Meeting News - February 11, 2008 - (Page 41)

Cover Story Javits continued from cover scrapped that plan after the projected price tag almost doubled (see Jan. 7 MN, p. 16). The current plan would renovate the building and add a modest amount of convention space but includes an option to sell some land used by the Javits to pay for the project, according to a group composed of Javits’ clients, called Friends of Javits. “If they do what they’re talking about doing, it will ruin the convention business in New York for the next 50 years,” said Ken McAvoy, a Friends of Javits member and senior vice president of operations for Reed Expositions, a major trade show company.“We’re going up [to Albany] to say,‘Don’t sell the land.’” In addition to lack of space at Javits, the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees cited several positive attributes about Boston that won the group over. “The [union] selected Boston because of its deep labor history,” said Diane Burke, director of conference and travel services for the union.“We look forward to our attendees enjoying the best of what Boston has to offer, from dining, to shopping, to historical attractions.” AFSCME had been looking at Boston for future conventions, and when the Javits expansion fell through, Boston officials pitched the group for its 2010 event. Boston officials said the city’s laborfriendly climate was attractive to the union. “Generally speaking, Boston is viewed as a laborfriendly city,” said James Rooney, executive director of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA). “There is a great deal of history as it relates to the development of the labor movement in Boston, and certainly the work environment that exists today within the [BCEC] is one that labor groups have found to be friendly.” Rooney said the convention center is staffed by union workers, and that the 3,000 people who built the building were all union members. Massachusetts state law required that the convention center, which was completed in June 2004, be built by only union workers, Rooney said. “I don't think you see project labor agreements required in law in public construction in a lot of states,” Rooney said. “Generally speaking, the workforce that the unions will encounter here in Boston will be union. One of the requirements of the [AFSCME] show is that there are enough union hotels in a city, and we certainly meet that requirement.” Officials expect the event to have a big impact on Boston’s meetings and tourism industries. Over 26,000 hotel rooms have already been booked for the 2010 event, and it is expected to generate $12.5 million for Boston. But Rooney sees the impact as greater than the immediate dollars spent. “I think this event is just another sign of the www.meetingnews.com growth that Boston is ness elsewhere after 45 experiencing in the years of holding shows large convention and at Javits if the situameetings industry,” he tion doesn’t improve. said. “I think attracting “(Governor) Spitzer is a major union is a looking for a win, but feather in the cap of this isn’t going to be his Boston to begin with. win,” McAvoy said. And when this union’s “We’re not going to sit leadership goes and tells back and let this hap—James Rooney, executive director, others that they had a pen. If it does happen, Masachusetts Convention Center Authority great time in Boston, it’s we’re going to have to like trying out a new restaurant. People have come look for someplace else to hold our shows.” here and have had good experiences in the convenBut Heywood remained optimistic about New tion center and the city, and they tell other meeting York’s convention business. He said groups can still planners, and in this case, other unions.” book large events at one or more of New York’s If the AFSCME convention is a feather in large hotels, like the New York Hilton or the MarBoston’s hat, the event’s departure from New York is riott Marquis Times Square. And, even if the Javits a bad omen for the Big Apple, suggested Reed’s doesn’t offer the space some groups want, New York McAvoy.“It’s a sign of things to come,” he said.“Not draws groups because attendees love the city, he only will [other] conventions pull, but the existing said. “One thing about New York, it continues to business at the Javits will erode.” generate record-breaking attendance for meetings,” McAvoy is even considering taking his own busi- he said. r “This event is another sign of the growth that Boston is experiencing in the large convention and meetings industry. ” AD INDEX Advertiser Page Advertiser Page Albuquerque CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 www.itsatrip.org/meetings Atlantis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-5 www.atlantis.com Barcelo Hotels & Resorts . . . . . . . .24 www.barcelo.com Bermuda Dept. of Tourism . . . . . . .31 www.bermudatourism.com/meetings Blue Shark Golf Club . . . . . . . . . .38 www.bluesharkgolf.com Colonial Williamsburg . . .10A (insert) www.ColonialWilliamsburgMeetings.com Eden Roc Resort & Spa . . . . . . . .8-9 www.TheBoldNewEdenRoc.com Georgia Aquarium . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 www.georgiaaquarium.org Georgia International Convention Center . . . . . . . . . . . .36 www.gicc.com Greater Louisville CVB . . . .2A (insert) www.gotolouisville.com Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 www.HiltonSandestinBeach.com Long Beach CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 www.visitlongbeach.com Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego . .27 www.manchestergrand.hyatt.com/green Memphis CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 www.memphistravel.com Renaissance Resort at Golf World Village . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 www.worldgolfrenaissance.com Rosen Centre Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . .29 www.RosenCentre.com San Antonio CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 www.visitsanantonio.com Visit Charlotte . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 www.visitcharlotte.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. February 11, 2008 MeetingNews 41 http://www.itsatrip.org/meetings http://www.HiltonSandestinBeach.com http://www.atlantis.com http://www.visitlongbeach.com http://www.barcelo.com http://www.manchestergrand.hyatt.com/green http://www.bermudatourism.com/meetings http://www.memphistravel.com http://www.bluesharkgolf.com http://www.worldgolfrenaissance.com http://www.ColonialWilliamsburgMeetings.com http://www.RosenCentre.com http://www.TheBoldNewEdenRoc.com http://www.visitsanantonio.com http://www.georgiaaquarium.org http://www.visitcharlotte.com http://www.gicc.com http://www.gotolouisville.com http://www.meetingnews.com

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Meeting News - February 11, 2008

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