houston convention center projectsHouston convention district

Convention center projects around the globe signal a very bright future for meetings and events in the new year. From San Francisco to Auckland, New Zealand, and Sydney to Aberdeen, Scotland, convention center projects include major expansions and new builds that are born from demand.

Houston, Texas

Houston’s downtown convention district is undergoing a $1.5 billion renovation that will totally change the face of meetings and conventions in America’s fourth-largest city. The most noticeable change is 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 connects delegates to such popular attractions as Minute Maid Ballpark, Toyota Center and BBVA Compass Stadium. Avenida Houston is adjacent to George R. Brown Convention Center, which offers 1.2 million sq. ft. of event space…More

San Francisco, California

Close to Smart Meetings’ home office in Sausalito, California, Moscone Center in San Francisco is undergoing major modifications. The expansion will increase Moscone’s size from 614,839 to 772,179 sq. ft. Started in 2015, this convention center project will be complete by the end of 2018. Moscone North and Moscone South will be closed April through August to achieve target goals, while Moscone West will not be affected and is open for business.

“The expansion of Moscone Center is continuing on schedule and it’s exciting to see the new facilities taking shape,” says Joe D’Alessandro, president and CEO of San Francisco Travel. “At the same time, we are working closely with our hotels and other venues to provide innovative and attractive solutions for our meeting customers during the construction period.”…More

north-expansion-atrium

Columbus, Ohio

Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC) is undergoing a $125 million renovation and expansion to be completed by July 2017. Its exhibit halls host hundreds of conferences and conventions including the annual Arnold Classic, the largest multisport festival in the nation, with 18,000 athletes competing in various events across Columbus.

The convention center has stayed open throughout the entire construction phase. The project includes the addition of 100,000 sq. ft. of event space, boosting the GCCC to 1.8 million sq. ft. There will be 74 meeting rooms and 447,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, including a 74,000-square-foot multipurpose ballroom. Nine new meeting rooms and a two-level atrium will flood the north end of the building with natural light. The atrium will also be used as prefunction space for the updated Short North Ballroom, while Arnold Plaza will be enlarged with 10,000 sq. ft. of space for outdoor events…More

New York City

What’s unfolding along the Hudson River on Manhattan’s Far West Side is indeed noteworthy. In January, New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced a $1 billion project that would increase the size of Jacob K. Javits Convention Center by more than 50 percent, from 2.1 million sq. ft. to 3.3 million sq. ft. The expansion broke ground this year. The expansion will add a 58,000-square-foot ballroom that will rank as the largest in the Northeast and a rooftop event space for up to 1,500 guests. There will be five times more meeting space and 27 new loading docks.

“The Javits Center is in the middle of a renaissance,” says Tony Sclafani, senior vice president and chief communications officer for Javits…More

International Convention Center Projects

Sydney, Australia

sydney-1

International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney opened this month. With more than 360,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space and the largest ballroom in the city, ICC Sydney is the largest convention center in Australia. Located on the waterfront in Darling Harbour, ICC Sydney contains spaces for up to 750, 1,000, 2,500 and 8,000 people, making it capable of hosting four completely separate events for up to 12,000 people at the same time. The modernist structure is part of a larger food and entertainment complex that is expected to revitalize the adjacent business district.

Joint venture partners HASSELL + Populous worked together to design the new convention, exhibition and entertainment venues for Sydney, with inspiration from the site’s spectacular city and harbour surrounds as well as Cockle Bay’s history.

“In designing the new ICC Sydney, HASSELL and Populous have created world class venues that connect with their surrounding built and natural environments as part of a new inner city destination that people will love. The design for the new ICC Sydney unlocks the economic, social and cultural potential of the harbour side site for visitors and Sydneysiders alike,” said Glenn Scott, HASSELL Principal and Joint ICC Architecture Director

“Engagement is at the heart of the design – engagement with both the surrounding built and natural environments and engagement with Sydney’s residents and visitors. The needs of the meeting industry are changing and while Convention and Exhibition centres do retain a unique focus, it is now combined with a desire to contribute to the local neighbourhood. ICC Sydney is a development for a modern urban community, a catalyst for business and a major international destination,” said Richard Breslin, Populous Senior Principal and Joint ICC Architecture Director.

