Rich Prestia Portfolio

www.MeetingNews.com December 15, 2008

By William Ng and Robert CareyThe hotel industry has enjoyed a profitablesupplier’s market in recent years, but thegood times are ending, with lodging demandheading into a potentially deep decline, as theeconomy continues its tailspin.

The market erosion began earlier this yearas the economy started to slow, but Septem-ber’s financial and credit market collapseunderscored the economic downturn’s

severity that had hotel market analystsdowngrading already dampened forecasts.

“Our outlook for the lodging industry hasdeteriorated dramatically in a fairly shortperiod of time,” said Mark Woodworth,president of PKF Hospitality Research. PKF-HR, which bases its forecasts on indicatorsby Smith Travel Research, in October had torevise its 2009 outlook released in Septem-

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Hotels & Resorts

DOLCE OFFERS TO REBUILDMEETINGS IN BUDGET CRISIS

Hotelier’s “advice line” gives freephone help to those who need toreplan meetings affected by theeconomy. see page 8

CHARLOTTE’S TIM NEWMANCULTIVATES A GREEN TEAMVisitors bureau CEO, along witha planner, ignite a citywide eco-movement in Charlotte.

see page 20

AFFORDABLE LAS VEGAS

Sin City’s hospitality, from majorhotels like Harrah’s and MGMMirage to the upscale Four Sea-sons, are offering deals and pricebreaks. see page 30

GALVESTONIn its post-Ike cleanup, the islandis committed to bouncing backwith improved amenities.

see page 37

DOWNTURN DEALS SANDS A BAD HAND IN MACAU

Gaming operator suspends workon eight hotels in its Cotai Striparea just after a Four Seasonsmakes its debut. see page 22

PHOENIXConvention center expansioncoincides with launches of1,000-room Sheraton andlight-rail system, sparking newdowntown vitality.

see page 38

EUROPE

Brussels prepares for a new expocenter; Zaragoza, Spain, courtsgroups with attractions fromrecent world’s fair.

see page 40

SKI DESTINATIONS

Reno-Lake Tahoe packs slopes,gaming, and nightlife; Whistler,BC, builds up 2010 WinterOlympics. see page 42

CVBs

Insider Reports Incentive Reports

InternationalGloom Looms for RoomsPunditry blizzard reveals scope of occupancy chill,but the deck remains stacked for planners in 2009

Destination Insider

By Diana RoweTwenty-three-year-old Marine Caleb Woodwas focused, ready to do the right thing forhis country and his family, until his recentdeployment from southern California’sCamp Pendleton to Iraq turned his four-yearmilitary career into a label: wounded soldier.

His injury brought him backto the U.S. to recuperate, onlyto find that he had a dim futureahead of him. “I’m ready towork and have experience inradio communication,” Woodsaid.“Yet the resources to find acivilian job haven’t been available.”

continued on page 4

Sixth Homeland DefenseAnd Security Symposium’s Career Summit WelcomesHurt Soldiers to Broadmoor

continued on page 14

CHEF TALK: Food Kings Throw Down Advice for Planner Customers p. 6

Meet ingNewsExc lus iveResearch

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

60%

70%

80%

Leveraging technology, gainingrecognition by executives, andprofessional improvement aresome planners’ goals. see page 26

What are your professional New Year’sResolutions?

Wishing & Hoping Source: 308 of MeetingNews survey respondents

28.6%

26.6%

20.8%

7.8%

11.7%

26.3%

Receive recognitionfor the job I do

Can’t plan thatfar ahead

Find anew job

Complete mydegreeOther

Retool ourmeetingsprogram

Starts on page 43

MeetingNews

MeetingNewsthe pulse of the industry

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MAY 8, 2006

n Money magazine’s list of the 50 Best Jobs includes “meeting planner.” page 9

n A pictorial collection of cool exhibit-design ideas from the New York Auto Show. page 14

n A look back: 1995 article disputedThe New York Times. page 15

n Great golf that won’t break the budget. page 19Vo

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By Rayna KatzThe current hotel sellers’ market and the resulting high roomrates sting meeting planners and attendees when they pay theirbills. But a tangible payoff is developing: an avalanche of newand improved inventory.

Construction will begin on more new hotel rooms in 2006than in any year since 2000. At thesame time, more money is beingspent on renovation this year thanever before, according to Pricewater-houseCoopers. (See charts, page 33.)

“Having new hotels to consideroffers planners new opportunitiesand gives our attendees additionaloptions for price points and producttype,” said Karen Malone, director ofmeeting services at the HealthcareInformation and Management Sys-tems Society. “It also reinforces thetrend that the meetings industry ison a positive track.”

Bjorn Hanson, global hospitality industry leader for PwC,said, “We’ll see occupancies escalate in 2006 to their highest levelsince 1996, and they will make this a year of record profitability.”.

That boosts the appeal of building new properties — or, forsome owners and investors, taking over existing hotels, whichtypically precedes renovation.NOT SO FAST: Officials at U.S. and Canada border checkpoints are

delaying or denying entry for some meeting planners. page 8

Hotel BizBreaks Bank

The Big Green DebateOn the whole,do you agreeor disagreewith thesestatements?Source: MeetingNewssurvey of 235 meetingsbuyers

Construction & renovationprojects fill the landscape


“We’re probablyin the sweetspot of this cur-rent industrycycle. Investorssee an opportu-nity to makemoney.”— Hilton vice president

Bill Fortier

Despite the many benefits of holding environmentally responsiblemeetings, the vast majority of groups don’t hold them. page 12

4

0

20

40

60

80

100

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%0% 20% 40% 60%

Agree

Disagree

Disagree

Disagree

Disagree

Disagree

Agree

Agree

Agree

Agree

67.3%

45.9%

32.7%

54.1%

31.7%

68.3%

85.0%

15.0%

57.8%

42.4%

Green meetingsare economically

efficient

Green meetingsare too much

trouble to plan

Green meetingsare just a

passing trend

Green meetingsare a noble cause

Holding greenmeetings is a use-ful public relations

or marketing toolfor my organization

MEETINGNEWS EXCLUSIVE RESEARCH[ ]

Celebrating 30Years

Show Drives CuttingEdge of Booth DesignThe New York Auto Show, which ranat the Jacob K. Javits ConventionCenter from April 14-23, annuallydisplays some of the most visuallycompelling exhibits to be found onany show floor. We sent a photogra-pher to capture some images thatmay provide food for thought forexhibit designs applicable to a widevariety of shows.

14

RICH

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TIA

By Rayna KatzLike many other dramatic weather catastro-phies, the floods that struck the Midwest thissummer left some areas unharmed while oth-ers were submerged and will be repairing thedamage for some time to come.

Similarly, among meetings and events thatwere taking place as the region’s rivers over-flowed—as well as those scheduled for thecoming weeks and months—some went

unscathed, others had to altertheir plans, and still more areweighing their options.

Several of Iowa’s cities werehit hard by the unforgivingwaters after months of heavyrain. “The floods rendered ourdowntown, and about half ofour visitors guide, obsolete,”

MeetingNewswww.MeetingNews.com July 16, 2007

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TRANSPORTATIONIn-flight F&B is ‘pitiful’ p. 17

GREEN BEATHotel has Green Seal & LEED p. 19

MN WEBCAST REPORTMeetings: The Next Generation p. 72



Hotels & Resorts

WESTIN TIMES SQUAREKEEPS PEDAL TO METTLE

In city that never sleeps, hotel willfinish meeting space upgradesnext month before more roomrenovations begin. see page 14

‘CALLING ALL CHEFS’ TO ACHALLENGE IN BOCA RATON

Attendees at Boca Raton Resort& Club can cook against eachother—or against a propertychef and vintner. see page 14

CRY FROM THE HEARTLAND

Destinations in the region pushfor more convention space.

see page 15

DMAI IS PUTTING ‘DMAP’CERTIFICATION ON THE MAPDestination Marketing Accreditation Program now hasclose to 60 members.

see page 16

HOUSTON FLICK HONORED

“One Day in Houston” short filmwins public relations award.

see page 16

COCONUT BAY BRINGS OUTSWEET TASTE OF ST. LUCIA

Leisure resort now targets groupsby offering plethora of outdoorteambuilding options and event/meeting spaces. see page 18

HAWAII’S GROUP SUPPORT

As leisure arrivals continue todrop, the islands look to meet-ings to carry them through theshort term. see page 21

L.A. & THE BEACHES

Redondo Beach and Venturaoffer cost-friendly meetingsclose to LAX. see page 22

CVBs

Convention Centers

After nearly three decades,Susan Sarfatibids farewell

to ASAE. page 8

NEWSMAKER

International

Coming up withour list of the 25Most Powerfulwas a challenge,because of thediversity of theindustry. But onechoice was clear:With U.S. gasoline

prices averaging $4.10 a gallon and a barrel ofcrude oil at a record $146-plus, it’s safe to saythat fuel prices now dictate every aspect ofmeetings and events.

For Ken Deans, aLos Angeles-basedtrade show man-ager, items thatused to cost $3,500in shipping eachway from L.A. toNew York nowcost $8,000. PeterHuggins, plannerfor the AmericanChemical Society,based in DC,

noted that many of the large pharmaceuticalfirms are canceling travel for staff:“Speakers arewithdrawing due to the elimination of non-critical travel.”And fuel costs have brought theairlines to their knees.

Acknowledging the fuel-price hardship, theInternal Revenue Service this month raised thefuel mileage rate, from 50.5 to 58.5 cents. IRScommissioner Doug Shulman declared, “Wewant the reimbursement rate to be fair. Risinggas prices are majorly impacting Americans.”

But while this represents an overall 36-percent increase over six

years, it has not keptpace with skyrock-eting fuel prices,which have morethan doubled.

For more on the people andforces that are affectingmeetings, turn tothe MeetingNews 25 Most Power-ful on page 10.

Oil Is Number One FactorAffecting Industry in 2008Soaring fuel prices, surcharges, & related costs roil meeting budgets in a vicious domino effect

Meet ingNewsExc lus ive Research

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

Source: MeetingNews survey of 310 meeting planners

Are you planning to take all of yourallotted vacation days this year?

