Post Conference Tour - Santa Fe, New Mexico December 9-10, 2007 YOUR INVITED to "The Land of Enchantment" Hotel Albuquerque Albuquerque, New Mexico! at Old Town Plans are underway for the IAHMP Annual Conference on December 6-9, 2007 at the Hotel Albuquerque in Historic Old Town. Your going to love this destination! No other part of the country offers the ambiance of endless sunsets, brilliant mountains, and Mexican, Spanish and Native American culture. Albuquerque is known as the "Land of Enchantment" When you go there you will never want to leave. So mark your calendar and make plans now to attend the 12th Annual IAHMP Conference and Trade EXPO on December 6-9, 2007.
Annual Membership Drive! Meeting planners, bring in 2 new meeting planner members and receive 50% off your annual dues.
Suppliers, recruit and sponsor 2 new meeting
Hotel Albuquerque exemplifies "Albuquerque Style," a unique blend of New Mexico's Pueblo, Spanish Territorial and Western cultural influences. Listed in Travel + Leisure in 2001 as one of “25 stylish hotels under $200,� Hotel Albuquerque is a landmark hotel nestled in the heart of the historic Old Town Plaza and museum district with its 400 year history and more than 200 shops, restaurants, and galleries to explore. Hotel Albuquerque is also a convenient starting point for further exploration of all that Albuquerque and central New Mexico has to offer. Call 1-800-237-2133 or 505-843-6300 www.hhandr.com/hotelabq
Hosted Meeting Planners
planner members and get 50% off your annual conference registration.
Suppliers, recruit 2 new supplier members and get 50% off your conference Trade Expo space. Contact Cathy Gonzales, Vice President of Membership at CATHY@ahcnm.org or Margaret Gonzalez, President at mgonzalez@gvragency.com or go online at www.IAHMP.org and submit the Membership Forms. But be sure to call 281- 333-1552 so you can receive your 50% discount.
Be among the many Hosted meeting professionals at this year's conference. Do you plan meetings, conventions and special events? Are you the decision maker in selecting the site or destination? Do you help make the decisions? Are you the president or chairman of a Hispanic association? You could qualify for R/T airfare and a 3 night stay at the host hotel. Fill out the online Hosted Meeting Planner form at www.IAHMP.org to see if you qualify. All requests must be received by November 5, 2007.
Sponsored by International Association of Hispanic Meeting Professionals, the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Meetings & Travel, Hispanic Hotel Owners Association, GVR Public Relations, Inc., and Heritage Hotels and Resorts, Inc.
Fo r a d d i t i o n a l i n fo r m at i o n co nt a c t t h e G V R Pu b l i c R e l at i o n s Ag e n c y, I n c. 1322 Space Park, Suite A-190 | Houston, Texas 77058 | Tel. 281-333-1881 | Fax. 281-333-1996 | www.gvragency.com
contents
Features
M AY / J U N E 2 0 0 7 | V O L / 9 | N O / 3
10 | Texas Meeting Destinations Whether you are looking to camp, hike, bike, golf, swim, fish, hunt, horseback ride, bird watch or experience just about any other outdoor activity you can think of, Texas is the place to be. With all these outdoor activities and more, Texas is a great place to plan your next meeting.
28 | Top Ten Hispanic Meeting Destinations of 2007 Hispanic Meetings & Travel researched the 2007 annual meeting destinations for some of the biggest Hispanic Associations and Organizations and developed the Top Ten Hispanic Association Meeting Destinations of 2007.
36 | Southeastern Convention & Visitors Bureaus Hispanic Meetings & Travel Magazine highlights three major Southeast Convention & Visitors Bureaus, Norfolk, Louisville, and Jacksonville, Florida.
Cover Story 24 | Bridging Borders The International Association of Hispanic Meeting Professionals was founded in the United States with a vision to bridge the borders of the Americas. The establishment of a Mexico chapter will fulfill the vision and pave the way for Hispanics in the US to work with their colleagues in the meetings and hospitality industry in Mexico.
4 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel
Departments 06 06 08 42 44
| | | | |
Editors Comments Credits Industry Briefs Cuisine Destinations
Albuquerque, Las Vegas
EDITOR’S COMMENT
T
he development of an IAHMP chapter in Mexico is poised to give higher bounce to Mexico's already buoyant international meetings market from the US, South America and Spain.
HispanicMeetingsTravel.com PUBLISHER
By offering a network of international meeting planners, many of
GVR Public Relations Agency, Inc.
whom represent Hispanic organizations, IAHMP is hoping to drive
www.gvr.cc
international meeting destinations to its members. According to a 2006 study, Mexico is a top international incentive
EDITORIAL EDITOR
destination among U.S. based groups traveling internationally, with
Angela Gonzalez de Rowe
Los Cabos and Cancun mentioned frequently among the most pop-
Angela.Rowe@hispanicmeetingstravel.com
ular destinations. The study also revealed factors that ranked Mexico
MANAGING EDITOR
high, including the availability of direct flights, the variety of activi-
Margarita G. Rodriguez
ties available to attendees and the value of Mexico's product supply. Today, travelers are encouraged to learn about an area before visiting. To know a little of the history, culture and customs of an area,
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Steven Gonzalez DESIGN & PRODUCTION
can only enhance the enjoyment of the experience. Mexico has a strategic position within the meetings and conventions industry with a natural merging of culture and attractions.
Todays Traveler
There are many unique facilities in Mexico that you will not find in
role in the world’s economies. It is one of the top five industries in 150 countries, number one in 60 countries, and
ADVERTISING STEVEN GONZALEZ
groups to have dinners, receptions or other private functions. Just
sgonzalez@hispanicmeetingstravel.com
million international
MARIA GONZALEZ mdgonzalez@hispanicmeetingstravel.com
200 years old and lit with candles—it creates an atmosphere that all your guests will not soon forget. Among its network of international meeting planners, IAHMP will strive to promote Mexico’s cultural and stunning historical attractions. Hispanic Meetings & Travels congratulates the drive and commitment of those members who have worked tirelessly to develop a solid foundation for IAHMP to thrive in Mexico. See Cover Story on page 24. We look forward to covering IAHMP’s chapter debut
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Albuquerque CVB, Arlington CVB, Austin CVB, Chicago CVB, Corpus Christi CVB, Dallas CVB, Department of Texas Tourism, El Paso CVB, Denver CVB, Vollmer Public Relations, Charles Garcia, Margaret Gonzalez, Steven Gonzalez, Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, Irving CVB, Laredo CVB, Las Vegas CVA, Miami CVB, Orlando CVB, Phoenix CVB, Philadelphia CVB, Joachem de Posada , Puerto Rico CVB, R&R Partners, Angela Rowe, San Antonio CVB, Washington DC Tourism
ceremony in Mexico this June. PHOTOGRAPHY Albuquerque CVB, Austin CVB, Chicago CVB,
National Tourism Week The Travel Industry Association (TIA) presents the 24th annual National Tourism
nations. With over 700
www.margilvillarreal.com
architectural character and many of those buildings can be used for
the leading export earner in 83% of developing
ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR - Iris Villarreal
other parts of the world. Many of these places have historic and
imagine having your group sit down to dinner in a castle that is over
Tourism plays a major
MARGIL VILLARREAL DESIGN CREATIVE DIRECTOR - Margil Villarreal
Corpus Christi CVB, Dallas CVB, Denver CVB, El Paso CVB, Charles Garcia, Irving CVB, Jacksonville CVB, Louisville CVB, Las Vegas CVA, Laredo CVB, Joachem de Posada, Miami CVB,
Week on May 12-20. The nine-day celebration provides cities and states an opportu-
Norfolk CVB, Orlando CVB, Philadelphia CVB, Phoenix CVB,
nity to salute the nation's $703 billion travel industry and its impact on local and
Puerto Rico CVB, San Antonio CVB, Strategy & Events, Washington DC Tourism, Margil Villarreal, Zero-G
state economies, according to the Travel Industry Association (TIA). The 2007 theme,
travelers and 200 million workers in the tourism
"Travel & Tourism: America's Front Door," illustrates the importance of travel to America's image and suggests its impact as a leading industry for economic growth. New this year is a promotion presented by TIA on AOL(R) Travel
ADVERTISING SALES OFFICE 1322 Space Park, Suite A-190 Houston, Texas 77058 281-333-1755 / 281-333-1996 (fax)
industry it is imperative
(http://travel.aol.com) that heightens the awareness of travel in America and
that every effort be
engages the public in a chance to share their own U.S. travel pictures, videos and
www.hispanicmeetingstravel.com
experiences. Live from May 1-20, the dedicated page is a first-time online aware-
WEB MASTER - Margil Villarreal
W E B PA G E
made to preserve the
ness promotion for consumers surrounding National Tourism Week. The Travel Industry Association (TIA) is the national, non-profit organization rep-
culture and heritage of
resenting all components of the $703 billion travel industry.
published bi-monthly by the GVR Public Relations Agency, Inc. at 1322 Space Park, Suite A-190, Houston, Texas 77058. ©1999-2007 All rights Reserved. Hispanic Meetings & Travel cannot by held
the countries and places we visit.
Hispanic Meetings & Travel, ISSN # 1527-8387 is owned and
We hope you enjoy this issue of Hispanic Meetings & Travel. We encour-
responsible for unsolicited material. The publisher does not
age associations to send us information about your group and your annual
assume any responsibility for any unsolicited material and will
conference and meetings.
return only those accompanied by stamped self-addressed envelope. We reserve the right to edit all copy. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
Saludos, Angela Gonzalez Rowe | Editor Angela Marie Gonzalez de Rowe | Editor
transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior permission of the publisher. Subscription rates: $30.00 per year within the USA, $52.50 in Canada, and $75.00 elsewhere. All subscriptions must be paid in U.S. currency. Single copies: U.S.
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$5.00, Canada $8.75, and $12.50 elsewhere. Produced in the USA.
industrybriefs
N E W * F R E S H * P R O G R E S S I V E
Rocky Mountains as well as 24-hour Concierge service and a dazzling array of services including in-residence dining and catering by renowned Four Seasons chefs, onsite dry cleaning and laundry, turn-down service, housekeeping, valet and limo services. The hotel will be located at 14th and Arapahoe Streets, across the street from the Hotel Teatro, one block from the Denver Performing Arts Complex and two blocks from the recently expanded Colorado Convention Center. Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts will operate the hotel and manage the residences. The company manages 74 properties in 31 countries with more than 25 hotels in development.
