1. TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY INCENTIVE REPORT
Time for high-speed rail? p. 22 ‘Fast’scheduling software p. 24 Escaping NYC—while in NYC p. 32 CHEF TALK
Bringing
MeetingNews
Justice to F&B:
William Justus
makes his mark
at Callaway
Gardens.
w w w. M e e t i n g N e w s . c o m S e p t e m b e r 22, 2008
July 16, 2007 page 8
Thy Neighbor’s Planner Hotels & Resorts
GAYLORD ENTERTAINMENT
International
COPENHAGEN BLENDS
Do meeting planners make it easy for LOOKS TO RAISE IN ARIZONA OLD WORLD FLAIR & NEW
attendees to celebrate their various beliefs? Land purchase in Mesa paves Danish capital has plenty of
way for development of a resort modern or renaissance options
MeetingNews By Terri Hardin and convention hotel. for incentives and meetings.
ExclusiveResearch and Rayna Katz see page 12 see page 20
If you ask meeting planners (as we
How often have you scheduled meetings did) if they have ever scheduled
meetings over a religious or signif- DISNEYLAND MAKES IT
over a religious or secular holiday?
EASIER FOR CUSTOMERS
Destination Insider
icant secular holiday, the majority
Total Planners would say “never.” But does that California theme park adds SAN FRANCISCO
really mean never? Or does it Passkey online reservations for
Occasionally Never Bently Reserve Conference
27.2% 67.0% mean “never—if I can help it”? planners and attendees. Center, Cavallo Point Lodge, &
5.2% More than 300 of our readers see page 12
Sometimes Villa Florence feature high-tech,
weighed in on this topic, which—
green elements; new museum
Frequently 0.6% Sometimes
as America seeks consensus with- Convention Centers funded by Gap clothing creator
3.6% in diversity—is more important
can’t find a home.
than ever. GEORGIA INT’L CENTER:
Corporate see page 28
Planners Two-thirds of all planners (67%) HQ HOTEL IS A MARRIOTT
Occasionally
25.9% responding to MeetingNews said
Marriott, plus a SpringHill Suites, NEW ENGLAND
Never they have never scheduled a meet-
70.5% will give five-year-old venue
ing over a religious or secular holi- Skybridge between Dunkin’
on-site accommodations.
day, with corporate planners and Donuts Center and Rhode
see page 16
planners aged 51 or more being Island Convention Center links
Association
Planners 0.8% Frequently slightly more vehement (71%). Providence to citywide market;
6.2% Sometimes Meanwhile, 27 percent of all plan- BOSTON’S HYNES CENTER upscale Stowe Mountain Lodge
Never
63.3% ners said they have “occasionally” GETS OK FOR F&B UPDATE is anything but rustic .
Occasionally scheduled a meeting over a reli- see page 34
29.7% Construction on two new
gious or secular holiday, of which
restaurant areas has begun.
the largest subgroup, 42 percent, BERMUDA
see page 16
was twentysomething planners.
The vast majority of meeting Island officials cite U.S. double-
Source: 345 of MeetingNews survey respondents
continued on page 26
CVBs whammy of a slogged economy
and an election year as reason
TAMPA BAY & COMPANY
for meetings slide, but its two
EYES 2009 OFF-SEASON
Active Hurricane Season Clouds Destinations Bureau wants to muscle up on
Fairmont resorts are doing well.
see page 38
June-through-August bookings.
By Corrie Dosh onslaught, and the city was largely spared a
see page 19
Three years and three days after Hurricane repeat of the Katrina disaster. Virtually no
Katrina overcame the levees of New disruption to the city’s meetings calendar is
Orleans, causing billions in damage and expected, and area hotels, the
Volume 32/Number 16/$10.00
more than 1,800 deaths, Hurricane Gustav convention center, and the
barreled into the Big Easy as a fearsome Superdome emerged with just
Category 3 storm on Sept. 1. The city minor damage, said the New
implemented its new-and-improved disas- Orleans Metropolitan Con-
ter plan, and 1.9 million people fled in vention and Visitors Bureau.
