la-tourismLetting its action speak loudly about the importance of meetings and events, the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board (L.A. Tourism) has launched a meetings-specific website. The new meetLA.com is designed to be a one-stop shop for meeting planners seeking to conduct business in Los Angeles.

“L.A. Tourism understands the importance of the meetings industry and we’ve taken detailed measures to create a website that truly reflects a planner’s interests and desires,” said Darren K. Green, senior vice president of sales at the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board. “meetLA.com is designed to ensure we connect with, and provide an engaging platform for, all generations of the meeting community.”

The top features of the L.A. Tourism website include the ability to locate and compare venues. The website will allow planners to filter hotels, unique event spaces and the Los Angeles Convention Center based on number of attendees, meeting room totals and amount of meeting space required, plus specific regions within the city. Planners may also compare selected venues, obtaining detailed descriptions and room specifications.

There’s an interactive map that is handy for planners and attendees. It will be integrated with Google maps, displaying selected venue locations, estimated distances, nearby attractions and public transportation routes.

Los Angeles has become a hot spot for citywide conventions, with 33 on the books for next year. The total is the most for L.A. Tourism since 2001. Looking ahead, 2017 also looks to be a major year as bookings approach 350,000 estimated hotel room nights as a result of even larger citywide conventions than in 2016.

Mobile friendly, the website allows planners to contact the L.A. Tourism sales team by simply clicking on the phone number to call or email address to send a message. Planners can expect up-to-date content to stay informed about new and renovated hotels, group dining, green meetings and airport options.

Smart Meetings loves to hear from our meetings industry friends who reach out to us all the time to let us know their latest news, ranging from the renovation of hotels and resorts to website upgrades aimed at meeting professionals.

This holiday season, we thought we’d share a few community outreach projects to inspire you and answer the question: What are you doing to give back? Please email us photos and your stories so we can show the many ways the meetings and events industry gives back, especially during the holiday season. We’ll be tweeting your news at #MeetingsGiveBack.

Sheraton Seattle Raises $85,000 for Juvenile Diabetes

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Sheraton Seattle Hotel  raised a record $85,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund (JDRF) during its 23rd annual Gingerbread Village from Nov. 23 through Jan. 3. The Sheraton welcomed more than 150,000 visitors and set an all-time high for money generated by the event. Proceed benefit the Northwest chapter of JDRF. The event included the presentation of a Providence Hospital O’Christmas Tree, the 31st annual Senior Holiday Party and the 63rd annual Tim & Dan Watts Guild Santa Breakfasts.

“The holiday season at the Sheraton brings out the charitable spirit in everyone,” said Keri Robinson, general manager at Sheraton Seattle. “We are so lucky to have a staff and generous partners that are so dedicated to donating their time and efforts to the community, and it’s an honor to be a part of a hotel that is so devoted to ensuring the holidays are memorable for all.”

Six local architecture firms and trade associations teamed up with the Sheraton Seattle Hotel’s culinary staff to design, bake and build the village creations. Guests who visited Gingerbread Village also caught a glimpse of the hotel’s holiday tree, complete with lightsabers, which was purchased at the Providence Hospital O’Christmas Tree auction to benefit Providence Senior and Community Services who provide health care, housing and supportive services to people in the Puget Sound area.

 

Wagstaff Donates to Food Banks

food-driveOur friends at Wagstaff Worldwide are giving back this holiday season by donating to seven different organizations that help feed hungry people. The Wagstaff campaign includes outreach to large cities and smaller communities, including donations to Los Angeles Food Bank, San Francisco-Marin Food Bank and Aspen Food Pantry/Lift-Up.

Wagstaff handles public relations for some of the top meeting resorts in the United States, such as The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs and Sun Valley Resort in Idaho.

 

Paragon Events Annual Charity Drive

paragon-events

Paragon Events uses an annual charity drive to give back. With offices in Orlando, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Richmond, Virginia, and Pittsburgh, Paragon Events staff members have selected their favorite charities and encourage their clients and website visitors to vote for their favorite.

Each charity receives a donation, but the one with the most votes gets the largest donation. Charities include Caps for Kids, for youth diagnosed with cancer, Adopt-A-Family of the Palm Beaches and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Click here to vote.

Greater Madison CVB Shows Heart

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(MADISON, WI) As we enter the heart of the Holiday season, the staff at the Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) and Madison Area Sports Commission (MASC) want to remind you to keep those Big Bundle Up donations coming in. Deb Archer President and CEO of the GMCVB and MASC and staff donned red gloves to form heart hands. Archer says it’s a great symbol to remind us why they have supported Big Bundle Up since it began 5 years ago.