Ritz-Carlton Scheduled to open in Fall 2007
Denver: Adds New Luxury Hotels Several new hotels projects are bringing a luxury component to downtown Denver.
“Denver is adding to our already excellent downtown hotel package with two new luxurious properties – a Ritz Carlton and a Four Seasons, both conveniently located in the center of the city. Combined with the 1,100room Hyatt Regency and other new downtown hotels, Denver will now offer 7,300 hotel rooms and 300 restaurants, all within an easy walk of the recently expanded Colorado Convention Center” states Richard Scharf, president & CEO of the Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau. 8 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel
230-Room Four Seasons to Open in Winter 2009 A new 230-room Four Seasons Hotel Denver will open two blocks from the Colorado Convention Center in the winter of 2009. The hotel will occupy the bottom 16 floors of the 45-story high Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences. The hotel will feature a restaurant, lobby lounge and bar, a fully equipped health and fitness center, full-service spa, rooftop pool area with dining and bar and approximately 16,000 square feet of meeting space. Four Seasons private residences will begin on the 18th floor and extend to the 45th floor offering 102 private residences with some of the most spectacular unimpeded views of the
Denver also has a new 202-room Ritz Carlton that will open in the fall of 2007. The $88 million refurbishing of what was the Embassy Suites hotel will include 47 suites, 32 Club Level rooms and one Ritz-Carlton suite. There will be 13,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 6,200 square foot main ballroom, a junior ballroom, business center and lobby lounge. ELWAYS will be the signature restaurant, named after NFL Hall of Fame quarterback and former Denver Bronco player, John Elway. The spacious guest rooms will measure over 550 square feet each, making them the largest guest rooms in Denver. Lavishly furnished, they will include plush bedding and linens, five-fixture bathrooms, 24-hour room and valet service, LCD televisions, multi-line telephones and high speed Internet access. The hotel is located at 18th and Curtis. A 221-room Hilton Garden Inn is also scheduled to open downtown across the street from the Colorado Convention Center in late 2007. Denver added an 1,100 room Hyatt Regency at Colorado Convention Center in December 2005, the upscale 336-room The Curtis in January 2007 and a 225-suite Residence Inn by Marriott in January 2006. The city already boasted the venerable Brown Palace Hotel, a Grand Hyatt, a 630-room Marriott and 1,225-room Adam’s Mark, and several boutique hotels including the Teatro, Oxford and Monaco. Denver will now offer 7,300 hotel rooms and 300 restaurants within walking distance of the Colorado Convention Center. There are 39,000 rooms in the metro area.
Texas Destinations
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Outdoor Adventure In Texas It’s Not Just For Cowboys
hether you are looking to camp, hike, bike, golf, swim, fish, hunt, horseback ride, bird watch or experience just about any other outdoor activity you can think of, Texas is the place to be. With more than 267,000 square miles to explore, cyclists find many diverse and thrilling rides in Texas whether it is through the mountains of West Texas or on the trails of the Piney Woods. Texas also has a number of excellent spots to pitch a tent and spend the night under the stars. State parks, national parks, sandy beaches and nature preserves offer campers a vast variety of areas from which to choose. One of the most majestic sites for camping and hiking is Palo Duro Canyon State Park in North Texas. If adventure is on the agenda, visitors have their choice at Big Bend National Park in far West Texas that encompasses more than 800,000 acres of mountains and desert along the Rio Grande River, where visitors enjoy hiking, camping, wildlife and more. The fish are sure to be biting in the more than 90 freshwater lakes and saltwater bays of Texas. From tournament fishing for black bass to fly fishing for rainbow trout, Texas offers fishermen more than any other single state. Deep sea fishing excursions from South Padre Island, Corpus Christi and Galveston offer fishermen a chance to bring home a prize sailfish or shark as a souvenir from their day in the Gulf of Mexico. For visitors who want to get their feet wet, Texas offers numerous swimming, rafting and scuba diving adventures. Located just 110 miles off the coast of Freeport, the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary is a scuba diver’s paradise and a world premier diving destination. With over 600 species of birds to see and catalogue, Texas is arguably the birding capital of America. Famed birding areas in Texas include the Gulf Coast, Texas Hill Country and the Piney Woods of East Texas. Texas is also home to the World Birding Center, a network of nine birding sites dotted along 120 miles of river road from South Padre Island west to Roma along the Rio Grande River of South Texas.
W
For information on all the exciting outdoor adventures in Texas, visit www.TravelTex.com.
About Tourism In Texas Tourism is one of the largest industries in Texas, employing 514,000 Texans. In 2005, travelers spent more than $49.2 billion in Texas. Travel expenditures generated $2.5 billion in state taxes and $854 million in local taxes. For more information on Texas travel events and vacation destinations, visit www.TravelTex.com or for a free Texas State Travel Guide call 1-800-8888-TEX.
www.hispanicmeetingstravel.com | HM&T 11
Texas Destinations
An Insider's Guide to Houston Are you the kind of traveler or meeting planner looking for new things to see and do in America’s fourth largest city? Do you seek off-the-beaten-path activities to enhance your travel or meeting experience? Check out these insider tips from those who know and love Houston! Dine at Skyline Bar and Grill at the Hilton Americas and ask for table 707-it's the best table in the house and the only table with 180 degree views of the beautiful and magnificent Houston skyline. Located at 1600 Lamar on the 24th Floor. Call (713) 739-8000 or see http://www.hilton.com Guests staying at the Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa have free access to the renowned fitness club. Houston residents pay an initiation fee ranging from $9,000 to $20,000 to become members of the fitness club at the Houstonian—there is no charge for hotel guests. Also, when you make your reservation at the Houstonian, request room 271, President George H.W. Bush's official residence from 1981-1992. 111 North Post Oak Lane, Houston, TX 77024 – Phone 713-680-2626 http://www.houstonian.com Aspiring chefs can sign up for the Chef for a Day program at Brennan's of Houston to learn all the tricks of the trade. The day-long training culminates with you and five friends enjoying the dinner you have helped to create. Located at 3300 Smith St., Houston, TX 77006. 713522-9711 http://www.brennanshouston.com Hotel ICON offers one of the city's most unique overnight accommodations, the tri-level "Ritz" penthouse suite with full-floor entertainment area that opens to a private, 600-square-foot terrace with awe-inspiring views of downtown and beyond. A favorite destination for visiting 12 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel
VIPs, the terrace has been the location for a live segment of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and a photo shoot with Ice Cube. Located at 220 Main, Houston, TX 77002 - Phone 713-224-4266 http://www.hotelicon.com Drive southwest out of downtown to Bellaire, and you'll find the 400,000-square foot Hong Kong City Mall, the anchor of Houston's new Asian community. If you'd prefer to explore this international district as part of a group, contact the Chinese Community Center for information on their Asian Heritage Tours to such destinations as a tea ceremony, a temple and, of course, the Hong Kong City Mall. See asianheritagetours@ccchouston.org Drop by the Saint Arnold Brewery northwest of downtown any Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. and see for yourself how they make their beer. For $5, attendees receive a logo-encrusted tasting glass, a guided tour of the facility, a history of American brewing and details on the process that turns grain into beer. Attendees (of legal age) also can sample a few delicious Saint Arnold beers at 2522 Fairway Park Drive, Houston, TX 77092. Phone 713-686-9494 or see http://www.saintarnold.com Love sports? Request room 1008 at the Alden-Houston Hotel and watch the Houston Astros play at Minute Maid Park while soaking in your bathtub. 1117 Prairie Street, Houston, TX 77002. Phone - 832-200-8800 http://www.aldenhotels.com The Houston Polo Club barn is where all the players meet before the game, and the guests of the Houston Polo Club can talk with the polo players and meet their horses. 8552 Memorial Dr., Houston, TX 77024. (713) 6818571 http://www.thehoustonpoloclub.com. Shop for ROYAL finds at the Children's Museum of Houston Gift Shop. Rated one of the top two children's museums in the country, the CMH Gift Shop was a "must see" destination when the Queen of Norway visited Houston in 2005. She loved the felt finger puppets and purchased them for her grandchildren. 1500 Binz, H ous ton, Te xa s 77004. Phone 71 3- 522- 1138. http://www.cmhouston.org
Texas Destinations
San Antonio, Texas Long a crossroads of history (and a meeting place of cultures), San Antonio is a rich blend of deeply rooted traditions and 21st century cosmopolitan flair, a place where America’s past and present merge to create a unique vibrancy. Now the nation’s seventh largest city, San Antonio is a joyful melange of the flavors and sounds of Native Americans, Old México, the Republic of Texas, Germans, the Wild West, African Americans, and the Deep South.