63.2%

36.8%

Yes

No

Cedar Rapids: ‘Half Our Visitors Guide Is Obsolete’Midwest flooding washes away Heartland venues

Bailing Out On Vacationsee page 20

Destination Insider

10 MeetingNews July 21, 2008 www.meetingnews.com

MeetingNews 25 Most PowerfulMartin Sirk, CEO, International Congress &Convention Association, Amsterdam“I don’t think of myself as aparticularly ‘powerful’ indi-vidual,” said Martin Sirk,head of the InternationalConvention & CongressAssociation (ICCA), “but Ido believe that ICCA hasbecome an extremely influ-ential global community.”

As head of ICCA, Martin Sirk is a symbol of theinternational growth of the meetings industry. Theassociation will hold its first education and network-ing event in Dubai in late August. The number ofICCA members in the Persian Gulf and Middle Easthas grown from four members in 2000 to 14 in 2007,and Sirk expects to have 20 mem-bers in the region by year’s end.“We now have over 850 compa-nies and organizations in mem-bership in 83 countries aroundthe world, covering all the indus-try supplier sectors,”he said.

Wolfgang Puck, Chef andRestaurateur,Beverly Hills,CA“Just like a painter or artist,every chef does something a little bit different to make it interesting,” WolfgangPuck said at his restaurant opening in MGM GrandDetroit. Famous for affordable, creative fine dining,

Puck has raised the bar forbanquet F&B, inspiring plan-ners to ask for sustainable,local ingredients when possi-ble. His business enterpriseshave saturated the meetingsindustry, catering (literally)to prominent venues like theKodak Theatre in Holly-

wood and Minneapolis’ Walker Art Center, and tothe convention centers of Sacramento, CA, andWashington, DC, and more. His restaurants atresorts in Atlantic City and Las Vegas are favoritesamong meeting planners for events.

This year, Puck was named chef of the year by theCulinary Institute of America. And, earlier thismonth, Doubletree Hotels began offering in-roomWolfgang Puck Estate Grown Coffee at more than190 North American properties.

Gary Sain, President and CEO, Orlando/Orange County CVBFollowing on the two-decade legacy of retired CVBlegend Bill Peeper is tough for anyone, but GarySain has been tackling that job since February 2007,when he stepped in as Orlando’s tourism chief. Histenure so far has not beenwithout challenges: The economic downturn hastriggered declines in bothmeetings and leisure busi-ness. But Sain, with hisdiverse sales and marketingexperience and massivebudget—will be aggressivelysinging Orlando’s praises through stepped-up pro-motional campaigns. The latest of these is “Creative

Minds,” focusing on Orlando’s ability to provide unconven-tional meeting and eventspaces—no doubt bolstered byDisney’s offerings. Sain also hasbeen trumpeting the upscaletransformation of hospitalityproduct as Orlando’s next evo-lutionary step, as some $2.2 bil-lion in new hotels and attrac-tions is expected to go onstreamin the next few years.

Bruce MacMillan, President and CEO,Meeting Professionals International, DallasBruce MacMillan has had one global year. Underhis stewardship, MPI opened a Singapore office,created a South Korean chapter, and forged part-nerships with IMEX (Europe’s largest meetingsindustry exhibition) and Reed Travel Exhibitions,organizer of the fledgling Gulf Incentive, Business

Travel, & Meetings Exhibi-tion (GIBTM), to gain moreprominent positions inEurope and the Mideast.MPI overhauled its Euro-pean education event,renamed it the EuropeanMeetings and Events Con-ference, and held it in Lon-

don just before Frankfurt’s IMEX for maximumexposure. And, with Reed’s support, MPI piggy-backed its new Gulf Meetings and Events Confer-ence onto Abu Dhabi-based GIBTM just days

ahead in Dubai.That’s not all. MPI has enacted an alliance with

Messe Berlin, organizer of the ITB Berlin traveltrade show, in creating the inaugural and back-to-back ITB Asia show and Asia Meetings and EventsConference this October in Singapore.

Paul Kennedy, Group Exhibition Director,Reed Travel Exhibitions, Surrey, EnglandManaged by Paul Kennedy, Reed Travel Exhibitionsruns the formidable European Incentive, BusinessTravel & Meetings Exhibition (EIBTM) industrytrade show held annually in Barcelona. In the lastcouple of years, however, RTE has entrenched itselfin two potentially huge meetings markets: Chinaand the Middle East. Attendance at the secondannual Gulf Incentive, Business Travel & MeetingsExposition (GIBTM), held this past April in AbuDhabi, grew by more than 30 percent. In China, the

CIBTM expo—canceled thisyear because of the SummerOlympics—has the potentialof becoming the country’stop industry show. Add tothese the longtime Asia-Pacific Incentives & MeetingsExpo (AIME) and the Inter-national Congress & Con-

vention Association (ICCA) Exhibition, and RTEhas a powerful show lineup. Kennedy is also a high-profile figure for Meeting Professionals Internation-al, having just completed his service on the 2007-08international board of directors executive commit-tee, and representing the first-ever European winnerof two MPI awards in 2000 and 2004, respectively.

Ben Bernanke, Chairman, U.S. Federal Reserve,Washington, DCDollar not going as far as itused to? Home values plum-meting? In the wake of thesubprime mortgage crisis—the worst financial disasterto hit the nation since theGreat Depression, accordingto Time magazine—oneman has been the focus ofU.S. economic policy: Ben Bernanke.

Bernanke, head of the U.S. Federal Reserve, hastaken plenty of criticism as he navigates the countrythrough uncertain financial waters, but he also

By Michael Goldstein

The Pink Taco at the HardRock Hotel & Casino had 15empty bar stools and sixempty tables at 10 o’clock ona Saturday night. There wereempty spaces in the parkinglots, streets were devoid ofpedestrians, and seats at theblackjack tables were unoccu-pied.Slot machines stood like sentinels, wait-ing for someone—anyone—to try their luck.

The Consumer Electronics Show was intown again, but for once, there was plenty ofelbow room. Attendees compared theirnegotiated room rates unfavorably to dis-counts created by oversupply. At the Las

Vegas Convention Center,the carpets were wider andthere were big empty spots(especially in the South Hall)and big “conversation areas.”

While the ConsumerElectronics Association,the consortium behindCES, reported over 2,700global

exhibitors (including 300first-timers), which unveiled20,000 new products across1.7 million sf of exhibit space,the number of exhibitors wasstill down from last year’s


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00CVBSRecession survival steps p. 10

INTERNATIONALUnification on terminology p. 13

INSURANCE MEETINGSBuoyant budgets & incentives p. 18

MeetingNewswww.MeetingNews.com February 2, 2009

Hotels & Resorts

BEVY OF SUPPLIERS LAUNCHONLINE BOOKING SYSTEMS

Nikko Hotels, Choice Hotels’ newAscend Collection, and a Bostoncollective each has establishedweb portals for group bookings.

see page 8

PHILADELPHIA EXPECTS A BOOM IN CENTER CITY

Anticipating its convention center expansion in 2011, thecity works to secure hoteliers forlodging support.

see page 9

SEATTLE’S WSCTC HAS PLAN IN THE HOPPER FOR 2014

Early proposal seeks to doubleexhibit space to about 400,000 sf;meanwhile, a 1,200-room hotelis being mulled.

see page 9

GAMING DESTINATIONS

CES co-location in Las Vegas;Wynn launches Encore; a newice lounge; Q&A session with Tropicana Las Vegas; Reno’stransformation still going strong;Detroit’s arts and cultural sitesround out group activities; giantsolar-panel installation infusesAtlantic City Convention Centerwith energy.

starts on page 20

ISLAND DESTINATIONS

Belize offers feel of exclusivity;the natural side of Puerto Rico;Park Hyatt confirms project inBermuda, while Tucker’s PointHotel sets its debut for April; Aruba Marriott’s major renovation work yields a hotel-within-hotel.

see page 34

Convention Centers

Incentive Report

Insider Report

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Ocean’s Eleven:Sean O’Connellpresides overFontainebleauMiami Beach’s11 restaurants.

page 5

CHEF TALK

Of Presidential Proportions Obama’s inauguration creates monster citywide

By Brad Crawford

President Barack Obama’s swearing-in on Jan. 20 broke the attendance record set by Lyn-don Johnson’s 1965 inauguration—the officialtally was 1.8 million revelers, though inde-

pendent experts claimed it was closer to 1.3million. But more important, the event fore-shadowed a promise to pump new life to theU.S. political process—and Washington, DC.

“The [president] and the Presidential Inau-gural Committee wanted to make it the mostaccessible of any inauguration in history,”saidBill Hanbury, president and CEO of Destina-tion DC, the capital’s convention bureau.“Youcan see that with the Neighborhood Ball (anofficial ball that had an everyman guest listand hip entertainment like Mary J. Blige, Bey-once, and Jay-Z).You can certainly see it withthe Jumbotrons called for on the [National]Mall.”

Hanbury said 70 percent of the paraderoute was open to the general public. “In the


Sluggish CES a Shock to the Vegas Circuit Retrenchments at electronics show reflect economic woes

Meet ingNews Exc lus iveResearch

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Compared to 2008, the number of attendees at international programs you are planning in 2009 will:

InternationalInertia

Source: 338 of MeetingNews survey respondents

Increase15.1%

Decrease24.6%

Stay thesame60.4%

Increase11.3%

Our survey of plannersabout how they tacklethe nuts and bolts ofinternational meetingsproduces surprisingresults. see page 16

The new commander-in-chief was swornin on Jan. 20 in front of a record crowd.


