HM&T 2008 Fall

contents FA L L 2 0 0 8 | V O L / 1 0 | N O / 4

14 Cover story: Southwest Meeting Destinations 14 | Arizona - Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe 28 | New Mexico - Albuquerque and Santa Fe

4 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel

34 Features 34 | Convention Center Updates Milwaukee's Midwest Airlines Center, The Las Vegas Sands MEGACENTER and the Baltimore Convention Center.

37 | IAHMP Guadalajara Photo Journal IAHMP Guadalajara Conference was a great success and was the first conference hosted by the IAHMP Mexico Chapter.

Departments 6 | Editor's Comments 8 | Industry Briefs 12 | Hispanics in the Industry

37

20 | Exhibitors Corner Orange County Convention Center Celebrates 25th Anniversary.

22 | Techno Savvy iBar launches at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino.

24 | Cuisine Cenegenics Medical Institute of Boca Raton and LXR Luxury Resorts & Hotels Introduce "Lifestyle Cuisine".

25 | International Travel Destinations CHI Hotels & Resorts to operate twin property 'Corinthia Beach Resort' in Sharm El Sheikh Egypt.

32 | Meeting Planner Tips

8

Visit Jacksonville offers Meeting Planner Incentives.

42 | Travel destinations The Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club.

46 | Event Calendar

24 42

EDITOR’S COMMENTS

HispanicMeetingsTravel.com PUBLISHER GVR Public Relations Agency, Inc. www.gvragency.com EDITORIAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Margarita G. Rodriguez EDITOR Steven Gonzalez Sgonzalez@hispanicmeetingstravel.com DESIGN & PRODUCTION

t's fall and the landscape is changing bringing beautiful colors to forests and woods across the country. It also brings cooler weather and wonderful breezes that calm and sooth the soul. During this wonderful time of year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of America. Citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

The idea to celebrate and recognize Hispanic contributions to the United States started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under president Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. September 15 is a significant and historical date that celebrates the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries-Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico declared its independence on September 16, and Chile on September 18.

Also, Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is Oct. 12, falls within this 30-day period.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the estimated Hispanic population of the United States is currently 45.5 million, making people of Hispanic origin the nation's largest ethnic minority. Worldwide, the U.S. has the 2nd largest Hispanic population, with only Mexico ranking first. Plus, they are the nation's fastestgrowing minority group with a 3.3% population increase in the past year alone and an estimated spending power of $1.5 trillion. (Selig Center for Economic Growth) The term Hispanic, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, refers to Spanish-speaking people in the United States of any race. On the 2000 Census form, people of Spanish/Hispanic/Latino origin could identify themselves as Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, or "other Spanish/Hispanic/Latino."

There are numerous events over the next few months celebrating Hispanic culture, traditions

I

Margaret Gonzalez, IAHMP President and Lizbeth Zamudio, IAHMP Mexico Chapter President, welcome a conference participant at the 2008 IAHMP Guadalajara Conference.

MARGIL VILLARREAL DESIGN CREATIVE DIRECTOR - Margil Villarreal ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR - Iris Villarreal www.margilvillarreal.com

and milestones. EthnicEvents.com is designed specifically to highlight these events and connect organizers with marketing and promotion decision-makers allowing them an opportunity to promote their brands and services to this vital consumer audience.

In this issue we are pleased to introduce Fred E. De Sota, Executive Director of Market Strategy for Renaissance Las Vegas, a AAA Four-Diamond Non-Gaming Hotel; Rafael Llorente, National Sales Director with the Long Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (LBACVB) and Megan Rodriguez, Public Relations Manager with the Long Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (LBACVB). See page 12-13.

Be sure to read the special section featuring Phoenix, Arizona beginning on page 14 and New Mexico beginning on page 28.

Also in this issue is a Photo Journal of the IAHMP Mexico Chapter’s first conference that took place in Guadalajara, Mexico. Members of IAHMP in the United States flew to Guadalajara on AeroMexico who sponsored their travel. Established in 1995, IAHMP has accomplished its goal to bridge the borders of the Americas and work with their colleagues in Mexico, Central and South America. The Mexico Chapter is the first but will soon be followed by Costa Rica, Guatemala and Panama who are establishing their own chapters.

IAHMP also has a chapter in Lisbon, Portugal and will establish a chapter in Madrid in 2009.

Hispanic Meetings & Travel is celebrating its 10th Year Anniversary so thanks to all our readers and advertisers that have made this anniversary possible.

Margaret G onzález

Margaret González, Founder & Editor-in-Chief

ADVERTISING STEVEN GONZALEZ sgonzalez@hispanicmeetingstravel.com MARIA GONZALEZ mdgonzalez@hispanicmeetingstravel.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Steven Edward, Margaret Gonzalez, Maria Sarabia, Midwest Airlines Center

PHOTOGRAPHY Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, Associated Luxury Hotels, Baltimore Convention Center, Benchmark Hospitality, Boca Raton Resort, CHI Hotels & Resorts, Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort, Las Vegas CVA, Long beach Area CVB, Midwest Airlines Center, Orange County Convention Center, Phoenix CVB, Rio All-Suites Hotel & Casino, San Diego CVB, Santa Fe CVB, Scottsdale CVB, Tempe CVB, Tesora Manzanillo Resort, U.S. Virgin Islands Tourism, Visit Jacksonville

ADVERTISING SALES OFFICE 1322 Space Park, Suite A258 Houston, Texas 77058 281-333-1755 / 281-333-1996 (fax)

W E B PA G E www.hispanicmeetingstravel.com WEB MASTER - Margil Villarreal Hispanic Meetings & Travel, ISSN # 1527-8387 is owned and published bi-monthly by the GVR Public Relations Agency, Inc. at 1322 Space Park, Suite A258, Houston, Texas 77058. ©1999-2008 All rights Reserved. Hispanic Meetings & Travel cannot by held responsible for unsolicited material. The publisher does not assume any responsibility for any unsolicited material and will 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 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. $5.00, Canada $8.75, and $12.50 elsewhere. Produced in the USA.

6 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel

industrybriefs

N E W * F R E S H * P R O G R E S S I V E

Gloria & Emilio Estefan and Benchmark Hospitality International Open Costa d'Este Beach Resort, Vero Beach, Florida Benchmark Hospitality International and fivetime Grammy Award-winning singer Gloria Estefan and her husband, producer Emilio Estefan, Jr., opened the highly anticipated Costa d'Este Beach Resort, the 94-guestroom, luxury property located in Vero Beach, Florida. The Honorable Thomas White, mayor of the City of Vero Beach, presided at a ribboncutting ceremony.

At the event Mayor White proclaimed the day "Costa D'Este Day" in Vero Beach. Other speakers included the Estefans; Andy Zinni, Benchmark's general manager at the resort; Penny Chandler, president, Indian River County Chamber of Commerce; and Burt CabaĂąas, chairman and CEO of Benchmark Hospitality International, which is the resort's operator. Also in attendance were local commissioners, city council members, Vero Beach and Indian River County government officials, and prominent members of the community. Following the ceremony all guests were invited to a festive reception held poolside and throughout the resort's elegant ground floor public spaces.

Costa d'Este Beach Resort opened to a fully booked weekend with a private group that has also reserved the property's signature Cuban-fusion restaurant Oriente.

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Gloria Estefan welcomed the VIP delegation by stating, "We developed this stunning resort because it made good business sense, but it was also a labor of love because Vero Beach is our home away from home and has been for six years. And we wanted to share this special community with vacationers from around the world."

"Today marks the culmination of a long road," added Emilio Estefan, Jr. "Mayor White, city commissioners and council members, Gloria and I thank all of you for the incredible support you have shown us and the very warm welcome we have received here in Vero Beach."

According to Mayor White, "All of us in Vero Beach are excited to welcome the Estefans and Costa d'Este Beach Resort to our growing tourism community. Our Treasure Coast location offers geographic proximity to Orlando, Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami, but at the same time, we're a world away."

Burt Cabaùas, Benchmark Hospitality's founder, added, "This gorgeous resort reflects Gloria and Emilio's flair, keen style and multi-cultural sophistication. Benchmark is delighted to add Costa d'Este to our new Personal Luxury Resort™ collection."

From its premier Ocean Drive location to its fashionable accommodations, gourmet cuisine and discreetly attentive service, Costa d'Este - meaning "East Coast" in Spanish will cater to the most discerning leisure travelers from around the world. The $50 million resort features 94 guestrooms including four one-bedroom suites, a signature restaurant and bar, infinity-edge swimming pool and cabana bar, full-service spa and fitness center, as well as elegant facilities for special events. Worldclass tennis courts, championship golf, sport fishing, snorkeling and diving are nearby.

In celebration of the Estefans' heritage, the resort's Oriente restaurant features gourmet fare as interpreted by Cuba's Oriente region.

The menu draws inspiration from Spanish, Latin and Creole traditions and promises a mouthwatering adventure for guests, Vero Beach visitors and residents.

Vero Beach is located 135 miles north of Miami and 109 miles southeast of Orlando with commercial air service to Melbourne International Airport, Palm Beach International Airport, and Orlando International Airport.

Vero Beach Municipal Airport, just four miles from the resort, offers full-service for private planes.

Costa d'Este Beach Resort was developed

by Miami-based Claro Development Solutions and is operated by Benchmark Hospitality International. Introductory rates begin at just $189 per room through September 30.

Fall rates start at $249 from October 1 December 19, 2008. For more information and reservations, call 772-410-0104 or visit www.costadeste.com.

North Americašs Largest Annual Consumer Convention Dedicated to the Experience and Culture of Gaming The countdown has begun and gaming enthusiasts all across the country are planning their annual trek to Indianapolis in anticipation of what gamers everywhere know to be as The Best Four Days in Gaming. With

91,000 turnstile attendees, Gen Con Indy is understandably the place where consumers and the industry come together to see and play all that is gaming. For the sixth year in a row, the event will be held at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, taking place August 14 through 17, 2008 Celebrating its 41st year and going strong,

Gen Con is no ordinary convention. Attendees do everything from browsing the aisles of the exhibit hall packed with over 250 booths to taking part in any number of the 4,500 gaming events happening 24 hours a day over the four days. Gaming activities range from interactive game play and computer gaming to big money hobby-related tournaments sponsored by industry leaders such as Upper Deck Entertainment. One such event that will be featured is the World of Warcraft TCG Continental Championship.

