Meeting News - September 8, 2008 - 1

TRANSPORTATION Problems reach sky high p. 30 TECHNOLOGY Americans finally Spotme p. 32 INCENTIVE REPORTS Arizona,Hawaii, Scotland pp. 60-62 NEWSMAKER Back to School: Bjorn Hanson leaves PwC for professorship at NYU. page 21 MeetingNews w w w. M e e t i n g N e w s . c o m July 16, 2007 S e p t e m b e r 8, 2008 CA Hotelier’s Donation Draws Ire from Groups A property starts losing group business amid controversy and works to restore its image By Rayna Katz Hotels & Resorts MARRIOTT MARQUIS IN ATLANTA REFRESHES BIG A vital piece of Atlanta’s convention inventory completes massive $138M renovation. see page 24 GROUPS CAN EAT ‘GOOD’ AT LXR LUXURY RESORTS High-end hotel chain rolls out Lifestyle Cuisine for banquet and catering items. see page 24 International STOCKHOLM’S GRAND PLAN Historic Grand Hotel keeps up with the times. see page 34 Insider Report: Golf THE STATE OF THE GAME Economic slide has altered the course of course play. see page 38 Just as a stone cast into water creates a ripple effect, one charitable contribution made by a hotel owner in San Diego has left some meeting planners responding to angry and concerned attendees over the policies of their meeting venue—ultimately having to cancel and re-plan a host of functions— and forced the hotel to do damage control. The proprietor of the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, John Manchester, gave $125,000 back in March to Proposition 8, a ballot initiative in California that would ban gay marriage. Also known as the Protect Marriage Act or the Same-Sex Marriage Ban, Prop 8 is to be voted on in November. Subsequently hotel workers union Unite Here allegedly have been calling meeting planners with events booked at the Manchester Grand and requesting they move their programs; and it also has put the property on its website as one to boycott. Further, the hotel was taken off an online list of “gay-friendly” hotels, operated by Community Marketing Inc., a San Francisco-based communications firm. CMI collects a $159 annual fee from hotels that are members of its program. At the same time, the Association of American Law Schools (AALS), which is continued on page 120 Destination Insider FLORIDA KEYS Coverage includes the latest resort developments in Key West. see page 42 Convention Centers LUCAS OIL STADIUM SENDS INDY OFF TO THE RACES Meetings-friendly stadium is a precursor for Indianapolis’ big convention package upgrades. see page 27 WASHINGTON, DC Hilton, Marriott, and Omni team with Destination DC on midsize package. see page 45 CINCINNATI Riding on robust convention biz, the city shrugs off airlift cuts. see page 46 MeetingNews ExclusiveResearch How many offsite meetings do you plan both domestically and internationally? 400,000 350,000 300,000 250,000 200,000 150,000 368,619 Average Median 112,270 Record Attendance At MPI, But Some Initiatives Greeted With Reservations By Robert Carey CVBs HAWAII’S TOURISM BUREAU HOLDS ONTO REX JOHNSON Board of directors docks pay and revises contract to one year after prez and CEO is caught with X-rated e-mails. see page 28 DALLAS RAMPS UP FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN BIZ Bureau creates cultural-centric campaign. see page 29 LAS VEGAS Market, property, off-site, and recreation news on the mecca. see page 48 SAN DIEGO Downtown renaissance still hot. see page 58 100,000 50,000 0 26,405 14,274 Meetings within the U.S. Meetings outside the U.S. Volume 32/Number 15/$10.00 Source: 601 of MeetingNews survey respondents Over The Border Line? Planners of international meetings cite the economy and geopolitical volatility as the two biggest factors driving their work. see page 36 The World Education Congress of Meeting Professionals International (MPI), held last month, in Las Vegas, was designed based on an 18-month process by the association to improve the breadth and quality of educational content at its two major annual events—WEC and the Professional Education Congress (PEC), which is held every winter. But some longtime members are not sold on continued on page 121

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Meeting News - September 8, 2008

Meeting News - September 8, 2008
Contents
Letters to the Editor
What's Up @ MeetingNews.com
Social Scene
People Making News
Hotels & Resorts
Convention Centers
CVBs
International
Green Beat
Insider Report: Golf
Destination Insider
MN Webcast Report
Advertisers Index
Live from the Forum
Mexico
Hawaii

Meeting News - September 8, 2008