Meeting News - January 7, 2008 - (Page 20)

Transportation & Services Continental continued from page 18 planners to investigate the projects that are being supported by carbonoffseting fees,” she added. “The hype may fade, but the practices will continue to improve for meetings, and travelers will become more environmentally responsible.” Continental, a member of the SkyTeam alliance, joins Delta Air Lines, British Airways, Scandinavian Airlines, Silverjet, Qantas Airways, and Virgin Atlantic Airways, among others, which have carbon-offset programs already in place. All of their programs rely on traveler contributions except for Silverjet, which automatically levies the payment with each ticket sold. But Silverjet passengers can opt out if they choose. Only Harbour Air, the world’s largest seaplane operation, based in British Columbia, imposes mandatory carbon-offset fees on its passengers. Freeman continued from page 18 contact point will make it easier for our customers to access and take advantage of all our resources,” Freeman said. The rebranding will only affect the U.S. operations of AVWTELAV. The Canadian division will retain its alphabet-soup moniker. VP of exhibit transportation. “They won’t have to deal with outside brokers or agents and multiple carriers.” Washington, DC, Snuffs Out Zone Fare System for Taxis Washington, DC—Taxicabs in the nation’s capital are set to abandon its unique method of calculating passenger fares based on zones, switching to the virtually universal timeand-distance system. DC’s zone system was created by Congress in the 1930s and is based on the number of zones crossed during a trip, not unlike the city’s Metrorail subway system. The above-ground taxi zones, however, are not a standard size or based on major geographic landmarks. The decision by Mayor Adrian Fenty to change systems was made after an investigation of best practices in other cities, as well as input from the residents, taxi drivers, and the hospitality community. As Freeman Strives to be Integrated Shipping Provider Dallas—Freeman is expanding its global transportation services to meeting its clients’ worldwide shipping requirements. The services Freeman has added will enable it to act as a single source for shipping. The new services include customs clearance, global transport of inbound and outbound exhibits, Food and Drug Administration and Federal Communications Commission clearances, ATA Carnet entries, freight forwarding, and local cartage. “Our goal is to make our customers’ jobs easier,” said Jim Reid, In other DC transportation news, the Circulator bus, which connects the Walter E. Washington Convention Center with some 45 hotels, as well as Union Station, Georgetown, the Southwest Waterfront, and the National Mall, now offers discounted bulk passes. Based on the number of passes and days purchased, bulk prices start at less than a dollar a day. Private-Jet Firm Uses $1B For Massive Fleet Increase Cleveland—Flight Options LLC, using nearly $1 billion in funding from its new parent, Miami-based private equity firm H.I.G. Capital, has ordered, from aircraft maker Embraer, 100 four-passenger jets over the next 10 years, with options for another 50 planes. Flight Options will take delivery on its first Embraer Phenom 300 in late 2009. “This order demonstrates Flight Options’ commitment to innovation and value in private aviation,” said S. Michael Scheeringa, Flight Options’ CEO, and “represents a commitment from H.I.G. to the long-term growth of this company.” H.I.G. bought Flight Options, celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2008, from Raytheon Co. at the end of November. Flight Options currently has 140 planes in its fleet and is pegged by H.I.G. as having the world’s second largest dedicated private fleet. Cleveland Rock Star Will Debut a Tighter-Knit Act in the Spring Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is working on major venue renovation T he Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is undergoing a $3-million remodeling that will result in more cohesive, vibrant exhibit spaces and easier navigation in the 150,000-sf attraction. The overhaul, expected to be completed by the spring, is being overseen by ESI Design, a New York firm that has worked on the American Family Immigration History Center on Ellis Island, and the Children’s Museum in Los Angeles. The work on the Cleveland facility, being done in stages to impact visitors as little as possible, is the most dramatic since 1998, when the Hall of Fame chamber was relocated. The facility originally debuted in 1995. NYC Gets a ‘Sporty’ Space New York—An 8,000-sf sportsthemed event space, Sports Museum of America, will open in Lower Manhattan this spring. With a sitdown capacity of 450, it is being marketed as a venue for product launches and awards banquets. The facility will be catered by New York City-based Restaurant Associates, which does business on the East Coast. Sports Museum of America will have spaces dedicated to college football’s Heisman Trophy and tennis legend Billie Jean King. H —Section by Christopher Hosford 20 MeetingNews Photo:Cleveland CVB January 7, 2008 www.meetingnews.com http://www.meetingnews.com

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