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Convention Centers

The veer toward high-impact, destination-driven experiences has filtered into the convention center realm, inspiring centers worldwide to expand their meeting and social spaces.

BY JOHNALEE JOHNSTON

prevuemeetings.com | 25

Convention Centers

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CPrevious: New Zealand International Convention CenterBelow (clockwise from left): ACC Liverpool Exhibition Centre; Pennsylvania Convention Center; Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio

Convention centers are tightening up connections to their communities in exciting ways, creating an innovative ‘neighborhood’ vibe that extends well past their front doors. From Pennsylvania to Denmark, here’s a look at some of today’s innovators.

NEW ZEALANDThe first glimpses of the New Zealand International Convention Center (NZICC) energized the internet late last year via a flythrough video released by the SKYCITY Entertainment Group. At over 350,000-sf, the Auckland center will enable the city to host conferences for up to 3,500, bolstering New Zealand’s move to capture larger meetings and events once it opens in 2018. It also marks the first of three centers in the works that will raise the country’s profile as a serious international business events destination.

“New convention centers such as the NZICC will enable New Zealand to be more competitive on the global scale,” says Tourism New Zealand’s Chief Executive Kevin Bowler, “[enabling] bidding for larger scale conventions which bring more delegates and more value to the New Zealand economy.”

The video revealed a sleek and spacious 4-level design concept, which includes a large gallery, nearly 90,000 sf of flexible, pillar-less exhibition space, a range of pre-function areas with panoramic views and a flexible theatre for up to 3,000. To get a sense of the visual, SKYCITY says the exhibition floor would be able to easily accommodate two Dreamliner 787 airplanes side by side.

The NZICC will revitalize the western edge of Auckland’s central business district, creating a livable experience for Aucklanders and tourists. SKYCITY is fully funding the project to eliminate any financial burden on taxpayers, with separate plans to open an adjacent 5-star, 300-room SKYCITY hotel. A pedestrian laneway will also usher bars, restaurants and boutique shopping into the area, while respecting the surrounding historic buildings.

New Zealand’s prime minister and minister of tourism have planned to invest an additional $158 million over four years into tourism.

PENNSYLVANIA The Pennsylvania Convention Center (PCC) is reenergizing a 2011 expansion with a $1.2 million art competition. The open call Expansion Art Project will run through March, using funds from the 2011 expansion to enhance the facility’s fine arts collection.

The competition aims to strengthen the big city, tight community vibe propelled forward by Philly’s downtown core, where the center resides. The Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority and a coalition of local art leaders are overseeing submissions from local artists. One of the foremost goals is for the collection to inspire the million plus who visit the center annually to learn more about Pennsylvania’s vibrant cultural heritage.

“Philadelphia is a destination that is rich in art culture,” says John J. McNichol, president/CEO. “The Expansion Art Project will

allow the Pennsylvania Convention Center to work with the state’s artists to expand and complement a Contemporary American Art collection that has been amassed for over 20 years.” The center’s permanent art collection currently includes more than 70 pieces. Visuals of potential art locations in the center shown on the PCC’s website list close to 40 spaces where paintings, sculptures, photographs and other fine arts selected from the batch of submissions will be displayed.

The 2011 expansion flooded $786 million into the center, doubling its size to more than 1 million sf of usable space, giving it the largest ballroom on the East Coast at 60,000-sf, LEED-gold certification and opening the door for simultaneous conventions. Other revamps refreshed décor and dining, relaxation and workspace areas. A new tasting kitchen was also added to accommodate VIP tastings, chef’s tables and special events.

The PCC is within walking distance to more than 10,000 hotel rooms, many of which were added after 2011 to support the center’s new size. The Lenfest Plaza, a pedestrian court with rotating art installations and outdoor seating, was also added after the expansion, connecting the PCC to the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and many celebrated museum, live theatre and dance options.

This year, the center has tech on the agenda, including a $3

million expansion of its wireless system, which will support as many as five times as many users at any given time once completed. Though certainly absorbing much of the buzz, the art competition isn’t the only reason for excitement at the center these days. Pope Francis is scheduled to make his first papal U.S. appearance this fall by attending the World Meeting of Families at the PCC.

DENMARKDenmark gained its largest conference center this past year with the addition of the Comwell Conference Center Copenhagen. The center, formerly the Copenhagen Congress Center, has undergone an extensive expansion and upgrade that, among other things, connected it to the ultra-modern 804-room Bella Sky Comwell Hotel and its restaurants, spa and wellness center, and 30 flexible meeting rooms. Planners now have access to 48 meeting spaces, a bright and airy congress foyer, featuring a prominent plant wall with more than 2,550 plants, an elegant terrace, and a flexible congress hall for up to 4,200.

The 4-star hotel, from Marriott’s Lifestyle Collection, is an aesthetic marvel—with two geometric ‘leaning towers’ that dart to the sky—and Scandinavia’s largest hotel, featuring local design aesthetics and touches such as Nordic cuisine. An on-site metro

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ENJOYING THE SOPHISTICATION AND STYLE OF A METROPOLITAN CONVENTION CENTERIN THE HEART OF THE OZARK MOUNTAINS

station ushers groups to Copenhagen’s city center in less than 10 minutes to explore castles and gardens, biking through parks, golfing at the Copenhagen Royal Golf Center or shopping at Scandinavia’s largest shopping center.