For visitors with an interest in gallant deeds of days gone by, San Antonio is history. Native Americans first lived along the San Antonio River, calling the area “Yanaguana,” which means “refreshing waters” or “clear waters.” A band of Spanish explorers and missionaries came upon the river in 1691, and because it was the feast day of St. Anthony, they named the river “San Antonio.” The actual founding of the city came in 1718 by Father Antonio Olivares when he established Mission San Antonio de Valero, which became permanently etched in the annals of history in 1836 as The Alamo, where 189 defenders held the old mission against some 4,000 Mexican troops for 13 days. The cry “Remember the Alamo” became the rallying point of the Texan revolution against México. Located in the heart of downtown, today The Alamo is a shrine and museum. A tour of downtown San Antonio will uncover literally centuries of history. Developed in the mid to late 18th century, La Villita (“the little village”) was one of San Antonio’s original settlements which became a hub of Texas revolutionary activities in 1835 and 1836. Today, La Villita is a National Historic District and a haven for 14 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel
artists and craftsmen, selling blown glass, jewelry, stained glass and other handcrafts, as well as fashions from Mexico and Guatemala. The Spanish Governor’s Palace, the seat of government when San Antonio was the capital of the Spanish Province of Texas, sits downtown near City Hall. Nearby is San Fernando Cathedral, which the area’s founders from the Canary Islands began constructing in 1731; and the Jose Antonio Navarro State Historical Park, home of a central figure in the formation of Texas. Dating to 1840, Market Square (El Mercado), the largest Mexican marketplace outside of México, is a festive combination of Tex-Mex cuisine, music and entertainment, products ranging from pearls to piñatas, and the anchor Museo Alameda which recently opened in April. Combining art, history, cultural education and live performance, The Museo Alameda tells the unique story of the Latino experience in America – past, present and future. The first organization in the nation to sign an affiliation agreement with the Smithsonian Institution – Museo Alameda takes full advantage of access to the collections, exhibitions, and educational programming of the Smithsonian Institution. At the museum’s center is the Smithsonian Gallery, which will remain filled with exhibits and treasures from the Smithsonian Institution’s many museums – the inaugural exhibit showcases spectacular items pulled from 10 of the Smithsonian museums. Located in San Antonio’s historic Market Square, the hot-pink museum features 20,000 square feet of exhibition space and houses 11 galleries. In addition, the dramatic Tobin Sculpture Garden features pieces from the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and project space “Proyectos” for emerging and established artists. San Antonio is the ideal destination for meetings, conventions and conferences, offering a wide array of facilities and services to accommodate meetings of any size. Opening in Spring 2008, is the long awaited 1,000room Grand Hyatt Hotel which will sit adjacent to the convention center in downtown San Antonio. Offering 80,000 square feet of meeting and event space, the hotel will have 26 breakout rooms, including 2 boardrooms with balconies an outdoor terrace with capacity of more than 2,500 and parking for 600 cars underground. The newly-expanded 1.3 million square foot convention center is enhancing San Antonio’s reputation as a premier meeting destination. Offering greater flexibility and more options than ever before there’s over 440,000 gross square feet, which almost doubles the existing contiguous exhibit space, increasing the building’s footprint from 540,000 gross square feet to more than 1.3 million gross square feet. The new 40,000 square foot ballroom gives the facility three hotel-quality ballrooms/banquet halls. The expansion included 113,000 square feet of meeting room space, with optimum flexibility of up to 59 room divisions and a 2,521 seat Theatre for the performing arts. For more information on planning your next meeting or convention in San Antonio, contact the city’s Convention and Visitors Bureau toll free at (800) 447-3372 or by emailing: Stan Clanton, Director of Sales at steve.clanton@sanantoniovisit.com
Texas Destinations
Laredo: Moving meetings to the next level Sunny Laredo, Texas is a city set apart by its transportation industry, giving it the #1 inland port status in the nation, and has a lot of logistics experience. From the detailed tasks that it takes to move merchandise across continents and beyond comes the experience that industry professionals seek to really move their meetings to the next level. As host city to the MISS TEXAS USA® pageant, the city welcomes 130 beautiful contestants for a fun-filled week of activities each summer. The Emmy-award winning pageant production is broadcast statewide from the 10,000-seat Laredo Entertainment Center which is also home to the two-time CHL champion Laredo Bucks. While the beauties pose within the LEC, the arena building can be transformed from an attraction to a business setting with meeting rooms found along the concourse of the building. Offering 15,000 square feet of meeting space and located in the heart of Laredo’s historic district, the Spanishcolonial style La Posada Hotel & Suites boasts a 14-million dollar renovation and gorgeous rooms that look over the Rio Grande. Opened recently, the 150-room Embassy Suites is located across from Mall Del Norte and includes 5,000 square feet of meeting space. The 202-room Holiday Inn, also featuring meeting space, is walking distance from the Laredo Civic Center, home to the annual Laredo International Sister Cities Festival. This Festival fills up the 24,000 plus square feet of adjustable Civic Center meeting and exhibit space and is sure to be a fit for your next event. New all-suite hotel properties include the Homewood Suites, Residence Inn, Springhill Suites and Staybridge Suites. And in downtown Laredo, the Rialto Hotel offers a boutique experience. New dining options for groups include El Rancho Su Majestad El Taco with traditional Mexican food, and Mariscos El Pescador for Mexican-style seafood selections. Both restaurants provide folkloric entertainment. Just down the road from these restaurants is an institution known for moving Laredo in the right direction, is the 16 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel
Texas A&M International University campus that boasts the state-of-the-art Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium. Housed in a tetrahedrone-shaped structure, the digital viewing experience is like no other and can be worked into your meeting. Conference attendees can shop for Mexican imports along San Bernardo Avenue or experience downtown Laredo for incredible bargains on everything from electronics to perfume. Staying in the downtown sector, the El Portal border crossing at International Bridge I offer its 7,000 daily-pedestrian-users and 10,000 vehicles a new crossing experience into Mexico. With state-ofthe-art technology and engineered for efficiency, the new crossing experience is an attraction all its own. Along with the Laredo Bridge System administration offices, on-going major private sector investment promises to revitalize the downtown retail sector of the City and bring such recognizable brands as Nike and Louis Vitton, adding to the value of the downtown shopping experience. Downtown Laredo also provides a serene getaway within the walls of its various museums all within a few blocks of each other, such as the Republic of the Rio Grande history museum, the Washington’s Birthday Celebration museum, the Laredo Center for the Arts gallery, Casa Ortiz and the soon-to-be-open Border Heritage Museum. Recently the Region X Catholic Youth Conference brought over 3,000 young people to Laredo for a 3-day event. The city has also hosted the International Hispanic Network annual conference, Texas Downtown Association Annual Conference and the Texas Ornithological Society’s Annual Meeting with itineraries featuring history, heritage, great food, and wonderful shopping. With its sunny, always-on-the-move disposition Laredo looks to get your meeting going in the right direction. Plan your next event in the city that knows logistics and will give you red-carpet treatment- Laredo, Texas.
Texas Destinations
Arlington, Texas Arlington, Texas grew out of the westward expansion following the wars with Native Americans on the new frontier. Trading posts were springing up along the new territories. One such post was established by Colonel Tate Johnson. This post soon became a regular stopping point on the westward trek for national politicians, stagecoaches, the mail and other travelers and ultimately came to be known as Johnson Station. When the Texas and Pacific Railway decided to build a rail through the area, Johnson Station proved to be ideally located as a stop to serve all the smaller settlements growing around the area now known as Tarrant County named after General E.H. Tarrant who had opened up the territory for settlers. Eventually, the town fathers named the new town Arlington, in honor of the house in Virginia that General Robert E. Lee called home for 30 years. With the coming of the railroad and growth throughout the area, Arlington soon took on all the trappings of a frontier town - false front buildings, saloons and gambling. A well drilled in the center of town yielded mineral water rather than drinking water, and a fountain was erected that led to this area of town being considered the “center of town”.
Arlington was incorporated in 1884, one year after its first newspaper was established. In 1895, Arlington College was established, eventually becoming a military academy and ultimately part of the University of Texas system, now the University of Texas at Arlington. In the 1950s and 1960s the face and fortunes of Arlington would change forever with the vision of a young man who would serve as mayor for twenty-six years, Judge Tom Vandergriff. While attending the University of Southern California, Mr. Vandergriff watched Walt Disney and Disneyland take root. He was fascinated with the opportunities for Arlington and he saw Arlington’s geographic location in Texas and the Metroplex as the ideal location for a similar family theme park venture. In 1961, the original Six Flags Over Texas was opened to the public and now draws over three million visitors a year and remains the biggest family theme park in the central states and the southwest. Arlington’s Entertainment District has grown over the last forty years specializing in good quality, affordable, safe, family fun and great memories for over 6.5 million visitors a year. Arlington is FUN CENTRAL! Whether you’re planning a convention, trade show, meeting, or special event, the Arlington Convention Center is the ideal location. Entertainingly situated between Cowtown and Big D Arlington is just fifteen minutes from DFW International Airport. Neatly packaged the Arlington Convention Center (ACC) and several conference hotels sit in the middle of FUN CENTRAL’s Entertainment District which boasts the top theme park in the Southwest and Central States, Six Flags Over Texas, the biggest and wildest water park, Hurricane Harbor and The Rangers Ballpark which offers a stunning museum tribute to the great ballparks of the past and home to the Texas Rangers Major League Baseball Team. The Center has nearly 50,000 square feet of column-free exhibit space, and 12 meeting rooms. The jewel in ACC’s crown is a 30,000 square foot Grand Hall, featuring over 100 hang points from the 30 foot ceilings and exceptional power for productions. The pre-function gallery and outdoor terraces provide and additional 9,500 square feet of functional space. This popular convention, trade show and meeting venue is truly A World-Class Facility offering flexible banquet, meeting and exhibit space; a friendly, professional staff; multiple hotel choices; and a fantastic location. For more information on planning your next meeting or event in Arlington, contact the convention and visitors bureau toll free telephone line at 1-800-433-5374.
18 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel
Austin, Texas A city with a heart and with a soul Austin, Texas is cosmopolitan, yet unpretentious. Complete with a thriving cultural scene and vibrant nightlife Austin is a High-tech, lowkey, big city, college town. Quirky and far from ordinary, it’s the kind of place where you check your worries at the city limits sign, trade in suits for something a bit more casual and prepare for experiences you’ll find only in Austin. Austin is just simply not like the rest of Texas. From the quirky cast of characters that populate Congress Avenue to burnt orangeclad University of Texas students, bats to Longhorns, four-star restaurants to down-home barbecue joints, corporate CEOs to struggling musicians, Texas’ capital city stands apart from the rest. From the beginning, Austin’s population has been made up of a variety of immigrant groups. Germans, Swedes and Mexicans were most prominent in the early years. The Mexican influence became even more prominent during the mid-1900s as large numbers of immigrants fled unrest during the Mexican Revolution. That community continued to grow rapidly during the last part of the 20th century. Hispanics now make up nearly 35% of Austin’s population. For
the past two consecutive years, Hispanic magazine has named Austin the “number one city in the U.S. for Hispanics to live and work.” Throughout its history, Austin has doubled in population every 20 years. The past two decades were no exception. With 657,000 people living within the city limits, Austin now ranks as the country’s 16th largest city. The total metropolitan area includes 1.2 million. Much of the city’s most recent growth is a result of a technology boom. In 1967, Tracor Industries set up shop in far northwest Austin. Others soon followed - IBM, Texas Instruments, 3M, Motorola, Advanced Micro Devices, Samsung, and Dell. From buffalo chips to computer chips, the little trading post by the river has emerged as the focal point of the Silicon Hills. For the past two decades, Austin has made history as a leader in both technology and creativity. The same entrepreneurial spirit that led 19-year-old Michael Dell to launch a Fortune 500 company from his University of Texas dorm room has also propelled Austin as a music and film center. Austin City Limits, now in its 31st season, continues as the longest-running music show on television. As the location of such feature films as Alamo, Spy Kids, Friday Night Lights and Secondhand Lions, Austin ranks as the top filmmaking city in Texas and second most popular in the country. Emerging as a hot, new destination in the conventions and meetings market, Austin offers more than 25,000 hotel rooms, with 5,500 of those located convenient to the newly expanded convention center with nearly 900,000 total square feet of space. The expansion includes a 43,300-square-foot grand ballroom and two column-free exhibition halls. In addition there are 5 exhibit halls, contiguous and column free, totaling 246, 097 gross square feet. One hall features 1,500 retractable auditorium-style seating. The center is considered one of the most technologically advanced convention facilities in the U.S. Much of the convention center’s popularity comes from its close proximity to the city’s downtown hotel rooms and major attractions, including two entertainment districts. For national groups arriving by plane, the award-winning Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is less than 10 miles from downtown. From its unending play-list of music to authentic Texas barbecues, Austin offers a unique experience for meetings. For more information on Austin as meeting or convention destination, please contact the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1-800-926-ACVB or visit www.austintexas.org www.hispanicmeetingstravel.com | HM&T 19
Texas Destinations
Corpus Christi, Texas In 1519, on the Roman Catholic Feast Day of Corpus Christi, Spanish explorer Alonzo Alvarez de Pineda discovered a lush semi-tropical bay on what is now the southern coast of Texas. The bay, and the city that later sprung up there, took the name of the feast day celebrating the “Body of Christ.” The spot Pineda discovered is now home to the largest city on the Texas Coast and is the sixth largest port in the nation. Key industries include petrochemical, tourism, health care, retail, education, shipping, agriculture and the military. Since its incorporation in 1852, Corpus Christi has grown into a regional hub for marketing, processing, packaging and distributing agricultural commodities for a 12-county trade area.