“In Vegas, youhave leverage youhaven’t had in along time. Supply

exceeds demand.”—Chris O’Malley, partner, Pepcom Inc.,co-producer and co-owner of the Digital

Experience! press and exhibitor event at CES

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JANUARY 29, 2007

n Some longtime veterans recall what the industry was like when MN first hit the scene. page 18

n Then vs. Now: A look at how much meeting goods and services cost in 1977 compared to today. page 20

n Report from PCMA’s recent annual meeting, the first held outside the U.S. page 10

Celebrating 30Years

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By Robert CareyThis month marks the 30th anniver-sary of MeetingNews’ first issue. Tocommemorate that milestone in away befitting our mission — to deliv-er in-depth perspectives that helpour readers do their jobs better nowand in the future — our editors satdown in a conference room onerecent afternoon and attempted to

hash out the 30 most importantinventions and happenings thatshaped the meetings and events busi-ness as it exists today.

We hope that the list gives you aperspective on how far meetings andevents have come, not just in the30 years of MN’s existence, but sincethe early part of the 20th century.


MEETINGNEWS EXCLUSIVE RESEARCH[ ]

Most planners agree that industry education is a useful tool forthem to have in their arsenal. Certification beat out a degree, buteither puts planners ahead of the game. more on page 12

Smarten Up!

*Respondents were asked to select up to two responses. Source: MeetingNews survey of 310 meetings planners

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

43.6%

40.4%

49.2%

32.8%

20.2%

22.1%

15.4%

19.7%

15.4%

11.5%

12.8%

16.4%

Industry certifications

(i.e., CMP, CMM, CSEP, CAE)

Education atindustry

conferences

Meetings/hospitality-related college degrees

College degree, notnecessarily related to

meetings/hospitality

Individual meetings/

hospitality coursesat local colleges

None ofthe above

Which of the following do you think wouldbe most valuable to a planner’s career?*

Corporate

Association

Check-in, 2037: This just might be what a hotel room looks like30 years from now. For more future looks, see page 22.

The Big Three-Oh!Our list of major milestonesin the history of meetings & events

MiMegasite.com • January 29, 200722 MeetingNews

Back to the Future

From 1977 to 2037 As MeetingNews looks back to 30 years ago,we also offer a glimpse 30 years ahead. 1. A deluxe guest room for your convention-eers circa 1977. Hot stuff. 2. Incentive winners in ‘77 were pamperedwith a beachfront resort guest room. The bal-cony allows guests to escape the décor.3. A conference chair in 2037, as featured in arecent issue of Hospitality Design magazine.It comes with speakers in the headrest, read-ing lights, fold-up tablet tray table, and videocamera in the antenna on the chair arm. Eatyour heart out, Captain Kirk.4. A bathroom in 2037, complete with 3-Dprojection on the wall to make you feel likeyou’re showering somewhere else. 5. A 2037 guest room, with a bed that risesto the ceiling and tables that fold into thewall when not in use and guest-customiz-able wall artwork.

MeetingNewsCelebrating 30Years

1

2

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SUPPLEMENT TO MEETINGNEWS

A Logistics & Management Resource

meeting planners’handbook 2006

Real Life LessonsReal Life Lessons

20082008Meeting Planners Handbook

Featuring Emily Lewis & Alison GolubFeaturing Emily Lewis & Alison Golub

30 MeetingNews November 10, 2008 www.meetingnews.com

Destination Insider: ClevelandEdited by William [email protected]

The glacial pace toward a new convention centerin Cleveland continues, frustrating businessowners, civic boosters, and, perhaps most of all,planners whose meetings would make sense oth-erwise in the city.“We should have movement inthe next couple of weeks,” after the local elec-tions, said Cuyahoga County administrator JimMcCafferty. He said the county is still aiming forcompletion in late 2012.

In August, the chamber of commerce’s site-selection committee recommended locating theconvention center at Public Square, between theCuyahoga River and Terminal Tower, Cleveland’slandmark building. The other site the commit-tee studied extensively was an outdoor mall onthe downtown lakefront, home to the current,underground convention center—an outdatedstructure with numerous pillars and interferenceissues for cell phones.

The Terminal Tower site has the notable advan-tage of access to much of the city’s infrastructure:a direct train to Hopkins International Airport,and enclosed access to Progressive Field, QuickenLoans Arena, and other venues in the GatewayDistrict. The committee’s study suggested a Termi-nal Tower-sited convention center could be donefor perhaps $40 million less than a mall-sited cen-ter while providing visitors with more convenient

access to hotels and civic amenities. The mall site,though, would entail fewer land acquisition costsand greater future expansion potential than themore constrained Terminal Tower site.

The county has taken the unprecedented stepof tapping a private partner in Merchandise MartProperties Inc., the Chicago-based property andtrade show management firm, which will be inte-gral in any new convention center. It is helpingassess both proposed convention center sites andhandling negotiations for land and contracting.

MMPI’s concept is called Medical Mart, sim-ilar to the Merchandise Mart it has for furnitureand home suppliers in Chicago. Medical Martwould attract 50 small and midsize medical con-ventions annually.

“[MMPI and Cuyahoga County are] oneorganization in many respects,”MMPI senior VPMark Falanga said.“We’ve got a common objec-tive, and they’ll be actively involved in any nego-tiations we’re having.”

Falanga said both proposed sites remain viable,and indicated his team will be looking for ways totrim the project’s estimated $500-million to $600-million cost—which continues to rise as the build-out is extended—in order to stay in line with pro-jected revenues from a sales tax increase.

City Inches Toward New Convention Center Plan with Merchandise Mart Properties still targets a building launch in 2012

Terminal Tower is one of two proposed sites for Cleveland’s new convention center.

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Author-ity’s “HealthLine”—so called for its sponsorshipby and service to the city’s two leading medicalfacilities, the Cleveland Clinic and UniversityHospitals—has come on.

The line runs along Euclid Avenue from Pub-lic Square, one of the potentialsites for the new conventioncenter, to East Cleveland, sevenmiles away. On the way, it con-nects downtown with UniversityCircle, the medical hub andhome to Case Western ReserveUniversity.

Sleek, diesel-electric busesmake the trip from downtown toUniversity Circle in 20 minutes.

The route is arguably the mostimportant in the RTA system—visible enough that the ClevelandClinic and University Hospitals

kicked in a combined $6.25 million for its nam-ing rights. The HealthLine is credited with help-ing spur $4.3 billion in developments along theEuclid corridor, according to the Cleveland PlainDealer’s estimates.m

—Section written by Brad Crawford

Bus Links Downtown with Univ. Circle Medical Hub

Station stops on the HealthLine will be on the center median.

20 MeetingNews May 19, 2008 www.meetingnews.com

Destination Insider: Reno-Lake TahoeEdited by Lori [email protected]

The Reno-Lake Tahoe area has increased it restau-rants offerings and culinary activities to cater to thediscerning palates of the increasing number of“food-as-entertainment”folks coming to the regionfor meeting and incentive programs.

“We find groups often want to explore the cuisineand dining experiences that are unique to thisregion,”said Philip D’Amico, Reno-Sparks Conven-tion & Visitors Authority’s vice president of conven-tion sales. “Meeting attendees are drawn to theemerging dining scene along Reno’s revitalizeddowntown Truckee River, and the truly adventurouseaters tend to go for the region’s Basque cuisine.”

Upscale specialty restaurants are definitely in,according to Steve Lowe, director of sales for the513-room Harrah’s and the 758-room Harveys inSouth Lake Tahoe. In the year since the resorts’ GiFu Loh restaurant opened, the $5.9-million high-end Cantonese eatery has become a favored groupchoice.“It is very popular with groups, because it isvery authentic, yet has a Caucasian flair, and theservice is impeccable,” said Lowe. Its private dining

room seats up to 20 people, while a group of 100can take over the entire restaurant.

Last fall, Reno’s first celebrity chef arrived at the1,975-room Grand Sierra Resort and Casino. Char-lie Palmer opened two of his restaurants: Fin Fish,his premier seafood concept, and Charlie PalmerSteak, which has a private room that accommo-dates 60 people.

Restaurants at two popular North Tahoe meet-ings resorts have also begun to embrace the foodietrend. The 422-room Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoeoffers a winemakers’ dinner that showcases region-al wineries at its lakefront Lone Eagle Grille, whileand the Six Peaks Grille at the 405-room Resort atSquaw Creek recently introduced a five-coursechef ’s table meal available for up to 10 people.

On the lake, the newly renovated Tahoe Gal, ahistoric paddle wheeler, has added wine tasting andbourbon tasting cruises. Cooking classes can bearranged at two new venues. Chefs at MikuniJapanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar, which just

More Deliciousness on Attendees’ Plates New eateries satisfy foodie trend in the Reno-Lake Tahoe meetings scene

Charlie Palmer has given Reno celebrity-chef flair with Charlie Palmer Steak and Fin Fish.

Reno Revival ContinuesNew projects still fueling downtown

The urban revitalization that began a few years agoin downtown Reno shows no signs of slowingdown, with a steady stream of new projects beingannounced as others wrap up. While the new RenoBallroom officially opened earlier this year, multi-million-dollar projects have been announced tospruce up office buildings, streetscape beautificationefforts continue, and new restaurants and shops areconsistently opening in the Truckee River District.

Construction is fully under way on a new 10,000-seat Triple-A Baseball stadium that will serve as theanchor of the $81-million Reno Baseball StadiumDistrict. Scheduled to open next spring, the tradi-tional brick-style ballpark will be the home of aPacific Coast League team. Shops, businesses, and avariety of entertainment options are slated to openthroughout the surrounding blocks over the nextfew years. Also, construction will begin this sum-mer on a 148-unit Hyatt Summerfield Suites Hoteladjacent to the new ballpark.

The 351-room Fitzgeralds Hotel and Casinorecently changed ownership and is being complete-ly revamped. A $3-million renovation will makeimmediate improvements, and the managementteam is in the process of developing a master planthat will include upgrades to the property’s guestrooms, restaurants, and entertainment.

In downtown Sparks, 1,600-room John Ascua-ga’s Nugget completed a $17-million East Towerremodel in February. All 600 guest rooms in thattower received a floor-to-ceiling renovation, featur-ing modern design, plasma televisions, graniteaccents, marble flooring, luxury bedding, and busi-ness-friendly features such as Wi-Fi.

