Hispanic Meetings & Travel
10th Anniversary
*Imagen Advertising Award ou know they're out there, more than 47 million Hispanic consumers. But how do you reach this increasingly significant market and the thousands of meeting and events held each year. How do you get their annual conventions, board meetings, committee meetings, special events, weddings, quinceaneras, business and family travel? Hispanic Meetings & Travel is building bridges and delivering messages to reach America's Hispanic consumers, who have an estimated buying power of over $900 billion annually.
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In recognition of our 10th Anniversary, Hispanic Meetings & Travel will begin an annual awards competition for effective advertising and marketing to Hispanic consumers. The Imagen Advertising Award will be presented for the best advertising campaigns by advertisers in Hispanic Meetings & Travel. The Imagen Advertising Award winners will need to demonstrate innovation and an awareness of the value of the Hispanic meetings and events market. Advertisers will need to specialize in marketing to the nation's Hispanic consumers, the youngest and most rapidly growing segment of the American population. The Imagen Advertising Award will recognize industry suppliers whose advertising will be reviewed and chosen by our readers for their commitment to the Hispanic Meetings & Travel Market through the pages of Hispanic Meetings & Travel magazine. The winners will be selected based on innovation and creativity. Our rating system, allows our readers to quantify their reviews - and see how advertisers stack up across all categories.
Categories for the 2008 Imagen Awards include: Best Airline Best Cruise Ship Best Car Rental Best Convention & Visitors Bureaus (North) Best Convention & Visitors Bureaus (West) Best Convention & Visitors Bureaus (Central) Best Convention & Visitors Bureaus (East) Best Convention & Visitors Bureaus (South) Best Hotel Chains Best Resort Properties Best State Tourism Office Best International Destination * Imagen - Spanish word for image; picture; imagination Readers can vote online at www.hispanicmeetingstravel.com beginning October 15, 2008 until November 14, 2008. The 2008 Imagen Advertising Award winners will be announced during the annual conference of the International Association of Hispanic Meeting Professionals on December 3-7, 2008 at the Town & Country Resort and Convention Center in San Diego, California.
contents MARCH/APRIL 2008 | VOL/ 10 | NO/2
Cover Story
Departments
08 | Hispanic Associations in the United States
06 | Editors' Comments
HM&T two part series on Hispanic Associations features, The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, which represents more than 450 colleges and universities committed to Hispanic higher education success and the National Council of La Raza, the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States.
Features 16 | Summer Vacation Destination Universal Studios Florida, which opened in 1990, has evolved into an innovative entertainment experience with a personality all its own.
18 | Sun-filled Destinations Sun-Filled Destinations for Great Summer Meetings. Albuquerque and Phoenix are two sun-filled destinations that stand out for great meeting destinations. 4 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel
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06 | Credits 07 | Industry Briefs
EDITOR’S COMMENT
Primavera! It's spring and this time of year brings a new beginning to the earth and everything in it. It's also the 10th Anniversary for Hispanic Meetings & Travel. Ten Years! Where did the time go? The very first issue was published in April 1998 and distributed at the International Association of Hispanic Meeting Professionals (IAHMP) conference that met that year in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The room was abuzz as meeting planners and suppliers held in their hands the industry's first magazine to bring the Hispanic meetings and travel market to the forefront. Ten years later, Hispanic meetings continue to grow to serve the needs of the nation's largest ethnic minority, estimated at 47 million, including Puerto Rico. In this issue, the Cover Story focus is on Hispanic Associations. We are pleased to present two of the largest and most prominent organizations, the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU). Both of these groups are doing important work to further education and community services for their constituents. Dr. Antonio Flores is the president and Chief Executive Officer for HACU based in San Antonio, Texas but who also has a significant presence in Washington, DC. Janet Murguia is the president and Chief Executive for NCLR. She follows in the footsteps of civil rights leader Raul Yzaguirre who headed up NCLR for over 30 years. Headquarters for NCLR, also in Washington, DC is the Raul Yzaguirre Building dedicated last year in his name and is perhaps the only Hispanic organization to own it's own building in the nation's capital. Hispanic Meetings & Travel posed ten questions to each association to gain an awareness of the history and size of their annual conference, the economic value of their meeting, who attends, the purpose of the meeting, the people who do the planning and implementation for their meetings and their impression of the meetings and hospitality industry. Hispanic Meetings & Travel will continue to focus on the associations in subsequent issues to bring our readers a greater awareness of the US Hispanic meetings and travel market. New this year is the magazine's advertising promotion described on page 2-3 in this issue. Hispanic Meetings & Travel will be asking our readers to evaluate advertisers in each issue this year. Best ads will be selected by our readers online. Each winner will be recognized at the IAHMP Annual Conference, December 3-7, 2008 at the Town & Country Resort and Convention Center in San Diego, California. Advertisers have an opportunity to showcase advertising that specifically targets the Hispanic Market and compete for The Hispanic Meetings & Travel Annual Imagen Awards. Enjoy the Season and remember it only comes once each year to remind us that we live in nature's world. A world that celebrates each season on its own terms but allows us to be observers of the magic of spring.