About Gen Con Gen Con, LLC produces the largest consumer fantasy, sci-fi and adventure game convention in North America. Its operations include Gen Con Indy and licensees for European and Asia Pacific Gen Con shows. It was acquired in 2002 by former CEO and founder of Wizards of the Coast Peter Adkison, who solely owns the company headquartered in Seattle, Washington. Gen Con is a consumer and trade experience dedicated to gaming culture and community. For more information visit the website at www.gencon.com http://www.gencon.com

Associated Luxury Hotels Hosts "Executive Women in Leadership" Conference Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI), which serves the meetings and incentive industries through its membership of more than 100 Four- and FiveDiamond/Star quality luxury hotels and resorts worldwide, conducted its "2008 Executive Women In Leadership Conference" in May. Conducted at the new Gaylord Nation-

alÂŽ Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, this second annual conference was an opportunity for women in senior level leadership positions in the hospitality and meetings industries to get together to share goals and challenges. Roundtable discussions included "Sustainable Competitive Advantage," "Different Generations - Manag-

ing Your Message," and "The White Elephant - Contract Negotiations." Half of the 34 participants were meeting professionals or clients of hotels and resorts, and the other half are senior level hospitality executives.

Participants are shown here, with conference host Tina Sampson, vice president of sales & marketing for Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, pictured in the back row center (black-and-white jacket).

Pictured to the immediate right of her are conference chairpersons Laurie Knapp, senior vice president of Associated Luxury Hotels, and Vicky Hettleman, regional vice president of ALHI. With a diverse luxury portfolio of more than 80,000 rooms and suites and over 9 million square feet of meeting space, Associated Luxury Hotels enables planners to gain easy and reliable access to outstanding award-winning Four- and Five-diamond quality hotels and resorts for meetings and incentive programs requiring from 10 to more than 5,000 rooms by one-call access to their professionally staffed National Sales Network across North America.

For more information about Associated Luxury Hotels, call toll-free 866-303-ALHI (2544) or visit www.alhi.com.

www.hispanicmeetingstravel.com | HM&T 9

industrybriefs

GEN CON GEARS UP FOR BEST FOUR DAYS IN GAMING

industrybriefs

BLACK LATINO EXPO 2008 First ever launches in Philadelphia at Convention Center On September 13, 2008 the Pennsylvania Convention Center will host the first ever Black Latino Expo. If you are a business owner, provider of social services, or political entity you can and should be part of history and rebirth of Philadelphia's culture in what is shaping up to be one of the most explosive

events of the year.

Philadelphia was once known for the famous "Black Expo" that faded into Philadelphia's history years ago. While these expos continue to happen around the country, The Black Latino Expo will be the first of its kind.

Combining two of the world's largest cultures

hoping to empower through unity and show not only Philadelphia but the country the social and economic impact that these events can have.

"Marketing so often focuses on one group or the other but it is so much more than that. Each group encompasses so many cultures that are often overlooked by the small business community.

Puerto Rican, Mexican, African, African American, Caribbean, Jamaican, Nigerian, Dominican to name just a few. We are reaching out to all cultures to come and be part of this huge social event" according to the spokesman of The Black Latino Expo 2008.

This is a must event for entrepreneurs, business owners, and B2B and B2C companies. Thousands of visitors will attend and this will be the perfect venue to show your products. Sections for VIP's, sports, entertainment, music, food, children, and clothing will be only a small part of the day's events and festivities.

For more information see: www.blacklatinoexpo.com

of the Baltimore Hotel Corporation stated, "The opening of the Hilton Baltimore Convention Center Hotel is the New Hotel Adjacent to Convention Center successful achievement of a major Opens, Welcomes Babe Ruth's Daughter As BDC initiative that began in 2003.

This success came about only because First Registered Guest of the partnership established by the City with the design build team of The brand-new Hilton Baltimore opened with a Hensel Phelps/Doracon/Banks, RTKL and ribbon-cutting ceremony and registration of the hotel's first guest, Babe Ruth's daughter Julia Hilton Hotels. This will be an attraction Ruth Stevens. General Manager Linda Norman admired and enjoyed by all city residents for welcomed Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon and many years to come."

Conveniently located in Baltimore's scenic special guests, the Honorable Martin O'Malley, Governor of the State of Maryland along with inner harbor, directly adjacent to Camden Yards invited guests from Baltimore Hotel Corpora- providing picturesque views of Oriole Park, tion, Baltimore Development Corporation and home of the Baltimore Orioles, the 757-room hotel offers more rooms than any other hotel in Hilton Hotels Corporation.

"The decision to move forward with this hotel the city. The hotel features four deluxe one-bedrepresents one of the crucial moments in our his- room suites, two Executive Suites, two Meeting tory - when we had the courage to pursue what Planner Suites and Presidential Suites as well as we might become. Baltimore is already becom- ten hospitality suites with panoramic balcony ing a more desirable destination for tourists and views of the playing field.

The Hilton Baltimore is the only hotel in the conventions, a city that offers more quality jobs city providing an enclosed pedestrian sky bridge and more affordable housing and a place that to the Baltimore Convention Center. Hilton Balpromises a brighter future for everyone who lives, works and plays here." said Mayor Dixon. timore features the city's largest ballroom at M. J. "Jay" Brodie, President of the Baltimore 25,000 ft². Event planners can also choose from Development Corporation (BDC) and Chairman meeting facilities ranging from 60,000 ft² of

industrybriefs

HILTON BALTIMORE GRAND OPENING

flexible function space to a 15,000 ft² junior ballroom, as well as an additional 20,000 ft² of space. All meeting rooms provide wired and wireless high-speed Internet access, video messaging and conferencing capabilities, and the hotel provides a professional audio/video and event services team to help ensure that every event runs smoothly. Additional amenities include a 24-hour business center and executive floor and lounge.

The Hilton Baltimore is conveniently located adjacent to the Baltimore Convention Center, only 10 miles from the Baltimore/Washington International Airport and 75 miles from Washington Dulles International Airport. For more information or to make reservations, contact Hilton Reservations Worldwide at 1-800-4458667 or visit www.hilton.com.

industrybriefs

NewHires De Sota brings more than 19 years of successful hospitality experience to the Renaissance Las Vegas, including tenures as director of marketing at the Crowne Plaza O'Hare, director of sales and marketing at Lakeway Inn Resort & Spa, opening director of sales at the InterContinental Houston, and various key sales positions with Hyatt Regency Austin, Hyatt Regency DFW, and Associate Director of Sales at the flagship Hyatt Regency Chicago.

Most recently, De Sota served as director of marketing at the Doral Tesoro Hotel and Golf Club, recognized as one of the "Best Resorts in Texas" by Texas Golf & Resorts, where he was instrumental in marketing the addition of a 5,000-square-foot event facility and 2,000-square-foot terrace to the existing 22,000 square feet of flexible event space at the property.

About Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel

Renaissance Las Vegas Announces Appointment of Fred E. De Sota As Executive Director of Market Strategy Tom Xavier, general manager of the Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel, is pleased to announce the appointment of Fred De Sota to the position of executive director of market strategy, a key position leading the sales, catering and marketing efforts at the awardwinning Las Vegas hotel. De Sota's responsibilities include marketing the more than 20,000 square feet of event space, the largest of any non-gaming hotel in Las Vegas, and the award-winning on-property restaurant, ENVY the Steakhouse. The centrally located

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off-strip property has proven an ideal venue for Las Vegas conferences, meetings and corporate events.

"We are thrilled to appoint Fred to lead the Renaissance Las Vegas sales and marketing efforts, and we are confident that he will take the hotel to exciting new heights as the preeminent off-strip, non-gaming hotel in Las Vegas," said Xavier. "His large meeting and convention expertise and insight will be instrumental to the continued success of the Renaissance Las Vegas."

The Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel offers conference and event planners more than 20,000 square feet of space, the largest of any nongaming hotel in Las Vegas. The hotel features a total of 14 meeting rooms, providing a variety of sophisticated decors and sizes, yet intimate enough to provide highly personalized attention. Rooms can accommodate professional meetings, large-scale events and conferences, team-building activities and pre-function activities.

The hotel boasts 14 stories of accommodations, including 548 spacious guest rooms and 30 exquisitely-appointed suites ranging from 859 to 1,681 square feet, the award-winning ENVY The Steakhouse and Lounge, pool and workout facilities, superb meeting and catering resources, and concierge services to impress the most discerning guests.

The ideal venue for Las Vegas conferences, meetings and corporate events, the Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel inspires productivity by removing the stress of planning an event as well as the clutter and commotion associated with casino hotels. The Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel provides guests effortless access to the heart of the city while earning valuable Marriott Rewards points.

The hotel is located at 3400 Paradise Road and can be reached by phone at (702) 7845700 or toll free at (800) 750-0980. Renaissance Las Vegas, an AAA four-diamond rated hotel, can be visited on the Web at http://www.renaissancelasvegas.com.

National Sales Director Long Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Rafael Llorente is a National Sales Director with the Long Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (LBACVB) where he is responsible for the Northwest region which ranges from Sacramento, Calif. to Seattle along with the Arizona and Hawaii markets. One of his most recent successes while at the LBACVB includes booking one of the largest and most prominent multiyear conventions in the city’s history.

Prior to his arrival at the LBACVB, Rafael was a senior account executive with Marriott and Sheraton hotels in Orange County where he was responsible for the direction of the West Coast association and multicultural market segments.

Rafael also has had previous hotel managerial experience in operations ranging from housekeeping to catering sales.

A proud alumnus of Kansas State University, Rafael received his bachelor’s degree in international business with a minor in Spanish literature. Rafael is a member of CALSAE, MPI and HSMAI. He is an active member of the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Orange County, California and enjoys spending time with his “little brother” on weekends. A native of Southern California, he currently resides in Huntington Beach, Calif.

Megan Rodriguez Public Relations Manager Long Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Megan Rodriguez is the Public Relations Manager with the Long Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (LBACVB) where she is responsible for creating and coordinating activities to foster a positive relationship between the LBACVB and local corporate and community groups, preparing written communications on behalf of the LBACVB and creating, as well as implementing, public relations initiatives and media relations efforts relative to promoting Long Beach as a premiere destination for meetings and leisure. One of her successes while at the LBACVB includes getting Long Beach prominently featured in the Travel section of the New York Times.

Prior to her arrival at the LBACVB, Megan was with Santa Monica-based BLAZE Public Relations where some of her clients included: La Valencia Hotel, Westin Casuarina Las Vegas Hotel, Casino & Spa, Le Merigot, A JW Marriott

Beach Hotel and Spa and Westin Casuarina Resort & Spa Grand Cayman. With more than ten years experience in the hospitality industry, she’s skilled in several spectrums of hotel operations in addition to superb customer relations.