anticipation of what Mayor Ray Nagin The evacuation “went
called “the mother of all storms,” in the exceptionally well and almost
largest such evacuation in U.S. history. flawlessly followed the emer-
Thankfully, rebuilt levees withstood the continued on page 40
2. INSIDE THE INDUSTRY TRANSPORTATION & SVCS FIRE AT FOXWOODS
PCMA out on an eco-drive p. 10 GEP raises risk management p. 19 Three hotel floors shuttered p. 40 NEWSMAKER
Benchmark
Hospitality’s
MeetingNews
Burt Cabanas
recognized as
influential
Hispanic
business leader
w w w. M e e t i n g N e w s . c o m February 11, 2008
July 16, 2007 page 12
Inferno Chases Attendees Hotels/Resorts International
From Monte Carlo Resort FAIRMONT TO LOWER
CARBON FOOTPRINT
Teams with WWF to lay smackdown
GERMANY SHOWS ITS
DEDICATION TO GROUPS
More than 50 new meetings hotels
By Robert Carey chief building inspector said on Jan. 26. on emissions through sustainable will debut in the nation by 2011.
Las Vegas—On Jan. 25, the 3,213-room The resort’s facade is made of a foam energy and conservation moves. see page 21
Monte Carlo Resort & Casino caught material that “melted off the side of the see page 13
fire on its facade from floors 27 to 32, building and started a few fires below,”
sending one group that was on property according to Clark County Fire Chief
LIVERPOOL CC OPENS
scrambling from its meeting room and Steve Smith. The foam is highly flamma- MARRIOTT, SCHRAEGER WITH A ROCKING SHOW
shutting down part of the Strip. ble, requiring an outer coating such as UNVEIL BOUTIQUE NAME Ringo Starr-led act breaks in the
According to Monte Carlo’s website, stucco to prevent it from burning. Sev- First edition of “Edition”-brand brand-new Arena and Convention
all individual and group/meeting reser- eral other resorts in Las Vegas use sheets hotel is set for Paris; Miami, DC, Centre Liverpool. see page 22
vations through Feb. 6 were to have been or blocks of the dense foam to give the and Los Angeles to follow.
honored at parent firm MGM Mirage’s appearance of heavier stone and brick. see page 13
other nine Las Vegas properties. The Thirteen people were treated for Destination Insider
burned facade along Monte Carlo’s roof smoke inhalation, but the fire caused no MEETINGS AT KIMPTON
must be removed or secured before the major injuries. Gordon Absher, an EQUAL A GOOD CAUSE ISLAND INCENTIVES
property can reopen, the Clark County continued on page 40 Atlantis in Bahamas, Sandals all-
“Great Meetings, Great Causes”
program lets planners choose from inclusive resorts, and Westin in the
MeetingNews
Exclusive Research
BCEC Swipes Away five green rewards. see page 13 Dominican Republic make moves.
see page 30
Convention from
On average, per-night hotel room costs
are projected to rise in 2008. Have you
Ailing Javits Center CVBs MEMPHIS
noticed or experienced this? New boutique hotel pays homage
Corporate By Sari Krieger
PORTLAND PUTS ITS to city; Hilton is getting $8M
Planners
New York—The American Federation
BEST FOOT FORWARD spruce-up. see page 32
Yes Hires a branding agency to make over
55.1% of State, County, and Municipal
Employees union recently announced it its website; other changes to be ATLANTA
38.2% Not yet, will hold its 39th international conven- unveiled later this year. see page 18
6.6% but I expect Boutiques are diversifying city’s
to in 2008 tion at the Boston Convention & Exhi- hotel inventory; Coke museum
No
bition Center in summer 2010, pulling BERMUDA’S NEW HIRE welcomes meetings. see page 34
the event from the Jacob K. Javits Con- DRAWS CONTROVERSY
Association vention Center on Manhattan’s West
Planners Tourism department staffers pan NEW MEXICO
Yes Side. The group moved the biannual
56.2% new acting head for North America,
No 29.8%
event after the Javits’ initial, ambitious Albuquerque’s famed La Posada
who was handpicked by nation’s
expansion plan fell through. hotel is set to reopen after two
tourism minister. see page 18
14.0% “Obviously, with the expansion not years in the dust. see page 37
Not yet, but I
moving ahead as planned, there is going
expect to in 2008 to be some lost business coming out of
Source: MeetingNews survey of 257 it,” admitted Chris Heywood, director
Volume 32/Number 3/$10.00
meeting planners of tourism public relations for NYC &
Company, New York City’s convention
The Rising Tide and visitors authority.“That’s an unfor-
By William Ng tunate circumstance, but that’s now a
Planners are already dealing reality.”
