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Trump SoHo New York Debuts In April Trump SoHo New York, the hotel in Downtown New York, will open its doors on April 9, 2010. Located at 246 Spring Street, the 46-story building boasts views of the city's skyline, the Hudson River, Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building. The Trump SoHo's 391 guest rooms and suites feature floor-to-ceiling windows, furnishings by Fendi Casa and custom bedding by Bellino. Meeting space totals 12,000 square feet of customizable function space. Amenities include dining at Quattro Gastronomia Italiana and The Spa at Trump. The Bazaar lounge, seasonal Bar d'Eau on the 6,000-square-foot pool deck and The Library, outfitted with Taschen books, will each provide a unique space to enjoy cocktails. www.trumpsohohotel.com
Hyatt Regency Curacao Readies For April Opening The new Hyatt Regency Curacao Golf Resort, Spa and Marina will welcome guests for the first time on April 20, 2010. The 350-room beachfront resort features 38,000 square feet of function space, which ranges from small breakout rooms to the Arawak Ballroom and prefunction lobby. Amenities include the Old Quarry, Pete Dye's newest golf course, the Atabei Spa, multiple pools, a private beach and three restaurants. www.curacao.hyatt.com
MeadowView Marriott Conference Resort MeadowView Marriott Conference Resort & Convention Center, Kingsport, TN, nestled along the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, wrapped up a multimillion-dollar guest room renovation and expansion. The construction of 110 additional guest rooms coincided with the existing 195-room renovation project for a total of 305 accommodations. MeadowView currently features 66,000 square feet of state-of-the-art function space. By November 2010, the resort will boast more than 87,000 square feet, including three amphitheatres, three ballrooms, numerous boardrooms and conference rooms, and a reception area overlooking the golf course. www.meadowviewresort.com
Reyes Appointed President/CEO Of Monterey County CVB The
Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau (MCCVB) has appointed
John Reyes as president and CEO, effective April 5, 2010. Reyes has
been in the hospitality industry since 1982. Most recently, he was
president and CEO of the Jacksonville & the Beaches Convention and
Visitors Bureau. He also served more than 18 years at the San Diego
Convention and Visitors Bureau. Monterey County has more than 200
lodging properties with a 12,000-room base, 25 golf courses, 40,000
acres of vineyards, 99 miles of prime Pacific coastline and top tourism
attractions including the Monterey Bay Aquarium, National Steinbeck
Center, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, 17-Mile Drive, Cannery Row and the
National Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary. www.seemonterey.com
LVCVA's Ralenkotter To Lead U.S. Travel And Tourism Advisory Board
U.S.
Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke announced that Las Vegas Convention
and Visitors Authority President and CEO Rossi Ralenkotter has been
chosen to lead the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. The board
provides counsel to the secretary on government policies and programs
that affect the U.S. travel and tourism industry, and provides a forum
for discussing and proposing solutions to industry-related concerns.
Travel and tourism is one of the nation’s most significant exports,
accounting for 2.7 percent of the nation’s GDP and supporting more than
8 million jobs. Ralenkotter, who has more than 35 years of experience
in the travel and tourism industry, will be sworn in as the chair at
the board of directors meeting in April. He joins 28 other travel
industry professionals on the board.
Stephen
Perry, president and CEO of the New Orleans Convention and Visitors
Bureau (CVB), is the only other urban destination CEO in the country
selected to serve on the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. In
addition, this summer, Perry will assume the chairman of the board
position for Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI),
the international governing body of convention and visitors bureaus. He
also is an executive committee member of the board of directors of the
U.S. Travel Association, the national, non-profit organization
representing all components of the $770 billion travel industry.
Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority Boosts Green Efforts
The Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority (ACCVA) brought a solar panel just like those on the roof of the Atlantic City Convention Center to a February 22, 2010 Convene Green Alliance (CGA) Focus Forum, where ACCVA Vice President of Convention Sales Gary Musich and Charlie Beirne, general manager of the Atlantic City Convention Center, explained how the center has focused on sustainable energy. The solar panels provide 28 percent of the electricity used by the center. Shown here (left to right) are Diane Dalisera of D3 Associates, Charles Beirne, Brian Knapp of IMN Solutions, Jack Sammis of IMN Solutions, Gary Musich, David Barack of Barack Association Management Inc., Tracey Messina of CGA, Carrie Harris of ACCVA, Sara Meeks of CGA, and Jessica Elleman of Barack Association Management, Inc. www.convenegreen.com, www.atlanticcitynj.com
Cancun 'Exceeds Expectations' During MPI MeetDifferent MPI
MeetDifferent 2010, which was held for the first time in Mexico,
welcomed more than 1,200 meetings and incentive industry participants
from the U.S. and Canada February 20–23. Fernando Cervantes, director
of groups and conventions for the Cancun Convention & Visitors
Bureau, said that the more than 30 inspection visits that were
generated by the MPI event will result in more international events
this year. The Cancun CVB is also looking to bring MPI's World
Education Conference (WEC) to Cancun in 2015, an event that should
include more than 4,000 event organizers from North America. Bruce
MacMillan, MPI president and CEO, said, “Cancun is a world-class
destination. Coming here was the best decision we could have made. It
has very much exceeded our expectations." www.cancun.travel
Poe Appointed Executive Director Of Georgia WCCA The
Georgia World Congress Center Authority announced that Frank Poe, a
38-year convention center veteran from Dallas, was appointed GWCCA
executive director. Poe will assume the reigns at one of the world’s
largest convention, sports and entertainment complexes which includes
the Georgia World Congress Center, Georgia Dome and Centennial Olympic
Park on April 1, 2010. Prior to accepting the GWCCA position, Poe was
director of the Dallas Convention Center. Poe will take over the
executive director position that Dan Graveline held for 33 years.
Graveline announced his retirement in late July and retired at the end
of 2009.
NCL Adds Tampa And Rome A Homeports Norwegian
Cruise Line recently announced that its 2011–2012 winter/spring
deployment includes two new seasonal homeports: Tampa, FL, and Rome
(Civitavecchia), Italy, marking the first time Norwegian has initiated
voyages from these cities. Guests cruising from Tampa on Norwegian Star
will sail a seven-day Western Caribbean itinerary beginning October 16,
2011 through April 8, 2012. In Europe, Norwegian Jade will sail from
Rome (Civitavecchia) on 11-day Mediterranean and Holy Land cruises,
along with 10-day Eastern Mediterranean sailings, from October 15, 2011
to April 11, 2012. In the Caribbean, Norwegian Pearl’s seven-day
Western Caribbean cruise from Miami now includes Ocho Rios, Jamaica as
a port of call. The company also announced new sailing dates for Pride
of America in Hawaii. Norwegian is presently building Norwegian Epic,
the company’s largest and most innovative Freestyle Cruising ship to
date, for delivery in June 2010. Norwegian Cruise Line is the official
cruise line of Blue Man Group, debuting for the first time at sea on
Norwegian Epic. www.ncl.com
Seattle Ranks In Top Five For Best Customer Service Seattle
was rated No. 1 for the knowledge of its service providers and tied for
fourth place for best customer service of the 30 largest U.S. cities,
according to a first-time national survey of travelers to U.S. cities.
