SITE & CITY PROFILES

AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER

WELCOMING YOU BACK TO AUSTIN AT FULL CAPACITY

The Austin Convention Center is operating at full capacity for events. This includes no capacity and occupancy limits, social distancing and mask requirements for in-person meetings and events. We welcome you back to Austin. The four-story, LEED® Gold-certified Austin Convention Center, is an accredited Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) STAR™ Facility.

HOTELS

WE HAVE SPACE WITH COMPLIMENTARY WI-FI

Spanning six city blocks, the facility is located in the heart of Austin’s downtown business district. There are five column-free exhibit halls, totaling 247,052 sq. ft., and two ballrooms that range up to 40,510 sq. ft. in size, along with 54 meeting rooms and show offices. Ample parking is provided in two garages with 1,700 spaces. No need to roam, looking for the full connectivity sweet spot. New video walls are available for additional wayfinding and client messaging to go along with 24/7 network support and event customization. Our complimentary Wi-Fi can accommodate 20,000 devices at one time. Rated as one of the most technologically advanced convention centers in the country, the facility offers in-house services in addition to complimentary Wi-Fi, including redundant high-speed Internet II access and plug-and-play capabilities. There are 42,000 hotel rooms in Austin and 12,000-plus of them are downtown within a two-mile radius of the convention center. Adjacent hotels connected by walkways include the 800-room Hilton Austin, connected by the Hilton Overhead Walkway at 4th, and The Fairmont Austin, North America’s largest Fairmont property with 1,048 rooms, connected via the Fairmont Canopy Walk. Additional nearby hotels include Four Seasons Hotel Austin, JW Marriott, 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, W Austin, Hyatt Place Downtown Austin and Westin Austin Downtown. The all-new Austin Marriott Downtown, located adjacent to the Austin Convention Center, opened last year with 600 guestrooms.

GBAC STAR ACCREDITATION

The Austin Convention Center is Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) STAR™ accredited. This is the gold standard for prepared facilities. Under the guidance of GBAC, a Division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, the Austin Convention Center and the Palmer Events Center are implementing the most stringent protocols for cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention.

FACILITY FAST FACTS

Location: Downtown Austin Meeting & Exhibit Space: Stretching over six city blocks, the four story center offers 374,278 sq. ft. of meeting and exhibit space, and has 54 meeting rooms. Five contiguous exhibit halls with 247,052 sq. ft. of columnfree space. Technology: New video walls, plug-and-play capabilities and onsite technical staff. Ballrooms: Seven, ranging in size from cozy and intimate to one of the largest in Texas at 40,510 sq. ft. Food & Beverage: The Austin Convention Center Catering team works with area vendors to procure local ingredients for catering menus. Among the most popular items — more than 90 percent of them are produced in-house — are mouthwatering local favorites like street-style tacos, smoked meats and Tex-Mex.

Capital Improvements – Enhancing Our

Infrastructure: The Austin Convention Center Department’s capital improvement plan focuses on future growth needs and modernizing facilities. This includes the redevelopment of the Austin Convention Center and completing the construction of the Austin Convention Center Department Warehouse and Marshalling Yard. Under construction and estimated to be completed in 2022, the new 70,000-sq.-ft. offsite building will serve as a marshalling yard and warehouse capable of providing parking for up to 112 trucks and tractor-trailers along with spaces for employees and vehicle parking. Built to alleviate downtown event traffic and address the need for offsite storage, the facility is being constructed to meet LEED Silver.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Trisha Tatro, Director of Austin Convention Center Department Paul Barnes, Deputy Director – Chief Operations Officer Amy Harris, CMP, Director of Sales

500 E. Cesar Chavez Street, Austin, TX 78701 • (512) 404-4200; Fax: (512) 404-4220 conventionsales@austintexas.gov • austinconventioncenter.com

ATLANTIC CITY

Atlantic City is ready to create meaningful meetings together, as shown by the sustainability efforts throughout the seaside destination. Atlantic City’s convenient location allows for visitors and meeting attendees to safely travel in the comfort of a car, an eco-conscious mode of transportation. However, air travel is available at the Atlantic City International Airport, located within 12 miles of Atlantic City, and the Philadelphia International Airport, located within 60 miles of Atlantic City. Situated in the heart of the Northeast and surrounded by many major cities, it’s the perfect destination to hold your next meeting or convention for easy accessibility. Leading the way with sustainable and energy-efficient efforts, Atlantic City can give you the space you need to meet safely and comfortably! With more than 17,500 first-class hotel rooms, 2.2 million square feet of meeting space citywide, and 486,600 contiguous square feet of exhibit space at the LEED Gold and GBAC STAR-certified Atlantic City Convention Center, we have the wide-open space you need for your group to meet. Adding to the energy-efficient efforts is the largest single roof-mounted solar array in the United States, which consists of 13,000 individual panels and covers over 290,000 square feet. In need of an affordable, safe and ecological mode of transportation for your attendees? The Atlantic City Jitney is the answer. Powered by compressed natural gas, this people mover runs throughout the city or can be tailored for a specific route for your event.

