2009 F&D Conference SuperBook

20 09 DI RE CT OR Y

Facilities &Destinations

Conference SuperBook

TM

For Corporate & Association Meeting Planners

Ogden Eccles Conference Center Spotlight: Page 4

The Facilities Media Group Essential Industry Tools

Bringing Venues to the Meeting & Events Market Since 1988

www.facilitiesonline.com

Industry News! Searchable Venue Database! Award Voting! Blog!

Facilities &Destinations

Conference SuperBook

TM

For Corporate & Association Meeting Planners

Viewpoint.......................................2

Southeast. ..............................9

Prime Site Award Ballot.................2

The University of Georgia Conference Center & Hotel Evergreen Marriott Conference Resort Harborside Event Center The Florida Hotel and Conference Center Lexington Downtown Hotel & Conference Center Sea Trail Golf Resort & Convention Center

Prime Site Award Winners ...........3 Spotlight Feature: Ogden Eccles Conference Center Satisfies Market Expectations .....................4 Regionalized Directory:

Conference Centers; College & University Conference Facilities; Meeting & Boutique Hotels; Small-to-Mid-Size Meeting & Event Venues.....................................5

Column: Meeting Perspectives.....14 FMG Buyer’s Guide: Your Product & Services Resource................................. 15-16 F&D Conference Directory Index A-Z................................................5 Ad Index.......................................16

Northeast . ............................5 Adventure Aquarium Wyndham Princeton Forrestal Hotel & Conference Center The Conference Center at Niagara Falls The Conference Center at Bentley Hilton Scranton & Conference Center

Mid-atlantic........................8 Airlie Center Hilton Garden Inn Kellogg Conference Hotel

Midwest.................................11 Q Center University Center Conference Chicago Ameristar Casino St. Charles Conference Center

West.........................................12 Executive Conference Center at Phoenix Convention Center InterContinental San Francisco The Lodge at Sonoma Big Sky Resort Norris Conference Centers – City Centre Ogden Eccles Conference Center

Canada. ............................13 Shaw Conference Centre NAV Canada Training & Conference Centre

Pages 2-3

Facilities& Destinations

Conference

I NOMINATE THE FOLLOWING FACILITY(IES): 1 ________________________________________________

TM

PRIME SITE AWARDS

2 ________________________________________________

Have you and your group, company, department, association or committee been particularly impressed with a space utilized for your meeting in the last three years? Did the space, venue and staff play a notice role in the success of your meeting event? Now is the chance to make your opinion heard.

Please take the time to fill out and send in the CONFERENCE Prime Site Awards ballot below, or cast your votes on www.facilitiesonline.com. Winners will be announced in the CONFERENCE 2010 issue.

3 ________________________________________________ Name, Title: _____________________________________ Organization: ____________________________________ Phone: __________________________________________

VOTE

for the top Conference Centers or other Small-to-Mid-size Meeting or Special Event Venues, including: Meeting Hotels & Resorts, University Facilities & stand-alone meeting venues. Select up to 3 venues your group has used for meetings/events within the last 3 years. Please base your vote(s) on the following criteria:

ATTRACTIVENESS & F UNCTIONALITY ● SIZE & QUALITY OF MEETING SPACE ● TECHNOLOGICAL CAPABILITIES ● QUALITY OF VENUE STAFF ● QUALITY OF ONSITE CONFERENCE PERSONNEL ● FOOD & BEVERAGE, INCLUDING MEAL & BREAK MENUS ● LIGHTING, ACOUSTICS, & INTERNET ACCESS ● CLIMATE CONTROL & COMFORT ● OTHER MEETING/EVENT SUPPORT SERVICES ● AMENITIES ● TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITIES ● RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES ● LODGING QUALITY (ON OR OFF-SITE)

Email: ___________________________________________ Describe the size & Type of Meeting/Event

●

_________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ May we contact you?

No____

Please Fill Out Form & Mail Your Vote To: Facilities & Destinations Conference 6 East 46th Street, Suite #301, New York, NY 10017 or Fax it to: (212) 213-6382

Facilities& Destinations

Facilities& Destinations

Conference

Meetings: Where the Business of Business Begins

I

Yes____

Conference

TM

2008 Volume 2 No. 1 Facilities Destinations &

Conference

n 2007, the Facilities Media Group introduced Facilities & Destinations CONFERENCE 2008 DIRECTORY to our family of print and online publications that service the Meetings & Event indusEDITORIAL DIRECTOR CONFERENCE PRIME SITE AWARDS ..................................................................1 tries. Facilities & Destinations CONFERENCE, and its web-based sister publication— Timothy Herrick VIEWPOINT .......................................................................................................2 SuperBook Facilitiesonline.com, provides corporateONand meeting planners vital news and ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER THEassociation COVER ................................................................................................2 Michael Caffin information about the meetings industry and small-to-mid-size meeting venues.

These ven2009 Volume 3 No. 1 SPOTLIGHT FEATURE: Q&A WITH IACC PRESIDENT NEIL POMPAN ............3 CREATIVE DIRECTION ues are a crucial segment of the industry and the economy at large; they provide a focused Editorial Director HOT VENUES / HOT EVENTS .......................................................................4–5 & DESIGN setting where training, education, planning and sales can be pursued in depth. When face-time is Timothy Herrick ADVERTISER INDEX .........................................................................................31 Lester Goodman necessary to accomplish immediate tasks and Plong-term objectives, small-to-mid-size meeting venAssociate Publisher LANNER BRIEFINGS ...............................................................................32 ASSISTANT ues—the kind featured in the pages of this publication—are booked.

Michael Caffin EDITOR/PHOTOGRAPHER Creative Direction & Design Since 1988, when the Facilities Media Group was founded, one of our core missions has been the Northeast .........................................8 Sandra Aboulafia Scott-Goodman Associates recognition of quality and achievement, manifested through our annual “Awards of Excellence.” The CIRCULATION MANAGER Mid-Atlantic..................................12 Circulation Manager facilities are voted on by our Meeting & Event Planner readership and individual winners announced Therese Langer Therese Langer in the Facilities & Destinations SuperBook (Convention Centers, CVBs and large Meeting Hotels), Southeast .......................................14 ADVERTISING MANAGER Account Executive and the Facilities SuperBook (Arenas, Theaters and other Entertainment/Event venues). Now smallSandy Abby Midwest .........................................20 Andrew Reeves to-mid-size meeting venues have the Conference Prime Site Awards, announced here, in the 2009 BUSINESS OPERATIONS Research Leon KleinManager Facilities & Destinations CONFERENCE. West...............................................25 Amber Tavarez The economic downturn hit the meetings industry particularly hard. The last few business Canada...........................................30 Business Operations quarters have seen cutbacks—and even meeting cancellations—and the pressure Leo Oh has been turned up several notches onVIEWPOINT meeting planners. When © Copyright 2009 by Bedrock Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. Opinions expressed in by-lined planners book a small-to-mid-size meeting venue, they are looking articles and advertising copy are not necessarily a meeting, sometimes lasting for several days, in which for a facility and staff that understands Conference: the demands ofinterest a troublethose of the publisher. Advertisers are responsible for people with a common participate. all costs, damages and claims regarding advertising some business climate and will act as a planner-partner when it he venues featured in Facilities & Destinations CONFERENCE offer insertions. planners spaces enable them to achieve that definition. Diversity comes to the meeting or event. No oneT expected thethat current ecoFacilities & Destinations Conference is published comes to mind—while flipping through these pages, it will be immediately once a year by Bedrock Communications, Inc., 6 nomic situation when we began developing apparentthe that CONFERENCE diversity is key to the array of high-quality meeting and event East 46th Street, Room 301, New York, NY 10017. presented.

Each of these venues offer attendees an intimacy that Prime Site Awards more than two yearsfacilities ago, but perhaps the Telephone: (212) 532-4150. Fax: (212) 213-6382. encourages in-depth learning, hands-on training, detailed instruction and POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to constructive Team Building. has been awards are now more meaningful because the recognition Facilities & Destinations Conference, 6 East 46th Small-to-mid-size meetings may cover a range of purposes, but their aim Timothy Herrick earned “under fire.” is the same—productivity. It’s why Conference Centers have a smaller space Street, Room 301, New York, NY 10017. Printed in U.S.A. Editorial Director center and the meetings they host have only a select group In addition to the first ever winnersthan of aa convention CONFERENCE therrick@facilitiesonline.com Cover ad space is available by contacting a Facilities of attendees. Productivity is also what CONFERENCE offers Planners—an & Destinations Conference advertising account Prime Site Award, the 2009 Facilities &inclusive Destinations directory of high-quality (and diverse) venues, highlighting the executive at 212-532-4150 x103. space and services offered. CONFERENCE CONFERENCE features other ‘firsts’—an even more diverse direcMEMBERS OF: streamlines for Planners the research needed to ON THE COVER Herrick select a facility that4) willof effectively achieve the Timothy tory of venues (page 5); a “Spotlight” profile (page our Cover purposes of the event.

(Clockwise from top) Venue, the Ogden Eccles Conference Center, and a new improved This is the second issue of& CONFERUniversity Center, ENCE. The Facilities Media Group has been Buyer’s Guide: Your Products & Services Resource (page 15).

Chicago; producing ESSENTIAL publications and CURRENTS, Winners will be showcased in the Facilities & Destinations Conference 2009 Issue—Deadline is October 1, 2008. All votes will be kept confidential! for meeting and event planners Economic recovery requires businessdirectories to rebound.

The the Ballroom at going on two decades now, and now with the Adventure Aquarium, business of Business begins with the meeting.

And, planning overwhelmingly positive feedback we received Editorial Director Camden, NJ; for this still new publication, we’re confident that meeting—begins here.

Sea Trail Golf therrick@facilitiesonline.com Resort that CONFERENCE will continue to service TM

For Corporate & Association Meeting Planners

TM

✁

© Copyright 2008 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 Conference is published once a year by Bedrock Communications, Inc., 6 East 46th Street, Room 301, New York, NY 10017. Telephone: (212) 532-4150. Fax: (212) 213-6382.

POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Facilities & Destinations Conference, 6 East 46th Street, Room 301, New York, NY 10017. Printed in U.S.A. Cover ad space is available by contacting a Facilities & Destinations Conference advertising account executive at 212-532-4150.

2

the Small-To-Mid-Size Meetings Market.

I also encourage you to visit www.Facilitiesonline.com, which features a comprehensive directory of all categories of Meeting Venues and breaking news about our

2009 SuperBook

& Convention Center, Sunset Beach, NC; The Conference Center Niagara Falls, Niagara Falls, NY.

Facilities & Destinations Conference

Facilities & Destinations 2009 Conference Prime Site Awards These 25 meeting and special event sites have something to be proud of. Each made an impression on meeting planners and other executives who utilize these facilities. In turn, those planners acknowledged the role the venue and its staff played in making their meeting effective and successful.

The CONFERENCE Prime Site Award is Facilities Media Group’s most “Democratic” recognition—any small-to-mid-size venue, regardless of category, are eligible. Like the pages of Facilities & Destinations CONFERENCE, the awards reflect the diversity of facilities that service the array of meetings corporations, associations and other organizations require. These facilities include Conference Centers, College & University Conference Facilities, Meeting & Boutique Hotels, and other meeting/event facilities. The Facilities Media Group salutes our 2009 Conference Prime Site Award winners!

Adventure Aquarium Arkansas 4-H Center Babson Executive Conference Center The Banff Centre Bear Creek Mountain Resort & Conference Center Beaver Hollow Conference Center Bridgewater State College The Conference Center at Bentley The Conference Center at Harvard Medical David Eccles Conference Center Decatur Conference Center & Hotel Frank J. Pasquerilla Conference Center Gateway Hotel and Conference Center Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center Graylyn International Conference Center Hilton DFW Lakes Executive Conference Center Hofstra University Kellogg West Conference Center & Lodge Telluride Conference Center The Whispering Pines Conference Center, University of Rhode Island The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center UCLA Conference Services & Meeting Planning University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education Conference Center & Hotel University Place Conference Center & Hotel White Oaks Conference Resort and Spa Facilities & Destinations Conference

2009 SuperBook

3

Affordable, Accessible & Unique:

Ogden Eccles Conference Center Satisfies Market Expectations B y Ti m o t h y H e r r i c k

O

gden, Utah may not seem to be the southwestern destination of choice for meeting The Ogden planners. But this small city, only 35 minEccles utes from Salt Lake International Airport Conference and boasting its own Municipal airport (the largest in Center (left) the state), offers accessibility, reasonable price points, and and a wide range of things to see and do. In addition, Peery’s there’s remarkable Ogden Eccles Conference Center, Egyptian Theater a 50,000-square-foot setting for small-to-mid-size (below). meetings that includes cutting-edge meeting rooms, space for exhibitions, banquets and receptions, and its own art-deco auditorium.

The Ogden Eccles Conference Center is located in the heart of Downtown Ogden, adjacent to a 137-room Hampton hotel and nearby the 292-room "Several of our Ogden Marriott Hotel, Lagoon Amusement Park, groups utilize and the Historic 25th Street restaurants, entertainment and shopping district. A frequent misconception the theater as an about Ogden and the conference center is that Utah is an ultraconservative, no-fun zone. The reality is that extension of their Ogden has world-class dining—complete with a full range of alcoholic beverages—at price points either meeting space." lower or competitive with other tertiary market destinations. “You can easily get a drink in Utah,” said Ross Reeder, General Manager, Ogden Eccles Conference Center. “That is one thing I constantly have to tell planners. In fact, food and beverage prices are very tion to as acting as function space for the adjoining conference center. affordable, yet we offer great variety and quality.”

As a facility for presentations and other aspects of a meeting, the After easing concerns about meeting dining and night-life, Planners Peery’s Egyptian Theater inspires the imagination of meeting planners soon become enticed by the range of off-site team building and other booking the Ogden Eccles Conference Center. “Several of our groups activities attendees can enjoy year-round. “Planners are constantly utilize the theater as an extension of their meeting space,” said Reeder. amazed about how easy it is to get here and how many outdoor “For example; by using the theater for their opening and closing genactivities, such as hiking, skiing, mountain biking and kayaking are eral sessions it opens up additional space for meals and or breakouts.” available and as close as 10-15 minutes away,” said Reeder.

Reeder is a 30-year veteran of the hospitality industry and meeting Meeting Space available at the Ogden Eccles Conference Center venue management, a career that began as a room service waiter at includes: the 13,860-square-foot Grand Ballroom, with a 19-foot ceilthe Little America Hotel in Salt Lake, and includes a wide-variety of ing; the 5,780-square-foot Ballroom; the Executive Room 101, with meetings-oriented experience, including meeting/group sales execuseating for 80 and on-line access for 45 computers where networked tive positions at various hotels, convention centers and Convention & software can be projected onto the built-in screen; and the venue’s six Visitors Bureaus. other meeting rooms, each approximately 1,000 square feet—four of In today’s economic climate, besides the accessibility, affordability the rooms feature ceiling-mounted motorized projection screens. and uniqueness of the Ogden Eccles Conference Center, its staff is But the most unique attribute of the Conference Center is probably prepared to meet planner expectations of venue partnership over the the adjacent 800-seat Peery’s Egyptian Theater. Maybe an auditorium total course of an event. “You have to work with planners throughout that can seat such a sizable crowd is not unheard of in the Conference the entire process, which now means follow up on their registration Center market, but how many of those facilities are listed on the numbers and marketing of the event,” said Reeder.

National Register of Historic Sites? The Peery’s Egyptian Theater is Belt-tightening may have dampened the short-term meeting market an authentic, Art-Deco Movie Palace, originally constructed in the to an uncomfortable degree, but the Ogden Eccles also offers flex1920s. These grand, opulent movie theaters—whose stages were also ibility for meetings to grow with an event accommodating all aspects, used for vaudeville shows—were planned with site-lines and acoustics from large presentation facilities to the option of an Exhibition Floor. that remain the standard to this day. The design and architecture of “With State and local budgets being cut, groups are booking less,” said Peery’s Egyptian Theater copied the Grauman’s Egyptian Theatre of Reeder. “However, the numbers of Military groups seem to be increasHollywood, including the colorful, fun and kitschy Egyptian images ing. Our largest tradeshow is a Military group that utilizes 180 10’X10’ that were a pop culture trend during the Jazz Age. The theater was booths. The show grows each year.” fully restored in 1997, and is used as a performing arts center in addi4

2009 SuperBook

Facilities & Destinations Conference

Facilities & Destinations Conference Listings A to Z Adventure Aquarium........................................................... 5

Hilton Scranton & Conference Center................................ 6

Airlie Center....................................................................... 8

InterContinental San Francisco......................................... 12

Ameristar Casino St. Charles Conference Center.............. 11

Kellogg Conference Hotel................................................... 8

Big Sky Resort................................................................... 12

Lexington Downtown Hotel & Conference Center........... 10

The Conference Center at Bentley....................................... 6

The Lodge at Sonoma....................................................... 12

The Conference Center at Niagara Falls.............................. 6

NAV Canada Training & Conference Centre.................... 13

Evergreen Marriott Conference Resort................................ 9

Norris Conference Centers – City Centre.......................... 13

Executive Conference Center at Phoenix Convention Center.............................................. 12

Ogden Eccles Conference Center ..................................... 13 Q Center........................................................................... 11

The Florida Hotel and Conference Center........................ 10

Sea Trail Golf Resort & Convention Center...................... 10

The Georgia Center/The University’s

Shaw Conference Centre................................................... 13

Conference Center & Hotel................................................ 9

University Center Conference Chicago.............................. 11

Harborside Event Center................................................... 10

Wyndham Princeton Forrestal Hotel & Conference Center................................................ 5

Hilton Garden Inn.............................................................. 8

new jersey

1 Aquarium Drive, Camden, NJ 08103 (856) 365-3300 ext. 7375 Fax: (856) 365-3311 www.currentsballroom.com Facility Sales Manager: Stacy Steffen

A ballroom under the sea with a skyline view.

Snapshot: A new premier event space offering an experience like no other. CURRENTS Ballroom offers your guests views of the Philadelphia skyline and movie screen-sized windows highlighting our 550,000-gallon Shark Realm Exhibit. The walls and ceiling embrace the underwater feeling with etched wave décor and tranquil colors. With colorful lighting, stateof-the-art audio-visual components, unsurpassed service, gourmet food

See ad on page 7

Facilities & Destinations Conference

illinois New Jersey

Wyndham Princeton Forrestal Hotel & Conference Center

900 Scudders Mill Road Plainsboro, NJ 08536 (609) 936-6509; Fax: (609) 936-6513 www.WyndhamPrincetonForrestal.com Director of Sales & Marketing: Richard V. Keurajian

Snapshot: Surrounded by beautiful landscape and a gorgeous lakefront & ideally located halfway between New York and Philadelphia, and only a short distance from Princeton University, the Wyndham Princeton Forrestal Hotel and Conference Center is the perfect location for business meetings, training and development programs, and other events. The venue, which recently completed a $7million renovation of its conference center, lobby, public space and guest room accommodations, is the largest

2009 SuperBook

IACC-certified conference center in the state of New Jersey.

Lodging: 364 total guest rooms; 227 kings; 135 doubles; 2 suites.

Overall Meeting Space: 62,000 sq. ft. of meeting/function space, including 64 state-of-the-art meeting rooms.

Auditorium: Tiered seating for 360 with professional projection booth, keypad response system & built-in microphone system at each seat.

Technology: Enhanced video teleconferencing, rear screen projection and closed circuit video network; Rear screen projection, LCD projectors, video cameras, monitors, polling response system, closed-circuit broadcast capabilities, satellite dish for downlink communications with guest room relay capabilities; PA system, computer projector and monitors; wired Internet access in all guest rooms & Wi-Fi in public areas.

