. From arts and adventure to cowboy culture and family fun, Oklahoma City offers an eclectic mix of heritage and hotspots.

OklaHOMa

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David L. Lawrence Convention Center1000 Ft. Duquesne Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15222 (412) 325-6174; Fax: (412) 565-6104www.pittsburghcc.comDirector of Sales & Marketing: Debbie SmuckerBuilt Green. Working Green. Every Day!

In downtown Pittsburgh’s cultural district, within steps of theaters, cinemas, galleries, restaurants and 2,500 hotel rooms, just across the bridge from PNC Park & Heinz Field, the environmentally smart, SMG-managed, 1.5 million-sq.-ft. facility features 313,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, 37 loading docks, 53 meeting rooms, a 31,000-sq.-ft. ballroom, two 250-seat theaters. The building’s dynamic architectural design offers breath-taking views, open terraces, suspended roof structure. Technology: 1Gb circuit with DS3 backup, fiber optic backbone network, multi-mode fiber, CAT6 (copper) cabling, video conferencing, wireless Internet access.

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C O N N e C t I C u t

100 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, CT 06106 • (860) 249-6000; Fax: (860) 249-6161 • www.ctconventions.com

In the heart of a vibrant downtown in the midst of a renaissance. In the middle of a historic city at the epicenter of the largest population base in the country. There lies a destination purposefully built for meetings and conventions, neatly tucked within a region renowned for its natural

beauty, history and charm. It’s not merely a convention center, but a convention kingdom! The Connecticut Convention Center is the Northeast’s newest, most ideal location for tradeshows, conventions, business meetings or any occasion that demands a dramatic riverfront setting. The Connecticut Convention Center overlooks the beautiful Connecticut River at Adriaen’s Landing, Hartford’s exciting riverfront district.

Adriaen’s Landing is home to many new attractions for the Capital City. The anchor of this rapidly developing area is the beautiful 540,000-sq.-ft. Connecticut Convention Center. With over 140,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space, a 40,000-sq.-ft. ballroom and 25,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space, the Connecticut Convention Center is the largest convention facility between New York and Boston. The venue also features exceptional demographics and highway access at the crossroads of New England, where Interstates 84 and 91 meet. With a prominent visual presence on Hartford’s historic skyline, the Center’s 110-foot glass atrium dramatically rises 10 stories above a grand public plaza and a tree-lined riverfront esplanade.

The Connecticut Convention Center has been constructed to spare no detail in making every function accommodating. From offering award-winning food and beverage service led by our in-house executive chef and culinary team, state-of-the-art rigging, wiring and WiFi to flexible spaces, abundant pre-function areas and ample onsite sheltered parking, the facility has taken every facet of hosting an event into consideration.

That includes the attached AAA Four Diamond, 409-room, Marriott Hartford Downtown hotel, which offers an additional 13,500 sq. ft. of meeting space.

C O N N e C t I C u t C O N V e N t I O N C e N t e R

With first-rate accommodations at numerous hotels (up to 1,600 hotel rooms within Hartford and 6,500 rooms within a 15-mile radius) and unparalleled service, Hartford truly is your kingdom! The expanded Bradley International Airport is conveniently located 15 miles away. Located midway between Boston and New York and easily accessible by rail, bus or car — making it simple for travelers coming into the Greater Hartford area.

Go green on New England’s first eco-friendly bio-diesel bus, the Star Shuttle, a free, public transportation service for simple access throughout the city. Also offered is the Bradley Flyer, a convenient, economical mode of transportation from the Bradley International Airport to our Capitol City.

Other attractions to check out at the Adriaen’s Landing District include a 3-D movie theater or joining in on fun interactive and educational games at the Connecticut Science Center, attached by foot bridge to the Convention Center. The development of the dining and entertainment portion of Adriaen’s Landing is known as Front Street, a nostalgic reference to the bustling riverfront thoroughfare that existed in the late 1800s through the 1950s.

With local culture and history around every corner, as well as celebrated attractions for every interest, the Connecticut Convention Center is the ultimate backdrop for mixing business with pleasure. The Mark Twain House & Museum and Harriet Beecher Stowe Center take visitors on a journey back in time. The Hartford Stage and Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts will entertain you, while the Connecticut Whale or UCONN athletics will have you on your feet, cheering. Downtown offers enough shops and boutiques to help you find the perfect souvenir. Afterward, stop by one of the tempting restaurants or cafes that line our city streets. With more than 40 3- and 4-star restaurants offering all types of cuisine, there is definitely a taste to satisfy any appetite! With historic roots, Hartford has a lot of culture and history to offer its visitors … come see all that we have to offer!


Delta Center400 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53203(414) 908-6001; Fax: (414) 908-6010www.wcd.orgDirector of Sales & Marketing: Trace Goudreau [email protected] Milwaukee – easy-to-get-to, easy-to-navigate, visitor-friendly meetings destinations known for its hospitality and beautiful Lake Michigan location. The Delta Center, home to the $1.4-million Burke Family Collection of integrated and commissioned art, features 32 meeting rooms, a 37,506-sq.-ft. ballroom, 189,695 sq. ft. of total exhibit space; 4,100-seat Milwaukee Theatre and 12,700-seat U.S. Cellular Arena. Ballroom equipped with built-in rigging points and high-amperage power sources, complete Wi-Fi, audio-visual, satellite, video conferenc-ing and remote network capability throughout facility. 1,543 hotel rooms connected by sky-walk; 3,359 in downtown area; 15,000+ in immediate metro area.

wIsCOnsIn

Fairplex1101 W. McKinley Avenue, Pomona, CA 91768(909) 623-3111; Fax: (909) 623-9599www.fairplex.comDirector of Sales: Melissa DeMonaco-Tapia You Can Do Anything Here

An entertainment and convention destination; home of the world-renowned L.A. County Fair since 1922 and site of 500 consumer and trade shows annually. 487 beautifully landscaped acres with eight art deco exposition halls, onsite Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Conference Center, Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, McKinley’s Grille, Finish Line Sports Grill and Barretts Equine Sales; 25,000 sq. ft. of column-free indoor exhibit space, eight spacious exposition halls (two additional halls expand total exhibit space to 350,000+ sq. ft); 800-seat theater. major horse racing facility with a 10,000-seat grandstand and 5/8-mile race track; 244-room Sheraton Fairplex Hotel onsite.

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John S. Knight Center77 East Mill Street, Akron, OH 44308(330) 374-8900 / (800) 245-4254; Fax: (330) 374-8971www.johnsknightcenter.orgVP of Sales: Dirk Breiding The Center of All America® City

Akron – set among the rolling hills of the Old Connecticut Western Reserve and along the shores of the Ohio and Erie Canalway. The John S. Knight Center is downtown Akron’s showcase for great events. State-of-the-art video conferencing and streaming systems, onsite skilled support/service staff, full-service catering; 16 meeting rooms; 12,000-sq.-ft. ballroom; 30,000-sq.-ft. exhibition hall (41,000 sq. ft. total exhibit space); 12,000 sq. ft. of banquet space; an additional 12,600 sq. ft. of meeting space; 22,000-sq.-ft. lobby, highlight-ed by distinctive glass rotunda and spiral staircase; two hotels – 339 rooms – within 1 1⁄2 blocks; 5,400 county-wide.

Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau426 West Markham, Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 370-3224; Fax: (501) 374-2255www.littlerock.comVP Marketing and Communications: John Mayner

A capital city with a national airport, Little Rock offers non-stop or one-stop service from most of the U.S. and many international cities, as well as more than 9,000 hotel rooms citywide. Its Statehouse Convention Center Ballroom, slated for renovations at the end of this year, offers nearly 83,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space and the 18,362-sq.-ft. Wally Allen Ballroom. The downtown River Market entertainment district is adjacent to the Convention Center. What is more, Little Rock CVB’s Convention Services department has recently teamed-up with Marketing and Communications to assist meeting planners with attendance stimulation through customized, technologically cutting-edge strategies.