with higher hotel room costs The original Javits expansion plan
predicted for this year. What called for doubling the convention cen-
budget-type moves are they ter’s space by 2010, but state officials
making to cope? see page 25 continued on page 41
3. INTERNATIONAL GREEN BEAT REGIONAL REPORT
Not deterred by Mumbai p. 21 The great compost giveaway p. 22 Happenings in the East p. 29 NEWSMAKER
SmithBucklin
executive VP
MeetingNews
w w w. M e e t i n g N e w s . c o m J a n uJuly 5, 2009
a r y 16, 2007
Michael Payne
will helm PCMA
Foundation.
page 8
Hotels & Resorts Destination Insider
Q&A: BEAU RIVAGE IS BACK LOS ANGELES
TO ITS PRE-KATRINA FORM New venues join Nokia Theatre
Education/ Extens
Director of sales and marketing at the City of Angels’ $2.5 billion
training experie ive for the Gulf Coast casino resort is
rd L.A. Live destination complex;
oa knowle nce/
t/b ings dge bullish despite economic climate. Long Beach freshens downtown
m t
Mg ee
m Just see page 12 with series of light displays and
nal learning
natio
Inter etings the upgrades to convention complex.
me s
busines see page 26
GAYLORD NIXES PROJECT
Time spent gs
IN SAN DIEGO FOR GOOD
eetings
tin
ows/ Sales m
Trade sh ons MEMPHIS
planning mee
Upon second attempt, company
conventi
Inc
gives up on Chula Vista hotel/ A leading bioscience hub, the
ent
convention complex. city attracts scores of research
ive
see page 13 and association events; the
s
famous Peabody ducks still
swim in success.
see page 34
CVBs
Martin Akel & Assoc., Incentive Report
with tabulations by DATA HELPS VISIT FLORIDA FLORIDA
Wilson Research HONE ITS GLOBAL TARGETS
Group, conducted a In post-AIG climate, planners
The tourism agency uses Visa’s say the Sunshine State has
poll of more than
impersonal billing tracking to programs with the right image
1,300 meeting
decipher where visitors are from and price; South Beach has new
planners.
and how they spend their money. properties looking for winners;
see page 16 Orlando spas use exotica and
Planners Putting In the Time more to woo more women, as
well as men.
By Irene Korn on its most ambitious survey to date, Convention Centers see page 36
What creates a planner? Is it a vocation, a polling more than 1,300 meeting planners
skill, or just an accident of employment? to uncover the origins—and destiny—of DALLAS PICKS OMNI TO BE Insider Report
MeetingNews discovered that it is all these the planning impulse. ANCHOR HOTEL OPERATOR
Fending off a political action GOLF
and more. In conjunction with sister publi- The survey, conducted in 2008 by Martin
group against the hotel, the city is A stronger U.S. dollar lifts
cation Successful Meetings, MN embarked continued on page 24 working out a final operating overseas programs, especially in
agreement. perennial-favorite Scotland.
see page 17 see page 44
Mumbai Train Attack: Can It Happen Here?
