2011 Facilities & Destinations Mid-Market Review

Facilities & Upfront: Industry Trends, Convention & Tradeshow Watch, What’s New 2011

BEDROCK COMMUNICATIONS, INC. 152 Madison Ave., Ste. 802, New York, NY 10016

Destinations

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For Association & Corporate Meeting Planners

F&D Mid-Market Review Value Destinations & the Planners who use them

Planner Tools: Expanded Sites & Cities Directory

Facilities & 2011

Destinations

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Mid-Market

Columns Caffin’s Corner....................................................................................2 Viewpoint............................................................................................4 Planner Perspectives..........................................................................6 Meeting Perspectives.........................................................................8 2012 Awards of Excellence Ballot....................................................51

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Upfront........................................................................................ 10-20 Meeting Watch, Tradeshow Watch, Exhibition Watch, Convention Watch, Community Events Watch, Conference Watch, Leading Edge Managers, What’s New, Industry Trends Hot List Conference Centers: Multi-Functional Yet Intimate Meeting Spaces.................................................................21

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F&D Mid-Market Review Mid-Market Cities: Competitive Packages Come in Smaller Sizes . ................................................................22 2011 Mid-Market Gallery Akron..............................................................................................30 Albuquerque..................................................................................31 Charlotte........................................................................................32 Hartford..........................................................................................33 Milwaukee......................................................................................34 Mississippi Gulf Coast...................................................................35 Norfolk............................................................................................36 Saint Paul........................................................................................37 Tallahassee ....................................................................................38 F&D: Sites & Cities Index..................................................................................................40 Directory ...................................................................................40 – 50

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Facilities & Destinations Buyer’s Guide Products & Services Directory.........................................................51 Ad Index............................................................................................52 On The Cover.....................................................................................2 44

Caffin’s o r n e r

The Facilities & Destinations Mission: Better Site Selection

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ite selection is the most important part of planning a meeting or tradeshow. This statement is the underlying premise behind everything that appears in this and upcoming issues of Facilities & Destinations.

Exemplifying this concept is our recently redesigned and renamed “Sites & Cities” Directory. The directory section of our magazine – one of the most all inclusive directories in the industry – has been part of our publications since the inception of the Facilities Media Group, in 1988. Its latest incarnation, Sites & Cities, is an amazing source of key information, truly an essential tool for better site selection. Our new format results in a more comprehensive and accessible directory, enabling us to give planners more options to consider.

Another new addition to Facilities & Destinations sure to enhance the planner’s site selection process is our Upfront Section, which makes its debut here (pages 10-20), in the 2011 Facilities & Destinations Mid-Market Review. This newsy pastiche features recent and noteworthy meetings, conventions, tradeshows and other events, industry trends and pulse-of-today interviews from industry leaders. Upfront includes: Meeting Watch, Tradeshow Watch, Exhibition Watch, Convention Center Watch, Community Events Watch, Conference Watch, What’s New, Industry Trends and Leading Edge mini-profiles. Upfront is an informative, fun-to-read snapshot of the current state of the Meetings Industry.

Look for the Upfront section in our upcoming 2011-2012 Facilities & Destinations Planner Guide (winter) and 2012 Facilities & Destinations SuperBook (spring) issues. If you have any suggestions for events or executives to be featured in Upfront, please email our Editorial Director, Timothy Herrick – therrick@facilitiesonline.com. Keep us informed so we can keep the industry informed.

2011

Volume 20 No. 2

Chief Operating Officer David Korn Editorial Director Timothy Herrick Associate Publisher Michael Caffin Creative Direction & Design Scott-Goodman Associates Circulation Manager Therese Larger Business Operations Nadia Derelieva © Copyright 2011 by Bedrock Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. Opinions expressed in by-lined articles and advertising copy are not necessarily those of the publisher. Advertisers are responsible for all costs, damages and claims regarding advertising insertions.

Facilities & Destinations is published three times a year by Bedrock Communications, Inc., 152 Madison Avenue, Suite 802, New York, NY 10016.

Telephone: (212) 532-4150. Fax: (212) 213-6382.

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

Along those lines, please take note of our 2012 Awards of Excellence ballot on page 51. We are taking votes for our Prime Site (convention centers) and Top Destination (CVBs) Awards through January, so please take the time to fill out and send back to us your votes and thoughts. Help us recognize your business partners that have made your recent events (and your own site selection process!) a success.

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

The Meeting Industry is not just about the venues or the cities, but the meetings, conventions, tradeshows and other events they host, but the people who plan the events, the personnel who make them happen, and the events themselves. Site Selection is only the beginning; Facilities & Destinations is the best place to begin that process.

MEMBERS OF:

Giving Planners all elements that help make the Site Selection process more effective and efficient, so your event is successful and achieves its objectives. That is our mission.

Michael Caffin, Associate Publisher Mcaffin@facilitiesonline.com

ON THE COVER The 2011 F&D Mid-Market Review Destination Gallery, Top Row (left to right): Akron (page 30), Albuquerque (page 31), Charlotte (page 32), Hartford (page 33), Milwaukee (page 34), Mississippi Gulf Coast (page 35), Norfolk (page 36), Saint Paul (page 37), Tallahassee (page 38).

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VIEW P O I N T

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Mid-Market Cities as Meeting Industry Indicators: Moving Beyond Nomenclature

ometimes nomenclature falls short of fully explaining the Meetings Industry. We call the Mid-Market a segment — and segment implies a part, or just a fraction of something — not the whole. Obviously, 2nd and 3rd tier cities are parts of the whole, the whole of course being all the meetings, conventions and tradeshows that planners organize, in which attendees participate and all strata of destination hosts.

Another “segment” are 1st tier cities. Many associations and other organizations will only hold their annual conventions in large, high-profile destinations. But here is where the limitations of nomenclature are apparent. The bulk of Meeting Industry supply (facilities & their destinations) and demand (planners & their organizations) occurs outside the 1st tier segment. Both the destinations in the 2nd and 3rd tier and the associations and other organizations holding their events in this Mid-Market significantly outnumber 1st tier destinations or the events they host. Thus, the term segment seems somewhat misleading when it comes to designating the importance of the Mid-Market.

The vast scope of the Mid-Market, and the amount and diversity of the players doing business in these destinations, not only more than justifies this special issue of Facilities & Destinations, but makes this segment a true bellwether of the entire industry. From simple inquiries about what’s hot/what’s not to more complicated concerns about the state of the economy, when it comes to the Meetings Industry there’s no better place to ascertain answers than the Mid-Market.

Segment implies that the Mid-Market is just a sample. It is more than obvious that the Mid-Market is no mere canary in the coal mine; the Mid-Market is most of the coal mine.

The 2012 Facilities & Destinations Mid-Market Review is divided into two sections. A comprehensive overview of the Mid-Market – Mid-Market Cities: Competitive Packages Come in Smaller Sizes – begins on page 22. The Mid-Market Gallery, pages 30-38, our annual collection leading 2nd & 3rd tier destinations, shines the spotlight on a Mid-Market city as well as on a Meeting Planner whose event that city hosted.

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So how are things in the Mid-Market segment, and what do these trends mean for the rest of the coal mine? Besides the easy wisecrack: go read it for yourself! – It is apparent the economy is still worrisome and no softened phrasing (again, the limits of nomenclature) such as “Cautious Optimism” can change that immutable fact.

That being said, the Mid-Market is exhibiting an energy that seems unique given today’s business climate. Noticeable, albeit often small, up-ticks in event bookings and meeting attendance are being recorded. Perhaps this is due to the cost-effective packages being devised, the new facilities and other hospitality infrastructure improvements 2nd and 3rd tier destinations have invested in, or the fact Mid-Market CVB professionals, adapting to new realities, have become more aggressive in their marketing. Some might say those things were true in 2008 and 2009, which most analysts agree was the height of our current economic crisis. True enough, but the difference might be the audience for those messages – Meeting Planners – have become receptive to the MidMarket message. The attitude among 2nd & 3rd tier industry professionals is noticeably more upbeat now than it was then.

At the very least, the general consensus is the worst is over.

As far as being a bellwether, maybe the Mid-Market is not just an indicator of the Meetings Industry as a whole, but the economy as a whole. People are eager to get back to business.

Meetings, Conventions and Tradeshows are where industries and professions realize ideas and fulfill ambitions; what takes place at these events will often determine the parameters of how near-term business is conducted within the many sectors of the economy.

If that is the case, what the 2012 Facilities & Destinations Mid-Market Review indicates the Meetings Industry possesses a renewed vigor.

Timothy Herrick, Editorial Director therrick@facilitiesonline.com Find Me on Facebook.

Facilities & Destinations 2011 Mid-Market

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Planner Perspectives Planner Perspectives Planner PerspectivesPlanner PerspectivesPlanner Perspective Planner Perspectives

Mak i n g Y ou r B u dg e t M a n a g e r H a t F i t : 4 Things To Know

By Jennifer Beam Johnson

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oday’s meeting planner has to wear many different hats. Probably the most visible is budget manager, aka bean counter, savings guru, tightwad, etc. With budgets decreasing and costs increasing, getting your budget manager hat to fit is trickier than ever. Here are four things to know to make this

hat fit.

1) Know your destination Most destinations offer ways to reduce your costs, but you have to know those destinations, what they offer, and when. I planned a conference in Portland for a “budget-challenged” client. We chose Portland over other destinations for one over riding reason: no sales tax (this was several years ago). That was a HUGE savings on a conference of 700 people where 2/3 of the guest rooms as well as all catering went to the Master Bill. We also found additional savings by holding the conference in September, which is shoulder (off season) season in Portland, helping us get the most favorable room rate possible.

2) Know your venue Research venues, their seasonal pricing structures especially, before you begin negotiating a contract. If you’re considering a Pasadena hotel blocks away from the Rose Bowl for a weekend program during football season, you are going to pay peak season rates and receive few concessions. However, if you can consider that same venue for a Sunday-Tuesday pattern before or after the football season, when the demand is lower, you will see a dramatic difference in the room rates and other charges. If your group requires a government per diem rate, you should consider an Orlando resort in July knowing that they can come closer to your budgetary needs.

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3) Know your group Knowing your meeting attendees, their demographics, history and preferences helps you understand where you can cut back and where you should splurge. I organized an event for travel agents who wanted a travel agent room rate and many concessions. The venue refused at first. But, the travel agents had a history of being “festive,” so I pointed out that the bar outlets would see at least a 50-percent increase in their drinks revenue during the conference. Once the sales manager confirmed this data, he went to the revenue manager and got us our rate. None of that would have been possible without a detailed understanding of your attendees distinctive characteristics.

4) Know your meeting Knowing your meeting set up and attendance numbers may sound general, but cost savings is always a matter of details and taking nothing, no matter how obvious, for granted. If your group wants a 24-hour hold on their general session room and all of their breakout rooms, find out why. If they have proprietary information or an elaborate set up in the rooms, then reserve the space that way. However, if they want a 24-hour hold on the space simply because they have always had a 24-hour hold on the space, recommend dropping it as a cost savings measure. You can often find savings in areas when the only justification is that the organization “has always done it that way.” Leveraging your knowledge of an event to find cost savings is an effective way to add value for your client and get the best rates since you will now exactly concessions to ask for or to give into during negotiations.

Jennifer Beam Johnson is president of the Johnson Meetings Group in Raleigh, NC. A boutique, third party planning firm, the Johnson Meetings Group specializes in leadership programs, advisory boards, and association programs. Visit them online at www.JohnsonMeetings. com.

Facilities & Destinations 2011 Mid-Market

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Meeting Perspectives Meeting Perspectives Meeting Perspectives Meeting Perspectives Meeting Perspec Meeting Perspectives

E nh a n c i n g th e Atte n d e e E xp e r i e n c e wit h Sub ur ban M e e t in g F a c i l i ti e s

By Tim Hobbs

Director of Business Development at Oakbrook Hotels

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hen choosing a suburban meeting facility, there are several key factors to consider: • Location • Accessibility • Service levels • Meeting space flexibility In today’s economy, selecting the most appropriate facility to host your meeting or event is critical to help ensure participants receive maximum value by attending.

So how do you choose the best facility?

Ensure the facility is easily accessible to the meeting attendees, taking into account their means of travel – for example, will they be driving or flying to your meeting?

Parking, sales and occupancy taxes tend to be higher near airports and major cities, which can account for increased costs for attendees.

Couple this with the potential for additional fees often associated with large exhibit halls, and meeting in suburban properties can often reduce a meeting owners’ costs by 30-40 percent.

In addition to the location, a facility that offers a wide variety of flexible meeting space and other activities for attendees to experience will often create a more memorable event. This flexibility can allow you to provide a varied environment that sets the proper tone for your meeting audience.

Plus, having a facility that can offer a large number of meeting options is key to controlling costs – as attendance 8

in our uncertain economy can vary.

Having your event in a large space will often incur increased costs if attendance suddenly drops or is lower than originally anticipated and contracted.

Facilities that have large amounts of diverse space to offer are often less affected compared to those with only a limited number of meeting rooms.

Other key factors to consider are the facility’s technology capabilities, lighting, service levels and consistency of service. Longevity in the marketplace is a bonus for any meeting program since it showcases an ability to adapt to shifts in economies and marketplaces that occur over many years.

Whether it is a buyer’s or seller’s market, suburban locations will always provide the best options for a wide variety of meetings and events. The next time you consider meeting downtown, take a step back, jump on the web and search for suburban meeting locations. You may just be surprised by how much there is to offer for your event and your attendees – and everyone is sure to enjoy the change of pace.

Tim Hobbs started his career in hospitality management nearly 30 years ago. His professional career has kept him in the Midwest serving as Director of Sales, Director of Marketing for Sheraton, Hilton, Omni, Hyatt and nearly 10 years of Strategic Meeting Management with a Chicago based Fortune 100 company. He has contracted meetings across all continents and specializes in customized contracting terms and conditions for both planners and hoteliers. His current role as Director of Business Development at Oakbrook Hotels, brings him back to his roots of helping clients create memorable meetings and events at outstanding value.

Facilities & Destinations 2011 Mid-Market

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

Photo: Steven Schwartz

Rhode Island Convention Center Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau

401.456.0200 | meetings@GoProvidence.com | GoProvidence.com The Dunk and Convention Center are managed by SMG and The Vets by PFM.

UpFront

Meeting Watch

The annual meeting of Experience Columbus, the Convention & Visitors Bureau of Columbus, Ohio had an appropriately high-profile setting, the facility’s stunning Battelle Grand, the new 74,000-square-foot, multi-purpose grand ballroom, which opened in 2010.

Leading Edge: Eleuterio “Luther” As a result of the expanded size of the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the True Value Company was able to hold their convention in Philadelphia for the first time September 23-25. During the convention, Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter, second from the left, toured the exhibit floor, which featured, for the first time, a 5,000-square-foot hardware store. Joining Mayor Nutter on the tour were, from left: Lyle Hindemann, president & CEO, True Value; Susan Katz, director of corporate events and travel, True Value and Jack Ferguson, president & CEO, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Thousands of educators, counselors and other Youth Camp Professionals gathered at the Atlantic City Convention Center for the American Camp Association’s Tri-State CAMP Conference held in March.

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Chief Operating Officer George R. Brown Convention Center Houston, Texas Bio: Employed at the GRB for 25 years, in July was named COO. Exciting Event: The NCAA Final Four was a great event for the city. Final Four events filled the convention center, Discovery Green park, and Reliant Stadium. Houston was showcased to the millions of people watching the games and other activities.

What are Planners Looking For: Meeting planners increasingly are placing a premium on convenience, cost effectiveness, and friendly atmosphere. The trend toward “green” meetings continues unabated.

Industry Forecast: Social media will continue to change the way meeting planners and convention attendees function. Nothing remains static in this business and you have to be willing to adapt to the ever-changing needs of meeting planners. What worked this year is not necessarily the blueprint for success next year.

Why Houston? Houston has dramatically increased the amenities for convention and tradeshow customers in the last 10 years. Houston offers new hotels, more restaurants, more green space, more attractions, and all at affordable prices.

Management Philosophy: 1) Listen to your customers and be committed to their needs; 2) Give them what they want and partner with them – their success is our success; 3) Develop lasting relationships by providing superior performance; 4) Challenge staff and contractors to develop new ideas and techniques to meet increasing customer demands and future challenges; 5) The word NO is not part of our vocabulary.

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F O R B R E A K - O U T S E S S I O N S. When you book your next meeting at the Austin Convention Center, we also throw in 300+ days of sunshine. Lady Bird Lake and the Hike & Bike Trail are just steps from our door, with the Highland Lakes and elite golf courses only a short drive away. Here in Austin, after the wrap-up, it’s time to wind down.

246,000 sq.ft. of column-free space

(512) 404-4200 austinconventioncenter.com

Downtown location, convenient to airport

Gigabit rated, supports up to 7000 wireless computers

UpFront

Photos: Bill Bowen

Exhibition Watch Motown is called the Motor City for good reason. Detroit is the capital of America’s automobile industry and home of the COBO Center, Michigan’s world-class, 2.4-millionsquare-foot-meeting and convention complex, which hosts the North American International Auto Show, attended by tens of thousands each year.

Tradeshow Watch

Leading Edge: Kathleen Canning Deputy General Manager Orange County Convention Center Orlando, Florida Bio: With the Orange County Convention Center since 1985, promoted to her current position in 2002.

Supervised planning and development for the Center’s three expansion projects.

Most Exciting 2011 Events: SAP Global Marketing (Sapphire is a beautiful interactive show floor with exceptional use of technology, dynamic spaces and creative food & beverage opportunities). I was impressed with the development of the technology that was presented, the international dynamic, the building of an actual broadcast center on the show floor; every part of the show floor is carefully choreographed and coordinated.

The Central Plains Dairy Association, which represents the dairy industry throughout Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota and North Dakota, hosts the Central Plains Dairy Expo, a trade show and conference each March, at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.

Meeting Watch

What Planners Want: Up-to-date technology, good value and exceptional customer service.

Industry Forecast: The convention/tradeshow industry will continue to provide face-to-face meetings and remain the economic stabilizer as attendee’s meet to assess their industry’s economic climate.

Attendance in 2011 was exceeded by many of the larger conventions and the international attendance seemed to be stronger. Faceto-face meetings continue to bring events together; exhibits are remaining flat but are growing in attendance.

Management Philosophy: Collaborative communication and the team approach with all customers as the main focus.