“Supporting the Big Bundle Up speaks to our core value of being good stewards by helping out citizens in our Greater Madison community,” says Archer. “We have our heart in the right place.”

Archer and her colleagues will put those gloves to more good use by donating every pair to this year’s campaign. Our Madison office at 615 East Washington Avenue has already collected 92 items. Those coats, gloves, hats and other warm items will go to people who really need it in the Madison community.

Last year the GMCVB collected more than 210 warm articles of clothing for the state campaign. This year the state expects to eclipse the 50,000 donation mark. It’s not too late to help! The GMCVB lobby will accept donations up till Noon, December 23rd, 2015.

Don’t wait! Give those in need something warm and heartfelt. Give to the Big Bundle Up!

super-bowl-50A lot of people who live in the San Francisco Bay Area have vowed to stay away from The City during all the festivities taking place in conjunction with the 50th Super Bowl on Feb. 7 at Levi’s® Stadium down the road in Santa Clara. I believe that it’s a better time than ever to see how streets and attractions are being turned into Super Bowl hot spots to celebrate the big game coming to Northern California.

Our friends from Sonoma County Tourism are bringing wine country to the masses. As one of the destination sponsors of the Super Bowl 50 Host Committee, Sonoma County is setting up a huge tasting room at the Ferry Building on San Francisco’s scenic waterfront. Taste of Sonoma Lounge will offer tastings from more than 50 Sonoma wineries.

While local winemakers will be showcasing their extraordinary varietals, Sonoma County will also call attention to its quest to become the first wine region in the country dedicated to 100 percent sustainable production by 2019. By the way, wine will be available for purchase and shipping .

Super Bowl City

Sonoma County’s participation is one of many events to check out at Super Bowl City. As a way to celebrate the Bay Area hosting the Super Bowl, a fan-friendly village will be open to the public Jan. 30-Feb. 7. Centered in Justin Herman Plaza, across from the Ferry Building, Super Bowl City’s primary purpose is to display the best of the Bay Area, from wine to technology to an awesome NFL history.

Technology will certainly be a focus, with a special area set up just for this Bay Area specialty. Fan Energy Zone will have three different tech sections to highlight interactive gaming, social media and date visualizations.

Team San Jose is participating in several ways, including having a pavilion at Super Bowl City. There are 66 Bay Area Super Communities that have united to show the world just how cool the region is.

The San Jose space at Super Bowl City will feature cultural performances, musical acts and interactive exhibits only found in San Jose. The organizations and businesses that will be on hand at the San Jose pavilion include the San Jose Quilts and Textiles Museum, Silicon Valley Ballet and The Tech Shop.

“San Jose’s presence in Super Bowl City is a tremendous opportunity to promote our destination to visiting fans and locals who may not know all that our city has to offer,” says Karolyn Kirchgesler, CEO of Team San Jose.

NFL Experience

The NFL Experience will take over Moscone Center, providing another opportunity to see how a major venue is being used for a major event. This ticketed event ($35 for adults) will feature interactive games, the one-and-only Vince Lombardi Trophy  and a football field for kids to play.

Around the Bay

In downtown San Jose, there will be a craft beer festival at Plaza de Cesar Chavez Jan. 29-Feb. 7. The historic downtown park also will have an information center and a mini-football field for informal games. At night, there will be illuminated artwork and live music, creating a hang-out zone a little closer to the Big Game.

Santana Row, a special shopping, dining and nightlife district in San Jose, will feature live music in parks and plazas from Feb. 4-7.

Choose Chicago

Don Welsh, CEO of Choose Chicago, is leaving his post to head Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI). He has been named president and CEO of the Washington DC-based tourism organization.

“After a thorough search process that included a stellar group of candidates, we are thrilled that Don has accepted this position,” stated Bob Lander, chairman of DMAI board of directors and CEO of Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We are confident that he will lead DMAI in becoming the premier trade association for destination marketing organizations both in the U.S. and globally.”

Welsh has more than 35 years of experience in the tourism industry. Before he headed Choose Chicago, which has undergone financial setbacks in the last year, Welsh was CEO of Seattle Convention & Visitors Bureau and Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association. He also served at Westin Hotels, Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and MGM Grand Hotel Casino in Las Vegas.

“I am incredibly proud of what the Choose Chicago team and Chicago’s visitor industry have accomplished in just five years. Chicago is experiencing an unprecedented travel boom that promises to deliver immense economic benefits,” said Welsh.