Services: Dedicated Conference Planner & onsite Conference Services Staff.

Food & Beverage: Onsite catering; Forrestal Grille; Woodrow’s Dining Room.

Activities: full-service fitness center; 25 meter indoor pool; lighted tennis courts, massage, sauna, steam bath.

the northeast

CURRENTS, the Ballroom at Adventure Aquarium

and breathtaking views, CURRENTS will provide your guests with an experience for every sense.

Meeting Sizes Accommodated: 20 to 500.

Overall Meeting Size: 7,000 sq. ft.

Meeting Rooms: Currents Ballroom (Banquet: 450; Classroom: 380; Theater: 500) West Wind (Banquet: 160; Classroom: 124 Theater: 300) Oceanic (Banquet: 170; Classroom: 128; Theater: 305) Gulfstream (Banquet: 170; Classroom: 128; Theater: 305).

Meeting Technology: Currents Ballroom has three movie screen sized viewing panels into our captivating Shark Realm Exhibit; Two additional Projection Screens, 9x12 and 7x9, LCD Projector, 3 LCD monitors.

Food & Beverage: catering provided

by ARAMARK. Customized menus available.

Lodging: Crowne Plaza Hotel (408 Guest Rooms); Hyatt Regency Philadelphia (349 Guest Rooms)—both hotels within approximately 5 miles.

Transportation: Philadelphia International Airport is 11.94 miles away.

5

NEW YORK

The Conference Center Niagara Falls

101 Old Falls St., Niagara Falls, NY 14303 (716) 278-2100; Fax: (716) 278-0008 www.conferencecenterniagarafalls.com Director of Sales & Marketing: Jennifer Noble

A Wonder Within A Wonder

the northeast

Snapshot: The Conference Center Niagara Falls is the perfect location for your next group event. Centrally located in the revitalized downtown core of Niagara Falls, New York, The Conference Center is a state-of-theart facility featuring elegant meeting space coupled with an experience staff anticipating all of your meeting needs.

Your group will also enjoy easy access to 2,000 guestrooms located within a two-block radius of the Center.

Lodging: 2,000 guest rooms in vicinity.

Meeting Sizes Accommodated: Up to 3,500.

Overall Meeting Space: 116,000 sq. ft.

Meeting Rooms: 15 IACC Certified Meeting Rooms seats: (5 – 150); Cascades Ballroom seats: (500 Classroom to 1,050 theatre).

Governor’s Room features seating for 50 guests with built in LCD, retractable screen, adjustable podium with microphone, surround sound, Computer and power for each guest.

Exhibition Space: Exhibit Center (175 - 200 booths).

Theatre: seats 3,500.

Meeting Technology: USA WiFi Zone; built-in LCD projectors & screens, whiteboards, tack able walls, non-glare table surfaces, fully wireless, video-teleconferencing, web casting capability; T-1 internet speed access; ISDN Lines, point to point data connections; LAN Internet access, Smart Boards Mobile Video Conferencing, personal assisted listening devices.

Food & Beverage: Elegant, creative cuisine for private dining options; breakfast, plated or buffet style lunches and dinners for meeting attendees.

Nearby Attractions: Niagara Falls, USA State Park, Maid of the Mist, Cave of the Winds, Whirlpool Jet Boat, Seneca Niagara Casino Old Fort Niagara.

illinois massachussetts

The Conference Center at Bentley

175 Forest Street Waltham; MA 02452 (781) 891-2273; (800) 292-8782 Fax: (781) 891-2434 www.conferencecenteratbentley.com Sales & Planning Manager: Jennifer Fleming

Snapshot: Located 10 miles west of Boston on an inviting New England university campus, in the ideal setting of Waltham, Massachusetts, The Conference Center at Bentley offers stateof-the-art facilities, convenient planning services, unique food and beverage offerings, and comprehensive media capabilities to make your event successful. The Conference Center at Bentley features 15 dedicated meeting rooms which offer versatility and are filled with natural light. During the summer months, residence halls and

illinois Pennsylvania

Hilton Scranton & Conference Center

100 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503 (570) 343-3000 Fax: (570) 343-8415 www.scranton.hilton.com Director of Sales and Marketing: Lori Rupp, Lori.Rupp@hilton.com

Snapshot: The Hilton Scranton & Conference Center is an IACCapproved (International Association of Conference Centers) conference center offering high-speed Internet access - wired and wireless access in all meeting rooms and lobby, and a 24-hour business center. We are a full-service hotel and provide 175 guest rooms. We also provide 19 meeting rooms, including a and grand ballroom accommodating up to 500 guests.

Lodging: 175 Guest Rooms.

Meeting Sizes: up to 500.

6

2009 SuperBook

classrooms are available for overnight conferences and camps. All facilities are air-conditioned and ample parking is at no additional cost.

Meeting Sizes: 5-500.

Overall Meeting Space: 12,000+ sq. ft.

Meeting Rooms: 15 dedicated meeting spaces, including a ballroom, 480-seat auditorium, 250-seat amphitheatre and seasonal outdoor tent.

Technology: Onsite audiovisual equipment and technical support; wireless internet; Videoconferencing & satellite downlink capabilities.

Services: Dedicated meeting planner, on-site event management and technical support.

Food & Beverage: Full onsite catering service; customizable Menus.

Transportation: Boston Logan – 12 miles, Manchester, NH – 52 miles and Providence, RI – 54 miles.

See ad on page 6

Meeting space: 19 Meeting Rooms including – Steam Town Room (3,230 sq. ft.) Casey Ballroom (7,024 sq. ft.); Scranton Boardroom (320 sq. ft.); Mayfield Room (686 sq. ft.); Jessup Room (433 sq. ft.); Blakely Room (1,146 sq. ft.); Dalton Room (918 sq. ft.) Taylor Room (918 sq. ft.); Medallion Ballroom (1,836 sq. ft.); Dunmore Room (886 sq. ft.); Waverly Room (1,012 sq. ft.).

Theater: 75-seat amphitheater Technology: Video Playback System & Video Tape Recorder/Players for VHS and DVDs; provides Monitors/Receivers, Plasma Data/ Video Displays, Video Cameras, Projection Accessories, Microphones, Sound Systems, Video Conferencing Computer/Video Displays, Overhead Projectors, Audio Equipment /Screens; onsite technical staff.

Services: Onsite Conference Services Manager.

Food & Beverage: Trolley’s Bistro (breakfast buffet & an Omelet Station); Casey’s- Dinner; P.J’s PubBar; Electric City Café.

Facilities & Destinations Conference

CURRENTS

CURRENTS THE BALLROOM AT ADVENTURE AQUARIUM MAKES A SPLASH ON THE CAMDEN WATERFRONT

A

the northeast

dventure Aquarium and ARAMARK have teamed up to add new perspective to the special event and reception marketplace, with the opening of the region’s new signature venue — CURRENTS, The Ballroom at Adventure Aquarium.

CURRENTS offers unmatched panoramic views of the Philadelphia skyline across the river, and three movie-screen sized windows into the 550,000-gallon Shark Realm exhibit. With 9,000 square feet of space, CURRENTS offers a rare opportunity for sit-down functions for up to 450 guests and cocktail receptions for up to 1,250 guests. For smaller affairs, the space can be divided into three separate and distinct function areas, allowing CURRENTS to accommodate multiple functions without sacrificing the views. The space also features state-of-the-art audio and visual capabilities.

“CURRENTS is an extraordinarily sleek and contemporary space,” said Greg Charbeneau, Executive Director of Adventure Aquarium. “It is sure to become the benchmark, with its breathtaking views of the Philadelphia skyline and our Shark Realm exhibit. We couldn’t be happier with CURRENTS and the dynamic flexibility of this multi-use facility, which was built to accommodate the most exquisite events.”

With a separate entrance, staging area and facilities, CURRENTS also offers an independent experience from Adventure Aquarium, allowing for day-time use without interruption. For those wanting to get more than their appetite “wet,” Adventure Aquarium offers experiences and merged space functions utilizing the Aquarium’s exhibits and adventures.

Not only is the space divine and the views exquisite, the food at CURRENTS is not your standard banquet fare! CURRENTS challenges its chefs to produce signature dishes flavored with intricate sauces and reductions.

The menu also boasts intercontinental offerings, featuring 15 top dishes from ARAMARK chefs around the globe, as well as an eclectic wine list.

According to CURRENTS’ clients, the hard work is paying off!

“This was our best event to date,” said Beth Rosenburg of Siemens Building Technologies, which held a CURRENTS event in January 2008.

“The atmosphere was exceptional, not to mention the food! The room was set up beautifully and the view of the Philadelphia skyline made for a perfect atmosphere and evening. Hats off for ensuring a truly memorable event!”

1 Aquarium Drive, Camden, NJ 08103 (856) 365-3300 ext. 7375 • Fax: (856) 365-3311 www.currentsballroom.com

Facilities & Destinations Conference

2009 SuperBook

7

illinois virginia

Airlie Center

6809 Airlie Road Warrenton, VA 20187 (540) 347-1300; Fax: (540) 341-3207 www.airlie.com General Manager: Kevin T. Carter, CHA

For over 50 years, the natural place to meet.

mid-atlantic

Snapshot: Airlie provides a unique environment for the creative exchange of ideas with a consistent and dedicated commitment to a productive meeting environment. Airlie is an ideal sanctuary for meetings that require the utmost attention and distraction-free environment.

Lodging: 154 guest rooms.

Meeting Sizes: up to 200.

Overall Meeting Space: 21,450 sq. ft., including 17 meeting rooms.

Theater Seating: 200.

Technology: LCD data projector, projection screen, VCR & monitor,

podium & microphone as well as standard flip charts, overhead projector, and slide projector.

Services: Dedicated conference manager coordinates all aspects of your meeting so you can achieve goals & objectives. A fully-staffed Conference Services Desk provides all administrative and support services.

Team Building: Culinary teambuilding can be customized for your group to meet specific teambuilding goals.