A proud alumna of California State University, Long Beach, Megan received her bachelor’s degree in journalism, emphasis in public relations, and a minor in human resource management.

Outside of the office, Megan is a member of the Orange County Chapter of PRSA and is involved in the Mentor programs with both the Orange County and Los Angeles chapters. In addition, she is a Big Sister with Big Brothers/Big Sisters. A native of Castro Valley, Calif., Megan currently resides in Long Beach.

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industrybriefs

Rafael Llorente

Southwest Meeting Destinations

nightlife and museums along its 20-mile route, as well as provide access to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

These downtown additions - along with Arizona State University's new downtown campus, an expanding biomedical campus and a $900 million privately financed mixed-use development called CityScape are creating an urban environment worthy of American's fifth-largest city, said Steve Moore, president and CEO of the Greater Phoenix CVB. "Phoenix's weather and scenery and world-class resorts have always made our destination popular with meeting planners," Moore said. "But our old convention center didn't allow us to accommodate a lot of very large association groups who wanted to come here, and our urban core didn't really have the (guest) rooms to meet the demand. Now the paradigm is shifting - in a big way."

Moore said the debut of Phoenix's newly expanded convention center could not be more timely, because large associations

Phoenix The Phoenix Convention Center underwent a $600 million expansion with the goal of attracting some of the nation's biggest meeting groups. So it only figures that emissaries from Phoenix would travel to the nation's biggest meetings market to spread the news. fficials from the Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Phoenix Convention Center and downtown Phoenix's major hotels co-hosted the "Ready to Shine Reception" on Oct. 22 in Washington D.C. The reception was held at the Newseum, Washington's newest museum, and the Phoenix delegation heralded their city's new convention center, light-rail transportation system and 1,000-room downtown hotel.

Washington is home to the largest concentration of associations in the United States, and the 140-plus meeting planners and media members who attended the Ready to Shine Reception watched video footage of Phoenix's big additions on the Newseum's 40-by-22-foot LED screen.

Highlights of that presentation included: Phoenix Convention Center. Five years and $600 million in the making, Phoenix's expanded convention center boasts nearly 900,000 square feet of exhibition and meeting space and can accommodate more than 80 percent of the conventions in the U.S. It opens in late December.

Sheraton Downtown Phoenix. This 31-story, 1,000-room hotel is located a block from the new convention center. The Sheraton, which opened Oct. 1, is the largest hotel in Arizona and the first to be built in downtown Phoenix since 1976.

METRO Light Rail. Phoenix's $1.4 billion light-rail system, which debuts Dec. 27, will link downtown convention attendees to restaurants,

O

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such as those headquartered in Washington are stalwarts in roiling economic times.

"Not-for-profit association groups, unlike corporate meeting groups, have to convene every year because they depend on revenues from their annual tradeshows," Moore said. "These are the groups that will be the primary users of our convention center."

Phoenix's new convention center will take center stage in February when the city plays host to the 2009 NBA All-Star Game and its weeklong festival of accompanying events. The convention center will house Jam Session, a fan-friendly spectacle billed as "world's largest interactive basketball theme park," and a full-sized court with stadium seating will be erected in the center's upper exhibit hall.

At the Ready to Shine Reception, the Phoenix delegation gave away an NBA All-Star gift package that featured two tickets to the game and Jam Session, US Airways flight vouchers, and hotel accommodations at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix. Phoenix officials also gave away two passes to the FBR Open golf tournament, with flight vouchers and accommodations at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown.

Southwest Meeting Destinations

er elite, high-fashion boutiques, independent shops, celebrated cuisine, dynamic cultural festivals, and art. For more information, visit www.southbridgescottsdale.com.

NEW PROPERTIES ON THE SCOTTSDALE SCENE CASINO ARIZONA RESORT & SPA TO BE BUILT IN SCOTTSDALE Construction is underway on the new Casino Arizona Resort & Spa, which is located in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC) and scheduled for completion in early 2010. The project will feature 497 rooms as well as more than 100,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor conference space. Resort amenities will include a 13,000-square-foot full-service rejuvenating open-air spa that will feature massage areas, steam and sauna rooms, relaxation and serenity lounges, as well as an advanced fitness training facility. The Casino Arizona Resort also will boast numerous restaurants offering a range of cuisine including a multi-stationed international buffet, coffee shop, cigar and wine bar, and an upscale dining experience on the fifteenth floor complete with 360-degree views of the Valley.

Guests will enjoy an interactive multi-dimensional water zone comprised of adult and child pool areas, spas, swim up bar and water slide; 750-seat showroom offering live entertainment with private rooms; concert seating for more than 2,000 people; sports bar; piano bar, and a fourteenth floor VIP Lounge. The 240,000-square-foot gaming and entertainment venue will be the main attraction and offer a variety of high-tech slot machines, table games and more. For more information, visit www.casinoarizona.com .

SCOTTSDALE'S DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT TOPS $33 BILLION owntown Scottsdale is a bustling epicenter of activity rich with history and currently undergoing more than $3.3 billion of development. Two of the most prominent projects - Scottsdale Waterfront and SouthBridge - are already open and offering visitors a unique Scottsdale experience along the ancient Arizona Canal. The $250 million Scottsdale Waterfront is a 1.1 millionsquare-foot residential and retail development that is home to many culinary delights. Scottsdale Waterfront also features ample public open space, an outdoor amphitheater, public art and recreation paths along the canal as well as a pedestrian-only bridge across the Arizona Canal that links the Waterfront to Scottsdale Fashion Square mall, Scottsdale's Fifth Avenue shopping district and SouthBridge. For more information, visit www.scottsdalewaterfront.com.

SouthBridge is a $41 million urban development along the south bank of Scottsdale's ancient irrigation canal system and the city's newest urban district set to rival the likes of Riverwalk, The French Quarter and SoHo. The future borough is the long-time vision of the city and developer Fred Unger to build a one-of-a-kind community that brings togeth-

D

ARIZONA'S FIRST W HOTEL MAKES MARK WITH UNIQUE WATER FEATURES, MODERN LOOK Arizona's first W Hotel opened in downtown Scottsdale on Sept. 5, 2008. The W Scottsdale Hotel and Residences consists of a seven-story building on a two-acre city block, and features 224 guestrooms, Bliss spa, Sushi Roku restaurant, and 18 luxury W residences. The centerpiece of the first floor is a natural stone art wall that spans as the backdrop of the Living Room, a lounge bar located in the hotel lobby. The ground floor also contains a 3,500-square-foot ballroom, 2,000-square-foot outdoor terrace, four meeting rooms, and the spa. The second floor is the epicenter of the hotel with a 21,000-square-foot outdoor recreation and pool deck with an infinity-edge swimming pool surrounded by a sand beach, private cabanas, fitness center, and two open-air bars appropriately named Shade and Sunset Beach. The pool is located directly above the valet and features four large round glass windows on the bottom allowing guests below a sneak peek at swimmers above. A Zen garden also is featured on the second floor complete with bamboo trees and meandering paths. An all-glass shell featuring moveable blinds makes up the exterior design of the hotel constantly changing the look of the building.

For more information, visit www.whotels.com.

For more information on Scottsdale visit www.scottsdalecvb.com.

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Southwest Meeting Destinations

Tempe Tempe, Arizona welcomes meeting attendees with more than 5,000 sleeping rooms and an abundant amount of meeting space, from beautiful hotel courtyards to distinctive off-site venues. There are 46 hotel and resort properties in Tempe. Accommodations range from cozy budget properties to upscale retreats, so there is certainly a match for every taste and budget.

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Travel to Tempe is quick and easy. This city is located less than ten minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and offers easy freeway access. The majority of hotels in Tempe offer complimentary airport transportation and many offer local area transportation as well. In December 2008, the Metro light rail line will connect Tempe to the airport, Downtown Phoenix, and the Phoenix Convention Center.

Tempe is the perfect fit for groups 10-500 people. No matter how large the group is, the fun starts when visitors arrive in town. In addition to the perfect meeting venue, attendees will enjoy an endless array of arts and cultural activities, outdoor adventure, fabulous dining, 330 days of sunshine a year and exciting nightlife.

There are six full service conference hotels in Tempe.

• Tempe Mission Palms Hotel: In the heart of the Mill Avenue District, guests can walk to over 100 shops, restaurants and nightlife venues in Tempe Town Lake. Tempe Mission Palms is certified by the International Association of Conference Centers and has 30,000 square feet of multi-functional space and 303 newly redecorated guest rooms.

• The Buttes, A Marriott Resort: Perched on 25 mountaintop acres, this resort offers scenic desert landscape and cascading waterfalls. It has over 40,000 square feet of meeting space and 353 guest rooms.

• Embassy Suites Phoenix-Tempe: Located in the heart of Tempe, just two miles from Arizona State University, Downtown Tempe and Arizona Mills, this property has 224 two-room guest suites and 10,000 square feet of meeting space.

• Fiesta Resort Conference Center: Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired oasis with 270 recently refurbished guest rooms and an addition of 10,000 square feet of meeting space in the new conference center.

• Four Points by Sheraton Tempe: Schedule to open at the end of February; this property is located in the heart of Tempe. It has 187 guest rooms, 3929 square feet of flexible meeting space and a full-service restaurant and sports lounge.

• Nightlife: Wander through the Mill Avenue District and find the perfect spot for dancing, listening to a live band, singing along with a dueling piano show or sipping coffee at an artistic café. Or, tickle your funny bone at the Tempe Improv Comedy Club.

• Sports: Tempe is home to Arizona State University athletics, Angels Spring Training, several annual sporting events such as rowing regattas, triathlons and the P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon & ½ Marathon. ASU Karsten Golf Course, a classic Pete Dye Scottish links design with rolling hills and partially hidden greens, is located just five minutes from the Mill Avenue District.

• Sheraton Phoenix Airport Hotel: Conveniently tucked in between Arizona State University and the airport. This hotel recently underwent a $7 Million dollar renovation, with nearly 10,000 square feet of meeting space and 212 rooms.

Tempe has a wide array of unique meeting venues as well. The picturesque Desert Botanical Garden and the unique Phoenix Zoo make any dinner function memorable. Have a raucous team building event at GameWorks or Dave & Busters. Get a taste of the Wild West at Rawhide Western Town and Steakhouse or Rustler's Rooste. See an Angels Spring Training game in March at Tempe Diablo Stadium or have a catered lunch at the stadium's 20,000 square foot party deck, followed by a game of softball. The newly opened Tempe Arts has become one of the most distinctive meeting venues anywhere. Surrounded by a 17-acre art park, this unique arts and cultural venue includes two theatres and the 3,400-square foot Lakeside Room. This meeting space boasts a spectacular view of Tempe Town Lake, making it ideal for any event from weddings to luncheons to retreats.