role in Atlantic City’s energy efficiency MEANINGFUL MEETINGS IN ATLANTIC CITY efforts. Located at ACUA, the Jersey-Atlantic Wind Farms have saved ACUA more than $6.1 million in energy costs and have prevented more than 62,000 metric tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere since its opening. This permits for a continued clean, safe and healthy environment.

Focused on future citywide sustainability and clean beaches, Atlantic City continues to offer a variety of corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs. Regular beach cleanups help save and protect the city’s important wildlife and ecosystem, while organizations such as the Atlantic City Boys & Girls Club, Atlantic City Rescue Mission, South Jersey Food Bank and the

Humane Society of Atlantic County

always welcome volunteers to complete your organization’s detailed CSR accreditations and help regenerate the destination.

The Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA) also plays a vital Beautification projects are necessary for every destination and its environment to thrive. Atlantic City is home to more than 50 murals, which can be found throughout the city on exterior building walls. The stories behind the artists’ work are as moving as the murals they create and continue to showcase the vibrancy of Atlantic City. In addition, after strolling the world-famous Boardwalk, you may find yourself resting in an Adirondack chair that has been constructed and remodeled by local artists.

Atlantic City is focused on the future as the city continues to diversify itself and lead the way in regenerative tourism. Atlantic City looks forward to working with your group to establish meaningful meetings and conventions before, during and after your event. Experiences await here.

CONTACT

Larry Sieg, President and CEO, Meet AC

(609) 318-5538 • lsieg@meetac.com

1 Convention Boulevard, Atlantic City, NJ 08401 • (844) 855-6338 • meetac.com

#MeetSafeInBoston

For cities to successfully execute the safe return of meetings and events, planners and attendees must have confidence that destinations are fully committed and aligned on public health protocols that will ensure their safety. To that end, the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau (GBCVB) has launched the #MeetSafeInBoston campaign.

As a destination that hosts a multitude of medical and healthcare events, where world-class research hospitals interact with renowned universities and an unparalleled life sciences ecosystem, it is only fitting that Boston would pioneer innovative methods to create and communicate safety protocols around meetings and events.

“We have launched the #MeetSafeInBoston campaign to demonstrate how committed we are to the safety of our meeting delegates here in Greater Boston and to instill confidence for future meeting planning,” said GBCVB President and CEO Martha J. Sheridan.

“Additionally, and to further incentivize the return of group business, the GBCVB has launched a meetings promotion that provides a 10 percent rebate for new Q1 hotel meetings occurring in Boston and Cambridge between 2023-2026” Sheridan added.

Organizations that have held meetings in Boston in 2021 have already seen #MeetSafeInBoston come to life with successful events.

Hearth Rhythm 2021 was the first full-scale business convention to return to Boston since the pandemic began, drawing more than 2,000 people to the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center (BCEC) — so the pressure was on to ensure a safe event.

The in-person event made use of social distancing room sets, and Heart Rhythm worked closely with the convention center and the GBCVB to develop protocols to keep attendees safe. The 21 hotels in the room block provided their safety protocols to share with guests, and they modeled many of those in the convention center. The Boston community banded together to make this event a success.

Another healthcare event, HLTH, also took place recently at the BCEC. HLTH convenes key conversations in healthcare innovation and was coming to Boston for the first time this year. The result was a record attendance of more than 6,600 people, with over 700 joining virtually.

HLTH required that the entire community be both vaccinated and required testing. In addition, HLTH worked closely with the BCEC, the GBCVB and the city of Boston on all safety protocols. HLTH felt the blend of the vaccines and testing created the best possible scenario for safety for all involved.

Events of a smaller size are also returning. Destinations East returned in mid October, hosting 85 people at multiple Boston venues. Attendees not only felt safe throughout the event, but they were able to take part in activities across Boston, enhancing their experience of the event, and their confidence in producing events themselves in and around Boston.

Getting to Boston from the U.K. is easy, with daily nonstop service on a number of carriers from London to Boston. And Logan International Airport is only three miles from the city center, making it easy for attendees once they land.

The closest U.S. city to the U.K., Boston offers visitors everything they could want from an authentic U.S. experience — from seafood to shopping to sporting events and sightseeing, the city has it all. And now with #MeetSafeInBoston, planners can be confident that all of the precautions and protocols are in place to host a successful in-person event.