Rounding out the top five for knowledgeable service providers were
Houston, Charlotte, NC, Las Vegas and San Francisco. The survey also
found 85 percent of travelers say customer service is very important to
the overall quality of their visit, while only 1 percent say it is not
important. The importance of service is somewhat higher among women
than men, and increases steadily with the traveler’s age. For best
customer service, Charlotte, NC came in as No. 1, closely followed by
Nashville, TN, and Austin, TX. Also tied with Seattle for fourth place
were Portland, OR, and Las Vegas. Among the top 10 cities, none are
located in the East, and only one — Columbus, Ohio, which comes in 10th
place — is in the Midwest. The survey was conducted in December 2009 by
three U.S. research companies: The Cicerone Group, NetReflector and
GMI. The survey was conducted online, and was completed by consumers
who were at least 18 years old and had traveled to one or more of the
30 largest U.S. cities in the past two years.
Van Dyke Named President Of Incentive Research Foundation The Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) announced that Melissa Van Dyke was named president of its organization. She will be responsible for overall management and operation of the IRF, whose primary mission is to develop usable and actionable incentive research to raise the awareness and knowledge of incentive practices to the industry and business community at large. Van Dyke succeeds Frank Katusak, who is leaving the IRF at the end of March. Prior to her IRF appointment, Van Dyke was managing consultant, employee engagement practice, at Maritz. www.theirf.org
Eventi Opening Soon In NYC Eventi, A Kimpton Hotel, will open in spring 2010 in New York City’s North Chelsea neighborhood. Managed by Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, the 292-room hotel represents the company’s fourth hotel in New York City. Adjacent to the outdoor public plaza is a 20-foot-wide multimedia art screen to be used for events. Eventi offers more than 15,000 square feet of multifaceted meeting space, including three outdoor terraces. www.eventihotel.com
The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa Merges With Diplomat Golf Resort The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood, FL, recently merged with the Diplomat Golf Resort & Spa, a member of the Starwood Luxury Collection. Together, as one destination, The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa now offers golf, spa and beachfront accommodations and amenities, including the Troon Golf-managed 18-hole golf course, tennis center with 10 clay courts, full-service spa, teambuilding program, infinity-edge pool, Westin’s Kid Club, Westin Destination Club and several onsite dining options, such as the Hollywood Prime signature seafood and steakhouse. The resort offers 952 guest rooms and 106 suites. Total meeting facilities include more than 220,000 square feet of meeting and convention space with an unobstructed, 50,000-square-foot Great Hall, six ballrooms, 41 breakout rooms and ample outdoor venues. westin.com/diplomat
Telepresence Virtual Meetings Becoming A Reality When the 313-room JW Marriott Marquis Miami opens this summer, it not only will boast the largest ballroom in downtown Miami, but will be the city's only hotel to offer telepresence virtual meetings capabilities, a rapidly emerging technology that enables groups to collaborate in multiple locations worldwide in real time. The technology combines high-definition video, which projects meeting participants in life-size dimensions, with real-time audio. Marriott is the first major global hotel company to offer Cisco TelePresence meeting options with the AT&T network to its customers in locations worldwide. Marriott's "GoThere Virtual Meetings" studios are now open at the New York Marriott East Side and the Bethesda North Marriott just outside Washington, DC. Marriott plans to expand to 25 hotels around the world in the first phase. In addition to the JW Marriott Marquis Miami, the next hotels to offer GoThere Virtual Meetings will be Grosvenor House, a JW Marriott Hotel; JW Marriott Hong Kong; Renaissance Sao Paulo; Renaissance Washington, DC; Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway; and Dallas/Fort Worth Airport Marriott with more to follow. Photo courtesy of PRNewsFoto/Marriott International Inc. www.gotherevirtualmeetings.com
New Hotel To Open Across From Denver Convention Center The new-build, 403-room Embassy Suites Denver Downtown hotel is scheduled to open directly across from the Denver, CO, Convention Center in December 2010. The hotel is being developed by White/Peterman Properties Inc. in Merrillville, IN, and will be managed by Windsor Management Services, the hotel management arm of Windsor Capital Group, headquartered in Santa Monica, CA. The new 403-room Embassy Suites Denver Downtown hotel will feature 17 function rooms totaling 21,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space. “This hotel is in a prime location, and our convention groups will be very excited about this addition to our skyline,” said Rachel Benedick, vice president of sales & services for Visit Denver, the city’s convention and visitors bureau. www.windsormanagementservices.com
Experient Announces New CEO Experient,
an integrated meeting and event solutions company, has appointed Jeff
Price as president and chief executive officer. Price succeeds interim
President and CEO George Benson, who was appointed in June 2008.
Benson, a partner at The Riverside Company, will remain on the
company's board of directors. Andrew W. Strauss, chairman of the board
for Experient and partner with The Riverside Company, said, "Jeff is
the right executive to move Experient into the next phase of its
evolution. He has the right combination of leadership, energy and
industry savvy that we've been looking for." Price's prior assignment
was as Executive Vice President and COO of Freeman, an event services
contractor headquartered in Dallas, TX. www.experient-inc.com
Orlando/Orange County CVB Boosts Business The
Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau Inc. announced
that 528 meetings, conventions or shows have been confirmed in the past
six months (August–January) at the Orange County Convention Center as
well as hotels located in Orlando/Orange County, by the Orlando/Orange
County CVB. These confirmed events represent an estimated 834,755
attendees with more than $820 million in estimated spending and more
than 1 million hotel room nights. During the same time period in 2008,
509 meetings were confirmed, with fewer estimated attendees (765,267),
lower room nights (988,253) and less attendee spending ($762 million). www.orlandocvb.com
InterContinental New York Times Square To Debut In July Opening
this summer, the InterContinental New York Times Square is one of the
closest hotels to the Javits Convention Center and a short walk to the
Broadway theater district and Fifth Avenue shopping. The hotel offers
607 oversized guest rooms each averaging 350 square feet and including
an oversized bathroom with walk-in rain showers. The property boasts 10
meeting rooms totally 10,000 square feet of flexible meeting and events
space, inclusive of a 4,000-square-foot ballroom. Additionally, there
are 25 flexible suites that can be utilized as event space. "Opening
the largest new-build hotel in the New York City market since 2002 —
especially in this economy — is a tremendous milestone," said Jim
Abrahamson, president, The Americas, IHG. Upon completion, the hotel
will be the largest new-build hotel to achieve LEED (Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green
Building Council. www.intercontinental.com
NBTA, ISM Summit Attendance Grows 25 Percent The
National Business Travel Association (NBTA) and the Institute for
Supply Management (ISM) welcomed 170 corporate travel, meetings and
procurement professionals to the second ISM and NBTA Summit on Travel
& Meetings in Tampa, FL, January 27–28, 2010. With more than 25
percent growth in attendance over last year, despite a down economy,
the Summit offered its attendees a unique forum for travel and meetings
managers and those in procurement with supervisory oversight of travel
and meetings to collaborate and share insights. Attendees were split
evenly between buyers and suppliers — making the summit unique among
industry events. Craig Banikowski, CCTE, C.P.M, CMM, NBTA president
& CEO, said, “Economic changes of the last 18 months have
heightened the importance of cost containment, transparency, and
supply chain management. The better we understand each other as
procurement, travel, and meetings, professionals, the more we can meet
these challenges on behalf of our companies." www.nbta.org, www.ism.ws
Incentive Research Foundation Pulse Survey Results The
Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) has released findings from its most
recent Pulse Survey "Incentive Industry Trends 2010." "Cautiously
optimistic is the term I would use to describe the overall message in
the data from the survey," said Mark Peterman, chairman of the IRF
Research Committee. "Our sense is that companies may have been sitting
on budgets for the past 10 months or so waiting to see how things were
going to play out and whether there was going to be more pushback from
the media and community regarding incentives." Key findings on
incentive travel include: 44 percent of respondents anticipate no
change with regards to incentive travel program destinations in 2010,
while 47 percent anticipate a switch from international to domestic
destinations. A combined 16 percent of respondents indicate that they
expect budgets for incentive travel programs in 2010 to increase, while
30 percent say they expect budgets to remain unchanged. For more
information go to www.theirf.org. For a complete copy of the survey results, contact Lois Russo at lrusso@sellingcommunications.com or 212-736-0797
Site International Foundation Releases Technology Study In
support of its mission to improve the effectiveness of the incentive
travel and motivation industry, the Site International Foundation has
released the findings of its study "Site Index: Focus on Technology."