Meeting attendees in Tempe will find plenty of diversions before and after their conference. Opportunities include: • Outdoor recreation: Explore Arizona's Sonoran desert beauty by hiking up "A" Mountain or Papgo Park, located adjacent to the Mill Avenue District. Just south of Tempe, beautiful South Mountain Park is the largest municipal park in the United States with more than 16,000 acres and miles of hiking and biking trails.

• Shopping: Find treasures at Arizona Mills, the home of over 175 value-oriented shops, restaurants and entertainment venues like IMAX Theatre and GameWorks. Or, stroll the pedestrian-friendly streets of the Mill Avenue District and visit more than 100 shops, unique boutiques, restaurants, cafes and taverns. Tempe Marketplace, Tempe's newest retail district, features 1.3 million square feet of shopping, dining and entertainment.

• Dining: Experience new cultures by dining at a family-owned ethnic restaurant, dine al fresco on one of the many enchanting patios or sample all American fare at a local microbrewery. Most restaurants can easily accommodate groups. The pedestrian-friendly Mill Avenue District is perfect for a dine-a-round event. For something truly unique, experience a catered meal aboard a boat on Tempe Town Lake.

• Arts and Culture: Visitors to Tempe love to explore over 20 free museums at Arizona State University, see Broadway productions at ASU Gammage or listen to the latest up and coming musical acts performing nightly at many of Mill Avenue's restaurants and taverns. Tempe boasts a continuous line-up of special events, including the twice annual Tempe Festival of the Arts, Circle K Tempe Music Festival, Way Out West Oktoberfest, ASU Spring Pow Wow and the Arizona Dragon Boat Festival.

• After the meetings are over, Tempe is also the perfect starting and ending point for trips to other destinations such as the Grand Canyon, Tucson, and Sedona.

One call to the Tempe CVB is all you need to plan your next meeting.

The Tempe CVB offers experienced and professional assistance, at no charge, for meeting planners. Services include distribution of clientspecified requests for proposal, assistance with site inspections, welcome bags for convention attendees, discount books and professional referrals for services such as guest programs, local tours companies, offsite function space and registration companies.

The Tempe CVB website, www.MeetinTempe.com was designed with a special section just for meeting planners. Meeting planners can use the site to submit a request for proposal, review accommodations and unique meeting venues, find attractions, view the Tempe photo gallery and more.

EXHIBITORS

Corner

Orange County Convention Center Celebrates 25th Anniversary he nation's second largest convention facility commemorates 25 years of tremendous growth, successful events & unique offerings The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) formally announced its 25th anniversary and began the yearlong celebration with a cake-cutting and banner-unveiling ceremony with OCCC leadership and employees. Since the OCCC opened in 1983, it has hosted 4,449 total events with approximately 14.7 million convention delegates having visited the Center, contributing $19.7 billion in economic impact to Orange County, Fla. The seven-million-square-foot facility, offering 2.1 million square feet of exhibition space, is the second largest in the U.S. and hosts more than 300 events annually. The OCCC is not only unique in its location of Orlando, Fla. - one of the top vacation destinations in the world, with its beautiful weather year-round and vast array of shopping, dining, theme parks and more - but it has an incredible offering for each event it hosts. First, its Gold Key Partners include the Walt Disney World® Resort, SeaWorld® Orlan-

T

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do and Universal Orlando® Resort. Each of these partners has locations and sales staff on site at the OCCC full time. This level of service ensures that every event and guest receive the very best from these top-quality partners.

The OCCC also offers in-house vendors that are exclusive partners and provide exceptional service to organizations that require best-in-class service to achieve a successful event. The OCCC offers Levy Restaurants for all current catering needs and is excited to welcome a new catering company, Centerplate, beginning in August of this year. SmartCity® exclusively provides all Internet and telecommunications services, and FedEx Kinko's® is the exclusive, on-site, full-service business center.

There are many additional services the OCCC offers through preferred partners that are on site and highly recommended, including LMG Inc., an expert audiovisual organization that can assist with all audiovisual needs; Bags, a top-notch, remote Skycap operator; Cars, a premium valet service; Scootaround Mobility Solutions™, providing scooter, wheelchair and oxygen rentals on site; Cosby's Convention Massage, offering

chair massage services; and IStream Planet, providing businesses the ability to Web cast or video stream live from their booths to a Web site for customers or employees to view.

In addition to this excellent offering of on-site service partners, the OCCC boasts a tremendous, full-service, on-site staff of professionals, who are unparalleled in the industry. The team features seven departments, including sales and marketing; contract administration; event management; event operations; facility operations; food & beverage; and security and transportation, which includes a fire station on property and a seven-member team from the Orange County Sheriff's department. All of these departments work together to create the perfect event for each organization that chooses the Orange County Convention Center for its conference, tradeshow or event.

About the Orange County Convention Center The Orange County Convention Center is the second largest convention facility in the country.

Each year, the OCCC brings more than 300 events to the Central Florida area. As a result, roughly 1.4 million attendees contribute approximately $1.4 billion to the area's economic impact each year. For more information about the Orange County Convention Center, visit our Web site at www.occc.net.

TechnoSavvy

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INTERACTIVE

iBar

Microsoft Surface Technology Launches in First-Ever Entertainment Venue, iBar at Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino fraid to say hello to the table of ladies seated next to you; battle your friends to see who pays for the next round of drinks; or order the perfect cocktail....now you can with one touch.. Microsoft Surface launches in Las Vegas at iBar inside the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino.

Harrah's Operating Company Inc., a subsidiary of Harrah's Entertainment Inc., and Microsoft Corp. announced the debut of Harrah's first Microsoft Surface deployment at iBar ultra-lounge located inside Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. Harrah's is the first company to deploy a suite of customized applications for Microsoft Surface and install it in an entertainment venue, providing guests with uniquely personalized and engaging social experience with the Surface units.

Microsoft Surface, the first commercially available surface computer with a 30-inch table-like display where individuals or multiple people can interact with digital content in a way that feels familiar by using touch. Without a mouse or keyboard, the 360-degree user interface and massive multi-touch capabilities of Microsoft Surface provide Rio guests with an unprecedented social experience that infuses the best of technology with the best of Vegas nightlife.

With the unique interaction that Microsoft Surface enables, Harrah's has created an innovative suite of custom applications to provide guests with hip new ways to create their very own ultimate entertainment experience in an ultra-lounge venue.

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•

Flirt Vegas style by adding a hip ultralounge vibe to the flirting experience.

This application allows guests to create an exciting new way to chat and meet people from one Surface to another. Strategically placed video cameras at each Surface add even more energy to the action, allowing guests to interact with old friends, flirt with new acquaintances, and take and send photos across the lounge.

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Mixologists are inspired to create and order their own signature cocktails for themselves or to send to that special someone across the room using Surface and Harrah's intuitive food and beverage application.

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Hip-notic describes how guests will feel when kicking back to find and view the latest and most popular online videos with their friends on Surface.

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Head games are taken to a whole new level with Harrah's creative suite of play-for-fun games. With the unique Surface interface, Harrah's adds an exciting new take on some old favorites such as High Roller bowling, multiplayer pickup pinball game, and a Last Call musical memory game that encourages the whole group to play together. Leaderboards add excitement as guests compete with one another to see who can climb to the top of the scoreboard.

In addition to Harrah's unique applications and play-for-fun games, the Surface units also feature a photo application and a virtual concierge application developed by Microsoft that Harrah's customized for its environment.

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See and Be Scene is what guests can do as they tour all of Harrah's Vegas properties and explore attractions in Vegas without leaving their seat at the iBar.

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Virtual Vegas aptly describes how guests will take a virtual walk down the Las Vegas strip on Surface, letting their fingers be the guide. Guests will be able to get information on the latest events and attractions at all Harrah's properties throughout Vegas.

2008 Imagen* Annual Advertising Award T

oday’s Hispanic meetings, travel and tourism market advertisers are true pioneers. Striking out ahead of the competition, they are leading the meetings industry into the Hispanic meetings and tourism marketplace, an over 47 billion annual market. These pioneers have already realized the revenue potential of the Hispanic market and are positioning themselves to seize their share. These advertisers are setting their mark and brand identity to product/ service loyal Hispanic meeting planners, travel agents, business owners, and Hispanic travelers who are searching for their next meeting, convention, or vacation destination, and travel suppliers with whom they prefer to conduct business.

Th Imagen Advertising Award is created by Hispanic Meetings & Travel to recognize various meetings and travel suppliers for not only their faith in the Hispanic market place but also their creative talents in marketing

their destinations and services to Hispanic meetings and tourism professionals across the globe. Imagen Advertising Award recipients are determined and voted on by the readers of Hispanic Meetings & Travel. Readers will be asked to vote for advertisements that clearly inspired them to want to visit or plan meetings in the destination and or utilize travel services of Hispanic Meetings & Travel advertisers.

The various categories will include Airlines, Cruise Ships, Convention and Visitor’s Bureaus, Hotels, Resorts, State Tourism offices, and international destinations. The Imagen Advertising Award winners will be recognized at a Gala event where each winning advertisement will be on display.

Imagen Award Winners will receive their awards at the 2008 International Association of Hispanic Meeting Professionals Annual Conference, December 3-7, 2008 in San Diego, California.

Categories for the 2008 Imagen Awards include: Airlines Cruise Ship Car Rental Convention & Visitors Bureaus (North) Convention & Visitors Bureaus (West) Convention & Visitors Bureaus (Central) Convention & Visitors Bureaus (East) Convention & Visitors Bureaus (South) Hotel Chains Resort Properties State Tourism Offices International Destinations * Imagen – Spanish word for the formation of mental images; product of the imagination.

Cuisine

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NUTRITION

Peak Performance at Your Next Banquet Cenegenics Medical Institute of Boca Raton & LXR Luxury Resorts & Hotels Introduce 'Lifestyle Cuisine' First-of-Its-Kind Performance-Optimized Banquet Menus for Executive Planners & Convention Attendees Launches at the Boca Raton Resort & Spa this Month C-Level Executives, as well as meeting and event planers can finally 'opt-in' to present health, vitality and peak performance to executive groups and convention attendees at upcoming LXR Luxury Resorts & Hotels distinctive properties throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, beginning with the Boca Raton Resort & Spa later this month.