Cool Facts • Corpus Christi neighbors Padre Island, the longest barrier island in the nation. • Corpus Christi is hub for daytrips to the world-famous King Ranch and Mexico. • The average Corpus Christi temperature is 71.2 degrees. • There are approximately 255 days of Corpus Christi vacation sunshine a year. • Population: 275,000, County: • Nueces
More Cool Facts: Selena Museum To please fans from around the world who were showing up at the door of the family business, Abraham Quintanilla decided to build a museum honoring his daughter’s memory. The museum displays outfits and dresses worn by Selena at concerts and award shows, each her own design, her red Porsche and other personal memorabilia. Selena Museum 5410 Leopard St. Corpus Christi, TX 78408 Phone: (361) 289-9013 Visit Website http://www.q-productions.com/
Meeting Planners Why Meet in Corpus Christi? Meet in Corpus Christi, and learn why they call this the “Premier Texas Coast Destination.” Texas’ largest coastal city, Corpus Christi is a vast wonderland of sea, sun and fun! A combination of quality meeting spaces and affordability makes Corpus Christi a popular value destination for conventions and meetings any time of the year.
Advantages to Meeting in Corpus Christi: • The tropical destination is attractive to attendees. • Rates are extremely competitive, especially when compared with other beach destinations. (Rates are even lower November through February.) • All major airlines servicing Corpus Christi offer direct connections in Dallas, Atlanta or Houston. 20 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel
• Getting around is a breeze…Corpus Christi’s convention facilities, hotels, and major attractions are all less than ten minutes from one another. • The area offers over 9,200 beautiful hotel and condo rooms. • Overlooking sparkling Corpus Christi Bay, the convention facilities offer a setting few cities can match. • Labor charges are nominal, contributing to overall cost-effectiveness.
The Convention Center The American Bank Center, formerly the Bayfront Plaza, is Corpus Christi’s premier venue for conventions, sports, concerts and the performing arts. Located within the 500,000 square foot complex are a state-of-the-art American Bank Center Convention Center, the 10,500-seat American Bank Center Arena and the 2,526-seat American Bank Center Selena Auditorium. Attached to the convention center complex, the American Bank Center Arena is home to the RAYZ hockey team, the Texas A&M University basketball teams, and the Corpus Christi Hammerheads. This brand new facility is the perfect location for large general sessions. Also attached to the convention center is the 2,526-seat Selena Auditorium an acoustically superb, plush seating performing arts hall. It is often used as a general session venue as well as the ideal location for ballets, symphonic performances, operas, and all types of arts entertainment. On average, the Selena Auditorium is used approximately 150 times per year.
About The Corpus Christi Convention & Visitors Bureau The mission of the Corpus Christi CVB is to positively impact the Corpus Christi economy by marketing the area as a travel destination. The Corpus Christi Convention & Visitors Bureau is a full-service, area travel information center. In addition, the CCCVB provides the community with marketing support for the tourism and convention industries. These industries support the Corpus Christi Bay area with a positive economic impact second only to the area’s oil/gas/chemicals industry. The Corpus Christi Convention & Visitors Bureau offers a variety of travel and business services: Convention sales; Marketing of area attractions; Coordination of convention services such as transportation, housing, registration manpower, venue selection, public relations, collateral materials and other special needs. Operation of three Visitor Information Centers and Leisure group travel sales.
Texas Destinations
No visit to Texas is complete without a visit to Dallas Dallas’ new slogan “Live Large. Think Big.” describes a city built on big dreams and an attitude that all things are possible. Dallas offers visitors a unique blend of Southwestern ambiance and Old West charm and modern sophistication. As the Southwest’s leading business and financial center, it boasts the largest wholesale market in the world, is home to Neiman Marcus and the exclusive Highland Park shopping development and lays claim to being one of the top convention cities in the United States. The city offers a thriving culinary scene, a leading arts district, professional sports, and a trendy entertainment district. From historical ambiance and boutique charm to modern glamour and state-of-the-art amenities to the more modest and economical — Dallas offers a myriad of hotel choices. Dallas offers the finest in Southern hospitality and a wealth of over 65,000 hotel rooms ranging from first-class luxury to family pricing. A wide range of hotels can be found in the Downtown/Convention Center area, in addition to concentrations near DFW International and Love Field Airports, Market Center, Galleria area, LBJ Freeway, North Central Expressway and Las Colinas.
Irving, Texas Location and service. That’s what sets Irving, Texas apart. Located minutes from DFW International Airport, Irving is just a 3-1/2 hour flight from either coast. And with a hotel selection far above other cities its size, Irving offers meeting planners first-tier accessibility and accommodations combined with an at-your-service attitude, providing VIP treatment to all meeting groups, whether large or small. Irving boasts more than 75 hotels and over 11,000 rooms; the city’s 12 full-service meeting hotels provide more than 200,000 square feet of meeting space. And Irving’s central location between Dallas and Fort Worth allows easy access to area attractions.
ARTS & CULTURE IN DALLAS The Dallas’ Arts District has more than 160 museums, galleries and artistic attractions and is one of the largest in the United States. As you drive through, see if you can spot the sculptures on the streets - unique and sometimes whimsical, they are always of interest. Stop for a brisk walk through the Dallas Museum of Art and then head to Fair Park - site of the State Fair of Texas Fair Park is a National Historic Landmark and houses the largest collection of 1930s Art Deco architecture in the United States. The Meadows Museum located at Southern Methodist University features a permanent collection of paintings, drawings and prints from 1520th Century Spain. Perhaps one of the best collections outside of the famed El Prado in Spain. For American history aficionados no trip to Dallas is complete without a tour of The Sixth Floor Museum, featuring the events surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. For additional information or to plan your next meeting or events contact Veronica Torres at the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau. 325 North St. Paul Street Suite 700 Dallas, Texas 75201 Tel: 214-571-1000 Fax: 214-571-1008 Events Hotline: 214-571-1301 Tourist Information Center: 214-571-1300 Toll Free: 1-800-232-5527 www.hispanicmeetingstravel.com | HM&T 23
Cover Story | IAHMP Mexico
(L to R): Jorge Flores, Membership VP, Lizbeth Zamudio, President, Elda Laura Cerda, Executive Director of the Mexico Convention Bureau, Angelica Rivera de la Loza, Secretary, Jorge Cruz, Programs VP.
24 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel
The International Association of Hispanic Meeting Professionals was founded in the United States with a vision to bridge the borders of the Americas. The establishment of a Mexico chapter will fulfill the vision and pave the way for Hispanics in the US to work with their colleagues in the meetings and hospitality industry in Mexico. IAHMP welcomes the Mexico chapter, Hispanidad Global, A.C. under the direction of Lizbeth Zamudio, Presidente, Jorge Flores, Membership VP, Jorge Cruz, Programas VP and AngĂŠlica Rivera de la Loza, SecretarĂĄ. We also welcome the support of Elda Laura Cerda, Executive Director of the Mexico Convention Bureau and look forward to working with her to further the goals of IAHMP in bridging borders to promote meetings and events between Mexico and the United States. The founding members of IAHMP Capitol Mexico represent the companies outlined below:
Who Are We? We are a Company dedicated to the management, safeguarding, updating and usage of information that was founded in 1992, over the years we have consolidated with our experience leadership in the development of our own state-of-theart technology for the event industry in Mexico and the rest of North America with our partner company NewLink Events stationed in Ontario, Canada.
Our Mission Redefine teamwork for a new world by eliminating time, Strategy & Events is a hundred percent Mexican company founded at the end of 2005 and created as a response to the need of world class meeting planner organizations in the main business and tourism destinations in Mexico. Strategy & Events designs and produces world class events to meet your corporate needs. Lizbeth G. Zamudio Reyes, Director General & CEO, e-mail: lzamudio@estrategiayeventos.com Phone Number: +52 55 1113 0623 Jorge Cruz Gomez, Partner Director e-mail: jcgomez@estrategiayeventos.com Phone Number: +52 55 1113 0623
space, race or language between its members; creating tools that allow the management of information always being opportunistic, sufficient and accessible with easy to use technology that applies esthetics as well as design. See www.newlinkevents.com
What we do For a complete list of the services we provide please visit our web site at www.acob.com.mx
NewLink Events is an event database management company based in Ontario, Canada whose founders have 14 years of experience in delivering an unparalleled set of services for the meetings and tradeshow industries. Our expert-
Address: Parque del Nevado 98, Jardines del Alba Cuautitlan Izcalli Estado de Mexico - Mexico ZIP:54750 www.estrategiayeventos.com e-mail: info@estrategiayeventos.com
ise and developing capabilities let us provide state-of-the-art Registration Services, Badges and Tickets Supply, Event Management Software, e-Marketing, Database Management, Virtual Communities, Intelligent Channeling of Prospects and Lead Retrieval Technology. www.hispanicmeetingstravel.com | HM&T 25
IMPORTANT FACTS on Mexico: The US Ambassador to Mexico is Tony Garza, a Texan who has stated “Culture is the key to greater understanding between Americans and Mexicans.” Mexico is our 2nd largest trading partner (after Canada). Mexican exports to the U.S. grew by an outstanding 342% during the first ten years, going from 42.85 billion in 1993 to 146.8 billion in 2003. Mexico is the most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world and the second most-populous country in Latin America after Portuguese-speaking Brazil. Highly developed cultures, including those of the Olmecs, Mayas, Toltecs, and Aztecs, existed long before the Spanish conquest. Hernando Cortes conquered Mexico during the period 1519-21 and founded a Spanish colony that lasted nearly 300 years. Independence from Spain was proclaimed by Father Miguel Hidalgo on September 16, 1810. Father Hidalgo’s declaration of national independence, known in Mexico as the “Grito de Dolores”, launched a decade long struggle for independence from Spain. An 1821 treaty recognized Mexican independence from Spain and called for a constitutional monarchy. The planned monarchy failed; a republic was proclaimed in December 1822 and established in 1824.