OCCC’s Best Feature: The welcoming attitude of our employees is the best, plus the flexibility of over 2 million square feet in total exhibition space.

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The Religious News Writers Association met at the Durham Convention Center in Durham, North Carolina in September. Although a relatively small event – 260 attendees – the 33,000-square-foot convention center, which features 15 meeting rooms, offers planners flexibility and accommodates concurrent events.

Facilities & Destinations 2011 Mid-Market

You’re meeting on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Wonderful destination. Great facility. Smooth registration. Happy delegates. Now, you can relax.

We offer a wide variety of services designed to make life easier for you. Attendance-building brochures and destination photos.

Computer-generated name tags and on-site registration. Local promotional items to fill your welcome bags.

Mississippi Coast Convention Cent er

The Mississippi Coast Convention Center is a fully flexible facility offering 400,000 square feet of newly expanded and renovated exhibit and meeting space. This facility offers all the modern amenities meeting planners desire. The facility offers a wide range of services including Meeting Matrix.

There’s plenty to do on breaks. We offer twenty-six miles of beach. World-class casino resorts. Stunning accommodations. Fine cuisine. Signature golf courses.

Shopping in exclusive boutiques and factory outlets.

Wish you were here? Quit wishin’ and start relaxing. Call us today about adding the Misssissippi Gulf Coast to your itinerary and plan to relax.

Call Crystal Johnson Director of Sales Mississippi Gulf Coast CVB Ph: 888-467-4853 (Ext. 215) Email: crystalj@gulfcoast.org

Leading Edge: Ted Ballweg

UpFront

Community Events Watch

Asst. Center Manager Director of Sales & Marketing Alliant Energy Center Madison, Wisconsin Bio: With the Alliant Alliant Energy Center since 1995. The venues in the complex are Exhibition Hall (convention center), Coliseum (performance facility) and Willow Island (outdoor festival grounds). Prior experience – 10 years in Marketing, Event Management, International Sales and Customer Service.

Exciting Event: Our most exciting convention is the annual World Dairy Expo, which has more than 700 exhibitors and 75,000 attendees from 90 countries, and hundreds of seminars, banquets and virtual tours.

Meeting Planner Expectations: Today’s meeting planners are primarily looking for: (1) Great Value (for themselves and attendees), and (2) Venue partners with a solid foundation for providing event success.

The Hometown Heroes Award Breakfast is held every March at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts. The event honors local individuals who have shown courage, kindness, and unselfish character by their actions and is sponsored by the Pioneer Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross, which was founded in 1906 and serves more than 70 cities and towns throughout the region.

Leading Edge: Nicholas A.

Industry Forecast: The industry in the next year will be similar to the way it has been in 2011 – Guarded optimism with serious focus on return on investment. Small shows that fill a solid niche are growing; large shows that don’t evolve with new ideas/products or value, are not.

My Facility: Event and Meeting planners love the location of the Alliant Energy Center. Post-event surveys also indicate they appreciate all of the extra efforts we put into helping an event succeed in every way. Even when successful we seek new ways to make it better!

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Senior Vice President/ General Manager St Louis Convention & Visitors Commission/America’s Center Bio: 30+ years in facility management; two years at his current position with the America’s Center.

Most Exciting Event: The American Society of Association Executives Annual Meeting & Expo, which is the Super Bowl of the meetings industry. It’s a convention of 4-5000 meeting planners each with their own potential business for your city. We spent the past year and half getting ready, undergoing a $50million renovation of the convention center. We are already beginning to see an increase in business as a result.

Industry Forecast: The industry as a whole will improve over the next few years. Our book for the next few years is steadily increasing not only with conventions and tradeshows but also we are seeing special event and corporate business coming back. As money begins to free-up the need to market becomes more evident, we expect growth in the size of shows, exhibits, and ancillary services associated with those events.

Management Philosophy: Building managers set the tone for customer service. Be well-educated and knowledgeable in your product and have the ability to make instantaneous decisions which benefit our customers. Be willing to take a risk, be innovative, technology savvy and find ways to do business better and more efficiently.

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Conference Watch

The 2010 Loaf ‘N Jug Annual Conference, attended by 400 managers was hosted by the Pueblo Convention Center in Pueblo, Colorado. Loaf ‘N Jug is a convenience store chain with locations in Colorado, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Montana, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.

Facilities & Destinations 2011 Mid-Market

C olumbus :

Discover Battelle Grand – the new place to be !

The SMG-managed Greater Columbus Convention Center is celebrating the transformation of an existing exhibition/concert venue into Battelle Grand - a magnificent multi-purpose ballroom that is the largest in Ohio and one of the biggest in the Midwest. The $40 million renovation adds the finishing touches to an already beautifully unique facility.

Battelle Grand features: • 74,000-square-foot ballroom • 50,000 square feet on the main floor; 24,000 on the mezzanine • Floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the city • Divisible into 5 configurations • LED “fin” lighting capable of 65,000 different color combinations

Ellen Dallager, Dallager Photography

Experience these Greater Columbus Convention Center amenities: • Winner of consecutive Prime Site Awards annually since 1998 • 1.7 million square feet of total space • 410,000 square feet of exhibit space, including 336,000 contiguous • 65 meeting rooms • Exhibitor friendly facility with affordable labor rates • Located in midst of Columbus High Five vibrant entertainment and arts area • Columbus ranked second-most affordable U.S. trade show destination

by Tradeshow Week  Affordable flights and close to airport  Affordable hotels and parking connected to facility Call us toll-free at (800) 626-0241 to discover what the Greater Columbus Convention Center can offer you.

es Media Group

UpFront s G uide

Convention Watch

Services Resource

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UrbanRide

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

In 2010, this Milwaukee convention center was renamed the Frontier Airlines Center and that same year, in keeping with its new moniker, hosted the 35th Annual RAA (Regional Airlines Association) Convention & Tradeshow. Attended by nearly 1,500, including Airline executives and employees as well as Airline Industry product suppliers, who took up 200 booths, this four day meeting showcased regional airlines and new aviation technology. Regional Airlines, which fly between smaller airports and hubs, make up more than half of all daily departures in the United States.

‘Leading Global Provider of Meeting & Event Transportation’ UrbanRide is a global provider of ground transportation for meetings & events, and uses the top-of-the-line sedans, SUVs, vans, minibuses and motorcoaches. We provide our clients with IMS, our software that enables meeting planners to better manage transportation for their meetings, conferences, conventions, tradeshows & other events.

We work exclusively with meeting & event planners and our customer service is the best in the business. UrbanRide is a one-stop solution for meeting & event transportation.

Keppler Speakers

4350 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 700, Arlington, VA 22203 (703) 516-4000; Fax: (703) 516-4819 www.kepplerspeakers.com Senior VP for Sales and Marketing: John Truran With Keppler Speakers, creating memorable meetings never felt so easy. With over 25 years of experience, we provide you solid, seasoned expertise, making speaker selection stress-free by managing all of the details. Keppler Speakers saves you precious time by matching you with speakers who are right on target. From proven performers to dynamic rising stars, our speakers bring fascinating, real stories and a gift for inspiring audiences.

Leading Edge: Judy Goldbar General Manager Sacramento Convention Center Complex Bio: Eight years in the catering industry, 27 in meeting & event industry; with Sacramento since 1981; General Manager since 2005.

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Exciting Event: The Unified Wine and Grape Symposium. Their show covers all facets of the wine industry, from growing, bottling, blending, education, consuming and collecting. They also provide a huge positive economic impact to the City’s hospitality industry.

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What Planners Want: Hands down, meeting planners are looking for the best value for their client.

Industry Forecast: The convention business will remain flat, while association, conference, entertainment and food and beverage business will show increases in the neighborhood of 3-5 percent.

Don’tGet Get Stuck Stuck ininaaFishbowl!

Fishbowl!

Don’t

Smaller or Bigger: Unique shows such as the Reptile Show, Scrapbooking Expo, and children’s clothing consignment shows are growing. Home Shows are getting smaller because it is too costly for small vendors to take time from their business to participate.

Facilities & Destinations SuperBook Facilities & Destinations Facilities & Destinations Mid-Market Review FacilitiesFacilities • Conference Planner & Destinations • Planner Guide Guide Facilities & Destinations CONFERENCE Facilities LIVE • Booking Guide Facilities SuperBook • Facilities Booking Guide Facilities & Event Management Facilities & Event Management www.Facilitiesonline.com Facilitiesonline.com

Sacramento: Our staff is committed to providing excellent customer service. They make each client feel as though their event is the most important event we do. Coupled with Sacramento’s enjoyable and friendly atmosphere, make us a hit!

The FacilitiesMedia Media Group The Facilities Group

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Management Philosophy: Make sure you and your staff have a well a defined vision, purpose, and strategy, then get out of their way so they can achieve success!

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Facilities & Destinations 2011 Mid-Market

Basketball teams. The AmericanBank Sharks arena football2 team, and the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Southern Conference Islanders Basketball teams. The AmericanBank

TEXAS

TEXAS

FAIR PARK, DALLAS

1300 Robert B. Cullum Blvd at Grand Ave Dallas, TX 75210 P.O. Box 159090 FAIRTXPARK, Dallas, 75315 DALLAS 1300 670-8400; Robert B.Fax: Cullum at Grand Ave (214) (214)Blvd 670-8907 Dallas, TX 75210 www.fairpark.org P.O. Box 159090 Executive General Manager: Dallas,Huerta TX 75315 Daniel (214) 670-8400; (214)Flores 670-8907 Sales Manager:Fax: Steven www.fairpark.org Snapshot: A 1930’s Art Deco Executive General Manager: Cultural and Entertainment Venue, a national Daniel Huerta historic landmarkSteven since 1986, Sales Manager: Flores and home

to the 1936 World’s Fair, Fair Park is Snapshot: A 1930’s Art Deco Cultural conveniently located two miles east of and Entertainment Venue, a national downtown Dallas and one of the most historic landmark since 1986, and home unique venues in the country. During to the 1936 World’s Fair, Fair Park is the last 10 years a number of the exhiconveniently located two miles east of bition styled buildings have been renodowntown Dallas and one of the most vated and restored to their original unique venues in the country. During 1936 grandeur including restoring the the last 10 years a number of the exhibeautiful Art Deco murals and bas bition styled buildings have been renorelief ’s on the Centennial Hall, Food & vated and restored to their original Fiber Building, Automobile Building 1936 grandeur including restoring the and Tower Building. In addition to the beautiful Art Deco murals and bas relief ’s on the Centennial Hall, Food & Fiber Building, Automobile Building and 76 Tower Building. In addition to the

76

See ad on page 65

façade of the Band Shell, an open air amphitheater, the unique lighting has been restored as well as the bench seats.

Capacities: 850,000 of air façade of theover Band Shell, sq. an ft. open rentable space including exhibiamphitheater, the uniqueseven lighting has tion ranging in size from 25,000 beenhalls restored as well as the bench seats. sq. ft. of space to 94,500 sq. feet. of Capacities: over 850,000 sq. ft. of space; 6 performance facilities including rentable space including seven exhibithe Music Hall. The Cotton Bowl tion halls ranging in size from 25,000 Stadium has 90,000+ permanent chairsq. ft. of space to 94,500 sq. feet. of back seats; Fair Park Coliseum—28,000 space; 6 performance facilities including sq. ft. arena floor with 9,552 seats; The the Music Hall. The Cotton Bowl Band Shell is an open-air amphitheater Stadium has 90,000+ permanent chairwith 3,800 permanent seats and a seatback seats; Fair Park Coliseum—28,000 ing capacity of 4,500; Automobile sq. ft. arena floor with 9,552 seats; The Building—84,500 sq. ft.; Centennial Band Shell is an open-air amphitheater Hall—94,500 sq ft.; Food & Fiber with 3,800 permanent seats and a seatPavilion—25,000 sq. ft.; Grand Place ing capacity of 4,500; Automobile Building—50,000 sq. ft.; Tower Building—84,500 sq. ft.; Centennial Building—40,000 sq ft.; Embarcadero Hall—94,500 sq ft.; Food & Fiber Building—27,000 sq. ft.

Pavilion—25,000 sq. ft.; Grand Place Parking: 9,251 parking spaces Building—50,000 sq. ft.; Towerinside the park and 7,250 sq formal parking Building—40,000 ft.; Embarcadero spaces immediately sq. adjacent Building—27,000 ft. to the park.

Parking: 9,251 parking spaces inside Market: by over 7 million the park visited and 7,250 formal parkingpeople eachimmediately year; site foradjacent more than 1,200 spaces to the special park. events and cultural festivals.

See ad onvisited page 67by over 7 million peoMarket: ple each year; site for more than 1,200 special events and cultural festivals.

See ad on page 67

production office; accounting office.

Backstage Areas: 2 main artist dressing rooms; 3 locker rooms that also serve as dressing rooms; private catering room; production office; accounting office.

TEXAS

TEXAS texas

RELIANT PARK

One Reliant Park Houston, TX 77054 (832) 667-1400; Fax: (832) 667-1748 RELIANT www.reliantpark.com ReliantPARK PaRk One Park OneReliant Reliant Park Manager: Jeff Gaines Assistant General Houston, Houston,TX TX77054 77054 Snapshot: Reliant the premier (832) Fax: (832) 667-1748 (832)667-1400; 667-1400; Fax:Park (832)is 667-1748 entertainment, sports, convention, www.reliantpark.com www.reliantpark.com tradeshow and special event complex Assistant General Manager: JeffGaines Gaines Assistant General Manager: Jeff

located in Houston’s South Main corriSnapshot: Reliant Park the premier Reliant Park isisthree the premier dor.Snapshot: The complex features distinct entertainment, sports, convention, entertainment, convention, facilities – Reliantsports, Stadium, Relianttradetradeshow and special event complex showand and Reliant special event complex located Center Arena.

Reliant Park located in Houston’s Southcorridor.

Main corriin Houston’ s South Main The encompasses 350 acres has 26,000 parkdor.

The complex features three distinct features three distinct facilities ingcomplex spaces and hosts more 600 events facilities – Reliant Reliantand Reliant Stadium,Stadium, Reliant Center per–year.

Center and Reliant Arena.

Reliant Park Reliant Arena.

Reliant Park encompassCapacities: Reliant Stadium (71,500 encompasses 350 acres has 26,000 parkes 350 acres has 26,000 parking spaces seats and 125,000 sq. ft. of 600 spaceevents for ingand spaces hostsand morehosts 600 more events per year. general per year.sessions, catered functions Capacities: Reliant Stadium (71,500 and/or exhibits).

Capacities: Reliantsq.Stadium (71,500 seats and 125,000 ft. of gross space for Reliant Center (1.4sq. million seats and sessions, 125,000 ft. of space for general catered functions and/ sq.ft/706,213 sq. ft of single level congeneral sessions, catered functions or exhibits). tiguous space divisible into 11 and/or exhibit exhibits).

Reliant Center million gross separate halls also (1.4 has 61 meeting Reliant Center (1.4ft million sq.ft/706,213 sq. of singlegross level sq.ft/706,213 sq. ft of single level contiguous exhibit space divisibleconinto tiguous exhibit space divisible into 11 11 separate halls also has 61 meeting separate rooms).halls also has 61 meeting

The West

See ad on page 66

rooms).

Reliant Arena (approximately 8,000 seats and a 2,000-seat pavilion and Reliant arena (approximately 8,000 350,000 rooms). sq. ft. of exhibit space). seats and a 2,000-seat pavilion and The key feature of the space).

Reliant 8,000 Park Reliantsq.

Arena 350,000 ft. of (approximately exhibit complex flexibility.pavilion With four seats andisaits 2,000-seat and the keyand feature of the venues, Reliant Park unique the 350,000 sq.adaptable ft. of exhibit space). complex is its flexibility.

With four Reliant Park complex has the versatility The key of the Reliant Park unique andfeature adaptable Reliant to accommodate anyvenues, varietythe of events complex is its flexibility.

Withtofour Park complex the versatility ranging from has corporate meetings and unique and adaptable therangaccommodate varietyvenues, of team buildingany seminars, to events employee Reliant complex has the ing from Park corporate meetings andversatility team appreciation and holiday parties! to accommodate anyemployee variety of events building seminars, to appreciaBackstage areas: 4 meeting roomsand and ranging from corporate meetings tion and holiday parties!

20,000 sq. ft backstage space team building seminars,floor to employee Backstage areas: 4 meeting rooms and 2appreciation Locker rooms showers and andwith holiday parties!

20,000 sq. floor space 15,000 sq.ftftbackstage of catering/hospitality areas: meetingand rooms and 2Backstage Locker rooms with4 showers area.

20,000sq. sq.ftftofbackstage floor space 15,000 catering/hospitality area.

Marketing: An email of 2 Locker rooms with database showers and Marketing: An email database of 170,000 forftpre-sales and special offers.

15,000 sq. of catering/hospitality 170,000 for pre-sales and special offers. area.

Parking: 26,000 spaces.

Parking: 26,000 spaces.

Marketing: An Houston email database Demographics: is the of fourth Demographics: Houston the fourth 170,000 for pre-sales andisUnited special offers. most populous city in the States. most populous city in the United States.

The greater26,000 Houston metropolitan area Parking: spaces.

The greater Houston metropolitan area has a population of approximately 4 Demographics: is the fourth has a population ofHouston approximately million people. The Houston City4 most populous cityHouston in the United States. million people.

The Statistical Area (CSA) coversCity 12,476 The greater Houston metropolitan area Statistical Area (CSA) covers square miles.

Houston is also12,476 a major has a population of approximately 4 square miles. Houston also ainmajor media market, rankingis10th size. millionmarket, people.ranking The Houston City media 10th in size.

See ad on page Statistical Area71 (CSA) covers 12,476 square miles. Houston is also a major media market, ranking 10th in size.

