Meeting News - March 24, 2008 - (Page 28)

Destination Insider: Cleveland Edited by Rayna Katz rayna.katz@nielsen.com Cleveland’s I-X Center Completes South Hall Expansion Addition makes facility’s total space just shy of 1 million sf, now welcoming concurrent shows and smaller events The International Exposition Center ﬁnwhen we’re traditionally booked solid,” ished its South Hall expansion project said Eric German, vice president of marlast month, adding 185,000 sf of exhibit keting for the center. space contiguous to the center’s existing “In the fall, we’ve already booked some 800,000-sf main ﬂoor. shows that would normally get lost inside The ﬁrst show to use the new venue was the I-X Center because it’s so cavernous,” the Greater Cleveland Auto Show, which said German. “If you’re a 100,000-grosstook place during the last week of Februsf show, South Hall is going to feel a lot ary. It took up all of the facility’s nearly more comfortable than our main hall, 1 million sf of space to host more than which has ceiling heights of up to 80 feet.” 600,000 visitors over a 10-day period. The new space has 14 dock doors, four “This expansion will allow us to grow drive-in doors, and 24-ft ceilings. by 25 percent, which the automakers Each year, the I-X Center attracts more and their franchised dealers have been than 2 million visitors through a combirequesting,” said Gary Adams, president nation of consumer and trade shows. of the Greater Cleveland Automobile “We’re still talking to people about Dealers’ Association, which produces the Greater Cleveland Auto Show now has more space at the I-X. booking shows that we haven’t been able annual event. to accommodate before,” added German, Meanwhile, the I-X Center will benefit from atmosphere for smaller shows. including primarily consumer shows such as JohnSouth Hall, because it allows for concurrent events “It’ll give us the ability to run small to medium- son’s Log Home & Timber Frame Show, which will as well as creates a space with a more intimate sized shows during the ﬁrst and second quarters, use the space in November. Merchandise Mart & City Ironing Out Issues Around Showroom At press time, a deadline early this month for the city to reach an agreement with Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. (MMPI) to build a medical mart was extended by another week. Chicago-based MMPI, which runs trade shows and showrooms around the country, is looking to build a facility of about 500,000 sf, contingent upon the materialization of a new convention center the city is planning to build. The size of that building has yet to be determined, but it could house additional temporary exhibits during medical shows at the mart. “What this does is put us in the unusual position of being asked to build a convention center, but as part of that, we are being guaranteed a stream of business,” said Dennis Roche, president of the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland. Merchandise Mart believes the project could attract at least 50 medical trade shows a year and generate more than $300 million in annual spending. “I see this as very signiﬁcant for the community’s economic future,” said Roche.“It’s an unbelievable project.” 28 MeetingNews March 24, 2008 New Crowne Plaza Takes Off At Cleveland Hopkins Airport… InterContinental Hotels Group has announced the opening of the 238-room Crowne Plaza Cleveland Airport. “We are pleased to welcome our second Crowne Plaza hotel to the Cleveland market,” said Gina LaBarre, vice president of brand management for Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts. The hotel offers more than 16,000 sf of ﬂexible meeting space in 16 meeting rooms, including two tiered amphitheaters and a ballroom that can host up to 800 guests. currently being discussed. Other improvements include the addition of a penthouse ﬂoor with four suites, a new executive boardroom and expansions to the lobby’s Green Olive Martini Bar, which now includes table seating and a light-fare menu. Downtown Marriott Upgrade, Redux A $2.5-million event space renovation was completed earlier this month at the Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center. Improvements included the addition of new chandeliers, local artwork, and custom-designed carpets. The hotel features 17,000 sf of meeting space, spread over 19 meeting rooms with high-speed Internet access and full audiovisual capabilities. “We were excited about our partnership with local designers and artists to enhance the look and feel of the renovation,” said Bob Megazzini, general manager of the property. The renovation completes a transformation of the 400-room downtown Cleveland hotel, which debuted a $10-million guest room renovation at the end of 2005. r —Section written by Phillip Hennessey www.meetingnews.com …As Downtown CP Renovates The Crowne Plaza Hotel City Centre completed $8 million in renovations to its 472 guest rooms and added complimentary wireless Internet throughout the hotel last month. The hotel, which is located in downtown Cleveland, offers groups 28,000 sf of meeting space, consisting of 20 separate function rooms and a 9,000-sf ballroom. Future upgrades to meeting areas are http://www.meetingnews.com

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Meeting News - March 24, 2008

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