According to Geoff Donaghy, CEO of ICC Sydney, the venue plays a pivotal role in boosting the local knowledge economy. “ICC Sydney will deliver over $5 billion in economic benefit to New South Wales in the next 25 years, but it will do more than just deliver a cash injection to the economy,” Donaghy says. “It will also become a place of intellectual combustion and innovation for organizations big and small.”…More

Auckland, New Zealand

nzicc

New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) scheduled to open in 2019. Groundbreaking for the three-year project was in February. To make way for NZICC, 16 buildings were demolished to enhance the flow between downtown and the city’s famous harbor. The new convention center will feature a 2,850-seat plenary and a 71,412-square-foot exhibition hall. It will be within walking distance to 4,500 four- and five-star guest rooms, creating a state-of-the-art meeting district completely integrated into the city.

“We will have a facility that will compete with any facility in the region,” says Simon Jamieson, group general manager for NZICC. “It will make a big difference to New Zealand’s economy when it’s completed.”…More

Aberdeen, Scotland

aberdeen

Visit Scotland recently met with Smart Meetings in San Francisco to share news about several projects, including the construction of a new convention center scheduled to open in Aberdeen in 2019. Located on the island nation’s northeast coast, where the North Sea is a global center for sub-sea technology, Aberdeen is capitalizing on the region’s cutting-edge solutions for oil extraction by building a $440 million convention center, which has the full support of local businesses, regional government and Visit Scotland…More

 

cvb-marketingSeattle

Convention and visitor bureaus throughout the world produce cutting-edge marketing campaigns that are winning awards and making statements. The creative genius behind CVB promotional strategies not only fuel buzz that impact tourism and meetings, but help destinations tell their unique stories.

Starting Jan. 9, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau will launch a new global marketing and advertising campaign that will feature three transgender models. Fort Lauderdale will became the world’s first destination to use transgender models in mainstream destination advertising.

“I’m proud that we continue to be a leader in marketing innovation,” says Stacy Ritter, president and CEO of the CVB. “We’ve established a popular and highly recognized destination brand presence that reflects the authentic experiences that people today, regardless of age, gender, religion or race, seek when they travel.”

The advertising campaign will appear in print, digital, television, radio and social media throughout South Florida, New York, Boston and Chicago. It will be featured in national outlets such as New York Times’ T Magazine, USA Today Travel Magazine, Passport, ManAboutWorld as well as on Spotify, Pandora, Hulu and in the destination’s collateral, website and e-blasts.

The campaign debuted in New York City on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, with a billboard video in Times Square featuring Isabella Santiago, a Venezuelan model and 2014 Miss World Transgender. The video was a backdrop to New York City’s famous New Year’s Eve ball drop. The campaign showcases some of the destination’s most popular areas, including Fort Lauderdale Beach, Hallandale Beach, Deerfield Beach and Wilton Manors.

Visit Seattle earned accolades from Ad Age, which named the CVB among the among top 10 global brands following a promotional video it created in partnership with Vox. Been There, Made That is a video that features New York-based Grammy-nominated musician Emily King enjoying an inspirational journey through Seattle and the original song that resulted from her visit.

The Seattle CVB collaborated with content partners to bring the city to life through the eyes of artists, artisans, musicians, and makers. This year, Visit Seattle will partner with Sundance and five notable filmmakers whose films about Seattle will debut at the Sundance Film Festival Jan. 24 in Park City, Utah.

“The video content we have created has proven to be an incredibly powerful and effective tool in generating awareness of our destination in an entertaining, engaging, and memorable way,” says Ali Daniels, vice president of marketing for Visit Seattle. “We are excited to blaze a new trail with Sundance and five filmmakers who created Seattle shorts in our latest undertaking, Project Five by Five.”

Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority (MBVCA) was named the world’s leading tourist board by the prestigious World Travel Awards in December. 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.

According to Peggy Benua, board chair for MBVCA, the award is a testament to the global appeal of Miami Beach.

“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.”

Globe_Life_Field_Hi_ResGlobe Life Park in Arlington, Texas

Walkability and friendliness reign supreme, with big development plans on the horizon.

