expansion for las-vegas-convention-center

Las Vegas will totally benefit from action taken by the Nevada State legislators last week when a bill was approved for the expansion and renovation of Las Vegas Convention Center and the development of domed football stadium.

“Tourism is Nevada’s No. 1 economic driver, employing nearly half of the people who call Southern Nevada home and this decision represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Southern Nevada,” said Rossi Ralenkotter, president and CEO of Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. “Our destination thrives on evolution and reinvention and we commend the bold decision by the Nevada legislature and Gov. Sandoval to approve these two monumental projects that position our destination to remain a leading tourism destination for decades to come.”

Nevada lawmakers held a special session to approve a $1.4 billion Las Vegas Convention Center District project, which will add 600,000 sq. ft. of new meeting space. The bill also stipulates $1.9 billion for the development of a 65,000-seat stadium that could host University of Nevada, Las Vegas football games and a possible NFL team down the road.

To pay for the Las Vegas Convention Center District makeover, there will be a 0.5 percentage point increase in Clark County’s hotel room tax. The stadium will receive funding from an .88 percentage point room tax increase.

These two major projects are expected to create more than 14,000 jobs and have an annual incremental economic impact of $1.43 billion, plus an additional 1 million visitors a year.

The planned expansion of the convention center was applauded by CES, which holds its annual citywide in Las Vegas each January.

The Southern Nevada economy, of which Las Vegas is central, annually generates nearly $52 billion in total economic impact, supporting 368,900 jobs and $14.9 billion in local wages and salaries. These jobs represent 41-percent of Southern Nevada’s total workforce.

Las Vegas Convention Center hosts 22 percent of all convention attendees traveling to Southern Nevada. It directly supports 9,400 local jobs and $379 million in local wages and salaries. In 2015, the convention center hosted 49 events with a combined attendance of 1.3 million people. These visitors generated $2.1 billion in total economic output in 2015.

london-post-brexit

The hashtag has become such a polarizing symbol. On the surface, its a stereotypical, overused and sometimes confusing way for younger generations to communicate on similar topics. It’s the cause of keyboard wars on discussions ranging from politics to media drama on Twitter and other social outlets. But it has also served as a means of community and unity after tragedy and definitive moments, bringing people together from all over the world.

The mess of misinformation that spreads after news breaks is harder than ever to control, and that’s exactly what London was faced with when the world learned of Brexit: the news that London would be departing from the European Union.

The Problem:

Very few people, especially outside of Europe, were aware of Brexit’s happening until it was too late. The word was out and a wealth of questions and panic were mounting about what this would mean for locals, for international travel, and for business.

When the news first broke, David Huether, senior vice president of research for the U.S. Travel Association, told Smart Meetings, “I expect that Brexit will affect inbound visitation from the United Kingdom to the United States to some degree this year, but more fully in 2017.”

London & Partners, the city’s official promotion company, had to find a solution that would quickly quell worries, reverse misconceptions and create awareness to everyone that London isn’t going anywhere.

The Facts:

On June 23, a referendum was held with a turnout of 71.8 percent, with more than 30 million people voting. Leave won by 52 percent to 48 percent.

The separation of the U.K. from E.U. will not happen until at least 2019. For the U.K. to leave the E.U., it has to invoke an agreement called Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty which gives the two sides two years to agree the terms of the split. Theresa May has confirmed this will be done by the end of March 2017, meaning the UK will be expected to have left by the summer of 2019.

One of the predictions immediately following the news was a drop in the value of the pound, which has already happened. The U.S. dollar is currently worth about 15 percent more.

Given the crucial role of London as a financial hub, there’s interest in how many jobs may be lost to other hubs in the E.U. Four of the biggest U.S. banks have committed to helping maintain the City’s position.

The Solution:

#LondonisOpen became the social campaign the visitors bureau decided on to educate the world about London post-Brexit. The phrase was meant to inform everyone that London is open for business as well as leisure travel.

The best thing that could have possibly happened to really give the campaign legs happened overnight: mayor of London Sadiq Khan adopted it.