While this is a bittersweet day for me and my family, I remain 100 percent confident in the Choose Chicago leadership team to continue to move this industry forward. Opportunities such as this don’t come along often, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity. I share Bob’s vision to elevate DMAI to the next level and I look forward to working alongside my global counterparts in one of the fastest growing segments within the global economy.”

DMAI is a professional organization that represents destination marketing organizations and convention and visitor bureaus around the world. It provides resources for more than 4,200 destination professionals from more than 600 locations in approximately 15 countries.

The mega-event that has unfolded on the San Francisco waterfront, called Super Bowl City, brings the Bay Area’s rich history, culture and specialties to the masses as well as letting locals feel like they are getting to experience the big game.

“We are extremely lucky to have Super Bowl 50 in the San Francisco Bay Area,” says Joe D’Alessandro, president and CEO of San Francisco Travel. “The competition among cities to host the game is fierce.  And once a city does have the Super Bowl, they can’t wait to bring it back.  Use whatever football analogies you like, San Francisco will score big with Super Bowl 50.”

On Sunday afternoon, I got to feel the rhythm of San Jose’s rich Mexican heritage by visiting the Team San Jose exhibitions set up on Market Street, three blocks from the Embarcadero. The Calpulli Tonalehqueh Aztec dancers and drummer were entertaining and made a great photo op, but the performance also served as a reminder of the cultural melting pot that is San Jose.

The City Stage featured the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, which delivered praise-worthy harmonies and messages. I felt like I went to church, at least for a few minutes, and it was inspirational to step away from football to hear the choir bring it.

The City Stage

The main stage is a key venue of Super Bowl City, which stretches about seven blocks, with Market Street forming a T with the Embarcadero. To open the nine-day run of Super Bowl City, Chris Isaak performed on Saturday night. The Band Perry is scheduled to take the stage on Thursday night and Alicia Keys will be the headliner on Saturday, the night before the Super Bowl.

The concerts are free along with entry into the Super Bowl-themed village. There are lots of interactive games, including a tower with colored lights that are powered by stationary bikes. There’s also a zipline, which reflects the Bay Area’s adventurous side. As for technology, there are plenty of tech-centric attractions, but of particular note are the Wi-Fi coaches strolling around to help people get on the free Wi-Fi network available throughout Super Bowl City.

Super Bowl Security

The village is heavily guarded, with fully-armed police officers and special agents protecting all entrances and perimeters. I also spotted guards atop surrounding high-rise hotels, so clearly local and national law enforcements are on high alert.

All village entrances are set up with metal detectors. The lines weren’t too bad on Sunday afternoon, and it actually did make me feel safe, even if armed guards holding major weaponry was a  little alarming at first.

Taste of Sonoma

Sonoma County is the very proud official wine sponsor of Super Bowl 50. This fact is not taken lightly, as Sonoma has traditional been considered a step-sister of sorts to world renowned Napa Valley.

Along the Embarcadero, across from the Ferry Building, Sonoma County Tourism has set up an indoor tasting room, which features at least a dozen wineries each day. More than 50 wineries will be pouring their specialties throughout the Super Bowl City festival. I went directly to the whites, where I got a chance to meet the grandson and great granddaughters of the Robert Young Estate Winery founder.

To hear the story of how their family went from prune farming to grapes to making their estate wine was very interesting and shed light on yet another Bay Area specialty. Sonoma County Tourism has really done a great job bringing Wine Country to the Super Bowl.

Cheers to Super Bowl City, a vivid  example of a few of the possible experiences available for meetings and events held in the San Francisco Bay Area.

phildelphia-cvbJack Ferguson may have stepped down as president and CEO of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) this year, but his contributions to the city’s events industry will be long lasting. He will be honored by a scholarship for minority meeting professionals.

PHLDiversity, a business development division of the CVB, has partnered with the Philadelphia Area Chapter of Meeting Professionals International to create the Jack P. Ferguson Scholarship. Ferguson helped cultivate Philadelphia’s diverse conventions industry and championed the inclusion of the city’s minority business communities in major events.

jack-ferguson-image-for-post“As diversity and inclusion is ingrained in the PHLCVB culture and essential to the work the organization does, I am honored to have my name on this scholarship,” Ferguson says.

Julie Coker Graham took over for Ferguson in January. She is the only female African American president and CEO to lead a major convention and visitors bureau that ranks among the top 50 domestic markets.

The Philly MPI chapter will fund the first year of the scholarship, which will be used to send a multicultural PAMPI member to the annual MPI World Education Conference, where the meeting professional have the opportunity to keep up with the latest industry trends and receive continuing education credits. World Education Conference will take place in Atlantic City June 11-14, 2016.