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 MARGIL VILLARREAL DESIGN CREATIVE DIRECTOR - Margil Villarreal ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR - Iris Villarreal www.margilvillarreal.com
ADVERTISING STEVEN GONZALEZ sgonzalez@hispanicmeetingstravel.com
MARIA GONZALEZ mdgonzalez@hispanicmeetingstravel.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Albuquerque CVB, Chi-Chi Group, Margaret Gonzalez, Steven Gonzalez, Phoenix CVB, Universal Studios
PHOTOGRAPHY Albuquerque CVB, Dallas CVB, HACU, NCLR, Phoenix CVB, Universal Studios, Margil Villarreal.
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. ©1999-2007 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
Primavera - Spanish word for spring.
within the USA, $52.50 in Canada, and $75.00 elsewhere. All subscriptions must be paid in U.S. currency. Single copies: U.S.
Margaret González, Editor-in-Chief 6 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel
$5.00, Canada $8.75, and $12.50 elsewhere. Produced in the USA.
industrybriefs
N E W * F R E S H * P R O G R E S S I V E
Large number of Hispanic-owned businesses and teamwork earn Dallas the 2010 U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce annual convention
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he large concentration of Hispanicowned businesses in Dallas as well as an innovative partnership between the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce led to the city being chosen to host in 2010 the largest group of Hispanic business owners in the United States. The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's Annual National Convention and Business Expo should contribute an anticipated $10 million to the local economy. The last time Dallas hosted the USHCC convention was in 1992. Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert will join Dallas CVB President and CEO Phillip Jones and a group of Hispanic community and business leaders at 9 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 5, in the Flag Room at City Hall to discuss what the convention means to Dallas. Other presenters include Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President CiCi Rojas, GDHCC Chairman Frank Rosello, GDHCC Past Chairman Chris Langmayer and USHCC board member and Region 3 Chair Nina Vaca.
"On behalf of the USHCC Board of Directors and our 200 local chambers nationwide, we look forward to working with local business and government leaders to host what will be one of the most successful national conventions on record," said David C. Lizรกrraga, chairman of the board for the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. According to the USHCC, Dallas was chosen as the 2010 convention site in part because of its large concentration of Hispanic residents and Hispanic-owned companies. According to the state census, one-third of Dallas' population is Hispanic, and there are 55,000 Hispanic-owned businesses in the DFW metropolitan area. "It is an honor to be a part of the ninth largest city in the nation and part of the fourthlargest metropolitan area where the trailblazing opportunities are endless for minorities and entrepreneurs to advance their future and business," said Nina Vaca, who is also CEO of Pinnacle Technical Resources, Inc. The Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau teamed with the Greater Dallas Hispanic
Chamber of Commerce in 2004 to approach the USHCC with a proposal to host the national convention. Since then, the Dallas Hispanic chamber and the Dallas CVB worked to bring together a group of influential Latino community leaders and support to court the USHCC. The process included a substantial Dallas presence at past USHCC conventions and a site visit by the site selection committee, which were sponsored by American Airlines, the State Fair of Texas, Hyatt Reunion Dallas, Dallas Convention Center and Hilton Anatole Hotel. "Over the last several years, the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau, the city and the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has formed a strong partnership to aggressively sell Dallas to the Latino market nationally and internationally," said Phillip Jones, President and CEO of the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau. "This announcement underscores that success, and we predict this will be the first of many that will benefit Dallas and the North Texas region." The Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce-which has been named the Chamber of the Year by the USHCC several timeswill play an important role in ensuring the convention in 2010 is a resounding success, said GDHCC President CiCi Rojas, who as president of the GDHCC was involved in bringing the convention to Dallas. "We are very proud to have been chosen as a host city for the USHCC because it is, in part, a recognition of the growth and success of Hispanic-owned businesses in the Dallas area. Hosting the convention will enhance our city's reputation as a top center of Hispanic business activity and development," said GDHCC Chairman Frank Rosello. "The chamber and its more than 1,900 members have worked very hard to promote Hispanic-owned businesses, and the 2010 Annual Convention and Business Expo will give us the opportunity to showcase the many thriving programs and inspiring stories we have in Dallas," Rojas said. www.hispanicmeetingstravel.com | HM&T 7
COVER STORY | Hispanic Associations in the United States
Dr. Antonio Flores, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)
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he Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) represent more than 450 colleges and universities committed to Hispanic higher education success in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Latin America, Spain and Portugal. Although our member institutions in the U. S. represent less than 10% of all higher education institutions nationwide, together they are home to more than two-thirds of all Hispanic college students. HACU is the only national educational association that repre-
sents Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). In 1992, HACU led the effort to convince Congress to formally recognize campuses with high Hispanic enrollment as federally designated HSIs and to begin targeting federal appropriations to those campuses. Our nation's economic and social success rests on the level of skills and knowledge attained by Hispanics, now the nation's largest minority population. Education, indisputably, is the key. HACU is committed to Hispanic success in education, from kindergarten through graduate school and into the work force of tomorrow.