Principal Government Officials President—Felipe CALDERON Hinojosa Foreign Secretary—Patricia ESPINOSA Cantellano Ambassador to the U.S.—Carlos DE ICAZA Ambassador to the United Nations—Enrique BERRUGA Filloy Ambassador to the OAS—Alejandro GARCIA-MORENO Elizondo Mexico maintains an embassy in the United States at 1911 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20006 (tel. 202728-1600). Consular offices are located at 2827 - 16th St. NW, 20009 (tel. 202-736-1012), and the trade office is colocated at the embassy (tel. 202-728-1686). Besides its embassy, Mexico maintains 48 diplomatic offices in the U.S. Consulates general are located in Chicago, Dallas, Denver, El Paso, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Antonio, San Diego, and San Francisco; consulates are (partial listing) in Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Philadelphia, Seattle, St. Louis, and Tucson. The scope of U.S.-Mexican relations goes far beyond diplomatic and official contacts; it entails extensive commercial, cultural, and educational ties, as demonstrated by the annual figure of nearly a million legal border crossings a day. In addition, more than a half-million American citizens live in Mexico. More than 2,600 U.S. companies have operations there, and the U.S. accounts for 55% of all foreign direct investment in Mexico. Along the 2,000-mile shared border, state and local governments interact closely.
Mexico’s Congress and Conventions Sector is Booming Mexico offers an amazing variety of meeting options: 38 stateof-the-art convention centers in 25 cities, 26 destinations for incentive travel, 245,000 hotel rooms for conventions, more than 550,000 square meters of event space and 58 international airports. In addition, Mexico boasts some of the most modern meeting centers in the world, featuring smart rooms fully equipped with audio, individual light systems, telecommunications systems including voice and data transmission, optical fiber and broadband Internet. Dedicated to increasing domestic and international tourism to Mexico, the Mexico Tourism Board has taken a number of initiatives to make organizing events and meetings in Mexico easier than ever. 26 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel
Meetings Online – In January 2005, the Mexico Tourism Board launched a Web-based tool Meetings Online, allowing meeting planners to review online installations and available services in Mexico within the Meetings and Conventions segment, thereby facilating the exchange of information between service providers and buyers. Users can access Meetings Online by visiting the Meeting and Conventions section within the site and complete a simple and brief registration. Instantly, planners can conduct a search; select, consult, and compare the options presented; and finally complete an Online Proposal form. Once received the proposal is channeled to the Mexico Convention Bureau (MCB) and the respective local Convention and Visitor Bureau (CVB). The process is completed when the provider accepts the service solicited, by sending an email to the client and copying the MCB or CVB. Tasa Cero – Mexico’s status as a favored tax country is an added bonus for U.S. meeting planners. As of January 2004, Mexico has repealed the value added tax for meetings expositions and conventions (10 percent in border states and 15 percent else where). The tax free initiative covers venue rental, lodging, food and drinks inside the venues, airport/seaport/border transfers and trips between hotels and meeting places. Also covered are related event services such as set-up, registration, masters of ceremonies, translators, hosts, audiovisual equipment, decorations, security and cleaning. All related services contracted up to two nights before and two nights after the event are eligible for the tax waiver. Currently, the Mexican Congress is reviewing the possibility of including incentive travel within the Tasa Cero program. Mexico Convention Bureau – The inauguration of the Mexico Convention Bureau (Oficina de Congresos y Convenciones de Mexico - OCCM) in July 2003 makes Mexico one of the few nations in the world with a national bureau dedicated to meetings and conventions. The OCCM was set up to increase the competitiveness and visibility of Mexico’s tourism offering for congresses, conventions, incentive travel and exhibitions by teaming up with key private and public entities to increase the country’s global market share. In essence, it serves as the main intermediary for the private sector and the various government offices that deal with meetings and conventions planners. The country continues to make strides to attract the business segment with advanced technology, valuable incentives and an excellent infrastructure to support the meetings and conventions industry. “It is important to note the competitive measures that the Mexican government, the Mexico Tourism Secretariat and the Mexico Tourism Board have taken in the market, such as the Tasa Cero initiative and Meetings Online,” says Elda Laura Cerda, Executive Director of the Mexico Convention Bureau. She also adds that “business travel in Mexico has a great return on investment for us, so much so that we have created the Mexico Convention Bureau to promote Mexico as the ideal destination for the organization of congresses, conventions, incentive travels and exhibitions on an international basis.”
IAHMP in Europe
Mexico’s wide web of resources
IAHMP are moving forward by bridg-
Each year the Mexico Convention Bureau supports a number of important expos held in Mexico that highlight what the local industry has to offer. Among them are Meeting Place Mexico (www.meetingplacemexico.com) and Mexico Showcase and Travel Expo (www.incentivemanagement.com).
ing borders, establishing relation-
While expanding the association in the Americas is a great accomplishment IAHMP has also attracted interest in Europe. An Iberian chapter has already been established where the organization’s Certified Diversity
Meeting
Professional
(CDMP) program has become part of a graduate studies program at the University Escola Superior de Hotelaria e Turismo do Estoril. The program under the direction of Academic Board of Advisors member, Linda Pereira, Executive Director, CPL Events awarded Miguel Fonsea, president, Turangra Meeting Planning a CDMP certificate making him the first person to successfully complete the program. Later this year, 40 students will complete their graduate studies and be awarded the CDMP certification during the National Business Travel Congress in Lisbon, Portugal, September 13-14, 2007. Participants will be awarded their diplomas onstage at the congress by the Minister of Tourism, Dr. Bernardo Trindade. The president of the Portuguese Tourism Authority Mr. Luis Patrao will also be present. In an effort to further the program and expand its international diversity studies the University will offer funds to invite 10 international professionals in 2008 to teach a one-day mater’s level class in the meetings and event profession with an emphasis on cultural aspects and attitudes. In Spain, Jose Luis Laborda, President of OTAC, Barcelona, one of the largest meeting planning firms, will join the IAHMP Academic Board of Advisors and team up with Linda Pereira to establish a chapter in Spain. At a time when the United States needs to improve relationships across the globe organizations like
ships and exchanging ideas to improve business among the peoples of the world. Establishment of IAHMP in Mexico, Spain and Portugal
Editors’s comment: Bridging Borders has focused on Mexico our most important neighbor to the South. In the next issue, the focus will be on Spain and Portugal as important destinations for US Hispanics.
presents great opportunities for a better future.
Meeting Destinations
Hispanic Association Meeting Destinations of 2007 Hispanic Meetings & Travel researched the 2007 annual meeting destinations for some of the biggest Hispanic Associations and Organizations and developed the Top Ten Hispanic Association Meeting Destinations of 2007. Topping the list is Chicago, followed by Miami, San Antonio, Orlando, Washington D.C., San Juan P.R., Albuquerque, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Philadelphia.
28 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel
CHICAGO is a bustling, energetic city that never stops no matter the season. It’s a destination with
Chicago
world-class cultural attractions, diverse neighborhoods and architectural wonders. Chicago is known for critically acclaimed restaurants, world-famous museums, first-class shopping, adventurous nightlife, action-packed sporting events and a thriving theater scene. Chicago hosted 33.04 million domestic and overseas visitors in 2005, including 18.17 million domestic leisure travelers and 13.78 domestic business travelers. These visitors contributed nearly $10 billion to
#1
Chicago’s economy. Chicago’s McCormick Place Convention Center recently increased its square footage, and as a result conventions and tradeshows jumped an astounding 37% percent in 2006 with an economic impact of over 336 million dollars to the city. Chicago will host the Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies; The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities; The League of United Latin American Citizens; The United States Hispanic Leadership Institute; The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund; The Hispanic Association of AT&T Employees; The National Hispanic Corporate Council and many other Hispanic meetings in 2007.
www.hispanicmeetingstravel.com | HM&T 29
Meeting Destinations paths border both sides of the San Antonio River, 20 feet below street level, as it winds its way through the middle of the business district. The River Walk has multiple personalities — quiet and park-like in some stretches, while other
Miami
areas are full of activity with European-style sidewalk cafes, specialty boutiques, art galleries, night-
#2
clubs and gleaming high-rise hotels. Stretching for approximately two-and-a-half miles from the Municipal Auditorium and Conference Center on the north end to the King William Historic District on the south, the River Walk designs were mainly the work of the late
A dynamic international city, Greater
Robert H. H. Hugman, a landscape architect. Work
Miami is a rare hybrid — a sophisticated urban
is underway on a River Walk improvement project
resort with world-class business amenities that
that eventually will link Brackenridge Park on the
MIAMI
San Antonio
doubles
#3
as
a
laid-back
tropical
paradise.
Conventioneers reap the benefits when they choose to meet in a town where combining business with pleasure is as effortless as convening a conference on a waterfront terrace kissed by glorious sunshine and soft breezes. Boasting a centrally located international airport, temperatures that average 75F year round, state-of-the-art meeting facilities and more than 50,000 hotel rooms, Miami has evolved into a meeting destination for all seasons. Factor in the lure of the world-famous Art Deco District, white sand beaches, sparkling Biscayne Bay and renowned dining and entertainment and it is easy to see why many of the world’s most prestigious associations and corporate meetings, conventions and trade shows choose to meet in Miami. Miami will host the Hispanic Association for Corporate Responsibility; The Hispanic Dental Association; The National Council of La Raza; and many other Hispanic meetings in 2007.
north end with Mission Espada to the south. In 2007, San Antonio will host the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund; Mexicans Abroad, and many other Hispanic meetings in 2007.