Reno’s Baseball Stadium District


audiovisual presentations, and teleconferencing.Banquets of up to 130 people can be held in theroom, with receptions for 100 possible on a newoutdoor patio situated above the Mountain Streamroom. The expansion brings the total squarefootage of meeting space at the mountain resort,which has 276 studio to three-bedroom condo-miniums, up to 7,500 sf.

Happy (Water) Trails On the LakefrontThe new Lake Tahoe Water Trail allows paddlers toplan a custom canoe or kayak trip around the 72-mile shoreline of the famous lake. The trail mapincludes information about access points, restingplaces, campgrounds, points of interest, and relatedfacilities. Individuals can design their own forays onthe trail, which is free and open to the public, orgroup excursions can be arranged through a guideservice, such as Tahoe Adventure Company.

Reno Museum Waiting for Discovery in ’09 Construction on the $18-million Nevada Discov-ery Museum (www.nvdm.org) is on schedule, withthe facility slated to open in October 2009. Themuseum, built around families and fun learning,will have exhibits on subjects ranging from spaceand science, to art and archeology with a northernNevada bent.

Located in the former Reno City Hall, the70,000-sf building will feature a historic atrium areaavailable for receptions; 5,000 sf of multi-purpose,high-tech equipped function space for meetingsand special events; 18,000 sf of permanent andtraveling exhibit space; 5,000 sf ongoing programspace, with a series of hands-on experiences; andon-site, underground parking. The museum will

allow Reno groups, which typically include familyguests, to take over the entire facility.

Catch of the Day: Fresh Tahoe MuseumsThe Maritime Museum in Homewood reopens thismonth in a new 5,800-sf facility with interactiveexhibits. Reminiscent of an old boathouse, themuseum showcases the history of boating in LakeTahoe. Watercraft on display includes an 1890sexcursion boat and a rare 1912 Canadian-built dis-placement boat.

The Tahoe City Field Lab, also known as the His-toric Fish Hatchery, is scheduled to reopen inAugust with a $3-million restoration. Future plansinclude the restoration of the surrounding threeacres and an interpretive education center anddemonstration garden. A kiosk attached to the historic hatchery will provide information on thehistoric uses of the building for fish rearing, the lifecycle, and ongoing research.

Firm Helms a Hilton Garden Inn in Reno &Reflags Property to Holiday Inn in Sparks While a new midrange property came on line inReno this spring, another essentially new hotel forsmall meetings was announced for year-end arrivalin Sparks. A 135-room, five-story Hilton GardenInn opened in southern Reno in March with 1,920sf of meeting space, a 24-hour business center, andthe Great American Grill restaurant.

At the same time, Crescent Hotels & Resorts hassigned on to manage the 220-room Quality Inn inSparks. Plans are under way to convert the proper-ty to a Holiday Inn, following the completion of a$6-million renovation that will upgrade all guestrooms, public spaces, and the property’s 8,000 sf ofmeeting space to Holiday Inn brand standards.

Nice Rock: Two South Lake Tahoe HotelsTreat Meeting Planners as ‘Diamond’ VIPs Sister resorts 513-room Harrah’s and 758-roomHarveys Lake Tahoe introduced their new MeetingDiamond program in April. Similar to the compa-ny’s Las Vegas properties, the Diamond Card provides benefits to VIP group planners and deci-sionmakers during their stays at either hotel. Bene-fits include VIP check-in; access to the private Diamond Lounge, with complimentary food, bev-erages, and amenities; priority service at restau-rants; complimentary use of fitness facilities;priority valet parking service; and complimentarypriority access to the VEX nightclub.

24 MeetingNews May 19, 2008 www.meetingnews.com

Destination Insider: Reno-Lake Tahoe

Long a haven for downhill skiers, LakeTahoe has recently begun to offer more

off-slope activities.• Skijoring, a Norwegian sport that is a

cross between cross-country skiing and dog-sledding, is becoming more popular.

• Dog-sledding excursions, includingmoonlight expeditions, are offered inOlympic Valley at Sugar Bowl Ski Resort andoff Highway 89 north of Truckee.

• Horse-drawn sleigh rides go through themeadows of Squaw Valley.

• Moonlight snowshoe tours are offered byNorthstar-at-Tahoe, Squaw Valley USA, andSugar Pine Point State Park.

• Ice fishing is available on Boca, Prosser,and Stampede Reservoirs outside of Truckee.Maps, tips, and equipment can be found atMountain Hardware in Truckee.

• Winter fishing on Lake Tahoe can bearranged through Mickey’s Big Mack

Charters at Carnelian Bay or Reel DealSportfishing in Tahoe City.

Feel the Thrill of the Chill

Kayaking is one Tahoe’s many R&R options.

Moonlight snowshoe tours are available.

continued from page 23


By Terri Hardin

“Where do you see yourself in five years?”It’s the quintessential interview ques-

tion, and in MeetingNews’ most recent survey, weasked that question, and others, and found thatmost meeting planners—corporate, association,and independent—are in it for the long haul.Nearly all planners saw themselves in their jobsin a year’s time; and 81 percent saw themselvesremaining as planners in five years’ time. Andnearly half (49 percent) saw themselves in theirplanning role in 10 years’ time.

Coupled with the fact that 92 percent of survey respon-

dents reported experiencing good to excellent levels of job satisfaction, it would seem,at first, thatthe meeting industry is one big bed of roses.

Looking deeper, however, MN discoveredsome clouds on the horizon, namely, that while78 percent of all twentysometing-to-fortysome-thing planners see themselves in the planningrole in five years’ time, only 59 percent see them-selves as planners in 10 years’ time.

Among planner categories, independent plan-ners expressed the most disaffection, with 73 envi-sioning themselves as planners in five years’ time,and 43 percent making it to the 10-year mark.

Between genders, planners were basically onthe same page at five years, but 15 percent moremen than women were opting out when it cameto the 10-year mark.

Why the falloff? According to Harith Wickrema,adjunct professor of the School of Tourism andHospitality at Temple University and President ofWillow Grove, PA-based Harith Productions,“meeting and event planning is a profession thatdemands continuous passion to succeed. Thosewho get to do various different meetings tend tocontinue, but others who do the same ‘meat-and-potatoes’ meetings tend to change careers.”Wick-rema added,“Students in my classes at Temple areencouraged to work in a related field or in an assis-tant/administrative assistant capacity at anevent/meeting planning company prior tobecoming a full-fledged planner.”

“At least 25 percent of [our] students (out of2,400) are event management majors,” said Deb-orah Breiter, chair of the department of tourism,events, and attractions at the Rosen School ofHospitality Management in Orlando. “Some areinterested in meetings, some in conventions, anda lot are interested in special events. Our market islargely supplier-based, so students work in hotels,theme parks, DMCs, GSCs, etc.”

MaryAnne P. Bobrow, of Bobrow & Associates,based in Citrus Heights, CA, thinks there hasbeen a shift in expectations where planners areexpected to move from logistics to strategic. “Iam often amazed to learn that many plannersnever see organizational financials, nor do theyunderstand or appreciate what they (or theirdepartment) contribute to the bottom-line prof-it of the organization. How can they possiblybecome strategic in their approaches whenthey do not have the tools necessary to graspthe organization’s overall plan?”

Also, only so much about meeting logistics canchange. (After all, as Joan L. Eisenstodt, principalof Washington, DC-based Eisenstodt AssociatesLLC, who has nearly 40 years of industry experi-ence, pointed out,“We are still meeting in facili-ties with chairs in rows.”) Thus, planners who aregoal-oriented and undeterred by the necessaryrepetition are best-suited to the vocation.“I lovethe rush; I love the deadline; I love that the proj-ect has a definite finish date,” said Emily Vandall,who was most recently marketing and event

manager for Charleston, SC-based Force Protec-tion Inc. “I love stepping back when it’s all over,assessing it, and then moving on to the next proj-ect.” For Vandall, her past 10 years of meetingsexperience started with cocktail hours and babyshowers and advanced to million-dollar interna-tional exhibits. The industry, she noted, is “what-ever we make it. It’s a fine line that we walk. Onone hand, we have to fight to be taken seriously.On the other hand, we have to be extremely flex-ible, always happy, and ready for the next

project.”Perhaps the new generation of planners

will come from where they’ve always comefrom—out of the blue. “Fortunately,” said

Karen Brown, of Conferences by Design, in Salis-bury, MD,“we’ve found two very organized peo-ple to take over registration and database manage-ment of our post-conference surveys.We’ve hireda social butterfly who is handling our companionand social networking programs (and leaves eachevent with a whole new set of best friends), andI’ve found a retired school teacher who handlesour speakers and session monitors.”m

Contact Terri Hardin [email protected]

30 MeetingNews August 11, 2008 www.meetingnews.com

MN Exclusive ResearchAre There Enough Planners In The Pipeline?

MNExclusiveResearch

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%0% % 0%1 1 % 20% 2

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%0% 20%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Retention Rates


Do you see yourself as a planner…?In Five Years’ Time

Yes

No

Yes

No

81.2%

72.5%

76.0%

18.8%

24.0%

27.5%

54.0%

53.6%

42.5%

46.0%

46.4%

57.5%

CorporatePlannersAssociationPlannersOtherPlanners

0%0

20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Commitment by Gender


Do you see yourself as a planner…?In Five Years’ Time

Yes67.9%

Yes77.7%

Yes37.3% Yes

52.8%

No62.7%

No32.1% No

22.3%

No47.2%

In 10 Years’ Time

In 10 Years’ Time

Male Female

FemaleMale

18 MeetingNews July 21, 2008 www.meetingnews.com

InternationalBy William Ng

[email protected]

Vieux Fort, St. Lucia—On St. Lucia’ssouthern coast, Coconut Bay BeachResort & Spa has its sights on adven-turous small meeting and incentivegroups. So-called “soft adventures”like zip-lining and ropes courses inthe St. Lucian rainforest canopy, all-terrain-vehicle treks on the coastline,and paintball in an on-site facilityare just some of the teambuildingattractions arranged by the 254-room, all-inclusive resort.