8 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel
Hispanic Meetings & Travel Cover Story on Hispanic Associations in the United States is presented annually for our readers. The purpose of the Cover-Story is to bring an awareness of the economic value of Hispanic meetings, while at the same time presenting information on the associations and the key people involved in the planning, marketing and site selection for their annual meetings. The Hispanic Meetings and Travel market is estimated to be over $48 billion annually by the Travel Industry Association of America. HM&T asked the following ten questions of each of the associations profiled in this issue. Hispanic Meetings & Travel will continue to present information on Hispanic organizations and their meetings and events in subsequent issues of the magazine.
HM&T - How long have they been organized and when was your first meeting or convention. What was the attendance at the first meeting and what is the attendance today. Who attends the meeting? HACU was established in 1986 and the first annual conference was held in September 1987, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The attendance was less than a hundred at that time. Today, our Annual Conference draws over 1,400 participants. Participants include higher education administrators, staff, faculty and hundreds of top students; public policy makers; representatives of corporate, community, philanthropic sectors; allied organizations, and supporters of academic excellence, diversity and success. HM&T - In addition to your annual meeting what other meetings do you have each year. HACU hosts a National Capitol Forum each spring in Washington, D.C., as well as an International Conference that takes place every other year. HM&T - What do you think is the economic value of your meeting? HM&T is using the following formula to gauge the value: Number of attendees, average cost of R/T airfare, ground transportation, number of hotel room nights, average cost of sleeping rooms, number of meal events at the hotel, cost of meeting space rental, cost of exhibit space rental, off-site events, and decorating company, other‌ HACU - The economic value is approximately $2.5 million. How is the site selected? (City and Hotel)? Do you make the decision or does the Board make the decision? HACU - The staff compiles a list of past sites and projected future sites, with a view towards moving around the country to areas where HACU membership is large. There's a sort of rough rotation among West Coast, East Coast, Central, and Southwest. Staff recommendations, with accompanying hotel and/or convention center recommendations and costs are reviewed and recommended to the Board for final approval.
COVER STORY | Hispanic Associations in the United States
in Guadalajara, Mexico, April 22-24, 2009. International sites are selected 2-to-3 years out. HM&T - Tell us anything else you think is important about your annual meeting. HACU - Pre-conference activities include our Youth Leadership Development Forum, which helps prepare high school students for college. HACU's Student Track attracts hundreds of college students to our annual conference. Each year HACU awards more than $300,000 in scholarships and places more than 600 students in paid internships through the HACU National Internship Program, the largest Hispanic internship program in the country. HM&T - Do you think the industry values the Hispanic meetings market? Explain‌
HM&T - Do you work with the Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB)? Do the CVB's court your business? Does the CVB help to host your meeting? How? Does the CVB help with registration or is registration out sourced? HACU - We use CVBs to help us find hotels or meeting space in the cities where our events take place. Yes, they court our business. However, they do not help us host our meeting or help with registration. We handle our registration internally. It is not outsourced. HM&T - In selecting a hotel do you do the site visits or do you have a third-party who does it for you? Do you use the same brand hotel or do you choose a different hotel brand each year? Does the hotel help the association in anyway (rebates, host a reception, pick-up board members at the airport, and amenities for VIP's, etc.)? HACU's Conference Department does site visits for all our hotels. We do not use the same brand of hotel; instead, we select hotels that meet all our sleeping rooms and meeting room requirements/space. Most of the hotels agree to our concession requests (i.e., rebates, amenities, pick-up at airport, etc.) HM&T - How early do you begin to work on the annual meeting? How many people work with you? Do you hire an outside contractor? HACU - We are under contract 5 years out, but start with the detail planning and preparing for each conference a year in advance, at the very least. The Conference Department consists of three individuals, and counts on the support of HACU colleagues and a local Host and Planning Committee. No outside contractor is used. HM&T - Where will your meeting be held this year? Next year? How many years out are sites selected? HACU - This year's Annual Conference will be held in Denver, Colorado, on October 11-13, 2008. Next year HACU will be in Orlando, Florida, October 31 - November 2, 2009. Annual Conference sites are selected 5 years out. The next International Conference will take place 10 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel
HACU - Though we cannot speak for other organizations, HACU's experience with the industry is positive. The CVBs for every city that has hosted our annual conference are always happy to have our business. Moreover, all the hotels and convention centers HACU has worked with have all been excited to have our business and are more than willing to grant us our concessions and treat our attendees with respect.