ORLANDO
The epicenter of family fun,
Orlando’s world-renowned theme parks, water parks and myriad entertainment options create unique life-long vacation memories for millions of visitors from around the world. With nearly 450 hotels and over 112,000 guestrooms, Orlando offers more lodging options than nearly
any
destination
in
the
world.
Accommodations range from luxury resorts and themed hotels to charming bed and breakfasts, economy hotels/motels and campgrounds. There are also more than 26,000 vacation home rentals available and more than 16,000 vacation ownership units. From unmatched thrill rides to eco-tour boat rides, challenging golf courses to rejuvenating spas, and celebrity chef dining to designer stores
Orlando
#4 30 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel
SAN ANTONIO Long a crossroads of history
and name-brand outlets, a trip to Orlando provides
and a meeting place of cultures, San Antonio is a
spectacular options for every age and interest.
rich blend of deeply rooted traditions and 21st cen-
Orlando constantly offers new attractions and
tury cosmopolitan flair, a place where America’s
activities and in 2007 these include: Disney’s “The
past and present merge to create a unique vibran-
Year of a Million Dreams;” the Blue Man Group at
cy. Now the nation’s seventh largest city, San
Universal Orlando; “Believe,” a new Shamu show, at
Antonio is a joyful melange of the flavors and
SeaWorld Orlando; a multi-million dollar space
sounds of Native Americans, Old México, the
shuttle launch simulator at Kennedy Space Center;
Republic of Texas, Germans, the Wild West, African
the Ron Jon Surf Park; a new Gatorland water park;
Americans, and the Deep South.
and more.
For many visitors, San Antonio is the Paseo del
Orlando will host the National Association of
Rio, an urban masterpiece. Better known as the
Latino Elected Officials and many other Hispanic
“River Walk,” these cobblestone and flagstone
Meetings in 2007.
WASHINGTON DC The travel and tourism sector is big business for Washington, DC, raking in $5 billion in visitor spending and contributing $543 million annually to the District government’s general fund. Looking forward, 2007 brings a diverse mix of conventions and meetings, special events, openings and exhibitions to the nation’s capital. The performance of Washington’s travel and tourism sector is equally dependent on business and leisure travel, with 51% of all visitors attracted to the city for leisure purposes and 49% of the visitors for business reasons. On the business front, a healthy dose of lucrative medical meetings will convene at the Washington Convention Center this year, while a new Congress and congressional calendar plan to positively impact travel to DC. Special events and exhibitions will draw leisure crowds, beginning with the six-month Shakespeare in Washington festival and including major exhibitions at the National Gallery of Art and Corcoran Gallery of Art, the Girl Scout SingAlong in June and the WNBA All-Star Game in July. “There is great momentum throughout the travel and cultural communities here,” said William A. Hanbury, President & CEO of WCTC. “In an increasingly competitive environment, we need to ensure we have the marketing muscle and resources to deliver our message to meeting planners and individual travelers alike.” As the lead marketing organization for Washington, DC and the Washington Convention Center, the Washington, DC Convention & Tourism Corporation (WCTC) placed 336 events on the books that will take place at the convention center and hotels throughout the city in 2007. These meetings are projected to attract nearly 656,000 attendees, consuming nearly 797,000 hotel room nights and generating $748 million in direct spending. Among these meetings are the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute and the Republican National Hispanic Assembly. SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO
Puerto Rico continues to demonstrate its commitment to the meetings market with new properties under construction, as well as many hotels and resorts undergoing major renovation and expansion projects. With the new Puerto Rico Convention Center celebrating its first full year of operation, many hotel developers are expressing their eagerness to serve convention groups with these significant property updates, which also include new amenities and services.
Washington DC
#5 Puerto Rico
#6 “Puerto Rico is aggressively upgrading and expanding its tourism product to serve both the leisure and business traveler,” stated Ana María Viscasillas. “More than $1 billion is currently being invested at many properties throughout the Island. This significant investment is a testament of our industry partners’ belief in Puerto Rico as a meetings destination and a further commitment to the group business to offer the best in terms of accommodations, services and amenities.” Puerto Rico will host the Hispanic National Business Association and the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce among many other Hipanic Meetings in 2007.
Albuquerque
#7
ALBUQUERQUE The heart of Albuquerque is bursting with excitement as Downtown Albuquerque undergoes a plethora of changes. The city center, now in year four of its 10-year revitalization program is turning into a hotspot for modern, urban living. Albuquerque’s Downtown Revitalization Project is an ongoing $350 million revitalization project that is funded by both public and private resources. The Downtown Revitalization Project is the work of the City of Albuquerque, the Downtown Action Team and the Historic District Improvement Co. The groups have worked together, along with city leaders and local neighborhood organizations, to create an area where locals and visitors can live, work and play. New venues to Downtown Albuquerque include: Theobroma Chocolatier, specialty chocolates; the Central Connection, an internet café; Remedy, a healing spa; King Sushi, a sushi bar; Element, a designer jewelry store; Glowing, a maternity boutique; and Gorilla Tango Improv Theater. Albuquerque will host the International Association of Hispanic Meeting Planners, along with many other Hispanic meetings in 2007. www.hispanicmeetingstravel.com | HM&T 31
Meeting Destinations PHOENIX
Las Vegas
#8 LAS VEGAS
Phoenix
#9
One of the most fascinating qualities about Las Vegas is that it is a city that is constantly changing. The excitement of continuous re-invention and rapid growth has helped Las Vegas to achieve record-breaking popularity, resulting in nearly 39 million annual visitors. Plus, with more than $30 billion in projects under construction or in planning stages, it is safe to say that, in 2007, visitors will see and experience more in Las Vegas than ever before. In 2006, 6.3 million convention and trade show delegates traveled to Las Vegas, generating $8.2 billion in non-gaming revenue. Las Vegas hosts the largest number of Tradeshow Week’s top 200 largest conventions and rents more convention space than any other U.S. city. Currently, Las Vegas has more than 9.5 million square feet of convention and meeting space, including the Las Vegas Convention Center’s 2 million square feet, Mandalay Bay’s 1.5 million-square-foot conference center and the 1.8 million-squarefoot Sands Expo and Convention Center. The Las Vegas Convention Center is centrally located in the Las Vegas Valley, with convenient access to nearly 133,000 guest rooms and in close proximity to McCarran International Airport, the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) is one of the largest convention centers in America. Planning is now under way for the facility’s multi-million dollar enhancement project. The effort to improve the center is one of several components of the LVCVA’s five-year vision plan geared toward supporting the destination’s enormous growth and reaching the goal of a recordsetting 43 million visitors by 2009.
Philadelphia
#10
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Offering unique Southwest culture and a desirable climate, Greater Phoenix is one of the world’s top golf destinations. Home to numerous four and five diamond resorts, Greater Phoenix serves as the airline hub of the southwest, and is the destination of choice for about 12 million travelers annually Greater Phoenix is referred to as the “Resort Capital of the World” by many travel-industry professionals due to its inventory of luxurious totaldestination resorts. There are dozens of self-contained resort communities that mix shops, restaurants, spas, activities, meeting space and luxury accommodations into the perfect destination to enjoy Arizona’s unique Southwestern hospitality. With more than 55,000 rooms, millions of square feet of meeting space, on-property golf and other leisure options, Greater Phoenix is the perfect vacation and meeting destination. In fact, Phoenix consistently ranks at or near the top of the annual Zagat Survey of U.S. Hotels, Resorts and Spas. The Phoenix Convention Center is currently undergoing a $600 million expansion project in the heart of Copper Square. This 90-square block, revitalized Downtown district provides excellent accommodation, dining and entertainment options for meeting and convention groups. With so much to choose from, it’s easy to see why Downtown Phoenix is a complete meeting destination. Phoenix will host the Hispanic Woman’s Conference, among many other Hispanic Meetings in 2007.
PHILADELPHIA Philadelphia, a dynamic place where big city excitement meets hometown charm, awaits your arrival. Famous as the birthplace of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, the cradle of liberty offers much more than cobblestone streets and historical landmarks. Cultural, culinary, artistic and ethnic treasures abound in this city and its surrounding countryside. The fifth-largest city in the country, Philadelphia is a welcoming place, a city based on freedom of expression. New and one-of-a-kind attractions, a wealth of art and culture, renowned performing arts companies, awe-inspiring architecture, a walkable downtown, seemingly endless shopping (with no tax on clothes) and a restaurant renaissance that has caught the world’s attention all promise to create an unforgettable Philadelphia experience. And, of course, the greatest concentration of American history can be found just blocks away at Independence National Historical Park, including the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Best of all, Philadelphia’s compact downtown places all of this and so much more within a short walk or cab ride from the Pennsylvania Convention Center and any downtown hotel. Philadelphia will host the Society of Hispanic Engineers among many other Hispanic Meetings in 2007.
speakersbureau Charles Garcia harles P. Garcia, is a powerful resource for your organization as a speaker, consultant or coach on the topics of leadership, diversity, education, sales, or the US Hispanic market. Aside from the many testimonials you will find at www.charlespgarcia.com, what makes Charles Garcia unique is his ability to speak from his extraordinary experience. In 1997 he founded a financial services and insurance company with three people that grew to more than sixty offices in seven countries and ranked #8 on the Inc. magazine list of fastest growing privately held companies before its buyout in 2006. He has won three "Entrepreneur of the Year" awards from various national organizations. His book "A Message from Garcia" was the #1 business book on Amazon.com, #6 on the Wall Street Journal bestsellers list, and favorably reviewed by the New York Times.
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Charles Garcia has received leadership awards not only for his business achievements but also for public service. He is currently the Chairman of the prestigious Air Force Academy Board of Visitors, which provides the Secretary of Defense, and members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees independent advice and recommendations on matters relating to the Academy. The board that elected him Chairman consists of fifteen members including four U.S. Senators and four members of the U.S. House of Representatives. He also served two terms on the seven member Florida State Board of Education and also had a role in the administrations of three U.S. presidents, a Cabinet Secretary, and a former NATO Supreme Allied Commander. He sits on the Board of Directors of Winn Dixie Stores, a Fortune 500 company. Hispanic Business magazine recognized
We Have a Positive Message to Share With You! The HM&T Speakers Bureau is a full-service Speakers and Entertainment Bureau, staffed with the industry's most knowledgeable professionals. The speaker's bureau is a subsidiary of GVR Public Relations Agency, Inc. GVR's HM&T Speakers Bureau has the ability to recognize the best talent and to suggest the kinds of programs most suitable for any given event. All our speakers are bilingual, English and Spanish. When you call the HM&T Speakers Bureau you can be assured you will get the best speaker to meet the expectations of your audience.