Greater Boston CVB • 139 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02111 • bostonusa.com

MGM RESORTS

You’ll find meeting and event space in other places, but what you won’t find is all we offer at MGM Resorts. For decades, MGM has been leading the way by providing world-class experiences across all our destinations. At MGM Resorts, we accepted the challenge of ensuring that our meeting experiences and options are not only robust and plentiful but inspirational as well. We continue to reinvest in our offerings with meeting and event professionals in mind. From indoor to outdoor experiences, our venues range from some of the most famous arenas in the world to incredible unique facilities.

MGM Resorts is home to unparalleled large-scale, outdoor meeting and event spaces such as the one-of-a-kind Mandalay Bay Beach and the interactive event neighborhood, The Park.

MANDALAY BAY BEACH

This 11-acre tropical water and sand playground features a signature 1.6-milliongallon wave pool generating waves up to six feet high, a lazy river, four distinct swimming lagunas, jogging track, private cabanas, beach bungalows and villas.

Mandalay Bay Beach is one of the most exciting event venues in Las Vegas. It offers groups many unique experiences, no matter the size, to create a memorable event. Always a popular outdoor event location for planners, Mandalay Bay Beach is a versatile space that can accommodate everything from a beach BBQ by day to a private concert by night. It’s a true one-of-a-kind destination.

The outdoor stage is the site of an annual summer concert series. Performers have included One Republic, The Beach Boys, Sugarland, Cypress Hill and Weezer. The Beachside Ballroom with floor-to-ceiling windows is located above the Beach Bar & Grill and provides a private, air-conditioned venue for a more intimate event or VIP reception.

THE PARK

Beautiful and engaging public spaces have become a trademark of MGM Resorts. The Park has reimagined the traditional pedestrian experience by creating a dynamic destination located just off the famed Las Vegas Strip. Explore The Park, an immersive outdoor dining and entertainment district, and discover an unrivaled sports and entertainment venue, T-Mobile Arena.

This entertainment district adjacent to T-Mobile Arena offers casual outdoor dining restaurants, public art, and desert landscaping amid its three acres. The Park hosts some of the best outdoor special events, live music and entertainment. Groups can buy out restaurant venues or space in the park for fun and games.

LUXURY MEETINGS DISTRICT

Advanced designs in technology and architecture have long been the backbone of MGM Resorts and the meetings industry. Both innovation and architecture are on display throughout the Luxury Meetings District. This close nexus of venues makes it easy to move from one inspirational location to another, with sparks and serendipitous interactions happening along the way. You’ll find venue options of all sizes across the Luxury Meetings District, from intimate brainstorming spaces like The Ideation Studio at Park MGM, designed to spur productivity and creativity, to the expansive Bristlecone Ballroom at ARIA providing convention guests unparalleled space to create and innovate together. The Luxury Meetings District includes 44 restaurants, 16 pools and 19 unique venues, and is a central hub for any company, big or small.

PHOENIX CONVENTION CENTER

Many groups look forward to visiting the Phoenix Convention Center (PCC) in the near future, and with good reason. Not only is the facility itself top quality, but it’s also surrounded by the best of the Valley of the Sun. With over 800,000 sq. ft. of retail space, restaurants and bars, and professional sports franchises in the vicinity, attendees have an array of free-time options. In addition, planners can take advantage of the presence of three public universities as potential sources for local speakers.

What is more, this meetings oasis in the Sonoran Desert is very accessible. The Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is a mere four miles away from the PCC, which is served by a dedicated METRO Light Rail stop.

Thanks to these assets, Phoenix’s convention industry is proving resilient even in the face of the pandemic. The PCC offers a variety of event venues, both indoors and outdoors, that a planner can select from according to space requirements in the age of social distancing.

The Phoenix Convention Center is the first public venue in Arizona to receive GBAC STAR™ accreditation. Recognized as the gold standard of safe venues, GBAC STAR™ provides third-party validation to ensure the implementation of rigorous protocols in response to biorisk situations. The GBAC accreditation program enables facilities to maximize product use and best practices for sanitization and train staff to implement them at the level needed to thoroughly sterilize and clean environments in the era of COVID-19.

All spaces have been designed to evoke the local environment, and indoor spaces feature a layout that greatly facilitates event logistics. “There are two features that set us apart from many of our competitors: Our architecture and our stacked floor plan,” says Jacqueline Davis, Marketing and Communications Manager. “Throughout our campus, guests will find a variety of colors, textures and finishes designed to capture the warm hues of the Sonoran Desert and the cool tones of an Arizona desert sky. Even our outdoor space, Canyon on Third, is bordered by our two main buildings (North and West), giving it a cavernous appearance that pays homage to the many canyons in Arizona. Additionally, our campus layout is a stacked floor plan designed to make it convenient for guests to move about the campus.”