“Whilst we do not yet know what sort of deal the U.K. will secure from the E.U., we have been pleased at how both the Mayor of London and the U.K. government have responded to the vote and moved quickly to reinforce a message that the UK remains open for business,” says Andrew Swanston,  head of sales for ExCel London‘s North American Market. “The creation of new ministry dedicated to international trade is a welcome sign that the Government remains internationally focused and that can only be a good thing for the meetings and events market.”

The campaign exploded on social media, and the CVB worked to gain partnerships with hotel brands and larger media outlets to get the word out, including the NFL, which hosted the Los Angeles Rams and New York Giants at Twickenham Stadium this season.

The campaign worked to highlight all that the city had to offer, including:

–Its reputation as a global financial hub
–It’s the digital capital of Europe, with 40,000 digital tech companies (and recently considered the U.K.’s Silicon Valley)
–A center for life sciences
–Home to major headquarters and corporate decision-makers
–Office hours overlap with myriad countries, making 99% of the world’s GDP
–City residents speak over 300 languages

Despite a dramatic initial reaction, the effects thus far have been minimal.

“So far, there has been no change to our domestic business,” says  Swanston, “and, if anything, the referendum result has been positive for our international clients–a number of whom have called us to arrange early payments for their events in order to take advantage of the preferential exchange rate. We have had no cancellations and our forward diary continues to look very healthy. In the short-term, the weak pound will be good for the U.K. visitor economy, including the meetings and events market.”

ExCel London is just one of the many venues looking toward the future of events in London. A sprawling multipurpose venue, ExCel offers spaces for events of every size and purpose, including state-of-the-art conference facilities.

“London always has and always will be a great place to live, work and do business,”
Swantson says. “ExCeL London looks forward to being at the forefront of London’s post-EU success story, to continue hosting world-leading events, and to reaping the benefits of a Brexit boost.”

avenida houston

Even the artwork at Houston’s reimagined convention district is inviting. As Houston prepares to host the Super Bowl on Feb. 5, the new Avenida Houston district christened a piece of artwork that is designed to welcome the public and delegates to George R. Brown Convention Center.

Houston First commissioned Ed Wilson’s Soaring In The Clouds for the redesigned lobby of the convention center. The 67-foot mobile is suspended from the ceiling, with LED lights illuminating bird and cloud forms. The 200 individual forms, each shaped by hand, will move with the airflow of the building.

nbaker_haa_wilson_161108_7375

The new art installation is part of a $1.5 billion project that will totally change the face of meetings and conventions in America’s fourth-largest city. The most noticeable change will be the new five-block, pedestrian-friendly Avenida Houston, which can host outdoor gatherings for convention attendees. It offers 99,000 sq. ft. of space, and will connect delegates to such popular attractions as Minute Maid Ballpark, Toyota Center and BBVA Stadium.

According to David Mincberg, chairman of Houston First, the local-government corporation that operates the downtown convention center, they are incorporating dramatic pieces of art that will help bring character and life to its major meeting venue and the Avenida Houston district that surrounds the convention center.

“We believe the vibrant sculpture Ed Wilson has created will be visible from the entire Avenida Houston campus and will invite people into this building like never before,” Mincberg says. “Aesthetics like these will improve the convention-goer’s experience and attract art lovers from throughout a region that now numbers 6.5 million people. That’s a big built-in audience.”

One of the key new components of the project is the 1,000-room Marriott Marquis Houston, which opened in November. It’s connected to George R. Brown Convention Center via skybridge. But it will probably better known as the hotel with the Texas-shaped lazy river. It’s important to note that the Marriott will have 100,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.

The second anchor hotel connected to the convention center by skybridge is the existing 1,200-room Hilton Americas-Houston. The Hilton offers more than 90,000 sq. ft. of event space.

medical meetings in philadelphia convention district

Philadelphia’s legacy of innovation is 250 years in the making, especially when it comes to the life sciences. We are home to America’s first hospital and its oldest and largest urban research park. According to the Drexel University College of Medicine, more than one in six doctors in the United States has received training in Philadelphia; one in six jobs and 15 percent of the region’s economic activity are directly attributed to the industry; and Greater Philadelphia is consistently ranked as one of the top 10 life sciences clusters.

