Minneapolis Convention Center Wins IAVM’s Venue Excellence Award

Jeff Johnson, executive director, receiving the Venue Excellence Award on behalf of the Minneapolis Convention Center. The award was sponsored by Freeman and presented by Michelle Johnson, CIO at Freeman Audio Visual Solutions.

The Minneapolis Convention Center (MCC) was awarded the Venue Excellence Award for Convention Centers at the Annual Conference of the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) held recently in Portland, Oregon.

The MCC displayed a significant emphasis on the development and support of a thriving team culture, evidenced by several initiatives — including the implementation of an internal leadership forum designed to strengthen the current leadership team while fostering the growth of emerging leaders. Further, the facility demonstrated high satisfaction from their customers, significant achievements in sustainability, comprehensive safety and security programs and substantial service to the community.

“Winning the IAVM 2014 Venue Excellence award is a great accomplishment for the staff at the Minneapolis Convention Center,” said Jeff Johnson, executive director, Minneapolis Convention Center. “Their hard work has produced great outcomes that focus on operating responsibly through industry-leading sustainability efforts and an employee-centered culture. These provide a great work culture that allows our staff to better serve our customers each and every day.”

To win, the MCC had to demonstrate excellence in operations impacting the customer, including customer satisfaction and sales and marketing, and the operation of the facility, including sustainability and financial integrity. Other categories included teambuilding and professional development, safety and security, and service to the community. Some notable impacts were customer survey results indicating 98.2 percent of customers would return based on their experience in the venue, and a community events program that donated $92,000 in rental grants to 35 local nonprofit groups.

The Minneapolis Convention Center.

“Our hearty congratulations go to the Minneapolis Convention Center on this much-deserved award,” said Melvin Tennant, CAE, president and CEO, Meet Minneapolis. “We are proud of the work our partners at the MCC have done, especially in fostering leadership and sustainability. It’s an added bonus for us that the working relationship between the MCC team and Meet Minneapolis is one of the best in the industry.”

The Venue Excellence Award was created to annually recognize four venue types (convention centers, stadiums, arenas and performing arts centers) demonstrating excellence in the management and operation of public assembly venues. IAVM takes pride in its members and member venues that excel in providing their communities with a safe and enjoyable space for all types of events. The venue must excel in four major areas — Operational Excellence, which includes sales & marketing, customer satisfaction, sustainability, financial integrity; Teambuilding & Professional Development, Safety & Security, and Service to the Community.

www.iavm.org, www.minneapolis.org, www.minneapolisconventioncenter.com