This small city has a big heart. Sandwiched between Dallas and Fort Worth, Arlington offers many big-city amenities with small town attention to detail and genuine care for clients and guests, says Jon Hixon, vice president of sales and services for Arlington Convention & Visitor’s Bureau. It’s just 8 miles to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), which is the 10th-largest airport in the world in terms of passenger traffic and only a four-hour flight from every major airport in the United States.

Arlington Convention Center sits in the heart of the Entertainment District alongside Six Flags Over Texas and the Dallas Cowboys’ stomping ground, AT&T Stadium. The center offers 50,000 sq. ft. of column-free exhibit space as well as a 30,000-square-foot Grand Hall and more than 8,500 sq. ft. of meeting rooms. An added bonus: “Arlington boasts a growing research university, University of Texas at Arlington—can you say ‘expert speakers?’” Hixon says.

Next door is the newly refurbished Sheraton Arlington Hotel, which has 311 freshly furnished guest rooms and plans to revamp the lobby and meeting rooms this year. The Hilton Arlington also got a $12 million remodel two years ago. Hilton Hotel & Resorts just opened DoubleTree DFW Airport Hotel, with 237 guest rooms, to further bolster the city’s accommodations.

AT&T Stadium is much more than just home to the Dallas Cowboys: It’s also the largest domed structure in the world. Tours vary from self-guided to art-specific (the stadium is also home to museum-quality contemporary art). “AT&T Stadium offers more than 20 event spaces that can accommodate groups from 30 to 8,000,” Hixon says.  “You can even meet in the Cowboys Locker Room—if the ‘boys aren’t in town, of course!”

Tours and event space are also available at the home of the Texas Rangers, Globe Life Park. It’s great for those who favor America’s favorite pastime.

But the real change come in spring of 2018, when the Texas Rangers’ stadium will be surrounded by 20,000 sq. ft. of dining and entertainment attractions called Texas Live. The $1.25 billion project will include restaurants, bars, and a new hotel and convention facility. It’s a project that’s been a pipe dream for nearly four decades, and will soon be a reality for Texas Rangers fans and convention-goers alike.

Plans are in place for a 300 room hotel with 35,000 sq. ft. of convention space right next door to Globe Life Park. The upscale accommodations will tower over the ball park and surrounding district so that guests will always have a view of the action below.

It was also recently announced that Guy Fieri is working on a restaurant concept for the district. The Emmy-award winning chef and TV personality will open the flagship restaurant for Texas Live. While the concept is still under wraps, you can bet it will be heavily influenced by Texan cuisine.

For beers, Texan craft brewers Revolver Brewing have stepped up to the plate. From nearby Granbury, they specialize in all-American wheat ales, IPAs and blonde ales. There’s something for every beer lover on their list.

But the piece de resistance of Texas Live is the Live Arena. With a capacity for 5,000, plans for 5 jumbo screens and a stage for musical guests, this massive living room will be a great place to gather for pregame beers, or to watch the action live.

Currently, dining is a group affair in Arlington. The Melting Pot serves up six different types of cheese fondue, which provides a quick bonding experience for convention-goers, as well as salads and four-course dinners. For those craving red meat, The Keg Steakhouse and Bar has all the prime cuts of beef, plus seafood for surf-and-turf lovers. Lincoln Square provides budget-friendly lunch options and plenty of variety, from bowls of pho at Sprouts Spring Roll & Pho to hometown cooking at The Black-Eyed Pea.

For after-hours bites, head to either Chaucer’s Sushi and Bar as well as Sherlock Baker Street Pub & Grill. But Dave and Buster’s is the spot for cutting loose after a long day of conferences: You can sip on a spiked root beer while playing billiards on their handcrafted mahogany and rosewood-railed tables. For those who love to bowl, check out Dave & Buster’s neon-lit lanes. Have energy to burn? Challenge a colleague to a round of Dance Dance Revolution.

For a convention field trip, Six Flags over Texas offers fun of the pulse-pounding variety. With 18 separate thrill rides, you could spend the entire day wind-whipped and screaming. The Joker will be the newest addition to the park, opening this year, but you can’t beat the 225-foot drop of the Titan, which reached a speed of up to 85 miles per hour.