About HACU Leadership Established in December 1986 Antonio Flores became the third president and chief executive officer of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU). Established in December 1986 with 18 founding members, HACU is a national organization that represents nearly 450 colleges and universities that collectively serve more than two-thirds of the more than 2 million Hispanic students in U.S. higher education across 37 states and Puerto Rico. HACU's international membership of leading higher education institutions is also an important HACU constituency. The association represents Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) where Hispanics constitute 25 percent or more of the total enrollment at either the graduate or undergraduate level, or both, and Associate Member Institutions where Hispanics comprise a minimum of 10 percent or 1,000 of the total enrollment. HACU's international membership was started in the 1996-97 school year with three pioneering members and, as of December 2007, includes 45 institutions in Mexico, Central and South America, Portugal and Spain. During his tenure as president of HACU, the association has nearly tripled its membership and its budget, expanded its programs three-fold, significantly improved legislation for HSIs, increased annual federal funding for HSIs from $12 million in fiscal 1995 to over $100 million for fiscal 2007, and secured millions of dollars in new private funding for HSIs and associate members, including a $28 million HSI Kellogg initiative. HACU's strategic plan calls for even greater gains for its membership in the years ahead. More than $1 billion has been allocated to HSIs during Flores' tenure. Flores holds a Ph.D. in higher education administration from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, a Master of Arts degree in counseling and personnel from Western Michigan University, and undergraduate degrees in business administration and elementary education from Universidad de Guadalajara and Centro Normal Regional, Mexico, respectively.
COVER STORY | Hispanic Associations in the United States
About The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) NCLR: The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) is the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States. NCLR works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans through its network of nearly 300 affiliated community-based organizations (CBOs). NCLR reaches millions of Hispanics each year in 41 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. To achieve its mission, NCLR conducts applied research, policy analysis, and advocacy, providing a Latino perspective in five key areas - assets/investments, civil rights/immigration, education, employment and economic status, and health. In addition, it provides capacity-building assistance to its Affiliates who work at the state and local level to advance opportunities for individuals and families. Founded in 1968, NCLR is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan, taxexempt organization headquartered in Washington, DC. NCLR serves all Hispanic subgroups in all regions of the country and has operations in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Antonio, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
our Affiliate organizations. Early on, it was established that the annual Conference should take place in a different location each year so as to highlight and give visibility to the host city's Hispanic community. HM&T - What was the attendance at the first meeting and what is the attendance today. NCLR - The early conferences were small enough to be held entirely in a hotel. Over 30 years later, the Annual Conference averages 5,000 registered attendees. The Conference has grown also in the types of events and activities that are presented both to conference delegates and to the general public. NCLR has added features to the conference and offer them free to attendees. They include: Latino Expo USA which see's traffic ranging from 16,000 - 18,000 each year. Part of Latino Expo USA showcases a free Health Fair offering screenings on diabetes, cholesterol, depression, and other health issues that are having an impact on Latino families. We also present a Homeownership Fair with counseling, credit reports, and other resources that are important to helping put families on the path to home ownership and achieving the American dream.
HM&T - What is the history of the NCLR Annual Conference? HM&T - Who attends the meeting? NCLR's Annual Conference is the largest gathering of its kind in the Hispanic community, serving as the meeting ground for over 20,000 community organization leaders, activists, and volunteers; elected and appointed officials; members of the corporate, philanthropic, and academic communities; senior citizens; college students; and youth. HM&T - How long has NCLR been organized and when was your first meeting or convention. NCLR has been organizing an annual conference for over 30 years. The early conferences were gatherings of 100-200 individuals representing 12 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel
The NCLR Annual Conference audience consists of community organization leaders, activists, and volunteers; staff and management of nonprofit organizations; program officers from foundations; corporate representatives in community relations and social responsibilities areas; government program directors, administrators, and specialists; researchers and program / policy analysts; and high school and college students all working toward improving the Hispanic community. In addition, the NCLR Latino Expo USA is promoted to the local community and families.
