Meeting News - March 24, 2008 - (Page 1)

INSIDE THE INDUSTRY Speakers assn.makes noise p. 6 TRANSPORTATION & SVCS Collusion by the cruise lines? p. 18 CONFERENCE CENTERS A Benchmark for Japan p. 24 $1.5 billion in new developments. (That’s right. Billion. With a B.) MeetingNews w w w. M e e t i n g N e w s . c o m March 24, 2008 July 16, 2007 DO SOMETHING ORIGINAL. www.gotolouisville.com • 1-800-626-5646 Schwarzenegger Terminates California’s State Meetings By Sari Krieger Hotels & Resorts International 29671_2_25x2_ValueAd.indd 1 FOXWOODS POISED TO DOUBLE MEETINGS BIZ Casino resort has high hopes for MGM Grand complex set to debut in May. see page 10 WI-FI AT GAYLORD HOTELS EXTENDS PROPERTY-WIDE Firm cuts the cord—literally— for Internet access in all areas of its four resorts. see page 10 FAIRMONT CHICAGO USERS DECLARE ‘MYSPA’ THEIRS New spa concept personalizes treatments to satisfy highly specific needs. see page 10 WEAK DOLLAR COMPELS STRONGER PROMOTIONS 9/19/07 12:48 New York—California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued an executive order last month that effectively halts almost all government meetings in the state due to budget constraints. Many in California’s meetings industry understand the situation but expect the order to have a major impact on their businesses or the Mr. Freeze: Halting meetings to save budget. businesses of their associates. In January, the governor declared California in a state of fiscal emergency, and the state legislature passed some measures to ease the fiscal crisis. However, Schwarzenegger said more needed to be done. The order puts a freeze on all non-essential spending, which includes discretionary travel for seminars, conferences, and training; restricts agency, department, division, and businessunit meetings that require travel to essential participants only; mandates videoconferencing and teleconferencing; and requires meetcontinued on page 54 Photo: AP/Photo/Steve Yeater International hospitality suppliers hone deals that lock in favorable rates. see page 20 MANCHESTER UNITES CONVENTION COMPLEX New support spaces will improve walkability and add services between venues. see page 21 Destination Insider CLEVELAND I-X Center unwraps South Hall for auto show. see page 28 MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST CVBs HIGH-TECH ANSWER FOR FASTER RFP RESPONSES Two software firms team up to automate group lead distribution for bureaus. see page 16 ATLANTA CHIEF RETIRING Spurgeon Richardson will step down at year end, but plans to remain active. see page 16 MeetingNews ExclusiveResearch How have increased oil prices affected your programs? Limited destinations that I recommend Limited number of off-site meetings Reduced number of support staff Reduced attendance of drive-to programs Airline fuel surcharges have limited transport options No impact on my meetings 27.1% 26.4% 21.4% 20.2% 19.9% 31.3% Southwest’s Grounding Leaves Riders Up in Air By A.E. Smith Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center has eyes on a convention hotel. see page 30 WISCONSIN Harley-Davidson museum, motorcycle-themed hotel roll into Milwaukee. see page 36 Volume 32/Number 6/$10.00 5% 15% 25% 35% Source:MeetingNews survey of 387 meeting planners 29.8% Note: Multiple responses allowed Oil Pressure Gauge Many haven’t, but lots of planners are feeling the effects of oil prices see page 22 on their events. Dallas—In the wake of federal criticism, lowcost carrier Southwest Airlines took swift action earlier this month, grounding 44 aircraft as part of an internal investigation into claims that it had failed to properly inspect its planes. Operations were back to normal the following day, but the groundings resulted in the cancellation of 130 flights nationwide, about 4 percent of those scheduled. A statement from Southwest said the action was taken after the airline discovered “an ambiguity” in its testing records as part of an internal audit. In addition, Southwest suspended three workers and hired an outside investigator to look into the accusations, signaling that there may be more shakeups to come for an airline that has been considered one of the safest and best managed in the industry. T h e i n te r n a l p ro b e w a s continued on page 56 LAS VEGAS Report has the latest in resorts, incentives, teambuilding, and entertainment. see page 38 http://www.gotolouisville.com http://www.MeetingNews.com http://www.mimegasite.com/mimegasite/research/index.jsp

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Meeting News - March 24, 2008

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