The true selling point for this small town is that all these attractions are within walking distance of the convention center. Nothing is more than 1 1/2 mile away, which provides for a great stretch of the legs between seminars. For those in a bit more of a rush or who don’t want to bear the mid-summer Texan heat, the Arlington Entertainment District Trolley offers complimentary seasonal service to hotel guests within the entertainment district to and from Six Flags, Hurricane Harbor, AT&T Stadium, Globe Life Park, shopping centers and of course, the convention center.

Moscone Center San Francisco 2016 tourism recordsMoscone Center

No doubt bolstered by the Super Bowl, which took place in the Bay Area last February, San Francisco achieved 2016 tourism records for the seventh consecutive year, according to San Francisco Travel.

San Francisco drew a total of 25.1 million visitors in 2016 for an increase of 2.3 percent over 2015. Visitors to San Francisco city and county accounted for $9.69 billion in spending for an increase of 3.3 percent.

“The 25.1 million visitors and $9.96 billion in spending create jobs and support services for people throughout the city and the entire Bay Area,” says Joe D’Alessandro, president and CEO of San Francisco Travel.  “We continue to see steady growth, especially in the area of visitor spending.”

The city drew 10.4 million overnight visitors and 14.7 million day visitors, setting 2016 tourism records with increases at 2.3 percent. Overnight visitors spent $7.77 billion for a 3.4 percent rise. The CVB estimates that direct spending from conventions and meetings was $754 million.

San Francisco continues to be a major international destination and established 2016 tourism records in several categories. The city drew 2.94 million visitors who spent $4.78 billion. International visitor volume increased 1.7 percent and their spending increased 2.6 percent for 2016 tourism records.

The largest overseas markets were China (478,000 visitors), United Kingdom (353,000 visitors) and Germany (273,000 visitors).

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is one of the a key reasons for the 2016 tourism records. SFO offers nonstop flights to more than 39 international cities on 33 international carriers. The Bay Area’s largest airport connects nonstop with 77 cities in the United States on 14 domestic airlines.

Of course, the amenities at SFO are keeping pace with tourism records. SFO offers upgraded free Wi-Fi with no advertising, shopping and amazing local eateries. It’s even possible to take the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system from the airport to downtown and other major tourism hubs.

San Francisco is enhancing its ability to host major events with the expansion of Moscone Center, which will increase its size from 614,839 to 772,179 sq. ft. of usable space.  The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2018. To meet completion targets, Moscone North and Moscone South will be closed April to September this year. Moscone West will not be affected.

Monterey-Bay-Orcas

Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean all your event experiences have to be inside. There are plenty of winter meeting destinations that offer great opportunity for adventure, when you’re not in meetings, of course.

Our friends down in Monterey, California, know all about the opportunities that meeting in the winter affords. Winter is the peak of gray whale migration, with several species of whales and thousands of dolphins frequently seen around Monterey Bay due to a very deep canyon just two miles off the coastline. Because of its ocean topography and frequent sightings, Monterey has been dubbed the Whale Watching Capital of the World.

Throughout the year off the Monterey coast,  sightings include 15 species of whales (baleen: blue, fin, sei, humpback, gray, minke and North Pacific right) and (toothed: sperm whale, Baird’s beaked, Cuvier’s beaked, pygmy Sperm, dwarf sperm, Stejneger’s beaked, Blainville’s beaked and Hubb’s beaked)

“Seeing these animals in the wild can provide a much better experience and understanding of these amazing creatures in their natural habitat,” said Nancy Black, marine biologist and owner of Monterey Bay Whale Watch. “Plus, our whale watching trips offer many opportunities for sightings of whales and dolphins that are less expensive than other options.”

AnoNuevoSealsbyGerryGrantPhoto by Gerry Grant

About an hour south of San Francisco, just before Northern California’s rugged coastline rolls into the beaches of Central California, a natural attraction unfolds each winter in San Mateo County’s Ano Nuevo Stare Park. Home to a large colony of northern elephant seals, the breeding and birthing seasons overlap in December, providing lots of actions and interactions for groups to witness.

“The toughest decision a meeting planner has to make is what to do as an offsite activity. We have every California activity except snow sports, so the possibilities are endless,” says Anne LeClair, CAE, CDME, president and CEO of San Mateo County/Silicon Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Of course, our team is always happy to help.”