Outdoor experience-based learning to enhance your meeting experience with ropes course session.

Food & Beverage: Onsite culinary team can design private dining experiences; Airlie Dining Room features conference-style buffet service; cuisine emphasizes local & regional food; The Whistling Swan provides a casual poolside setting for informal gatherings.

Onsite Activities: Exercise facility; Swimming Pools; Volleyball; Tennis Bike Riding.

Attractions: Virginia Wine Way; Golf; Horseback Riding.

Transportation: 27 miles to Dulles International Airport.

illinois virginia

Hilton Garden Inn Fairfax 3950 Fair Ridge Drive Fairfax, VA 22033 (703) 385-7774; Fax: (703) 667-9376 www.fairfax.gardeninn.com General Manager: Steve Steinberg

“Everything. Right where you need it.”

Snapshot: At the Hilton Garden Inn Fairfax hotel in Northern Virginia, you’ll find everything you need, from the welcoming pavilion to the guestrooms designed to address the needs of today’s travelers. The Hilton Garden Inn Fairfax hotel features: small to medium size meeting and banquet rooms for up to 300 guests, dedicated and friendly sales staff to focus on the details; current and up-to-date audio/visual equipment and technology.

Meeting Sizes: Up to 300.

Overall Meeting Space: 8,000 sq. ft.

illinois Washington d.c.

Kellogg Conference Hotel 800 Florida Avenue Washington, D.C. 2002 (202) 651-6030; Fax: (202) 651-6107 www.kelloggconferencehotel.com Assistant Director of Sales: Dyantha Roland

Teach • Inspire • Achieve Snapshot: Located on the historic, gated and beautiful campus of Gallaudet University, this Capitol Hill Hotel & Conference Center is Washington DC’s “Hidden Treasure," providing an ideal environment for successful and productive events. The Kellogg Conference Hotel features 17,000 sq. ft. of IACC-approved meeting space & state-of-art technology for corporate training, meetings and conferences.

Meeting Space: 17,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space, including 10 meeting rooms with natural light; 4 meeting rooms with multi-

8

2009 SuperBook

Meeting/Event Rooms: Patriot Room (764 sq. ft.); Prosperity Ballroom (1,522 sq. ft.); Prosperity I (848 sq. ft.); Prosperity II (674 sq. ft.); Providence Ballroom (2,739 sq.ft.); Providence I (900 sq. ft.); Providence II (991 sq. ft.); Providence III (958 sq. ft.); Garden Patio (3,301 sq. ft.).

Theater Seating: 70 to 280.

Classroom Seating: 40 to 185.

Meeting Services: Business Center; state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment; video conferencing available; Meeting Packages from comprehensive corporate packages to single meeting room rentals.

Lodging: 149 guest rooms.

Food & Beverage: in-house catering; Great American Grill® restaurant; The Pavilion Pantry® convenience mart.

Amenities: Lounge; Fitness Center; pool; Multi-Lingual Staff.

Nearby Attractions: Washington D.C.; Fair Oaks Shopping Mall; Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets; Tyson Corner Shopping Mall.

Transportation: 11 miles from Washington Dulles International Airport; 18 miles from Washington DC and Ronald Reagan National Airport.

See ad on page 8

capabilities; 4 self-contained meeting rooms; Executive Boardroom (accommodates 24 with perimeter seating for 40); Grand Ballroom (divisible into 4 separate rooms); broadcast-ready auditorium - tiered seating for 325; Covered Outdoor Terrace (seats 100); Atrium (pre-function & reception area – accommodates 300).

Lodging: 300 renovated guestrooms, including King Suites with parlors & Queen Suites.

Technology: High-speed wireless Internet access; teleconferencing capabilities; translation booths for interpreting and real-time captioning; LCD projection & screen with wireless remote; 12-hour ergonomic chairs with armrests; Satellite downlink; on-site technology staff.

Food & Beverage: on-site catering staff, wide variety of menus.

Venue Features: Outtakes gift shop & café; Comprehensive Fitness Center.

Attractions: Washington Mall, D.C. dining & night life.

Transportation: close to three major airports: Washington Reagan National, Dulles International, and BaltimoreWashington International. Amtrak at Union Station.

Facilities & Destinations Conference

10 ; Studio ats). sq. ft.

The University of Georgia Conference Center & Hotel 1197 S. Lumpkin Street Athens, GA 30602 (706) 542-2654; (800) 488-7827 Fax: (706) 542-6630 www.georgiacenter.uga.edu Sales Director: Kim Rogers

The Go-To Conference Center & Hotel Snapshot: The Georgia Center provides comprehensive event services for professional associations, educational organizations, businesses, government entities and the community.

Lodging: 200 rooms with 11 suites.

Meeting Sizes: up to 600.

Overall Meeting Space: 30,000 sq. ft.; including 20 Meeting Rooms; 5 Executive Boardrooms; Ballroom and Banquet areas.

Exhibit Space: 16,000 sq. ft.

Theater/Auditorium: 375-600 seats.

Technology: Wireless Internet throughout facility/hotel rooms; Smart Podiums with the latest AV Technology; 24/7 onsite technical support.

Services: Onsite Event Managers, Designers & Planners; Registration Services; Customized Meeting Packages; Marketing, Promotion, Graphic Design and Website Development; Business Center with Computer/Internet Access.

Food & Beverage: Banquet Menu Planning; Evening and Event Cocktail Service; Full-Service Catering.

Restaurants: Savannah Room Restaurant (Gourmet Southern Cuisine); Courtyard Café (hot entrées, soups and salad bar); Georgia Java (Starbucks Coffee, specialty sandwiches & delightful desserts; Dawg House Lounge (sports-bar atmosphere & tavern menu) Magnolia Ballroom and Private Banquet Areas.

Attractions: Georgia Museum of Art; State Botanical Gardens; Butts-Mehre Athletic Museum; UGA Golf Course; Double-Barrel Cannon; Lyndon House Arts Center; Athena Statue; Morton Theatre; 40 Watt Club; Unique Restaurants/Shops/Pubs/Clubs.

See ad on page 9

illinois georgia

Evergreen Marriott Conference Resort

4021 Lakeview Drive Stone Mountain, GA 30083 (770) 879-9900; (888) 670-2250 Fax: (770) 465-3264 www.evergreenmarriott.com Director of Sales & Marketing: Warren Woodard

Snapshot: Nestled in the natural beauty of Stone Mountain Park, Evergreen is a unique, 4-Diamond Conference Resort, offering meeting attendees a calming retreat & sanctuary including Golf, Spa and an abundance of outdoor activities.

The Evergreen Marriott Conference Resort is an ideal destination for effective productive meetings and only 16 miles from downtown Atlanta.

Lodging: 336 guest rooms.

Overall Meeting Space: 60,000 sq.

ft., including 39 meeting rooms, 375sq.-ft. Cedar Ballroom, new 6,000sq.-ft. Stone Mountain Ballroom.

Theater: 150-seat Laurel Amphitheatre Technology: Wireless internet, wireless microphone with mixer, audio visual support bundle, LCD projector & screen, various microphones, lighting, speaker phones, audio equipment, sound systems, video playback & recording. Onsite Operators/Technicians.

Services: All inclusive Meeting Packages: include accommodations, meal functions, continuous refreshment breaks, basic audio visual & more; Full-service Business center.

Food & Beverage: Full-service catering for all events; Waterside Restaurant (stylish Stone Mountain restaurant offering buffets in casually elegant setting); MountainBrew Café (light fare/casual dining); StoneWall’s Bar & Lounge.

Attractions: Evergreen Spa (full-service), indoor & outdoor pool, Stateof-the-Art Fitness Facility, two Golf courses; Stone Mountain Park offers numerous outdoor adventures, sight seeing & Team Building Activities.

Transportation: 24 miles to HartsfieldJackson International Airport.

THE SOUTHEAST

ms, om m 500-seats s) arden

illinois georgia

Facilities& Destinations SuperBook

Comprehensive Directory of Convention Centers, CVBs, Meetings Hotels & Resorts For Planners of Conventions Meetings, Trade Shows, Conferences & Exhibitions

d supss itute at s, team nture

unhill ups, taurant ill for

ate

ls,

– 55 s.

Essential Planning Tools

THE FACILITIES MEDIA GROUP Facilities & Destinations Conference

2009 SuperBook

9

florida

Harborside Event Center

1375 Monroe Street Fort Myers, FL 33901 (239) 321-8120; (800) 294-9516 Fax: (239) 332-2242 www.HarborsideEvents.com General Manager: Rose Rundle

Event Services Manager: Rhonda Decherd

THE SOUTHEAST

Snapshot: Meeting and conference attendees convene on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River at Harborside Event Center. The event center’s elegant pre-function space provides pristine riverfront views for your guests while registering and enjoying meal functions or cocktails. The facility is Wi-Fi ready and has all of your audiovisual needs from large format projectors and screens to sound systems, wireless mics and so much more. Our in-house Technical Services department will assist you in planning the audiovisual needs of

illinois kentucky

Lexington Downtown Hotel & Conference Center

369 West Vine Street Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 231-9000; Fax: (859) 281-3704 www.lexingtondowntown.hilton.com Director of Sales and Marketing: Angela Matherne, (859) 281-3705 (Direct)

Lexington’s Only Downtown Hilton Snapshot: Lexington Downtown Hotel & Conference Center, a Hilton Affiliate Hotel, offers a warm and inviting atmosphere in the heart of the city’s Central Business District.

Located across from Rupp Arena and Triangle Park, Lexington Downtown Hotel & Conference Center has 17,000 sq. ft. of newly renovated meeting and event space, and is located across the street from the 130,000sq-ft Lexington Convention Center.

10

your event. Our expert culinary team will create all-day menu options to cover morning breaks all the way through to evening receptions. At Harborside Event Center, we pride ourselves in being flexible, functional and professional. A member of our Event Services team will be assigned to your event to work directly with you on planning every last detail needed to make a spectacular and professional meeting or conference.