By Gretchen Kelly paredness in Mumbai, is the
Volume 33/Number 1/$10.00
As authorities and pundits debate a new nation’s passenger rail system
paradigm of terrorism after the three-day ready for an attack similar to
siege of Mumbai in November, security the one that struck a Mumbai
measures here in the U.S. at so-called soft train station, which was over-
targets, namely train stations, are being taken by highly trained, armed
ramped up. militants? Amtrak spokesper-
But in the wake of disclosures of unpre- continued on page 20
4. INSIDE THE INDUSTRY TECHNOLOGY GREEN BEAT
AIBTM has early effects p. 4 Pushing telepresence further p. 21 Florida’s Green Lodging p. 24 NEWSMAKER
Stephanie
Linnartz,
MeetingNews
Marriott’s new
VP of global
sales, stays
true to her
industry roots.
w w w. M e e t i n g N e w s . c o m N o v e m bJuly 16, 2007
e r 10, 2008 page 5
Hotels & Resorts International
Green & Social Responsibility: STARWOOD HOPES E-PORTAL JAMAICA’S ROSE HALL AREA
The Year that Was in Meetings IS SMALL MEETINGS UTOPIA
Hotelier makes its southern U.S.
BLOSSOMS WITH RESORTS
Iberostar plus a new challenger
properties’ small meetings rooms to Ritz-Carlton are opening
By Terri Hardin tives—as well as co-locating (holding sim- available on Worktopia website. properties in the enclave.
There’s buzz in the industry about incorpo- ilar meetings simultaneously in one see page 8 see page 18
rating social responsibility and green initia- venue)—into events. But are these trends
driving meetings, or are we paying lip serv-
INTERCONTINENTAL O’HARE EIBTM PUTS TOGETHER
MeetingNews ExclusiveResearch ice (and printing ink) to fads that aren’t sig-
PUTS ART AT FOREFRONT AN AMBITIOUS PROGRAM
nificantly impacting business?
Total MeetingNews heard from 502 cor- Organizer says next month’s
Planners Art-centered activities can be
porate, association, and independ- incorporated into group events. show will have a wide mix
1 to 24% ent meeting planners, who weighed in see page 10 covering industry forces, career
43.0% strategies, technology, ROI,
on these subjects. The result?
When asked, for example, if they green meetings, and more.
incorporated charity initiatives into this see page 18
None
29.5%
year’s meeting programs, only 5 per- Convention Centers Destination Insider
cent of all responding planners said
they had done so for up to 100 per- DALLAS AND PHILADELPHIA FORT LAUDERDALE
cent of their programming in 2008, MOVE ON THEIR PROJECTS
75 to while 51 percent of all planners said City is loading up on luxury
100% 25 to Dallas is finalizing the operator
49% they had not done so—although the properties. see page 28
50 to for its new convention hotel, while
number was lower (40%) for inde-
8.6% 74% 11.7% Philly draws closer to bed tax hike
pendent planners. Only one-third of all CLEVELAND
7.2% to fund its building expansion.
planners said they had incorporated Plan for the new convention
see page 12
charity into their programs up to 24 center has two site proposals.
percent of the time. see page 30
Of those incorporating charity
initiatives, the most popular initiatives imple- CVBs Incentive Report
What percentage of your meeting mented were related to health and education
programs this year incorporated (both 43%). For the participants, health-relat- JACKSONVILLE MARKETS TO MEXICO
green elements? MEDICAL, CULTURAL GROUPS
ed charity initiatives created the most positive Acapulco’s Mundo Imperial
Source: 349 of MeetingNews survey respondents experiences continued on page 22 Bureau dubs the city “America’s
complex debuts; planners straw
Health Center” and launches
poll shows Cancun and Cabo
microsites with medical and
are top destinations.
Incentive Special: Recovering from AIG cultural group collateral.
see page 16
see page 32
Mitigating the bad publicity from the insurer’s
ill-timed incentive trip will take time and effort
Volume 32/Number 19/$10.00
By Leo Jakobson grilled by the House Oversight
There may be a way to obtain worse public- and Government Reform
ity for your company than treating a group Committee, Saturday Night
to a lavish, half-million-dollar resort bash Live, and every editorial page
just days after accepting $85 billion worth of in the country for running a
taxpayer money to avoid bankruptcy, but it’s $443,000 program at the St.
hard to imagine one. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach
Certainly the ex-leaders of insurer Amer- in Dana Point, CA, from Sept.