OHIO

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Kansas ExpocentreOne Expocentre Drive, Topeka, KS 66612-1442(785) 235-1986; Fax: (785) 235-2967www.KsExpo.comGeneral Manager: H.R. Cook, [email protected]

The premier entertainment, exhibition and conven-tion facility in northeast Kansas offers a convenient, central location and friendly, Midwestern hospitality; 210,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space – 44,500-sq.-ft. exhibit hall, 27,000 sq. ft. of meet-ing space – 15 meeting rooms, 11,000-sq.-ft. ballroom; Wi-Fi, digital video boards, in-house live video production, state-of-the-art sound; six loading docks, three drive-in entrances; Capital City of Kansas, variety of entertainment options; historical architecture and museums, spacious parks, lake, gardens, Lake Shawnee gardens/golf/boating/swimming; Great Overland Train Station; 75 percent of U.S. population capable of reaching facility in just a one-day drive; destination of choice for budget-conscious conventions and tradeshows.

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Montego Bay Convention CentreRose Hall, 18 Queens DriveMontego Bay, St. James, Jamaica, West Indies(876) 622-9330; Fax: (876) 622-9360www.mobaycentre.comSenior Sales and Marketing Manager: Michelle Parkes A World Class Convention Centre in the Heart of JamaicaBeautiful, lively island, and a memorable experience for meeting attendees; excellent hotels, inns and guests houses; good golf, superb music, strong local life and vibrant culture. Ocean front location and breathtaking views, the brand new, state-of-the-art Montego Bay Convention Centre features 132,000 sq. ft. of meeting, exhibition, ballroom, and plenary space, including: 56,788 sq. ft. of dedicated exhibition space; 18,845-sq.-ft. ballroom; 9 meeting rooms, 6,000-seat theatre. superb catering, a large, full-service kitchen within the facility and 4,000 hotel rooms within close proximity.

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VisitNorfolk 232 East Main Street, Norfolk, VA 23510(757) 664-6620 / (800) 368-3097; Fax: (757) 622-3663www.visitnorfolktoday.comVice President of Sales and Marketing: Donna Allen

Located in the heart of the Mid-Atlantic, this compact meetings destination features hotels and convention facilities and a sparkling waterfront dotted with trendy restaurants, arts districts, museums, attractions and shopping. Waterside Convention Connection (200+ first-class rooms/suites, 55 meeting rooms, 121,000 sq. ft. of convention space) includes Norfolk Waterside Marriott, Sheraton Norfolk Waterside, Crowne Plaza Norfolk and the Waterside Festival Marketplace; Norfolk Scope Arena (85,000 sq. ft. of meeting space). Attractions: MacArthur Center Mall, Chrysler Museum of Art, Hermitage Foundation Museum, Norfolk Tides AAA Baseball, Virginia Zoological Park.

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Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau123 Park Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73102(405) 297-8912 / (800) 225-5652; Fax: (405) 297-8888www.visitokc.comDirector, Convention Sales & Services: Robin O’Connor

Welcome to a city that has tales for your ears and treats for your eyes. Where a stream-lined airport means you’re in fast. And with the best entertainment just a few minutes’ walk from your hotel, you’re out even faster. Cox Convention Center features 100,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space; 27,500 sq. ft. of flexible convention and pre-convene space; a 25,000-sq.-ft. ballroom (seats 4,000 theater-style); and a 15,000-seat arena (32,000 sq. ft. of floor space). Near revitalized Bricktown — new canal-side restaurants, clubs, music venues and attractions; across the street from three hotels – 1,600 of Oklahoma City’s 16,000 hotel rooms.

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Dlcc overviewBuilding size: 1,500,000 sq. ft.Exhibit space: 313,400 sq. ft.Meeting room space: 109,562 sq. ft. Rooftop terrace: 40,000 sq. ft. Ballroom space: 31,600 sq. ft. Living roof terrace: 25,590 sq. ft. Indoor parking spaces: 700 Meeting rooms: 53 Loading docks: 37 a leader in sustainable design and function; some of the Dlcc g1(greenfirst)® practices include:

Recycling: Traditional — plastics, aluminum, glass, cardboard, paper, wood. Non-traditional — batteries, sod, water, light bulbs, food.

Reducing: Bulk water use, planning local food menus, monitoring energy efficiencies and purchases renewable energy, growing vegetables and herbs on the rooftop.

Reusing: Operates its own water reclamation. Purchases environmentally-friendly office supplies.

1000 Ft. Duquesne Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15222 • (412) 325-6174; Fax: (412) 565-6104 • www.pittsburghcc.com

An awe-inspiring structure along the banks of the Allegheny River in downtown Pittsburgh, the David L. Lawrence Convention Center (DLCC) has set a new global standard for the convergence of beauty, functionality and sustainability. Opened in 2003, the Convention Center sits on almost eight acres of land

at the edge of Pittsburgh’s Cultural District, which is a thriving area of shops, restaurants and theaters. With 53 meeting rooms, the Center boasts the largest ballroom in western Pennsylvania and more than 300,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space. From its sweeping stainless steel roof to an onsite water recycling system, the DLCC is a case study in sustainability and was awarded GOLD in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED ®) by the US Green Building Council. Beyond its beauty, the curved roof provides a significant amount of natural light throughout the facility, which dramatically reduces the need for costly and energy-consuming artificial light.

A simple ventilation system using the laws of physics draws cool air from over the Allegheny River into the halls, providing fresh, cool air to attendees. Drawing water from the city’s fourth river, an aquifer located 50 feet beneath the building, the DLCC uses this water for the center’s air conditioning system’s cooling towers, reducing demand on the city’s water supply. In addition, the center’s grey water reclamation system filters and purifies its wastewater and recycles the water for use in its restroom commodes. Combined, these two systems enable the DLCC to reduce its municipal water usage by 75%.

D a V I D L . L a W R e N C e C O N V e N t I O N C e N t e R

P e N N s Y LV a N I a

World-Class aCCommodations, Global ConsCiousness andan aWe-inspirinG struCture alonG the banks of the alleGheny


1101 W. McKinley Avenue, Pomona, CA 91768; (909) 623-3111 • www.fairplex.com

FairPleX “MaKes WaVes” With graND oPeNiNg oF $28 MillioN sheratoN FairPleX coNFereNce ceNter

Earlier this year, Fairplex officially opened the doors to its new high-tech Sheraton Fairplex Conference Center. Just as the flutter of a butterfly’s wings can cause waves around the world, the opening of the new Center is making a global impact by hosting world-class national and international programming elements in one of the most versatile and customer-friendly Southern California event locations. The new Center is also IACC

certified and Silver LEED engineered in order to make maximum impact in the community but minimal impact on the environment.

Since the Center’s spring debut, several organizations have already experienced its versatile floor plan and amenities. “Our team hosted more than 300 key retail partners at the new Conference Center for a product launch and they were astounded by the ‘high-end’ service and facilities at the new Fairplex Center,” said Mark Di Girolamo, Venue/National Account Management, Anheuser-Busch Inbev.

This ambitious project was funded by $28 million raised in conjunction with the Economic Development Administration, Small Business Administration, County of Los Angeles and city of Pomona, and resulted in more than $155.6 million in economic impact during construction.

“A conference center of this magnitude is unheard of in this area,” said Rep. Grace F. Napolitano. “This jewel of a Center will attract businesses and educational organizations to meet and empower the entrepreneurs of tomorrow to succeed.”