Nearby newly renovated hotels and a brand-new boutique property offer a wide range of accommodation options for your attendees. Prenegotiated discounts exist at partner hotels when booking meetings at the event center.

Capacities: 100 –to- 3,000 depending on configuration.

Technology: Extensive In-House Audio/Visual Department.

Food & Beverage: exclusive contract with Boston Culinary Group for all your food and beverage needs.

Services: Onsite event planners, wireless internet, pipe and drape, extensive assortment of decorations, tables, chairs, portable stage.

Lodging: 367 guestrooms.

Meeting Sizes: Up to 1,000.

Overall Meeting Space: 17,650 sq. ft.

Meeting Rooms: Grand Ballroom (6,850 sq. ft); Lincoln Room (1,539 sq. ft.); Boone Room (1,232 sq. ft.); Clay Room (594 sq. ft.); Breckenridge Room (594 sq. ft); Davis Room (462 sq. ft.) Burley Room (475 sq. ft.); Black Diamond Room (475 sq. ft); Spirits (3,600 sq. ft.,); CityView Room (3,800 sq. ft.).

Pre-function Space: 2,600 sq. ft Technology: Complimentary wireless; your video conferencing & or webcasting.

Services: Meeting concierge - personalized & onsite meeting service by our highly trained team.

Catering: full-service catering & certified bar staff.

Restaurants: Bigg Blue Martini – hot-spot for night life, 20 specialty Martinis & exclusive fine Kentucky Bourbon collection. Hotel restaurant offers Hilton Breakfast.

Transportation: 6 miles to airport.

Attractions: onsite health club, indoor pool & whirlpool.

illinois Florida

The Florida Hotel and Conference Center 1500 Sand Lake Rd, Orlando, FL 32809 (407) 859-1500; Fax: (407) 855-9863 www.thefloridahotelorlando.com Director of Sales & Marketing: Simone Kuska Villanueva

Friendliest Hotel in Orlando Snapshot: The Florida Hotel and Conference Center offers an unmatched blend of luxurious comfort, world-class service and state-of-the art meeting space in a location ideal for your meeting, training seminar, or special event.

The brand new meeting space is flexible from a board meeting of 10 people to a general session for 1,200 people. Just minutes from the Orlando International Airport, the Orange County Convention Center, and Walt Disney World Resort, we are at the center of everything there is to do in Central Florida!

north carolina

Sea Trail Golf Resort & Convention Center 211 Clubhouse Road Sunset Beach, NC 28468 (800) 408-7245; (910) 287-1100 Fax: (910) 287-1176 www.seatrail.com Director of Sales: Donna Rabon

Snapshot: Sea Trail Golf Resort & Convention Center is one of the largest convention centers on the East Coast with 60,000 sq. ft. of meeting and function space, one-to four-bedroom accommodations and resort amenities. Our professional sales and catering staff will provide you with “stress-free” planning.

Meeting Sizes Accommodated: 11 to 1,100.

Lodging: 600 Guest Rooms.

Meeting/Exhibition Space: 60,000 sq. ft.

Ballroom: 10,000 sq. ft.

2009 SuperBook

Lodging: 511 guest rooms.

Meeting Sizes: 10 – 1,200.

Overall Meeting Space: 50,220 sq. ft., including 5 Boardrooms; Heroes Ballroom (banquet – 650, theater – 1,000, classroom – 480), Symposium (banquet –220, theater – 280, classroom – 108); Legends Ballroom (banquet –700, theater – 1,500, classroom – 525).

Food & Beverage: full-banquet kitchen, offering all sots of menus – domestic & international for catering functions.

Restaurants: Crickets Restaurant, Crickets Grille and Bar, Buca Di Beppo ( in Mall), Ruby Tuesdays in mall, California Pizza Kitchen in Mall, Salsa’s in mall and food court, Starbucks onsite.

Technology: state-of-the-art audio visuals, fromflip charts and slide projectors to large-screen televisions and videoconferencing; onsite audiovisual technical staff.

Attractions: Heated Pool and Spa onsite; The Hotel is connected to the Florida Mall; Disney World; Universal Studios; Wet N Wild Theme Water Park; Sea World.

Theater Seating: 1,100.

Technology: wireless Internet access; speaker-phone for audio purposes and coordination of all audio/visual needs.

Services: An experienced on-site convention services department that will handle all your needs including golf tournaments and outings on our three championship courses, team-building exercises, wedding services, themed events nights and more; onsite Business Center.

Food & Beverage: full-service onsite catering; Magnolias Fine Food & Spirits serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in a relaxed atmosphere. For a sandwich, an afternoon cocktail or lighter dining, visit Brassie’s Pub. Amenities: The Village Activity Center features healthful and recreational activities; state-of-the-art cardio fitness center; integrated fitness and entertainment area; indoor and outdoor pools and whirlpools; sauna; Oasis Pool Bar; spa treatments; massage therapist; fitness classes including water aerobics, yoga, Pilates and dance; Custom Clubs Store; The Golf Learning Center.

Transportation: 45 minutes to Wilmington International Airport; 30 minutes to Myrtle Beach International Airport.

Facilities & Destinations Conference

n y and I. m-

nu

n-

&

m). p g espa;

PUERTO RICO & THE CARIBBEAN

ms

Number of meeting Rooms: 118.

Exhibit Space: 19,000 sq. ft.

Theater Seating: 2 amphitheatres seat 250 and 150.

Meeting Technology: Wired and wireless T3 Internet as well as LAN setup.

Complete inventory of A/V equipment including HP laptops, DLP and LCD projectors, interactive audience response system and much more. Technical services team members have extensive A/V and IT experience.

Meeting Services: Professional conference planners work with you from preplanning to post-event; Award-winning onsite event production team (Q Creative) provides services to match any size event and budget, including a videoconference, webcast and satellite broadcast; Onsite Printing Facility.

Food & Beverage: CMP includes conference-style dining featuring five different entrees, a.m. and p.m. breaks.

Options include private catered events with unparalleled menus and themes, late-night Café, and two pubs onsite.

Transportation: 35 miles to Chicago O’Hare.

Q Center

1405 North Fifth Ave. St. Charles, IL 60174 (877) 774-TheQ; Fax: (630) 584-7212 www.QCenter.com

Meetings, Conferences, Executive Learning

Snapshot: Q Center is located 45 miles west of downtown Chicago on 96 wooded acres along the Fox River in historic St. Charles, IL. Q Center is one of the largest conference centers in the U.S. and is the ideal Midwest location for national or regional events.

Meeting Sizes Accommodated: 2 to 2,000.

Lodging: 1,042 guest rooms.

Meeting Space: 150,000 sq. ft. including 19,000-sq.-ft. ballroom, 2 tiered amphitheatres, executive boardroom and beautiful outdoor events pavilion.

MISSOURI missouri

illinois

University Center 525 S. State Street Chicago, IL 60605 (312) 924-8092; Fax: (312) 924-8100 www.universitycenter.com Sales Manager: Mark Calderone

Conference Chicago Snapshot: This new property is conveniently located in downtown Chicago and offers a new and exciting environment for large to small conferences at extremely competitive rates. It is a perfect setting for your executive board meeting, seminar, workshop, training session or retreat.

During the summer, University Center offers full-service overnight accommodations.

Overall Meeting Space: 15,000 sq. ft.

Number of Meeting Rooms: 10 (meeting rooms range from 435 to 2,400 sq.ft.).

Exhibit Space: 2,400 sq. ft.

Theater Seating: 175.

Classroom Seating: 80.

Meeting Technology: Meeting spaces feature white board, projection screen and has wireless internet access. Some meeting rooms are equipped with an LCD projector, DVD player, VHS player, Copy Cam and one lavaliere microphone.

Audio/visual equipment, computer data projection and video conferencing available.

Food & Beverage: On premise catering provided; onsite restaurant.

Lodging: 504 guest rooms.

Amenities: During the summer, University Center offers full-service overnight accommodations, including use of the building’s recreation area, fitness center, outdoor terrace and dining area. Guests also have the added benefit of access to kitchen and laundry facilities.

Transportation: 17 miles to O’Hare Airport; steps away from all CTA train lines.

See ad on Cover 3

Facilities

Function Area with Classroom seating Discovery with 2,808-sq.for up toBallroom, 700 and Theater seating for up ft.toPre-Function Area with Classroom 1,300; Imagination Room, with MISSOURI seating for up to 700 and Theater Function Area with Classroom seating Classroom seating up to 200 and forSeating up 1,300; forseating up to 700 andtoTheater seating formeeting up Theater up toImagination 500; Five Entertainment/Sports/Performances/Exhibitions/ with seating to to Room, 1,300; Room, withupRoom. roomsImagination andClassroom the Wisdom Board 200 and Theater Seating up to 500; Concerts/Competition/Shows/Special Events Classroom seating up to 200 and Venue Features: wireless video Five meeting and Five theinternet, Wisdom Theater Seating rooms up to 500; meeting conferencing capability, hi-res LCD Board rooms andRoom. the Wisdom Board Room. projectors, audio mixing, staged lightVenue Features: wirelessinternet, internet,video Venue wireless ing,Features: on-site technical assistance; video conferencing capability, hi-res Casino conferencing capability, hi-res LCD 130,000-sq.-ft. casino Ameristar LCD projectors, audioseven mixing, staged projectors, audiofeatures mixing, stagedoutstanding lightAmeristar Casino St. Charles AMERISTAR CASINO on-site assistance; ing,lighting, on-site technical assistance; St. Charles restaurants, livetechnical national and regional ST. CHARLES 130,000-sq.-ft. casino Ameristar casino Ameristar entertainment seven nights aCasino week.

Conference Center 130,000-sq.-ft.

CONFERENCE CENTER St.features Charles features seven St.Casino Charles seven outstanding 1260 South Main Five-story covered garage holdsoutup to AMERISTAR C ASINO 1260 South Main standing restaurants, live national and restaurants, live national and regional St. Charles, MO 63301 4,000 vehicles.