See ad on page 71

Facilities SuperBook 2009

Facilities

The West Facilities SuperBook 2009 Facilities & Destinations SuperBook Advertiser Index Adventure Aquarium .........................15 Akron/Summit CVB............................53 Albuquerque Convention Center.....69 Alliant Energy Center of Dane County ......................................54 Austin Convention Center ................71 Baton Rouge CVB ..............................37 Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex ........................39 Boston Convention & Exhibition Center ...............................19 Branson Convention Center .............55 Charleston Civic Center ....................35 Cox Business Services Convention Center ............................75 Colorado Springs CVB ......................73 Daytona Beach Area CVB .................40 Fairplex ...............................................77

Oklahoma City CVB ...........................83 George R. Brown Oncenter ............................................24 Convention Center ........................... C2 Orange County Greater Boston CVB ..........................17 Convention Center ............................47 Greater Columbus Oregon Convention Center ..............85 Convention Center ............................59 entertainment/sports/Performances/ Positively Cleveland...........................57 Greater Ft. Lauderdale/Broward exhibitions/Concerts/Competition/ Providence Warwick CVB ..................25 County Convention Center .............. C3 events Puerto Rico Convention Center .......91 Hawaii Convention Center ................81 shows/special Rapid City CVB...................................65 Jacob Javits Convention Center ......21 Rhode Island Convention Center .......9 Kansas City Convention Center........60 Rochester Riverside Lake George NY’s Adirondacks ........27 Convention Center ............................29 Meadowlands Exposition Center .....23 Sacramento Convention Center .......87 Miami Beach Convention Center .....43 Salina Bicentennial Center ................62 Midwest Airlines Center ................... C4 Savannah Area CVB ...........................49 Mobile Convention Center .................3 Sheraton Puerto Rico Monona Terrace Community Convention Center ..............................7 and Convention Center.....................63 SMG ......................................................5 Morial Convention Center ................45 Valley Forge Convention Center ......31 Norfolk CVB .......................................33 Facilities & Destinations 2009 SuperBook

100

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UpFront

Industry Trends

SMG Goes Green With Impact

W

ith green meetings fast becoming the exception and not the rule for conventions and trade shows, more and more meeting venues have implemented environmentally sustainable policies. Taking what is already occurring on a facility-by-facility basis, SMG has launched a new program that may eventually result in a company-wide greening of building policies and practices.

The company, one of the world leaders in venue management – operating more than 10 million square feet of convention and event space – including 68 convention centers, has implemented SMG Green Impact, an acronym that stands for Innovation, Mindfulness, Participation, Accountability, Consistency and Transparent. Green Impact has developed a range of environmentally sustainable policies and protocols that can be customized to fit any venue under the SMG operational umbrella.

According to Michael Godoy, Executive Director of Operations, who oversees the program, Green Impact responds to the noticeably proactive attitude among meeting planners towards environmental issues. “Planners aren’t just inquiring about green practices, they’re demanding that facilities have policies in place,” he said. “More than three quarters of the RFPs we receive now mention sustainable practices. Some are writing it into their contracts.”

Lindsay Arell, Sustainability Director of the Colorado Convention Center, designed SMG Green Impact and is working with individual venue directors and staff to implement the program. “We take a step-by-step approach to sustainability,” said Arell. “Our clients love it.”

Arell conducts an onsite inspection of a facility, documenting the sustainability programs in place as well as seeing what areas exist, including energy usage and waste management, where either a program can be implemented or where an existing program can be improved or expanded. “If for instance, a facility wants to have a recycling program, we have a template they can use,” she said. “We customize the template to their specific facility, but the venue manager doesn’t have to reinvent the wheel.”

The Palm Springs Convention Center and the Cox Convention Center were selected as pilot facilities for the program, and 12 facilities – about one a month – are expected to participate in 2012. The best practices developed for SMG Green Impact are based on LEED prerequisites, and anticipated

18

Clockwise from upper left: The Colorado Convention Center adopted eight acres of land as an employee volunteer program, where the employees take care of this open green space. Lindsay Arell, Sustainability Director of the Colorado Convention Center designed SMG Green Impact and conducts onsite facility visits to implement its protocols.The Palm Springs Convention Center in Palm Springs, California is one of the pilot facilities for SMG Green Impact. Michael Godoy, Executive Director of Operations, oversees SMG’s Green Impact program. The Atlantic City Convention Center’s 2.36 megawatt solar array, now producing 30 percent of the Center’s energy.

CIC/APEX green initiative. “For any building going for LEED certification, this program will help them reach the goal,” added Arell.

“Our commitment to sustainability is company-wide,” said Godoy. “We’re creating programs specific to that venue.”

Green Impact efforts by SMG facilities so far include: The Atlantic City Convention Center’s 2.36 megawatt solar array, now producing 30 percent of the Center’s energy; Through new recycling initiatives, the Broward County Convention Center increased its waste diversion rate from less than 10 percent to more than 50 percent in 2011; The Moscone Center achieved an annual waste diversion rate of 60 percent – 950 tons of materials were recycled, composted or donated in 2010; The Colorado Convention Center adopted eight acres of land as an employee volunteer program, where the employees take care of this open green space.

LEED Certified SMG Properties: Colorado Convention Center; CONSOL Energy Center; David L. Lawrence Convention Center; Huntington Center; K-Rock Centre; Salt Palace Convention Center; ShoWare Center. SMG Properties Pursuing LEED Certification include: Broward County Convention Center; Jackson Convention Complex; Moscone Center and Ontario Convention Center.

—By Timothy Herrick, Editorial Director

Facilities & Destinations 2011 Mid-Market

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UpFront

What’s New

Tinley Park Expands

Meetings in the suburbs of Chicago can now get bigger. The Tinley Park Convention Center, just 30 minutes from downtown Chicago, doubled its size and added a host of new amenities when it completed a major expansion of the facility. Its first major convention in June, 2011 with the National Council of Corvette Clubs Annual Convention, drew some 1,000 delegates. Owned by the Village of Tinley Park and managed by the Mid-Con Hospitality Group, the expanded Tinley Park Convention Center features: 120,000 square feet with 70,000 square feet of event space; 58,100 square feet of net contiguous exhibition space; Meeting space with 18 breakout rooms ranging in size from 750 to 4,000 square feet; Ballroom configurations from 2,000 – 12,000 square feet available; Full food-service offerings and concessions; Business center; State-of-the-art highspeed internet access and audio-visual equipment; 1,500 free parking spaces and an attached 202-room full-service hotel. “The expanded Tinley Park Convention Center meets the needs of the majority of meeting, event and convention planners, and its close proximity to restaurants, services, downtown Chicago, O’Hare and Midway Airports, and the interstate system make Tinley Park an ideal location for Midwestern meetings, events, trade shows and conferences,” said Jim Garrett, President/CEO of the Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau.

(Pictured from left) Tinley Park Trustees Patricia Leoni, Brian Mahar, and David Seaman , MID-CON Hospitality President Reva Stillman, Trustee Gregory Hannon (partially obscured), Tinley Park Mayor Edward Zabrocki, Trustees T.J. Grady and Thomas Staunton, and former Trustee Michael Bettenhausen.

Outdoor Plaza Planned

Construction of the Anaheim Convention Center Grand Plaza is scheduled to begin in Spring 2012. Expected to expand the outdoor and special event space of the Anaheim Convention Center by 100,000 square feet, this new multi-use, venue area will feature lush landscaping, expansive walkways, innovative “hardscape” designs, dramatic fountains, ample seating areas, and a dedicated Transportation Plaza area with shuttle pick-up/drop-off areas. When completed, the campus-like space will offer new event options, networking opportunities and the chance for attendees to enjoy Southern California’s world-renowned sunshine. “The Grand Plaza provides us with a new opportunity to let

20

our clients use their imagination and create something spectacular for their attendees,” said Charles Ahlers, President, Anaheim Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau.

Hilton Gets Makeover

Located in the heart of downtown and directly connected, via indoor skybridges, to the George R. Brown Convention Center, The Hilton Americas-Houston, the largest hotel in the city of Houston, completed its $11 million major renovation, a project that began earlier this year. This complete makeover included meeting spaces, guestrooms and other areas. In addition to being the main headquarter hotel for the GRB, the hotel contains the city’s largest number of guestrooms, ballrooms, hotel meeting space, and the most technologically advanced services available under one roof. Conveniently situated between Toyota Center and Minute Maid Park, this AAA Four Diamond rated hotel boasts 1,200 luxuriously appointed guestrooms, 91,500 square feet of flexible, technologically advanced meeting space, two restaurants, lobby bar, coffee emporium, and full service spa and health club.

“This renovation brings a sharp, crisp, modern and contemporary feel to our guestrooms, to match the excitement and luxury of our lobby and public spaces,” said Joe Palmieri, General Manager.

From Auditorium to Convention Center

The Veterans Auditorium, one of the facilities that comprises the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines, is in the process of a 15-month, $42-million transformation. When completed in 2012, this 56-year-old, 11,000-seat auditorium will be reborn as the Veterans Memorial Convention Center, becoming the latest star in the Midwest meetings galaxy. It will feature 27 meeting rooms, a 28,000-square-foot ballroom, and a Memorial Hall honoring our nations veterans, adding to the already considerable space available in the complex, which also includes 150,000 square feet of Exhibit Space and a 17,000-seat Arena. “Once the renovation project is complete, we will have the largest ballroom and most convention center space in the state of Iowa, which will enable us to attract more regional business and put us in the mix for events on a national level,” said Chris Connolly, General Manager “We are extremely excited about all of the opportunities that the Veterans Memorial renovation project will bring the City of Des Moines and Polk.”

Facilities & Destinations 2011 Mid-Market

3

Sunset Beach, North Carolina

F&D

Hot List

Status: Hot Category: Conference Centers FYI: Size matters, but that doesn’t always mean huge.

Intimate meetings are not just for corporations, but committees and regional chapters of associations and other organizations require meeting space conducive to the focus necessary to make smaller meetings succeed.

Here are five conference centers that offer versatility, affordability and accessibility becauses sometimes the big ideas come in the smaller spaces.

2

4

1

Waltham, Massachusetts

Eccles 1] Ogden Conference Center

oecenter.com “Exceeding Meeting Expectation” is the motto of this 70,000-sq.-ft. meeting and banquet venue, attached to the unique 800-seat Peery’s Egyptian Theater.

Accommodates groups up to 1,200, features: 18 Total Meeting Rooms, including:13,000-sq.-ft.Ballroom, 6,000sq.-ft. Junior Ballroom, 20,000 sq. ft. of pre function space; Only 37 miles from the Salt Lake International Airport.

Conference 2] The Center at Bentley

conferencecenteratbentley.com Only 10 miles west of Boston on an inviting New England university campus, stateof-the-art meeting facilities, convenient planning services, unique food and Facilities & Destinations 2011 Mid-Market

Pawleys Island, South Carolina

Ogden, Utah

beverage offerings, and comprehensive media capabilities; 12,000+ sq. ft. of meeting space, including 15 dedicated meeting spaces, 480-seat auditorium, 250-seat amphitheatre and seasonal outdoor tent; Boston Logan – 12 miles, Manchester, NH – 52 miles and Providence, RI – 54 miles.

3]

Sea Trail Golf Resort & Convention Center

seatrail.com This Oceanside Conference Center features 600 guest rooms and 60,000 square feet of meeting and function space, including a 10,000-sq.-ft. Ballroom, and 1,100 theater seating. Village Activity Center features cardio fitness center, integrated fitness and entertainment area, indoor & outdoor pools/whirlpools; sauna; Oasis Pool Bar; spa treatments; The Golf Learning Center.

Only 45 minutes to Wilmington International Airport; 30 minutes to Myrtle Beach International Airport.

Plantation 4] Pawleys Golf & Country Club

pawleysplantation.com Set among stands of magnolias and century-old oaks, an intimate meeting venue in a beautiful country club setting; 4,900 sq. ft. of meeting space, including: 6 meeting rooms total that can be

5 Chicago, Illinois combined to make larger rooms; 1,500sq.-ft ballroom; 936-sq.-ft. pre-function area; 196 bedrooms (includes 1, 2, 3, and 4 bedroom villas); only 25 miles to Myrtle Beach Airport; 78 miles to Charleston International Airport

5] University Center

universitycenter.com “Conference Chicago” – for Midwest conferences, convenient downtown location offers an exciting environment for conferences, executive board meetings, seminars, workshops, training sessions or retreats; 15,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, including 10 Meeting Rooms and 2,400 sq. ft. of meeting spaces. On premise catering provided; onsite restaurant; 504 guest rooms (summer months); 17 miles to O’Hare Airport; steps away from all CTA train lines.

21

Mid-Market Cities:

Competitive Packages Come in

By Timothy Herrick Editorial Director

M

eeting planners look for destinations that will attract attendees and facilities that can accommodate the size and scope of their convention, tradeshow, meeting or other event.

In the meetings industry, one size never fits all; there are many associations and related organizations that will never consider anything other than 1st tier cities. Hundreds of other organizations – across the broad spectrum of industry segments – do not have the same deep pockets, but their meeting planners are not only finding more than optimum cost-effectiveness in 2nd and 3rd tier destinations, but also the latest in convention center technology and uniquely competitive features and benefits.

Cost has always been a critical advantage of Mid-Market cities.

What 2nd & 3rd tier destinations have discovered is that while the economy remains worrisome and the meeting budgets of the associations who traditionally book Mid-Market destinations are 22

tighter than ever, they can no longer postpone their meeting.

According to William Tirone, Assistant General Manager of the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel, for the third quarter of 2011, bookings were equal to the entire year of 2010, only the second full-year of the facility being operational. “We do a lot of state association and religious business,” he said. “Those markets have remained strong compared to other markets. A lot of associations have to meet, it’s in their bylaws. We are also seeing corporate meetings starting to book again.”

To many industry observers, Branson, MO is emblematic of the new excitement percolating in today’s Mid-Market destinations.

While long established as a family-oriented, live-entertainment destination, the city’s 47,000-square-foot convention center, which opened in 2008, puts this Missouri city on the meetings industry map. “Branson was not a convention destination, but now we have a convention center in the heart of an entertainment capital,” said Tirone. “But we are economical, and we make sure to keep our convention pricing in line with the 2nd & 3rd tier range.”

Facilities & Destinations 2011 Mid-Market

Smaller Sizes

“There is always a misconception that 2nd and rd 3 tier cities are not as exciting as a 1st tier city, such as New York or Las Vegas. In terms of the meeting, you have all the same amenities, just the density is different.”

–Michael V. Geary

Chief Executive Officer of OFA – Association of Horticulture Professionals

New Era, New Facilities Branson is one of the many examples proving that the era of 2nd and 3rd tier destinations having merely average or even below average Facilities & Destinations 2011 Mid-Market

Cost-Effective and accessible Mid-Market facilities make them a favorite for Regional Meetings. The 154,000-square-foot Saint Charles Convention Center hosted the Solution Tree’s Professional Learning Community, which attracted teachers and educators throughout the region in June.

meeting facilities, airlift and amenities is long over. “Don’t confuse second tier with second class,” said Douglas L. Ducate, President & CEO, Center for Exhibition Industry Research. “Some of our newest state-of-the art facilities are in smaller destinations. Cost drives destination selection. With the expansion of many facilities in the last decade or so, a number of destinations can host most events.

This adds to the competitive atmosphere. Various kinds of cash and credit incentives are used to lower the organizer costs. Money talks and organizers listen.”

“There is always a misconception that 2nd and 3rd tier cities are not as exciting as a 1st tier city, such as New York or Las Vegas,” said Michael V. Geary, Chief Executive Officer of OFA – The Association of Horticulture Professionals. “In terms of the meeting, you have all the same amenities, just the density is different. In Columbus, you have a great night life, a number-one ranked zoo and numerous water parks, which appeals to our attendees.”

Geary plans numerous events for OFA as well as ancillary groups this organization also manages – America in Bloom, Ohio Produce 23

“ You look for value and a good rate and perks and the smaller destinations are more flexible. With bigger cities, the range of discounts is not always available, and you have to deal with more vendors.”

–Gwen Knight

Independent Meeting Planner and Consultant

Growers & Marketing Association and the Nursery & Landscape Association Executives of North America. But the largest event is OFA’s annual convention, OFA – Short Course, which attracts 9,000 horticulture professionals and is held in Columbus, Ohio. “There’s a preponderance of the horticulture industry in the Midwest so they’re in close proximity to the city,” said Geary. “We also needed a larger convention center and larger hotel room blocks and that led us to Columbus.”

Competition Benefits Planners The slow pace of economic recovery in 2011 has caused widespread apprehension and a pervasive caution that is shared by planners, the organizations they plan events for and the attendees who come to those meetings and tradeshows. In response, all destinations are cutting prices to the bone, including more items in their final contract, and scrambling for planners they used to be able to ignore. This pattern has disrupted the previous divisions separating destination tiers.

Dynamic meetings.

visitnorfolktoday.com | 24

1-800-368-3097

An estimated 9,000 attended the annual convention of The Association of Horticulture Professionals, the OFA – Short Course, which was held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Ohio.

“Everyone is playing in each other’s sandboxes,” said Kristin McGrath, Vice President of Sales & Services, Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We traditionally competed with other 2nd tier cities, but now we are seeing 3rd tier cities become more competitive and we are seeing 1st tier cities go after groups they never really bothered with.”

“A city, like Columbus, is still not competing with a city like Chicago, but we have become more competitive with a city the size of St. Louis,” said Craig Liston, SMG Regional General Manager, who oversees the Greater Columbus Convention Center and the Knoxville Convention Center.

Becoming more competitive for this Ohio city consists of a combination of location – Columbus is the capital of the Buckeye State – and more appealing facilities and meetings infrastructure – the Greater Columbus Convention Center recently added Battelle Grand, the new 74,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art multi-purpose ballroom and has increased the lodging, dining and entertainment options in its convention center district.

“State associations and regional business are our bread and butter,” said Liston. “We’re in the middle of Ohio, and we are the state capital. Those are built-in advantages, so we aren’t suffering like some other destinations.”

Flexible & Unified Perhaps more importantly, this city’s size makes it better equipped to create meeting packages that are cost-effective yet comprehensive. “If you can offer a complete package with competitive rates for the hotel rooms, but also free or very reduced rental fees for the convention center, that can be very appealing to planners,” said Liston. “I think smaller destinations have more flexibility in what they can offer. We have been fairly successful, but we constantly have to sharpen our pencils and figure out a way to make the package more and more affordable.”

Gwen Knight is an Independent Meeting Planner and consultant; Facilities & Destinations 2011 Mid-Market

As Business Gets Better , Booking Gets Delayed

I

s the economy improving? That’s the question on everybody’s mind. Nobody expects meeting planners or destination executives to be tossing confetti, drinking champagne and singing “Happy Days are Here Again” anytime soon, but in 2nd and 3rd tier cities, the outlook is noticeably less gloomy.

“Everything is cyclical and I like to think that the economy is getting better,” said Kristin McGrath, Vice President of Sales & Services, Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We are doing better this year than last year in terms of bookings, and certainly better than in ’08 and ’09.”