Versatility played an important role in the design of the new 85,000-sq.-ft. Center. This can be seen in the spacious seminar rooms and breakout rooms with interactive digital white boards, video-conferencing and high-speed Wi-Fi, all serviced by an expert team of meeting and event specialists. Adding a delicious dynamic to the Center are the various catering options ranging from fresh farm-to-table produce grown at the on-campus FairView Farms, to the decadent ballroom with dining capacity for 1,000.

“We applaud Fairplex for its new Conference Center, a worthy and important project, which is certain to help invigorate our local economy with more than 500 new jobs and $58 million in new economic activity,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina.

Among the Sheraton Fairplex Conference Center’s clients are the Special Equipment Market Association (SEMA), Southern California Edison and Kaiser Permanente.

Fa I R P L e x

C a L I F O R N I a

OUR CAMPUS Large column-free, air-conditioned exhibit halls ranging from 33,600 to 105,500 sq. ft. and meeting space totaling 375,000 sq. ft.

Building amenities include touch-free restrooms, pre-wired exhibit halls for high-speed Internet and DSL, portable concession stands and ATMs

Outside areas perfect for product demonstrations, automotive, boat and outdoor recreational shows and events

Established and popular location for filming and television productions

Park-like settings, fountains and beautiful landscaping throughout the grounds

Five-eighths mile oval Fairplex Park horse racing track with large, grassy infield ideal for concerts, picnics and festivals and a 10,000-seat grandstand

Unique barn and horse arenas for horse shows

Historical art gallery and adjoining patio suitable for events and weddings

Historical 40,000-seat Auto Club Raceway and 1,000-foot drag strip is an excellent location for auto testing, research, filming and driving courses

Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum Onsite Sheraton Fairplex Hotel and Fairplex KOA RV Park

Onsite McKinley’s Grille restaurant, Finish Line Sports Grill and Avalon restaurant

Barretts Equine Ltd., site of four prestigious annual national/international equine auctions

Spacious parking for more than 30,000 vehicles

PROXIMITY Just nine miles west of LA/Ontario International Airport

Easy access to Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and Orange counties

Nearby dining, entertainment, theaters, art and recreational destinations

anythingYOU CAN DO

hereA SUPER REGIONAL DESTINATION

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anythingYOU CAN DO

hereA SUPER REGIONAL DESTINATION

p - 909 622 2220 • sheraton.com/fairplex • 601 W. McKinley Ave. Pomona, CA 91768

A regional expo. A national championship. An elegant, intimate awards banquet.

The new Sheraton Fairplex Conference Center

provides an ideal venue for a gathering of a

thousand or a dinner for fifty. With breakout

session, classroom, and work-group meeting

environments, we can accommodate your

needs. Our flexible capacity allows us to serve

larger groups than ever before and we can easily

adjust for smaller parties, which embody warmth,

intimacy and style perfectly suited for you and a

handful of select guests.

Sheraton Fairplex Conference Center offers

85,000 square feet of event space and more

than 300,000 additional square feet on a

stunning 487-acre Fairplex campus. Fairplex

hosts hundreds of conventions and trade and

consumer shows annuallly, including the L.A.

County Fair, and is centrally located and easily

accessible from regions throughout

Southern California.

Contact us to plan your next event

& discover endless possibilites...

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DealCenter, LLCTake the work out of trade show networking340 Royal Poinciana Way-Suite 317/#345Palm Beach, FL 33480(866) 430-3023; Fax: (201) 624-7316www.deal-center.com

The DealCenter is a turnkey product for trade show, conference or expo organizers. DealCenter, LLC works with trade show, expo or conference management companies to provide an online meeting system that enhances the peer-to- peer networking at the event for attendees and exhibitors. The DealCenter team also provides on-site management of the physical DealCenter or meeting area as well as all technical and customer support.

UrbanRide421 7th Avenue, New York, NY 10001 (800) 525-5750; Fax: (212) 202-9638 www.urbanride.net

Chief Executive Officer: Jeremy MilikowSenior Vice President: Mitch Bornstein, SVP

‘Leading Global Provider of Meeting & Event Transportation’

UrbanRide is a global provider of ground transportation for meetings & events, and uses the top-of-the-line sedans, SUVs, vans, minibuses and motorcoaches. We provide our clients with IMS, our software that enables meeting planners to better manage transportation for their meetings, conferences, conventions, tradeshows & other events. We work exclusively with meeting & event planners and our customer service is the best in the business. UrbanRide is a one-stop solution for meeting & event transportation.

Keppler Speakers4350 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 700, Arlington, VA 22203(703) 516-4000; Fax: (703) 516-4819www.kepplerspeakers.comSenior VP for Sales and Marketing: John Truran

With Keppler Speakers, creating memorable meetings never felt so easy. With over 25 years of experience, we provide you solid, seasoned expertise, making speaker selection stress-free by managing all of the details. Keppler Speakers saves you precious time by matching you with speakers who are right on target. From proven performers to dynamic rising stars, our speakers bring fascinating, real stories and a gift for inspiring audiences.

93Facilities & Destinations 2009 SuperBook

Yo u r P r o d u c t s & S e r v i c e s R e s o u r c eB u y e r’s G u i de

Don’t Get Stuck in a Fishbowl!The Facilities Media Group

Facilities & DestinationsFacilities • Conference • Planner Guide

Facilities LIVE • Booking GuideFacilities & Event Management

www.Facilitiesonline.com

POTHOS, Inc.2260 El Cajon Blvd. #474San Diego, CA 92104 (619) 546-0621: Fax: (413) 723-7838www.pothos.usPresident & CEO: Michael Patton, CMM

“Our company ethos is Integrity, Clarity and Reliability. POTHOS works in a forthright manner that considers transparent communication as the cornerstone to a successful relationship with our guests and travel partners.”

POTHOS, Inc. is a globally recognized strategic meeting management company and corporate travel agency that specializes in using cutting-edge technology and resources to compete with much larger companies at a value, offering clients cost savings and efficient personal event planning services. POTHOS, Inc. specializes in the following 3 core competencies: 1. Full Service Strategic Meeting Management; 2. Full Service Corporate/VIP Travel Management; 3. Logistics – Freight & People. POTHOS, Inc. is your ONE source for meeting, travel and logistics. Achievement of goals and objectives, ROI and ROO are the basis of our strategic approach.

The C.W. Allen Group, LLC 5130 Cyrus Circle, Birmingham, AL 35242(205) 263-0555 Fax: (205) 263-0557www.cwallengroup.comDirector of Industry Relations: Jackie Jones

Brighter Ideas… Better Results ™

The C.W. Allen Group is North America’s leading event marketing consultancy delivering the industry’s leading exhibitor education and training program, Exhibiting ROI-Q Academy™, which has consistently proven to greatly increase exhibitor success/ROI, to significantly increase exhibitor “retention rates”… and to dramatically increase event sponsorship sales. It is the exhibition industry’s leading and fastest growing exhibitor education, training, and full time/full service “consulting” solution and is fully supported by the International Economic Alliance – conceived at Harvard University, TSEA, BPA Worldwide and ECEF. The C.W. Allen Group delivers the exhibition industry’s leading network quality, global television productions on a risk-free and revenue-generating basis.