Like most Caribbean resorts,Coconut Bay has traditionallycatered to the leisure market. Butnow that St. Lucia’s airlift has beenbeefed up by American Airlines’thrice weekly nonstop service fromNew York – JFK, the resort sees aready pipeline to corporate meetingsand incentives business of up to 150attendees.

In addition, AA flies direct fromMiami daily, while American Eagleserves St. Lucia from Puerto Ricofive times a day. All flights arrive atHewanorra International Airport,five minutes from the resort.

Coconut Bay sales and marketingdirector Audrey Best notably high-

lighted the property’s plethora ofoutdoor meeting and event spacesduring a recent, three-day mediatour, including a beachfront pavilionthat seats 75 attendees theater-styleand has its own gazebo for breakoutsor receptions of 40. Two pool areas,one of which has an amphitheater,can handle cocktails as well as din-ners in small-round format.

While the pavilion also can handle60-seated diners, planners can takemeals inside by buying out Silk, anAsian-theme restaurant, or Bellagio,the Italian-style eatery next to Silkand adjacent to a lounge that canserve as prefunction/reception space.

For those who prefer docile pur-suits, St. Lucia has memorable sight-seeing, led by the signature twinPiton mountains, which can beviewed from numerous vantagepoints. Groups can bus to SulphurSprings—billed as the world’s onlydrive-in volcano—and nearby Dia-mond Botanic Gardens to take a dipin the waterfalls and mineral baths.

Coconut Bay can further indulgemeeting-goers in its eight-room KaiMer Spa with massages, facials,

steam and aromatherapy, and fullsalon services. Yet, the spa’s “PediPatio” provides pedicures and mas-

sages under palm trees and amidAtlantic Ocean breezes for thosewho want to take it outside.

Coconut Bay Resort Gives Taste Of St. Lucia’s Sweet Outdoors

Coconut Bay Resort attendeescan do ATV tours or sightsee thetown of Soufriere, which offersviews of the Piton mountains, andhave evening cocktails and dinner on the resort’s gazebo.

Mexico Installs Tax Rebate Mexico is reimbursing the sales taxtravelers pay on their visits in hopesof enticing more guest traffic.

Air and sea travelers who spend atleast 1,200 pesos (approx. $116)including sales taxes will get refundsat airport and seaport service cen-ters. The rebate does not apply totaxes on services, such as lodging andfood, and refunds are applicable tocredit or debit card purchases andcash purchases of less than 3,000pesos (approx. $290). Travelers mustsubmit receipts, a rebate request

form, and bank receipts, after whichthey can receive up to half of theirreimbursements in cash and the restvia electronic fund transfers.

Premier Tax Free, Global RefundMexico, and Yvesam RetornosMundiales will carry out the pro-gram, starting in Mexico City, Can-cun, Guadalajara, Los Cabos, andPuerto Vallarta. Around December,it is expected to expand elsewhere.

Park Hyatt Stands Tall in ChinaIn China’s booming hotel industry,where multinational operators have

begun saturating every major citywith properties, what does a branddo to set itself apart? Build the tallesthotel in each of the two biggest cities.

Park Hyatt is going for gold in theskyscraper hotel games with a 174-room property in Shanghai thismonth and the 237-room ParkHyatt Beijing in September.

Not only is Park Hyatt Shanghaideclaring itself the tallest in China, itis claiming the world’s highest withits 79th-to-93rd-floor location in the101-floor Shanghai World FinancialCenter. Corporate executives can

boast of being in the world’s highestboard meetings using three meet-ing/dining/reception rooms on the93rd floor. (Similar but smaller facil-ities are available on the 86th floor.)

In Beijing, the Park Hyatt willhave the city’s highest restaurant, onthe 66th floor, and meetings willsoar in eight boardrooms on the 61stand 62nd floors. Park Hyatt Beijingwill have 25,000 sf of meeting space,led by a 13,000-sf ballroom. Afterhours, attendees will sip wine orcocktails in three bars on the sixthfloor or in the 65th-floor jazz bar. m

Pho

tos:

Will

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By Rayna Katz

In this fifth installment of Chef Talk, MeetingNewsfound its happiest interview subject yet. All of thepreviously profiled chefs unabashedly enjoy theirwork, but there’s an extra spring in our latest culi-nary wizard’s step.

That shouldn’t come as a surprise because he is apastry chef. Who wouldn’t be happy surrounded bychocolate and sugar all day? Clearly, David Ramirez,executive pastry chef at Rosen Shingle Creek, inOrlando, gets delight from concocting desserts, buthe’s taken his work beyond his day job by compet-ing in national pastry tournaments time and again.

Recently, Ramirez’ career as a culinary competi-tor got even sweeter: He’s been tapped—for the firsttime—to participate in an international event. Hetook a break from spinning sugar to talk with MN.

QYou have been tapped to be the captain ofTeam USA in the prestigious World Pastry

Cup. How will this inspire the creations youmake for groups at Rosen Shingle Creek?

AIt’s huge for clients because, in competition, wepush the limits. So, when someone comes in

and asks for something elaborate,these kinds of events make it easi-er for us to fulfill requests.

QAs team captain, have youlearned anything about

preparing a group for an eventthat helps you relate to whatmeeting planners go through?

AMeeting planners’ jobs aredifficult because they have to

juggle so much, in addition tofood and beverage. Hopefully, Itake some of the pressure offthem.

If anything, what I do forclients is take away the scare of theunexpected and then give them something theynever dreamed was possible.

QTo get ready for the World Pastry Cup,which takes place next January, you are

away at practice for one weekend every monththis year. How are you dealing with that as far asthe work that needs to be done at the hotel?

AThe guys in the kitchen all know the situation,and they are really stepping up. They don’t

want to disappoint me. [Ramirez supervises threeassistant pastry chefs and about 20 other employ-ees.] It’s my wife who’s having problems with it!

QYou have appeared on the Food Network.What were those appearances for, and what

did you learn from them?

AThey’ve all been domestic pastry competitions,since 2004. Those experiences taught me to be

creative. They pushed me to limits to which I’dnever been pushed, which makes the day-to-day alot easier because I can come up with better ideas.

QYou often create special treats for variousorganizations. Can you share examples of

what you’ve done and what’s in your arsenal?

AIf you can think of it, I can make it, and I canprobably make it better.A heart-related associ-

ation had an event around thetime of Valentine’s Day, sodoing something with a heartwas obvious, but I wanted todo something more elaborate.We did a white chocolate heartairbrushed in red chocolate,with several elements likechocolate-dipped strawberriesand chocolate roses.

QDo you consult withmeeting and incentive

planners prior to their pro-grams at Rosen ShingleCreek?

AIf they need somethingspecific, sure. Sometimes,

the hotel brings me people who are on the fenceabout booking the hotel, and I’ll let them know thatI can do something that they never thought theycould have in chocolate or sugar.

For example, I was working on a competition witha history theme, and then shortly afterward, a groupcame in with that same theme. So, I had the six-footcenterpiece I’d created the day before with an Amer-ican history theme, and I added the group’s logo.

For DSW [the discount shoe retailer], the plan-ner wasn’t sure if the hotel was the right place forthe group, so I made chocolate shoes, and we gotthe booking. In other words, the shoe fit.

QWhat can planners tell or ask you thatwould be useful?

AKnowing the theme of the event helps me; itsends me in the right direction, and I can real-

ly run with it. Also, if a client can tell me somethingthey liked in the past—or more importantly, didn’tlike—that’s informative. Hearing what they’ve seenbefore and been impressed by is good too.

Q What’s your favorite dessert?

AI have to say a warm chocolate chip cookie.You can’t go wrong with that. mContact Rayna Katz at [email protected]

8 MeetingNews March 24, 2008 www.meetingnews.com

Chef TalkPastry competitions sweeten the deal with dessert chef

David Ramirez

Executive Pastry Chef

Rosen Shingle Creek

Ramirez finishes off a towering sugar creation.

www.meetingnews.com July 7, 2008 MeetingNews 21

Destination Insider: Florida Gulf CoastEdited by Rayna [email protected]

Like most every major destination in North Amer-ica today, all destinations along Florida’s gulf coasthave rolled out marketing plans aimed at customersweary of high fuel prices.

The phrase “one tank trips” has become themantra along the Gulf Coast, most of which hap-pens to be within the one-tank range of the state’sbiggest population and business corridors.

“We are all focusing on those markets that areone-tank trips from our destinations, and we are inthat range both from Miami/Fort Lauderdale andTampa-St. Petersburg (the state’s first and secondlargest metropolitan areas, respectively),” said JackWert, executive director of the Naples, Marco IslandConvention & Visitors Bureau.

Added Norwood Smith, vice president and direc-tor of sales of Tampa Bay & Company (formerly theTampa CVB), “Once you get here, we are a veryfuel-efficient destination. In the downtown areathere are lots of off-site venues to which a visitorcan walk—no transportation required.”

The city’s primary convention hotel, is across thestreet from the Tampa Convention Center, and onecan easily walk from either building to the big Chan-

nelside dining and entertainment complex, with halfa dozen restaurants and bars; or the Florida Aquari-um, one of the largest marine exhibits in the state.

Offering venues and attractions “within walkingdistance,” from convention hotels has become ahuge factor in a destination’s appeal.

“Transportation costs to get people from theirheadquarters hotel to offsite events is probably whatI get asked about most now,” said Roberta Blum,president of Tarpon Springs, FL-based HB Associ-ates, a Tampa Bay area destination managementcompany. “In our area, there is plenty to walk tofrom hotels, both in St. Petersburg and Tampa.”

Other gulf coast cities in Florida have goodoptions “within walking distance” for groups, espe-cially the well-developed beach areas in St. PeteBeach, Sarasota, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel Island,Marco Island, and Naples. All these destinationsfeature big meeting hotels from which one can walkout the back door onto the beach, or hop a shuttleto nearby dining and entertainment venues.

“With no end in sight for this fuel crisis, destina-tions like ours are going to become more soughtafter,” said Blum.