This cautious yet optimistic attitude was echoed by Shura Garnett, General Manager of the Saint Charles Convention Center and Regional Vice President, Global Spectrum.

“Since ’09, there’s been a steady increase, and in 2011 we had our second best year (the Saint Charles Convention Center opened in 2005) and our outlook for 12 is good,” said Garnett.

Steady seems to be the common thread among MidMarket destinations and compared to some other economic data, such as the persistently high unemployment rate or the volatility in the stock market, facility executives seem pleased that their segment is relatively stable. “We are seeing a larger number of repeat clients,” said Craig Liston, SMG Regional General Manager of the Greater Columbus Convention Center. “Planners are booking, people are meeting. I would think what we are seeing on the state level in Ohio would translate into the rest of the industry nationwide.”

One side effect of the current business climate and the belt tightening that pervades the meeting industry is that booking a site several years in advance has become less common. More sites are being considered by planners, the negotiating process has become more involved and postponing the final decision has become more the rule than the exception.

“Meeting planners are still very cautious,” said McGrath.

“They are doing a lot more research, which means they are probably looking at more cities than they used to. There’s reluctance to commitment, the decision process has gotten longer and people are holding off from pulling that trigger as long as they can.”

“The budget process is longer, people are delaying approving a budget,” said Garnett. “Budgets are opening up at the last minute. We went through the recession and planners are feeling a little more confident, but there is still a lot of caution, and the up-sell is not quite as much.”

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“Branson was not a convention destination, but now we have a convention center in the heart of an entertainment capital. But we are economical, and we make sure to keep our convention pricing in line with the 2nd & 3rd tier range.”

–William Tirone

Assistant General Manager Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel

her main client is Pioneer Network, which caters to the eldercare and geriatric professionals in the non-profit sector. Their four-day, annual convention was held at the Saint Charles (MO) Convention Center this year, attracting about 1,500 and featuring general sessions, breakout sessions, concurrent classes and workshops and a tradeshow exhibition component. While under this organization’s broad healthcare umbrella includes a range of professionals, budgets for both the association and those of the individual meeting attendees – typical of the non-profit industry but now applicable to other meeting industry segments – are at best, limited. The lower costs associated with 2nd and 3rd tier cities may be the main reason this organization selected a Mid-Market destination, but reaching those costs in today’s climates also indicates how a smaller cities differ from many of their 1st tier counterparts.

“You look for value and a good rate and perks and the smaller destinations are more flexible,” said Knight. “With smaller cities you can generally get better packages because the players are closer to each other. The CVBs have a closer relationship with the convention centers, and they have more clout in the city. It is easier to negotiate items like AV discounts, free rooms for speakers, half-price rate for staff hotel rooms, discounts on Food & Beverage, free parking, free internet upgrades and VIP transportation from the airport. With

Although a Mid-Market city like Columbus, Ohio hosts regional events, like the annual Columbus Chamber’s Business-to-Business Expo. The 1.7million-square-foot venue offers four contiguous exhibit halls, 65 meeting rooms and three ballrooms.

Facilities & Destinations 2011 Mid-Market

Mairanne Lee

Affordability is a key selling point for a Mid-Market city like Providence, Rhode Island, but the city also offers a compact destination for meeting planners. The city ís compact downtown area where the Rhode Island Convention Center is located, making it an extremely convenient and walkable city, with hotels, great restaurants, and shopping.

bigger cities, the range of discounts is not always available, and you have to deal with more vendors.”

“A city our size can work as a team, we are very tight knit,” added McGrath. “Our CVB has a great working relationship with the Rhode Island Convention Center, our hotels and all our other partners throughout the city. Recently, an association was on the fence as to whether or not they should come to Providence and our mayor personally called the executive committee. That reinforces to meeting planners our commitment to their event.”

Shura Garnett is General Manager of the Saint Charles Convention Center and Regional Vice President, Global Spectrum, responsible for the Sioux Falls Convention Center, Iowa Events Center, Century Center in South Bend, IN, and the Overland Park

Convention Center in Overland Park, KS. She echoes the sentiment that a crucial competitive advantage of smaller destinations is the ability to be on the same page with all the meeting and hospitality industry members of the city. “With a larger city, you have layers within the business, other service contractors, food and beverage, decorating, moving,” said Garnett. “In a smaller venue, you don’t have as many of those layers, so you can bring more conveniences and lower costs for planners.”

As competition heats up, the flexibility of a Mid-Market destination is only the starting point for more inclusive planner packages. “To make a competitive bid for a citywide convention, you have to be willing, as a facility, to think outside the box,” said Garnett. “You have to partner with a multiple hotel properties, for

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Branson, Missouri, while long established as a familyoriented, live-entertainment destination, also features the city’s new 47,000-square-foot convention center, which has made it a leading Mid-Market Destination.

example, or if you don’t have a good public transportation, you have to be able to be able to offer busing at a cost-effective price. Facilities with in-house food & beverage, for example, give you more flexibility with pricing. Audio visual is another example. The more services you offer in-house, the more latitude you will have with the planners.”

But planners note that this flexibility, especially when it comes to optimizing the final price points, is a two-way street. “We are a small enough organization that we can also make concessions,” said Knight. “One example she cited was the shifting of dates for one event so the destination could accommodate another event. While she didn’t detail what the destination offered in return for this change, “we’re open to some changes. We aren’t as limited in our ideas as another organization.”

“Anything that a CVB can offer that will make life easier for the planner is greatly appreciated.

We do all we can to build attendance, which means building micro-sites, developing promotional materials, and helping with the registration.”

–Kristin McGrath

Vice President of Sales & Services, Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau

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The Branson Convention Center opened with much fanfare in 2008. Like many Mid-Market cities, Branson offers newly-built facilities with state-of-art meeting technology.

Better Fits Jean Plotkin is the Conference Manager of the Laboratories for the 21st Century (Labs21) Annual Conference, a 3-day convention catering to the laboratory and high-tech facility design, construction, and operations and maintenance industry. While this event’s attendance is relatively small – about 700 – the event requires upwards of 40,000 square feet to accommodate the laboratory equipment and related technology featured in the trade show exhibition component of the event, plus additional space for the dozens of technical sessions, seminars and other meetings.

“We’re a better fit for smaller cities,” said Plotkin, who’s Labs21 2011 Annual Conference was held in at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, R.I. “Providence was fantastic.

The city was really welcoming and as a Meeting Planner, you want everyone attending to feel welcomed, to see banners in the street. The staff was really helpful.”

Facilities & Destinations 2011 Mid-Market

“We’re in the middle of Ohio, and we are the state capital.

Those are built-in advantages, so we aren’t suffering like some other destinations.”

Craig Liston

–SMG Regional General Manager of the Greater Columbus Convention Center

Knight points out that the added-value intangibles can make the difference in an event’s success. “We were able to get the banners up, stores and restaurants stayed open later for our members in St. Charles. The whole city joins in. You can make those aspects part of your negotiation.”

“A major influx of visitors is a much bigger event for a smaller destination,” said Ducate. “They can trot out local dignitaries from sports figures to the mayor and other big wigs. Television and radio talk shows for VIP’s can be arranged in smaller markets.

The economic impact of a convention to a smaller destination is proportionally much greater than the impact of a convention on large cites. As a result you can roll out the red carpet and paint the town in smaller communities.”

For many organizations, size matters but size does not always mean big. The intimacy of Mid-Market destinations is a plus for many conventions. “The scale is more manageable in a smaller

destination,” said Geary. “Everything is within close proximity, so you can hold lot of events, keep better track of the attendees, keep them more involved in the event.”

Another important attribute regarding size is the “district” around the convention center. Not only are many of the newer facilities or expanded meeting facilities located in 2nd and even 3rd tier destinations, many of those destinations created a walkable entertainment district in the same vicinity. This foresight augmented the value of a complete hospitality package and appealing not just to cost but to the growing environmental awareness among today’s association planner community.

“The cities that are smaller are more compact, which makes them more attractive because that reduces transportation cost for attendees,” said Plotkin. “But we are also looking for sustainability and shrinking our meeting’s carbon footprint. Reducing the commuting or use of transportation between the airport, the hotels, and the convention center, as well as to nearby restaurants, shops, and points of interest is something that is important to our association.”

Features & Benefits “We all have a marketing position, and you have given the planner a reason to become your partner,” said Garnett. “You both have to maximize the attendance, which means helping at the very least, with collateral pieces and the local media.”

Mid-Market destinations may be enduring against the odds in the current business climate, but it is the culmination of features and benefits of an individual destination that will extend that survival. “In the end, destinations sell features or benefits,” said Ducate. “You are lucky if you have features either God-made like the Rocky Mountains, or Lake Michigan, or a beautiful coast, or man-made like Disney, gaming and the French Quarter. Without features you better have some great benefits that go beyond good weather and a busy airport.”

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Akron Ohio

johnsknightcenter.org

Located in the rolling hills of the Old Connecticut Western Reserve and along the shores of the Ohio & Erie Canalway, with rich history yet social diversity, Akron is the quintessential 21st century Midwestern destination.

Renowned among meeting planners for its affordability and accessibility, the town also boasts the award-winning John S. Knight Center – in its lively and energetic downtown district – which features state-of-the-art video conferencing and streaming systems, on-site skilled support/service staff as well as 16 Meeting Rooms, a 12,000-square-foot Ballroom, a 30,000-squarefoot Exhibition Hall and 22,000-square-foot lobby.

Smaller Markets

Stacey Sterling Marketing Communications Specialist RTP Company

RTP Company manufactures thermoplastic compounds, which are used by plastic molders to make an assortment of products. The company hosts technical workshops for its customers about four times each year; the seminar can be work-intensive and while attendance for the 2011 workshop held in Akron at the John S. Knight Convention Center was only about 100, because of the equipment required to conduct the presentations, the meeting’s space requirements can exceed other meetings with higher attendance.

We tend to go to smaller markets, although we have done the suburbs of Chicago, San Jose and Minneapolis. We’re doing our workshops around the world and the purpose is to present technical information to our customers. We look for accessible destinations. Attendees do not like having to drive into a large city, like Chicago; they’re not going to do that. Near a major freeway, easy on/ easy off access, and ample parking are big selling points for us and Akron has all that covered.

Requirements

We need facilities that can have large space. We do not have huge hotel room blocks, just 150-200 rooms. The event is one day, but we set up the night before. The John S. Knight Convention Center was able to accommodate us with the Good Year Room and two of their smaller meeting rooms. There was another meeting in the facility taking place but there was no interference. They were able to host multiple events without any disruption.

John S. Knight Center

It was a beautiful space, enough for all our workshops. The staff was very easy to work with, very attentive to details. It was one of our most flawless events. Members of our staff wear a lot of hats when we present these workshops, and to be taken care of so well by the facility staff is very important.

Convention Center Catering

During the day, the facility provided all our food. The presentation was phenomenal, and the attendees were thrilled with the quality of the food. We usually meet at a large meeting hotel, and we never skimp on the food. The convention center food was as good as any hotel catering that we’ve had. Our attendees really appreciate that.

Destination

Most attendees were able to walk to dinner, there’s a downtown area with a variety of restaurants. Everyone I heard from really enjoyed their food. One night we went to the baseball stadium, a minor league team, and it was fun, and I know of another group that went to a few of the local bars, a karaoke bar. Akron was a fun city.

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Facilities & Destinations 2011 Mid-Market

Albuquerque New Mexico ItsATrip.org

MarbleStreetStudio.com.

The largest city in New Mexico, Albuquerque’s affordability and rich, inviting Southwestern culture has long made it a traveler’s favorite, but it has also become an important Mid-Market destination, featuring 16,000 hotel rooms city-wide, vibrant neighborhoods such as Downtown Albuquerque, Nob Hill and Historic Old Town, and, of course, the Albuquerque Convention Center, which features 275,000 square feet of flexible exhibit and meeting room space, the 2,300-seat Kiva Auditorium with seating for over 2,300, and 31 meeting rooms.

Mid-Market Cities

Judy Marshall Manager of Conference Services American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers The Annual Conference of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and AirConditioning Engineers, always held in June, attracts between 1,700-2,200 attendees. A meeting-intensive convention, not only are the business and related issues of the association discussed and turned into policy, but the Technical Standards for Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning are written, which include environmentally sustainable and other green practices. Although this organization has met in larger destinations, such as Boston and Atlanta, they generally meet in Mid-Market cities such as Seattle, Nashville and Denver.

The first Annual Conference, the second annual largest meeting of the organization to be held in Albuquerque, also made history for the organization because it installed the first woman president of the organization.

Facilities & Destinations 2011 Mid-Market

Our preference is for 2nd and 3rd tier cities, and Albuquerque is sort of borderline. It’s a very affordable city. The airport could use more direct flights, but once you are here it is very walkable. We had a good, cost-effective package.

Convention Center Pluses

There is a also a big public area where people/attendees could sit down and talk, and which has free wifi. What we needed in terms of audio/visual they had. But what makes this facility different was that the staff was one of the best I’ve ever worked with. They were always on site, the orchestration went on without a hitch. They were very responsive and didn’t wait to be asked. The Convention Services Manager stayed with us until we closed, and we can run late. The staff didn’t leave at five o’clock, they were always visible. Those little things can really make a difference to planner, getting that kind of support and service, it makes the entire meeting run smoother.

Facility Food

They had concession stands for our attendees and did a special lunch for the association staff, who really can’t leave the area at all. They had a wonderful buffet luncheon, which had a TexMex flair. The food was good both inside the facility and around the city.

Southwestern Culture

There were some restaurants downtown, but most attendees went to the Old Town district, where there is a lot of dining and entertainment. It was a 10-minute, economical taxi cab ride.

There is a lot of shopping, unique jewelry, the whole Southwestern culture. It’s different from a lot of cities; we offered four or five general tours of the city and were able to sell out each one.

Meeting Intensive

We have a lot of meetings, run eight concurrent sessions, have technical meetings, committee meetings. We’re focused on meetings from 7 AM to 10 PM. The Albuquerque Convention Center was perfect since we used 55 to 65 meeting rooms. The Convention Center was attached to three hotels, which is something else we want, everything close together.

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Charlotte North Carolina charlottesgotalot.com

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Charlotte, which features attractions such as the new NASCAR Hall of Fame, the Levine Center for the Arts, and the U.S. National Whitewater Center, has invested heavily in its cultural and entertainment infrastructure, bolstering “Center City,” the district surrounding the Charlotte Convention Center, which features dozens of night life and entertainment options and more than 4,100 Hotel Rooms (30,000 citywide). The Charlotte Convention Center features more 445,000 square feet of meeting space, including 37 meeting rooms, 40,000-square-foot ballroom and a 280,000-square-foot Exhibit Hall.

David W. Will Vice President for Conferences United States Institute for Theatre Technology

Mid-Size Cities

We always meet in mid-size cities, such as Cincinnati, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Houston and Louisville. The 1st tier cities can be a little expensive. Obviously, we get a lot of members from large cities that have a large live theater and entertainment industry, but about 23 percent of the attendees are students from universities. The younger the attendee, the more cost gets to be a factor. It’s a balancing act.

Convention Center

Since 1960, the United States Institute for Theatre Technology has represented design, production, and technology professionals in the performing arts and entertainment industry. For their 50th anniversary in 2010, the organization selected Charlotte, North Carolina to host its Annual Conference & Stage Expo, a four-day event that included meetings, workshops, a tradeshow, awards banquet and opening and closing parties. An estimated 4,000 attended this event, which celebrated a milestone for the organization and is the premier networking and meeting event for theater professionals.

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We use a lot space for the trade show. The exhibitors include everything theatrical – lighting suppliers, make up, scenery, staging – all of those things. The layout of the convention center was quite nice, the exhibition floor was well situated, and it promoted great circulation and networking opportunities. A lot of our show is about reunions, and the space design of the facility encouraged that.

Charlotte

Very safe city, you can walk in the neighborhoods around the convention center, which are very clean and very friendly. All the hotels were and most of the restaurants were close, the furthest I think was five blocks. We like to keep our members and activities close, because there are a lot of evening activities. The Convention Center served as a nice nucleus for the attendees.

Food & Beverage

The city had some great restaurants. The catering at the convention center got rave reviews.

They had a great menu. There were some special receptions at the hotel properties, which were very convenient and also served great food.

Staff

The personnel helped us a great deal, especially with the housing and housing issues, because our attendance was high and we needed extra rooms. There wasn’t a thing you asked for they wouldn’t help with. They came up with a lot of great ideas. Tremendous staff, very supportive.

They were able to get us some business tie-ins, and we were able to tour the new NASCAR Hall of Fame. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Charlotte on the basis of their staff alone.

Facilities & Destinations 2011 Mid-Market

Hartford Connecticut ctconventions.com

In the meetings destination galaxy, Hartford is New England’s Rising Star. Charming and cosmopolitan, the city offers unique attractions and fun neighborhoods, especially the exciting riverfront district known as Adriaen’s Landing, where the 540,000-squarefoot Connecticut Convention Center is located. The facility features 65,000 square feet of meeting space, 19 meeting/ breakout rooms, a 40,000square-foot ballroom, and a 140,000-square-foot Main Exhibit Hall. There are more than 1,600 hotel rooms within walking distance of the facility and 6,500 hotel rooms within 15 miles.

Andrea Berry Director of Outreach and Events Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)

Cost-Conscious

Our organization is very cost conscious. We are compared with Air Shows, which are Aviation Industry events usually held in an open space or big field and have very low cost, but also offer education, exhibitions and networking. We have to keep our costs as low as possible, so we usually select 2nd or 3rd tier cities. A lot of our attendees fly in, so our other consideration is a regional airport, which our members prefer to fly into more than a large airport. Hartford– Brainard Airport was an excellent airport for our pilots. It was a very easy commute to the convention center. There was an aircraft display in conjunction with our show at the airport.

CVB Help

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association landed in Hartford, Connecticut with its 2011 AOPA Aviation Summit, held at the Connecticut Convention Center, attracting about 10,000 attendees with its more than 60 hours of seminar/classroom hours and more than 400 Exhibitor Booths. They even used the nearby Hartford-Brainard Airport for “Airportfest,” where dozens of aircraft were displayed. Although this association has high demands of space and technology and generates more than 5,000 hotel room nights, this one-of-a-kind convention is most at home in a Mid-Market destination.

Facilities & Destinations 2011 Mid-Market

The CVB helped us market the show by reaching out to local businesses and communities and generating interest in general aviation. People who own businesses often become a pilot for their business, and we presented several successful case studies. The CVB helped us with fliers and getting the local communities interested in coming to our convention.