COVER STORY | Hispanic Associations in the United States
HM&T - What other meetings do you have each year? - NCLR Capital Awards - NCLR ALMAŽ Awards - Affiliate Regional Meetings - Cross component meetings - Staff retreats - Board and CBA meetings - Trainings, Professional Development Institutes, and issue-based mini Conferences around the country HM&T - What do you think is the economic value of your meeting? HM&T is using the following formula to gauge the value: Number of attendees, average cost of R/T airfare, ground transportation, number of hotel room nights, average cost of sleeping rooms, number of meal events at the hotel, cost of meeting space rental, cost of exhibit space rental, off-site events, decorating company, other‌ NCLR - We know that our Conference has significant economic impact on the city we select to host our Conference. Since 2005, the economic impact that has been reported to us (post event) by the Convention and
HM&T - How is the site selected (City and Hotel)? Do you make the decision or does the Board make the decision? NCLR - Conference sites are selected by the Board of Directors. The Strategic Communications Group (SCG), a department within NCLR coordinates our special events and provides a final proposal from each city that is inclusive of hotel. SCG provides the board recommendations and guidance on the location, convention center and hotels rates and proximity to the convention center. Both cost, and a significant number of environmental factors are considered when selecting a city and reviewing a proposal - including the presence of the NCLR Affiliate Network, access to Latino leadership and Latino elected officials, size of the market, and potential for success of NCLR's Conference and Expo-related events and activities. HM&T - Do you work with the Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB)? Do the CVB's court your business? Does the CVB help to host your meeting? How? Does the CVB help with registration or is registration out sourced? NCLR - Yes, we do work closely with the CVB's. They help connect us to local organizations; businesses, potential partners that may better help us promote, as well as help us with recommendations for off-site venues, hotels, etc. Negotiations vary city by city, but we seek to work closely with the local CVB to ensure the most successful conference possible. HM&T - In selecting a hotel do you do the site visits or do you have a third-party who does it for you? NCLR staff is very hands on throughout the process. Cost is always a factor, but equally important is the message that comes across in the event or activity. Once the convention center and hotels are selected, the NCLR conducts a full site visit on the property.
Visitors Bureaus has ranged between $8M-3.5M. Each city uses a different formula so it's hard to say what makes the impact move up or down, but through the information we collect on our attendees, we know our attendees take advantage of the resources of the host city. Our impact goes beyond the financial. It is important for NCLR to carry out its mission - to improve opportunities for Latinos in the U.S. - in all aspects of our work. This includes identifying Latino and minorityowned businesses to help us execute the Conference, whether it's a printer, transportation company, DJ, etc. Number of Hotel Room Nights: in 2008, 4,500 Average Cost of Sleeping Rooms: Depends on City Number of Meal Events at Hotel: The key meal events generally take place at the Convention Center. There are 5 key meal events. 14 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel
HM&T - Do you use the same brand hotel or do you choose a different hotel brand each year? NCLR - We work with some hotel National representatives; however, in choosing hotels we keep in mind proximity to the convention center, cost, and amenities. HM&T - Does the hotel help the association in anyway (rebates, host a reception, pick-up board members at the airport, and amenities for VIP's, etc.)? NCLR - Just as with convention centers, negotiations with hotels vary city by city and brand by brand, but we seek to work closely with the hotels to ensure the best cost and best experience for our attendees.
HM&T - How early do you begin to work on the annual meeting? How many people work with you? Do you hire an outside contractor? NCLR - Cities are selected several years out so that's where the work with the community organizations, CVB, convention center, and hotels begin. About 18 months out, there is usually outreach, primarily to community partners and NCLR Affiliates, to begin the promotion for the conference year they are hosting. We begin preparing in earnest for the conference right after wrapping up the previous one. We have a 12-person team who carry out a variety of responsibilities (i.e. Logistics, registration, production, marketing, and sponsorships). NCLR sometimes hire outside consultants to help supplement our internal team's efforts. HM&T - Where will your meeting be held this year? Next year? How many years out are sites selected? NCLR - This year's Annual Conference will be held in San Diego, California. Following sites include: 2009 in Chicago, IL 2010 San Antonio, TX 2011- 2013 are under negotiations. Tell HM&T anything else you think is important about your annual meeting.