The fifth annual Global Pharmaceutical Medical Meetings Summit will take place at Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown from Jan. 31−Feb. 2. Presenters will include thought leaders from Bayer, Genentech, Pfizer and more. Click for more details.

A direct beneficiary of this activity has been the medical meetings industry, helping propel hospitality and tourism to Philadelphia’s third largest industry. Currently, the life sciences account for more than 50 percent of the bookings at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, with 266 related meetings generating an estimated $370.8 million for the region in 2015. Supported by these meetings, organizations such as hotels, restaurants, small businesses, and cultural organizations sustain 68,000 hospitality jobs in Philadelphia.

PHL Life Sciences, a business development division of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB), works to increase this impact by advancing Greater Philadelphia’s status as a destination for meetings and conventions in the life sciences.

A large part of our work is identifying and pursuing growth markets. Having generated nearly $250 million for the region since 1996, nursing medical meetings, in particular, have emerged as an economic imperative.

With more than 3.1 million Registered Nurses nationwide, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, nursing is America’s largest health care profession. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistic confirms that it is one of the largest segments of the U.S. workforce overall, and among its highest paying large occupations.

Capitalizing on this immense market, PHL Life Sciences formed a Nursing Leadership Committee to promote Philadelphia as a destination for nursing medical meetings and conventions. Since stepping into the role of committee chair this June, Mainline Health’s Barbara Wadsworth has taken the lead in engaging chief nursing officers at the region’s top hospitals, leaders in clinical practice and research, and academic nursing deans of some of the top schools in the country, including Philadelphia’s own esteemed institutions.

Expanding Philadelphia’s vast life sciences network, our share of meetings in the nursing industry continues to increase. In September 2016, for instance, Philadelphia welcomed the National Council of State Boards of Nursing’s 2016 NCLEX Conference, as well as the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses’ 2016 Annual Education Conference.

As more than 90 percent of convention groups see higher attendance in Philadelphia than in competing destinations, organizations often look to return to the city for future years. Driven by Philadelphia’s culture of innovation, industry recognition and resources like PHL Life Sciences’ Nursing Leadership Committee, life science conventions are expected to grow as an economic cornerstone in the years to come.

bonnie-grant-1Bonnie Grant is executive director of PHL Life Sciences, a business development division of  the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau.

barbara-wadsworth-headshot-1Barbara Wadsworth, DNP, RN, FAAN, is senior vice president and chief nursing officer at Main Line Health and serves as chair of PHL Life Sciences’ Nursing Leadership Committee.

nashville

This week, Smart Meetings heads to Nashville, the country music capital of the world. It’s a fun-filled tour of honkytonks, hipster neighborhoods and legendary venues where famous singers and songwriters found their start. In between, we’ll visit the only Parthenon outside of Greece, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Ryman Auditorium and Frist Center for the Visual Arts, among many more iconic stops. For the next four days, follow along for mostly live music updates on Twitter at @SmartMtgsMeena.

Last Updated December 2, 2016 – 11:49 AM

Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority

The Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority (MBVCA) has been named the world’s leading tourist board by the prestigious World Travel Awards. Competing against other top destinations, Miami Beach was chosen by more than 1 million industry voters over Auckland Tourism, Cancun Convention & Visitors Bureau, Cape Town Tourism, Rio Convention & Visitors Bureau, Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administrative Commission and Visit London.

The award is a testament to the global appeal of Miami Beach. Accepting the award on behalf of MBVCA at the World Travel Awards Gala Ceremony, Peggy Benua, chair of the organization said, “This award, is a symbol of Miami Beach’s worldwide presence and certainly demand for our brand. We’re honored to have been considered, but to actually win this impressive and prominent award is an incredible endorsement of all MBVCA is doing to share Miami Beach with the world.”

Just two months ago, the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority was named North America’s Leading Tourist Board, facing competitors including the Arizona Office of Tourism, Destination DC, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation, NYC & Company, Visit California, Visit Orlando and Visit Florida.