Facility Demands

Typically we need a lot of meeting space, we have concurrent classes and about 400 booths. At this convention we were able to have a newsroom, and speaker-ready rooms. The convention center had sufficient capacity for high-speed internet and even though we had to use their labor for some of the technological jobs, we were allowed to bring in our own people, which we preferred and was more cost-effective. At this show we introduced APOA Live, where we had a live broadcast from the show floor, and we also had an APOA Learning Pavilion, where we held a series of mini-seminars, just off the show floor. These were new additions to the show and the Convention Center was very helpful with these challenges.

Walkable Towns

One reason we go to 2nd tier cities is that we have everything close. Hartford is very walkable. Bigger cities tend to be very spread out, and that can be costly for our members and they will complain.

33

Milwaukee Wisconsin

visitmilwaukee.org

Milwaukee – easy-to-get-to, easy-to-navigate, visitor-friendly – has earned a deserved reputation for its hospitality and beautiful Lake Michigan location. The Frontier Airlines Center features 32 Meeting Rooms, a 37,506-square-foot Ballroom, 189,695 total square feet of Exhibit Space; 4,100-seat Milwaukee Theatre & 12,700-seat U.S. Cellular Arena. The city has succeeded in its concerted effort to create a 21st century Midwest Destination, particularly in developing the Wisconsin Center District – which also includes the U.S. Cellular Arena – into a lively neighborhood resplendent with an impressive array of lodging, dining and entertainment options.

Attendee Appeal

Marlene D. Vail Events Marketing Manager Kalmbach Publishing Co. The Bead & Button Show, the largest consumer bead show of its kind in the world, attracts an estimated audience of 14,000 per year and has been held in Milwaukee at the Frontier Airlines Center since 2001. The 10-day convention, sponsored by Bead & Buttons Magazine/Kalmbach Publishing Company, features about 700 classes, an exhibition floor with more than 300 companies, as well as workshops, seminars and receptions. Attendees are truly international in scope including artisans, professional crafts people, jewelry manufacturers, fashion designers, retailers and devoted hobbyists.

Milwaukee is ideal for our constituency, which is mainly female. It’s a very safe, walkable city like some 1st tier destinations. Everything is nearby the Convention Center, there are two adjoining hotels and many restaurants. The city has also gotten more artsy, especially the downtown area, which also appeals to my attendees. The city is very affordable, which is really important because it is a long show and people like to take a lot of classes.

City-Wide Improvements

The city over the last the last 10 years has really improved in terms of amenities. There is more to do in the city, like the Milwaukee Art Museum, and a lot more night life and attractions.

For a show where everything is out of pocket for attendees, Milwaukee keeps getting better as a draw. We have a huge international following, and the city is more accessible.

Frontier Airlines Center

We hold a lot of classes, about 700. People come for those classes, but also for the Exhibition Floor. I think we had 370 booths. We are even selling half booths. We require a lot of space; the convention center accommodates us but also is great in terms of traffic. Attendees can easily get from one class to another or to a class from the exhibition floor. The flow is really effective.

Established Relationship

We work with the CVB and the Wisconsin Center District personnel, which operates the convention center. We’re a known commodity and have some clout, but they are more than willing to work with us. They have been very accommodating with some rental fees, as well as costs for utilities, such as electric. Our attendance was up in 2010, and we’ve only had a little dip in 2011, but in 2008 we had a very big dip and the District was very helpful in saving costs.

Staff Support

We always keep the content fresh. The Convention Center staff is very helpful; this year we had a Breast Cancer Fundraiser for the first time, which included a reception. They helped us coordinate that seamlessly.

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Facilities & Destinations 2011 Mid-Market

Mississippi Gulf Coast gulfcoast.org

The Mississippi Gulf Coast boasts scenic coastal beaches, championship golf, cultural attractions and 11 world-class casinos, as well as 12,500+ hotel rooms. This unique Southeastern Destination has also emerged as a competitive Mid-Market meetings destination with the recently renovated Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center, with 400,000+ square feet of newly expanded exhibit and meeting space, including: 22 meeting/breakout rooms; 36,000-square-foot Ballroom and a 9,000seat/30,000-square-foot Theater, making it one the largest, state-of-the-art beachfront convention centers in North America.

Clair Seward Meetings Coordinator Mississippi Municipal League

Convention Center

The Convention Center was renovated after Hurricane Katrina, so it feels almost brand new. It has all the technology necessary for our presentations – there is a large education component. The staff is wonderful. The facility accommodates all of our education sessions and the exhibitor hall.

Food & Beverage

One of the challenges of returning to the same destination is trying to do something different.

The food throughout this area is wonderful. We have done a barbeque and for our Annual Exhibitors Luncheon we had a buffet with salads. The staff is very responsive to our needs, especially in designing the menu. The catering at the convention center is very good.

The annual Conference of the Mississippi Municipal League typically attracts more than 3,000 attendees, which include elected officials, federal and state agency employees, and city and county clerks. The meeting’s extensive agenda includes educational classes, organizational meetings, an awards luncheon and a tradeshow floor with 200 exhibitors. The organization, which as name suggests, must meet in the State of Mississippi, and it selects the Mississippi Gulf Coast for its stunning beaches, range of activities, world-class hotels and casinos, and the Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center.

Lodging

Most attendees stay at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, which is a very short commuting distance from the Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center. We also hold events at the Beau. The coordination between the hotel and the convention center was excellent.

Staff

The destination personnel at the CVB, the Convention Center and the hotels are very helpful.

We were provided with tote bags and materials to give to attendees, and they arranged activities for spouses and tours of the area. Most attendees bring their families.

Cutbacks

The CVB staff were very helpful in finding ways to cut costs; they’re very open to negotiations.

They also helped us with some marketing and designing a brochure. Budgets are not increasing, so we have to find ways to sustain the quality level of the meeting without raising prices and everyone at the destination was so responsive in helping us keep costs down.

Destination

There are fine restaurants throughout the area. There is so much diversity; it’s just a wonderful area. It is Southern Hospitality at its best.

Facilities & Destinations 2011 Mid-Market

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Norfolk Virginia

visitnorfolktoday.com

Norfolk is an easily accessible Mid-Atlantic destination with a meeting district nearby a stunning waterfront dotted with trendy restaurants, arts districts, museums, patriotic attractions and shopping. This compact meeting and event neighborhood – the city’s renowned Waterside Convention Connection – features 1,200+ first-class rooms and suites, 55 meeting rooms and 121,000 sq. ft. of convention space – and includes: Norfolk Waterside Marriott, Sheraton Norfolk Waterside, the Crowne Plaza Norfolk and the Waterside Festival Marketplace, as well as the Norfolk Scope Arena (85,000 sq. ft. meeting space).

Charles Sadler Executive Director & CEO Society of Government Meeting Professionals The National Education Conference (NEC), the annual convention of the Society of Government Meeting Professionals (SGMP), is a three-day event attracting more than 1,000 attendees and is considered the biggest annual event for the government segment of the meetings industry and, of course, one of the premier Meeting Planner gatherings of the year. The NEC features certification/education classes, networking opportunities, general sessions and an extensive exhibition floor. As one might surmise, a meeting of meeting planners sets the bar pretty high for assessing the features and benefits of a MidMarket destination. In addition to inevitably showcasing the city to this crucial portion of the planner community, the tradeshow component consists mainly of other destinations, thus forcing comparisons between the host city and other destinations.

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Smaller Cities

We have met in all sizes of cities, and our 2011 conference is in New Orleans. Meeting planners should keep an open mind. With larger cities there can be more turnover at the CVB, and the hotels, but in the smaller cities, these people tend to have been in their jobs longer. In general, the partnership is stronger because if you have a problem they know immediately who to call. Also, they’re more committed to hospitality and more passionate about their city.

Personal Support

The CVB and hotel staffs were very helpful. They set up a micro-site to promote the convention and things to do in the Tidewater region of Virginia, which was the first time we’ve had that as an organization.

Downtown

The downtown area is very compact, easy to get around. People enjoy the city’s history. Norfolk is a very reachable city, especially from Washington D.C. where many of our planners are based.

There’s a charm to the city as well. The location is beautiful. Our meeting gets well received because the destination gets to showcase itself to hundreds of potential clients.

Food

The food was excellent. We had catered events at the Marriott and the Sheraton. We had quite a few memorable meals.

Hotels

The facilities were impeccable. The hotels are world class and the personal services excellent.

This was the 30th anniversary of the SGMP, and they had special hotel room key cards made for our attendees with our 30th anniversary logo. It was a nice little keepsake.

Costs

Budgets are tight for attendees, so cost is obviously a factor. With 2nd & 3rd tier destinations like Norfolk, you deal with a smaller circle of personnel when planning, and they seem to be able to hold costs down more effectively.

Facilities & Destinations 2011 Mid-Market

Saint Paul Minnesota

Situated on the north bank of the Mississippi River, Minnesota’s capital city is diverse and vibrant, boasting a world-class event venue, the Saint Paul RiverCentre, which features 255,000 square feet of meeting and exhibition space, including 15 meeting rooms, 27,000-square-foot Ballroom, 68,699-square-foot Main Exhibit Hall and 5,844seat Roy Wilkins Auditorium. The venue is located in the city’s downtown district, filled with entertainment, dining and shopping as well 1,500 hotel rooms; 900 rooms are connected by enclosed climate controlled walkways to the convention center.

visitsaintpaul.com

Lara Durbin Program Director Midwest Poultry Federation

Accommodating Growth

The RiverCentre is a perfect fit, it has been able to accommodate the growth of our annual convention and future growth. It has ample meeting space, easy access and a decent loading dock. The equipment of some of our exhibitors can be quite large. We reconfigure the exhibition floor every year and this year we added an exhibitor lounge, which was very successful and we also utilized the part of the Roy Wilkins Auditorium, which is connected to the facility and part of the complex.

Return Challenges

The Midwest Poultry Federation hosts several events throughout the year in various Midwest locations, but for the past 15 years the organization’s largest convention, Midwest Poultry Federation Convention, has been held in Saint Paul at the Saint Paul RiverCentre, attracting about 2,000 attendees, farmers, educators, scientists and other workers in the poultry industry. The convention features meetings, classes, receptions and well as an extensive exhibition floor; no live animals are exhibited here, but a large selection of poultryrelated farming equipment is on display.

It can be a challenge returning to a destination to keep things fresh. We represent a food industry so our attendees are very picky and hard to please, and of course we have to emphasize chicken, turkey and eggs. Our big, welcoming reception kicks off our convention and we have to be creative; people do not want to go the same old reception. MHC Culinary Group, which caters events at the RiverCentre, worked with us and was really creative in customizing our menus. We came up with a roast turkey dish that everybody loved. You need to kick off your meeting in a big way that impresses attendees. The CVB and convention center staff are constantly bringing new ideas in all areas, marketing, hotel registration. They are very hands on.

Extra Attention

The advantage of a 2nd tier city like Saint Paul is being the big fish in a smaller pond. We love that. We take over the downtown, and are welcomed everywhere. Everybody goes out of their way for us, making everyone feel special. That helps the atmosphere of the convention. We’re the only meeting in town of our size, so the staffs at the RiverCentre, the CVB and the hotels become an extension of our association team because they work hard on our half behalf.

Saint Paul

It has a small town feel, but in a good way. It’s a very convenient city. The restaurants are great. There’s a contingent of people who go to Minneapolis but the majority stay in Saint Paul.

They go back to the same places every year.

Facilities & Destinations 2011 Mid-Market

37

Tallahassee, Florida is home to the state capital, two major universities and an array of museums, attractions, and its distinctive fusion of Florida cosmopolitan flair with warm, welcoming southern charm. The city boasts 6,000+ hotel rooms and 400,000 square feet of meeting space.

One of its leading facilities is the Augustus B. Turnbull III Florida State Conference Center (conferencing.fsu. edu), which features 47,000 square feet of meeting spaces, a 400-seat auditorium, catering kitchen, dining room, and nine break-out rooms with 16-to-50 seats per room.

Tallahassee Florida

visittallahassee.com

Nona Martin Board Secretary Association of African American Museums

Typical Destinations

We usually meet in a hotel, and have selected 1st tier and larger 2nd tier cities. This was our first time in Tallahassee. We usually look for a hotel with convention facilities. We have to have several meeting rooms because we hold concurrent meetings. In addition, we usually anchor a meeting by a visit to a local museum facility. Tallahassee has the John G. Reilly House, which we used for our site visit.

Meeting Facility

The Annual Meeting of the Association of African American Museums attracts about 200 attendees, including historians, administrators and museum staff members.

The four-day event includes classrooms, an exhibition floor, and keynote luncheons.

The 2011 edition was the first time meeting in Tallahassee, the state capital of Florida.

Tallahassee may not have a convention center, but the city boasts an array of meeting venues.

While this event was indeed city-wide, the main convention and related events were held in the Augustus B. Turnbull III Florida State Conference Center.

The Turnbull Center we were very happy with. Usually we are at a meeting type of hotel, but this was within walking distance to our main hotel, which was the Doubletree. It offered stateof-the-art technology for our presentation. But as important as the equipment is, it’s the onsite staff that makes the difference. They give the planner a sense of security. There were a couple of times where there seemed to a problem, but they fixed things right away, so there was no delay and our presentations were seamless.

The City

Tallahassee is a very beautiful area and has a lot of Southern Hospitality. There were great bars and restaurants within walking distance of the hotel and center, most of them were local and unique. Our constituents like to explore local eateries. The food was very continental and southern and there was excellent seafood, but uniquely prepared.

Costs

We have to keep our costs down, and we were able to not raise our room rates, which was good.

Smaller cities are able to be more flexible with the packages they offer. Also, transportation is higher in other cities, but everything here was close together. In smaller cities it is easier, overall, to keep costs down.

Off-Site

We do a lot off-site events, including a tour of a facility. We, and our exhibitors and sponsors, were able to hold receptions at the Florida Museum of History and A & M University, as well restaurants. This is very important to our meeting.

38

Facilities & Destinations 2011 Mid-Market

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

Sites & Cities: A–Z Albuquerque Convention Center.......................................40

Knoxville Convention Center..............................................46

Arthur R. Outlaw Mobile Convention Center....................40

Meadowlands Exposition Center........................................46

Atlantic City Convention Center.........................................40

Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center........46

Austin Convention Center...................................................42

New Orleans Morial Convention Center............................48

Boston Convention & Exhibition Center............................42

VisitNorfolk............................................................................48

Branson Convention Center................................................42

Pheasant Run Resort............................................................48

Calgary TELUS Convention Centre.....................................42

Providence Warwick CVB.....................................................48

Greater Columbus Convention Center..............................42

Puerto Rico Convention Center..........................................48

Colorado Springs CVB.........................................................42

Rhode Island Convention & Entertainment Complex.......................................................48

Cox Convention Center.......................................................44 Currents – The Ballroom at Adventure Aquarium.............44 David L. Lawrence Convention Center...............................44 Visit Denver...........................................................................44 DeVos Place..........................................................................46 Frontier Airlines Center........................................................46

Roland E. Powell Convention Center.................................48 Salina Bicentennial Center..................................................50 San Diego Convention Center............................................50 Scotiabank Convention Centre Niagara............................50

Hilton Garden Inn – Fairfax, VA...........................................46

Sheraton Puerto Rico Convention Center Hotel & Casino.........................................................50

Jackson CVB.........................................................................46

Visit Saint Paul......................................................................50

John S. Knight Center..........................................................40

Visit Tallahassee....................................................................50

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

Tinley Park Convention Center...........................................50

ohio

John S. Knight Center

77 East Mill Street, Akron, OH 44308 (330) 374-8900; (800) 245-4254; Fax: (330) 374-8971 johnsknightcenter.org VP of Sales: Dirk Breiding The Center of All America® City Akron, situated in the rolling hills of the Old Connecticut Western Reserve, along the shores of the Ohio & Erie Canalway, features a rich heritage, social diversity and the John S. Knight center – state-of-the-art video conferencing/streaming; on-site support/service staff, full-service catering; 16 Meeting Rooms; 12,000-sq.-ft. Ballroom; 30,000-sq.-ft Exhibition Hall (41,000 sq. ft. Total Exhibit Space); 12,000 sq. ft. of banquet space; an additional 12,600 sq. ft. of meeting space; 22,000-sq.-ft. lobby, highlighted by distinctive glass rotunda and spiral staircase; Two Hotels PAGE – 339 Rooms – within 11⁄2 blocks; 5,400 county-wide.

25 alabama

Arthur R. Outlaw Mobile Convention Center

One S. Water Street, Mobile, AL 36602 (251) 208-2100; Fax: (251) 208-2150 mobileconventions.com Director Sales & Marketing: Cheryl Gee; General Manager: Bob Brazier “Explore the Options” Anchoring a lively downtown offering world-class accommodations, lush parks and squares, retail shops, restaurants, museums and art galleries, the Mobile Convention Center features 300,000+ sq. ft. of meeting space – 16 meeting rooms, two ballrooms (largest – 15,508 sq. ft.), two 50,000-sq.-ft. exhibit halls, outdoor terrace with panoramic view of Mobile River; largest space accommodates 5,555 theater-styling seating; Catering services by SAVOR; six hotels within walking distance /1,100+ Hotel Rooms. Attractions: 5 Rivers: Delta Resource Center; Alligator Alley, Hank Aaron Stadium, Civil War Trail.

40

Rochester Riverside Convention Center............................48

new mexico

Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau

20 First Plaza NW, Suite 601, Albuquerque, NM 87102 (505) 842-9918; (800)733-9918, Fax: (505) 247-9101 ItsATrip.org VP of Convention Sales, Services & Sports: Robert Enriquez The true Southwest awaits you in Albuquerque. Come immerse yourself in our rich culture and heritage, rooted in centuries of history. Soak in our blue skies and sun that shines 310 days a year; breathe in the high desert air scented with sage and piñon; Albuquerque Convention Center – located in Downtown (bustling nightlife nightclubs, theaters, restaurants) – features over 275,000 sq. ft. meeting space; 31 meeting rooms, 31,164-sq.-ft. Ballroom, 106,200-sq.-ft. Exhibit Hall; 2,300-seat Kiva Auditorium; 695 Hotel Rooms nearby (16,000 citywide). Attractions: Historic Old Town, ABQ BioPark, Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, International Balloon Museum.

new jersey

Atlantic City Convention Center

Atlantic City, N. J. 08401, (609) 449-7136; (888) 222-3683 Fax: (609) 345-3685 atlanticcitynj.com • meetinac.com Vice President, Convention Sales: Gary Musich Your Northeast Business Address A year-round destination with all the amenities you expect from a premiere resort; 20,000 first-class hotel rooms (8,000 committable), top entertainment, golf, shopping, world-class dining and 11 casinos. The Atlantic City Convention Center is a bright, modern facility accommodating meetings and expos of all sizes, four contiguous exhibit halls (486,600 sq. ft.); 32,000 sq. ft. of pre-function space; 109,100 total sq. ft meeting space/45 Meeting Rooms including 29,400-sq-ft Ballroom; Free WiFi; voice/data communications; green facility – single-roof solar systems, aggressive recycling & energy savings programs.