ST. St. CHARLES Charles, MO 63301 regional entertainment seven nights (636) 940-4300; (800) 325-7777 entertainment seven nights a week. a (636) 940-4300; C (800) 325-7777 Transportation: 10 miles fromholds CONFERENCE ENTER week.

Five-story covered garage Fax: (636) 940-4391 Five-story covered garage holds up to (636) 940-4391 1260 Fax: South Main Lambert St. Louis International www. ameristar.com up to 4,000 vehicles.

4,000 vehicles. www. MO ameristar.com St. Charles, 63301 Airport.

Senior Sales Manager: Meredith Neu Sales Transportation:1010miles miles from from Lambert (636) Senior 940-4300; (800)Manager: 325-7777 Meredith Neu Transportation: Convention/guest rooms: 400-room, Snapshot: At the completion of St. Louis Airport.

Fax: (636) 940-4391 Lambert St.International Louis International Snapshot: At the completion of the all-suite hotel opening late 2007; over the $360-million facility, Ameristar Airport. www. ameristar.com $360-million facility, Ameristar Casino Convention/guest 4002,000 hotel roomsrooms: available in vicinity.

Meredith Neu its Senior Sales Manager: Casino St. Charles solidified St. Charles solidified its position as the Convention/guest room, all-suite hotel opening late rooms: 400-room, position as the gaming destination Nearby Attractions of interest or note: Snapshot: At the completion of the gaming destination of choice in the St. all-suite 2007; hotel over 2,000 hotel opening laterooms 2007;availover of choice in the St. LouisCasino area. In Historic downtown St. Charles, UMB $360-million facility, Ameristar Louis area.

In September, Ameristar St. 2,000 able in vicinity. hotel rooms available in vicinity.

September, Ameristar St. as Charles Bank Pavilion, St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis St. Charles position the Charlessolidified opened its new $14-million Attractions interest opened its newchoice $14-million confer- Nearby of of interest or Louis. note: Art Attractions Museum, Downtown St. gaming destination in the St. conference and of meeting center, featuring Nearby or note: Historic St. downtown St. ence and meeting center, featuring Historic downtown Charles, UMB Louistwo area.

In September, Ameristar St. ballrooms, five meeting rooms and Charles, UMB two ballrooms, meeting rooms Bank Pavilion, St.Bank LouisPavilion, Zoo, St.St. Louis In-depth Regional listings of Arenas, Civic Centers, Charles opened itsBoard newfive $14-million an Executive Room.

High-end Louis Zoo, Downtown St. Louis Art and an Executive Board Room.

Art Museum, St.Museum, Louis. conference and meeting center, exclusivelyfeaturing finishes, rich wood panels, Coliseums, Auditoriums, Stadiums, Convention Downtown St. Louis.

High-end rich wood two ballrooms, fivefinishes, meeting rooms andpandesigned woven carpet and custom Centers, Theaters, PACs, Amphitheaters, University els, exclusively-designed woven caran Executive Board the Room.

High-end look of lighting define contemporary pet and custom lighting define the finishes, rich wood panels, exclusivelyVenues, Fairgrounds, Special Event Venues the center. the center. designedcontemporary woven carpetlook and of custom Meeting Space: 19,200 sq. ft. of meetlightingMeeting define theSpace: contemporary of 19,200 sq.look ft. of ing space, including 11,817 Discovery the center. meeting space, including 11,817 Ballroom, with 2,808-sq.-ft. PreMeeting Space: 19,200 sq. ft. of meet11 & Destinations Conference 2009 SuperBook ing Facilities space, including 11,817 Discovery Ballroom, with 2,808-sq.-ft. Pre-

THE FACILITIES MEDIA GROUP Essential Planning Tools

Associate members and recently a report has been issued. What does

THE MIDWEST

m-

illinois

illinois arizona

Executive Conference Center at Phoenix Convention Center 100 N. 3rd St. Phoenix, AZ 85004 (602) 534-9573; Fax: (602) 744-2964 www.phoenixconventioncenter.com Sales Manager: Chrissy Leto

Downtown’s Newest Inclusive Meeting Venue

THE WEST

Snapshot: The Executive Conference Center is one of the few conference centers in Arizona that is certified by the International Association of Conference Centers. Located on the 2nd level of the Phoenix Convention Center’s West Building, attendees can have a very intimate meeting in the heart of downtown Phoenix’s business and entertainment district.

Meeting Sizes Accommodated: 2-200.

Overall Meeting Space: 21,000 sq.

illinois california

The Lodge at Sonoma, A Renaissance Resort & Spa

1325 Broadway, Sonoma, CA 95476 (707) 935-6600; (888) 710-8008 Fax: (707) 935-6829 www.thelodgeatsonoma.com General Manager: Dave Dolquist

Snapshot: The Lodge at Sonoma, A Renaissance Resort & Spa, is a revitalizing retreat & meeting resort.

Meeting attendees experience fine dining, luxury guest accommodations and a tranquil deluxe spa all set in a haven of casual sophistication in the heart of California’s scenic wine country. The Lodge features the largest ballroom in Sonoma Valley; receptions, entertainment, pre-function & other outdoor events can be held on the extensive lawn, garden and patio facilities.

Lodging: 182 Guest Rooms.

12

ft.; including 16 meeting rooms.

Pre-function Space: 14,000 sq. Ft. Lecture Hall: 192 seats.

Technology: audio & video conferencing, wireless internet, a state-of-the-art house sound system. Lecture Hall is equipped with conference voting and audience response systems, 4 translation booths & a media control both that operates the built-in 12,000 lumen, rear-screen projector and 9’x16’ screen.

Services: onsite UPS Store; onsite concierge provides wayfinding services & recommendations for local dining and activities.

Food & Beverage: Exclusive onsite, in-house catering by Aventura Catering.

Onsite Dining: Metro Marche food court; Metro Lounge, Metro Café; Metro Bistro; Starbucks Coffee; Java City (Also, hundreds of dining options within a one-mile radius).

Nearby Attractions: US Airways Arena; Chase Field; Phoenix Science Center; Symphony Hall; Orpheum Theater; Dodge Theater; Heard Museum; Phoenix Art Museum.

Meeting Sizes: 10 to 500.

Overall Meeting Space: 22,000 sq. ft.; 3,080-sq.-ft. Sonoma ballroom, divisible into 3 sections (seats 300 theater style).

Technology: STSN high-speed internet access in all meeting rooms; Full array of audio visual equipment and state-of the art technology available; Wifi in public areas.

Services: Onsite Conference Staff; Business Center.

Team Building Activities: Iron Chef competition; Grape Stomp; Chili cook-off; Ramekins Cooking class/ party; Jim Russell Racing Challenge; Wine Roulette; Wine and Cheese Tour through Sonoma.

Food & Beverage: Extensive catering services available, including wide selection authentic; Customizable Menus; Carneros Bistro & Wine Bar features artisan-inspired cuisine & exquisite wine list with 35 wines by the glass.

Attractions: Raindance Spa; 24-hour comprehensive exercise facility.

Transportation: 45 miles to San Francisco International Airport.

illinois california

InterContinental San Francisco

888 Howard Street at 5th San Francisco, CA 94103 (415) 616-6500; (888) 811-ICSF (4273) Fax: (415) 616-6621 www.intercontinentalsanfrancisco.com Director of Sales & Marketing: Gail Gerber

“Do you live an InterContinental Life?”

Snapshot: Conveniently located adjacent to San Francisco’s Moscone Convention Center & within a short, scenic stroll of the city’s financial, entertainment and premium shopping districts, the InterContinental San Francisco offers meeting attendees as many reasons to stay inside its cool-blue exterior as it does to venture outside. Its endless amenities include: fine dining, signature Spa, fitness center, indoor pool, and state-of-the-art conferencing facilities.

Lodging: 550 Guestrooms.

illinois montana

Big Sky Resort

1 Lone Mountain Trail, Big Sky, MT 59716 (800) 548-4487, (406) 995-5886 Fax: (406) 995-5003 www.bigskyresort.com Director of Sales: Brandon Bang

Best Mountain Meetings Snapshot: Big Sky Resort, Montana’s leading destination for groups up to 750 people, provides a self-contained campus that brings together lodging, meeting space, food and activities. Attendees have access to the Solace Spa, scenic lift rides, the Big Sky Zipline, mountain biking, hiking and Kid’s Club.

While the Yellowstone Conference Center and Mountain Village serves as base camp, the surrounding area provides endless opportunities with world-class fly-fishing, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, Yellowstone National Park and the 18-hole Arnold Palmer designed golf course.

2009 SuperBook

Meeting Sizes: 10 to 1,000.

Overall Meeting Space: 43,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space, including 21 meeting rooms on three levels; Main Ballroom (6,800 sq. ft.; seats - 400 classroom, 900 theater style) Junior Ballroom (5,600 sq. ft.); 3 outdoor terraces covering almost 13,000 square feet.

Executive Boardroom: features a 60-inch LCD screen television with video conferencing capabilities and touch screen technology.

Services: Onsite multilingual team of conference service professionals; limousine, floral, photography, courier/messenger and a full-service concierge; 24-hour business.

Food & Beverage: Complete Catering Menu features San Francisco theme breaks and meals; Luce, located on the first floor, offers sophisticated New American cuisine & an extensive wine list. Adjacent to Luce is Bar 888, specializing in grappa and grappa-based cocktails.

Onsite: I-Spa; 24-hour fitness center; indoor pool.

Nearby Attractions: Chinatown; Cable Car Museum; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; Coit Tower; Metreon Center; Fisherman’s Wharf.

Lodging: capacity for 2,250; 550 rooms connected to conference center.

Meeting Sizes Accommodated: 25-750.

Overall Meeting Space: 55,000+ sq. ft., including 7,991-sq.-ft Missouri Ballroom; 946-sq.-ft Dunraven/Obsidian; 924-sq.-ft Lake Canyon. Additional facilities include: Mountain Mall; Huntley Lodge and the Summit Hall.