Region Fighting Fuel Costs with Fire Area destinations promote groups’ limited need for ground transportation

Florida Aquarium is an easy venue to use.

QWhat’s the most important thing groups con-sidering Tampa should know right now?

AThat we are undergoing what can genuinely bedescribed as a rebirth downtown, especially with

regard to convention center hotels. The Tampa Mar-riott Waterside Hotel & Marina, our headquartershotel, is undergoing a $12 million upgrade of 618guest rooms and 36 suites that will be completed inDecember; the Hyatt Regency Tampa, within threeblocks of the center, just completed an $11 millionrenovation of all 521 guest rooms; the Howard John-son Plaza Hotel,also in the convention center district,

just did a $4 million upgrade, and a great new facili-ty that will support conventions, a 5,000-sf multi-function space overlooking the river is being addedto the Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk Hotel in August.

QAre you presenting this to meeting plannersas a self-contained convention district now?

AAbsolutely. We emphasize the riverside ambi-ence of the convention center area. We just

completed another section of the Riverwalk thatconnects the convention center with hotels andrestaurants and museums downtown. And we have

three new museums [the Tampa Museum of Art,the Glazer Children’s Museum and the Tampa His-tory Center] all of which are opening near theRiverwalk over the next year or so.

QWith these new facilities, what is your targetaudience now for conventions?

AWe are doing particularly well now with nation-al associations and corporate groups, especially

from the midwest, having opened a new sales officein Chicago, covering 11 states, in the past year. Weare being perceived as a value destination withinFlorida, especially in the off-season.

QAny other events coming soon of which youare particularly proud?

AYeah; the Super Bowl in 2009. You can’t beatthat for validation of your destination’s appeal.

—Section written by Rowland Stiteler

MeetingNews Q&A:

Existing hotels and other venues for groups are renovating while new ones are croppingup along the river in downtown Tampa. MeetingNews found out what it all means forthe destination and its customers from Norwood Smith, vice president and director ofsales of Tampa Bay & Company, the city’s convention and visitors bureau.

On the Tampa Waterfront

Marriott International is increasing its presence inthe city with two new hotels in the Gaslamp Quar-ter. The 12-story, 239-room Residence Inn by Mar-riott will begin construction this summer, with atargeted completion date of early 2009. The proper-ty will feature 8,000 sf of retail space. Nearby, con-

struction on the Marriott Renaissance Hotel will getunder way in the fall. The full-service hotel, set toopen in fall 2010, will have 344 rooms, a 7,500-sfspa, and 7,000 sf of retail space. There will be a6,400-sf ballroom, 4,500 sf of additional meetingspace, and 5,800 sf of prefunction space.


Destination Insider: San DiegoEdited by Lori Morris

[email protected]

Marriott Adds to Its San Diego Offerings

L’Auberge Del Mar Unveils a New LookThis June, the historic L’Auberge Del Mar Resort andSpa will be reborn, thanks to a $25-million property-wide renovation. The hotel, which has been closedsince November, will look like a private coastal estate,with large columns, lush landscaping, and whiteshutters against a green exterior. There will be a newlobby bar with a wine and cheese barista; a new sig-nature modern American restaurant featuring anopen kitchen, outdoor seating, private cabanas, anda wine room; and a new 4,100-sf luxury spa.

All of the property’s 120 guest rooms will bemade over, as will its 12,000 sf of indoor and out-door meeting space. A new, 2,000-sf outdoor areawill serve special events. As part of a new air ofexclusivity, arriving guests will be escorted directlyto their rooms for private check-ins.

Planned new lobby at L’Auberge Del Mar Balboa Theatre Stages Its Grand ReopeningThe Balboa Theatre, a Gaslamp Quarter staple since1924 that has been closed since 1985, made itscomeback on Jan. 31 after a $26-million restoration.Phoenix-based historic restoration and performingarts specialists Westlake Reed Leskosky orchestratedthe three-year renovation.

As part of the venue’s update, state-of-the-artmechanical, electrical, and performance systemswere installed, and the lobby, box office, loading, andpublic areas received makeover and expansion work.The 1,339-seat performance hall features new seat-ing, a new orchestra pit, and carefully restored deco-rative ceilings and walls. The blade sign and marqueewere also recreated. The entire structure is now rein-forced for seismic stability.

The performing arts venue is owned by the city’sRedevelopment Agency and managed by San DiegoTheatres, on behalf of the agency.Along with taking

in music, dance, and dramatic shows, groups canalso take over the facility for meetings and functions.

Fairs, festivals, sports—San Diego has public events that groupscan easily tie into. Following is a sampling of upcoming celebra-

tions that planners can consider:• The nearly 50-acre rainbow ofcolor known as the Flower Fieldsof Carlsbad offers simple beauty.As the ranunculus varieties reachfull bloom from early Marchthrough mid-May, an arts-and-crafts festival will be held duringthe second and third weekends ofApril. Group tours are available.(www.theflowerfields.com)

• It’s been 40 years since the US Open last visited southernCalifornia. This year’s event will take place on the redesigned SouthCourse at La Jolla’s Torrey Pines from June 12-15, marking just thesecond time the Grand Slam event will be played on a municipalcourse. Given Torrey Pines’ dramatic, edge-of-the-ocean layout, evenvisitors in the spectators gallery should be in for a memorable experi-ence. (www.torreypinesgolfcourse.com) • The annual Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, on June 1, mixes running withmusic (on 26 stages), in what amounts to a 26-mile block party fromBalboa Park to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Point Loma. Therewill be a 100-exhibit, pre-race health expo at the San DiegoConvention Center, a cheerleading competition along the course route,and a raucous headliner concert. (www.rnrmarathon.com)

Joining The Celebration Planners can piggyback onto what’s going on across San Diego

The Balboa Theatre’s banner and marqueewere restored to original specifications.

It wasn’t your classic ropes course. And it didn’tlook anything like golf. This was something differ-ent, which was exactly the point. Canon Europewasn’t looking for the traditional Florida team-building activity, but rather an experience thatwould provide an opportunity for its senior salesrepresentatives to forge closer relationships withtheir top clients in a fascinating way.

The company found the perfect solution in theFlorida Backwater Everglades Tour provided byCoral Gables-based Dragonfly Expeditions.“It was-n’t just sitting on an airboat. Instead, you actuallygot in the water and waded through part of theEverglades with a guide. It was invigorating andexciting, but completely safe,”said Rachel Hargrave,director of Leicestershire, England-based PhoenixPartners, which organized the four-day incentivetrip to Miami.

The camaraderie and connection built naturallyas the group of 14 executives headed out into thewilds of the Everglades together. Taking off fromthe Ritz-Carlton, South Beach on the first morningof their incentive trip, the attendees learned aboutthe area from their expert field guide as they droveto the site. Then, everyone stepped into the water—it was nearly waist deep at times—for an hour-longexpedition.

Some of the participants were a little nervous andmight have preferred to stay on the beach, but theylater said that they had done “something they couldtalk to their friends and colleagues about” and

“something they would remember for a long time,”recalled Hargrave.“Others in the group were excep-tionally well-traveled, and Miami hadn’t soundedthat exciting to them.” This tour showed them oth-erwise, she said, adding, “Even in a very famousplace, there is something totally different to do.”

As the first activity of the trip, the adventureturned out to be the icebreaker it was meant to be.“It did exactly what it needed to do,” said Hargrave.It got people, who wouldn’t easily interact, talking

with each other in a comfortable way.“It wasn’t justthe Dutch sales rep talking to the Dutch client, butthe nature-lover talking to the guy who is passion-ate about photography. Those who were nervousabout the whole thing shared their trepidation witheach other,” she explained, and the bonding effectlasted even after the trip was over.“People kept talk-ing about the experience and the great things theyremembered, like the four baby alligators we saw aswe began the hike.” —Heidi Waldrop Bay


Florida Green Guide: Recreation & Teambuilding

Setting An Example

Picture This: Canon Europe Takes Teambuilding Into Everglades’ Backwaters

Ranger-Led Tours Return to Everglades After several years in hiatus, Everglades NationalPark is once again offering customized group expe-riences. A private, ranger-led tour can be arrangedfor a minimum of 15 people and can be as simple asa guided walk along a park trail or as involved as apresentation on a particular environmental issue.Groups can request a talk on endangered wildlifeand issues with non-native species, such as theBurmese python. Another option is a talk on thewater issues of the park and of South Florida,explaining the restoration project under way toreturn the region to its natural watershed patterns,which were first disturbed in the early 1900s by theconstruction of canals. For more information, con-

tact Special Programs Park Ranger Jenny Guerra,(305) 242-7898.

Get Your Peanut Island! Peanut Island, an 86-acre park in the IntracoastalWaterway near Palm Beach, recently completed athree-year, $13-million restoration project thatincluded expanding amenities and better preserv-ing the area’s marine and plant life. New amenitiesinclude swimming platforms, floating docks, asnorkeling lagoon, and Seminole Indian-style chic-kee huts. Peanut Island, which is accessible only byboat, is equipped with a dock and anchorage. Otherfacilities include picnic and beach areas, restrooms,showers, 20 overnight camping sites, and a muse-um featuring a nuclear bomb shelter built in theearly 1960s for President John F. Kennedy, who rou-tinely vacationed in the area. (www.pbcgov.com)

An incentive planner called the Florida Backwater Everglades Tour “invigorating, but safe.”

Everglades National Park



Florida Green Guide: Sustainable F&BEdited by Elizabeth West

[email protected]

Banquets and beverage breaks of yesterday, wherethe most consideration given to environmentalpreservation was the recycling of bottles and cans,are long gone. Today’s food and beverage eventshave tomorrow—and beyond—in mind, as meet-ing planners and hotel staffs in the Sunshine Stategive the subject some overdue attention.

“We can’t ignore this topic any longer, and excus-es are running thin for not being responsible withour food, the way we are cooking and growing it,and how we decide to eat it,” said Justin Timineri,executive chef and culinary ambassador for theFlorida Department of Agriculture and ConsumerServices, and former head chef for large-scaleevents such as NASCAR races and PGA golf tour-naments. “From a chef ’s point of view, there isn’t

too much difference between home preparationand large banquets, so making change is totallydoable. But you have tostart asking the questionsand want to get it done.”