About NCLR Leadership NCLR President Janet Murguía has emerged as a key figure among the next generation of leaders in the Latino community. Since January 1, 2005, she has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Council of La Raza (NCLR). She began her career in Washington, DC as legislative counsel to former Kansas Congressman Jim Slattery, serving for seven years. She then worked at the White House from 1994 to 2000, ultimately serving as deputy assistant to President Bill Clinton, providing strategic and legislative advice to the president on key issues. Murguia then served as deputy campaign manager and director of constituency outreach for the Gore/Lieberman presidential campaign. In that role, she was the primary liaison between former Vice President Gore and national constituency groups. She also served as a spokesperson for the campaign, working with radio, print, and TV media outlets. In 2001, Murguía joined the University of Kansas (KU) as Executive Vice Chancellor for University Relations, overseeing KU's internal and external relations with the public, including governmental and public affairs. Janet Murguía grew up in Kansas City, Kansas. She received three degrees from KU: a B.S. degree in journalism (1982), a B.A. degree in Spanish (1982), and a J.D. degree (1985) from the School of Law.
NCLR - Important aspects about the conference (based on our attendee feedback) include: - Content of the workshops and town halls presented. Our attendees find great value in the information, best practices, and dialogue shared through these sessions. - The opportunity to network is the second most important aspect of the NCLR Conference identified by our attendees. HM&T - Do you think the industry values the Hispanic meetings market? Explain… NCLR - We do think the industry has value for the Hispanic meetings market, but we think there is still learning and understanding that needs to happen. As a nonprofit organizing a large convention and multiple smaller meetings, we have found that this industry is slower to make adjustments so we can meet somewhere in the middle. For NCLR and many of our sister organizations, we're looking for true partnerships, the same approach we take with our other corporate partners. There is a learning curve we're working through to help the industry understand where there are alternative models of value in our relationship that have mutual benefits. The unique aspect in our relationships with the hotel and travel industry is that we actually engage in a customer/client relationship with significant impact to the company's bottom line and NCLR's budget. We don't spend the same dollar amounts with our other corporate partners, yet this industry has been slower to work with us in similar partnerships. There are a few who stand out, who have been working with NCLR for years or have reached out recently to structure a partnership. Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt are those who have stepped up. As partners, we believe there is more work to be done between us to understand where we can go deeper in our partnerships, but we will get there. There is too much opportunity for us not to work toward this!
Janet Murguía, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Council of La Raza (NCLR)
2008 SUMMER VACATION DESTINATION
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS FEATURES INNOVATIVE ENTERTAINMENT, IMMERSING GUESTS INTO THE HEART OF THE ACTION
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magine plummeting down a virtual 1,000-foot waterfall in Shrek 4D or speeding through darkness in the world's first psychological thrill ride in Revenge of The Mummy-The Ride or performing pulsepounding stunts in the Fear Factor Live attraction. The place is Universal Studios theme park at Universal Orlando Resort, home to some of the most revolutionary rides and shows ever created. Universal Studios, which opened in 1990, has evolved into an innovative entertainment experience with a personality all its own. Its cuttingedge attractions--based on pop-culture icons, Hollywood blockbuster films and hit television shows--transport visitors into a highly imaginative world where they can become heroes of their own adventures. Universal Orlando's creative consultant, Academy Award-winning producer/director Steven Spielberg, along with Universal's creative team, have collaborated with makers of Hollywood's hottest movies and T.V. shows to create attractions with powerful storylines and amazing special effects. Universal Studios features an array of exhilarating, state-of-the-art rides, attractions and shows. They include:
Universal 360: A Cinesphere Spectacular This high-tech lagoon show is a sweeping celebration of blockbuster films unlike anything ever attempted in the United States. Spread across the entire Universal Studios lagoon, the show relies on four-story-tall, 360-degree projection "cinespheres," an original music score, 300 outdoor speakers, lasers and pyro-technic effects to place guests in the midst of their favorite films.
Fear Factor Live Guests at Universal Studios test their courage and strength as they perform exhilarating stunts in the Fear Factor Live attraction, based on the hit reality television show.
Revenge Of The Mummy - The Ride Based on the popular "Mummy" films, the world's first "psychological thrill ride" places riders in seeming jeopardy, bringing them face-to-face with both physical and psychological fears - fear of the dark, fear of bugs, fear of fire, fear of falling, fear of being out of control and more.
Jaws The
incredibly realistic, multi-sensory ride adventure JAWS reawakens guests' most primal fears by recreating the spine-tingling thrills of Steven Spielberg's blockbuster movie.