Pioneered by Robert D. Willix, Jr. MD, CEO of Cenegenics速 Medical Institute in Boca Raton in conjunction with Doug Zeif, LXR Vice President of Food & Beverage, 'Lifestyle Cuisine by LXR' will revolutionize the way executives and conventions attendees dine and perform on their next business trip.

"Lifestyle Cuisine by LXR will provide meeting planners with exciting new menu options that support the growing interest in maintaining a healthy diet on the road, while reinforcing LXR's position as an organization that delivers cutting-edge culinary concepts to meet the needs of a savvy clientele," explains LXR Vice President of Food and Beverage Doug Zeif.

LXR is the first hotel to partner with Cenegenics in such an initiative. Cenegenics certified 24 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel

nutritionists, health and medical professionals have collaborated with LXR chefs on menu development, food preparation and recipe selections, training the chefs in dietary parameters that cater to 21st century executive needs.

Lifestyle Cuisine banquet menus can be customized to suit every event. Menus will focus on more meals throughout the day, smaller portions and high satiety foods that stabilize metabolism and generate energy.

Organic and whole-food alternatives will be utilized, including phyto-nutrients to resist disease, essential fats for healthy cells, lean protein for energy and fiber for reduced cholesterol and healthy digestive tracts.

Savory gourmet menu items-such as smoked Copper River Salmon, Dungeness Crab Cocktail and Organic Chicken Paillardwill prove that healthy eating can be flavorful.

"Cenegenics-certified Lifestyle Cuisine will provide LXR with a competitive edge in the meeting and conventions banquet market," says Cenegenics Boca Raton's CEO, Robert D. Willix, Jr. MD

"Traditional banquet foods, often laden with trans-fats, preservatives, and unhealthy protein/carbohydrate selection, and snack breaks often centered on chocolate, sugar and caffeine, can produce many peaks and valleys during the day. Lifestyle Cuisine will offer complete nutritionally balanced healthy alternatives made with organic and whole-foods, for peak performance throughout the day " he adds.

Between July and October 2008, LXR will roll out the Lifestyle Cuisine menu at nine properties, planned in this order: Boca Raton Resort & Club, Naples Grande Resort & Beach Club, South Seas Island Resort, Casa Marina Resort, El Conquistador Resort, Buena Vista Palace Resort, Carmel Valley Ranch, The Boulders, and Ft. Lauderdale Grande.

Following the initial roll-out, the menus will soon be offered at all LXR properties nationwide and in Puerto Rico.

Cenegenics速 Medical Institute has developed the largest age management medicine practice in the world with centers in Las Vegas, Nevada; Charleston, South Carolina; Boca Raton, Florida; as well several new centers in major metropolitan areas scheduled to open from 2008 through 2009. There are also numerous Cenegenics physician affiliates nationwide.

With an established presence in the medical community, Cenegenics incorporates a proactive, preventive approach, based on solid science and comprehensive evaluation. Their established protocols have been recognized as the next generation of medical science, capturing global media attention. Cenegenics proudly offers CME-accredited physician training and certification opportunities in age management medicine via the nonprofit Cenegenics Education and Research Foundation (CERF). Headquartered in Las Vegas, Cenegenics serves more than 15,000 patients-1,500 are physicians and their families. For more information, visit www.cenegenics-br.com.

LXR Luxury Resorts & Hotels is a portfolio of independent properties, dedicated to creating an experience of luxury, a sense of ease and endless pleasure. They are distinguished by a style and spirit which captures the unique qualities of their setting. LXR resorts and hotels are located throughout the United States and the Caribbean. The LXR collection also includes the renowned Golden Door Spa brand and its five spas in the U.S. LXR Luxury Resorts & Hotels can be found at http://www.LuxuryResorts.com

TRAVEL

destinations INTERNATIONAL

extensive conference and meeting facilities to suit conference tourism.

Both hotels will be operated by CHI Hotels & Resorts as the Corinthia Beach Resort, with a full range of differently priced products covering room only, bed and breakfast, half board, full board and fully inclusive rates.

The Resort is built within beautiful landscaped gardens and at the same time having an extensive range of food and beverage products. There will be a quality offering of a wide range of entertainment and sporting facilities such as private tennis courts and diving and water sport activities.

The management agreement was signed by Paul Pisani, Vice-President -Development of CHI and H Mansouri, Chairman and CEO of the owning company Cyrene Tourism Investment Corporation of Egypt.

Commenting on the agreement, Mansouri, said "CHI Hotels & Resorts' worldwide experience and excellent reputation as a multi-brand hotel operator has long preceded it in this part of the world, giving us the necessary confidence to entrust our multi-million dollar project to a very safe pair of hands, with a proven international track record. With the completion of these two hotels, Cyrene Group hotel capacity will reach some 2,200 guestrooms and suites."

Congratulating Mansouri, CHI's CEO and Managing Director Tony Potter said "We are delighted to have been awarded the operation of this multiproperty project, which sees us pioneer the renowned Corinthia Hotels brand to yet another world class destination such as Sharm El Sheikh.

Corinthia Hotels' properties are currently leaders in 5-star hotel keeping in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Libya, Malta, Portugal and Russia, with others currently under development in Algiers, Bucharest and London. Each hotel is renowned for its uniqueness of character, while retaining the same high standards that the Corinthia brand has become renowned for. Our CHI Team are confident that with this excellent location and two upscale properties within one resort, we will be able to offer one of the most upmarket resort products and widest range of choices in Sharm El Sheikh. " Sharm El Sheikh is a city situated on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt and has become a leading tourist resort thanks to its dramatic landscape, year-round dry and temperate climate and long stretches of natural beaches. Its waters are clear and calm for most of the year and have become popular for various water sports, particularly recreational scuba diving and snorkelling which some consider to be among the best in the world. Coral reefs, under water and marine life, unmatched anywhere in the world, offer a spectacular and dazzling time for divers. All around are Bedouins, colourful tents, mountains and sea.

Sharm features all the amenities one could expect of a top class tourist resort, including casinos, discos and nightclubs, golf courses, windsurfing and other water sports, horses and camel riding, desert safaris, and great nearby antiquities attractions.

CHI HOTELS & RESORTS TO OPERATE TWIN PROPERTY 'CORINTHIA BEACH RESORT' IN SHARM EL SHEIKH EGYPT

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alta based CHI Hotels & Resorts (formerly Corinthia Hotels International) announced the signing of a long term management agreement with Cyrene Tourism Investment Corporation of Egypt for the operation of two new upscale properties in the highly popular Egyptian resort of Sharm el Sheikh. Both hotels will form part of a major resort destination to be known as the Corinthia Beach Resort.

The Corinthia Hotel will be a five-Star international deluxe property located directly on a stunning beach front in Montazah, Sharm El Sheikh.

The property is set to become operational in the last quarter of 2009 and will offer 220 deluxe suites and be fully supported with independent restaurants, a club house and fully serviced beach operation and outdoor pool.

The Tiran Island Hotel will be a 600 bedroom four-star international hotel offering a broad selection of luxury hotel rooms, residential suites and self-catering suites ideal for family occupation. Scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2009, this quality four-star operation will offer a wide range of restaurants, entertainment, bars, Spa, outside pools and

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traveldestinations

to arrange everything: from the wedding site to the flowers to the reception menu. Couples can choose from specially tailored wedding packages for civil or religious ceremonies.

DESTINATION INFORMATION

TESORO MANZANILLO RESORT A lively resort on Mexico's west coast, Tesoro Manzanillo offers an ideal private beach, modern amenities and expansive meeting space. With EP and all-inclusive options, hotel guests can combine business with a side of pleasure at Aura Spa or chill out on the beach.

MEETINGS, INCENTIVES & CONVENTIONS Tesoro offers a dedicated team of onsite professional coordinators to arrange events from small incentive trips and corporate retreats to large association conventions, including the Nuestra Belleza (Miss Mexico Pageant) held in October 2007. The resort offers: • The largest conference space in Manzanillo • More than 32,000 square feet of flexible event space for business or social sessions • Dedicated event coordinator services • High-speed and wireless Internet access • A/V equipment • Group rates upon request • Offsite excursion planning

AURA SPA With more than 5,000 square feet of tranquil 26 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel

space, Aura Spa features four treatment rooms, products from Miguett, several relaxation lounges and a full-service salon. Aura Spa is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and advance reservations are highly recommended.

KIDS CLUB Entertainment begins for the little ones with their own VIP "Little Treasures" check-in where they'll receive a treasure tote of games, prizes and an invitation to join the kids club.

From the Kids Club Water Park to Spanish lessons and mini-Olympics, a variety of indoor and outdoor activities are available to kids ages 4-12 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and 3 p.m.-5 p.m. There's even a Kids Club menu with macaroni and cheese, hot dogs, hamburgers, Jell-O and more. And for the night that Mom and Dad want a nice dinner away from the kids, a kid-themed movie night takes place every Sunday, complete with fresh popcorn and soft drinks.

WEDDINGS, HONEYMOONS & ANNIVERSARIES What better way to say "I do" then surrounding yourself with friends and family at Tesoro Manzanillo. Onsite wedding planners are available

Located on Mexico's Gold Coast between the Pacific Ocean and the Sierra Madres, Manzanillo is the epitome of an adventure-filled yet quiet, exotic destination.

Take a sport fishing or scuba diving excursion before retreating to a quiet beach for the afternoon. Take in a taste of the culture at local boutiques or open-air shopping plazas. Experience the adventure of Manzanillo.

GETTING THERE Tesoro Manzanillo is located 25 miles from Manzanillo International Airport with direct flights available from Denver, Houston and Los Angeles, Phoenix and Minneapolis-St. Paul. Direct flight options are also available into Colima, the capital of the state of Colima just 61 miles east of Manzanillo. Upon arrival, guests can take an airport shuttle ($10) or taxi ($60) to the resort, located on Manzanillo's beachfront.

ABOUT TESORO RESORTS Tesoro Resorts are a collection of vibrant oceanfront hotels in Ixtapa, Los Cabos and Manzanillo, Mexico. With specialties in spa, corporate meeting and family-friendly properties, Tesoro Resorts offer an array of memorable vacation experiences. Tesoro Resorts are managed by IHR/Steadfast Hospitality Management, LLC operating as IHR de Mexico, a joint venture management company between Steadfast Companies and Interstate Hotels & Resorts. For more information and reservations, call US/Canada 1-866-99-TESORO or visit www.tesororesorts.com.