Exhibition Space: 23,000+ sq. ft.

Technology: Free high-speed wireless internet and full service conference service staff. Audio/Visual equipment available for on-site meetings, video, teleconferencing capabilities and multimedia services.

Team Building: Big Sky Zipline, Whitewater Rafting, Guided Hikes, Horseback riding, Flyfishing trips, Golf Tournaments, Disc Golf.

Food & Beverage: Full-service catering; onsite restaurants include: Andiamo Italian Restaurant; Chet’s Bar & Grill; Café Flora; M.R. Hummers; Black Bear Bar & Grill; The Cabin; The Bambu Bar; Yeti Dogs (gourmet hot dogs & beer).

Facilities & Destinations Conference

illinois Texas

803 Town and Country Blvd.

Houston, TX 77024 (713) 590-0950 www.NorrisCenters.com Executive Vice President: Linda Hampton, CMP l.hampton@norriscenters.com

Choice of Experienced Meeting and Event Planners Snapshot: Norris Conference Centers & the Red Oak Ballroom, housed within Norris Conference Centers, have been serving the Texas market & Southwestern region since 1990. Norris hosts 3,000+ meetings/events annually.

Services include on-site event planning, catering and audio/visual equipment. Our newest Houston location, Norris Conference

alberta

Shaw Conference Centre

The Centre of Attention Snapshot: Premier facilities and services, world champion chefs, and award-winning architecture have earned the Shaw Conference Centre renown nationally and internationally. The innovative, glass-tiered Centre, overlooking Edmonton’s beautiful river valley, provides the perfect setting for a wide range of events and meeting sizes.

Meeting Sizes Accommodated: 10 to 7,000.

Overall Meeting Space: 80,000 sq. ft., including 24,000-sq.-ft.

Ballroom.

Facilities & Destinations Conference

2415 Washington Boulevard Ogden, UT 84302 (801) 689-8600, (800) 337-2690 Fax: (801) 689-8651 www.oecenter.com Director of Sales & Marketing: Ross T. Reeder

Exceeding Meeting Expectations Snapshot: Ogden Eccles Conference Center offers over 70,000 sq. ft. of meeting and banquet space in a downtown setting.

The attached Peery’s Egyptian Theater seats over 800 and is one of only a few fully restored Egyptian Theaters in the country.

Meeting Sizes : 15 to 1,200.

Overall Meeting Space: 70,000 sq. ft.

Meeting Rooms: 18 Total Meeting Rooms including a 13,000-sq.-

Montreal

NAV CANADA Training & Conference Centre 950 Montreal Road Cornwall, Ontario: K6H 6L2 (613) 936-5800; (877) 832-6416 Fax: (613) 936-5089 www.conference.navcanada.ca Manager, Sales & Marketing: Janice Eastman

End your search.

Start your conference.

Snapshot: The NAV CANADA Training & Conference Centre is one of the largest conference centres in Eastern Ontario – it is a self contained, state-of –the-art learning centre, designed with the success of your conference in mind.

Meeting Sizes Accommodated: 5 to 500.

Overall Meeting Space: 50,000 sq. ft.

Number of Meeting Rooms: 70

2009 SuperBook

See ad on Cover 4

Exhibit Space: 9,600 sq. ft.

Theater: 250 seats.

Technology: High Speed Internet; LCD projectors; Video Conferencing; Smart Boards.

Services: Team Building Programs; Facilitation Services available.

Food & Beverage: Theme Dinners/ events; Outdoor B-B-Q; Crossroads Main Dining Room; Buffet/ Cafeteria Style; Jet Set Pub; Tuck Shop (meals to go); Banquet Dining Rooms (private catered functions).

Lodging: 558 guest rooms.

Activities: Complete Fitness Centre with 25 meter lap pool; Double gymnasium; Personal Trainers; cardio equipment; free weights; Whirlpool; Sauna; Outdoor tennis courts & sports fields.

Transportation: MacDonald-Cartier International (Ottawa) Airport; Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport (Montreal/Dorval) Airport.

CANADA

9797 Jasper Ave Edmonton, Alberta T5J 1N9 (780) 917-7610; Fax: (780) 425-5121 www.shawconferencecentre.com Director of Sales: Martin J. Linlove

Number of Meeting Rooms: 24.

Classroom Seating: 3,500.

Theatre Seating: 7,000.

Meeting Technology: Power point & Computer multimedia display projectors, Videoconferencing & web streaming, Audio conferencing, Language interpretation/Translation & Hearing assistance services.

Meeting Services: Client Services Manager works closely on all details of your event, from room set-up to menu planning.

Food & Beverage: onsite, comprehensive catering by World Culinary Olympic Gold Medal winning.

Lodging: Centrally located in Edmonton’s vibrant downtown core within 4 blocks of seven major hotels, with more than 3,000 hotel rooms downtown and 9,000 close by.

Transportation: 30 miles to Edmonton International Airport.

Ogden Eccles Conference Center

ft. Ballroom, 6,000-sq.-ft. Junior Ballroom, 800-Seat Theater, and 20,000 sq. ft. of pre function space.

Theater: 800-seat Peery’s Egyptian Theater.

Technology: Wireless Internet.

Services: meeting/event staff and Audio/Visual services.

Food & Beverage: SAVOR Ogden.

Lodging: Attached to Hampton Inn and within walking distance to full service Marriott Hotel, both offering over 375 guest rooms.

Attractions: Within walking distance to restaurants, shopping and entertainment venues including the new Junction, which offers rock climbing wall, Flowrider, (indoor surfing and boogey boarding, and Ifly (simulated parachute free fall); Ogden is known as the High Adventure Capitol of the West with skiing, snowboarding, rock climbing, water skiing, kayaking, fishing, ice climbing, hunting and camping all within a 30-40 minute drive of downtown.

Transportation: 37 miles from the Salt Lake International Airport.

THE WEST

Norris Conference Centers – City Centre

illinois utah Centers – CityCentre, is connected to the Hotel Sorella.

Lodging: Hotel Sorella offers 244 luxurious and spacious rooms.

Meeting Sizes Accommodated: 4 to 600.

Overall Meeting Space: 17,000 sq. ft., includes 4 Meeting Rooms, ranging from 1,701 sq. ft. to 4,940 sq. ft.

Ballroom: 7,658-sq.-ft. Red Oak Ballroom Theater/Classroom Seating: 4 to 638 Meeting Technology: Wifi, HighEnd Audio, Built-in Projectors; Individual Thermostat Controls; Sound-proofed Walls; FullSpectrum Lighting.

Onsite Services: full-service, catering meeting/event support and planning; Health Club Facilities Restaurants: Café Rose & Bistro Alex.

13

MEETING PERSPECTIVES

Conference Centers – The Right Place to Meet B y To m C a p p u c c i

President, International Association of Conference Centers

T

he current economic climate means shrinking budgets for Meeting Planners, in turn increasing the pressure on the performance of the events you’ve organized. But there is an upside. Conference centers and hotels, under similar economic pressures, are competing for your business and more than ever, willing to go that extra mile to ensure the success of your meeting.

Every conference planner and meeting participant expects and deserves an exceptional meeting experience. Conferences are estimated to make up approximately 60 percent of hotel business and 70 percent in conference centers. It’s a business we want to keep. We are your partners in making your meeting achieve your goals.

Of prime importance for the planner is a meeting’s ROI (Return on Investment). Planners should not shy from presenting ROI expectations clearly at the outset of the site evaluation process. Make sure that the venue operators understand these expectations and that they will be able to anticipate then meet your changing needs. Remember, partnering with you so you can achieve your ROI expectations is the only way conference centers will be able to remain competitive in today’s market.

When evaluating a facility for your meeting, conference, sales training seminar or similar event, look for “nimble” venues. These are the venues that embrace change, have invested in technology upgrades and are providing service above and beyond everyone else.

What are some specific issues planners should explore with potential meeting venues? After over 20 years in the conference center industry and as current President of the International Association of Conference Centers (IACC), I have found five key areas conference centers need to excel in so they can deliver to your a strong ROI: Optimal Learning Environment – In general, meetings are now shorter in duration, so companies need to maximize the time they have with their people. Meeting Planners have a good understanding what their training needs are and what sort of environment will be up to the task. It all starts in the meeting room. The latest learning environments feature clusters or pod seating and soft furniture. This more casual, less formal, interactive environment, promotes productivity, and keeps attendees focused and on track. For the education component of your event, look for venues with distraction-free and ergonomic settings.

Save the ballroom setup for the after-party.

Support of Technology – Meeting Planners must review the technology requirements of their program so they can have a criteria to evaluate the technology available at a conference center. In October 2008, IACC published Design for Great Technologies, which outlines the infrastructure components conference centers need. Use this white paper – available at www.iacconline.org – as a starting point and inquire about the degree of compliance to the guidelines specified in this report. But, remember, equipment is just the first step. To remain competitive, the better meeting venues have a trained, onsite staff to support these new systems and guarantee glitch-free presentations.

Innovative Food & Beverage Services – Palettes are more sophisticated, people are eating healthier and more gourmet-styled food. They want fresh and locally-grown products. You know this. But does the Food & Beverage department of the conference center you’re considering? Regardless if it’s a meal or break snacks, meeting attendees expect smart, healthy, and not boring, choices. Don’t just ask about menus; see how the conference center can customize them to suit your attendees.

14

“We are your partners in making your meeting achieve your goals.”

–Tom Cappucci

Look for unexpected creative touches that can truly enhance a meeting experience.

Home Away From Home – The main learning environment may be the meeting rooms, but attendees appreciate home-like amenities and social networking areas where they can relax and expand the learning moments. Look for venues with lobbies and other living room-type areas designed for comfort and that encourage personal interaction between conferees. In addition, guest rooms should include workspaces with ergonomic chairs and enhanced technology, such as flat screen televisions, MP3 plug-ins and high-speed internet connections.

Personal Touch – No matter how much a facility invests in the latest technology or interior redesign, the personal touch will make or break a meeting attendee’s overall experience (thus impacting the ROI).