The North and West Buildings offer a total of 502,500 sq. ft. of exhibit space, 81 meeting rooms and two large ballrooms, each measuring over 45,000 sq. ft. The South Building houses 143,400 sq. ft. of exhibit space, 18 meeting rooms and a 28,000-sq.-ft. ballroom. Canyon on Third spans over 80,000 sq. ft., accommodating a variety of events under the Arizona sky. “We find that a lot of meeting and event planners are looking for outdoor space to enhance the experience for attendees by offering a chance to take full advantage of the weather,” says Davis. “Our outdoor event space — Canyon on Third — is ideal for events that want a flexible, blank canvas. The space can be customized based on meeting and event needs. The space has been used for evening receptions, carnivals, fan festivals, security screening and so much more.”

Just as the PCC’s design is attuned to the Southwestern locale, so is the facility’s cuisine. “Aventura’s state-of-the-art food court, PHX Kitchens Downtown Food Hall, provides an array of dining options, such as locally roasted coffee and authentic Mexican cuisine,” Davis notes. Aventura Catering, part of Aramark Corporation, was created specifically for the PCC and has established partnerships with local farms and suppliers to ensure the F&B that attendees enjoy is fresh, innovative and locally inspired. Aventura also contributes to the PCC’s sustainable operations by using compostable packaging and purchasing products made from plant-based materials free of any GMOs, among other practices.

Indeed, environmentally conscious groups have an ideal partner in the Phoenix Convention Center, which is LEED Silver certified. “There are over 700 solar panels that generate enough output to power 14 homes in a year, and we’ve purchased more than 31,000 chairs made from recycled car batteries and seatbelts to use in our meeting rooms,” Davis explains. “We also recycle more than 460 tons of material each year.”

Just as the Phoenix Convention Center is devoted to conserving the environment, it is also fulfilling its due diligence when it comes to protecting attendees and staff.

100 North Third Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004 • (800) 282-4842• phoenixconventioncenter.com

TUCSON

Tucson is a great meetings destination because Tucson is a great travel destination. And now, planners are seeking Tucson’s “Wide Open Spaces” more than ever. Attendees are looking to get outside, to go beyond the ballroom, and Tucson, surrounded by five mountain ranges and bordered on the east and west by Saguaro National Park, offers unlimited hiking, biking and outdoor activities, and the warm sunshine needed to enjoy them all. Plus, Tucson-area resorts and hotels all feature exceptional outdoor spaces for meetings and events.

Tucson has always been known as a resplendent resort destination, but what you might not know is that in the past year, 600 new hotel rooms have opened in Tucson’s Downtown & Main Gate Entertainment Districts, perfectly complementing the newly renovated and expanded Tucson Convention Center (an ASM-managed facility).

PLANNER INCENTIVES

Visit Tucson’s award-winning incentives are hard to pass up. Our “You Fly, We Buy” site inspection promotion offers complimentary round-trip airfare for qualified RFPs. The “Master Account Credit” lets planners earn up to $5,000 toward their hotel master account based on rooms pickup, and the “Destination Downtown” incentive offers a similar credit, but to your convention center master account! Learn more about these programs at TucsonOnUs.com.

EASY ACCESS

Tucson International Airport (TUS) lets you take off with 23 nonstop destinations in the U.S. and Canada and convenient onestop connections to hundreds of cities around the world. And the best part is, Tucson’s air service continues to grow with new routes being added regularly.

CITY OF GASTRONOMY

Known for its borderlands culture and extraordinary cuisine, Tucson is the first UNESCO City of Gastronomy in the United States and one of the best places to eat Mexican food north of the border. Top chefs from area hotels and resorts have embraced cooking in a foodie town, adding local ingredients and southwestern flair into many an expertly crafted dish. And it goes without saying that with Tucson’s signature warm weather, outdoor dining is always on the menu.

ASTRONOMY CAPITAL

Aside from the lights of Tucson’s downtown scene, prepare to be wowed by the natural light show seen across the clear desert skies each night. Whether looking into deep space through one of the world’s largest telescopes, like the ones found at Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter or by taking a guided star tour at a local resort, Tucson is truly a stargazer’s dream.

CHOOSE TUCSON

As business travel continues to ramp up, destination selection will be more important than ever, and attendees may be traveling more mindfully with the intent to experience pre- and post-meeting wellness, teambuilding and adventure activities that go beyond the ballroom. Luckily for planners, Tucson can offer it all and more. Add in Visit Tucson’s award-winning incentive offers, and you’ll quickly see why this is the perfect time to choose Tucson.