For meeting planners,however, beginning theseconversations, and know-ing what questions to ask,can be daunting. Buzz-words such as “green,”“organic,” and “sustain-able,” certainly have theindustry’s attention, butwhat exactly that lexiconmeans—and what itmeans for events—canleave planners bemused.

According to Al Rosas,former food and beveragedirector for such hotel brands as Marriott, Hilton,and Ritz-Carlton, and current owner of an organicfarm in Citra, FL, they’re all important topics, but interms of environmental responsibility, it’s sustain-ability that planners should be asking about.“Organic is great; I love it,” he enthused. “But sus-tainability is the big-picture focus, and it’s wheremeeting planners, hotels, and resorts need to puttheir efforts right now.”

But what does sustainable mean? As defined by

Sustainable Table, a New York-based nonprofitorganization dedicated to the subject, it is the pro-duction of a commodity that “can be created repeat-edly without generating negative environmentaleffects, without causing waste products to accumu-late as pollution, and without compromising the

well-being of workers orcommunities.”For Rosas,that means thinkingabout the earth like a bigbank account: Is whatyou are consumingreducing what’s left?

It’s NaturalA good approach forplanners to take is tothink about locavorism,or the consumption oflocally grown foods, andin Florida, planners willfind a bounty of re-sources—making formeals that are fresher and

healthier. Beyond oranges and grapefruits, there aremore than 200 freshly grown commodities through-out the state, including zucchini, potatoes, squash,tropical fruits, and seafood such as stone crab,grouper, and shrimp. That translates into excitingmenu options, said Timineri, like “Florida TomatoOrange Marmalade,”“Drop Red Gorgeous Tiramisu”(made from local strawberries), and even “Gator TailPicadillo.” Chef Rosas also encourages planners to

Food for ThoughtTaking a sustainable approach to F&B events in Florida is easier than you think

Nature’s Bounty: Chef Justin Timineri sug-gests holding events at restaurants thatmaintain their own gardens—like this oneat JW Marriott Grande Lakes’ Primo eatery.

“Organic is great;I love it. But

sustainability isthe big-picture focus,

and it’s where meetingplanners, hotels, and

resorts need to put theirefforts right now. ”—Al Rosas, organic farm owner, former food

and beverage director for Marriott, Hilton,and Ritz-Carlton

Planners who want to achieve more sustainable food and beverage events can inquire with theirsuppliers to see if any of these best practices, suggested by the Florida Green Lodging

Program, are in effect. Check out www.treeo.ufl.edu/greenlodging for the full list.¦ Locate outside ice-makers under cover and in shaded areas¦ Do not preheat steam tables, grills, broilers, etc.¦ Reuse water not consumed at events to hydrate plants¦ Begin a composting program¦ Recycle oil and grease¦ Create a food waste reduction policy for scraps, such as donation to a food bank¦ Use washable hats and aprons instead of disposable ones¦ Offer half-sized portions¦ Avoid overpackaging take-out food items¦ Use bulk straws instead of individually wrapped ones¦ Switch to glass cups, saucers, and cloth napkins

Turning Passion Into Practice


www.meetingnews.com February 25, 2008 MeetingNews 21

Insider Report: Spa MeetingsEdited by Lori [email protected]

When Denise Swanson was planning a worldwidesales meeting for 250 last year, she didn’t want justanother boardroom or ballroom setting.

“People in sales spend most of their timeindoors,”said Swanson, senior sales coordinator formedical device manufacturer Intuitive Surgical. “Iwanted to get them outside for a workout.”

The Red Rock Casino Resort Spa in Las Vegasprovided the perfect opportunity. Through theresort’s Adventure Spa, Swanson organized groupoutings for mountain biking, hiking, horseback rid-ing, and traditional spa treatments. Red RockResort also offers river rafting adventures, kayaktours, and indoor and outdoor rock climbing.

Adventure spas are popping up throughout theStates for leisure and group travelers who need a lit-tle more action to cut the traditional take-it-easyapproach. Some of these adventure spas have sin-gular focus, while other—more indulgence-oriented—facilities are incorporating some prettystrenuous activities into their menus.

“Companies are increasingly looking to blendthe outdoors with the indoors for an adventuroustwist to their meetings,” said Denise Perkins, direc-tor of sales and marketing for Red Mountain Spa inSt. George, UT, which opened the Red Mountain

Conference Center last April to meet the risingnumber of meeting groups coming to the property.“They want to see what they can do for employeesthat benefits their health and gives them somethingto take away,” she said. In this case, according toPerkins, the takeaway is a renewed confidenceresulting from being challenged by the activitiesand inspired by the outdoor settings. “Guests leavehere with validation and a sense of accomplishmentthat they take back to the office.”

Perkins has seen this desire for something moreactive from corporate groups of all kinds, havingorganized programs for organizations rangingfrom ExxonMobil, to State Farm Insurance, to PaulMitchell. The spa’s largest markets—California,New York, and Illinois—tend to be where corporateculture is most prevalent.

“The business climate is stressful,” Perkins said.“We offer a place where they can take a deep breathand escape from the sensory overload.” To thateffect, the resort asks groups to leave their suits athome and bring only comfortable attire for theinvigorating environment. As part of Red Moun-tain Spa’s “Climb to ‘Spa’cess” package, groups willparticipate not only in outdoor activities, but willbenefit from more traditional spa breaks like the

popular “Bye-Bye BlackBerry Break,” which offershand massages and berry smoothies to make theoffice seem far, far away.

Meeting and Incentive Groups Seeking Out Active Endeavors Adventure spas stimulate the mind and body for more successful and memorable group programs

Health and wellness are on the minds—and bal-ance sheets—of many a corporation, thanks to rising health-care costs. Meetings planners may findthemselves playing a role in the solution, and spa resorts aiming corporate wellness programs at

groups are banking on it.Jessica Faulkner, sales manager and certified

instructor at the Chopra Center for Wellbeing at La Costa Resort and Spa, in Carlsbad, CA, said sheconstantly works on such programs. This month,Cox Communications will convene at La Costa,and Faulkner is organizing wellness presentations,yoga and meditation classes, Ayurveda discussions,and massage sessions. A president from anotherprominent company who brought Chopra Centerinstructors to his own facility to run a three-daymeditation course has since noted increased effi-ciency, balance, and communication amongemployees—so much so that he now offers ChopraCenter programs as a corporate benefit.

Sue Butterfield, spa director at the Sagamore, inLake George, NY, sees the same trend.“Not only are

groups looking for spa treatments,” she said, “butother offerings that motivate and inspire theiremployees to live a healthier and more mindfullifestyle.” Such needs are met at the Sagamore Spathrough group meditations, hand-drumming work-shops, yoga classes, aromatherapy, and wellness fairsthat offer guidance on healthy living strategies. Thefacility has introduced the Crystalline Conscious-ness Technique, a system in human potential thatfocuses an individual’s energy.

It’s true, though, that taking groups on corpo-rate wellness retreats means time away from theoffice. According to the American Journal ofHealth Promotion, however, each dollar that com-panies spend on wellness programs for employeesyields a return of up to $10 in improved produc-tivity, less medical claims, and reduced absen-teeism. Faulkner sums up the idea: “It helpsemployees learn to be the best they can be.”

Less easygoing jaunts: Mountain biking andhiking trips typify adventure spa offerings.

Just breathe: Spa retreats boost productivity?

Corporate Wellness Retreats Reinvigorate Employees

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With the opening of its latest addition, the Reef, theAtlantis resort on Paradise Island, Bahamas, takesamenities and service to new levels, according toAtlantis’ senior VP of sales, Jamie Bruce.

The Reef, which debuted on Dec. 19, is the finalcomponent of Atlantis’ latest expansion project,which saw the property’s existing conference facili-ty double in size to 200,000 sf and the opening ofthe resort’s first beachfront accommodations, theCove, in April. With the Reef ’s 497 rooms and theCove’s 600 rooms, the Atlantis and its satellite prop-erties (including the nearby One&Only Ocean Cluband Harborside Resort townhouses) now have atotal of more than 3,400 rooms on Paradise Island.

“This is a much more modern product, and lessthemed. It ties in with the rest of Atlantis, but it’s

much more high-end,” said Bruce, adding that theReef will appeal primarily to family-based incen-tives, for which the resort has seen increaseddemand.

Like the Cove, the Reef is an oceanfront hotel tow-ering 22 stories high. All rooms have kitchens, livingareas with sofa beds,and ocean views.One-bedroomsuites also have washers and dryers and can be linkedwith adjoining rooms to create two-bedroom suites.

Atlantis is joining with the Bahamas governmentand the emerging Baha Mar development in Nas-sau—which will have 200,000 sf of meetingspace—to market the Bahamas to groups and lobbyairlines for increased airlift, said Bruce. “Havinggrowth in high-end resorts only builds the status ofthe destination to the next level,” he said.

30 MeetingNews February 11, 2008 www.meetingnews.com

Destination Insider: Island IncentivesEdited by Elizabeth West

[email protected]

Atlantis Goes Fishing for Incentive BusinessDecember debut of the Reef finishes resort’s meeting space, room expansion

Westin & Roco Ki ReshapeDominican Republic Scene

The Dominican Republic, known for its budget all-inclusive properties operated mostly by Spanishhotel companies, has not typically been top-of-mind for most incentive planners. But a new luxury enclave on 2,700 acres near Punta Cana isstarting to attract serious notice, in large partbecause the centerpiece of the project is a Westinhotel with more than 300 guest rooms and a NickFaldo-designed championship golf course.

The first phase of the Roco Ki project will debutthis spring, although the first nine holes of the par-72 golf course opened last month. The Westin RocoKi Beach & Golf Resort will open in Septemberwith 337 rooms and a 20,000-sf conference center.