Conference centers specifically train their staffs to focus on supporting everything surrounding the meeting so the group can have a productive meeting experience. You, the meeting planner, should only need to focus on the agenda of the meeting. A friendly, knowledgeable staff that provides superior service is still the biggest advantage a facility has in distinguishing itself from the competition. The caliber of the Personal Touch is the hardest for a planner to gauge. Their responses to the previous four areas is a start. Seeking recommendations from other planners is another aspect to consider.

If the focus of the technology, staff and other services is locked into providing an exceptional meeting experience, that conference center or meeting hotel will deliver a great ROI to the meeting planner and all their conference participants. When meeting planners present their needs clearly, the better venues will respond by exceeding their expectations. It’s the right time to meet at the right place.

Tom Cappucci, a Meetings & Hospitality Industry veteran, is the General Manager of the University Place Conference Center & Hotel in Indianapolis. He has taught number of courses at Cornell University School of Hotel Administration’s summer Professional Development program, from which he graduated. He has served in several positions at IACC during the past 15 years, and has received that organization’s “Pyramid Award” and “Award of Excellence” for his work in educationrelated activities. In 2004, Cappucci published a book entitled, “Heart of a Servant – Messages of Faith and Hope for a Future Generation.”

2009 SuperBook

Facilities & Destinations Conference

The Facilities Media Group

B u y e r’s G u i de 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 e Experient

UrbanRide

THE SOURCE FOR INTEGRATED MEETING AND EVENT SOLUTIONS For more information on Experient Contact: Amy Munn (866) 516-1461 • amy.munn@experient-inc.com • www.experient-inc.com

421 7th Avenue, New York, NY 10001 (800) 525-5750; Fax: (212) 202-9638 www.urbanride.net Chief Executive Officer: Jeremy Milikow Senior Vice President: Mitch Bornstein, SVP

Experient is the source for integrated meeting and event services. Formed in August 2006 (by joining industry leaders Conferon, ExpoExchange and ITS), Experient is the single contact for all Meeting Management, Trade Show Production and Registration and Housing needs. As your partner, Experient will become a member of your team, understanding all the goals of your event, and use proven techniques, creative methods and powerful industry connections to provide a distinct and memorable event experience and drive your business. The Top seven reasons why Experient is the best choice to be your integrated meeting and event partner: (1) Integrated resources; (2) Economies of scale; (3) Single source efficiency; (4) Best practice sharing; (5) Experienced people; (6) Leadership role; (7) Consultative approach.

Continental Airlines

‘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.

TelSpan, Inc.

“Work Hard. Fly Right.”

For travel reservations to cities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico: (800) 523-FARE www.continental.com Continental Airlines features a special program for event & meeting Planners— MeetingWorks. With Continental MeetingWorks, planners can receive discounted airfaire, and earn credits redeemable for an array of Travel Rewards, including round trip travel and upgrades.

Booking and participation in the program can be done entirely online.

MeetingWorks is for 10 or more guests traveling to an event from two or more originating cities. The benefits of this program include: Discounts off applicable published fares; Global zone fares; Customized flyers to promote the discounts; Your organization can earn productivity credits towards upgrades; Presidents Club passes, Presidents Club membership; domestic travel certificates and Continental currency coupons.

101 West Washington Street Suite 1200 East Tower Indianapolis, IN 46204-3407 (800) 800-1729 clientsevice@telspan.com TelSpan provides customized conferencing events and communications services, including: audio & web conferencing, reservationless audio conferencing, multiple web conferencing solutions, video conferencing, online registration, podcasting, and streaming. TelSpan maintains the highest possible level of service quality, known as E3 Service.

To learn more about TelSpan, call (800) 800-1729.

300 Conshohocken State Road, Suite 770 West Conshohocken, PA 19428 (800) 964-4764; (610) 729-7920; Fax: (610) 729-1595 www.savorsmg.com Vice President, Business Development & Operations: Stephen Lazar The desire to connect over food is universal. We create the reality.

SAVOR… creates connections by marshaling our creativity, experience, and love of good food into every meal we serve. Our clients come to us for our commitment to quality and a seamless customer experience. As part of SMG, the global leader in public facilities management, SAVOR… has been providing food and beverage services since 1983. A hallmark of SAVOR… is our emphasis on flexibility as the means to be responsive to specific facility needs, special requests, and culinary trends. SAVOR… is committed to making food and beverage services an important revenue source for your facility.

Mad Dog Promotions

a division of Clean Fun Promotional Marketing 3187 Pullman St., Costa Mesa, CA 92626 (714) 263-3386; Fax:(714) 263-3398 www.maddogpromos.com President: Tim Lavin Mad Dog Promotions’ Premiums, Incentives & Branded Items include: logoed apparel & accessories—polo shirts, pants, caps, ponchos, slacks, coat & ties, badges, name tags, chef wear & aprons, breakaway lanyards, notepads & pens, flashlights, table clothes & tents mugs, key chains, rally towels, lapel pins, etc.

Facilities & Destinations Conference

2009 SuperBook

15

Buyer’s Guide

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 e pc/nametag®

Plasticard Locktech International The World’s Largest Hotel Key Card Manufacturer

PRODUCTS FOR GREAT MEETINGS

124 Horizon Dr., Verona, WI 53593 (877) 626-3824; Fax: (800) 233-9787 www.pcnametag.com President: Nick Topitzes; ntopitzes@pcnametag.com; sales@pcnametag.com

605 Sweeten Creek Industrial Park Asheville, NC 28803 (800) 752-1017; Fax: (828) 210-4755 www.plicards.com Sales Manager: Linda Russell PLI produces key cards & other products for hotels, meetings, conventions, events, and advertising. We also manufacture a full line of gift cards, membership cards and loyalty cards.

PLI key cards put your message directly in the hands of hotel guests & meeting attendees.

Pothos, Inc.

2260 El Cajon Blvd. #474 San Diego, CA 92104 (619) 546-0621: Fax: (413) 723-7838 www.pothos.us President & 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.”

Founder Nick Topitzes first developed PC/Nametag®, the first software package to print nametags for meetings and conferences, with his computer and printer. Over the years, it’s been updated and improved. The business has expanded to include hundreds of products and incentive items that make the job of planning meetings easier while enhancing the attendee experience. Product lines include Nametag Holders, Inserts, Pouches & Organizers, Necklaces & Lanyards, Awards & Gifts, Bags, Totes, Envelopes & Cases, Banners, Signs & Table Covers, Binders & Portfolios, Buttons & Appliques, Drinkware, Pens & Highlighters, Ribbons and Customized Products.

Do you waNt your ProDuCt or servICe to reaCh 50,000+ assoCIatIoN & CorPorate MeetINg PLaNNers?

If your aNswer Is yes, theN the fMg Buyer’s guIDe Is how.

Michael Caffin Associate Publisher (212) 532 4150 ext 103 mcaffin@facilitiesonline.com

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.

CoNtaCt Me & fIND out More discount pricing • multiple-issue & multi-media packages value-added programs • target marketing • real time results

Advertiser Index Adventure Aquarium..................7 The Conference Center at Bentley.................................... 6 The Georgia Center, the University’s Conference Center & Hotel ......................... 9 Hilton Garden Inn......................8 Ogden Eccles Conference Center..................C4 University Center Conference Chicago................C3 16 16

2009 SuperBook

Facilities & Destinations 2009 SuperBook

Facilities & Destinations Conference

University Center, a state-of-the-art multi-institutional living environment, provides an ideal setting for large conferences to small meetings as well as housing accommodations.

Meetings

Advanced Technology Computer data and document projection, audio/video conferencing, high-speed wireless Internet, DVD/VHS equipment, Copy Cams and email stations available.

Catering & Dining Services An extensive array of food and drink packages tailored to your group’s needs.

Overnight Accommodations Year-round full-service guest suites and summer apartment or suite-style housing available.

Both include access to the facility’s recreation area, fitness center, outdoor terrace and dining center.

Accommodations

Exceptional Location Just steps away from the finest Chicago has to offer in parks, museums, entertainment venues, restaurants and retail shopping.

Chicago Call today to book your next event.

525 South State Street, Chicago, Illinois 60605 877-4-UCC-INFO • conference@universitycenter.com

www.universitycenter.com

www.facilitiesonline.com

Industry News! Searchable Venue Database! Award Voting! Blog!

Facilities &Destinations

Conference SuperBook

TM

For Corporate & Association Meeting Planners

Viewpoint..................................................2 Prime Site Award Ballot.......................2 Prime Site Award Winners .................3 Spotlight Feature: Ogden Eccles Conference Center Satisfies Market Expectations ............................4 Regionalized Directory:

Conference Centers; College & University Conference Facilities; Meeting & Boutique Hotels; Small-to-Mid-Size Meeting & Event Venues...................................................5

Column: Meeting Perspectives.........14 FMG Buyer’s Guide: Your Product & Services Resource........................................... 15-16 F&D Conference Directory Index A-Z.5 Ad Index..................................................16

Northeast . ...........................................5 Adventure Aquarium Wyndham Princeton Forrestal Hotel & Conference Center The Conference Center at Niagara Falls The Conference Center at Bentley Hilton Scranton & Conference Center

Mid-atlantic........................................8 Airlie Center Hilton Garden Inn Kellogg Conference Hotel

Southeast..............................................9

The University of Georgia Conference Center & Hotel Evergreen Marriott Conference Resort Harborside Event Center The Florida Hotel and Conference Center Lexington Downtown Hotel & Conference Center Sea Trail Golf Resort & Convention Center

Midwest...............................................11 Q Center University Center Conference Chicago Ameristar Casino St. Charles Conference Center

West.......................................................12 Executive Conference Center at Phoenix Convention Center InterContinental San Francisco The Lodge at Sonoma Big Sky Resort Norris Conference Centers – City Centre Ogden Eccles Conference Center

Canada. ......................................13 Shaw Conference Centre NAV Canada Training & Conference Centre

Pages 2-3