ican International Group (AIG), who were continued on page 38
5. TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY GREEN BEAT
Talon Air digs into market p. 26 Hotel Wi-Fi is big in the U.S. p. 27 DNC will run on beer power p.29 CHEF TALK
Going for Gold:
Jennifer McCrary
MeetingNews
w w w. M e e t i n g N e w s . c o m August 11, 2008
July 16, 2007
is in charge of
the main dining
hall at the
Beijing Olympics.
page 12
Progress Over Protest Hotels & Resorts
HIGH-END MEETINGS
International
LATIN AMERICA BECKONS
MPI is forging ahead with meetings in overseas FULL OF CONSCIENCE AS DOLLAR COUNTS DOWN
destinations that raise human rights questions Both Fairmont and Ritz-Carlton Central America and South
introduce social responsibility America emerge as go-to locales
By Rayna Katz Some members also are programs for groups. where buck goes farther.
Meeting Professionals Inter- unhappy over an upcoming
“ see page 20 see page 28
national is planning to move I was taken into foray by MPI into South
forward with upcoming pro- custody for 48 Africa for hospitality train- Southern Meetings
grams in the Middle East and ing, because the country’s ST. REGIS PULLS OUT;
South Africa. hours in Qatar president allegedly supports RITZ-CARLTON STEPS IN A TASTE OF HOLLYWOOD
There are, however, rising because I have a Robert Mugabe, President of Year-old property in Fort Laud- From Louisiana to Florida,
meetings at movie sites make
concerns from members Zimbabwe, who is known to
Jewish last name. erdale has its flag switched after
over perceptions of unfair
treatment of certain minori-
ty groups in those spots.
James Mendelsohn,
travel director, Chicago. ”
deploy terror tactics.
But an MPI official said
there are chasms between
Starwood contract dispute.
see page 21
attendees feel like A-listers.
see page 32
At issue in the Mideast region is the perception and reality. NATURE HAS THEIR BACKS
Convention Centers
alleged treatment of women as well as gov- “I have not been able to reconcile peo- Venues by the lake offer natural
ernment stances on Judaism and Israel. continued on page 66 SHREVEPORT’S OIL RUSH beauty and ‘getaway’ meetings.
see page 35
Energy firms setting up shop
means bonanza of meetings.
MeetingNews
ExclusiveResearch
Reeling Regionals? see page 22 Destination Insider
BOSTON
Do you see yourself as a planner…? Gas cards, free parking, hot OTTAWA SAYS GOODBYE
Beantown remains hopping on
Old convention center will be
In Five Years’ Time dates are intended to add torn down for a new one in 2011.
both regional and international
fronts. see page 63
Age: <30 Age: 31-40
value to drive-to meetings see page 22
Yes Yes DALLAS-FORT WORTH
75.9% 78.3% By Corrie Dosh CVBs Irving Convention Center goes
Anticipating a drop in drive-to meetings
No No demand due to high fuel prices, many after high-end groups starting
24.1% 21.7% ORLEANS CHANGES MULLED in 2010. see page 64
hotels and venues have begun to offer
incentives such as gas cards and free park- NOCVB reportedly wants to
ing to attract regional business. unify city’s marketing agencies.
In 10 Years’ Time Meeting Planners Handbook
Starwood Hotels & Resorts last month see page 24
Yes Yes
58.6% 57.3% announced it will offer $25 gas credits and
reduced rates through Sept. 30 at more ORLANDO’S SKY HOOK REAL LIFE LESSONS
No No than 100 properties in the Mid-Atlantic, Bureau stamps its new slogan on By and for our readers.