The Facilities Media Group

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Facilities & Destinations SuperBook Facilities & Destinations Mid-Market Review

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Facilities & Event Management Facilitiesonline.com

Rhode Island Convention & Entertainment ComplexOne Sabin Street, Providence, RI 02903Phone: (401) 458-6000; Fax: (401) 458-6500www.riconvention.comSenior Director of Sales and Marketing: John J. McGinn, CEM Complex includes Rhode Island Convention Center, 13,000-seat Dunkin’ Donuts Center, 1,900-seat Veterans Memorial Auditorium; conveniently located in the heart of downtown Providence. Convention Center: 137,000 sq. ft. total meeting/exhibit space; main exhibit hall: 100,000 contiguous sq. ft.; 23 meeting rooms and pre-function space; 20,000-sq.-ft. ballroom; accommodates groups 10-5,000; 5,500 hotel rooms in the Greater Providence area, with 2,200 within one mile of Complex. Attractions: Culinary Arts Museum at JWU, Museum of Art at the RI School of Design, Providence Bruins (AHL Affiliate of Boston Bruins), Providence Performing Arts Center, Providence Place Mall, RI Philharmonic.

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Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau144 Westminster Street, Providence, RI 02903(401) 456-0200; Fax: (401) 273-7046www.GoProvidence.comVice President of Sales & Services: Kristin McGrath, CDMProvidence: The Creative CapitalBrimming with history, natural beauty and stunning architecture, Providence offers hotels, great res-taurants, and stellar shopping all within blocks of each other. The Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau books meetings, conventions, tradeshows and events of any size, working closely with planners to boost attendance, including targeted e-mail blasts, postcard mailings, Web site/microsite and welcome banners throughout city. The Rhode Island Convention & Entertainment Complex includes RI Convention Center (137,000 sq. ft. of total exhibit space), 13,000-seat Dunkin’ Donuts Center, and the 1,900-seat Veterans Memorial Auditorium.

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Rochester Riverside Convention Center123 East Main Street, Rochester, NY 14564(585) 232-7200; Fax: (585) 232-1510www.rrcc.comExecutive Director: Joseph A. Floreano, CFE“Do it better at the Rochester Riverside where you and your event are always the center of our attention!”

Convenient upstate N.Y. location, scenic Genesee River setting. 100,000 sq. ft. of meeting/exhibition space; 22 meeting rooms; 10,028-sq.-ft. ballroom; 49,275-sq.-ft. main exhibit hall; 5,000-seat theater; dedicated Internet connection over fiber optics; wireless access throughout facility; 1,100+ hotel rooms in a trio of major hotels con-nect venue, surrounded by several entertainment districts with restaurants, cafés, pubs, dance clubs, music halls, theaters. Rochester offers planners a compact convention district and New York State’s only one-stop convention facility.

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Pennsylvania Convention Center1101 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107(215) 418-4700; (800) 428-9000; Fax: (215) 418-4861www.paconvention.com

Vice President of Sales, Marketing & Convention Services: Stephanie BoydPhiladelphia: The Complete Package

Philadelphia – full-on fusion of old and new, historic and hip, trendy and traditional – historic landmarks, world-renowned dining options ranging from upscale eateries to the famous Philly cheese-steak; tax-free shopping, fast-action sports, an abundance of arts and culture. The newly expanded PCC, now more than 60 percent larger, features: 679,000 sq. ft. total meeting/exhibit space; 79 meeting rooms; a 55,400-sq-ft. ballroom; 528,000 sq. ft. of contiguous exhibit space; Wi-Fi throughout; HD digital signage throughout; in-house AV services – state-of-the-art sound, lighting and video options.

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St. Charles Convention Center1 Convention Center Plaza, St. Charles, MO 63303(636) 669-3000 / (877) 986-7222; Fax: (636) 669-3001www.stcharlesconventioncenter.comDirector of Sales and Marketing: Bill NicelyDedicated to Exceptional Service, Delivered with a Warm and Innovative Approach

154,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space in a grand ballroom, junior ballroom and 17 breakout rooms; 27,600-sq.-ft. exhibit hall — expandable to 35,700 sq. ft. — total exhibit space: 76,533 sq. ft.; attached 296-room Embassy Suites; 578 hotel rooms within walking distance; 1,422 hotel rooms within 5 minutes; 10 minutes to Lambert St. Louis International Airport. Attractions: Historic Main Street Shopping and Dining, St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Anheuser Busch Brewery, Six Flags Amusement Park, Ameristar Casino and Harrah’s Casino.

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Visit Savannah101 East Bay Street, Savannah, GA 31401(877) SAVANNAH/(912) 644-6424; Fax: (912) 644-6499www.SavannahMeetings.com www.SavannahVisit.comVP Business Development & Services: Jeff Hewitt Savannah is a convention city capable of hosting large, high-level meetings, conventions and special events. Welcome to Savannah, est. 1733, waiting to charm you with tree-filled squares and perfectly preserved historic buildings. Savannah has the capacity to accommodate large groups in its convention, exhibit and meeting facilities, the largest being the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center. Total event space: 330,000 sq. ft.; exhibit space: 100,000 sq. ft.; ballroom: 25,000 sq. ft.; pre-function space: 6,600 sq. ft.; meetings rooms: 13; 14,000 hotel rooms citywide.

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About MONTEGO BAY CONVENTION CENTRE

For more information | www.mobaycentre.comMontego Bay Convention Centre | Half Moon P.O. Box #4058, Rose Hall, St. James, JAMAICA | E: [email protected] | T: +1 876 622 9330

The pride of Montego Bay, the new Conference Centre brings serious business to the second city and as an international convention destina-tion, it is already making an impact on the local economy. Unlike leisure travel, which has its peak seasons, convention business is year round and the benefits are shared - the Centre feeds into the 5-star hotels along the elegant corridor and the attractions in and around the area offer leisure activities for the delegates. Now open, the local business community has been very supportive – with the Centre being booked for meetings, retreats, training workshops and special events.

It is also becoming known as a sports venue, hosting championship events in table tennis, taekwondo and domino competitions. Church events are popular, so too are weddings which can be held on the large landscaped lawns. The venue also targets the music industry, and is ideal for concerts, which can be held indoors, or in the huge paved courtyard overlooking the ocean. To date the two big events include the major international tourism trade shows - Caribbean Marketplace and JAPEX. Surprisingly, the room rates are very good and clients are able to manage their budget depending on all the add-ons, such as audio visuals and catering.

The Centre is located on prime land and the complex is the first of its kind in the Caribbean - owned by the local Urban Development Corpora-tion, funded by a US$ 45 million loan from EXIM Bank of China and built by the Chinese. Well planned and designed, it is impressive in many ways. Architecturally it delivers so much and incorporates several design elements. Elevated, it has a dramatic view of the coastline, with a backdrop of the mountains; there’s the grandeur of the old Georgian style public buildings seen in Jamaica, with cut stone work dominating the exterior, along with large green plantation style shutters, yet there is enough glass and chrome to give it all a very modern feel. There are the water features - narrow, long shallow pools, all calming and tranquil. The interior décor has Asian-influences in the cherry wood

finishing, and latticework screens. And it’s super elegant - marble tiles and stylish furniture.

The facility offers over 100,000 square feet of convention and meeting space – all very flexible and functional. There are three main areas, and each one can be divided up to offer several options: The Exhibition

Hall is massive, spread over two separate buildings, it can accommodate 6,200 theatre style, 4,700 banquet seating, or 282 booths; the Grand Ballroom, carpeted with chandelier lighting, can seat 1,580 banquet style. On the west wing, another building houses 9 meeting areas, the largest accommodating up to 600, to a small boardroom. Not overlooked in design are the spacious pre-function lobby areas, with reception desks and comfortable seating, and the large, immaculate public washrooms. Another building, the Jamaica Room, with windows on all sides, has great wall space, and is planned as an art gallery to feature ongoing exhibi-tions. Then there’s the brick-tiled courtyard, which can hold 2,600 people reception, great for large outdoor parties. There is also the Ocean View Terrace, which can seat 1,500 banquet style.

The 15,000sq. ft. kitchen, which is probably the largest, best equipped on island is a huge space with additional prep rooms for salads, seafood, meat and pastry. Catering is a big part of the Centre’s services from coffee and tea breaks, to working lunch buffets, cocktail parties and 5-course banquets. Both the kitchen and Exhibition Hall also have freight access. Parking is ample, with coach bays.