Facilities & Destinations 2011 Mid-Market

The West / texas

Austin Convention Center

LOCATED IN THE HEART OF THE CAPITAL CITY’S DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT, THE CENTER SPANS SIX CITY BLOCKS.

500 East Cesar Chavez Street, Austin, Texas 78701 • (512) 404-4000; Fax: (512) 404-4416 • austinconventioncenter.com

A

winner of the Prime Site Award every year since 1995, the Austin Convention Center has emerged as a leader in the convention and meeting industry. A premier facility located in the heart of the capital city’s downtown business district, the Center spans six city blocks with 370,967 square feet of exhibit and meeting space. The five column-free exhibit halls totaling 246,097 square feet, accommodate 1,289 10’ X 10’ exhibit booths. Seven ballrooms ranging from 3,896 to 43,300 square feet in size and 54 meeting rooms and show offices totaling over 58,000 square feet, complete the four-story convention center. Ample parking is provided in two parking garages with a total capacity of 1,700 spaces.

What’s New

A new overhead open air skyway connects the 3rd and 4th levels, making movement between Levels 3 and 4 significantly easier. The new Skyway Meeting Room with dramatic views of downtown Austin adds an exciting feature to the walkway design.

Technological Features

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

Facilities & Destinations 2011 Mid-Market

Hotels

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

Austin by Night

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

Austin by DAY

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

FAST FACTS:

Facility • Location: Downtown Austin • Total Area: spans six city blocks • Exhibit Space: 246,097 contiguous sq. ft., column free • Ballrooms: 43,300 sq. ft. level 4; 23,418 sq. ft. level 1 • Meeting Space: 54 meeting rooms totaling 58,000 square feet • Technology: Gigabit rated facility, wireless Internet access, plug and play capabilities Austin • Hotels: 6,000 downtown hotel rooms; adjacent 800-room Hilton Austin • Airport: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, eight miles from facility • Nearby Attractions: State Capitol, Sixth Street Entertainment District, Warehouse Entertainment District, University of Texas, LBJ Presidential Library, more than 20 museums including The Texas State History Museum, dozens of art galleries and historical attractions, Lady Bird Lake.

Contact Information • Mark Tester, Director of Austin Convention Center Department • Paul Barnes, Assistant Director – Sales, Marketing and Events • Lisa Kidder, Director of Sales 41

The NorTheasT/rhode islaNd texas

Dunkin’ Donuts Center

Austin Convention Center

500 E. Cesar Chavez Street, Austin, TX 78701 (512) 404-4000; Fax: (512)-404-4416 austinconventioncenter.com One LaSalle Square, Providence, RI 02903 Director of Sales: Lisa Kidder (401) 331-0700; (401) 621-5987 • dunkindonutscenter.com The Live Music Capital of the World Rated one of the most technologically advanced convention centers in U.S. Located near rovidence, Rhode Island mixesfacility the urban city’s famous entertainment districts.

Multi-level spans sixsophistication city blocks, featuresof a big city with the graceful charm of a small town. Exhibit At the – 374,255 sq. ft. Meeting/Exhibit space, including 5 column-free, contiguous Halls heart Providence’s downtown is theand Dunkin’ (256,097 sq. ftof total exhibit space), 7bustling ballrooms (43,300 sq. ft. is largest) 54 meeting Donuts (DDC), partComplimentary of the Rhode Islandhigh Convention rooms; 6,000Center downtown hotel rooms; high-speed, density wireless & Entertainment Complex, includes the Rhode services throughout. In-building cellularwhich antenna also systems; On-site engineers; proven track Island Center (RICC) andpre-function the Veterans Memorial record of Convention handling 6,000 simultaneous connections; spaces offer Auditorium PAGE downtown views;(VMA). new walkway connects 3rd and 4th levels.

The 14,000-seat DDC offers 31,000 square feet of arena 11 space with a ceiling height of 86 feet, a 25,000-square-foot concourse, Missouri a new 9,000-square-foot lobby, 20 luxury suites, and five additional meeting/hospitality rooms. Other amenities include aConvention pedestrian Center bridge connecting the arena to the RICC, Branson a state-of-the-art video scoreboard, and upgraded concession 200 East Main Street, Branson, MO 65616 and restaurant facilities. There are 5,500 hotel rooms in the www.bransonconvention.com Greater Providence area—1,800 located within walking (417) 336-5401; Fax: (417) 336-5413 distance of Manager: the Center.

Assistant General William Tirone, is known for its thriving arts scene and is CMP, Providence CEM, William_tirone@hilton.com recognized as one of the nation’s hottest culinary destinations.

Branson, Missouri has long been one of the most exciting and fun-filled vacation destinations There are nine colleges and universities located in the in the country. Thanks to the state-of-the-art Branson Convention Center, Branson is a first-class Providence market, most of which are within a 5-mile radius of meeting & trade show destination. Situated on the shores of picturesque Lake Taneycomo, the the Center—Brown University, Johnson & Wales University, RI center can accommodate up to 4,500 attendees at a time. Its unique design makes it an ideal School of Design, and Providence College just to name a few. location for a diversity of events, including trade shows and conventions, religious symposiums, The students at these local colleges and universities add to corporate meetings, public expos and large-scale entertainment events – 220,000 sq. ft, of diverse population of our City. event space, including 47,000 sq. ft. exhibit space, 30,000 sq. ft. meeting space, includPAGE ing 5 meeting rooms and 23,000-sq.ft. Ballroom; 294 Hotel Rooms connected.

C4

P

massachussetts

Boston Convention & Exhibition Center

415 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02210 (617) 954-2000; Fax: (617) 954-2299 massconvention.com Executive Director: James E. Rooney “Defy Conventional Thinking” Known for its renowned medical, educational and biotechnology prowess, Boston is one of the premier meeting destinations in the United States. Boston’s beautiful coastlines, history, culture and first-rate meeting facilities make it the perfect setting for business and pleasure. The Boston Convention & Exhibition Center offers a world-class facility with customer-focused staff and state-of-the-art services. Flexible, easily-configured spaces with a column-free ballroom and exhibit hall – meeting/exhibit space: 1,016,000+ sq.ft. – 84 Meeting Rooms; 40,020-sq.-ft.

Ballroom, 184,000-sq.-ft. Main Exhibit Hall (Total Exhibit Space 516,000 sq.ft.); 17,647 Theater Seating. 35,000+ Hotel Rooms. alberta, Canada

Calgary TELUS Convention Centre 120 Ninth Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2G OP3 (800) 822-2697; (403) 261-8500, Fax: (403) 261-8510 calgary-convention.com Director of Sales & Marketing: Heather Lundy

Multi-purpose, newly-expanded, fully-equipped venue; 132,000 sq. ft. flexible meeting space; 20,000-sq.-ft. ballroom, 65,000+ sq. ft. exhibit space, five foyer areas, 27 breakout rooms; Terrace View Room is Elegant 5th floor roof-top room with private balcony; Olde Scotch Room is a multi-level room with built-in bar and hardwood floor. Full-service electronic infrastructure supports high-speed Internet, telecommunications and elaborate audio-visual displays, with full video-conferencing capabilities, satellite downlink, fiber-optic services; directly connected to 1,100+ Hotel Rooms; 11,000 Hotel Rooms citywide. Calgary offers vibrant shopping, dining and entertainment; spectacular hiking and skiing in Canadian Rockies. pennSylvania ohio

Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza Greater Columbus Convention Center 255 Highland Park Blvd., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702

400 High Street, Ohio 43215 (570)North 970-7600; Fax: Columbus, (570) 970-7601 (614) 827-2500; (800) 626-0241, Fax: (614) 827-2659 mohegansunarenapa.com columbusconventions.com General Manager: Rebecca Bonnevier A Perfect Destination: From the Inside Out. SMG-managedlocated arena opened in 1999, SMG-managed, in the heart of thehome to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL); 8,000+ seats, nearly 10,000550 for miles concerts and otherofevents; Columbus High permanent Five entertainment area. Within of two-thirds U.S. Exhibition Space – Event Level 97,390 sq ft. 2.5 - Concourse 8,530 sq.

Suite Level population.

Exhibitor-friendly facility welcomes million+ annually to ft. the- country’s 47,949 sq. ft. rooms, 2 venue two smaller dressing rooms, area, meeting 16th largest city.4 Locker 1.7 million-sq-ft – four contiguous exhibitlounge halls (410,000 sq. room; 65 catering/meeting 624 club seats w/ exclusive access to ft.room/promoter total exhibit space), meeting rooms, room; three ballrooms – including 74,000-sq.-ft.

Club Member 31multi-purpose luxury suites,ballroom 1 Party Suite.

– SAVOR...; 7 permanent Battelle Grand, Lounge; the largest in Ohio.F&B On-site Food Court & Shops, concessions stands,The several portable stands and Kids Zone; Wilkes-Barre/Scranton/ ARAMARK catering, UPS Store & Business Center 2,500 committable hotel rooms Hazleton MSA – 550,000 largest in PA) within 2 hours of Philadelphia downtown; 22,000 citywide;(3rd dozens of restaurants, bars, theatres and galleries & NYC;walking 33+ million within 125-mile radius.

PAGE within distance.

15

rhode iSland colorado

Make Our World Your World!

The Facilities Media Group

Facilities & Destinations SuperBook Facilities & Destinations Mid-Market Review Facilities & Destinations Planner Guide Facilities & Destinations CONFERENCE Facilities SuperBook • Facilities Booking Guide Facilities & Event Management Facilitiesonline.com 36 42

Dunkin’ Donuts Colorado SpringsCenter CVB

1 LaSalle Square, Providence RI 02903 515 S. Cascade Avenue (401) 331-0700; (401) 621-5987 Colorado Springs, COFax: 80903 dunkindonutscenter.com (800) 888-4748 ext. 132; Fax: (719) 635-4968 Executive Assistant/Booking: Debra Polselli VisitCOS.com Director Sales:Convention Kathy Reak& Entertainment Complex, 14,000-seat DDC offers Part of oftheConvention Rhode Island 31,000 Higher sq. ft. arena space, ceiling height – 86 feet, 25,000-square-foot concourse, new Meeting Expectations 9,000-sq-ft luxury suites, five additional meeting/hospitality state-of-the2nd-tier citylobby, with 20 first-class facilities and amenities; 495,000 sq. rooms; ft. meeting art video scoreboard; 6 Dressing/Locker 2 Media Rooms, 2 Production Offices; space throughout area; Major venues:Rooms; The Broadmoor (700 rooms, 185,000 sq. 250restaurant; 11 permanent, 24 portable concession stands; DDC attracts ft.seat meeting space); Sheraton Hotel Crowne Plaza (500 rooms, 43,000 sq.one ft. million+ meetannually/RI DMA population: 1,076,164/ college students a 5-mile radius; ing space); Cheyenne Mountain Resort38,000+ (321 rooms, 40,000 sq. within ft. meeting space) 25% of Hilton USA population lives27,000 within sq.

500ft. miles.

60’ x 40’ StageRight portable staging; Antlers (299 rooms, meeting space); DoubleTree Colorado 200’ x 85’ ice rink; Composite sub-floor; McCauley arrayspace); speakerGarden system/of the Springs,World Arena (305 rooms, 21,135 sq. ft. Line meeting PAGE PowerClub Amps; Super Troupers, 2 Gladiators.

Gods (108Lighting: rooms,6and 13,428 sq. ft. meeting space); 14,000 Hotel Rooms. 17

Facilities Facilities &2011 Destinations 2011SuperBook Mid-Market

THE MID WEST / OHIO

GREATER COLUMBUS CONVENTION CENTER 400 N. High St., Columbus, OH 43215 • (614) 827-2500; (800) 626-0241 Fax: (614) 827-2659 • www.columbusconventions.com

S

MG-managed Greater Columbus Convention Center is located in Ohio’s capital city. The Midwest facility originally opened in 1993 and has been expanded so that the massive complex bears a stunning footprint of 1.7 million square feet with 410,000 square feet of exhibit space. Architecturally, the center is an extraordinary play of color, angles, concrete and glass designed

by Peter Eisenman. Located in a multicultural metropolis, the city itself reveals a patchwork of interesting neighborhoods that can range from the artistic to the academic sides of life, with area restaurants and attractions reflecting a dynamic diversity. Two-thirds of the entire U.S. population is within a 550-mile radius, making the complex the ideal site for trade shows, conventions, seminars, meetings and consumer shows. Meeting planners also appreciate the fact that the facility is exhibitor friendly and easily accessible from its local airport and nearby interstate highways and is surrounded by brand name, meeting-style hotels. Columbus was named the second-most affordable trade show destination in the country.

Exhibit/Meeting Space: Battelle Grand is a magnificent 74,000-squarefoot multipurpose ballroom that is the biggest in Ohio and one of the largest in the Midwest. The $40-million renovation includes 50,000 square feet on the main floor of Battelle Grand and 24,000 on the mezzanine; floor - to- ceiling windows with city views; divisible into 5 configurations; LED “fi n” ceiling lighting with 65,000 color combination options. A Center Lounge, the upscale 36 on the Boulevard window-lined meeting room, additional meeting space, escalators and elevators are new amenities as part of the project. Battelle Grand: Main level totals 50,000, accommodating 219 trade show booths and 2,290 for banquets. Battelle Grand Mezzanine: Measuring 24,000, the mezzanine accommodates 105 trade show booths and 980 for banquets.

• Hall C: Single level totaling 98,000 square feet of exhibit space, 8,000 seats and accommodations for 530 booths.

• Hall D: Single level totaling 118,000 square feet of exhibit space, 8,000 seats and accommodations for 630 booths. (Halls C&D are flexible and may be combined.)

• Hall E: Single level totaling 57,000 square feet of exhibit space and Facilities & Destinations 2011 Mid-Market

accommodations for 302 booths.

• Hall F: Single level totaling 56,000 square feet of exhibit space and accommodations for 206 booths. (Halls E&F are flexible and may be combined.) Halls C, D, E and F can be combined for a total of 336,000 square feet. In addition, the Columbus facility includes the Grand Ballroom and Terrace Ballroom encompassing 40,000 square feet and 65 meeting rooms that are fully carpeted and equipped with acoustical wall treatments, individual temperature controls, and sound and lighting controls.

Special Services: As expansive as this multi-purpose convention center is in space, so it is in the number of business and convention services it offers. A brief list of such helpful services includes: registrar services; party decorators; equipment and furniture rentals; exhibit and display rentals; audio-visual equipment and support staff; banners and signage technology.

In addition, the high-tech center includes an in-house location of The UPS Store and Business Center within the 100,000 square feet of Food Court & Shops retail space.

Food & Beverage: Nationally acclaimed ARAMARK is the exclusive food and beverage provider at the convention center, offering customized menus and catered events for all size groups including served meals for more than 5,000 guests.

Hotel Info & Parking: The Greater Columbus Convention Center is connected directly to a 631-room Hyatt Regency and three additional hotels by covered walkway. It is also surrounded by a dozen or more first class hotels that include such familiar names as Renaissance, Crowne Plaza, Westin, a second Hyatt and others. When tallied, hotel inventory of rooms (within walking distance of the convention center) totals 3,500 rooms. The 532-room full-service Hilton Columbus Downtown hotel across from the Convention Center will open in September 2012. There are more than 22,000 hotel rooms citywide. Parking at the convention center accommodates 3,000 vehicles. There is parking for an additional 10,000 cars throughout the downtown area.

43

THE Midwest / illinois

Tinley Park Convention Center 18451 Convention Center Drive Tinley Park, IL 60477 (708) 895-8200; (888) 895-3211 Fax: (708) 895-8288 meetchicagosouthland.com

T

he Tinley Park Convention Center, 18451 Convention Center Drive, located close to Chicago in southwest suburban Tinley Park, Illinois, has completed a major expansion, doubling the size of the Chicago-area facility.

The expansion brings the total of usable meeting and convention space to 70,450 sq. ft., with 58,100 sq. ft. of clear span exhibit space and an additional 12,350 sq. ft. of divisible meeting space. A 11,500sq.-ft. Junior Ballroom configuration is also available at the facility.

Eighteen-plus breakout rooms are now available at the Tinley Park Convention Center, plus expanded convention storage and loading docks.

The Tinley Park Convention Center connects to the Holiday Inn Tinley Park, with 202 guest rooms, and 450 parking spaces have been added to the property, bringing the total number of free parking spaces to 1,400.

An additional 668 hotel rooms are located within close proximity to the Tinley Park Convention Center, and a variety of dining and entertainment options are located within a mile of the property. oklahoma

Currents – The Ballroom at Adventure Aquarium

One Myriad Gardens, Oklahoma, OK 73102 (405) 602-8500; Fax: (405) 602-8505 coxconventioncenter.com Director of Sales and Marketing: Tim Linville Spanning more than one million square feet and four city blocks, this complex is located at the heart of downtown Oklahoma City – a city both accommodating & affordable; multi-purpose venue hosts everything from intimate meetings to major conventions, tradeshows, concerts and sporting events. 27 Meeting Rooms; 25,000sq-ft Ballroom; 100,000-sq-ft Exhibit Hall, 15,000-seat Arena. FREE Wi-Fi available; internet access speeds up to one Gigabit; 1,400 of Oklahoma City’s 15,000+ Hotel Rooms across street. From arts and adventure to cowboy culture and family fun, Oklahoma City offers an eclectic mix of heritage and hot-spots.