“Our 9,000-sf Flamenco Terrace will be anincredible open-air venue overlooking the 18thhole [of the golf course], with ocean and sunset vis-tas,” said David Krech, director of sales and market-ing. Other property features will be an 11,500-sfspa, six restaurants, and a water sports center.

Krech said the Dominican Republic—which alsowill add a Ritz-Carlton in Cap Cana and a FourSeasons in La Romana in the next few years—“hascaptured the eyes of planners who previouslyviewed it as primarily a family destination.”

Group business at the Westin is expected to beprimarily incentives. The novelty factor plays a rolein early interest in Roco Ki, but Krech said theDominican Republic has advantages like excellentairlift, a service-oriented culture, and a new roadsystem that will improve travel in the 20-mile stretchbetween Punta Cana International Airport and theresort area.m —Section written by Bob Curley

Atlantis gets even bigger, with its new property called the Reef.

New face of Dominican Republic starts toshow its affinity to incentives.

Meetings, conventions, and incentives now repre-sent more than 10 percent of bookings at SandalsResorts properties in the Caribbean, and companyofficials are hoping that its new Luxury Includedservices will attract even more high-end groupbusiness.

John Lynch, Sandals’ executive VP for worldwidesales, said meeting and incentive planners beganapproaching the company about a decade ago forgroup bookings at its all-inclusive properties. “Wealmost fell into [the group business],” said Lynch.

The company responded by adding conferencefacilities at most of its resorts, and since the late1990s, Sandals’ meetings business has roughly dou-

bled each year, Lynch said. The Luxury Includedconcept, introduced in October, raises the bar,offering an array of services like personal butlers,exclusive dining options, and new guest suites withprivate plunge pools and Jacuzzis. The first 180 ofthese high-end suites were added as the newMediterranean Village at the Sandals GrandeAntigua Resort & Spa.

As part of a $200-million initiative, such addi-tions are planned at Sandals resorts in Jamaica,St. Lucia, and the Bahamas—for a price, of course.“We’re not as inexpensive as some other brands,”said Lynch, but “we haven’t priced ourselves out ofthe ballpark, either.”

Sandals All-Inclusives Woo Groups with Luxe Amenities

The Gainesville Visitors and Convention Bureauis hosting the meeting using local conference-devel-opment funding. Roland Loog, the bureau’s execu-tive director, said that the timeliness and high levelof interest in the issue—especially in the wake ofGovernor Charlie Crist’s mandate that all govern-ment meetings be held at facilities certified by thestate’s Green Lodging Program—prompted theinvestment.

“The conference will focus on how-to’s,” saidLoog. “We’re not going to lecture people on howaltruistic this is, but we will focus on what they cando in the front and back of the house to create asmaller carbon footprint” and attain the state’sgreen certification, he said.

“Our biggest meetings market is the governmentmarket,” added Loog, who predicted that it won’tbe long before more corporations and associationsstart requiring higher environmental standardsfrom hotels and meeting facilities. “We’re trying toget our industry ahead of the curve.”

For more information on the Green Hotels Con-ference, go to www.visitgainesville.com or callRoland Loog or Nancy Fisher at (866) 778-5002.

—Bob Curley

Broward County Convention CenterLooking to Become a LEED-er The Broward County Convention Center hasannounced plans to join similar facilities in Pitts-burgh, Portland, OR, and a handful of other citiesthat have received certification from the U.S. GreenBuilding Council’s Leadership in Energy and Envi-ronmental Design (LEED) program.

The Fort Lauderdale-area convention center ishoping to attain LEED Silver certification in 2008(LEED awards four levels of certification: Certified,Silver, Gold, and Platinum). The SMG-managedfacility has installed a reflective roof surface and a“reduced-bleed” cooling tower system that hasreduced freshwater consumption by 10 million gal-lons annually. It also has put in automatic-flush toi-lets in all restrooms, replaced a glass curtain wallwith a special energy-saving glass that reduces elec-tricity consumption during the daytime, converted to energy-efficient lighting fixtures, and put inmotion sensors that shut off lights when rooms areunoccupied.

“With plans to build a LEED-certified conventioncenter hotel, and additional eco-friendly measuresbeing implemented, Greater Fort Lauderdale islooking to not only protect natural habitats like theEverglades and mangrove preserves, but positivelyimpact the environment and serve as an example forother organizations throughout the destination,”said Nicki Grossman, president of the Greater FortLauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Mark Gatley, regional general manager of theBroward County Convention Center, said thatwhile it will be a “tall order” to achieve LEED certi-


Florida Green Guide: Facility Initiatives

The Orange County Convention Center contributes about one-third of the city’s economicimpact of meetings and conventions groups, according to Orlando’s CVB, which estimates

the meetings industry’s total impact on the city in 2006 at about $3.87 billion, based on3.959 million visitors staying at least one night for a meeting or convention.

While the OCCC has taken major steps to become greener (see p. 23 for details), 33Orlando hotels have received Green Lodging designation from the state of Florida, includingseveral leading convention hotels like the Rosen Centre and Rosen Plaza and the EmbassySuites Orlando International Drive/Convention Center.

“There is a tremendous amount of green resources and activities in Orlando—and these aregrowing daily,” said Tammi Runzler, VP of convention sales for the Orlando CVB. “We havedeveloped an internal task force charged with keeping our convention sales and servicesteam educated about all of Orlando’s green options to help guide planners toward the products

and offerings that are right for them.”A variety of establishments around Orlando

offer eco-tours, which offer a look at the state’snatural wonders, including a guided canoe orkayak tour along Shingle Creek. Offered byRitz-Carlton, Orlando, the tour lets groups seealligators, bald eagles, ospreys, and barredowls in their natural habitat.

Other outside organizations that the CVB rec-ommends include Green-Up Orlando, whichencourages groups to plant trees and shrubs,beautify neighborhoods, raise public awarenessand pride in Orlando, and promote the benefitsof volunteer efforts in partnership with the city.

—Phillip Hennessey

Green on the Scene: Orlando

Orlando has lots of options for greenmeetings, from convention properties,to eco-tours, to volunteer programs.

Hilton Univ. of Florida Conference Center courts governement meetings with sustainability.



fication this year, impetus for creating a greenerfacility is coming from several quarters, includingcustomers, state and local governments, and SMG’sown desire to increase efficiency and contribute toa cleaner environment.

“For a new building, it’s easier when you’re startingfrom scratch.When you’re retrofitting, there’s a lot ofthings involved, but the company is committed todoing this as quickly as budget will allow,”said Gatley.

The David Lawrence Convention Center in Pitts-

burgh, another SMG-managed property, becamethe first LEED-certified convention center in theUnited States in 2003. —Bob Curley


TThe state’s northeastern hub boasts thelargest urban park system in the coun-

try, with more than 110,000 acres, pro-viding groups with a wealth of naturalmeeting opportunities.

Options promoted by Visit Jacksonvilleinclude eco-friendly Segway tours of LittleTalbot Island State Park by EcoMotionTours, as well as guided kayak excursionsby Kayak Amelia, a company committed toprotecting and respecting the natural sur-roundings and plant and animal life.

Lyndsay Rossman, a spokesperson forVisit Jacksonville, has noticed an increas-ing trend among meeting planners visitingthe city looking not only for such eco-tourism options, but also for hotels andmeeting facilities that are dedicated toprotecting and preserving the city’s largenatural environment.

“We’re definitely noticing that there’s atrend and that this is becoming more pop-ular,” said Rossman. “People are reallyconcerned about the environment andwant to make sure that when they arehosting events, they are minimizing theirimpact.”

Two properties, the Crowne PlazaJacksonville Riverfront and the HyattRegency Jacksonville Riverfront, receivedFlorida’s Green Lodging designation basedon conservation, recycling practices,environmental purchasing, pollution pre-vention, and other criteria.

“With Green Lodging-certified hotels,”said Rossman, “we’ll be able to gain moremeetings and more exposure forJacksonville’s [travel] industry as awhole.” —Phillip Hennessey

Green on the Scene:Jacksonville

Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfrontis one of the city’s two Green Lodging-certified properties.

Broward County CC’s LEED initiative is part ofSMG’s goal to reduce eco-impact of facilities.

University Town Center, a mixed-use developmentapproved by Sarasota lawmakers last year and nowunder construction, is the latest large-scale projectin Florida to incorporate green construction anddesign techniques intended to minimize sprawl andenvironmental impact.

The mixed-use residential and commercial proj-

ect will feature 1,750 homes, 1.7 million sf of retailspace—including a large shopping mall—threehotels, a supermarket, and a movie theater. Certifiedby the Florida Green Building Coalition, the projectwill include a trolley system running on an alterna-tive fuel, 60 acres of conservation land and walkingpaths, parks, preferred parking for alternative-fuel

vehicles and bicycles, and buildings with green roofsthat accommodate gardening and recreation.

In West Palm Beach, adjacent to the Palm BeachCounty Convention Center, the already-openedCityPlace is cited as “one of the best” models ofhigh-density, reduced-impact development by TimCenter, executive director of the Coalition for a Sus-

tainable Florida.The 72-acre develop-

ment in downtownWest Palm Beach,which is designed toresemble a town centerof an Italian city,includes 586 privateresidences, 600,000 sf ofretail space, 17 restau-rants, a theater and cin-ema complex, andplans for a 375-roomWestin hotel next to theconvention center.

Florida is home tosix developments thatare named CertifiedAudubon CooperativeSanctuaries, includingthe 3,000-residentBonita Bay property inBonita Springs. Mean-

while, real estate developer St. Joe Company is oftencited as a leader in green development: The compa-ny’s WaterColor Inn in Santa Rosa Beach has beencertified as part of the Florida Green Lodging pro-gram, while the surrounding WaterColor develop-ment includes hiking and biking paths and pre-

University Town Center in Sarasota, debuting in 2009, is followingin the environmental footsteps of other Florida mixed-use projects.

Mixed-Use Projects Set Environmental Examples Sarasota’s University Town Center is Florida’s latest green development


Florida Green Guide: Facility Initiatives


Rich Prestia Portfolio

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