By the way, if you’re meeting at one of a half dozen hotels near San Francisco International Airport (SFO), your group could do a daytrip to see the elephant seals!

014-Heidi-Voelker_Deer-Valley-Resort winter meeting destinationsPhoto by Heidi Voelker

Of course, skiing is always popular for executive retreats, and there’s no better place than Park City, Utah. Deer Valley Resort was named the United States’ Best Ski Resort by the World Ski Awards for the fourth consecutive year in 2016.

Deer Valley Resort manages 465 residences. Its three on-mountain lodges include Empire Canyon, Snow Park and Silver Lake, which have a total 37,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.  The Bald Mountain Room in the Silver Lake Lodge has the largest capacity at 240 people and 3,520 sq. ft. Trail’s End Lodge offers a slope-side corporate retreat center.

Those skiing at Deer Valley also have nearby access to a collection of 1,146 guest rooms spread out among six properties. Meeting space includes the 5,852-square-foot ballroom at Stein Ericksen Lodge and the 4,300-square-foot ballroom at Montage Deer Valley. (Although Deer Valley doesn’t operate these lodging and meetings options, its sales team

“Earning esteemed titles, such as United States’ Best Ski Resort, contribute to what we have termed the Deer Valley Difference,” said Bob Wheaton, president and general manager of Deer Valley Resort. “Excellence at every turn is a time-honored tradition at the resort and is the benchmark we uphold in offering memorable ski vacations.”

GalacticSnowtubing

Nestled in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, Camelback Resort offers a winter activity that just about anyone can enjoy: snowtubing. Camelback’s Galactic Snowtubing is an after-dark attraction that opened in December. The nation’s largest snowtubing park now features lasers, music and an amazing LED light show.

The 453-room property in Tannersville also offers skiing, with 34 lighted trails for night skiing and snowboarding and 16 lifts. It was named the No. 1 place in America to learn to ski and snowboard by the Huffington Post. Camelback has 20,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.

“Not everybody skis or snowboards, but snowtubing is a fun, outdoor winter activity that everyone can participate in,” says Brian Czarnecki, vice president of sales and marketing. “Camelback Resort is already home to the largest snowtubing park in the country, and the launch of after-dark Galactic Snowtubing completely transforms the experience.”

houston super bowl LI

This week, the epicenter of the sports world shifts to Houston, site of Super Bowl LI. The city expects to welcome approximately 140,000 visitors to the parties, concerts and celebrations leading up to the big game on Feb. 5, which pits the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons in a battle for the NFL championship at NRG Stadium.

As a Super Bowl host, Houston is no rookie, but a lot has changed since the must-see sporting event last drew crowds to the nation’s fourth-most populous city. (That was in 2004, when quarterback Tom Brady led the Patriots to victory over the Carolina Panthers to secure his second championship.)

In recent years, an influx of green space, high-rises, meeting facilities, and cultural and entertainment venues have transformed the once struggling city into a vibrant modern metropolis. We’ve been following the changes closely. Let us bring you up to speed on Houston’s latest developments, and then use our insider knowledge to impress friends at your Super Bowl party next Sunday.

NRG Stadium, site of the game itself, is more than a football stadium. Home to the NFL’s Houston Texans as well as the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the indoor/outdoor venue with a retractable roof contains 125,000 square feet that can be configured for general sessions, exhibits and functions.

The new dining, entertainment and arts district Avenida Houston is poised to become the center of Super Bowl Revelry. The complex includes the 12-acre Discovery Green, site of Super Bowl Live, a free nine-day fan festival kicking off Jan. 28. The event features live music and performances, interactive exhibits, food and a 90-foot tall virtual reality trip to Mars.

Two huge hotels anchor Avenida Houston: the 1,200-room Hilton Americas-Houston and the 1,000-room Marriott Marquis Houston, which opened in December. The latter delivers what could become Houston’s signature Instagram scene: a lazy river in the shape of the state of Texas.

Both hotels connect via skybridge to George R. Brown Convention Center. Together, the three venues offer a whopping 830,500 square feet of meeting space, proof that Houston is equipped to handle large events well beyond Super Bowl Sunday.

