Meeting News - June 16, 2008 - (Page 1)

CONVENTION CENTERS NASCAR revs up Charlotte p. 24 TRANSPORTATION & SVCS Experient prez & CEO exits p. 30 GREEN MARKETING Paperless meetings are in p. 54 NEWSMAKER The ‘Ed’ Guru: Graydon Dawson is reshaping MPI’s education products. page 14 MeetingNews w w w. M e e t i n g N e w s . c o m June 16, 2008 July 16, 2007 State of the Industry 2008 T H E AW F U L T R U T H : Gender Bends Salary Curve What is your annual salary? Less than $30K $30-$39.9K $40-$49.9K $50-$59.9K $60-$69.9K $70-$79.9K $80-$89.9K $90-$99.9K $100$124.9K More than $125K 0% Hotels & Resorts PLANNERS DO A TAKE TWO FROM HYATT’S NEW PERKS Take Two Meetings is a roster of perks from which planners can choose two. see page 20 DETAILS OF LAS VEGAS’ CITYCENTER DIG EMERGE Aria Resort & Casino will anchor the complex under construction, and the Vdara is one of three non-gaming hotels. see page 20 International TIBETAN CONFLICT MAY BE CHASING CHINA MEETINGS Attendance at major trade fair is down, while association group abruptly cancels. see page 32 SWITZERLAND IS NOT ON NEUTRAL WITH GROUPS Numerous hospitality upgrades are occurring as the franc trades evenly with the dollar. see page 34 $ 6.7% 6.3% 3.3% 14.5% 10.0% 11.7% 20.4% 11.7% 12.9% 15.0% 8.2% 10.0% Men 5.9% 11.7% Women 3.5% 5.0% 3.5% 15.0% 2.7% 5% 10% 15% 20% It’s About All 22.0% You Who are today’s meeting planners, and what’s important to them? That’s what MeetingNews set out to find in its latest survey of more than 300 professionals. We guarantee plenty of surprises. Turn to page 36 for in-depth reports on industry trends planners face. Destination Insider MARRIOTT MAKES GOOD ON ITS GREEN PLEDGE Groups can contribute to its recently created Amazonas rainforest foundation. see page 20 NEW YORK CITY The venerable Guastavino’s event venue reopens; Sports Museum of America looks to score with events. see page 44 CVBs DENVER IS IN PRIME TIME Bureau is getting ready for the Democratic National Convention in late August. see page 26 ORLANDO ON AN OFFENSIVE BERMUDA On a tourism comeback, Bermuda offers group deal and a revitalized pair of Fairmont meetings resorts. see page 48 25% Source: MeetingNews survey of 315 meeting planners Nickel and Dimed As cities feel financial strain from the sluggish economy, can rising hotel room taxes be far behind? By Corrie Dosh Roadshow in DC, Chicago, and NY declares the destination’s creative know-how for events. see page 28 NORTH FLORIDA Beefed up inventory yields more groups for Tallahassee; Jacksonville increases dosage of medical meetings. see page 50 Volume 32/Number 11/$10.00 New York—Like car rental taxes or road tolls, taxes on hotel rooms are a way for cities to make money without angering their local constituents. On the plus side, these taxes go a long way in funding convention and visitors bureaus and their meetings-related services. The disadvantage for planners, however, is that they usually have no say (and often no warning) when cities decide to jack up room taxes to make up for budget shortfalls. In Las Vegas, city leaders are battling out a proposal to increase the hotel room tax by 2 percent to fund local schools. The proposal was made as an alternative to a petition by the Nevada State Education Association to increase taxes on gross gaming receipts, but casino developers suggested raising the room tax instead. At the same time, a budget forecast by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors continued on page 57 http://www.MeetingNews.com http://www.mimegasite.com/mimegasite/research/index.jsp

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Meeting News - June 16, 2008

Meeting News - June 16, 2008
Contents
What’s Up @ MeetingNews.com
Inside the Meetings Industry
Social Scene
People Making News
Technology
MN Webcast Report
Advertisers Index
Live from the Forum

Meeting News - June 16, 2008