41.4% 42.7% AirTran plane. see page 25 starts on page 37
Northeast, and Southeast regions. The offer
is good for Thursday through Sunday stays
Age: <30 Age: 31-40
and requires a two-night min-
Volume 32/Number 14/$10.00
Source: MeetingNews survey of 273 meeting planners imum stay. Conference center
chain Benchmark Hospitality
Planning The Future International is offering a
complete meeting package at
the Chattanoogan Hotel in
Most planners envision them-
Chattanooga, TN, with
selves in the profession in five
reduced room rates and $25
years; beyond that is a more
gas cards. North of the border,
cloudy matter. see page 30
continued on page 26
6. TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY INCENTIVE REPORTS
Problems reach sky high p. 30 Americans finally Spotme p. 32 Arizona,Hawaii, Scotland pp. 60-62 NEWSMAKER
Back to School:
MeetingNews
Bjorn Hanson
leaves PwC for
professorship
at NYU.
page 21
w w w. M e e t i n g N e w s . c o m S e p t e m b e r 8, 2008
July 16, 2007
CA Hotelier’s Donation Hotels & Resorts
MARRIOTT MARQUIS IN
International
STOCKHOLM’S GRAND PLAN
Draws Ire from Groups ATLANTA REFRESHES BIG
A vital piece of Atlanta’s conven-
tion inventory completes massive
Historic Grand Hotel keeps up
with the times. see page 34
A property starts losing group business amid $138M renovation. see page 24 Insider Report: Golf
controversy and works to restore its image THE STATE OF THE GAME
GROUPS CAN EAT ‘GOOD’ Economic slide has altered the
By Rayna Katz Prop 8 is to be voted on in November. AT LXR LUXURY RESORTS course of course play.
Just as a stone cast into water creates a rip- Subsequently hotel workers union Unite High-end hotel chain rolls out see page 38
ple effect, one charitable contribution made Here allegedly have been calling meeting Lifestyle Cuisine for banquet
by a hotel owner in San Diego has left some planners with events booked at the Manches- and catering items. see page 24 Destination Insider
meeting planners responding to angry and ter Grand and requesting they move their
FLORIDA KEYS
concerned attendees over the policies of programs; and it also has put the property on
their meeting venue—ultimately having to its website as one to boycott. Further, the hotel Convention Centers Coverage includes the latest
cancel and re-plan a host of functions— was taken off an online list of “gay-friendly” resort developments in Key West.
and forced the hotel to do damage control. hotels, operated by Community Marketing LUCAS OIL STADIUM SENDS see page 42
The proprietor of the Manchester Grand Inc., a San Francisco-based communications INDY OFF TO THE RACES
Hyatt San Diego, John Manchester, gave firm. CMI collects a $159 annual fee from Meetings-friendly stadium is a WASHINGTON, DC
$125,000 back in March to Proposition 8, a hotels that are members of its program. precursor for Indianapolis’ big Hilton, Marriott, and Omni
ballot initiative in California that would ban At the same time, the Association of convention package upgrades. team with Destination DC on
gay marriage. Also known as the Protect American Law Schools (AALS), which is see page 27 midsize package. see page 45
Marriage Act or the Same-Sex Marriage Ban, continued on page 120
CINCINNATI
CVBs
MeetingNews
ExclusiveResearch
Record Attendance HAWAII’S TOURISM BUREAU
Riding on robust convention biz,
the city shrugs off airlift cuts.
see page 46
How many offsite meetings do you plan both
domestically and internationally?
At MPI, But Some HOLDS ONTO REX JOHNSON
Board of directors docks pay and
LAS VEGAS
revises contract to one year after
Initiatives Greeted
400,000
368,619 prez and CEO is caught with Market, property, off-site, and
350,000
X-rated e-mails. see page 28 recreation news on the mecca.
300,000
250,000
200,000
Average
Median
With Reservations DALLAS RAMPS UP FOR
AFRICAN-AMERICAN BIZ SAN DIEGO
see page 48
150,000
112,270 By Robert Carey Bureau creates cultural-centric Downtown renaissance still hot.