There will be a full service business centre offering secretarial services. All the meeting rooms are soundproof, and equipped with the latest in IT facilities including fully integrated global broadcast and teleconferencing capabilities. There is also a team of roaming audio visual technicians.


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123 Park Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73102; (405) 297-8912 / (800) 225-5652 Fax: (405) 297-8888 • www.visitokc.com

meet IN OKLaHOma CItY

Oklahoma City’s western charm and lively atmosphere create the

perfect backdrop for your next meeting, conference or convention. With a downtown urban renaissance and shimmering riverfront, a burgeoning art scene and world-class museums and entertainment, the possibilities in Oklahoma City are endless.

“Oklahoma City plays host to meetings and conventions of all sizes,” said Elizabeth Richardson, Director of Convention Sales & Services. “We have experienced steady and consistent growth in the meetings and conventions business year over year and are gaining more and more recognition as a destination and future years look very strong for Oklahoma City.”

The Cox Convention Center is one of the most centrally located convention centers in the nation and just across the street from three of the downtown hotels which combined offer more than 1,400 of Oklahoma City’s nearly 16,000 hotel

O K L a H O m a C I t Y C O N V e N t I O N & V I s I t O R s B u R e a u

rooms. Not to mention it is just steps away from the thriving Bricktown Entertainment District. A glass-enclosed skywalk connects the adjacent Renaissance Hotel to the Cox Convention Center’s second floor, featuring an impressive 25,000-sq.-ft. ballroom. Additional meeting rooms total 27,500 sq. ft. of convention and pre-convene space.

And the meetings bar is likely to be set even higher in the future: Oklahoma City voters approved funding to build a new $280-million downtown convention center, the largest of the eight projects approved in the city’s third Metropolitan Area Projects (MAPS) proposal. MAPS3 will fund the projects through the extension of an existing one-cent sales tax, making the projects debt-free upon completion.

For More Information: Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau; Elizabeth Richardson, Director, Convention Sales & Services; Phone: (405) 297-8952 or (800) 225-5652; Fax: 405-297-8888; Email: [email protected]; Web site: www.visitokc.com

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FROM OUR RUGGED WESTERN PAST TO THE MAJESTIC PRESENCE OF OUR CITY’S EVER-CHANGING SKYLINE, OKLAHOMA CITY IS THE PERFECT

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UNI_OKC-M83 FacilitiesDestinations_FP4C.indd 1 7/5/12 12:00 PM


144 Westminster Street, Providence, RI 02903 • Phone: (401) 456-0200; Fax: (401) 273-7046 • www.GoProvidence.com/VIP

Providence, RI has all of the key ingredients that make a meeting successful – plenty of square footage, convenient hotels and ample amenities. But it’s the city’s stellar restaurants, walkable downtown, and vibrant nightlife that will make a meeting memorable.

Dubbed the Creative Capital, Providence is known for its world-class dining, and eclectic arts and culture scene. Travel + Leisure readers voted Providence one of America’s Favorite Cities, ranking the city No. 2 in the U.S. for food. And as home to the world’s largest culinary educator, Johnson & Wales University, Providence reaps the rewards of having many of the school’s graduates demonstrate their culinary talents in local restaurants.

Providence also boasts one of the nation’s leading art schools, the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). The RISD Museum of Art, a must-see stop for visitors, houses more than 80,000 works ranging from French Impressionist paintings to contemporary multimedia art.

The Rhode Island Convention & Entertainment Complex – comprised of the Rhode Island Convention Center (RICC), the Dunkin’ Donuts Center (Dunk) and the Veterans Memorial Auditorium (The Vets) – stands in the heart of Providence within steps of hotels and things to see and do. The RICC consists of a 100,000-contiguous-sq.-ft. exhibition hall, a 20,000-sq.-ft. ballroom, 23 meeting rooms, and the Rotunda Room which provides spectacular views of the city. There are also two adjacent garages with 2,400 parking spaces. The Center is conveniently located within one mile of 2,200 hotel rooms, and a total of 5,500 rooms are available in the Greater Providence area.

Convenience and connectivity are key features of the Complex. Ample meeting space, hotel rooms and entertainment options are all within easy reach. At one end, the Convention Center is connected via skybridge to the Dunkin’ Donuts Center, the area’s premier events arena. At its other end, the RICC is attached to the 564-room Westin Hotel, and

PROVIDeNCe, RI – tHe CReatIVe CaPItaL

P R O V I D e N C e W a R W I C K C O N V e N t I O N & V I s I t O R s B u R e a u

R H O D e I s L a N D

Providence Place, a downtown mall offering more than 170 shopping, dining and entertainment options.

The 13,000-seat Dunk is home to the AHL Providence Bruins and the Big East Providence College Friars, and hosts sporting events, major concerts, family shows, and trade shows. The Dunk features 31,000 sq. ft. of arena space, a ceiling height of 90 feet, a 25,000-sq.-ft. concourse, a new 12,000-sq.-ft. lobby, two party suites, two lodges, a new restaurant, and five renovated meeting/hospitality rooms.

The Vets, a 1,900-seat theatre, is a historic performing arts venue that boasts flawless acoustics, a breathtaking proscenium stage, and now, following a multi-million dollar renovation, a backstage that will leave performers feeling pampered. The Vets is also available for elegant corporate events, speaking engagements and more.

Located between New York City and Boston, Providence is within easy reach by plane, train or car. About 25 percent of the United States’ population lives within 500 miles of the city. The Amtrak train station is located within walking distance of the Complex, and offers rail service throughout the Northeast Corridor.

Nearby Warwick, RI features miles of scenic coastline and additional hotel, dining, shopping and entertainment choices. For those flying into Rhode Island, Warwick’s T.F. Green Airport is just 10 minutes from downtown Providence. The airport’s eco-friendly InterLink hub provides passengers with an array of transportation options. Conveniently housing a rental car facility, public transportation options, and rail service to Providence, Boston and beyond, the InterLink offers travelers ease, affordability and accessibility.

The award-winning Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau is eager to work with planners to make their next meeting or convention a success. Whether exploring exhibit space at a trade show or at a gallery opening, or meeting in or stepping out on a ballroom floor, attendees can meet with a new perspective ... in Rhode Island.

® I LOVE NEW YORK logo is a registered trademark/service mark of the NYS Dept. of Economic Development, used with permission.

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Ohio Spotlight Ohio Spotlight Ohio Spotlight Ohio Spotlight Ohio Spotlight Ohio OHIO Spotlight

In the meetings industry, Ohio’s cities lack the cachet of an Orlando or a Las Vegas, but this classic Midwestern state should not be overlooked as a great second-tier option. For one, it’s very marketable as a major contributor to Americana, as well as politics and business. Ohio, whose name derives from the Iroquois

word for “great river,” is bounded by Lake Erie to the north and the Ohio River to the south, and is a focal point of Native American history. The state is a more modern “Mother of Presidents” than Virginia, with native sons including Ulysses S. Grant and William Howard Taft. And on the business front it is a strong performer to this day, particularly in manufacturing

By F&D Staff

and finance. The state has been ranked second in the nation for best business climate by Site Selection magazine, and boasted the seventh-highest GDP of all 50 states in 2010, when it enjoyed a GDP growth rate of 2.7 percent. Last year, Ohio’s GDP grew by 1.1 percent, trailing the national average of 1.5 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Association and corporate planners can do their part to keep Ohio’s economy on track by booking meetings in this accessible, All-American state, and in the process they’ll benefit from a wealth of top-notch (and affordable) meeting facilities, offsite venues and recreational offerings, from Akron to

The Buckeye State

OHIOOHIO


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Toledo. Highlights include the burgeoning city of Cincinnati, which is investing millions in downtown development projects that will include new venue options for groups. And in Cleveland, home of the iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, hotel development is rockin’ with an additional 933 hotel rooms soon to be available downtown and in the University Circle area, thanks to the city’s $2 billion visitor-related development project across Northeast Ohio. Meanwhile, Columbus, the state capital and the country’s 15th-largest city, is not to be outdone with the brand-new Hilton Columbus Downtown debuting this year. The property is connected by sky bridge to the Greater Columbus Convention Center,

known as a technologically leading-edge facility throughout the meetings industry.

