Meeting News - July 21, 2008 - (Page 1)

TRANSPORTATION In-flight F&B is ‘pitiful’ p. 17 GREEN BEAT Hotel has Green Seal & LEED p. 19 MN WEBCAST REPORT Meetings: The Next Generation p. 72 NEWSMAKER After nearly three decades, Susan Sarfati bids farewell to ASAE. page 8 MeetingNews w w w. M e e t i n g N e w s . c o m July 21, 2008 July 16, 2007 Oil Is Number One Factor Affecting Industry in 2008 Soaring fuel prices, surcharges, & related costs roil meeting budgets in a vicious domino effect Coming up with our list of the 25 Most Powerful was a challenge, because of the diversity of the industry. But one choice was clear: With U.S. gasoline prices averaging $4.10 a gallon and a barrel of crude oil at a record $146-plus, it’s safe to say that fuel prices now dictate every aspect of meetings and events. For Ken Deans, a Los Angeles-based trade show manager, items that used to cost $3,500 in shipping each way from L.A. to New York now cost $8,000. Peter Huggins, planner for the American Chemical Society, based in DC, noted that many of the large pharmaceutical firms are canceling travel for staff:“Speakers are withdrawing due to the elimination of noncritical travel.”And fuel costs have brought the airlines to their knees. Acknowledging the fuel-price hardship, the Internal Revenue Service this month raised the fuel mileage rate, from 50.5 to 58.5 cents. IRS commissioner Doug Shulman declared, “We want the reimbursement rate to be fair. Rising gas prices are majorly impacting Americans.” But while this represents an overall 36percent increase over six years, it has not kept pace with skyrocketing fuel prices, which have more than doubled. For more on the people and forces that are affecting meetings, turn to the MeetingNews 25 Most Powerful on page 10. Hotels & Resorts WESTIN TIMES SQUARE KEEPS PEDAL TO METTLE In city that never sleeps, hotel will finish meeting space upgrades next month before more room renovations begin. see page 14 ‘CALLING ALL CHEFS’ TO A CHALLENGE IN BOCA RATON Attendees at Boca Raton Resort & Club can cook against each other—or against a property chef and vintner. see page 14 International COCONUT BAY BRINGS OUT SWEET TASTE OF ST. LUCIA Leisure resort now targets groups by offering plethora of outdoor teambuilding options and event/ meeting spaces. see page 18 Destination Insider HAWAII’S GROUP SUPPORT As leisure arrivals continue to drop, the islands look to meetings to carry them through the short term. see page 21 L.A. & THE BEACHES Redondo Beach and Ventura offer cost-friendly meetings close to LAX. see page 22 Convention Centers CRY FROM THE HEARTLAND Destinations in the region push for more convention space. see page 15 CVBs MeetingNews Exclusive Research Are you planning to take all of your DMAI IS PUTTING ‘DMAP’ allotted vacation days this year? CERTIFICATION ON THE MAP Yes Destination Marketing 63.2% Accreditation Program now has close to 60 members. see page 16 36.8% No HOUSTON FLICK HONORED Cedar Rapids: ‘Half Our Visitors Guide Is Obsolete’ Midwest flooding washes away Heartland venues Volume 32/Number 13/$10.00 By Rayna Katz “One Day in Houston” short film wins public relations award. see page 16 Source: MeetingNews survey of 310 meeting planners Bailing Out On Vacation see page 20 Like many other dramatic weather catastrophies, the floods that struck the Midwest this summer left some areas unharmed while others were submerged and will be repairing the damage for some time to come. Similarly, among meetings and events that were taking place as the region’s rivers overflowed—as well as those scheduled for the coming weeks and months—some went unscathed, others had to alter their plans, and still more are weighing their options. Several of Iowa’s cities were hit hard by the unforgiving waters after months of heavy rain. “The floods rendered our downtown, and about half of our visitors guide, obsolete,” continued on page 73 http://www.MeetingNews.com http://www.mimegasite.com/mimegasite/research/meeting_news_research.jsp

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Meeting News - July 21, 2008

Meeting News - July 21, 2008
Contents
What’s Up @ MeetingNews.com
Inside the Meetings Industry
People Making News
Hotels & Resorts
Convention Centers
CVBs
Transportation
International
Green Beat
MeetingNews Exclusive Research
Destination Insider
MN Webcast Report
Advertisers Index
Live from the Forum

Meeting News - July 21, 2008