Call: 281-333-1755 or visit our website www.hispanicmeetingstravel.com and let us help you! him as one of the "100 Most Influential Hispanics in the U.S.," and , in 2006 he received the Congressman Henry B. Gonzalez Public Service and Integrity Award for his leadership in promoting diversity and championing rights for all persons. (A previous awardee was Jimmy Carter.) He is profiled in two recent books: Think and Grow Rich: A Latino Choice and also Hispanics in the USA: Making History, in which he one of fourteen Hispanic role models for the nation. Univision Network television selected him for their prestigious series "Orgullo Hispano" that spotlights Latinos who have made "an exceptional impact on the culture and life of American society." Mr. García graduated in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy, achieving the rank of Deputy Wing Commander -- the 4th highest-ranking officer leading over 4,400 cadets. In 1987, Mr. García received a Masters degree in Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma and in 1994 a law degree from Columbia Law School, where he published an article in the Columbia Law Review that was cited extensively by the Florida Supreme Court in a landmark Fourth Amendment case. Mr. García has attended Harvard Business School’s executive education program “Corporate Governance: Leadership in the Boardroom” and he has also attended the board development education program at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors. To learn more about this speaker contact the HM&T Speakers Bureau at 281- 333-1755 and ask to speak to Margaret Gonzalez or contact Marlene Sholod, Access to Experts at 305-535-8199 or online at www.accesstoexperts.com.
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speakersbureau Joachim de Posada egardless of where your meeting, convention or event will be held ... regardless of whether your audience speaks English or Spanish ... regardless of whether you need a keynote speaker, program leader, or panel participant ... if improving people, processes or profits is the message ... and entertaining enlightenment is the medium ... then Joachim de Posada is the man! Posada is an internationally acclaimed expert on business management, leadership, marketing, sales and motivation. Over the past 25 years he has delivered moving messages for hundreds of the world's leading business enterprises, trade groups and sports organizations ... in 30 countries ... and in two languages! http://www.motivationalbookspeaker.com/contact_motivational_speaker.htmlCal l on Posada and make your next event a guaranteed success! That's right when Posada accepts, that commitment includes his personal guarantee that your audience will be delighted or you get your money back! Fluent in Spanish as well as English, Joachim de Posada is considered by many the premier Hispanic speaker of the Americas. His profound tales of wisdom are delivered with an enthralling story-telling ability that will captivate any audience. Posada has delivered inspiring keynote speeches, refreshing program presentations and engaging panel discussions for large corporations, business associations, trade and civic organizations in more than 30 countries around the globe. His client list includes many of the Fortune 500 ... Verizon, Citibank, Monsanto, Compaq, Pfizer and IBM, just to name a few. He is also a frequently featured television and radio speaker on business, management and motivational issues. Over the past 25 years, Joachim de Posada has helped more than 100 major corporations, sports teams and other organizations in 30 countries develop and deliver improvement programs that improve productivity, increase sales, decrease costs and inspire winning teams. Joachim de Posada has provided motivational coaching for the Milwaukee Bucks, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Panamanian Olympic team, among dozens of other professional sports teams. He has conducted sales and management programs for such major corporate clients as Verizon, Pfizer, Kodak, Xerox, 3M, and Continental Airlines, in addition to
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many others. Joachim de Posada is the author of numerous motivational books and media including How to Survive among Piranhas and Don’t Eat the Marshmallow‌Yet! See www.askjoachim.com To book Dr. Joachim de Posada for your next event call the HM&T Speakers Bureau at 281-333-1755 and ask for
Joachim de Posada Author of How to Survive Among Piranhas and Don't Eat the Marshmallow Yet!
Margaret Gonzalez, she will be happy to assist you.
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Southeast Meeting Destinations
Norfolk Convention & Visitors Bureau Norfolk, Virginia is a Southern seaport with a storied past that blends history and heritage with contemporary activities and attractions. Norfolk’s waterfront location is showcased by an easily walkable downtown that offers eclectic dining, high-end shopping, a burgeoning arts scene, and year-round special events. Stroll its pedestrian friendly streets and find Norfolk’s collection of hotels and convention facilities, trendy restaurant and theater district, and retail merchants.
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Norfolk’s downtown meeting place is the “Waterside Convention Connection” – a central collection of hotels, convention and retail space perfectly suited to host your next event. Virginia. The city boasts more than 5,200 hotel rooms citywide that accommodate every budget and style. Norfolk’s downtown meeting place is the “Waterside Convention Connection” – a central collection of hotels, convention and retail space perfectly suited to host your next event. Within 10 square blocks downtown, you will find more than 1,000 committable rooms within walking distance of 206,000 square feet of meeting space, dynamic attractions, a restaurant and theater district, and retail merchants. For truly memorable events, Norfolk offers many unique meeting venues from riverboats for cruising, to arts centers, museums and a renovated movie theater. Arrange an event outside in the picturesque Norfolk Botanical Garden or inside the nationally acclaimed Tiffany glass collection at the Chrysler Museum of Art. Consider setting sail aboard a
tall ship schooner or taking a walk on the wild side with an event at the Virginia Zoo. No matter what setting your group demands, Norfolk provides the perfect backdrop for your next event. Major interstates make driving to Norfolk easy. And since the city lies within driving distance of two-thirds of the population of the East Coast, Norfolk is an ideal meeting spot. When you choose Norfolk, Virginia as your next destination for your meetings and special events you and your event attendees will experience metropolitan style with Southern charm! And that Southern charm begins at the Convention and Visitors Bureau. For more information on Norfolk as a meeting and convention destination or to receive additional information on services provided by the Convention and Visitors Bureau to assist you in the planning of your next meeting visit www.noforlkcvb.com or call toll free 800-368-3097
Easily accessible by air or auto, this is a cosmopolitan city with a vibrant cultural center. Thousands of visitors make their way to Norfolk each year to see its patriotic attractions, festivals and theatrical productions, as well as nationally-acclaimed museums. Downtown Norfolk offers a working port complete with harbor and luxury cruises. A tour of the world’s largest naval base, Naval Station Norfolk, also can be found. Minutes away are the white sandy beaches of the Chesapeake Bay. Norfolk is a simple drive to Virginia Beach, Jamestown or Colonial Williamsburg, making it the convenient, central location for any stay in Hampton Roads. There’s no better place to stage your next meeting or convention than Norfolk, www.hispanicmeetingstravel.com | HM&T 37
Southeast Meeting Destinations
Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau ouisville is a city with Southern charm and rich heritage, where everyone can find something truly original to do. There’s only ONE Louisville Slugger, ONE Kentucky Derby and ONE Frazier International History Museum with the only British Royal Armouries collection in America and they’re all in Louisville!
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If you can’t enjoy the thundering hooves of the world’s fastest thoroughbreds during race season, you can enjoy tours of Churchill Downs and the pageantry of the Kentucky Derby year-round at the Kentucky Derby Museum. But it isn’t just horse racing that the city of Louisville, Kentucky is known for. There are more than 120 Louisville attractions to enjoy year-round.
In Downtown Louisville visitors can enjoy four major family attractions within just blocks of one another. The Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory which is home to the world’s largest bat and features exhibits and a factory tour. Glassworks, a space designed to house and showcase the work of 50 glass artists and Frazier International History Museum, round out the available entertainment opportunities. And warmer weather brings The Belle of Louisville and Spirit of Jefferson, the city’s two riverboats, to the waterfront for daily excursions. But don’t stop there. Make sure to visit Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom for a funfilled day.
Whether you start from a legendary racetrack or the banks of the new waterfront, you’ll begin a memory-making journey that will include fascinating glimpses of the past, fun-filled activities designed to celebrate the present and innovative ways to think about the future. Louisville is a recreational resource for visitors of all tastes - and all ages and a perfect destination for meetings, conventions and special events. Whether it’s a family reunion for 10 or a convention for 50,000, the City of Louisville Kentucky offers something for everyone. A wide array of hotels compliments the vast exhibit and meeting space of the Kentucky International Convention Center and Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center. However, when it comes to meetings or conventions, it’s the soul of the city that separates the sublime from the remarkable. In Louisville, you’ll find the ideal location for a meeting of 10,000 or a private meeting of
a select few. Large or small, Louisville’s got it all - from city universities, to theatres to Victorian mansions. There’s a legendary racetrack, a jewelbox baseball stadium and a state-of-the-art football arena. In fact, there is no end to the possibilities – Louisville has more than 100 hotels and 17,000 hotel rooms to choose from. From small, quaint B & B’s to familiar names like Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott and Holiday Inn to two of the finest historic hotels in America, the area has something for every taste and budget. And speaking of tastes, with over 2,500 restaurants, there’s a great deal of tasting to be done. Visitors from around the world are astounded by the variety and quality of fine dining in the area by Chefs who have taken regional cuisine to a nationally recognized level. There are also quiet cafes, coffee houses, ethnic restaurants and casual eateries to choose from. This is just a sampling of Louisville’s rich and diverse offerings. With easy accessibility, affordable hotels and fascinating attractions, it remains one of the country’s best values for conventions, meetings and special events. Once you choose Greater Louisville as your meeting destination, let the Louisville
Convention and Visitors Bureau assist you in planning your meeting from start to finish. The Convention and Visitors Bureau Services Department can: Meet with your Louisville chapter members to help them prepare for their role as hometown hosts. Offer orientations on the Greater Louisville area to host committee members. Suggest transportation choices, spouse activity ideas, dining options and evening entertainment. Provide promotional and audio-visual materials, including videos, Powerpoint presentations and high resolution images and logos. Solicit bids from appropriate third-party service providers. Facilitate and arrangements.
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housing/hotel
Provide on-site registration personnel for your convention. Provide an on-site City Information Booth for your convention delegates. For more information on Louisville as a meetings and convention destination visit www.gotolouisville.com or contact them Toll Free: 1-800-626-5646
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Southeast Meeting Destinations
secret niches far from the worn avenues of the beaten path, eclectic neighborhoods are thriving in their unique individuality, adding to the character of the community and the joy of discovery for any visitor.