The report reveals technology usage and viewpoints in the motivational
events industry today as it relates to business operations,
motivational programs and online resources. Among the surprising
results, 28 percent of respondents want more technology but are
restrained by the lack of funds. Findings demonstrated that
approximately 44 percent of investment is made in response to the
market — either direct demand from clients (19 percent) or based on new
product development (25 percent). "We knew technology was important,
but were surprised that just 8 percent of respondents indicated
satisfaction with their current technology," said Fay Beauchine, CITE,
Site International Foundation president and president, engagement and
events, Carlson Marketing. "The report...suggests that the greatest
area for technology growth rests with cross-organizational
collaboration using social media tools with interactive online groups."
The complete report is available at www.siteglobal.com.
Hilton Worldwide Posts Record Year For Openings Hilton
Worldwide recently announced that, building on the record year the
company had in terms of development in 2008, the next best year in the
company’s 91-year history was 2009. In 2009, Hilton Worldwide added 302
new hotels and more than 45,000 rooms to a total count that is now more
than 3,500 hotels and 585,000 rooms. In 2008, Hilton Worldwide opened
327 properties. For the fourth consecutive year, Hilton Worldwide
opened more newly constructed guest rooms in the U.S. than any other
company, according to Smith Travel Research’s “U.S. Pipeline Report,
December 2009.” Additionally, Hilton Worldwide’s pipeline includes more
than 900 hotels with more than 129,000 rooms scheduled to open. www.hiltonworldwide.com
JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort Opens The
new 1,002-room JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa,
San Antonio, TX, welcomed its first guests January 22. The first JW
Marriott resort in Texas is set on 600 acres of rolling hills,
meandering creeks and Live Oak trees, minutes from San Antonio. JW
Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort features more than 140,000
square feet of convention and meeting space, including the
40,000-square-foot Grand Oaks Ballroom, 21,000-square-foot Cibolo
Canyon Ballroom, the 40,000-square-foot Nelson Wolff Exhibit Hall,
20,000 square feet of space in 19 breakout rooms and three outdoor
event venues. www.jwsanantonio.com
Disney Names New Destination Resort On Oahu Walt
Disney Parks & Resorts has announced the name of its new Hawaii
resort: Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, HI. It is
scheduled to open in 2011. Aulani (pronounced aw-LAH-nee) means "the
place that speaks for the great ones" or "the place that speaks with
deep messages." Adjacent to historical sites on the western side of
Oahu, Aulani will be located on 21 acres of oceanfront property in the
Ko Olina Resort & Marina development. It will feature 350 guest
rooms and 481 two-bedroom-equivalent villas, a full-service spa and
extensive recreation amenities. The resort will offer more than 50,000
square feet of ballroom/meeting space and event lawns, including a
14,000-square-foot conference center. www.disneymeetings.com
American Express Extends Loyalty Services American
Express recently launched LoyaltyEdge from American Express. The
program will work with strategic business partners and merchants to
create, implement and/or enhance their customer loyalty programs to
help attract and retain customers. Long-time strategic partner Delta
Air Lines is the first to utilize LoyaltyEdge. "Our expertise and
success in the rewards program business spans two decades from our
award-winning Membership Rewards program to our cobrand cards," said
Ralph Andretta, executive vice president, cardmember services, American
Express. "We know that effective loyalty programs help drive customer
loyalty and deepen customer relationships. Through the launch of
LoyaltyEdge, we are helping business partners build and manage
customized rewards programs that will resonate with their customers and
give them an edge over the competition in an increasingly challenging
and competitive marketplace." For more information, e-mail loyaltyedge@aexp.com.
Makena Beach & Golf Resort Offers New Event Venue Makena
Beach & Golf Resort, Makena, Maui, has introduced its newest
outdoor special occasion venue, Makena Vista, situated nearly 600 feet
above the Pacific Ocean on the slope of Mt. Haleakala. The new venue
features sweeping views of the ocean and neighboring Hawaiian islands
from near the signature 14th hole of the Makena Golf Course. A short
shuttle ride from the resort, the landscaped area provides seclusion
for up to 150 guests. The onsite events staff provides full-service
setup including lighting, tables, chairs and cocktail seating and
accessories. For bookings from February 1, 2010 to October 31, 2010,
guests can receiv up to a 50 percent introductory discount on the site
fee for Makena Vista, including transportation for events of 50 people
or more. www.makenaresortmaui.com
New Beach Debuts At The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun The
Ritz-Carlton, Cancun has recently added a 300-foot-deep beach as part
of Cancun's $71 million beach recovery project. "It has been a truly
unique experience to witness first hand a project of this magnitude and
we are extremely happy to begin the new year with what probably is one
of the world's best beaches. Guests will find new programs designed to
bring back to life the lively ambience of vacationing on the beach
which will make the travel experience to Cancun even more memorable,"
said Hermann Elger, general manager. The hotel offers 365 guest rooms
overlooking the sea, a full-service spa, award-winning restaurants and
27,000 square feet of function space. www.ritzcarlton.com
Kalahari Resort-Virginia Project Gets New Life The
state of Virginia jump-started financing for the much-anticipated
Kalahari Resort in Fredericksburg, VA, with $25 million in bonds. The
$260 million, 2,400-acre project has been on hold since 2007 due to
financing challenges. Plans for the Kalahari Resort-Virginia include an
832-room hotel, America's largest indoor waterpark (200,000 square
feet), 100,000-square-foot indoor theme park, 100,000-square-foot
convention center, four restaurants, spa and fitness center and 10,000
square feet of retail space. Said Todd Nelson, president and owner of
Kalahari Resorts, "Although there is still work to be done to secure
the remainder of our financing, these bonds demonstrate a strong
commitment to this project from both the city of Fredericksburg and the
state of Virginia and we consider this a victory." The bond application
states that Kalahari Resorts must begin construction by June 30, 2010.
The grand opening is projected for March 2012. www.kalahariresorts.com
Sundance Breaks Ground On Redford Conference Center Robert
Redford's Sundance Resort in Sundance, UT, has broken ground on the new
Redford Conference Center, which will provide nearly 3,500 square feet
of meeting space featuring reception areas, wrapping patios, large
group fireplace, full-service catering kitchen and design elements
consistent with the natural surroundings. In addition, Sundance is
currently undergoing a multimillion-dollar lodging room renovation.