“Miami Beach has always been perceived as an iconic destination around the world,” says Elsie Howard, former MBVCA board chair (2000-2004 and 2006-2011). “The MBVCA’s award for World’s Leading City Tourist Board 2016 signifies the depth and breadth or our reach, it recognizes our hard work and our tireless commitment to making Miami Beach an iconic destination forever.”

The World Travel Award wins cap off a year of accolades for Miami Beach. The city also won first place in the 2016 edition of the Travvy Awards, presented by travAlliancemedia in the category of “Best Wedding Destination, U.S. & Canada” and a silver medal winner in the 2016 Magellan Awards by Travel Weekly in the category of “Overall Beach Destinations | U.S and Canada.”

“To cap off a year of awards for the MBVCA and Miami Beach with the World’s Leading City Tourist Board 2016 win is phenomenal,” says Grisette Roque, executive director of MBVCA. “Miami Beach is already a dazzling destination but the board works incredibly hard to make sure all facets of the city are enjoyed by residents and visitors and this award is a culmination of that work.”

carlsbad california

The beauty of holding meetings in Carlsbad, California, is that it’s only 30 minutes from San Diego Airport, features resorts well-suited for conferences, and boasts an inviting, walkable village that gives the destination personality and event options. A two-day getaway in Carlsbad may not be enough.

I have the very good fortune of staying two nights at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, which is well known for luxury and The Chopra Center. Among the amenities is an award-winning spa, two 18-hole championship golf courses, 17 tennis courts and five restaurants.

The Omni welcomes large groups, with 50,000 sq. ft. of indoor meeting space, including an 18,000-sq. ft. ballroom, and 60,000 sq. ft. outdoors. The 607 guest rooms, suites and villas have large-screen TVs, work stations and high speed Wi-Fi.

While groups will find everything they need at the Omni, there are lots of other places to explore and meet. Here are a few of the venues and things to do that I’ll be checking out during my two-day getaway in Carlsbad.

Park Hyatt Aviara Resort has 327 guest rooms, 78,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor space, and an Arnold Palmer-designed golf course. Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa features 49,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor space, 250 guest rooms and a private entrance to Legoland.

Carlsbad Village is a must-see when meeting in this northern San Diego County city. Located a few blocks from the beach with a trendy yet chilled vibe, the village’s shops and markets are the drawing cards here along with a hopping craft-brew scene, including the recently opened Barrel Republic. Restaurants include Campfire and Paon Restaurant and Wine Bar.

Can’t wait to see how much I can experience during my two-day getaway in Carlsbad.

Last Updated December 14, 2016 – 3:48 PM

sports-anaheim

Visit Anaheim is strengthening its status as one of the top meeting destinations in the United States with a new partnership with three prominent sports organizations. Already the “Happiest Place On Earth” thanks to Disneyland Park being in its backyard, Anaheim is now positioning itself to be the “Healthiest Place On Earth.”

Using Anaheim Convention Center as a backdrop to announce its big wins with national athletic agencies, Visit Anaheim officials were joined by representatives from USA Water Polo, USA Volleyball and USA Badminton to sign agreements with Sports Anaheim, a division of Visit Anaheim.

•USA Badminton agreed to have Anaheim serve as its national headquarters and training center. The organization will relocate from Colorado Springs, Colorado.
•USA Volleyball extended its contract with the City of Anaheim through 2020; Sports Anaheim has taken over the contract.
•USA Water Polo committed to make Anaheim its official travel destination for USA Water Polo, including USA Water Polo National Junior Olympics in 2017 and 2019 tournaments

“It is an historic day in Anaheim, for Sports Anaheim and the amateur sports community,” said Jay Burress, president and CEO for Visit Anaheim. “Today marks an important turning point for Sports Anaheim and the faith that USA Water Polo, USA Volleyball and USA Badminton have placed in our organization and ability to build a game-changing amateur sporting event destination. The agreements signed solidify Anaheim’s place in the growing amateur sports community.”

