Meeting News - March 23, 2009 - (Page 48)

Insider Report: Conference Centers continued on page 26 ceed in broadening their client base. “With the economy going the way it is, most planners are looking at a wider variety of venues where they can take a meeting, so I think conference centers are coming onto everyone’s radar,” said Shelby Greene, manager of purchasing and key accounts for meetings management firm Concepts Worldwide, in Carlsbad, CA. Stated Greene: “Of course, a venue has to be the right fit for the client, the type of meeting, and its goals. But it makes an impact on us when we learn from conference-center reps how events similar to ours were serviced at a conference center, how well attendees responded to them, and how the groups achieved the necessary results. Also, getting the information on meeting-package elements and pricing at the very start of the process is huge in today’s decision-making.” H Peckinpaugh Resigns as SDCVB Chief Following a successful tenure, asserts ‘it’s the right time to move on’ After surprising the industry three years ago with a move from a large third-party planning firm to a CVB—and then having a successful run at the destination marketing organization—David G. Peckinpaugh, president and CEO of the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau, has announced he is stepping down. With his three-year contract expiring in June, Peckinpaugh announced at press time that he would not seek to renew the agreement. Though he has flourished at the CVB, overseeing a sales force reorganization; entry into social media; a website upgrade now underway; and more, Peckinpaugh was troubled by a recent shift in the bureau’s funding mechanism. Upon his arrival at the bureau, the agency was supported through a portion of the transient occupancy tax. However, last year, a city tourism oversight agency was created to dole out “a minimum of 50 percent of funds it collected through a new two-percent assessment on room revenue,” according to Peckinpaugh. “It’s not what I originally came out here for,” he said, but declined to cite his specific objection. Peckinpaugh—who came to the SDCVB after working at Conferon Global Services (now Experient Inc.), as the executive vice president of sales and marketing and then chief marketing officer—announced his plans this month to give himself networking time through June, since he is unsure of his next move or where there are opportunities, he said, particularly in today’s economy. “That’s the exciting and scary part,” he said. “I have a wide background—mostly in sales and marketing, and senior leadership—so that’s where I will be looking for opportunities. “And if that doesn’t work,” he joked, “I’m a good cook. “There are a number of people who think I’m nuts [to leave now],” he admitted.“But at the end of the day I’ve always tried to do the right thing, and it is the right time to move on.” H www.meetingnews.com AD Index Advertiser Page Advertiser Page Aria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34-35 www.arialasvegas.com Bellagio Hotel and Casino . . . . . . . . . . . .33 www.bellagio.com Beau Rivage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 www.beaurivage.com Branson Lakes Area CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 www.MeetInBranson.net Expo Meetings Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 www.expomeetingsmexico.com Gold Strike Casino Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 www.goldstrike.com Irving CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 www.irvingtexas.com Lake Lawn Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 www.lakelawnresort.com Las Vegas CVA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC www.lvcva.com Las Vegas Meetings by Harrah’s Entertainment 45 www.lvmeetingsbyharrahs.com Long Beach CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 www.visitlongbeach.com Marriott Kansas City Downtown . . . . . . . . .25 www.marriott.com/mcidt New York New York Hotel & Casino . . . . .43 www.nynyhotelcasino.com Nuevo Leon Monterey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 www.ocmty.com Oklahoma City CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21, 23 www.visitokc.com Palms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 www.palms.com Positively Cleveland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 www.clevelandmeetings.com Riviera Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 www.rivierahotel.com Rosemont CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 www.rosemont.com South San Francisco Conference Center . .26 www.ssfconf.com Starwood Convention Collection . . . . . . . .IFC www.StarwoodConventionCollection.com Venetian, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 www.venetian.com/meetings Visit Milwaukee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 www.visitmilwaukee.org Waukesha & Pewaukee . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 www.visitwaukesha.org Wisconsin Dells . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 www.meetinthedells.com Wyndham Princeton Forrestal Hotel & Conference Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 www.wyndhampricetonforrestal.com The Index to Advertisers is published for the convenience of our readers. Every effort is made to list advertisers’ names, web addresses and page numbers correctly. The publisher is not liable for errors or omissions. 48 MeetingNews March 23, 2009 http://www.arialasvegas.com http://www.visitokc.com http://www.bellagio.com http://www.palms.com http://www.beaurivage.com http://www.clevelandmeetings.com http://www.MeetInBranson.net http://www.rivierahotel.com http://www.expomeetingsmexico.com http://www.rosemont.com http://www.goldstrike.com http://www.ssfconf.com http://www.irvingtexas.com http://www.StarwoodConventionCollection.com http://www.lakelawnresort.com http://www.venetian.com/meetings http://www.lvcva.com http://www.visitmilwaukee.org http://www.visitwaukesha.org http://www.lvmeetingsbyharrahs.com http://www.meetinthedells.com http://www.visitlongbeach.com http://www.marriott.com/mcidt http://www.wyndhamprincetonforrestal.com http://www.nynyhotelcasino.com http://www.ocvmty.com/ http://www.meetingnews.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Meeting News - March 23, 2009

Meeting News - March 23, 2009
Contents
What’s Up @ MeetingNews.com
Meetings Mean Business
As 'Meeting Matter' Marriott Unveils Promo
Columbus, OH, Addresses Convention Hotel Issues
People Making News
Orlando Strives for Cost Transparency
Is Biz-Class Air Travel Dead?
Greenest Planner Awards
Mid America
Insider Report: Conference Centers
Destination Insider: Mississippi Gulf Coast
Las Vegas
Destination Insider: Cleveland
Ad Index
Live from the Forum

Meeting News - March 23, 2009