Earthquake: The Big One The attraction introduces visitors to the world of special effects. Fiery explosions, crashing San Francisco subway trains, tumbling walls and tidal waves engulf guests as they experience tremors equivalent to an 8.3 Richter scale quake.
E.T. Adventure E.T. Adventure continues the saga of one of the world's most
Shrek 4-D The screen and theater come alive with the adventures of Shrek,
beloved screen characters. Visitors are lifted to the stars as they climb aboard bicycles and venture across the endless universe with E.T. in an effort to save his dying home - the mysterious, mist-shrouded "Green Planet."
Princess Fiona and Donkey in Shrek 4-D. As guests don green OgreVision glasses and sit in specially designed seats, they come face-to-face with ghostly foes, a steep 1,000-foot waterfall, and fire-breathing dragons.
LIVE SHOWS:
Men In Black Alien Attack Riding in high-tech "MIB training vehicles" through
Beetlejuice's Graveyard Revue
a huge New York Street set, guests try to zap more than 120 animatronic aliens in the world's first life-sized, ride-through interactive video game.
The show features new music, including "Dancin' in The Dark" and "Jump!," new costumes and a surprise ending.
The Lucy and Ricky Show Supported by a seven-piece band, Lucy and Ricky Terminator 2: 3-D Based on the blockbuster motion picture, Terminator 2: 3D is a 12-minute, 3-D film shot especially for Universal Studios that features the cast and creative team from the Terminator films.
will have guests dancing in the street to traditional Cuban rhythms reminiscent of their 1950's sitcom, "I Love Lucy."
The Blues Brothers Guests can party on Delancey Street with famed Blues Twister‌Ride It Out Based on the hit film, Twister‌Ride It Out places guests
Brothers, Jake and Elwood.
within feet of a twister more than five-stories tall and 12-feet wide that "dances" as much as 30-feet in any direction from its origin point. It is the largest indoor twister ever created, using 150,000 gallons of recycled water daily, hundreds of strobe lights, and a sound system as loud as a rock concert.
Animal Actors on Location! Animal stars-including many animal shelter adoptees-take center stage in the exciting, interactive attraction, highlighting behind-the-scenes movie magic for guests.
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SUN-FILLED DESTINATIONS FOR GREAT SUMMER MEETINGS
Albuquerque he Albuquerque Metro area, with just over 801,000 residents, can't help but retain its neighborhood and old town feel. Albuquerque is bordered on the east by the Sandia and Manzano Mountains, on the west by Petroglyph National Monument, to the north by Sandia Pueblo and to the south by Isleta Pueblo. The city spans 187 square miles at elevations ranging from 4,500 feet above sea level in the Rio Grande Valley to 6,500 feet in the foothills of the Sandia Mountains. The greater Albuquerque area covers approximately 400 square miles. Albuquerque enjoys blue skies and sunshine 310 days out of the year. The weather makes Albuquerque a sports lovers paradise and outdoor activities are popular with residents and visitors. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta速, the world's largest hot air balloon festival, takes place each October, when you'll see more than 700 balloons in the sky at a time. This magical hot air balloon festival is considered to be the most photographed event in the
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world, drawing a huge international crowd of balloonists and spectators. Clear blue skies, calm winds and mild temperatures are the norm in Albuquerque, encouraging year-round hot air ballooning and enabling more than 300 resident balloonists (more than any other state) to fly hot air balloons frequently and for long periods of time. If the hot air balloons you see dotting the sky pique your interest, why not take a flight yourself? Local hot air balloon companies provide rides for visitors on a daily basis. Do not miss a visit to the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum, the world's premier facility dedicated to the art, culture, science, history, sport and spectacle of hot air ballooning. It features one of the world's finest collections of hot air ballooning equipment and memorabilia. With 310 days of sunshine per year, Albuquerque is the ideal location for outdoor activities with four distinct seasons and fantastic year-round weather. Mild winters and pleasant warm summers make Albuquerque a yearround city. The Sandia Mountains provide excellent terrain for hiking and mountain bik-
ing in the summer and skiing or snowboarding in the winter. There are also opportunities for fishing, rafting, llama trekking, horseback riding and much more. Albuquerque's thriving performing arts community features the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, the Albuquerque Little Theatre, the Musical Theatre Southwest, and Tricklock Performance Company plus numerous other independent theatre companies. Performances are regularly scheduled in the University of New Mexico's grand Popejoy Hall, the historic KiMo Theatre in downtown Albuquerque, Albuquerque Little Theater's performance hall as well as a variety of smaller theater spaces. The Journal Pavilion, an outdoor arena accommodating 12,000, hosts popular performing artists from around the world. The Roy E. Disney Center for Performing Arts at the National Hispanic Cultural Center is Albuquerque's newest theater, with a world-class stage for theatre, music, dance, media arts and education. Many casinos surrounding Albuquerque also boast large performance spaces. All of this and more makes Albuquerque a great place for a sun-filled destination.