Record-breaking is becoming routine in Anaheim. For the fourth consecutive year, the city surpassed its previous high mark for visitor volume. Last year, 23 million visitors streamed into the Orange County metropolis to enjoy its signature attractions and attend events at Anaheim Convention Center, the largest on the West Coast.

The total represents a 2.3 percent increase over the 2015 visitor tally, and the continuation of a trend that has seen a 33 percent spike in tourism growth since 2011. Visitor spending is up, too—74 percent over the past five years, to be precise. In 2016, the local economy benefited from an $8.1 billion infusion of tourists’ dollars, which bested the previous year’s total by 7.2 percent.

Those visitors aren’t coming just for Disneyland. Variety and strategic development are two factors powering the growth cycle. New luxury hotels, sports and entertainment complexes, and an emphasis on health and wellness are luring visitors also. Partnerships with USA Badminton, USA Volleyball and USA Water Polo bring Olympic-level athletes and spectators to town.

“Anaheim is a magical destination that continues to inspire and delight domestic and international visitors year after year,” said Jay Burress, president & CEO of Visit Anaheim. “2016 was a monumental year for our city as we saw renewed commitment from our greater tourism industry to invest in the destination. More hotels were proposed and built, theme park expansion was announced, number of breweries doubled—paving the way for us to welcome even more visitors to our awe-inspiring city.”

Another key development is the expansion of the Anaheim Convention Center, which will add the 200,000-sq.-ft. ACC North in 2017, just in time for its 50th anniversary. Together, the convention center expansion and increased hotel inventory promise to secure Anaheim’s continued popularity as a meetings and conventions destination. Major 2016 events held at ACC included National Association of Music Merchants’ annual convention, Natural Products Expo West and IAEE Expo! Expo!

 

As architects of meetings and conventions designed to foster creative collaboration, planners undoubtedly will appreciate the cross-promotional partnership between Tourism Vancouver and Visit Anaheim.

The pairing originated at Destination Marketing Association International’s annual convention, where teams from the two destination-marketing organizations realized that both cities could benefit from a campaign focused on teamwork rather than competition.

“Each year, Vancouver receives more than 400,000 visitors from California, and this year alone visitation is up 9.7 percent over 2015,” said Candice Gibson, marketing manager for Tourism Vancouver.

Tourist traffic flows both ways. “Western Canada is a really important market for us to reach, promoting how easy it is to come to Anaheim and experience the wonder of our destination,” said Charles Harris, senior vice president of marketing for Visit Anaheim. “It’s been a dream to work with a like-minded partner to tell great stories together, all with the same goal in mind: bringing new visitors to our destinations.”

One facet of the resulting campaign involves a series of endearing videos featuring laid-back person-on-the-street interviews quizzing Anaheim residents about Vancouver and vice versa. Beyond signature attractions such as Disneyland and winter sports, the videos highlight lesser-known characteristics the well-rounded destinations share, such as a love of yoga and the outdoors, as well as thriving arts, culinary and craft beer scenes.

The video series, created with assistance from WestJet, conveys another key point. Flights from Vancouver International Airport reach Anaheim’s John Wayne Airport in less than three hours.

Events are part of the campaign, too. On Nov. 19, 2016, more than 500 people attended A Day in Anaheim, a free event held at Vancouver’s indoor beach volleyball venue 6 Pack Beach. The daylong celebration brought a glimpse of Southern California to British Columbia, complete with beach volleyball, palm trees, blue skies and family-friendly activities.

Visit Anaheim and Tourism Vancouver plan to unveil additional marketing efforts in the coming months. “We still have quite a few … fun digital campaigns and contests up our sleeves for consumers to enjoy while learning more about our amazing destinations,” Gibson said.

Philadelphia’s prestige as a meeting destination dates to 1774, when the Continental Congress assembled in Carpenter’s Hall. Centuries later, that reputation continues to thrive. The Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) reported 2016 as its highest-ever convention booking year, having secured 713 events using 903,199 hotel room nights for future years.

Compared to 2015, the 2016 totals represent increases of 18.2 percent and 5.8 percent in the number of events and room nights secured, respectively. In total, the meetings, conventions and events booked in 2016 are estimated to generate $1.3 billion in economic impact for Philadelphia and the region.