PAGE 7

Pennsylvania

1000 Ft. Duquesne Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15222 (412) 325-6174; Fax: (412) 565-6104 pittsburghcc.com Director of Sales & Marketing: Debbie Smucker Built Green. Working Green. Every Day! In downtown Pittsburgh’s cultural district, within steps of theaters, cinemas, galleries, restaurants, 2,500 hotel rooms, just across the bridge from PNC Park & Heinz Field, the environmentally-smart “green,” SMG-managed, 1.5 million-sq.-ft facility features 313,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, 37 loading docks, 53 meeting rooms, 31,000-sq.-ft. ballroom, (2) 250-seat theaters. The building’s dynamic architectural design offers breath-taking views, open terraces, suspended roof structure. Technology: 1Gb circuit with DS3 backup, Fiber optic backbone network, Multi-mode fiber, CAT6 (copPAGE per) cabling, Video conferencing, Wireless internet access.

5 44

For additional information about the Tinley Park Convention Center, please contact: Mary Patchin, Director of Sales Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau 2304 173rd Street, Lansing, IL 60438 Local: (708) 895-0820 Toll-free: (888) 895-8233 Fax: (708) 895-8288 mary@visitchicagosouthland.com www.meetchicagosouthland.com new jersey

Cox Convention Center

David L. Lawrence Convention Center

Located at Interstate 80 and Harlem Avenue, the Tinley Park Convention Center is about 30 minutes south of Chicago’s Midway Airport, and about 35 minutes from downtown Chicago. The convention center is also easily accessible from Interstates 57 and 355, and the metropolitan region’s commuter rail system, Metra, offers two train stations in Tinley Park with convenient transportation to downtown Chicago.

1 Riverside Drive, Camden, NJ 08103 (856) 365-3300 x7375; Fax: (856) 365-3311 currentsballroom.com •AdventureAquariumCatering@aramark.com District Director of Sales: Chezerah Bowleg Currents Ballroom - A Ballroom Under the Sea with a Skyline View State-of-the-Art event space; unmatched panoramic views of the Philadelphia skyline; breathtaking three-movie-screen-sized look into 550,000-gallon Shark Realm exhibit (100s of amazing fish & over 20+ sharks!); the tranquil underwater décor adds a layer of sophistication to any event; 7,000 sq. ft. meeting space (Banquet Style: 280; Theater Style: 325; Cocktail Reception: 600) breaks down to 3 separate rooms; Extensive audio/visual capabilities, two projection screens, LCD projector, 3 LCD monitors; internet access; Direct-TV capability; only two miles from center city Philadelphia! colorado

Visit Denver

1555 California St., Ste. 300, Denver, CO 80202 (800) 480-2010; (303) 892-1112, Fax: 303-892-1636 VISITDENVER.com Vice President of Sales & Services: Rachel Benedick 300 days of sunshine, a thriving art and cultural scene, diverse neighborhoods, and the Rocky Mountain backdrop combine for the world’s most spectacular playground. Benefits to meeting in the Mile High City: unbeatable mix of state-of-the-art facilities, affordability, accessibility and destination appeal. The Colorado Convention Center – 584,000 sq. ft. of contiguous exhibit floor space, divisible into six halls; 63 meeting rooms (100,000 sq. ft. total – all on one level); Korbel Ballroom (50,000 sq. ft.; seats 5,452 theatre style) and 5,000-seat Wells Fargo Theatre (divisible into three sections). Technology: Wireless network throughout; High-speed internet; 8,300 hotel rooms within walking distance; 42,000 metro-wide. 300+ restaurants within walking distance; LoDo hip & historic district; 3 downtown sports stadiums.

Facilities & Destinations 2011 Mid-Market

Northeast / Pennsylvania

DAVID L. LAWRENCE CONVENTION CENTER 1000 Ft. Duquesne Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15222 • (412) 325-6174; Fax: (412) 565-6104 • pittsburghcc.com

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World-Class Accommodations, Global Consciousness and An awe-inspiring structure along the banks of the Allegheny

n awe-inspiring structure along the banks of the Allegheny River in downtown Pittsburgh, the David L. Lawrence Convention Center (DLCC) has set a new global standard for the convergence of beauty, functionality and sustainability. Opened in 2003, the Convention Center sits on almost eight acres of land at the edge of Pittsburgh’s Cultural District, which is a thriving area of shops, restaurants and theaters. With 53 meeting rooms, the Center boasts of the largest ballroom in western Pennsylvania and more than 300,000 square feet of exhibition space. From its sweeping stainless steel roof to an on-site water recycling system, the DLCC is a case study in sustainability and was awarded GOLD in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED ®) by the US Green Building Council. Beyond its beauty, the curved roof provides a significant amount of natural light throughout the facility, which dramatically reduces the need for costly and energy- consuming artificial light.

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

Facilities & Destinations 2011 Mid-Market

DLCC Overview 1,500,000 sq. ft.

Building size: 313,400 sq. ft.

Exhibit space: Meeting rm space: 109,562 sq. ft.

40,000 sq. ft.

Rooftop terrace: Ballroom space: 31,600 sq. ft.

25,590 sq. ft.

Living roof terrace: Indoor parking spaces: 700 Meeting rooms: 53 Loading docks: 37 A leader in sustainable design and function; some of the DLCC g1(greenfirst)® practices include: Recycling: Traditional-plastics, aluminum, glass, cardboard, paper, wood. Non-traditional batteries, sod, water, light bulbs, food.

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

Reusing: Operates its own water reclamation.

Purchases environmental friendly office supplies.

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michigan

DeVos Place

303 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 (616) 742-6500; Fax: (616) 742-6590 www.devosplace.org Director of Sales: Kathy Bart Big city sophistication with small town virtues.

Ideally equipped to host meetings, conventions, trade shows, performing arts and touring events, often simultaneously; multi-level venue – 1 million sq. ft. of flexible space on a 13-acre riverfront site; 162,000-sq-ft. Exhibit Hall, 40,000+ sq.-ft. Ballroom; 26, sub-dividable meeting rooms/32,000+sq.ft. of meeting space, 2,404-seat DeVos Performance Hall; 1,400 Hotel Rooms within walking distance/ 1,200 accessible by skywalk; located in bustling downtown featuring restaurants, nightclub and theatres. Attractions: Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Gerald Ford Presidential Museum, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Rosa Parks Circle, plus Golfing, fishing, boating, biking and sightseeing. virginia

Hilton Garden Inn – Fairfax, VA

3950 Fair Ridge Drive, Fairfax, VA 22033 (703) 385-7774; Fax: (703) 359-2932 fairfax.hgi.com General Manager: Steve Steinberg Everything. Right where you need it.

Nestled in the upscale Washington, DC suburbs of Northern Virginia, the Hilton Garden Inn is a perfect venue for meetings, conferences, banquets, and special events; Small-to mid-size meetings up to 300 guests; 6 meeting rooms, 2,700sq.-ft. Ballroom; 9,000 sq. ft. exhibit space; 380 theater-style seating; up-to-date audio/visual technology; on-site catering with high-quality and menu variety; On-site Great American Grill Restaurant; 24-hour Pavilion Pantry convenience shop; Pavilion Lounge; Complimentary 24-hour business center; Complimentary wireless and wired high-speed Internet access; only 30 minutes from D.C. attractions.

Kansas

wisconsin

Frontier Airlines Center

400 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53203 (414) 908-6001; Fax: (414) 908-6010 frontierairlinescenter.org Director of Sales & Marketing: Trace Goudreau tgoudreau@wcd.org, Milwaukee – easy-to-get-to, easy-to-navigate, visitor-friendly Meetings Destinations known for its hospitality and beautiful Lake Michigan location The Frontier Airlines Center, home to the $1.4 million Burke Family Collection of integrated and commissioned art, features 32 Meeting Rooms, 37,506-sq-ft Ballroom, 189,695 total Exhibit Space; 4,100-seat Milwaukee Theatre & 12,700-seat U.S. Cellular Arena. Ballroom equipped with built-in rigging points and high-Amperage power sources, complete wi-fi, audio-visual, satellite, video conferencing and remote network capability throughout facility. 1,543 hotel rooms connected PAGE by skywalk; 3,359 in downtown area; 15,000+ in immediate metro area.

C3 mississippi

Jackson Convention & Visitors Bureau

111 East Capitol Street, Suite 102, Jackson, MS 39201 (800) 354-7695; Fax: (601) 960-1827 visitjackson.com Vice President of Sales: Shun Hatten Jackson, Mississippi: The City with Soul There’s no better way to sample the South than Jackson, Mississippi. A blend of the old and the new, Jackson is a secret full of surprises! 5,000+ hotel rooms; the new Jackson Convention Center features 85,000 sq. ft. of divisible space, including a 60,000-sq.-ft. exhibit hall, a 25,000-sq.-ft ballroom, and 33,000 sq. ft. of lobbies, concourse, and registration areas. Additional meeting facilities are available in Jackson, Mississippi, for various meeting sizes. New entertainment district offers unique dining experiences & nightlife with a Southern flare. tennessee

Kansas Expocentre

Knoxville Convention Center

The premier entertainment, exhibition and convention facility in northeast Kansas – a convenient, central location and offers friendly, Midwestern hospitality; 210,000 sq. ft. Exhibit Space – 44,500-sq.-ft. Exhibit Hall, 27,000 sq. ft. Meeting Space – 15 Meeting Rooms, 11,000-sq.-ft. Ballroom; WiFi, digital video boards, inhouse live video production, state-of-the-art sound; Six loading docks, three drive-in entrances; Capital City of Kansas, variety of entertainment options; historical architecture and museums, spacious parks, lake, gardens, Lake Shawnee gardens/golf/boating/swimming; Great Overland Train Station; 75 percent of U.S. population capable of reaching facility in just a one-day drive; destination of choice for budget-conscious conventions and tradeshows.

Wonderfully diverse mix of big-city amenities and attractions delivered with small-town charm and hospitality. The Knoxville Convention Center -- 500,000 sq. ft. of Meeting/Exhibit Space – 24 Meeting Rooms, 27, 300-sq.-ft. Ballroom; 119,922-sq.ft. Exhibit Hall (200,000 sq. ft. total Exhibit Space).

461-seat Theater; 11 50” plasma monitors & 104” video wall for advertising or event listings; two computerized marquees; Copper (Cat 3&5), co-ax & fiber infrastructure; 8,100 Hotel Rooms; free downtown trolley service; 120+ Knoxville attractions including museums, historical homes, art galleries, collegiate sport arenas, Tennessee Riverboat tours, the Knoxville Zoo, Botanical Gardens, music.

One Expocentre Drive, Topeka, KS 66612-1442 (785) 235-1986; Fax: (785) 235-2967 KsExpo.com General Manager: H.R. Cook, HRC@KsExpo.com

New Jersey

Meadowlands Exposition Center

355 Plaza Drive, Secaucus, NJ 07094 (201) 330-7773; (800) 400-3976; Fax: (201) 330-1172 mecexpo.com Regional General Manager: Robin Cuneo Everything you need, exactly where you want it. Your cost effective alternative to NYC Outstanding location -- five miles outside Manhattan, accessible to Public Transportation & Major Highways; Only Minutes from Newark Liberty Airport; 61,000 sq. ft. of continuous exhibition space. Five Seminar Rooms. Free Parking.

65,000 sq. ft. of Meeting/Exhibition space, including five meeting rooms, theater seating: 6,000; Internet, Wifi, and all Audio/Visual needs; onsite decorator.

Catering for up to 5,000; 1,500+ Hotel Rooms. Attractions: New Meadowlands Stadium, IZOD Center, Meadowlands Racetrack, Secaucus Outlet Center, 25+ restaurants, 16 movie screens, Health Club.

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701 Henley Street, Knoxville, TN 37902 (800) 727-8045; (865) 673-4400 knoxville.org Director of Sales & Marketing Administration: Teresa Hall

Mississippi

Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center

2350 Beach Boulevard, Biloxi, MI 39531, (228) 896-6699 gulfcoast.org Director of Sales: Crystal Johnson Scenic coastal beaches, championship golf, cultural attractions, top-name entertainment, great shopping and 24-hour casino excitement make the Mississippi Gulf Coast a world-class destination! One of the few beachfront convention centers in North America, the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center – 400,000+ sq. ft. of newly expanded and renovated exhibit and meeting space, including: 22 meeting/ breakout rooms; 36,000-sq-ft Ballroom; 129,500 –sq.-ft. Exhibition Hall; 9,000-seats;/30,000sq-ft Theater; 94 Wireless Access Points; Peer-to-Peer Networking & Webcasting. After the meeting, your delegates can enjoy gaming, golf, dining, culture, shopping and so PAGE much more. 3,000 committable Hotel Rooms; 12,500 total rooms.

13 Facilities & Destinations 2011 Mid-Market

The SOUTHEAST / mississippi

Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center 2350 Beach Boulevard, Biloxi, MI 39531 • (228) 896-6699 • www. www.gulfcoast.org

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ou will find a lot to love here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Like 400,000 square feet of newly expanded and renovated exhibit and meeting space at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center. This facility offers all the modern amenities meeting planner’s desire.

The facility boasts a wide range of services including Meeting Matrix, the latest in telecommunications, 3G technology, digital and analog lines, 94 wireless access points, peer-to-peer networking and webcasting. The facility also offers custom lighting designed around your event. The newly expanded parking areas can accommodate over 4,000 vehicles.

The centerpiece of this beachfront convention center is the 129,500-square-foot exhibit space. It has unlimited floor load capacity, huge loading docks and all the power anyone could need.

This space is extremely flexible, with 22 breakout rooms. If you need the arena, you’ll get another 30,000 square feet of space and seating for 9,000.

After your event, will you hit the links on one of our signature golf courses or hit blackjack at one of our casino resorts? Give yourself a day of luxurious spa treatments, or treat yourself to a succulent seafood dish at one of our many top notch restaurants? Lounge on our 26 mile long beach, or go after the big ones on a charter fishing boat. Here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast anything your heart desires is at your fingertips. So, take a moment to consider the possibilities.

Stay and play at one of our 11 casino resorts. The slots are hot and you’ll find exciting action at the blackjack tables, roulette wheels, craps tables and poker rooms. There are games for everyone whether you’re looking for penny slots or playing baccarat in sophisticated High Limit areas.

Accommodations range from the luxury of penthouse suites to the fun of a little mom-and-pop motor court. If you travel with your RV, you’ll find plenty of parks available for your stay.

Facilities & Destinations 2011 Mid-Market

You won’t believe the headliners starring on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Performers like Keith Urban, Air Supply and Darius Rucker just to name a few. Go to our website at www.gulfcoast.org to see a current schedule.

Play golf on courses designed by the likes of Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Fazio.

With over 20 courses to choose from, you could swing your clubs for weeks and never play the same hole twice.

If shopping’s your bag, you’ll find malls and much more. The Mississippi Gulf Coast is dotted with unique boutiques, factory outlets, places where you can find that special gift. Works by our talented artists and craftsmen are available throughout the area. Antiquing here is a sport in itself. If you are looking for mint collectibles or pieces that need a little loving care, you can find it on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

With all the fun and excitement going on, it’s nice to know you can take a break and take in a museum. Contemplate the works of George Ohr, the Mad Potter of Biloxi, at the Frank Gehry designed museum.

Or experience Horn Island through the eyes of Walter Anderson at the museum devoted to his works.

There’s plenty for the family to do. Take the ferry out to Ship Island where historic Fort Massachusetts, crystal clear water, and a beach rated among the finest in the world awaits you. You can take a tour aboard a working shrimp boat, watch the skipper haul in the nets and see the catch for yourself.

Choose from a day at the water park or a visit to a nationally rated children’s museum.

Along the beach you can rent a jet ski or kayak.

There are so many decisions to make! Just relax. Take all the time you need. You can always stay an extra day or two. And we’ll welcome you back again and again.

Go to www.gulfcoast.org for all the information you need to make the most of your visit.

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Louisiana

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

900 Convention Center Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 582-3000; Fax: (504) 582-3032 mccno.com Director of Sales: Keith Levey Just steps away from the Warehouse/Arts District and the historic French Quarter, where the old-world charm of fine restaurants, first-class hotel rooms and unique cultural experiences abound. Convention Center features: 140 meeting rooms, 12 combinable exhibit halls totaling 1.1 million sq.ft.; 4,000-seat conference-auditorium/theater, two 30,000+ sq.ft. Ballrooms, three restaurants and a VIP dining suite; 10-GIG internet backbone. High speed internet, Wifi in public areas, videoconferencing, satellite uplinks and downlinks, video streaming/webcasting.on-site technological support; 20,000+ Hotel Rooms. Attractions: Riverwalk, PAGE Garden District, Aquarium of the Americas, World War II Museum; Audubon Zoo. C2 illinois

Pheasant Run Resort

4051 East Main Street, St. Charles, IL 60174 (630) 584-6300; (800) 4-PHEASANT, Fax: (630) 584-9831 PheasantRun.com Director of Sales: Tim Hobbs Located in charming St. Charles, less than an hour from Chicago, easily accessible from both O’Hare and Midway Airports.

Comprehensive meeting facilities, state-of-the-art technology, outstanding guest accommodations, unlimited recreational opportunities, professional staff; 100,000+ sq. ft. Meeting/Exhibit Space, 39 Meeting Rooms; St. Charles Ballroom - 12,320 sq. ft.; Mega Center - 38,000 sq. ft.; 320-seat tiered amphitheater; high-speed Internet and advanced presentation systems; onsite audiovisual team; 473 guestrooms; Mario Tricoci Salon & Day Spa; 36 Holes of Championship Golf; Live Theater; Zanies PAGE Comedy Club; 3 Swimming Pools; Fitness Center; 8 Restaurants & Lounges.

3 Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Convention Center

New York

Rochester Riverside Convention Center

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

Convenient upstate N.Y location, scenic Genesee River setting. 100,000 sq. ft of meeting/exhibition space; 22 meeting rooms; 10,028-sq.-ft. Ballroom; 49,275-sq.-ft. Main Exhibit Hall; 5,000-seat Theater; dedicated internet connection over Fiber Optics; wireless access throughout facility; 1,100+ Hotel Rooms in a trio of major hotels connect venue, surrounded by several entertainment districts with restaurants, cafés, pubs, dance clubs, music halls, theaters. Rochester offers planners a compact conPAGE vention district and New York State’s only one-stop convention facility.