SUN-FILLED DESTINATIONS FOR GREAT SUMMER MEETINGS
Phoenix ffering unique Southwest culture and a desirable climate, Greater Phoenix is also one of the world's top golf destinations. Home to numerous four and five diamond resorts, Greater Phoenix serves as the airline hub of the southwest, and is the destination of choice for about 12 million travelers annually (D.K. Shifflet & Assoc.). As the fifth-largest city in the United States with 1.4 million residents, Phoenix offers a multitude of cultural and recreational activities.
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Some of the region's unique offerings include: • • • • •
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Pampering yourself at a top Greater Phoenix resort and spa; Playing golf on one of the area's 200+ courses; Experiencing the incredible Sonoran Desert through Jeep tours and balloon rides; Hiking or biking some of Greater Phoenix' numerous mountain trails; Spending a day in downtown Phoenix enjoying the numerous museums or top professional sports action; Partaking in Greater Phoenix' western and Native American history at a variety of area attractions; and Enjoying day trips to scenic Arizona locales, such as the Grand Canyon and Sedona.
Located along the banks of the Salt River, where early Hohokam Indians first settled, Phoenix-the state's capital-is saddled between dramatic mountain ranges. Anchored by Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Greater Phoenix is comprised of three million residents living in 22 20 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel
incorporated cities-including Scottsdale, Tempe and Mesa-that cover Maricopa County's 9,127 square miles. Year-round sunshine and mild temperatures make Phoenix America's premier desert city. Located 1,117 feet above sea level, Phoenix weather is warm, sunny and usually dry. The yearly average temperature is a pleasant 72 degrees (Fahrenheit) and low humidity makes summer heat more comfortable than in other hot climates. Phoenix averages sunshine during 86 percent of daylight hours and has more than 325 sunny days each year. Travelers should bring casual clothes and light sweaters and jackets November through March. With so many sunshine-filled days, Phoenix is the perfect place to experience unique and fun outdoor activities. Horseback riding is a great way to see the spectacular Sonoran Desert, as is a rugged Jeep ride. For thrill seekers, Fighter Combat International will take them high above the desert plateau and offer splendid views of Greater Phoenix. If that's not thrilling enough they can try gliding, rock climbing or the Bondurant School of High Performance Driving. Dependable sunshine and great weather make outdoor sports a way of life. Golf, tennis, hiking and mountain biking are popular Phoenix activities. Visitors can also choose from water skiing, sailing, fishing and tubing in the region's lakes and rivers.
RESORTS / HOTELS GUEST ACCOMMODATIONS Greater Phoenix is referred to as the "Resort Capital of the World" by many travel-industry professionals due to its inventory of luxurious total-destination resorts. There are dozens of self-contained resort communities that mix shops, restaurants, spas, activities, meeting space and luxury accommodations
into the perfect destination to enjoy Arizona's unique Southwestern hospitality. With more than 55,000 rooms, millions of square feet of meeting space, on-property golf and other leisure options, Greater Phoenix is the perfect vacation and meeting destination.
SIGHTSEEING Arizona is known for its contrasts. Visitors will see everything from northern Arizona's tall, cool pines to the cactus-filled scenery of the Sonoran Desert. And if there's a "must-see," it's Arizona's majestic Grand Canyon, one of the world's seven natural wonders. This breathtaking sight is open year-round and may be experienced through nature walks or mule rides into the Canyon, or by taking a leisurely drive along its outer edges. Before reaching the Grand Canyon, be sure to stop at Sedona, a cultural community providing a wide array of boutiques and art galleries selling everything from Native American and Southwestern arts and crafts to fine jewelry. Arizona also is home to Lake Powell on the northern border. Named for Major John Wesley Powell, leader of the first Colorado River expedition through the Grand Canyon, Lake Powell is 186 miles long and has more miles of shoreline than the entire Pacific coast of the United States. The lake, which extends into southern Utah, took 17 years to fill. Located in eastern Arizona, the White Mountains stand at an elevation of some 9,000 feet. The White Mountains are rich in trout-stocked lakes. With temperatures about 30 degrees cooler than Phoenix, the White Mountains are a popular summertime getaway. Sunrise Ski Resort is one of the nation's best-kept secrets when it comes to winter sports.