Philadelphia Diversity

Ferguson helped Philadelphia land the 2014 National Society of Hispanic MBAs Conference and Career Expo, 2014 Asian American Hotel Owners Association Convention & Trade Show and 2015 National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Convention.

“As president and CEO of the PHLCVB, Jack Ferguson has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to diversity” says Greg DeShields, executive director of PHLDiversity. “His legacy and the Jack P. Ferguson Scholarship will inspire future leadership to continue his work.”

Members from the MPI Philadelphia chapter in good standing can apply for the scholarship by March 15.  Visit www.pampi.org for more information. The recipient will be notified by April 15.

Dengue Fever Outbreak

Hawaii Island Mayor Billy Kenoi declared a state of emergency this week regarding reports of dengue fever. Since last October, more than 250 people have tested positive for the mosquito-borne disease. Despite the high number of confirmed cases, Hawaii Tourism Authority and Hawaii State Department of Health have stated that travel plans to the islands should not be impacted. There is only one case that is currently considered infectious.

“Travelers should not be alarmed by the County of Hawaii’s state of emergency declaration for Hawaii Island or allow this decision to alter their travel plans to any of the Hawaiian Islands,” said George Szigeti, president and CEO of Hawaii Tourism Authority. “This declaration is a good strategic move by the County of Hawaii, as it will provide government officials with additional funding and resources to eliminate dengue fever from Hawaii Island.”

According to the Hawaii State Department of Health, all of the islands are still considered safe for visitors. The current outbreak is considered small by global standards and minor in comparison to other tropical tourist destinations.

The majority of dengue fever transmission has come from a rural southwestern region on Hawaii Island. Other islands have not reported any locally acquired cases. Since January the rate of disease spreading is on the decline.

Despite the emergency declaration for Hawaii Island, Governor David Ige has not issued a statewide travel advisory. He will not consider doing so unless dengue fever spreads to other islands. Only residents of Hawaii Island will be allowed to drop off used tires at county landfills for the next 60 days that the proclamation is in effect. Tires that hold rainwater are common breeding grounds for mosquitoes and were previously restricted from disposal.

Hawaii Island has received additional state funding toward its efforts to stem dengue fever infection. The last major outbreak resulted in 122 confirmed cases during a nine month period between 2001 and 2002.

Symptoms related to dengue include fever, sever headaches, pain behind the eyes, joint and/or muscle pain and rashes. If exhibiting symptoms, a healthcare provider should be contacted immediately.

Hawaii State Department of Health also encourages visitors and residents to take precautions against the spread of disease:

–Use mosquito repellent products that contain EPA-approved chemicals, and reapply as needed. Repellent should be sprayed on exposed skin and clothing when mosquito exposure is unavoidable.

–In case of shortages, visitors are encouraged to bring their own mosquito repellent with them.

–Light-colored long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks and shoes are recommended to limit exposure to mosquitoes.

–Use air conditioning in rooms instead of leaving windows open, especially if no screens are present.

–If mosquitoes are present inside, use indoor insecticides.

mpi-northern-californiaThe Meeting Professionals International Northern California Chapter is hosting it’s annual conference and expo Wednesday, Feb. 10 in San Francisco, and the Smart Meetings team is onsite to learn about everything new the industry has to offer.

The conference, held at Moscone West, features 17 professional development sessions for meeting planners at every level – from senior level planners to rookies still getting adjusted to the industry, plus plenty of networking opportunities, fun prizes, and more.

Industry experts from all over will share their expertise on a wide range of topics, including social media execution, event marketing, technology, audience engagement, and contract clause negotiation.

The event also features an expo hall, where exhibitors of all kinds have the opportunity to share their offerings and engage with attendees. Exhibitors will include CVBs, hotels and resorts from all over, plus event suppliers and even entertainment companies such as Cirque du Soleil. Stopping by the event? Visit Smart Meetings at booth #737. Otherwise stay up to date on all the latest news by following @smartmtgsraine on Twitter.

Last Updated Feb. 10, 2016 – 3:55 PM

 

 

 

 

 

Lonely Planet named PhillyPennsylvania Convention Center

Philadelphia is certainly an apropos destination for medical meetings, with stellar universities that help contribute to research and provide access to experts and speakers. The region is also home to numerous pharmaceutical companies that are critical to well-being and host conferences, which demand accurate reporting about compensation and travel awarded to medical personnel and doctors as required by the Affordable Care Act.