SAN ANTONIOThe Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center hit its first milestone ahead of schedule last December, adding 270,000 sf of exhibition space to the center’s eastern side. Casandra Matej, executive director of the San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau says even through construction, 2014 was the convention center’s most successful year to date—327 events welcomed more than 770,000 attendees.

“San Antonio’s distinct visitor experience combined with a strong meeting infrastructure is what makes us one of the nation’s top convention destinations. This project allows us to provide a top-of-the-line facility that is flexible enough to meet the needs of diverse groups—all in one of the nation’s most desirable cities.”

The center remained open through phase one—new meeting space was created on its eastern side before demolishing space on the western side, the oldest portion of the center. The renovation will open up neighboring Hemisfair Park as a mixed-use area for

outdoor meeting experiences. Access to River Walk also extends possibility for riverside activities, such as exploring some of city’s famous historic missions.

Once completed in 2016, the $325 million transformation will add 280,000 sf of meeting space, while showcasing San Antonio’s rapidly growing downtown. Elsewhere in San Antonio, the new Pearl Brewery arts village is being reimagined as an art-filled urban village, including the Culinary Institute of America’s latest campus, loads of new restaurants, the largest farmers market in the city and a new boutique from Kimpton, Hotel Emma, located in the historic Pearl Brewhouse. Pearl Brewery is scheduled for completion in 2015.

ACC LIVERPOOLACC Liverpool grabbed the first bookings for its upcoming multi-million Exhibition Centre late last year—the center will officially open for business this September. The addition adds nearly 90,000 sf to ACC Liverpool’s existing facilities, including eight meeting rooms, three halls, event organizer suites and a public atrium overlooking the river.

“2015 will be a significant year for us with the opening of our new Exhibition Centre and integrated Pullman hotel,” says Bob

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ENJOYING THE SOPHISTICATION AND STYLE OF A METROPOLITAN CONVENTION CENTERIN THE HEART OF THE OZARK MOUNTAINS

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Prattey, chief executive of ACC Liverpool. “The development will enable us to host consumer and trade exhibitions and increase the number of national and international conferences and major entertainment events. We will be the only purpose-built integrated arena, convention and exhibition center in Europe and the newest facility of its kind in the UK.”

A new 216-room Pullman Liverpool hotel will also be integrated into the mix, adding more upscale accommodations to Liverpool’s world-famous waterfront.

The Exhibition Centre isn’t the only news making a splash these days. The Cunard cruise ship line will celebrate its 175th anniversary by reuniting its three queens—Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria. The event is expected to draw thousands to the banks of the Mersey. For its part, Cunard promises “firework-filled skies, well-known personalities and incredible crowds in towns and cities on both sides of the Atlantic.” Queen Mary 2 will return to the cruise terminal on the 4th of July to recreate the voyage of the first Cunard ship, Britannia, from Liverpool to New York.

ANAHEIMAn exciting $240 million expansion will soon elevate Anaheim’s status as an formidable meetings option. Scheduled for 2017, the expansion will add 200,000 sf to the center, half of this pillar-less, along with dedicated loading docks and more parking. Past Anaheim Convention Center revamps included the addition of the Grand Plaza, a 100,000-sf event space where groups can experience al fresco dining, listen to concerts or attend special receptions and exhibitions. The Grand Plaza also created a

multi-use space between the Hilton Anaheim and Anaheim Marriott hotels.

The expansion coincides with a renovation of the three hotels that form the Anaheim Convention Campus: Hilton Anaheim, Anaheim Marriott and Sheraton Park Hotel. The renovations will ultimately improve the campus’ meeting space, visitor accommodations and amenities.

“We were at a crossroads,” says Jay Burress, president/CEO of the AOCVCB. “[We] knew it was time to improve our product and raise the bar on the quality of experience we were offering our visitors and guests. The Hilton, Marriott and Sheraton Park, along with the convention center, have all embarked on plans to add numerous state-of-the-art improvements that will keep Anaheim as a premier meetings destination.”

A new 67,000-sf intermodal transit center also opened last December, serving as a convention center gateway. The design-forward hub—think Wi-Fi, bike racks, lockers, community spaces and plenty of charging stations—was derived from behavioral statistics, geometry and consumer studies that predicted the flow of foot traffic in the design process. The transit center will link regional rail services and intercity bus lines with local commuter transportation. Anaheim will also see five new hotels in its resort district this year, including the 252-room Hyatt House Anaheim Resort, and the 215-room Homewood Suites by Hilton-Anaheim Convention Center/Disneyland Main Gate.

paconvention.com; bellacenter.dk; sahbgcc.com; exhibitioncentreliverpool.com; accliverpool; anaheimconventioncenter.com; skycity.co.nz

Above: Anaheim Convention Center