Meeting News - December 3, 2007 - (Page 1)

TRANS & SERVICES Teambuilding,with sand p. 12 TECHNOLOGY Amex’s express airport lanes p. 15 MN WEBCAST REPORT Opening up communications p. 24 NEWSMAKER MS Gulf Coast CVB’s Stephen Richer accepts position at National Tour Association page 22 MeetingNews w w w. M e e t i n g N e w s . c o m December 3,16, 2007 July 2007 Joining Forces Two travel industry groups meld their lobbying efforts By Rayna Katz Hotels/Resorts Vegas’ Frontier Hotel & Casino is demolished to make way for first brand extension of NYC’s famous Plaza Hotel. see page 7 CVBs Developing hub around convention center will be one-stop shop with hotels, entertainment, and dining. see page 8 PLAZA HOTEL BEGINS ANAHEIM TALKS UP NEW FRONTIER ON STRIP CENTER WALK PROJECT Washington, DC—Bolstering their ability to wage battles on the industry’s behalf, the Travel Industry Association and the Travel Business Roundtable have announced that they will become a single organization in 2009. Meanwhile, the two also will, in effect, take over the Discover America Partnership, which will fold this month. Next year, as TIA works to merge with TBR into one—as yet unnamed—entity, it will absorb much of the DAP staff. MeetingNews Bringing the two large travel industry Exclusive Research continued on page 26 When considering destinations for events, which of the following related to air service are most important to you? Reasonable airfares for most attendees Short or direct flights for many attendees Variety of carriers serving the destination Convenient travel from airport to business district 7.6% 11.6% 39.9% 28.1% 31.2% 28.1% FOXWOODS ANNOUNCES ANOTHER NEW COMPLEX Connecticut casino resort, with big MGM Grand project in the offing, plans retail and F&B extension. see page 7 LAUDERDALE LOOKS TO BUILD ON HILTON BUZZ Offers promotion with free space rentals, attrition waiver to groups at convention center, which is getting just-announced Hilton HQ hotel. see page 8 MPI Raising Bar on PEC ‘Meet Different’ interactive theme underscores big changes to event By Robert Carey ROYAL SPACE TO GRACE COLORADO SKI VILLAGE HAWAII’S MARKETING HAS VIRAL IMPULSES Viceroy, a 236-room condo property, will also bring meeting space, a spa, and shops to Snowmass village. see page 7 CVB establishes YouTube promo video site and an interactive blog. see page 8 6.2% 12.3% Corporate Planners Association Planners Destination airport 1.4% is easy for passengers to navigate 2.1% Predominant carrier(s) for that destination 1.8% preferred by many 0.7% attendees Other 12.0% 17.1% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% Source: MeetingNews survey of 422 meeting planners Short and Sweet By Nancy Lazarus When it comes to flights for attendees, planners keep it cheap and direct. see page 16 Volume 31/Number 17/$10.00 Dallas—Meeting Professionals International, is making bold, and perhaps risky, moves in the planning of its next major educational conference. Its Professional Education Conference, to be held Feb. 2-5 in Houston, has been branded “Meet Different”; the event’s website is named MPImeetdifferent.com. And “different” is indeed the operative word; not only will the majority of educational sessions be new topics,but they will be far more interactive before,during,and after the live event. Also, the traditional grid configuration of the exhibition floor has been scrapped in favor of an openfloor, lounge-heavy layout; one MPI continued on page 26 Convention Centers International CORNELL STUDY: U.S. IS MISSING OUT ON CUBA HOUSTON, MAJOR CITIES Cuba’s tourism/hospitality industry THE TARGET OF UNIONS Service Employees Int’l Union and Unite Here will rally convention center workers for wages, guaranteed health care. see page 10 is thriving, but U.S. embargo is keeping suppliers out. see page 14 MARRIOTT SIGNS PACT FOR NORDIC PROPERTIES New contract calls for 15 hotels in Norway, Sweden, and Finland over next six years. see page 14 BIGGER GROUPS WILL FIND WAY TO SAN JOSE Officials unveil McEnery expansion plan that will raise total capacity to 880,000 sf, triple ballroom space, and double meeting space. see page 10 Destination Insider NEW ORLEANS Marriott, Hilton both have largescale makeovers. see page 18 LANCASTER COMMISH CRIES FOUL OVER BOND County commissioners seeking legal recourse to absolve themselves of a $40-million construction bond. see page 10 FRANCE Paris’ Cnit Convention Center debuts update and expansion. see page 20 http://www.MeetingNews.com http://MPImeetdifferent.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Meeting News - December 3, 2007

Meeting News - December 3, 2007
Contents
What’s Up @ MeetingNews.com
MN Webcast Report
Successful Meetings University
Advertisers Index
Live from the Forum

Meeting News - December 3, 2007