Southwest Meeting Destinations

Albuquerque, New Mexico is Southwestern culture lbuquerque is recognized as one of the most culturally diverse cities in the country whose ethnic diversity is reflected in its architecture, artwork, cultural centers and cuisine. Customs and traditions passed down over generations are a vibrant part of every day life in the city, and make Albuquerque the center of Southwestern culture.

The city celebrated its 300th birthday in 2006 making Albuquerque one of the oldest cities in America. Its one-of-a-kind Southwestern culture is in everything, from Pueblo and Spanish inspired architecture, to the music and art displayed throughout the city. Albuquerque is an exciting and culturally rich American destination.

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Two recommended trips that encompass its Southwestern culture include: Discover New Mexico's Native American culture in the ancient cliff dwellings and petroglyphs, and in the lifestyles found in the area's earliest civilizations. The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center features the history, art and culture of New Mexico's 19 Indian Pueblos. Visit the center on the weekends for free Native American dances, bread baking and craft demonstrations. Acoma Sky City is an hour's drive west

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of Albuquerque and is the "oldest continuously inhabited city in the United States;" a trip to the Acoma Pueblo is truly like stepping back in time. Native Indians live without electricity or running water on top of the mesa in the original adobe buildings and visitors can take a guided tour of the pueblo, and even walk through the mission. The Petroglyph National Monument offers visitors the opportunity to view more than 15,000 prehistoric and historic Native American and Hispanic petroglyphs (images carved in rock). The park stretches 17miles along Albuquerque's West Mesa. A trip is not complete without a visit to the Coronado State Monument, which includes reconstructed ruins of the ancient Pueblo of Kuaua, a Tiwa word for "evergreen." The monument is named for Francisco Vasquez de Coronado who is thought to have camped near this site with his soldiers in 1540 while searching for the fabled Cities of Gold.

From its birthplace in historic Old Town in 1706, Albuquerque has grown from small pueblos and Spanish farms to one of the Southwest's premier metropolitan centers. Old Town is filled with galleries displaying local artwork and Native American masterpieces from sculpture and pottery to painting and weaving.

Restaurants provide refreshing margaritas and flavorful cuisine in a patio setting. Seven museums are within walking distance of Old Town: Albuquerque Museum of Art & History, the National Atomic Museum, Turquoise Museum, NM Museum of Natural History & Science, Explora! Science Center & Children's Museum, LodeStar Planetarium and the American International Rattlesnake Museum.

Just a short distance from Old Town is the Albuquerque Biological Park. The BioPark consists of three separate facilities, the Rio Grande Zoological Park, the Albuquerque Aquarium and the Rio Grande Botanic Garden.

The Rio Grande Zoo spans more than 60 acres just blocks from Old Town and downtown Albuquerque, and has become one of the leading zoos in the nation. The Albuquerque Aquarium features a large Gulf shark tank, an eel cave, a schooling fish tank and a tidal pool. The Rio Grande Botanic Garden is divided into two wings - a Desert Pavilion that displays plants from the Chihuahuan and Sonoran deserts and a Mediterranean Pavilion with plants from around the world. The newest additions are the Children's Fantasy Garden, a Butterfly Pavilion and the Rio Grande Heritage Farm. Finish your trip at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, which is dedicated to preserving the rich artistic and cultural heritage integral to the Hispanic Community worldwide, and offers a visual arts museum and amphitheater.

• Historic Old Town (1 hour) • Albuquerque Museum of Art & History (2 hours) • Museums (1 hour each) • Albuquerque Biological Park Aquarium/Botanic Gardens (1 hour) • Zoo (3) hours • National Hispanic Cultural Center (1 hour)

• Indian Pueblo Cultural Center (2 hours) dancing on weekends at 11 am and 2 pm.

• Acoma Pueblo (4 hours including drive time) • Coronado State Monument (1-2 hours) • Petroglyph National Monument, wear walking shoes! (1 hour)

For additional information on New Mexico visit the web sites shown below: New Mexico Tourism Department - www.newmexico.org Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce http://www.tourism.ahcnm.org Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau www.itsatrip.org

Southwest Meeting Destinations

Santa Fe Convention Center Officially Open and Busy

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he Santa Fe Convention Center will hold its official opening September 25, 2008 the only date available when the new facility wasn't already busy and booked. Even as finishing touches on the building were taking place, the center hosted Santa Fe Mayor David Coss' state of the city speech on September 3 and several Santa Fe Fiesta events before going into an active fall schedule of meetings and multi-day conferences.

After, literally, 20+ years of talking about the need for a new convention center, dozens of city meetings, endless community input, numerous design reviews, and 22 months of construction, Santa Fe's newest and greenest municipal building is hard at work.

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Convention Center Details Providing 40,000 square feet of event space, an 18,000 square foot ballroom, 11 breakout rooms, outdoor meeting areas, and a highly flexible floor plan, the Santa Fe convention center gives planners a new set of reasons to consider Santa Fe for a future event. Not only was the center designed with meetings in mind, it is one of the most environmentally responsible buildings in the city, fully in step with today's growing emphasis on green meetings. The center was designed to a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification.

The new center is divided into two buildings; the Community Building on the east end and the Convention Center on the west. On the ground

floor of the Community Building are a new box office, the 2,500 square foot "Handcrafted in Santa Fe a Community Gallery" art space, and a business center for the use of meeting and event planners. There are four meeting rooms and an outdoor terrace/event space upstairs.

The box office will sell tickets for events at the Lensic Performing Arts Center and other venues in town. The gallery space will be operated by the Santa Fe Arts Commission and display the work of Santa Fe artists not currently represented by other galleries in Santa Fe. The upstairs meeting rooms include the Tesuque boardroom featuring hardwood floors, a handmade 16-place table, its own fireplace, and a private outdoor terrace. The three other meetings rooms, the Ohkay Owingeh, Nambe, and Pojoaque rooms, can be used as one large space or separated into individual meeting spaces. The 4 rooms are named for local Native American tribes. Each room has its own dedicated data lines and the whole building is served by high-speed, wireless internet connection.

All of the second story outdoor floors of the Community Building 'float,' allowing water to pass through to a lower collection area that feeds the building's 45,000 gallon water catchment tanks.

The wide-open second floor terrace has raised planters that provide cooling for the roof and additional water collection. Although there

are canales (for roof drainage), virtually no water runoff from either building is anticipated under normal conditions. All drainage will be captured and used for landscape irrigation.

The larger building is the Convention Center. Entrances from Marcy and Grant Street open into a spacious lobby with a two-story ceiling, fireplace, and custom made furniture.

The Sweeney Ballroom is the heart of the convention center with 18,000 square feet of space, dividable with moveable walls into 5 individual areas. The entire space can be configured in many different ways and has a removable stage, large A/V monitors, and adjacent loading docks. Off the ballroom are 3 kitchens; 2 large facilities with walk-in freezers, multiple ovens, and six burner stoves, and one smaller kitchen for groups of less than 300.

There are 7 more meeting rooms in the convention center building; the Coronado, DeVargas, Peralta, Lamy, O'Keeffe, Milagro, and Kearny rooms. Each has its own pull down video screen and overhead projector plus data lines.

In keeping with Santa Fe's reputation as an internationally recognized art center, both buildings will feature extensive artwork, much of it sourced through the New Mexico Art in Public Places project. When installation is completed, the center will display more than

$450,000 of original art throughout the two buildings.

Extensive measures were taken to minimize greenhouse gas emissions during construction and future operation of the building. There will be 3 recycling centers inside the buildings, multiple water stations with compostable cups are used to discourage plastic water bottles, rooms have occupancy lighting sensors and extensive natural light, and non-volatile carpet and paint have been used. Light fixtures from the old convention center lobby were saved and have been installed in the new building.

65,000 bricks recycled from the old center are being used in the new center's outdoor areas.

88 percent of the demolition was recycled and 75 percent of the new construction waste will be recycled.

The new center is located in the heart of historic downtown Santa Fe, surrounded by museums, attractions, restaurants, shopping, and within easy walking distance of 1,500 rooms in some of the city's finest hotels, inns, and B&B's. Attractive, adaptable, and environmentally accountable, the convention center is truly the beginning of a new day for meetings, conferences, and events in Santa Fe.

Meeting Planner Tips

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INCENTIVES

VISIT JACKSONVILLE RAMPS UP ITS CONVENTION SALES INITIATIVES Department Reorganization and Streamlined Direction Makes Planning a Meeting in Jacksonville a Cinch

V

isit Jacksonville's Convention Sales

for target-specific markets, added end of the year

team is implementing and building

discounts and launched a new initiative for med-

on several initiatives in an effort to

ical tourism, branded "America's Health Center."

showcase Jacksonville as a premiere

"Jacksonville is an ideal meetings and conven-

meetings and convention destination

tions destination with our functional and unique

by highlighting meeting venues, targeting specif-

venues, competitive pricing and attractions,

ic markets and offering incentives to boost an

including world-class golf, diverse dining and

increase in groups.

nightlife options and majestic waterways," said

The recent changes make hosting a meeting in

John Reyes, president & CEO of Visit Jack-

Jacksonville effortless for the meeting planner. In

sonville. "We are confident that our sales efforts

addition to the Sales staff reorganization to create

are focused even more to ensure that the meeting

more efficient relationships with meeting plan-

planner has the resources they need for a success-

ners, Visit Jacksonville has created new collateral

ful event in Jacksonville."

32 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel

A roundup of the changes, include: • Department Reorganization - In addition to selling the destination, Visit Jacksonville is focusing efforts to bring more city-wide conventions to town by showcasing the unique 275,000-gross-square-foot-Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center. To work more closely with the management of the convention center, Director of Sales, Kevin Shea, is housed on the premises and will be concentrating on the sporting events market and trade show business for all regions. An updated listing of sales staff and their markets is available on the Visit Jacksonville Web site.

• End of Year Group Incentives - In light of the soft economy and rising fuel prices, Visit Jacksonville is offering incentives to offset meeting costs and decrease the bottom line for groups.

Meeting planners who book their group business in Jacksonville by Jan. 31, 2009, can receive complimentary or special rates on food and beverage costs, room rates, rental space and activities such as golf, spa treatments and admissions. A list of participating partners and incentives can be found on the Visit Jacksonville Web site.