39 48

VisitNorfolk

232 East Main Street, Norfolk, VA 23510 (757) 664-6620; (800) 368-3097; FAX: 757-622-3663 visitnorfolktoday.com Vice President of Sales and Marketing: Donna Allen Located in the heart of the Mid-Atlantic, this compact meetings destination features hotels and convention facilities and a sparkling waterfront dotted with trendy restaurants, arts districts, museums, patriotic attractions and shopping. Waterside Convention Connection (200+ first-class rooms/suites, 55 meeting rooms, 121,000 sq. ft. of convention space) includes - Norfolk Waterside Marriott, Sheraton Norfolk Waterside, the Crowne Plaza Norfolk and the Waterside Festival Marketplace; Norfolk Scope Arena (85,000 sq. ft. meeting space). Attractions: MacArthur Center Mall, Chrysler Museum of Art, Hermitage Foundation Museum, Norfolk PAGE Tides AAA Baseball at Harbor Park, Virginia Zoological Park.

24 Rhode Island

Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau

144 Westminster Street, Providence, RI 02903 (401) 456-0200; Fax: (401) 273-7046 GoProvidence.com Vice President of Sales & Services: Kristin McGrath, CDM Providence: The Creative Capital Brimming with rich history, natural beauty, and stunning architecture — extremely convenient and walkable city — with hotels, great restaurants, and stellar shopping all within blocks of each other.

Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau books meetings, conventions, tradeshows and events of any size, working closely with planners to boost attendance, including targeted e-mail blasts, postcard mailings, Web site/microsite; welcome banners throughout city; Rhode Island Convention & Entertainment Complex includes RI Convention Center (137,000 sq. ft. of total exhibit space), 13,000-seat Dunkin’ Donuts Center, 1,900-seat Veterans Memorial Auditorium. PAGE 29 Rhode Island

Rhode Island Convention & Entertainment Complex

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

9 maryland

Roland E. Powell Convention Center 4001 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842 (800) 626-2326 Fax: (410) 289-0058 www.ococean.com Director of Sales & Marketing: R. Frederick Wise, CHAE

Ocean City, Maryland offers some of the world’s best golf courses, a free beach, seasonal festivals, and fishing; its contemporary convention features 182,000 sq. ft meeting/exhibition space – 22 meeting rooms; 68,000 sq. ft. Total Exhibit Space, including a 45,000-sq.-ft Main Exhibit Hall; 22,000-sq.-ft Grand Ballroom with 35’ ceilings and a 4,700 seat Theater; State-of-the-art sound system throughout; wireless internet; ground level loading docks; built-in theatrical ballroom stage; 1,200 free parking spaces; Ocean City Information & Welcome Center on site; in-house cleaning services; full-service food & beverage department; 10,000 hotel rooms & 25,000 rentable Condos; 28 miles from Salisbury-Ocean City Airport; Attractions: Boardwalk, Free Beaches, & World-Class Golf Courses.

Facilities & Destinations 2011 Mid-Market

Steven Schwartz Photography

100 Convention Blvd., San Juan, PR 00907 (800) 214-0420 Fax: (773) 753-1634 prconvention.com Associate Vice President Sales: Rosa M. Luke, rluke@prcb.org “Smooth” At 580,000 sq. ft., the award-winning facility is the Caribbean’s largest & most technologically-advanced meeting facility; budget-friendly amenities, beautiful surroundings, stunning views, world-renowned service; 36,200 sq. ft. of meeting space, including 15 meeting rooms on two levels, divisible into 28 sections; 4 on level one and 11 on level two; 39,500sq.-ft. Ballroom (seats 3,934 theater /1,900 banquet/4,158 reception/2,616 classroom); 152,700 sq. ft. of exhibit space; 16,965-seat theater; 7,000+ Hotel Rooms nearby; adjacent to Old San Juan, resort hotels, res¬taurants, night life; centerpiece to 113-acre waterfront development featuring hotels, walkways, fountains and restaurants.

virginia

The Northeast / RHODE ISLAND

Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau

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

rovidence, Rhode Island mixes the vibrancy and amenities of a big city with the walkability and personal service of a small town. Known for its rich history, arts and culture, and nationally acclaimed culinary scene, Providence once again scored big in Travel + Leisure magazine’s annual “America’s Favorite Cities” poll. The city earned top marks in culinary- and artsrelated categories, and was hailed as one of the top three food cities in the country.

The Rhode Island Convention & Entertainment Complex stands in the heart of the city, and includes the Rhode Island Convention Center (RICC), the Dunkin’ Donuts Center (Dunk) and the Veterans Memorial Auditorium (The Vets). The Complex is conveniently located within one mile of 2,200 hotel rooms, and a total of 5,500 rooms are available in the Greater Providence area.

The RICC consists of a 100,000-contiguous-square-foot exhibition hall, a 20,000-square-foot ballroom, 23 meeting rooms, and the Rotunda Room which provides spectacular views of the city. There are also two adjacent garages with 2,400 parking spaces.

A key feature of the Convention Center is its connection to the Dunkin’ Donuts Center, the area’s premier events arena. The RICC is also attached to the 564-room Westin Hotel, and Providence Place, a downtown mall offering more than 170 shopping, dining and entertainment options.

The 13,000-seat Dunk features 31,000 square feet of arena space, a ceiling height of 90 feet, a 25,000-square-foot concourse, a new 12,000square-foot lobby, two party suites, two loges, a new restaurant, and five renovated meeting/hospitality rooms.

The Vets, a 1,900-seat theatre, is a historic performing arts venue and is known for its unique combination of size and intimacy, superb acoustics and great sight lines. The Vets is also available for elegant corporate events, speaking engagements and more.

Providence is home to the renowned culinary school, Johnson &

Facilities & Destinations 2011 Mid-Market

Wales University. Many of the university’s chefs remain in Providence after graduation, which is reflected in the city’s world-class dining scene.

Providence has a wide selection of ethnic restaurants, but the city is famous for its Italian food, with the Federal Hill section of Providence named “One of the Five Best Little Italys in the U.S.” by celebrity Chef Mario Batali. Located on the shores of Narragansett Bay, local restaurants also make good use of the abundance of fresh seafood to create delicious and inventive dishes.

As a food city, it’s no wonder that Providence has an entire museum dedicated to the culinary arts. The Culinary Arts Museum at Johnson & Wales University is a premier museum focusing on the preservation and study of the culinary arts, and draws thousands of visitors annually. The museum contains more than a half million culinary artifacts, including an exhibit on food in the White House and more than 4,000 menus from around the world.

Located between New York City and Boston, Providence is easily accessible for event attendees, and about 25 percent of the United States’ population lives within 500 miles of the city. The Amtrak train station is located within walking distance of the Complex, and offers rail service throughout the Northeast Corridor.

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

Planners can look to the award-winning Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau to provide a knowledgeable staff, a welcoming spirit, and services that can aid them with all the details that will make their convention or meeting program successful.

49

california

kansas

Salina Bicentennial Center

800 The Midway, P. O. Box 1727 Salina, Kansas 67402-1727 (785) 826-7200; (888) 826-SHOW; Fax: (785) 826-7207 bicentennial.org Contact: Marshall P. Perry or Kay Quinn Mid-America’s Meeting Place Centrally located in Salina, Kansas, at the crossroads of I-70 and I-135; full-service, multi-purpose venue serving the convention and entertainment industries; 40,000 square feet of total space, the Bicentennial Center offers convenience and versatility – 20,000 sq. ft. of Meeting Space/8 – 12 Meeting Rooms; Exhibit Space includes 21,000 sq. ft. in 7,500–seat Arena and 17,368 sq. ft. in Heritage Hall. Attractions: Aquatic Park; Art Center and Cinema; Community Performing Arts Theater; Downtown shopping and restaurants; College sports, wide variety of hotels, motels, and restaurants.

Ontario, Canada

6815 Stanley Ave, Niagara Falls, Ontario L2G 3Y9 (905) 357-6222; (888) 997-6222; Fax: (905) 357-6212 fallsconventions.com Director of Sales and Marketing: Jeff Dixon UnConventional Experiences!

Newly opened, 288,000-sq-ft (LEED) Silver Level designed facility features: 82,000-sq-ft Free Span Exhibition Hall (accommodates 400+ 10ft x 10ft display booths) ; 17,000-sq-ft Ballroom; 26,000 sq. ft. of Flexible Meeting/Breakout Space;1,000-seat Theatre; Centerplate – Centre’s exclusive Food & Beverage provider; 5,000 within walking distance of center. Niagara Falls is an international brand name, showcasing an impressive array of natural wonders, sights, and attractions distinguishing this world-class destination. Nearby attractions include: Niagara Falls, Casinos, Restaurants & night life; Buffalo Niagara International Airport – 30 minutes away; Toronto Pearson International – 90 minutes.

Visit Saint Paul

5:28 PM

Page 29

175 West Kellogg Blvd., Saint Paul, MN 55102 (651) 265-4900; Fax: (651) 265-4999 visitsaintpaul.com Vice President of Sales: Jane Lewis

MEETING Saint Paul Minnesota – perched& on EVENT the bluffs PLANNERS... of the mighty Mississippi river – this charming river DATA? town with a city vibe preserves NEED MARKET its history while embracing an exciting future. Accessibility, facilities and accommodations along with impeccable service, affordability and safety make Minnesota’s capital city the ideal location for your next meeting. Saint Paul RiverCentre – luminous design, sq. ft.5:28 of distinctive, meeting/event space, includ23-46 250,000 11/10/08 PM Pageconformable 29 ing 15; 27,000-sq.-ft. Ballroom; 68,699-sq.-ft. Main Exhibit Hall 100,382 sq. ft. - Total Exhibit Space; 5,844-seat Roy Wilkins Auditorium. 900 rooms connected by enclosed climate controlled walkways (1,500 hotel rooms in downtown).

MEETING & EVENT PLANNERS...

NEED MARKET DATA? THE #1 SOURCE FOR PROFESSIONAL PLANNERS OF CONVENTIONS, MEETINGS, ENTERTAINMENT & SPECIAL EVENTS.

Need to research venues for your event or meeting?

Facilitiesonline has the most up-to-date news, information and listings available.

The best part is, it’s all on a user-friendly, easily accessible website.

The #1for News & Information One-stop shopping all your market research needs!

Source for Planners of Meetings, Conventions, Tradeshows, & SpecialPLANNERS Events THE #1 SOURCEExhibitions FOR PROFESSIONAL

50

Sheraton Puerto Convention Center Hotel & Casino

200 Convention Boulevard, San Juan, PR 00907 (787) 993-3500; (800) 325-3535; Fax: (787) 993-3525 sheraton.com/puertoricoconventioncenter Director of Sales & Marketing: Jeremy Marquardt You don’t just stay here. You belong Plan your event in paradise. Recently opened, superbly situated amidst the Puerto Rico Convention Center District facing the Bay of San Juan, truly remarkable landmark; 10 minutes from international airport; Meeting Space: 35,000 sq. ft..- 9 breakout rooms; 16,290-sq.-ft. Ballroom; 1,480 Theater Seating; adjacent to Puerto Rico Convention Center – 580,000+ sq. ft. of function space). Event Staff; on-site catering team; 503 Guest Rooms; 16 gaming tables, 500 of the latest slot machines, exceptional entertainment options. numerous dining, shopping and nightlife venues.

Florida

Minnesota 11/10/08

111 W. Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101 (619) 525-5000: Fax: (619) 525-5005 visitsandiego.com Senior Vice President Sales: Andy Mikschl, CMP Come for the Convention, Stay for the Vacation Renowned for impeccable service and an experienced, service-oriented staff that provides seamless customer service from the initial planning stages to the conclusion of an event; sales team books all citywide conventions, covers all your needs. One stop shopping at its best. 615,700-sq.-ft. Convention Center features 72 Meeting Rooms; 40,000-sq.-ft. Ballroom and 525,701-sq.-ft. Main Exhibit Hall; 11,000+ premier hotel rooms within 1.5 miles; 55,000 rooms countywide. Attractions include: SeaWorld, San Diego Zoo & Safari Park; Gaslamp Quarter; PETCO Park, home of the San Diego Padres.

Puerto Rico

Scotiabank Convention Centre Niagara

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San Diego Convention Center

OF CONVENTIONS, MEETINGS, ENTERTAINMENT Facilities & Destinations & SPECIAL EVENTS.

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Visit Tallahassee

106 E Jefferson Street, Tallahassee, FL 32301 (850) 606-2305, (800) 628-2866; FAX: (850) 606-2301 visittallahassee.com Meetings & Conventions Sales Director: Janet Roach Home to the state capital, two major universities and an array of museums, attractions and unique experiences, Tallahassee shares a deep-rooted history and culture with unparalleled nature and outdoor recreation – a fusion of cosmopolitan flair and charming personality. 6,000 hotel rooms citywide. Meeting Facilities: Augustus B. Turnbull III Florida State Conference Center (47,000 sq. ft. meeting space, 400-seat auditorium, 9 break-out rooms; Mission San Luis (8,500 sq. ft. Meeting Space); University Center Club (64,000 sq. ft. Meeting Space); Goodwood Museum and Gardens (6,000 sq. ft.

Meeting Space); Tallahassee Automobile Museum (46,000 sq. ft. Meeting Space). illinois

Tinley Park Convention Center

18451 Convention Center Drive, Tinley Park, IL 60477 (708) 895-8200; (888) 895-3211; Fax: (708) 895-8288 meetchicagosouthland.com Director of Sales: Mary Patchin

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Chicago Southland’s largest multi-purpose meeting and convention facility completed a major expansion/renovation in Spring 2011; now features: 58,100 sq. ft. of clear span exhibit space and an additional 12,350 sq. ft of divisFOR YOUR NEXT CONVENTION OR MEETING, LOOK TO THE CIT Y ible meeting space; Accommodates 6,000 theater-style seating; Wi-Fi throughout; StateTHAT IS THE NBA’S NEXT JEWEL IN THE CROWN. of-the-art audio/visual.AIRPORT Expansion Upgraded Lighting, business center, 30’ high WHERE A STREAMLINED ANDincluded: LACK OF TRAFFIC waterfalls lobby,IN1,400 MEANinYOU’RE FAST.FREE AND Parking WITH THESpaces, BEST breakout rooms, storage space, loading RESTAURANTS AND NIGHTLIFE JUST A Hotel, FEW MINUTES’ WALKAttractions: Downtown Chicago, docks. 202 rooms in Headquarter 668 nearby.

FROM YOUR HOTEL, YOU’RE OUT EVEN FASTER. First Midwest Bank Ampthitheatre, Odyssey Fun World, Riverboat Casinos and IT’S OUR MEET & GREET, OUR NICE & EASY. OUR PAGE Chicagoland Speedway, TOYOTA PARK, Balmoral Park Race Track.

27 Facilities & Destinations 2011 Mid-Market

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Facilities & Destinations Awards of Excellence Ballot

Please consider the following criteria when voting: Attractiveness & Functionality of Meeting Venue Size & Quality of Meeting Space Technological Capabilities Quality of Staff Food & Beverage Options Lighting, Acoustics, & Internet Access Other Meeting/Event Support Services Amenities Recreational Activities Dining & Entertainment Options Lodging Quality Accessibility to Airport Ease of Travel within Destination

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Facilities & Destinations

152 Madison Avenue, Suite 802, New York, NY 10016 Fax: (212) 213-6382

The Facilities & Destinations

B u y er ’ s G u i d e pc/nametag® 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 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.

Offering corporate meeting and event planning, management, consulting and meeting services, the Johnson Meetings Group can provide the meeting solution you need. From on-site support to overall project and event

Do you want your product or service to reach 50,000+ Association & Corporate Meeting Planners?

If your answer is yes, then the F&D Buyer’s Guide is how.

management, we take care of the details, so you focus on business.

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

www.JohnsonMeetings.com discount pricing • multiple-Issue & multi-media packages value-added programs • target marketing • Real Time results

Facilities & Destinations 2011 Mid-Market

919.523.6001

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Buyer’s Guide

Yo u r P r o d u c t s & S e rv i c e s R e s o u r c e

Smart City

Conventions: Information: (888) 446-6911 or (702) 943-6000 Email: csr@SmartCity.com Hospitality: General, (407) 828-6938 Video Conferencing: General, (407) 828-6900 Making the world smarter. One city at a time. ® Smart City is a full-service communications provider across the nation and one of the world’s largest communications providers to convention centers and hospitality venues. Smart City provides technologies that make their cities smarter places to work, live, and play.

Have Your Product or Service Reach Key Decision Makers Buyer’s Guide – “Your Product & Services Resource” is a special section in key Facilities Media Group print publications. Reach all of your market with this essential tool for Meeting & Event Planners.

Facilities & Destination SuperBook: 51,000 Association and Corporate Meeting & Event Planners Facilities & Destinations CONFERENCE: 30,000 Association and Corporate Meeting & Event Planners.

Facilities & Destinations Planner Guide: 51,000 Association and Corporate Meeting & Event Planners.

Facilities SuperBook: 8,000 Event Bookers, including Booking Agents, Promoters, Talent Buyers, Business/Personal Managers, College Concert Buyers & Owners/Managers of Entertainment Management Firms.

Facilities Booking Guide: 8,000 Event Bookers, including Booking Agents, Promoters, Talent Buyers, Business/Personal Managers, College Concert Buyers & Owners/Managers of Entertainment Management Firms.

Discount Pricing • Multiple-Issue & Multi-Media Packages Value-Added Programs • Target Marketing Real Time Results

Keppler Speakers

4350 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 700, Arlington, VA 22203 (703) 516-4000; Fax: (703) 516-4819 www.kepplerspeakers.com Senior VP for Sales and Marketing: John Truran With Keppler Speakers, creating memorable meetings never felt so easy. With over 25 years of experience, we provide you solid, seasoned expertise, making speaker selection stress-free by managing all of the details. Keppler Speakers saves you precious time by matching you with speakers who are right on target. From proven performers to dynamic rising stars, our speakers bring fascinating, real stories and a gift for inspiring audiences.

The Facilities Media Group Michael Caffin Associate Publisher (212) 532-4150 ext 103 • mcaffin@facilitiesonline.com

Advertiser Index Akron/Summit CVB.................................. 25 Austin Convention Center...................... 11 Branson Convention Center..........Cover 4 Chicago Southland CVB/Tinley Park....................................... 27 Greater Columbus Convention Center.................................. 15 Cox Convention Center............................ 7 David L. Lawrence Convention Center.................................... 5 Frontier Airlines Center..................Cover 3

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Mississippi Gulf Coast CVB................................................ 13 New Orleans Morial Convention Center.........................Cover 2 Norfolk CVB............................................. 24 Pheasant Run Resort.......................................................... 3 Providence Warwick CVB........................ 29 Rhode Island Convention Center.................................... 9 Rochester Riverside Convention Center.................................. 39

Facilities & Destinations 2011 Mid-Market