But that’s no surprise, given that Columbus itself is an avant-garde city, befitting the eponymous explorer of the New World. The city is home to the world’s largest private R&D foundation in science and technology, the Battelle Memorial Institute, not to mention CAS (Chemical Abstracts Service), the world’s largest clearinghouse of chemical information, and the nation’s largest campus, OSU. A meeting can only benefit by taking place in such a thriving intellectual climate. And yet, Columbus is just one of Ohio’s robust mid-market cities.

Cincinnati at dusk


Ohio Spotlight Ohio Spotlight Ohio Spotlight Ohio Spotlight Ohio Spotlight Ohio

AKRONThe Center of All America® City is appropriately named, as a three-time All America® City winner. Settled among the rolling hills of the Old Connecticut Western Reserve and along the shores of the Ohio and Erie Canalway, Akron boasts a rich heritage reflected in the ethnicity, lifestyles and social diversity of its residents and visitors. A leading world center in polymer research, Akron continues to play an innovative role in science, industry and medicine. Meeting planners have at their disposal the John S. Knight Center, complemented by more than 5,400 hotel rooms countywide.

John S. Knight Center Akron’s convention center (www.johnsknightcenter.org) features an exhibition hall of 30,000 sq. ft., 12,000 sq. ft. of banquet space, an additional 12,600 sq. ft. of meeting space across 16 meeting and breakout rooms, and a 22,000-sq.-ft. lobby highlighted by a distinctive glass rotunda and spiral staircase. Total exhibit space is 41,000 sq. ft. On the technological front, the center features state-of-the-art video conferencing and streaming systems, wireless Internet connectivity, state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment and an infrared communications system for the hearing impaired. Other venue features include an onsite culinary department and a parking deck with skywalk access.

Staying ThereWithin one and a half blocks of John S. Knight Center are 339 guestrooms across two hotel properties: the Quaker Square Inn at the University of Akron (60,000 sq. ft. of convention space), built within the framework of the former Quaker Oats factory, and the Akron City Centre Hotel (16,000 sq. ft. of meeting space).

Getting ThereDowntown Akron is 11 miles from Akron-Canton Airport, and 30 miles from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. State Route 8, known as the Akron Expressway between city limits, begins at an interchange with I-76 and I-77 just southeast of Akron’s central business district.

Itinerary TipsCultural Attractions: Akron Art Museum, Akron Civic Theatre, Summit Artspace, Northside Arts District

Recreation: Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio’s only national park), Lock 3 Park, Ohio and Erie Canalway Towpath Trail, Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, Akron Zoo, Hale Farm & Village, Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad



CINCINNATICincinnati is a city with an eye to the future and a foothold in the past. It has invested $150 million over the last five years in revitalizing Over-The-Rhine, the nation’s largest urban historic district, located north of downtown. Yet it has also recently invested $500 million in a major new mixed-use development to the south: The Banks. Situated between the Cincinnati Reds and Bengals stadiums, The Banks incorporates residential units, office space, dining, and leisure and entertainment venues, with current and future tenants including 11 independent and new-to-market restaurants. The development also connects the Central Business District to the waterfront via a scenic riverfront park. Overall, Cincinnati offers attendees a wealth of lodging, dining and entertainment options. Within five blocks of its Duke Energy Convention Center are 3,000 hotel rooms, 75 restaurants and 200 shops, many of which are in Fountain Square, just two blocks from the convention center.

What’s New• Beginning of development of Phase II of The Banks.• Early 2013 will see the grand opening of the downtown Horseshoe Casino in the revitalized Broadway Commons District.

• New hotels include 21c Museum Hotel (a 160-room boutique hotel), a 200-room Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites, and a Hilton-brand hotel in the historic Cincinnati Enquirer building. In addition, a Hyatt Regency Cincinnati renovation was recently announced.• The just-completed renovation of the eight-acre Washington Park includes the addition of a 500-space underground parking garage. Construction is under way for the 45-acre Smale Riverfront Park.• Also breaking ground this year is the $110-million Streetcar Project running from the downtown central riverfront to the revitalized Over-the-Rhine district.

Duke Energy Convention CenterCincinnati’s convention center is located in the heart of downtown, just blocks from I-71 and I-75 and only 10 minutes from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. The facility offers 750,000 sq. ft. of total meeting space including 31 meeting rooms, a 40,000-sq.-ft. ballroom and 200,000 sq. ft. of contiguous exhibit space. Prestige AV & Creative Services is the preferred in-house audiovisual services partner, while Smart City provides extensive event technology services.

Staying ThereMajor downtown hotels include the 872-room Millennium



Hotel Cincinnati (27,000 sq. ft. of meeting space); the 561-room, AAA Four Diamond Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza (40,423 sq. ft. of meeting space); the 486-room Hyatt Regency Cincinnati (33,324 sq. ft. of meeting space); and the 456-room Westin Hotel Cincinnati (32,000 sq. ft. of meeting space).

Getting ThereDowntown Cincinnati is 12 miles to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. Major highways are I-71, 74 and 75.

Itinerary TipsCultural Attractions: Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum, Harriet Beecher Stowe House, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Taft Museum of Art

Sightseeing: BB Riverboats, Queen City Riverboats, observation deck at Carew Tower

CLEVELANDThe vibrant lake-side city of Cleveland is filled with world-class arts, choice accommodations, trendy eateries and clubs, and top-notch attractions like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Cleveland Museum of Art, PlayhouseSquare Theater District and Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. More than $2 billion worth of tourism-related development is under way, bringing a new convention center and multiple new hotels and restaurants to the city. Groups will find a logistically convenient selection of hotels in Greater Cleveland, which offers a total of 22,000 guestrooms, with more than 4,000 of them located downtown. The majority of downtown hotels are within a short walk of the convention center and downtown attractions, while suburban properties are only a 15-20 minute drive away. In addition, more than 20 hotels housing some 3,100 rooms are located near Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

What’s New• After $22 million in renovations, the Tudor Arms Hilton Doubletree has been transformed into the 11-story, 157-room Hilton Doubletree at University Circle, offering 3,772 sq. ft. of meeting space. • Opening next spring will be the 150-room Courtyard by Marriott in University Circle (2,000 sq. ft. of meeting space), the 150-room Aloft Hotel Cleveland Downtown (3,000 sq. ft. of meeting space) and the 161-room Kimpton Hotel Downtown Cleveland (7,400 sq. ft. of meeting space). • The former Crowne Plaza Cleveland City Centre located downtown closed in November and will reopen as the 472-

room Westin Cleveland Convention Center Hotel with 25,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.

The Cleveland Convention Center & Medical MartSet to open in July 2013, Cleveland’s new convention center (www.clevelandmedicalmart.com) will combine permanent medical showrooms, a Class-A exhibition hall and state-of-the-art conference facilities tailored to the needs of both the medical and mainstream marketplace. The $465-million facility, which is LEED Silver-certified, also will feature a 30,000-sq.-ft. Grand Ballroom offering panoramic views of Lake Erie. The CCC will house 319,099 sq. ft. of meeting space, including 35 meeting rooms, a 32,193-sq.-ft. ballroom and 225,928 sq. ft. of total exhibit space. Also on premises will be a 3,360-seat theater. Advanced tech features include wireless connectivity, multi-site video conferencing, high-definition display systems, technology labs and intelligent classrooms.