• Multicultural Meetings Collateral and Web Site - The Visit Jacksonville multicultural tourism committee has developed supplement materials to the organization's Visitor Magazine. The supplement is offered in two forms: a CD brochure and dedicated Web site offering vibrant imagery and a multimedia component, plus featured information for this specific market on where to meet, play, eat and pray. Multicultural special events in the city are listed to tie in with meetings and conventions coming to Jacksonville. This collateral was developed using a $20,000 multicultural grant awarded to Visit Jacksonville from the state tourism office, VISIT FLORIDA.

• Medical Meetings & Conventions - With Jacksonville's diversity in medical care and research, biotechnology companies and meeting venues, Visit Jacksonville designated the city as "America's Health Center." A new sales collateral piece and dedicated Web site provides information on Jacksonville meeting venues and on the 11 medical partners who can offer facility tours and experts in a number of medical and research specialties for educational symposiums, keynote addresses and meeting attendees.

For a listing of Visit Jacksonville sales services and initiatives, go to www.VisitJacksonville.com/meeting-planners/.

www.hispanicmeetingstravel.com | HM&T 33

CONVENTION CENTER UPDATES

Midwest Airlines Center Milwaukee, Wisconsin pened in July, 1998, and completed by the end of 1999, the Midwest Airlines Center has 188,695 square feet of contiguous, state-of-the-art exhibit space and a 37,506 square foot ballroom with capacity for 3,150 diners and ample utilities for corporate theater. An additional 39,364 square feet of meeting space can be partitioned into as many as 28 meeting and breakout rooms equipped for satellite links, video teleconferencing, data transmission and other telecommunications and audio-visual technology.

Other innovations and tried-and-true technologies have been applied to heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, security and electronic signage systems. Our goal has been to create a flexible environment that anticipates the technical expectations of 21st century customers, controls costs, and facilitates hasslefree move-in, show operation and move-out.

O

34 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel

At the same time, the Midwest Airlines Center better connects events to Milwaukee's flourishing downtown. Skywalks to the Hilton and Hyatt hotels link some 1,500 rooms to the Mid-

west Airlines Center, with more nearby. We're just a block from the Museum Center containing the Milwaukee Public Museum, Humphrey I-Max Theater and Discovery World Museum, two blocks from the Riverwalk, three blocks from the Theater District, three blocks from Amtrak, two blocks from regional & national bus terminals, and easy walking distance to other hotels, shopping, dining, nightlife, festivals and attractions.

Extensive use of glass provides elegant prefunction and reception spaces and makes the building feel friendly and accessible, while actual access to event areas can be well controlled. Attractive and durable finishes, fixtures and amenities are used throughout, and the Wisconsin Center District invested over $1 million in integrated and commissioned artworks for the building.

The building is exceptionally welcoming in practical terms as well. One-way loading dock traffic provides for smooth, fast move-ins. The exhibit hall spans across Wells Street, providing almost two blocks of weather-protected curb space for dropping off passengers. A 190space parking lot is also suitable for outdoor exhibits, reception tents and other uses.

The Midwest Airlines Center is best viewed in the context of a flurry of development throughout Milwaukee. Projects completed in the past few years include the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, the Museum Center, our own U.S. Cellular Arena renovations, the incredible new Santiago Calatrava wing of the Milwaukee Art Museum, the new Miller Park baseball stadium, the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, the Shops of Grand Avenue and many more. In addition, downtown Milwaukee features over 3,000 hotel rooms.

CONVENTION CENTER UPDATES

Las Vegas Sands ™ MEGACENTER : The Ultimate Destination for Meeting Planners Complex Boasts More Square Footage of Meeting Space Than Many Large Cities onceived, designed, and built as the ultimate destination for Meetings, Incentive, Convention and Exhibition (MICE) business, Las Vegas Sands MEGACENTER™ - comprised of The Venetian, The Palazzo and the Sands Expo and Convention Center - will offer a unique combination of size, scope, expertise and amenities needed to produce a successful meeting or convention…all under one roof. MEGACENTER will be able to accommodate up to 55,000 attendees and will be the largest integrated resort and meeting complex in the world, boasting more square footage of meeting space than many cities, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Denver.

"The idea behind Las Vegas Sands MEGACENTER is to offer meeting planners the most compelling overall package in the most exciting city in the world," stated Sheldon G. Adelson, chairman and chief executive officer of

C

Las Vegas Sands Corp. "With all the amenities housed within The Venetian and the soon-to-beopen Palazzo, meeting attendees will never have to leave the property as everything needed for a great stay will be right outside their suite."

With over 2.2 million square feet of flexible show and meeting space, MEGACENTER will provide meeting planners with state-of-the-art A/V and communications options, an awardwinning catering department to accommodate any size group and an expert team with years of experience.

There will also be an unprecedented array of options for meeting attendees with over 7,000 luxurious suites; over 30 acclaimed restaurants featuring the top chefs from around the world, including Wolfgang Puck, Emeril Lagasse, Thomas Keller and Charlie Trotter; an expanded Canyon Ranch SpaClub; The Grand Canal Shoppes and the all-new Shoppes at The Palazzo, anchored by Barneys New York; spectacu-

lar entertainment featuring Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular, Blue Man Group, Wayne Brady, Jersey Boys and more.

Both The Palazzo and The Venetian suites were designed with the business traveler in mind and provide amenities such as safes, highspeed Internet, in-suite refreshment centers, dual-line phones, fax/copier/printers, and - at nearly twice the size of the average Las Vegas hotel room - the suites are large enough to hold business meetings in the sunken living area.

"We are always looking for ways to accommodate our guests, offering large and small companies an elegant, but comfortable environment where they will want to return year after year," said Rob Goldstein, president of The Venetian and The Palazzo. "MEGACENTER's comprehensive offerings are sure to provide meeting planners with a phenomenal and exciting business gathering. We offer the complete package with a wide variety of entertainment and activities such as world-class shopping and dining and the hottest nightlife on the Strip."

Mr. Adelson added that despite the size of the MEGACENTER, award-winning customer service will not be compromised as each hotel will have its own lobby and front desk.

The idea is to make the hotels as efficient as possible, as accessible as possible and equally wonderful experiences. www.hispanicmeetingstravel.com | HM&T 35

CONVENTION CENTER UPDATES

Baltimore's Convention and Tourism Industry ayor Sheila Dixon took a major step to enhance Baltimore's convention and tourism industry by creating a joint board of directors that will provide oversight to both the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association (BACVA) and the Baltimore Convention Center (BCC). BACVA President and CEO Tom Noonan and BCC Executive Director Peggy Daidakis will report to the new board, which will now be known as the Baltimore Convention & Tourism Board. Both Noonan

M

36 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel

and Daidakis will continue to run their organizations, and their staffs will remain separate.

Currently, BACVA reports to a Board and the BCC reports directly to a Deputy Mayor in the Mayor's Office.

The move fulfills a goal Mayor Dixon announced during her State of the City address in February of this year to restructure and enhance the already close relationship between BACVA and the Convention Center. Under this new structure, the Convention Center staff will remain city employees but will report to the

expanded Board whose mission will include destination sales and marketing as well as maintenance and operations of the Convention Center. Edwin F. Hale, chairman and CEO of 1st Mariner Bank, will serve as chairman of the Baltimore Convention & Tourism Board; Hale has chaired the BACVA Board of Directors for more than two years.

"With the recent expansion of major attractions, substantial renovations at many hotels, and the August opening of the publicly funded convention center hotel, the role and success of BACVA and the Baltimore Convention Center are more critical than ever," said Mayor Dixon. "We must ensure the continued expansion of hospitality and tourism in Baltimore, and, to succeed in this highly competitive marketplace, we need to maximize collaboration among our partners and provide seamless service to our customers."

Baltimore is taking a leading role in the convention industry with a Board structure that takes traditional destination marketing/convention center operating models to a new level.

With this new Board, there will now be a joint governing body with shared performance objectives for both BACVA and the BCC, which will lead to greater efficiency, a seamless sales process and an enhanced customer experience. BACVA and the BCC will develop a joint marketing plan and goals for the sales teams that reflect the mission of both organizations.

"Creating the Baltimore Convention & Tourism Board is a smart strategy that will make Baltimore even more competitive with a cohesive sales and marketing message and plan to maximize utilization of the BCC space so it is easier for customers to bring business to Baltimore," said Tom Noonan, BACVA president and CEO. The 2008-2009 Baltimore Convention & Tourism Board will commence on August 1, 2008.

"We have strong leadership already in place at BACVA and the BCC. This combined Board will make the team even stronger and the destination even more successful," added Mayor Dixon.

Lic. Benito Fong Gonzalez, President & Chairman of the Board and Yolanda Cisneros, Vice President of the Office of Visitors and Conventions of Guadalajara are pictured with Margaret Gonzalez, founder/president of IAHMP and Lizbeth Zamudio, president of IAHMP Mexico open the first annual conference hosted by the Mexico Chapter in Guadalajara.

Lizbeth Zamudio, Rudy Vargas, IV,Executive Director, NE Hispanic Catholic Center, and conference supporters.

Mexico professionals enjoy the conference as they heard from their colleagues in the USA who look forward to assist them as opportunities open in the industry on both sides of the border.

Elda Laura Cerda, Gestión de Destinos, Monterrey, México and Luis Felipe Nuño.Director de Turismo Municipal de Guadalajara get ready for their presentation on Destination Management.

Ramon Cala, The CALPRO Group and a Board member of IAHMP introduces the speakers from the USA. These included, Daniel Palomo, Houston CVB, Socrates Cala, The Calpro Group, Alberto Solis, Office of Economic Development, City of Albuquerque, New Mexico and Rafael Villanueva, Las Vegas CVA. 38 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel

Tabasco reps greet USA meeting planners during the Trade Show & Expo.

AeroMexico executive Frank Galan spoke about the many challenges faced by the airline industry under the current economic crisis.

Meeting and Hospitality executives from Mexico, South America and the United States participated in this first ever event that brought industry professionals together for the IAHMP Mexico Chapter's first conference.

AeroMexico executives turned out to support IAHMP Mexico in a big way. USA guests were provided air fare

by AeroMexico who loved the airline and the many amenities offered during the flight.

Zacatecas hosted a luncheon and presented their top entertainers in their bid to host the 2009 conference which was awarded to them at the end of the conference.

Professional speaker Juana Bordas was a big hit with her bilingual presentation that brought everyone to their feet in appreciation of her presentation.

www.hispanicmeetingstravel.com | HM&T 39

Zacatecas, Mexico brought its top talent to entertain conference attendees when they bid on hosting the 2009 conference. Among them was the Tamborazo Zacatecano (Big Drum band) and colorfully dressed dancers representing the uniquness of the region. The IAHMP Mexico Chapter and conference attendees were so impressed with their promotional efforts resulting in Zacatecas being chosen to host its 2nd Annual Conference next year.

