Meeting News - February 11, 2008 - (Page 36)

Destination Insider: Atlanta continued from page 34 the facility to accommodate multiple and larger events at one time without interruption. New green rooms and a coat check room were added, as well. people, but all three offer views of the Atlanta and Buckhead skylines. Floors can be booked individually or together. Within the complex, the Galleria is attached to the 521-room Waverly Renaissance Hotel. Additionally, within walking distance, the Galleria Specialty Mall and Cumberland Mall offer shops and restaurants. Meanwhile, growth plans continue at the complex.“The Performing Arts Centre has been a great catalyst for the growth of this area as well,” added Kiley. Plans for an undeveloped tract of land adjacent to the center include more shopping and retail outlets, plus a new hotel. r —Section written by Phillip Hennessey Cobb Galleria Cross-Selling New Performing Arts Center The 320,000-sf Cobb Galleria Centre opened the $106-million multi-purpose Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in September. The center contains a 2,750-seat theater, as well as 10,000 sf of meeting space, just three blocks from the Cobb Galleria in northwestern Atlanta. “We are selling them as a team. We have had events that have used both facilities,” said Walter Kiley, Cobb Galleria’s director of sales and marketing, including a trade show that utilized the Galleria’s convention space for exhibits and the theater for general sessions. While groups have enjoyed both the new theater and ballroom, the biggest hit has been the theater’s three-floor lobby. The lobby levels vary in size, accommodating receptions between 150 and 600 Atlanta Arrangements Receives National Accreditation n December, the Association of Destination Management Executives (ADME) launched an accreditation program to recognize the highest levels of professionalism among DMCs (Jan. 28 MN, p. 15). Its charter list named 24 DMCs nationwide, including one of Atlanta’s very own. “ADME has worked very hard to elevate the perception of professionalism because for years we have fought a reputation of being ‘kitchen-table’ operations,” said Susan Henderson, CEO of Atlanta Arrangements, which was named to the list. “What this accreditation does is [show] that we are a legitimate, reputable company with high professional standards.” Founded in 1968, Atlanta Arrangements began by offering spouse tours. Today, as the company approaches its 40th anniversary, it offers everything from special event planning to transportation coordination to customized tours to teambuilding activities. “We’re one of the best ambassadors of Atlanta because we’re able to sell the whole city,” said Henderson. “Atlanta has a tremendous wealth of activities.” I 36 MeetingNews February 11, 2008 www.meetingnews.com http://www.Gicc.com http://www.Gicc.com http://www.meetingnews.com

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Meeting News - February 11, 2008

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