Situated at the base of 12,000-foot Mount Timpanogos, Sundance offers
95 guest cottages, 10,000 square feet of meeting space, the Spa at
Sundance, nature center and unlimited mountain recreation options. www.sundanceresort.com
Syracuse CVB Achieves Destination Marketing Accreditation The
Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau (SCVB) announced that it has
been awarded accreditation from the Destination Marketing Accreditation
Program (DMAP) for 2009-2013. The SCVB is one of only three marketing
organizations (DMOs) in New York state and one of only 101 DMO’s in the
world to be accredited. DMAP is an international accreditation
program developed by the Washington, DC-based Destination Marketing
Association International (DMAI). In earning the DMAP accreditation,
DMOs communicate to their community, buyers and potential visitors that
their DMO has attained a significant measure of excellence. www.visitsyracuse.org, www.destinationmarketing.org
Royal Caribbean Names Traveling Partner Of The Year Royal
Caribbean International announced the cruise line's 2009 Travel
Partners of the Year. For a second time, Miami-based America’s Vacation
Center/Avoya Travel received the year’s top honor, the President’s
Award for Overall Achievement. Cruises-N-More (Lake Mary, Fla.) was
named the Online Partner of the Year and Cruise Planners (Coral
Springs, Fla.) picked up the Home-based Partner of the Year for a third
consecutive year. Additionally, Buy the Sea (Plantation, Fla.) won its
second consecutive award for the Corporate Incentive category. www.royalcaribbean.com
Palm Springs Touts Hotel Collection Palm
Springs, CA, has introduced a new marketing campaign showcasing its new
“Better, Bolder, Beautiful” hotel and convention center collection. The
campaign is focused on meeting planners across the country and
informing them about the $180 million dollar investment in new hotels,
property renovations, and the 300,000 square feet of meeting and
convention space available. "Planners and attendees will experience new
facilities, new amenities, and competitive rates and incentives,” said
Jim Dunn, General Manager of SMG Palm Springs. “The transformation of
the Wyndham into a Renaissance, and the renovated Hyatt Regency Suites,
will join a number of other recently renovated or transformed
properties to greatly enhance the experience for large conventions and
meetings.” www.visitpalmspringscc.com
Naples Grande Beach Resort Tailors Spa Experience For Groups The
Naples Grande Beach Resort, The Waldorf Astoria Collection, Naples, FL,
now offers custom spa services for groups and meetings. Planners can
select from massages, wraps, facials, manicures, pedicures and more in
the private Golden Door spa pavilions, host a private after-hours event
amidst the spa's gardens with outdoor whirlpool, sauna and steam
chambers, or arrange a custom spa break. The spa team also can create
welcome amenities that reflect the meeting theme or goals, provide spa
gift certificates or gift baskets as incentive gifts or offer pre- or
post-event spa services as added recognition. Contact Vanessa Carter,
Golden Door Spa director at vanesssa.carter@hilton.com or 239-594-6013. www.naplesgranderesort.com
Tradewinds Island Grand Updates Guest Rooms The
TradeWinds Island Grand Resort, St. Pete Beach, FL, is currently
undergoing a $10 million facelift. The interior renovation, which began
in December, will be completed in phases to avoid any disruption to
guests. Renovations to all beachfront accommodations in the 288-room
Jacaranda building will be completed in March 2010. All 584 of the
TradeWinds Island Grand's guest rooms are expected to be updated and
completed by late 2011. The updated tropical décor will complement the
$2.5 million meeting space renovation that was completed at the end of
2008. www.tradewindsmeetings.com
Fairmont To Open Seven New Hotels In 2010 Throughout
2010, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts will open seven new hotels in
growing markets around the globew. While most are newly developed
properties, Fairmont also will newly restore two of the world's most
celebrated addresses: The Savoy, A Fairmont Managed Hotel in London and
the Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai. The new hotels are Makkah Clock
Royal Tower, A Fairmont Hotel in Saudi Arabia; Fairmont Pacific Rim in
Vancouver, BC; Fairmont Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, PA; Fairmont Bejing;
and Fairmont Zimbali Resort in South Africa. www.fairmont.com
Shelly Green Heads Durham CVB Shelly
Green was named incoming president and CEO for the Durham (NC)
Convention & Visitors Bureau following the retirement of Reyn
Bowman. Green, a 20-year veteran of destination marketing, has served
as chief operation officer for DCVB since January 2000. In addition,
she served as the first executive director of the Chapel Hill/Orange
County Visitors Bureau and executive director of the Asheville
Convention & Visitors Bureau. In addition to her role at DCVB,
Green serves on the 11-member board of the Destination Marketing
Accreditation Program, the group that evaluates and dtermines
accreditation for more than 1,000 destination marketing organizations
worldwide. www.durham-cvb.com
Salt Lake City Joins Baltimore And Fort Worth In Multicity Partnership Visit
Baltimore and the Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau announced
the addition of the Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau to their
innovative sales partnership as the third city and West Coast
destination. The multicity sales partnership is based on a national
hotel model that encourages groups to sign multiyear contracts at
properties located around the country, often with an incentive for
doing so. By joining forces and co-selling each city the three sales
organizations have the ability to be more competitive by offering
possible discounts for booking Baltimore, Fort Worth and Salt Lake City
in a multiyear deal. If one of the cities isn’t a good fit for a group,
the sales team will still push the other two destinations. www.baltimore.org, www.fortworth.com, www.visitsaltlake.com Millennium Broadway Hotel New York Upgrades Wi-Fi Service The
Millennium Broadway Hotel New York announced an update to its amenities
and services for meetings and conventions guests with the introduction
of a new state-of-the-art Wi-Fi system by Transbeam. With an onsite
meeting facility approved by the International Association of
Conference Centers (IACC), 110,000 square feet of meeting space and 750
guest rooms, the Millennium Broadway Hotel New York is one of the first
hotels in New York City to offer such a fast and large-scale Wi-Fi
system. Wired throughout for high-speed and wireless Internet access,
the Millennium Broadway Hotel New York has 45 mbs of bandwidth for its
rooms as well as 45 mbs of bandwidth for events, totaling 90 mbs of
secure access. With Transbeam’s Wi-Fi system, more than 1,500 people
can concurrently access the Internet. www.millenniumhotels.com
Acapulco International Convention Center Reopens The
Acapulco Destination Marketing Office in conjunction with the Secretary
of Tourism, C. Ernesto Rodriguez Escalona, announced the reopening of
the Acapulco International Convention Center for the duration of 2010.
