Meeting News - February 25, 2008 - (Page 1)

INSIDE THE INDUSTRY ‘Meet Different’lives hype p. 6 TRANSPORTATION & SVCS Delta-Northwest merger? p. 16 INSIDER REPORT: SPAS Outdoor adventures are in p. 21 CHEF TALK Fred Mensinga wants to help Hilton Hotels’ SoCal guests to ‘Eat Naturally’ page 8 MeetingNews w w w. M e e t i n g N e w s . c o m February 25, 2008 July 16, 2007 Meetings Industry Fears Recession Doldrums Analysts say suppliers are safe, but meeting planners could face challenges By Christopher Hosford Hotels/Resorts Company opens 900th hotel, has a 500-hotel development pipeline, & makes upgrades to Sheraton brand. see page 10 International Kellen Company’s Beijing office sets up China meetings and activities for U.S. associations. see page 17 VARIOUS EFFORTS KEEP ASSOCIATION MANAGER STARWOOD BRIGHTLY LIT OPENS DOORS IN CHINA New York—Trepidation by meeting planners and suppliers over the prospects of a weakening economy is building. While analysts predict little negative impact on the supply side, should the nation slip into the recession, meeting planners need to be prepared for change in their work patterns and tough budget decisions. “In our forecasts, the first and second quarters of the year are always the weakest,” said Bjorn Hanson, hospitality con- sultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers.“So, during this period, we’ll find plenty of information about how terrible things are. But the third and fourth quarters of 2008 will be only a little weaker than last year, which will make people wonder why they were so negative.” The consensus is that the hotel industry should weather an economic downturn well. “Like recessions in the past, there may be slowdown in demand, continued on page 33 RADISSON ADDS THREE IN SOUTH AMERICA HARRAH’S MIXES IT UP WITH LAS VEGAS VENUES Hotelier launches pair of properties Gaming giant offers groups access to the clubs and restaurants among its seven Sin City properties. see page 10 in Peru, plus a golf resort in Panama City. see page 18 MONTE CARLO REOPENS AFTER FIRE LAST MONTH New unit will focus on Europe, Resort is up and running again with 1,200 guest rooms, meeting spaces, casino, & amenities in operation. see page 10 MAC MEETINGS DAWNS INTERNATIONAL DIVISION Asia, Caribbean, and Africa with planning, production, & staffing. see page 18 MeetingNews Exclusive Research For what percentage of your programs do you take advantage of complete meeting packages? 0 to 15% 15.6% 65.4% 77.1% Are Expo Centers Clean and Sober? IAEE asking major venues to get tough on drug use, but industry reaction is mixed By Rayna Katz CVBs CHICAGO’S OLYMPIC BID SIGNALS INVESTMENTS Windy City proposes five new event venues & urban stimulation for 2016 Summer Games. see page 13 Destination Insider MONTEREY, CA Hospitality suppliers are injecting $200M in overall investments. see page 24 16 to 30% 31 to 50% 51 to 75% 8.3% 8.9% 5.7% 5.0% 5.1% 5.0% 3.8% 20% 40% 60% 80% Corporate Planners Association Planners More than 75% 0% Source: MeetingNews survey of 336 meeting planners Volume 32/Number 4/$10.00 Deal Breaking By William Ng Our latest study indicates that complete meeting packages—the all-inclusive pricing concept—may still be getting short shrift. see page 20 Dallas—In the first exhibition industry-wide effort to combat a serious and growing problem—and an attempt to break a longstanding silence—the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) is asking convention centers in the nation’s major meeting destinations to adopt strict policies on the use of illicit drugs and alcohol abuse by contractor-employed show floor workers. IAEE is requesting the buildings adopt a “right of entry” policy, whereby the facilities would reserve the right to conduct random drug tests of workers in the building and, if the workers fail the test, deny them access into the buildings. Many centers only have drug policies that govern the behavior of their own employees and claim that they cannot continued on page 34 MISSOURI Branson’s profile is taking off; St. Louis & Kansas City show off downtown upgrades. see page 26 FOUR CITIES LOOK TO CAPITALIZE ON GROUPS Providence, Baton Rouge, Raleigh, and St. Paul form Capital Cities Collection targeting rotations. see page 13 http://www.MeetingNews.com http://www.mimegasite.com/mimegasite/research/index.jsp

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Meeting News - February 25, 2008

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