For these reasons and many more, the fourth annual Global Pharmaceutical and Medical Meetings Summit is convening this week at Philadelphia Marriott Downtown. The event is sandwiched between a visit to Philly by Pope Francis last year and the Democratic National Committee convention in July to nominate the party’s presidential candidate.

Philadelphia’s star continues to rise, as evident of its latest accolade this week when Lonely Planet named Philly as the best place to visit in the United States. Lonely Planet noted Philadelphia’s craft breweries, locavore eateries, history and “Rocky” as reasons its better than East Coast rivals New York City and Washington, DC, and all other U.S. cities.

Lonely Planet named PhillyPhiladelphia Marriott Downtown

“The city is exploding all around us,” said Perry Kessler, director of sales and marketing for the Marriott. “You feel like you’re a part of the city when you meet here.”

While this week’s Global Pharmaceutical and Medical Meetings Summit is based in the Marriott, which offers 1,408 guest rooms and nearly 100,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, the area surrounding Pennsylvania’s largest hotel is indeed overflowing with growth and great opportunities for attendees.

Lonely Planet named PhillyPhiladelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB)

For starters, the Marriott is connected to Pennsylvania Convention Center, where members of the media worked during the pope’s visit and where many of the major galas during the DNC convention will take place.

The convention center itself is a historic gem, incorporating the former Reading Terminal railroad station into its 1,000,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space. The convention center was expanded in 2011, so the new LEED Gold certified section embodies cutting-edge design, which complements the historic ambience of the train station shed. (The original train rails are even incorporated into the flooring of one of the convention center entryways.)

“We’re the hot place to be,” says Deirdre Childress Hopkins, strategic communications manager for the convention center.

Lonely Planet named PhillyReading Terminal Market

There’s a market below the convention center, which adds fun and practical components to Philadelphia’s meeting district. Reading Terminal Market is like an indoor famers’ market, with groceries and food stations. According to Kessler, the Marriott can arrange food coupons so attendees can head over to the market for lunch in between sessions.

Last year, Philadelphia was crowned the first World Heritage City in the United States. The status will no doubt enhance the city’s international stature as well as remind Americans that Philadelphia should not be overlooked, both for leisure travel and meetings.

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San Francisco broke a record for hotel tax collections and revenue as result of the Bay Area hosting Super Bowl 50 last month. On Feb. 4-7, the city experienced a 190 percent increase in hotel tax revenue over the same period in 2015, according to San Francisco Travel.

“The people of San Francisco were the big winners in Super Bowl 50,” said Joe D’Alessandro, president and CEO of San Francisco Travel.  “Our hotels were nearly filled with visitors spending not only on hotel rooms but restaurants, transportation, shopping, entertainment and more.  It’s estimated that 75 percent of all visitor spending takes place outside of hotels.”

The Super Bowl took place Feb. 7 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. On Feb. 4-7 in San Francisco, hotel tax generated $8.2 million. The projection represents only hotel tax revenues; it does not include vacation rentals or increases to sales tax, business tax or other revenues to the private and public sector, which won’t be released until June.

On Feb. 6, the day before the Super Bowl, San Francisco hotels were at 90.7 percent occupancy. One Feb. 5, 6 and 7, the city experienced the highest level of hotel revenue on record. San Francisco Travel relied on data supplied by analytics specialist STR to gain insights about the impact of the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl City Set the Stage

Downtown, across from the Ferry Building and San Francisco Bay, the eight-block Super Bowl City was the center of the pre-party celebration. Throngs of people braved lines to get through intense security and enter the free, fenced-off area, where they were rewarded with food, technology, and free concerts and entertainment on small and large stages.

Headliners for free concerts featured local rock star Chris Isaak, R&B superstar Alicia Keys, One Republic and The Band Perry. Revelers also were treated to jazz by Center Teen Jazz Orchestra and Marcus Shelby Trio, dancing by Ballet Folklorico Costa de Oro and music by Oakland Interfaith Gospel—to name a few acts on the main stages.

“Our hotels provided a perfect setting for the world to see as fans, media, and Super Bowl attendees enjoyed the authentic hospitality that make San Francisco a great place to visit,” said Kevin Carroll, executive director of the Hotel Council of San Francisco. “Super Bowl 50’s success holds great promise for San Francisco to host the game again.”

Moscone Center was the site of NFL Experience. San Francisco’s largest convention venue featured interactive games, all things NFL and Super Bowl, and food and beverages. Moscone is undergoing a $500 million expansion. When the project is complete in 2018, it will feature more than 500,000 sq. ft. of contiguous space for exhibitions, a new 50,000-square-foot ballroom and a new 20,000-square-foot terrace.