100,000
The World Education Congress of Meeting campaign. see page 29 see page 58
50,000
26,405 14,274 Professionals International (MPI), held last
0 month, in Las Vegas, was designed based on
Meetings Meetings outside
within the U.S. the U.S. an 18-month process by the
Volume 32/Number 15/$10.00
Source: 601 of MeetingNews survey respondents association to improve the
breadth and quality of educa-
Over The Border Line? tional content at its two major
annual events—WEC and the
Professional Education Con-
Planners of international meetings gress (PEC), which is held
cite the economy and geopolitical every winter. But some long-
volatility as the two biggest factors time members are not sold on
driving their work. see page 36 continued on page 121
7. CONVENTION CENTERS TRANSPORTATION & SVCS GREEN MARKETING
NASCAR revs up Charlotte p. 24 Experient prez & CEO exits p. 30 Paperless meetings are in p. 54 NEWSMAKER
The ‘Ed’ Guru:
MeetingNews
Graydon Dawson
is reshaping
MPI’s education
products.
page 14
w w w. M e e t i n g N e w s . c o m June 16, 2008
July 16, 2007
State of the Industry 2008 Hotels & Resorts International
PLANNERS DO A TAKE TWO TIBETAN CONFLICT MAY BE
T H E AW F U L T R U T H : FROM HYATT’S NEW PERKS CHASING CHINA MEETINGS
Gender Bends Salary Curve
All
Take Two Meetings is a roster of Attendance at major trade fair
What is your annual salary? It’s perks from which planners can
choose two. see page 20
is down, while association group
abruptly cancels. see page 32
$
Less than 6.7%
SWITZERLAND IS NOT ON
About
$30K 6.3% DETAILS OF LAS VEGAS’
CITYCENTER DIG EMERGE NEUTRAL WITH GROUPS
3.3%
$30-$39.9K Numerous hospitality upgrades
14.5% Aria Resort & Casino will
are occurring as the franc trades
You
$40-$49.9K
10.0% anchor the complex under
22.0% construction, and the Vdara is evenly with the dollar.
11.7% one of three non-gaming hotels. see page 34
$50-$59.9K
20.4% see page 20
$60-$69.9K
11.7%
12.9%
Destination Insider
MARRIOTT MAKES GOOD
15.0% ON ITS GREEN PLEDGE NEW YORK CITY
$70-$79.9K
8.2% Who are today’s meeting Groups can contribute to its The venerable Guastavino’s
10.0%
$80-$89.9K
5.9%
Men planners, and what’s impor- recently created Amazonas event venue reopens; Sports
Women tant to them? That’s what rainforest foundation. Museum of America looks to
11.7%
$90-$99.9K see page 20 score with events.
3.5% MeetingNews set out to find see page 44
$100- 5.0% in its latest survey of more CVBs
$124.9K 3.5%
than 300 professionals. We BERMUDA
More than 15.0% DENVER IS IN PRIME TIME
$125K 2.7% guarantee plenty of surprises.
Bureau is getting ready for the On a tourism comeback,
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% Turn to page 36 for Bermuda offers group deal and
Democratic National Convention
Source: MeetingNews survey of 315 in-depth reports on industry in late August. see page 26 a revitalized pair of Fairmont
meeting planners meetings resorts.
trends planners face.
see page 48
ORLANDO ON AN OFFENSIVE
Roadshow in DC, Chicago, and
Nickel and Dimed NY declares the destination’s
creative know-how for events.
NORTH FLORIDA
Beefed up inventory yields
As cities feel financial strain from the sluggish see page 28 more groups for Tallahassee;
Jacksonville increases dosage of
economy, can rising hotel room taxes be far behind? medical meetings.
see page 50
By Corrie Dosh proposal to increase the hotel room tax by
New York—Like car rental taxes or road tolls, 2 percent to fund local schools. The propos-
taxes on hotel rooms are a way for cities to al was made as an alternative
Volume 32/Number 11/$10.00
make money without angering their local to a petition by the Nevada
constituents. On the plus side, these taxes go State Education Association to
a long way in funding convention and visi- increase taxes on gross gaming
tors bureaus and their meetings-related serv- receipts, but casino developers
ices. The disadvantage for planners, howev- suggested raising the room tax
er, is that they usually have no say (and often instead. At the same time, a
no warning) when cities decide to jack up budget forecast by the Las
room taxes to make up for budget shortfalls. Vegas Convention and Visitors
In Las Vegas, city leaders are battling out a continued on page 57