IAHMP MEXICO

Agave pi単as demonstration at Mundo Cuervo

Following the successful Guadalajara conference the post-conference tour was hosted by Jose Cuervo at the Tequila Distillery located in the village of Tequila in the state of Jalisco.This area is one of the most beautiful locations in all of Mexico and attendees enjoyed a presentation on the harvesting of the blue agave plant used to make Tequila. The highlight of Jose Cuervo's distillery is truly their famous Reserva de la Familia. The cava, or vault, stores barrels of the famously smooth spirit and where one of the barrels was capped with the IAHMP conference logo which attendees signed and was presented to Margaret Gonzalez, founder of IAHMP and Lizbeth Zamudio, president of the Mexico chapter.

After enjoying an educational tour of the Tequila Distillery everyone walked across the street to entry the beautiful gardens of Mundo Cuervo where they were entertained by Mariachies, magnificently dressed Native Dancers and a family Rodeo. This was followed by a reception and dinner where everyone was entertained and enjoyed dancing until the wee hours of the night.

www.hispanicmeetingstravel.com | HM&T 41

traveldestinations

Visionary Real Estate Developer Makes The Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club Part of a Vibrant City with a Famed Past ike most fairytale endings, the story of how The Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club became a truly spectacular destination is a happy one.

It all started in 1967 when real estate developer Donald Soffer dreamed of turning 750acres of sand, mangrove trees and swamps into an upscale, planned residential area and sketched out his vision onto a cocktail napkin.

Fast-forward forty years, the vibrant city of Aventura, Spanish for "adventure," closely resembles Soffer's sketch with golf courses, lakes and scenic exercise trails built within an exclusive neighborhood of condominiums, shopping centers and office buildings.

Taking center stage in this lucrative Miamicommunity is the world-class Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club.

Originally built in the early 1970's as a country club for private members, the resort quickly transcended into a hub for sports enthusiasts, relaxation seekers and vacationers from around the world.

By the 1980's, the resort was the place to "see and be seen", atrracting celebrities, heads of state and socialites as frequent guests.

Frommer's called it "one of Miami's classiest resorts;" the Mobil Travel Guide gave it four stars; and Conde Nast Traveler named it to its prestigious Golf List.

L

42 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel

In 1988, Donald Soffer brought in George Rafael of Rafael Hotels to become part owner and together in 1989, they invested over $80 million to turn Miami's gem into a world-premier resort. As a result, the expansion project produced a masterpiece of classic architectural style, with pillars, arched promenades and terracotta roofs. The striking transformation added guest rooms and suites, restaurants, lounges and a conference center.

Nearly 10 years later, the resort, under new leadership at the time, built its final guest wing, the Jasmine building, adding 112 rooms and 11 suites to its portfolio. Within the Jasmine are the resort's two Grand Presidential Suites each boasting 4,400 square-feet of interiors, terraces and balconies.

Then in 2001, the resort opened its 25,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art Willow Stream Spa and fitness center. Conveniently located and adjacent to the main entrance, the spa was designed by renowned resort architect Tag Galyean. A dramatic spiral staircase and a 40foot curved glass wall topped with a skylight ascend throughout the three-story structure enhancing the spa's beautiful Mediterranean-style exterior.

With its array of international ritual services, beautiful appointments and highlytrained team of therapists, the Willow Stream Spa has earned numerous accolades and awards distinguishing it as one of the finest spa facilities in the country.

A private investment firm took over for several years, but then in 2006, the resort returned to its original roots with the Soffer family and their development company Turnberry Associates back at the helm-this time employing the help of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts to manage the 300 tropical acre paradise.

Shortly thereafter, The Fairmont Turnberry Isle received a $100 million renovation and expansion beginning a new era in luxury travel. Both 18-hole championship golf courses, originally designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and re-interpreted by golf great Raymond Floyd, underwent a $30 million reconstruction project. All guest rooms, spa facilities, conference center, Ocean Club, tennis center, pools, restaurants and resort common areas have been completely transformed to the standards befitting a legendary, luxury resort.

With The Fairmont Turnberry Isle's spacious and beautifully-appointed guest rooms, magnificent vistas of tropical foliage, soothing water features and Audubon bird refuge, unparalleled recreational facilities and warm and engaging services, The Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club is prepared to exceed guests' expectations for years to come.

The luxurious Mediterranean-style resort is conveniently located between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, and features 392 deluxe guest rooms and suites, world-class golf and tennis facilities, award-winning Willow Stream Spa, stellar dining options, a kids program and Ocean Club. For more information about The Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club or for reservations, please call (800) 441-1414 or visit www.fairmont.com/turnberryisle.

traveldestinations

OPENINGS, RENOVATIONS AND EXPANSIONS BRING OUT THE BEST IN THE USVI More than $500 million dollars invested in new and expanded tourism projects As one of the most scenic and romantic destinations in the Caribbean, the U.S. Virgin Islands continues to react to the tourism industry's impressive growth with responsible expansion and development investments totaling more than $500 million. The breathtaking islands of St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas boast new and refurbished marinas, restaurants, hotels and resorts, further solidifying the reputation of America's Caribbean as the region's top choice for travelers seeking a luxury vacation.

"Our three glorious islands are constantly benefiting from positive development projects that give our repeat guests and first-time visitors the best experiences possible," says Beverly Nicholson-Doty, U.S. Virgin Islands Commissioner of Tourism, referring to endeavors including the Yacht Haven Grande marina in St. Thomas, airfare credits to St. Croix and villa conversions at the Westin St. John Resort. "These ventures underscore how important the tourism industry is to our islands, and help to assure that America's Caribbean remains a top destination pick for sophisticated travelers from all over the world."

Among the exciting developments are the following:

Wyndham速 St. Croix Golf Resort and Casino

Pond Bay on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands

The Wyndham Hotels and Resorts announced it will enter a new Caribbean market with the development of the luxury 400-room Wyndham速 St. Croix Golf Resort and Casino, which will become the keystone of a $250 million complex that includes a new 43,000-square foot conference center on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. The 294-acre property broke ground this spring and will open its doors in 2010, featuring a 25,000 square-foot casino; 18-hole Jack Nicklaus signature golf course; 17,000 square-foot world-class spa and fitness center; four restaurants; lounges; retail stores; and kid's club.Additional information is available at www.wyndhamworldwide.com.

Pond Bay, a 15-acre development consisting of 50 exquisitely furnished three-bedroom cottages and villas, on one of the last beachfront properties is in development on the island of St. John. Pond Bay is the sister property to St. Barth's highly acclaimed Isle de France Club and feature recreational facilities such as a large beachfront pool with gazebo bar and beach club. The heart of the Pond Bay project-both socially and geographically-will be the Pond Bay House, which will be home to an elegant yet comfortable 100-seat restaurant adjacent to the 16,000-square-foot destination spa designed by the internationally acclaimed E'SPA group and a gym featuring a wide array of cardiovascular activities.

44 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel

Marriott Frenchman's Cove, St. Thomas Marriott Vacation Club International is constructing the multimillion-dollar Marriott Frenchman's Cove-its first timeshare resort on St. Thomas. Adjacent to the 504-room Frenchman's Reef Marriott Beach Resort and spread over 13 waterfront acres overlooking Pacquereau Bay, the timeshare resort's first phase features 28 Danish colonial-inspired villas with balconies, an Infinity pool and a fitness center. A health club and pool bar will follow soon. When completed, the property will comprise 220 two- and three-level vacation homes within seven buildings for owners and renters.

For further details, call (800) 527-1787 or visit marriott-timeshare.com.

For information about the United States Virgin Islands, visit usvitourism.vi. When traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. citizens enjoy all the conveniences of domestic travel including on-line check-in - making travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands easier than ever. As a United States Territory, travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands does not require a passport from U.S. citizens arriving from Puerto Rico or the U.S. mainland. Entry requirements for non-U.S. citizens are the same as for entering the United States from any foreign destination. Upon departure, a passport is required for all but U.S. citizens.

eventscalendar m e e t i n g s

&

c o n f e r e n c e s

2008

October

December

June

July

National Hispanic Women Conference Phoenix, Arizona October 9, 2008

IAHMP 13th Annual Educational Conference & Tradeshow San Diego, CA December 3-7, 2008

National Association of Hispanic Journalists 27th Annual Convention San Juan, Puerto Rico June 24-27, 2009

NSHMBA 10th Annual Conference Atlanta Georgia October 9, 2008

2009

LULAC National Convention Washington, DC July 7-12, 2008 National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) 99th Annual Convention Cincinnati, OH July 12-17, 2008 National Council of La Raza National Conference San Diego, CA July 12-15, 2008 TAMACC 33rd Annual Convention Austin, Texas July 30 - August 2, 2008

August Institute for Supply Management - 2nd Annual Hispanic Executive Supply Management Summit Washington, DC August 7-8, 2008 California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 29th Annual Convention San Francisco, CA August 13-16, 2008 Las Vegas Latin Chamber of Commerce 2nd Annual Latin Food Fair Las Vegas, NV August 17, 2008 NSHP Diversity Career Fair Washington, DC August 21, 2008

September CHCI 31st Annual Gala Washington, DC September 10, 2008 Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies Creative and Account Planning Conference Beverly Hills, CA September 10 - 12, 2008 Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) 24th Annual Dinner San Antonio, Texas September 18, 2008 United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 29th Annual National Convention & Business Expo Sacramento, California September 24-27, 2008 46 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel

Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities 22nd Annual Conference Hyatt Regency Denver Colorado Convention Center Denver, CO October 11-13-2008

November NSHP Diversity Career Fair San Jose, CA November 6, 2008

February USHCC Latina Leadership Summit - Procurement Las Vegas, NV February 19-20, 2009

March Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities 14th Annual National Capitol Forum on Hispanic Higher Education Madison Hotel Washington, DC March 1-3, 2009

SHPE National Conference Phoenix, Arizona November 12-16, 2008

May

Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) 34th Annual Dinner Los Angeles, CA November 13, 2008

Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility HACR Symposium New York, NY May 17 - 19, 2009

July LULAC National Convention & Exposition San Juan, Puerto Rico July 13-18, 2009

September USHCC National Convention Denver, CO September 16-19, 2009

October SHPE National Conference Washington, DC October 28 - Nov 1, 2009 Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities 23rd Annual Conference Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, Orlando, FL October 31-November 2, 2009