It’s important to note that these partnerships weren’t coincidences. Sports Anaheim was established in March 2016 to recruit local, national and international sporting events into the destination and serve as a resource for local organizations needing support in their bids to attract sports business. Here are a few other examples of partnerships and deals Sports Anaheim has already helped facilitate:

• American Athletic Union: First West Coast office in Anaheim
• 2017 International Weightlifting Federation World Championships
• 2017 USA P&G Gymnastics Championship in Anaheim
• LA24 Bid for 2024 Olympic Games
• 2017 USA Weightlifting American Open
• 2017 USA Fencing North American Cup
• North American Chinese Invitation Volleyball Tournament
• Varsity Spirit Corporation

“We are excited to be headed to Anaheim where we will benefit from being closer to so many of our members and athletes,” said David Simon, board of directors chairman for USA Badminton. “The sport is experiencing tremendous growth in California. This move puts us close to both current and prospective sponsors and by being on the Pacific Rim we will be a nonstop flight away from many major badminton nations.”

J.D. Power Destination Experience Satisfaction StudyTom Noonan, president and CEO of Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau, accepted the J.D. Power and Associates 2016 Destination Experience Satisfaction Award.

When visitors enjoy their travel experience in a particular city, they spend considerably more during their stay than the average traveler, according to the J.D. Power 2016 Destination Experience Satisfaction Study released this week.

The first-of-its-kind study measures overall satisfaction among visitors to the top 50 U.S. travel destinations for business or leisure. It assesses the customer experience based on six factors: activities, cost and fees, food and beverage, infrastructure, lodging and travel. The study is based on more than 26,000 travelers who visited a U.S. metropolitan area between December 2015 and July 2016. Participants were asked to rate their experience on a scale of one to 10.

On average, visitors spend $1,169 on a trip, or $301 per day, according to the study. Those who are especially delighted with their experience (rating their overall satisfaction a 10 out of 10) spend, on average, $1,446, or 24 percent more than average. Those who are either indifferent (6 or 7) or disappointed (5 or lower) spend nearly $250 less per trip than average—a full 37 percent difference in spending between the categories of delighted and disappointed.

“Interestingly, while visitors spend more when they have a great experience, they’re also more satisfied with the value they receive for their expenditure,” said Rick Garlick, global travel and hospitality practice lead at J.D. Power. “Especially for cities that are perhaps less thought of for tourism, the investment in creating a superb visitor experience can really pay off.”

Destination Experience Rankings

While the top-ranked cities include well-known destinations, two of the leading regional destinations are state capitals or college towns known for music and football rather than being well-known travel hubs. At the segment level, the south and southwest regions tie for the highest average score, at 802 points each on a 1,000-point scale. They are followed closely by the west region with a score of 801.

-West Region: Las Vegas claims to have it all, and maybe the city is right. It ranks highest in the region and earns the study’s highest index score of 827. Las Vegas performs particularly well in four of the six factors: travel, lodging, infrastructure, and cost and fees. Las Vegas is followed in the regional rankings by Oahu Island, Hawaii, with a score of 813 and San Diego with 812.

-Southwest Region:Austin, the Texas capital and home to University of Texas and a myriad of music venues, ranks highest with a score of 818, followed by Dallas with 811 and San Antonio, Texas, with 807. Austin performs particularly well with infrastructure and activities.

-South Region: Orlando, Florida, noted for family-oriented theme parks, ranks highest in the region with a score of 815 points, followed by Miami and New Orleans in a tie at 814. Orlando performs particularly well with infrastructure and activities. The south is the most competitive in the study, with only 27 points separating the highest- and lowest-ranked destinations in the region.

-Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Region: New York, the city that never sleeps, ranks highest with a score of 805, followed by Boston with 789. New York performs particularly well in four of the six factors: travel; lodging; food and beverage; and activities.

-Midwest Region: Columbus, the state capital of Ohio and home of Ohio State University, ranks highest with a score of 799, followed by Kansas City with 791 and Indianapolis with 789. Columbus performs particularly well in the infrastructure, food and beverage, and cost and fees.

Additional Key Findings

-More than a Destination: Visitors often view cities as more than just a place to visit; they develop a strong emotional connection. Cities with a high percentage of visitors feeling a strong emotional attachment include Austin, Oahu Island, Orlando, Miami and San Diego.

