Meeting News - May 19, 2008 - (Page 14)

Convention Centers Aiming to Be the Center of Attention Las Vegas Convention Center readies for big renovation that will double its size Las Vegas—The Las Vegas Convention Center is poised to begin its massive $890-million makeover that, when completed in 2012, will virtually double its size to 3.8 million sf— 1.9 million sf of which will be devoted to exhibits. The expansion will vault Las Vegas over Chicago and Orlando for bragging rights to having the largest convention center in the country. The project is being directed by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, which operates the LVCC and the Cashman Center exhibition facility. Enhancements to the LVCC will include: G A grand lobby that will connect all three halls of the convention center behind a new street facade G A new meeting room concourse in the South Hall that will join the existing 144 meeting rooms G Upgraded signage G Enhanced video and communication tech in all meeting rooms G More restrooms and aesthetic enhancements According to LVCVA’s VP of facilities, Mark Haley, the changes derive from focus groups with some of the facility's biggest customers. “A lot of the conversation involved getting in and out of the LVCC more effectively,” said Haley. Another major focus is improving the frontof-the-house experience; a grand concourse will connect all of the venues in the convention center, from the North Hall to the South Hall. And, new logistics along the front of the LVCC will reorganize entry and exit operations; instead of having to go to the far end of the North or South halls to catch a cab, there will be a single point in the middle for taxis. In addition to the new areas, the older areas of the LVCC will get “significant renovation,” said the LVCVA, including new video projection systems and lighting, and better acoustics in meeting rooms. There will be a wireless network throughout the building, and Philadelphiabased food service operator Aramark will expand operations with a fullservice club restaurant, an upscale multi-station venue akin to hotel buffets, and “grab-and-go” boxlunch vendors on the exhibit floor. Edited by William Ng william.ng@nielsen.com Manhattan’s West Side Sees a Venue Expand, But It’s Not the Javits New York—Even as renovation and expansion plans for the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center appear moribund for now, another exhibition facility in Manhattan is moving forward. The Pier 94 and Merchandise Mart, nestled on the Hudson River waterfront on 54th Street and 12th Avenue, and currently drawing small and midsize shows, has plans to double its size to some 355,000 sf of event space. The plan will include a 9,300-sf winter garden and an expansion to nearby Pier 92 for a 60,000-sf loading/unloading, storage and, back-ofthe-house center. A new outdoor esplanade on the northwestern side of Pier 94 will provide recreation and views of the Hudson and New Jersey across the river. The developer of the project is Vornado Realty Trust and its whollyowned subsidiary Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. The project is expected to cost $100 million. Pier 94 and Merchandise Mart was built in 2000 and underwent an expansion in 2005. Pier 94 calls itself the UnConvention Center, a humorous way to distinguish itself from the Javits, not far away, between 34th and 39th streets on 11th Avenue. The front of the Las Vegas Convention Center will get major rework. Global Spectrum’s CC Bid Raises Concerns in Miami Miami—For years, the Miami Beach Convention Center has been managed by the major building operations firm SMG. But a new bidding cycle now is pitting SMG against Global Spectrum, which in turn is partnering with the organizer of the city’s highest-profile event, causing some concern about possible conflicts of interest. 14 MeetingNews May 19, 2008 Global Spectrum’s advisory partner is Messe Schweiz, the Swiss company that owns Art Basel Miami Beach, in addition to some 20 shows and more than 2 million sf of venue space in Switzerland. Some question whether a Global Spectrum-Messe Schweiz partnership would prompt the Swiss company to launch shows in the center, competing directly with the facility’s current clients. “Obviously, whenever our venue is our competitor, that worries me,” said Marc Rosenstock, whose company, ROC Exhibitions, has held Americas’ Fire & Safety Expo at the Miami Beach Convention Center for 14 years, in Tradeshow Week. According to the Miami Herald, Global Spectrum’s bid argues that it can run the center more profitably than SMG, which has been running the venue at a loss. Global Spectrum would step up venue marketing. Vancouver Looks to Europe Vancouver—The Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre, in the process of tripling its size to 473,500 sf, is seeking European business. Its new CEO is Warren Buckley, who spent the past six years with the Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre. He has a new international plan and is considering hiring a European-based sales rep. H —Section by Christopher Hosford www.meetingnews.com http://www.meetingnews.com

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Meeting News - May 19th, 2008

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