The convention center was temporarily closed on November 30, 2009 while
new investors were sought in order to fully upgrade and renovate the
facility to meet the changing needs of the meetings community. Since
then the CAABSA Group has become involved in the project, investing
over $40 million as well as overseeing the construction and development
of a new convention center. The construction of the new convention
center, set to be built adjacent to the existing Acapulco International
Convention Center, will take two years to complete and will feature 22
meeting rooms for conferences and conventions, the newest technology
and nearly 3,000 parking spaces. The current space will be transformed
into a new shopping center featuring world-renowned fashion brands,
eateries and entertainment. www.visiteacapulco.com
Visit Baltimore Offers New Incentives To Planners Meeting
planners who book a new meeting in Baltimore with at least 1,000 room
nights before June 30, 2010 that takes place in Baltimore before
December 31, 2012, will receive a $1,000 educational credit. This
credit can be used by the individual planner to maintain membership in
an industry association, participate in an industry certification
program or attend educational events. In addition, several Baltimore
hotels are offering a 4 percent rebate off the master account for new
meetings booked before June 2010. Participating hotels include:
Baltimore Marriott Waterfront; Baltimore’s Tremonts; Hampton Inn at
Camden Yards; Harbor Magic Hotels; Hilton Baltimore; Hyatt Regency
Baltimore; InterContinental Harbor Court; Renaissance Harborplace
Hotel; Sheraton Baltimore City Center; Sheraton Baltimore North; and
Sheraton Inner Harbor. http://www.baltimore.org/pages/incentives/terms.html
Viking River Cruises Garners Top Ratings Viking
River Cruises was recognized with top ratings from multiple consumer
and trade awards in 2009. "We are honored by all of the recognition and
accolades we have received over the past year," said Viking Chairman
Torstein Hagen. "As we continuously strive to exceed the expectations
of our guests and travel agents alike, we are gratified to know that
these awards are the highest form of positive feedback anyone can give.
Viking River Cruises, the world's largest river cruise company, offers
scenic cruising along the rivers of Europe, Russia, China and Egypt. www.vikingrivercruises.com
Paradise Point Resort & Spa Set To Unveil Renovations Paradise Point Resort & Spa, San Diego, CA, will complete an extensive $20 million renovation of its 462 bungalow-style guest rooms and bayfront, 35,000-square-foot meeting facilities by late February 2010. Guest rooms will feature new color schemes with an Asian motif, including South Pacific-style furnishings. The refurbished meeting facilities also will reflect an Asian-infused, contemporary style. www.paradisepoint.com
The Fairmont Pittsburgh Opens March 2010 Scheduled to make its debut in March 2010, The Fairmont Pittsburgh will feature 185 guest rooms, 12,000 square feet of meeting space and a 6,000-square-foot health club. The new Fairmont will be housed in Three PNC Plaza, the largest high-rise construction project in the City of Pittsburgh, PA, in the last 20 years, and one of the largest mixed use buildings to be certified by the U.S. Green Building Council in accordance with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. Included in the 12,000 square feet of meeting space are a 6,000-square-foot main ballroom, three additional meeting rooms and one boardroom. www.fairmont.com
Carroll Armstrong Remembered The family of hospitality industry executive Carroll Armstrong, who passed away December 20, 2009, released the following remembrance: "On Sunday, December 20th Carroll R. Armstrong passed away as a result of complications from pneumonia. He retired from the Hospitality and Tourism Industry in 2005 after working with ConventionPlanet.com and the hospitality and marketing firm he founded, CRA Enterprises. There were three loves in Carroll’s life, his wife Barbara Blount Armstrong, Baltimore and Jazz. He will be remembered for his tailored suits, spreading the message of Baltimore’s “second renaissance” during his tenure as the head of the Baltimore CVA, and for the many lives he touched throughout his life. Despite Carroll’s prestigious position within the hospitality community, he always took the time to impart his wisdom to those new to the industry. His favorite mantra was '...say what you mean, mean what you say and always deliver more than you promise.' Carroll R. Armstrong will be missed by family, friends and colleagues. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Margaret DeMan Armstrong Award for Excellence c/o Associated Black Charities, 1114 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, MD 21201." Richard Geiger To Head Forsyth County TDA Richard Geiger was named president of the Forsyth
County Tourism Development Authority (TDA) in Winston-Salem, NC. He
begins his new position on February 1, 2010. Geiger has extensive
experience in growing all facets of the visitor industry, including
cultural tourism, conventions and sporting events, which are the key
growth opportunities for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County.
“I am excited about the potential to move Winston-Salem to the next
level as a destination for meetings, conventions, and visitors,” Geiger
said. “In previous positions, I have led the transformation of their
markets, and Winston-Salem has exactly the assets it needs to become a
well-known destination. It truly is a City of Arts and Innovation that
can attract thousands of visitors each year.” Geiger served from 1995
to this year as president of the Buffalo Niagara Convention and
Visitors Bureau. Previously, Geiger was the director of convention sales and marketing for the Orlando/Orange County CVB. www.visitwinstonsalem.com
Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain Opens Southern Arizona's newest luxury property, The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, celebrated its opening with an official ribbon-cutting that featured the release of 72 white doves symbolizing the property as the 72nd within The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. Situated northwest of Tucson in the scenic town of Marana, the 250-room resort is spread over 850 acres of Sonoran Desert in the Torolita Foothills. In addition the 250-room hotel, the property features a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, destination spa and luxury homes at The Residencees at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain. There are a variety of meeting spaces to choose from, including three ballrooms of 9,000, 5,000, and 2,100 square feet and five individual function rooms; plus three outdoor, scenic lawn areas, which offer 360-degree views of the Tortolita Mountains. www.ritzcarlton.com/dovemountain
Aria Resort & Casino Celebrates Grand Opening Gala Under a canopy of fireworks illuminating the night sky, Aria Resort & Casino opened its doors December 16. Aria is the centerpiece of the urban resort destination CityCenter on The Las Vegas Strip. Its debut signifies the official grand opening of this city-within-a-city, following two weeks of celebrations for the reveals of Vdara Hotel & Spa, Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas and Crystals retail and entertainment district. “Aria and CityCenter reflect a combination of innovation, energy and visionary design that we believe will reshape how the world views the destination resort experience and attract visitors from around the globe as a landmark of taste and style,” said Jim Murren, chairman and CEO of MGM Mirage, which developed CityCenter in partnership with Infinity World Development Corp. At 18 million square feet, CityCenter is the largest private sustainable development in the world, having received six LEED Gold certifications for its buildings. The 4,004-room gaming resort offers approximately 300,000 square feet of meeting and convention space. Aria also will feature Cirque du Soleil's Viva Elvis spectacular. www.citycenter.com
New Westin And Marriott Hotel Brands Headed For Phoenix The
Phoenix City Council has paved the way for two new hotel brands in the
city’s downtown core. The council recently approved a pair of agenda
items that will facilitate development of a 280-room Westin in a new
downtown tower and allow a 520-room hotel located a block away from the
Phoenix Convention Center to be rebranded a Marriott Renaissance. The
latter hotel, currently operating as the Wyndham Phoenix, will get a
20-year tax discount in exchange for improvements and rebranding. The
hotel’s owners will use the tax savings to make $10 million worth of
upgrades to the property, capping a $40 million renovation that began
in 2005. The fully renovated hotel would be operated under Marriott’s
Renaissance flag. Steve Moore, president and CEO of the Greater Phoenix
Convention & Visitors Bureau, said the rebranding likely would
bring more meetings and conventions to the newly expanded Phoenix
Convention Center because of Marriott’s group-sales expertise. The city
council approved a similar deal for the Westin, which is to occupy
about half of the floors in the 26-story One Central Park East Office
Building, three blocks from the convention center. In addition to the
hotel rooms, a new entrance and a pool deck will be added to the
upscale tower. www.visitphoenix.com
Rosen Shingle Creek To Expand Orlando
hotelier Harris Rosen, President and COO of Rosen Hotels & Resorts
announced that he has recently purchased a 25-acre parcel of land
(fronting Shingle Creek Golf Course) where he intends to build a 300 to
500-unit luxury villa addition to his Rosen Shingle Creek hotel. This
addition to the Rosen family will expand his newest convention hotel,
Rosen Shingle Creek, to close to 2,000 guest rooms and will bring the
combined number of Rosen convention hotel guest rooms (at Rosen Plaza,
Rosen Centre and Rosen Shingle Creek) to approximately 4,000. The
property, which is contiguous to the Rosen College of Hospitality
Management, will feature a pool, restaurant, private check-in and
registration desk, a private club house and private meeting space.