-Loving the City You Visit: Despite the great weather offered in other regions, the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region has the highest proportion of visitors who are most likely to return (73 percent) and recommend their destinations to others (65 percent). The west, however, contains cities such as Anaheim, Denver and San Diego, to which people have the fondest emotional attachment, with 39 percent admitting they would be greatly disappointed if they could not return.

-Food, Fun and Lodging: Three things travelers often consider when selecting a place to visit are things to do, food options and places to stay. The study finds Las Vegas and New Orleans are the two cities that are among the top five for all three: lodging, food and beverage and entertainment, which includes options such as shopping, nightlife, zoos, aquariums and gaming. Orlando is among the top five cities for lodging and entertainment, and Oahu Island is among the leaders for food and beverage and entertainment.

-Traditional Travel Agents Garner Better Experiences: While 28 percent of visitors used an independent travel website to book their trip, satisfaction with their destination ranked significantly higher among those who used a traditional travel agent (805 vs. 845, respectively). However, most travel continues to be booked online, with only 7 percent of visitors having used a travel agent to book their trip.

-Business Travelers More Satisfied Than Vacationers: Those who travel to a destination for business purposes enjoy their trip slightly more than those who travel for leisure (806 vs. 795, respectively). Satisfaction with cost and fees plays a role, as business travelers frequently have their trip paid for by their employer. Satisfaction in the travel factor is also higher among business travelers than among leisure travelers, perhaps because they’ve learned to adapt to the travel process much better than less experienced travelers.

 

san-antonio-best-cities-for-conferences

Cities with the largest convention centers and most hotels aren’t always the best cities for conferences. In the latest survey by SmartAsset, a New York City-based personal finance technology company, The Best Cities for Conferences in 2016 take into account such factors as hotel room rates, meal costs, distance from airports, violent crime, and concentration of dining and entertainment establishments.

The big winner is San Antonio, which is No. 1 in the SmartAsset rankings for the second-straight year. Texas dominated the Top 10, with El Paso at No. 2, Austin at No. 4 and Irving at No. 5.

SmartAsset cited San Antonio’s number of large event spaces, including the 65,000-seat Alamodome, as one of the key reasons for being the top city for conferences. Other factors include warm weather and the fact it’s an “inexpensive place to visit.”

Breaking up Texas’ stranglehold on the top five positions, San Diego checks in at No. 3. The study reveals that San Diego has 255 hotels, with the average cost per night for a hotel room at $147, which is more than $100 less than a guest room in New York City.

Traditional meeting powerhouses were still among the SmartAsset’s Top 25 Best Cities for Conferences. Orlando ranked No. 7, Las Vegas was No. 10, Phoenix was No. 15, and New York and Los Angeles tied for No. 18.

Smart Meetings is thrilled that several of the places we have recently visited made the cut. Columbus, Ohio, ranks No. 6, with a higher concentration of dining and entertainment options than San Diego or Orlando. Boise, Idaho, is No. 11, getting high marks for affordability and safety.

Madison, Wisconsin, is No. 20, reflecting an often overlooked city that has a lot going for it, including the very active and respected Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau.

“This confirms and validates what so many of our satisfied customers have expressed to us, that Madison is a great place to meet and host events,” says Deb Archer, president and CEO of the CVB. “The nuts and bolts of winning a bid very much focuses on the attributes they considered.”

Top 25 Best Cities for Conferences

1. San Antonio
2. El Paso, Texas
3. San Diego
4. Austin, Texas
5. Irving, Texas
6. Columbus, Ohio,
7. Orlando
8. Albuquerque, New Mexico
9. Charlotte, North Carolina
10. Las Vegas
11. Boise, Idaho
12. Atlanta
13. Virginia Beach, Virginia
13. Omaha, Nebraska
15. Phoenix
16. Honolulu, Hawaii
17. Tampa, Florida
18. New York City
18. Los Angeles
20. Madison, Wisconsin
21. Colorado Springs, Colorado
22. Lincoln, Nebraska
23. Richmond, Virginia
23. Louisville, Kentucky
23. Reno, Nevada
23. Tempe, Arizona