The International Exposition (I-X) CenterThe International Exposition (I-X) Center (www.ixcenter.com) is one of the largest single-building exposition centers in the world, offering more than one million sq. ft. of exhibit space and parking for up to 7,200 vehicles. The center’s total exhibit space is 845,000 sq. ft., and it houses 26 meeting rooms, a 16,000-sq.-ft. ballroom and a 1,000-seat theater. Meeting space tech features include computer, Internet and AV facilities, and an outdoor ExpoTron video



display towering 50 feet in the air with dual-sided screens 47 ft. wide by 40 ft. tall.

Kalahari ResortKalahari Resort (www.kalahariresorts.com) in nearby Sandusky offers 215,000 sq. ft. of space for trade shows, exhibitions, conventions, conferences, faith-based retreats and other gatherings. All events at Kalahari are complemented by the resorts’ authentic, African-themed décor, creative onsite planning services and a wealth of onsite activities. Kalahari Resort features more than 890 guestrooms and suites, 11 food and beverage outlets, four retail shops, and a world-class spa all under one roof. The resort offers 215,000 sq. ft. of function space (after a recent $22-million expansion added 120,000 sq. ft.), which includes 67,255 sq. ft. of exhibit space, a 38,232-sq.-ft. ballroom and 39 meeting rooms. Meeting space tech features include complimentary Wi-Fi in all guestrooms, meeting spaces, exhibition areas and common areas; Internet bandwidth speeds up to 100Mb/s throughout resort with capacity to increase to 1 Gb/s; and state-of-the-art lighting and AV controls along with numerous built-in hi-lumen/Hi-Def projectors and monitors.

Staying ThereMajor downtown hotels include the 400-room Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center (22,378 sq. ft. of meeting space), the 379-room Doubletree by Hilton Cleveland Downtown/Lakeside (over 10,000 sq. ft. of

meeting space), the 293-room Hyatt Regency Cleveland at The Arcade (over 7,000 sq. ft. of meeting space), the 252-room Embassy Suites Cleveland-Downtown (10,000 sq. ft. of meeting space) and the 205-room Wyndham Cleveland at PlayhouseSquare (13,000 sq. ft. of meeting space). University Circle is home to the 299-room Intercontinental Hotel & Conference Center Cleveland (over 28,000 sq. ft. of meeting space), among other upscale properties.

Getting ThereCleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) offers more than 250 daily departures to more than 75 nonstop destinations across the U.S. to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. CLE is the Midwest hub for United Airlines and is a 15-20 minute drive to downtown Cleveland.

Itinerary TipsCultural Attractions: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Pro Football Hall of Fame, PlayhouseSquare (second-largest performing arts center in the country) and a variety of venues in University Circle (Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland Botanical Garden, Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland Institute of Music and Severance Hall)

Recreation: Horseshoe Casino Cleveland, Cedar Point (ranked “Best Amusement Park in the World” for 13 consecutive years by Amusement Today), Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

Entertainment Districts: East 4th Street (House of Blues, Hilarities comedy club, Flannery’s Irish Pub, Chef Michael Symon’s Lola); Historic Warehouse District (unique coffee shops, specialty boutiques); Historic Gateway District (Progressive Field and Quicken Loans Arena, hosting a variety of sporting events); Little Italy; historic Tremont (blue-collar neighborhoods with rich cultural heritage); Ohio City (located across the Cuyahoga River and west of downtown, home to ethnic eateries and Victorian-era homes)

(Left): An artist’s rendering of the Medical Mart at the Cleveland Convention Center. (Above): The I-X Center.



COLUMBUSOhio’s capital and largest city is a progressive, warm and friendly destination with a renowned convention center. Named among the most affordable U.S. tradeshow destinations, Columbus is celebrating its bicentennial this year and is home to a variety of attractions, including the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Triple A Clippers baseball team, Short North Arts District and more. Nearly 26,000 hotel rooms citywide allow meeting groups to experience the best Columbus has to offer.

What’s New• The 532-room Hilton Columbus Downtown, connected by deluxe sky bridge to the convention center, opened in October with 30,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. Other surrounding hotels have been recently renovated. • The Greater Columbus Convention Center includes recently renovated restrooms and an expanded West Garage. It has also recently launched a set of state-of-the-art mobile applications (see box).

Greater Columbus Convention CenterManaged by SMG, the 1.7 million-sq.-ft. GCCC (www.columbusconventions.com) is one of the busiest convention centers in North America and home to the 74,000-sq.-ft. Battelle Grand, the largest multipurpose ballroom in Ohio, with LED ceiling lighting capable of multiple color combinations. A Prime Site Award winner, the GCCC is located in the midst of a vibrant entertainment district, close to Port Columbus International Airport and connected to five hotels. The facility offers 3,370 parking spaces with 10,000 more within two blocks. The GCCC’s 410,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, served by 33 loading

docks and three drive-in ramps, includes a 336,000-sq.-ft. main exhibit hall and three other contiguous exhibit halls. Also available is the 25,000-sq.-ft. Grand Ballroom and 15,000-sq.-ft. Terrace Ballroom. Overall meeting space is 107,410 sq. ft. across 65 meeting rooms. Among its tech features is facility-wide wireless Internet access dedicated (100Mbps network with DS3 backup, CAT-5e and CAT-6 wired) and online ordering of exhibitor services.

Staying ThereHotels serving the GCCC include the 633-room, recently renovated Hyatt Regency Columbus (over 70,000 sq. ft. of function space), 532-room Hilton Columbus Downtown (30,000 sq. ft. of meeting space) and the 375-room Crowne Plaza Columbus-Downtown (10,247 sq. ft. of meeting space). There are 3,788 hotel rooms in downtown Columbus, with 2,950 committable.

Getting ThereDistance from midtown to the Port Columbus International Airport is seven miles. The major highways serving Columbus are I-670, I-71, I-270 and I-70.

Itinerary TipsColumbus is home to a variety of intriguing districts

GOING MOBILE WITH THE GCCCThe SMG-managed Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC) hosted an estimated 2.5 million visitors in 2011. Many of those visitors increasingly rely on mobile apps to find their way around unfamiliar facilities and destinations. Catering to this trend, the GCCC has launched a set of state-of-the-art mobile applications for iPhone, iPad and Android. Built by SwiftMobile of Cambridge, MA, the free apps will give GCCC visitors a tool for navigating the 1.7 million-sq.-ft. facility, and for getting around Columbus, by offering venue floor plans and basics, area maps, local business listings and transportation information. The GCCC has also launched an innovative app upgrade program, which enables event planners to customize the apps with their branding, agenda, attendee profiles, show floor maps, exhibitor directories and more. Some customizations are offered free of charge. For a competitive price, more advanced upgrades, such as opportunities for event planners to sell mobile sponsorships and advertising, are available. Visit www.columbusconventions.com for more information.



TOLEDOFrom world-class meeting facilities to attractions and dining options to keep attendees feeling inspired and energized, Toledo is a solid option for Ohio-bound groups. Offering 7,500 hotel rooms citywide, the city is not only known as “the Crossroads of America” due to its central Midwestern location, but also happens to be the “Water Recreation Capital of the Midwest” and overlooks more than 200 acres of scenic Maumee River waterfront. Here, planners have at their disposal unique venues such as the historic Valentine Theatre and the close-to-nature Nairobi Events Pavilion.