Guests of the new property will have full access to all of Shingle
Creek's amenities, including the Shingle Creek Golf Club, The Spa at
Shingle Creek, fitness center, 12 lounging/dining options and more. All
villa rooms will have golf course views. The design team will talk to a
multitude of meeting planners to determine what features and amenities
are important to their clients. "We have confidence in the rebound of
the economy and even more confidence in the future of the Orlando
meetings industry, so we have no serious qualms about building while
others may be riding out the storm," said the hotelier. "To stay
competitive in this business, you must have your eye on the future. www.rosenhotels.com
First Convention Center To Connect With Major Airport Georgia International Convention Center (GICC) is the first convention center in the U.S. with a direct connection to a major airport. The ATL SkyTrain, a free elevated people mover, was recently opened to connect passengers from the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport directly to the GICC and rental car center. The first stop on the ATL SkyTrain is at the new GICC station. "This marks an exciting day for the GICC," said Hugh Austin, executive director of GICC. "This convention center was strategically built in this location to capitalize on Hartsfield-Jackson's new rental car center and specifically the accompanying people mover, the ATL SkyTrain. This new direct connection to Hartsfield-Jackson truly makes the GICC one of the most internationally accessible convention centers in the country." www.gicc.com, www.atlanta-airport.com
Visit Jacksonville Announces Contest For Planners Only Visit
Jacksonville announced a contest that will offer meeting planners a
chance to win a $250 American Express gift card. Participation is
strictly limited to meeting planners and is based on participation in a
short survey on their familiarity, perceptions and attributes of
Jacksonville as a meetings destination. The survey is located at http://bit.ly/JaxAMEX
and no purchase is necessary to win. After meeting planners complete
the required information on the survey, participants will be
automatically entered into the random drawing for the gift card. All
entries must be completed by January 22, 2010. The random drawing will
take place on January 24, 2010. For rules and regulations on the
contest, visit http://bit.ly/JaxRules. Santa Fe Convention Center Earns LEED Gold Certification The
Santa Fe (NM) Convention Center, which opened in late summer of 2008,
was recently awarded a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design) Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council,
confirming Santa Fe's commitment to environmental responsibility and
the merit of the center's design, construction, and operation. The
rigorous process began with the design competition in 2005 and
continued through the new center's first year of operation as data was
gathered and processed. While the new building was designed to a LEED
silver standard, the resulting quality of construction and operation
warranted the higher gold designation. www.santafe.org, www.santafenm.gov
New Orleans CVB Achieves Destination Marketing Accreditation The
New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) announced that it has
been awarded accreditation from the Destination Marketing Accreditation
Program (DMAP). DMAP is an international accreditation program
developed by the Washington, DC, based Destination Marketing
Association International (DMAI). In earning the DMAP accreditation,
destination marketing organizations (DMOs) communicate to their
community, buyers and potential visitors that their DMO has attained a
significant measure of excellence. “The New Orleans CVB is honored to
be one of only 101 organizations in the world to receive the
Destination Marketing Accreditation for providing outstanding services
in accordance with international standards and benchmarks,” said Steve
Pettus, Chairman of the Board of the New Orleans CVB and Managing
Partner of Dickie Brennan & Company. www.neworleanscvb.com
'FACE TIME. It Matters' Campaign Launches In January Responding
to one of the most challenging years ever faced by the meeting,
convention and exhibition industries, major industry associations have
aligned under the Convention Industry Council (CIC) to develop a unique
grassroots industry effort to promote the benefits of meeting
face-to-face.The multifaceted campaign, “FACE TIME. It Matters,” will
launch in January 2010 as the CIC’s 34 member organizations roll out
the logo, slogan and related marketing tools on members’ Web sites, in
trade and partner consumer advertising, and at a variety of industry
shows and events.
Industry
associations that contributed to funding the initiative include the
American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), the Professional
Convention Management Association (PCMA), Meeting Professionals
International (MPI), the Destination Marketing Association
International (DMAI), the International Special Events Society (ISES),
the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), the
Society of Incentive and Travel Executives (SITE) and the Center for
Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR).
The campaign was developed in response to the findings of a recent
national survey of corporate and association meeting planners conducted
by Ypartnership wherein 35 percent of respondents cited
“image/publicity/public policy” considerations as a reason they expect
to book fewer face-to-face meetings in 2010. “We’re very excited about
the launch of this grass roots campaign,” said Gregg Talley, chief
strategy officer for the CIC. “The Convention Industry Council and its
members will utilize the message to promote the irreplaceable benefits
of human interaction and relationship building that may only be
realized only through face-to-face meetings.” www.conventionindustry.org
Downtown Los Angeles Welcomes New Hotels In February Downtown
Los Angeles will welcome two new headquarters hotels supporting the Los
Angeles Convention Center in February 2010: The JW Marriott Los Angeles
at L.A. Live and The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles. Both hotels are part of
the $2.5 billion downtown Los Angeles revitalization project known as
L.A. Live, which offers many dining, sports and entertainment venues
including the Staples Center, Nokia Theatre, the Grammy Museum, the
Lucky Strike Bowling Center, ESPN Zone and the Conga Room. Both the
878-room JW Marriott and the 123-room Ritz-Carlton will offer direct
access to 77,000 square feet of meeting space on three levels called
The Gallery Collection, which comprises three ballrooms and nine
ancillary meeting rooms. The hotels are within a short walking distance
of the convention center. www.lalive.com, www.ritzcarlton.com, www.marriott.com
Silversea Announces Silver Spirit's Inaugural World Cruise In 2011 In
2011, for the very first time, Silversea's new Silver Spirit will
embark on a full World Cruise traversing both hemispheres. Themed
"Spirit of Discovery," the voyage begins in Los Angeles on January 19,
when Silver Spirit is set to welcome no more than 540 privileged guests
for a 119-day odyssey exploring 60 destinations in 25 countries — with
11 overnight port visits — before concluding in Southampton on May 19.
Silversea is hosting four complimentary World Cruise Events ashore for
guests sailing the full 119-day itinerary. In
addition to these benefits and a 5 percent Extended Voyage Savings, the
following complimentary amenities will also be available to guests who
book the full 119-day cruise: an overnight stay on January 19 on board
Silver Spirit, including a Bon Voyage Gala cocktail reception and
dinner; eight Silversea Experiences ashore (one per voyage segment);
baggage handling service between guest's home and ship in Los Angeles
and Southampton; a $2,000 Onboard Spending Credit (per double-occupancy
suite); roundtrip Business Class Air and private car transfers
(airport/ship/airport); and special commemorative gift. Fares start at
$61,924 per person, based on double occupancy. Guests may also travel
on shorter segments. For complete details, visit www.silversea.com.