The Jacksonville Convention and Visitors Bureau is at your service. The CVB Services Department offers a wide range of complimentary services to assist in the planning of your meetings and leisure events. They link you with first-class companies and community resources to deliver an optimum selection of local products and services. Their goal is to surpass your every expectation by providing information on the destination and giving you access to resources and services you can use to make the planning process of any meeting or special event as easy as 1…2….3.
Save Time, Save Money Begin your planning by contacting the CVB sales team to obtain proposals from hotels that meet your event criteria. The sales team will facilitate the lengthy legwork involved in accommodation selection, saving you time and phone calls, while finding the best fit for your meeting at no charge to you. By booking your hotel rooms with the assistance of the CVB sales team, you will receive an additional menu of complimentary and nominal fee guest services.
Summary of Services Receive a list of local vendors and suppliers. Obtain proposals to fit your needs and preferences.
Jacksonville Convention & Visitors Bureau acksonville & the Beaches are a natural choice when seeking a new location for an unforgettable Florida adventure. A world away from the neon glare and commercial flair associated with many of the Floridian hotspots, Jacksonville captures an authenticity reminiscent of the lifestyle and landscape of “Old Florida.” An unmatched adventure in contrast, the sprawling northeast region of the state delivers a flawless display of breathtaking natural beauty balanced by a polished metropolitan flair. History, culture, sports and nature intersect at a regional crossroads of southern
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charm and coastal cool. A vibrant oceanfront community infused with warm southern style, Jacksonville offers exceptional meeting venues and a wide array of recreational activities within a striking waterfront locale. Along the stunning St. Johns River, a burgeoning arts district rises from a diverse downtown landscape, illuminating the heart of the city with sophisticated style, while endless stretches of pristine white sand beaches foster revelry and relaxation in the salty seaside air. At the northern and southern borders, lavish resorts offer luxurious amenities infused with an historic old world flavor. And in the
Access complimentary promotional literature and materials. Order meeting supplies for your event. Courier options for delivery of your materials. Link to comprehensive city information and customized area maps. Receive media assistance and Jacksonville images. Reference the Jacksonville & the Beaches Calendar of Events. Personalized welcome letter from Jacksonville mayor, John Peyton. On-site registration staffing. Local Vendors and Suppliers. Receive a customized list of local vendors and suppliers to contact at your leisure.
For more information on planning your next meeting or special event, contact the CVB sales team at convsales@jaxcvb.com or by calling (800) 733-2668 ext. 23.
Cuisine
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CULINARY EVENT
Karisma Brings Vegas to the Table Resident & Guest Chefs Spice Up Culinary Events in Cancun An interactive ceviche making class at Azul Blue Hotel + Spa.
nown for its gourmet cuisine, awardwinning chefs and interactive culinary tradition, Karisma Hotels is the place to be during “Rendez-Vous De Francia,” a week of French-inspired culinary events in Cancun from June 19 - 26, 2007. In addition to showcasing the talent of its own resident chefs at Azul Blue Hotel + Spa and El Dorado Royale, A Spa Resort, Karisma has invited three of Las Vegas’ most cutting-edge French chefs into its kitchens. Guests staying at Azul Blue and El Dorado Royale will be treated to special events including interactive cooking shows and classes; demonstrations at Fuentes, El
Dorado’s culinary theater; as well as specialized menus and cocktail parties. El Dorado Royale will host Chefs Stephane Chevet (executive chef at award-winning Japanese restaurant, Shibuya) and Jean Jacques Granet (assistant executive pastry chef for MGM Grand). For the first time ever, Chef Stephane will share Shibuya restaurant’s recipes with El Dorado Royale chefs Michel Mustiere and Christopher Belou to create the specialized signature dinner “Shibuya at Kampai.” At Azul Blue, Chefs Heiner Gellenberg and Jonatan Gomez Luna Torres will team up with Chef Eric Damidot (executive chef of Paris and Bally’s Hotel & Casino) to host an authentic Mexican dinner party where guests will have a chance to meet and interact with the chefs. Chef Jonatan will showcase his flavor-infused foams, which is part of Azul Blue’s experimental cuisine. As protégé of famed El Bulli founder, Ferran Adria, Chef Jonatan learned that by infusing dairy products under extreme pressure with non-dairy products, he could create foams that retain the flavor of the essential ingredient, such as his deconstructed olive foam. Chef Heiner will demonstrate his signature style of combining unexpected ingredients—such as grilled chicken with a banana and watermelon relish—into edible masterpieces. “While every week at Karisma is a ‘culinary week,’ the dishes created for these special events will be a gourmet journey for our guests,” said Jeroen Hanlo, Vice President of Food & Beverage for Karisma. “A culinary collaboration between chefs of this caliber means every plate will reflect the energy of Las Vegas the flavor precision of Karisma.” El Dorado Royale, ASpa Resort in Punta Brava, is a four-diamond, adults-only resort with seven Gourmet-Inclusive restaurants and 13 bars and lounges. Azul Blue Hotel + Spa in Tulum is a luxury boutique property, recently named to the 2007 Condé Nast Traveler “Hot List.” With its dedicated butler service, Gourmet-Inclusive philosophy and the most complete spa on the Riviera Maya, Azul Blue lives up to its reputation as the world’s first 100% stress-free luxury hotel.
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This image is of Chef Jonatan’s signature dish – the deconstructed olive, which incorporates his flavor-infused foams.
destinationsd destinations Albuquerque’s Old Town Old Town is also a significant fine arts center where
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istoric Old Town was founded in 1706. The neighborhood of narrow, winding streets and adobe homes has been the cultural heart of Albuquerque. Spanish families settled there more than 300 years ago, not far from the Rio Grande and organized their new town in the traditional Spanish colonial way with a central plaza anchored by a church. When the original adobe church collapsed after the long, rainy summer of 1792, they rebuilt, and in 1793 San Felipe de Neri church was completed. Today, the adobe church with walls five feet thick is the oldest in Albuquerque and its white towers mark Old Town from a distance. It remains a functioning Catholic church, and as you wander around the neighborhood you may see couples posing for wedding pictures in the Plaza’s gazebo. Although the church is the neighborhood’s most elaborate structure, you’ll notice that most of the architecture of Old Town is adobe, in the PuebloSpanish style. These traditional buildings have flat roofs, stucco walls with rounded edges supported with heavy wooden beams called vigas. The arrival of the railroad here in 1880 brought new architectural styles, and there are many Victorian buildings that house shops, offices and bed-and-breakfasts. To learn more about Albuquerque you can visit some of Old Town’s fabulous collection of museums. Just off the Plaza, the newly-renovated Albuquerque Museum of Art & History showcases the cultural heritage of New Mexico through its vast collections. Across the street, the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science feature a prominent dome of its planetarium. This innovative and hands-on museum explores botany, geology, computer science and paleontology (dinosaurs!). The museum’s Lodestar Astronomy Center includes a world-class planetarium theater with the biggest screen in New Mexico. The National Atomic Museum is America’s official museum of nuclear science and history and is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. At Explora, kids of all ages will be amazed by more than 250 interactive science, technology and art exhibits. Fans of Southwestern jewelry will enjoy the Turquoise Museum, where visitors experience the depths of a turquoise mine and view rare and spectacular turquoise specimens from all over the world. Old Town is also a great place to explore nature. On a leisurely stroll through the Botanic Garden you’ll discover unique local plants, visit the sharks in their 285,000-gallon tank at the Albuquerque Aquarium or go fishing at Tingley Beach. Don’t miss a ride on the narrow gauge, 3/4 scale train that connects the botanic garden, aquarium and Tingley Beach with the nearby Rio Grande Zoo. 44 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel
collectors will find an enviable selection of paintings, sculptures, photography, ceramics and crafts. There are over 100 boutiques and galleries and shops in the neighborhood, so whether you’re looking for souvenirs, trendy clothing, authentic southwestern jewelry, or fine art, you are sure to find it in Old Town.
And when you get hungry, Old Town is the perfect place to try traditional New Mexican food. Just find one of the area’s quiet patios and sit down to a big plate full of enchiladas layered with your choice of Red or Green Chile Sauce. But you can always relax at one of Old Town's chic contemporary restaurants. If you choose to stay at one of the full-service hotels or historic bed and breakfasts in the Old Town area, you’ll be within walking distance of nearly all of the area’s attractions. IAHMP will host their Annual Conference December 6-9, 2007 at the historic Albuquerque Hotel in Old Town.
San Felipe de Neri Church still stands
At a Glance: Old Town Distance from Airport
8.7 Miles/14.00 KM
Attractions
7 Museums: Albuquerque Museum of Art & History; New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science; National Atomic Museum; Explora; American International Rattlesnake Museum; Turquoise Museum; Lodestar Astronomy Center Old Town Plaza; San Felipe de Neri Church; Tricentennial Tiguex Park; Rio Grande Botanic Garden; Albuquerque Aquarium; Tingley Train (Tingley Train stops at the Rio Grande Zoo located in the Barelas neighborhood)
Activities
Shopping at 100+ stores, Art Galleries Fishing and Boating (Tingley Beach)
Highlights
Founded in 1706, Old Town is the original Albuquerque town plaza.
P H OTO BY: M A R B L E S T R E E T S T U D I O. CO M
destinationd d e s t i n a t io n
Sun, Sand and Cactus That’s what the Spanish explorers found when they rode through the Mojave Desert hundreds of years ago. Today, that spot in the desert has been transformed into one of the most exciting destinations in history. Las Vegas.
It’s also a great place to do business. And the smartest move you can make before planning a business event in Vegas is to contact the Diversity Marketing staff at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Do that FIRST. Not only do we help you plan the perfect corporate or business gathering in this vibrant, 46 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel
bustling city. We can also be of assistance with any cultural needs you may have. The reason why we’re your authority is we work directly with resort, restaurant and event staffs throughout the city. So, whether you have a corporate meeting for 10 or a tradeshow for 10,000, our professionals can help guide you along to planning the perfect event. Plus there’s our Web site (LVCVA.com) to help streamline the planning process. A new RFP page takes you step-by-step through planning along with a save option so you don¹t have to complete it all at once. A new tool kit on the site helps you see the shows and entertainers are in town on specific dates. Scroll through an album of photos detailing
every micron of the Strip, even behind doors. And you can even develop promotional materials for your event including e-mails, banners and promo copy. You want to provide everything your clients are looking for. And sometimes that includes paying special attention to cultural needs. Fortunately, there’s a destination that makes it easy. Las Vegas. LVCVA.com € 702-892-0711 Mya Lake Reyes, Director of Diversity Marketing Rafael Villanueva, Sales Executive