SeaGate Convention Centre Toledo’s convention center, “Where Fun and Function Meet,” offers 75,000 sq. ft. of column-free exhibit space that can be divided into three 25,000-sq.-ft. halls. Twenty-five fully

appointed meeting rooms offer the latest technology and are complemented by 20,000 sq. ft. of pre-function space.

Staying ThereThe downtown area features the 399-room Park Inn Hotel (nearly 12,000 sq. ft. of meeting space; connected to the convention center) and the 240-room Grand Plaza Hotel (17,000 sq. ft. of meeting space).

Getting ThereThe distance from midtown to Toledo Express Airport is 10 miles. Ohio Turnpike and I-75 are the major highways.

Itinerary TipsCultural Attractions: Toledo Museum of Art & Glass Pavilion, Toledo Symphony Orchestra, Huntington Center

Recreation and Dining: Toledo Zoo, Fifth Third Field, Hollywood Casino, Toledo Raceway, Toledo Botanical Gardens, Tony Packo’s Café

and neighborhoods. The Short North Arts District was referred to as “the premier arts district in the nation” in a story recently published in The New York Times. The Arena District is home to Nationwide Arena, where the National Hockey League’s Columbus Blue Jackets play, plus the award-winning Huntington Park home of the Columbus Clippers baseball team and a variety of bars and restaurants. Other major areas include the Historic German Village, the Brewery District, the Discovery District, the Scioto Mile and University District, including The Ohio State University campus and the Wexner Center for the Arts. Columbus is also home to COSI science center, Franklin Park Conservatory, the Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus Commons, Easton Town Center, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, as well as dozens of restaurants within walking distance of the GCCC.

Akron/Summit CVB ............................... 27Austin Convention Center .................... 43Boise CVB ..................................................4Positively Cleveland .................................3Connecticut Convention Center ............7Cox Convention Center ...............Cover 4David L. Lawrence Convention Center ................................ 29Fairplex ................................................... 49Kansas Expocentre .......................Cover 3Little Rock CVB .........................................9

Montego Bay Convention Centre ...................................5Visit Norfolk ............................................ 26Oklahoma City CVB .............................. 53Philadelphia CVB ..........................Cover 2Rhode Island Convention Center ................................ 11Providence Warwick CVB ..................... 41Rochester Riverside Convention Center ................................ 55Visit Savannah ........................................ 39

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Early autumn in New York City follows a similar pattern every year. A couple of the seasonal changes

I notice regularly are baseball playoffs starting to capture the attention of the tabloids and traffic increasing as millions of area children head back to school.

Some of the back-to-school events in my home include bemoaning the “abrupt” end of our children’s summers, arranging carpools for various extracurricular activities and completing school supply lists yet to be fulfilled. Then life gradually gets back into its groove — or at least it is supposed to!

Until Election Day, presidential candidates will debate whether or not things are better in the U.S. compared to four years ago. Their discourse, however, is lost on many children whose focus is returning to school. Getting to their school may be a simple endeavor, but being loaded up with supplies for their education is not. Independent surveys project that the costs for children’s school supplies will increase approximately 14 percent this season over last year.

During the summer it came to our attention that one of our Prime Site Award winners was doing something to help children who have been especially hindered by

CLOsing ThOughTs

When Conventions Carethe recent economic downturn. As tradeshows break down, bringing promotional material back to the office is not always conventional. Much of the material left behind is trashed. In a recent Boston Globe article, a tradeshow attendee was quoted as saying that he had “seen 20 or 30 backpacks just sitting on benches …” and he “would rather see them given away than just thrown away.”

Helping the environment and community, the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority

(MCCA) stations bright blue bins around its tradeshow floor as part of its “Community Assistance by Responsible Events Program” (also called CONVENTIONS C.A.R.E.). Product donation stations are used to collect backpacks, pens and other office supplies for students, as well as a comprehensive list of other materials benefiting charities. Contents are sorted and donated to local nonprofit organizations that assist needy residents in the Boston community.

Facilities Media Group applauds the MCCA for its efforts to give back to its community and benefit the environment. May CONVENTIONS C.A.R.E. inspire other facilities to bolster their own corporate social responsibility programs.

BY DaviD KornChief Operating Officer, Facilities Media Group

In a recent Boston Globe article, a

tradeshow attendee was quoted

as saying that he had “seen 20

or 30 backpacks just sitting on

benches …” and he “would

rather see them given away than

just thrown away.”

MID-MARKETContinued

Providence From Page 36: eco-friendly interLink hub, which houses a rental car facility, public transportation options, and rail service to Providence, Boston and beyond. about 2,200 hotels rooms are within one mile of The rhode island Convention & Entertainment Complex, which includes the riCC (www.riconvention.com), the Dunkin’ Donuts Center (Dunk), and the veterans Memorial auditorium (The vets), and is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Providence. The riCC offers 167,000 sq. ft. of function space including 137,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, a 20,000-sq.-ft. ballroom and 23 meeting rooms. Surrounding the center is Downcity Providence, home to world-class dining and a variety of theaters and performing arts venues. Major local attractions include the Providence Performing arts Center, Culinary arts Museum at JWU, Festival Ballet Providence and sporting events (Providence Bruins, Providence College Friars Basketball). For a taste of italy, attendees will want to head to Providence’s Federal Hill, named “one of the Five Best Little italys in the U.S.” by celebrity Chef Mario Batali. Federal Hill has more than 100 restaurants and shopping boutiques.

MID-MARKETContinued

rochester From Page 37: lobby and restaurant; the 460-room radisson rochester riverside Hotel (30,000 sq. ft. of meeting space) has redone its meeting room level as well as some of its guestrooms; the rochester Plaza Hotel & Conference Center (30,000 sq. ft. of meeting space) has just started Phase i renovation of all public spaces and 250 of its 362 guestrooms (Phase ii will include the remainder of the guest rooms); and the former Strathallan Hotel, now Strathallan a Doubletree by Hilton, has updated its more than 150 rooms, added an indoor swimming pool and restaurant, and will now provide exclusive suites and meeting rooms on its 9th floor with dramatic skyline views of rochester. additionally, plans have recently been announced for a 106-room Hilton Garden inn on East Main Street, steps from the rochester riverside Convention Center (rrCC). This new property will include a bar and restaurant, pool and fitness center, meeting rooms, and a business center. Both the Hyatt and the radisson are connected to the rrCC (www.rrcc.com), located alongside the Genesee river. The center houses 100,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, a 10,028-sq.-ft. ballroom and a 5,000-seat theater.

Topeka,Kansas

Professional services andamenities, with friendly,Midwestern hospitality.

The Kansas Expocentre brings together everything you need in a convenient, central location.

With 75% of the U.S. population capable of reaching our facility in just a one-day drive, the Expocentre is quickly becoming the destination of choice for budget-conscious conventions and tradeshows.

Sample our hospitality by calling Gracie Moore at 785.235.1986,or take a peek around our facilities at www.KsExpo.com.

COMPLETE( AND COMPLETELY Accessible)COMPLETE

PENNSYLVANIA CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION

With 1 million square feet of usable space, the newly expanded Pennsylvania Convention Center has taken its place as one of the country’s premier meeting facilities. And to complete the package, we’ve put it in the heart of the country’s most dynamic, walkable and historic downtown.

www.MEETPHL.com or 1.855.MEET.PHL@PhiladelphiaCVB

facebook.com/PhiladelphiaCVB

“What we love about Philadelphia is its accessibility. Its central location makes it easy for attendees to get to the city. And, once they’re in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Convention Center is just steps away from hotels, restaurants and attractions. It truly is The Complete Package.”

— GrETcHEn BLiss, DirEcTor of confErEncEs anD EDucaTionaL acTiviTiEs, EDucausE

that’s MY PhILaDELPhIa stORY

facilities & destinations 2012 mid-market review

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