PHLCVB cites two factors behind the record-breaking bookings. A renewed cooperative spirit among SMG, the PCCA and the labor unions working at Pennsylvania Convention Center (PCC) translated to improved operations and service. The center’s most recent major expansion—a $786 million public works project completed in 2011—also increased customers’ interest in the facility.

“We are extremely proud of our teams at the PHLCVB and the PCC, who have done significant work to secure both new groups and those who in previous years had said they would not return to Philadelphia,” said PHLCVB President and CEO Julie Coker Graham. “As our Center, our labor unions and SMG continue to cultivate a strong customer-focused environment, Philadelphia can continue to look forward to a robust convention calendar for years to come.”

Bookings secured last year constitute 28 citywide events, including the 2019 and 2025 National School Boards Association (NSBA) Annual Conference, the 2022 American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery/American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators (ASCRS/ASOA) Annual Symposium & Congress, and the 2026 Leading Age Annual Meeting & Expo. The NSBA represents new business for Philadelphia. ASCRS/ASOA and Leading Age last met in the City of Brotherly Love before the PCC expansion.

Citywide conventions represent the primary influence over hotel room demand in Philadelphia. In 2016, this segment of the market helped propel the city to a record-breaking hotel occupancy rate of 78 percent.

Nearly 70 percent of room nights secured for future years by 2016 bookings correspond to meetings and conventions to be held at PCC. Meetings at regional hotels and other venues account for the remaining 30 percent.

“We are immensely pleased with the positive strides being made by both the PHLCVB and the PCC,” said Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association (GPHA) president Greg Stafford. “We feel confident that Philadelphia is on the right track and are looking forward to another terrific year.”

Projections estimate that conventions and events booked by PHLCVB will generate more than 620,000 room nights and over $900 million in economic impact for Philadelphia in 2017. Marquee events convening in Philadelphia this year include the NFL Draft, Lightfair International, and the National Black MBA Association Conference and Exposition.

 

 

Oakland volunteers

As part of Tourism Cares’ initiative to support Oakland tourism, 175 volunteers offered helping hands on March 23 and 24. Oakland was chosen for the 2017 Tourism Cares for our Cities Series and remains the only West Coast city to participate this year. In a joint effort, Tourism Cares and Visit Oakland set up volunteer projects at three significant locations. The efforts were a great success despite the rainy weather on Friday, March 24.

Visit Oakland volunteers

Tourism Cares is a public charity that works to stimulate city tourism, enhancing local economies. The philanthropic organization partnered with Visit Oakland, the city’s official not-for-profit organization which aims to enhance the economic impact of tourism and manages city marketing.

“We’re enthusiastic about the support from our peers in the tourism industry. More visitors are looking to Oakland now more than ever. We’re proud to work together in the community and show off our unique, vibrant destination!” says Mark Everton, President & CEO of Visit Oakland.

Oakland tourism plays a major part in the city’s economy. In 2015, $1.5 billion was generated by the record-breaking 3.6 million visitors who came to Oakland. In addition, tourism directly supports 7,000 full-time jobs in Oakland and 94,000 full-time jobs in the Oakland East Bay region.

“Visit California is honored to sponsor Tourism Cares in Oakland and help highlight the importance of tourism and social responsibility,” says Caroline Beteta, President & CEO of Visit California. “We are excited to give back to the community to help ensure that all of the treasures California has to offer are enjoyed by residents and tourists alike.”

Oakland volunteers

Volunteers participated at three different sites in Oakland: Children’s Fairyland, Gardens at Lake Merritt and Independent Brewery. Children’s Fairyland is a 60-year-old storybook-themed amusement park. Volunteers helped enhance animal exhibits, build storage sheds and a greenhouse, and aid in cleaning and painting the park.

Oakland volunteers

Volunteers at the Gardens at Lake Merritt helped with large-scale painting and landscape projects. Specifically, volunteers pruned and planted a rose garden and created “seed balls” to help inform Oakland children about bees and pollination. At Independent Brewing Company, a brewery located in the Jack London neighborhood, volunteers collaborated with local muralists Dragon School to participate in “paint by the numbers,” as city murals are a major part of Oakland’s arts scene.