Laguna Cliffs Resort & Spa Completing Renovation The
AAA Four Diamond Laguna Cliffs Resort & Spa is nearing completion
of its full-scale, multimillion-dollar renovation that will transform
the venerable ocean-side resort with enhancements to the interior
design, exterior structure and amenities. Guest rooms and will be
completely refurbished, and meeting and banquet space will be expanded
to 20,000 square feet.
The renovations also include a new porte cochère entrance and marble
lobby with waterfall, a new pool and Splash Zone activity area for
families, and new, lush, eco-friendly landscaping. www.lagunacliffs.com
Groupe Aeroplan Completes Acquisition Of Carlson Marketing Groupe
Aeroplan Inc. announced the completion of the acquisition of Carlson
Marketing, a privately owned marketing services provide headquartered
in the U.S. Groupe Aeroplan, which owns Aeroplan, Canada’s premier
loyalty program, also announced that its existing businesses and
Carlson Marketing will continue to operate separately and
independently. Jeff Balagna, president and CEO of Carlson Marketing,
and his executive team, will continue the management of Carlson
Marketing. Jeff has also been named executive vice president, Groupe
Aeroplan. www.groupeaeroplan.com, www.carlsonmarketing.com
Las Vegas Meetings By Harrah's Entertainment Launches New Reuse Program Las
Vegas Meetings by Harrah’s Entertainment has announced the launch of a
new program benefiting the Teacher Exchange, a reuse and recycle
resource center for all Southern Nevada public school teachers that
offers learning tools to enhance in-class projects and curriculum.
Seven Las Vegas properties — including Bally’s Las Vegas, Caesars
Palace, Flamingo Las Vegas, Harrah’s Las Vegas, Imperial Palace, Paris
Las Vegas and Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino — have installed bins in
meeting areas where conference attendees can deposit name badges, tote
bags, giveaway items and just about any other useable items they don’t
want or need. Additionally, meeting organizers can work with the
property to easily donate their leftover building materials, carpeting,
furnishings, office supplies, sample items, plants and décor, and much
more. This allows planners and their attendees to responsibly “dispose
of” things they might otherwise throw out or have to bear the cost of
shipping back home, all while helping the local Las Vegas community.
For more information visit http://www.ccpef.org/programs_exchange_participate.html
Dittman Incentive Marketing Receives MarCom Awards Dittman Incentive Marketing, New Brunswick, NJ, a leading innovator in the incentive and performance improvement field, has taken top MarCom Awards honors for the third consecutive year. Dittman received a Platinum Award, the highest honor, for the winner's fulfillment materials for its Great Escapes individual incentive travel product and a Gold Award for TotalPRO, its industry-leading performance improvement Web platform. Gold Awards and an honorable mention were also given for Dittman’s product advertising on the Web and in print. The MarCom Awards is an international competition that recognizes creative excellence (copy and design) in marketing materials. Organizations of every type and size from around the world compete each year. www.dittmanincentives.com
Harrah's Entertainment Aims To Acquire Planet Hollywood Harrah's Entertainment plans to purchase and manage Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on The Las Vegas Strip, according to The Wall Street Journal. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide currently manages the property. Harrah's new subsidiary, PHW Las Vegas LLC, filed an application to purchase with the Nevada Gaming Control Board the week of November 23.
JW Marriott Indianapolis Topped Out The JW Marriott Indianapolis has been topped out, marking the completion of a major exterior construction milestone on the property, which is the centerpiece of the unique, new Marriott Place Indianapolis development, and which will connect to the Indiana Convention Center. “We are on schedule to open the JW Marriott Indianapolis in February, 2011,” said Cory Chambers, director of sales and marketing for Marriott Place. “As the largest JW Marriott in the world, with more than 1,000 rooms and 104,000 square feet of meeting space, this property will offer flexibility and amenities not found anywhere else in the Midwest.” In fact, the 40,500-square-foot ballroom in the JW Marriott Indianapolis will be the largest ballroom in the region. In addition to the flagship JW Marriott Indianapolis, Marriott Place includes the Courtyard by Marriott Indianapolis Downtown, SpringHill Suites by Marriott Indianapolis Downtown and the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Indianapolis Downtown (all scheduled to open in February, 2010) and the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown (currently open). Altogether, Marriott Place Indianapolis will bring 1,626 new rooms to downtown Indianapolis, all of which are steps away from the world-class shopping, dining and destinations of downtown Indianapolis. www.jwindy.com
Vdara Hotel & Spa First To Open At CityCenter Celebratory
events marked the first opening at Las Vegas' CityCenter, Vdara Hotel
& Spa. In recognition of the profound significance of the job
creation resulting from Vdara and CityCenter’s opening, company
officials welcomed Vdara’s employees to be the first to officially walk
through the hotel’s doors. During the press event, Jim Murren, chairman
and CEO of MGM MIRAGE, said, “We are incredibly proud to offer the
world this first taste of all that CityCenter will bring to the Las
Vegas Strip. Travelers will finally find in Las Vegas what they find in
other great cities around the world — spectacular architecture,
culturally significant art, great public spaces, sophisticated hotels,
unique restaurants and incredible amenities. We look forward to
unveiling all of this and more as the month unfolds."
Vdara, connected to Bellagio and directly adjacent to Aria Resort &
Casino, is an all-suite hotel and spa designed for those who prefer to
enjoy Las Vegas in an exclusive, non-gaming, smoke-free environment.
The 1,495-suite hotel, which has achieved LEED Gold Certification by
the U.S. Green Building Council, features more than 10,000 square feet
of ground-level conference space. www.vdara.com
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Coming To Punta Cana Hard Rock International and Palace Resorts recently announced an agreement to bring the world’s first “ultimate all-inclusive” Hard Rock Hotel & Casino to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Slated to be rebranded next spring, the 1,800-room Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana will combine the distinctive atmosphere and guest experience of the Hard Rock brand together with the five-star Moon Palace Resort all-inclusive experience. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana will feature more than 48,000 square feet of gaming space and more than 65,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space, equipped with state-of-the-art technology. www.hardrockhotels.com
New And Improved CMP Application To Launch January 1 The
Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) Board of Directors has approved a
new streamlined CMP application which will take effect January 1, 2010.
The updated application has been modified to ensure relevancy to a
broader global meeting professional while maintaining the high
standards of the credential. For questions on the CMP application
please contact Convention Industry Council (CIC) headquarters at
571-527-3116 or via email at cichq@conventionindustry.org.
In addition to the CMP program, CIC's programs include the Accepted
Practices Exchange initiative and other industry resource projects. www.conventionindustry.org
Viking River Cruises Honored Viking
River Cruises has been named "World's Leading River Cruise Operator" by
the 16th Annual World Travel Awards voted on by thousands of worldwide
travel professionals. Described as the "Oscars" of the global travel
and tourism industry by the The Wall Street Journal, nearly
3,000 travel companies were nominated in more than 200 categories. In
related news, Viking won "Best River Cruise Line" at this year's
British Travel Awards ceremony. www.vikingrivercruises.com
ICCA, IMEX And Fast Future Launch 'Convention 2020' Study The
International Congress and Convention Association, the IMEX Group and
Fast Future Research today announced the formal launch of Convention
2020 – a groundbreaking research study looking at the future of live
events, venues and meeting destinations. All three organizations have
become founder sponsors of the study. The study is being conducted by
Fast Future Research and will explore the underlying trends and drivers
that could shape the industry over the next decade. The aim is to
develop a range of models and scenarios for how live meetings might
evolve over that time period. The study will center on understanding
the "meeting experience" and the changing needs of live event
attendees. These insights will help drive new thinking on event design,
facilitate innovation in business models and highlight the strategic
implications for venues, destinations and industry suppliers.The study
will have three main deliverables — a report on a global survey on the
future of meetings to be published in January 2010, a report on the
‘"Future Meeting Experience" to be launched at IMEX in Frankfurt in May
2010 and a final report on "Tomorrow’s Convention Centre" to be
launched at the ICCA Congress in Hyderabad India in October 2010. Full details on the study and sponsorship opportunities are available from convention2020@fastfuture.com. The survey on the future of meetings can be found at http://tinyurl.com/ICCA2020.
Smith Travel Research Predicts Hotel Recovery In 2011 The
latest U.S. hotel industry forecast by Smith Travel Research indicates
that rates, revenue and occupancy will be in full swing by 2011. "I
wouldn't call it optimistic for 2010, but it's definitely optimistic
for 2011," said Mark Lomanno, president of Smith Travel Research.
"Overall conditions in the economy will begin showing significant
improvement as 2010 unfolds, and that will help fuel a recovery for the
hotel industry." For the full report visit www.strglobal.com.
MPI Releases Latest Business Barometer Meeting Professionals International (MPI) has released its October 2009 Business Barometer, which indicates that the tide is turning for business professionals in the meeting and events industry. June 2009, August 2009 and October 2009 Business Barometers have reported an increase in favorable current business conditions from 13 percent to 15 percent to 19 percent respectively. For complete details, click Barometer. The bimonthly Business Barometers survey MPI's Industry Advisory Panel, a select group of senior level meeting professionals from MPI's global community of 24,500 members, with a short series of quantitative questions related to the economy and a qualitative question regarding their professional outlook. www.mpiweb.org
Sanibel Harbour Resort Becomes Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa announced their official inauguration as part of the Marriott International family, bringing the first full-service Marriott Hotels & Resorts brand to Lee County in Southwest Florida. The 347-room resort, owned and managed by Columbia Sussex, will operate under a franchisee agreement with Marriott International Inc. In the transition to a Marriott, the resort will offer an upgraded bedding package and installation of flat-screen, high-definition televisions in the Sanibel Tower and Captiva Tower. Along with a number of other upgrades, the total resort renovations are expected to be complete by the end of 2011. Sanibel Harbour Marriott offers 45,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor function space. www.sanibel-resort.com
The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island Completes Ballroom Expansion The 440-room Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island has completed construction on a $22 million ballroom expansion, concluding a 14-year effort to increase the footprint of the luxury oceanfront resort. The new facility will provide 11,000 square feet of additional meeting space to the property, making it one of the largest conference hotels in the region with a total of 35,000 square feet of meeting space. www.ritzcarlton.com/ameliaisland.
Sheraton Puerto Rico Convention Center Hotel Celebrates Grand Opening Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc. and Interlink Group announced the grand opening of the new Sheraton Puerto Rico Convention Center Hotel & Casino. Located adjacent to the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico’s vibrant commercial and residential district, the new 503-room property offers exceptional meeting facilities, a full-service casino and resort-like amenities, including a sundeck/pool, spa and retail space. Sheraton Puerto Rico is the first new full-service hotel and casino built in San Juan in more than 10 years and is part of a $6 billion worldwide effort to revitalize Starwood’s most global, iconic brand. This effort includes an investment of over $2 billion in new hotels internationally and, in North America, an investment of $2.3 billion in new hotels, $1.5 billion in renovations and $400 million in signature brand initiatives. www.starwoodhotels.com
Coming Soon: The Largest Ballroom In Downtown Miami The
JW Marriott Marquis Miami, the first Marquis in the JW Marriott brand,
announced that it will boast the largest hotel ballroom in downtown
Miami when completed. Located in Miami’s new Metropolitan Miami
development, the 313-room JW Marriott Marquis Miami will feature a
total of 80,000-square-feet of premium event space, including the
20,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom. Currently under construction, the
hotel is set to debut in mid-2010. The Grand Ballroom "is designed to
accommodate up to 1,800 guests for a meeting," said Paul Pebley, the
hotel's director of sales and marketing. www.marriott.com/miami
Silversea's Sean Mahoney Installed As International Site President Silversea
Cruises announced today that its global vice president of corporate and
incentive sales, Sean J. Mahoney, was formally installed as the
international president of Site, the global organization dedicated to
connecting motivational experiences with business results. Mahoney
assumed the role at Site's 2009 International Conference in Aruba
October 30–November 2. He will serve as Site president in 2010 and will
be responsible for the overall governance, stewardship and strategic
direction of the organization. In his remarks following the
installation at Site's Annual General Meeting, Mahoney said, "It is an
honor and privilege to serve Site as we bring people together from
around the globe that buy, supply and support motivational experiences
to drive business results. Site is committed to delivering the programs
that contribute to your personal development and professional growth,
including relevant regional events, activities, tools, and resources
that will make your career and business more successful." www.silversea.com, www.siteglobal.com
Hilton Atlanta Unveils Multimillion-Dollar Renovation The
third largest hotel in downtown Atlanta, the Hilton Atlanta, has
completed a transformation that included all 1,242 guest rooms and
suites, as well as the lobby and atrium areas, 119,000 square feet of
meeting space, food and beverage outlets, and fitness facilities. In
addition, a third-floor executive conference room center was created,
providing an additional 3,000 square feet of meeting space. A new sky
bridge was created that connects the Atlanta Hilton with the
neighboring Marriott Marquis Hotel.The new access provides a combined
279,000 square feet of meeting space and 2,800 rooms all under one roof
in the center of one of the most desirable and accessible convention
destinations. According
to Tradeshow Week, Atlanta has topped the list for the second year in a
row as one of the most affordable U.S. cities to host trade shows. www.atlanta.hilton.com
Incentive Marketing Association Announces 2010 Leadership Team Jimmy
Beyer, Vice President Business Development for Helix Global Solutions,
Miami, FL has been elected to serve as the 2010 president of the board
of the Incentive Marketing Association, the leading voice of suppliers
in the incentive marketplace. Beyer’s goals for 2010 include helping
members from the diverse incentive marketplace take advantage of the
latest tools and techniques in the industry, while continuing to raise
the corporate community's awareness of the bottom-line effect of
incentive programs, especially during challenging economic times. The
IMA’s board also elected a full slate of officers for the 2010 term.
They include: President Beyer; Executive Vice President Barbara
Hendrickson, CPIM of Design Incentives, Livonia, MI; Vice President
Spencer Toomey, IP, of The Corporate Marketplace, Westport, CT,
Treasurer Dave Peer, CPIM of Hinda Incentives, Chicago, IL; Secretary
Mike Arvelo, CPIM of Paramax., Red Bank, NJ; and Past President Norma
Jean Knollenberg, CPIM, of Top Brands, Inc., Oshkosh, WI. www.incentivemarketing.org
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