Meeting News - November 19, 2007 - (Page 26)

Transportation & Services Vegas’ DW Enterprises Stockpiles F&B Execs, Hints at New Ventures Las Vegas—With the recent opening of Trader Vic’s at Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile Shops, DW Enterprises demonstrated once again that it knows how to build hype as well as viable Vegas businesses. Led by Doc Wiener, DW Enterprises is the group behind some of the most successful recent restaurant and lounge ventures in Sin City, including Coyote Ugly, Pure Nightclub, and Tangerine. And while the firm hasn’t tipped its hand about upcoming projects, it’s pulling together a group of industry veterans, suggesting there could be more developments on the way. Leading the group is Trader Vic’s general manager, Gregory Walls, who has 20 years of experience in food and beverage management. The assistant general manager for Trader Vic’s corporate, Achin Berger, also joins the team. Hugo Moreno, who has worked as beverage manager for the Venetian and oversaw that property’s massive pool renovation, is on board, as is Shawn Mohadjerani, who has already managed several DW Enterprises ventures. This management team joins Chef Rick Giffen, a Vegas veteran behind the Paris Las Vegas’ Mon Ami Gabi who is now the executive chef at Trader Vic’s at the Miracle Mile Shops. “We’ve put together a talented group of knowledgeable and wellrespected executives, all from leading restaurant brands,” said Wiener. “This team blends reputable Las Vegas industry insiders with executives that bring an out-of-market perspective to our operations— assets that will prove useful as we announce a number of exciting restaurant and nightclub concepts in the months to come.” 26 MeetingNews Edited by Elizabeth West elizabeth.west@nielsen.com IAEE’s ShowDown with Mom Nature, Terrorists Industry organization brokers new insurance option for event and exhibition managers Dallas—The International Association of Events and Exhibitions (IAEE) this month announced an update to its insurance program for event and exhibition managers. Called IAEE ShowDown Event Cancellation Insurance, it is sponsored by the IAEE and is specialized to pay out for financial losses that arise from event cancellation, abandonment, postponement, interruption, curtailment, or relocation. A typical loss may include the cost of refunds to exhibitors due to a drop in attendance. The cost of coverage is determined by an event’s location, loss record, and whether it is held at a time of year that is subject to extreme weather. According to the IAEE, it provides several improvements over the previously available IAEE sponsored policy for event and exhibit managers: 10-percent drop in overall cost; 10-percent decrease in terrorism premiums for key U.S. cities (New York; Washington, DC; Chicago; and others); no-cost terrorism coverage increased to $1 million from $500,000 for claims arising from acts within 50 miles and 30 days of the event or for 12 months at the venue; events costing $100,000 or less (or with an estimated revenue of up to $100,000) are included at no charge; losses of up to $250,000 arising from communicable diseases are covered at no charge (excluding SARS and avian flu). The coverage is offered in partnership with Buttine Exhibition Insurance. Though the insurance is sponsored by IAEE, event and exhibit managers interested in the policy are not required to be members of the association to apply for coverage. However, members do receive a 5-percent discount. “A policy sponsored by a trade association should be the best there is, so we worked hard to make it that way,” said Jack Buttine, president of Buttine Exhibition Insurance. “This policy should give security to show managers against things that keep them awake at night—we are trying to allay fears a little bit.” The coverage is updated as the association becomes aware of needs—about once a year. Planners can get more information at www.buttine.com. Surf’s Up: Free Wi-Fi Now at NO’s Louis Armstrong Airport New Orleans—Louis Armstrong International Airport rolled out free Wi-Fi service on Oct. 30, becoming one of the few major airports in the United States to offer Internet access at no charge throughout the facility. The installation, which cost the hub $400,000, includes 37 access points that serve the second level of the terminal building. Due to state legal restrictions, however, connection speed is limited. Depending on the number of users on the network at once, the connection should support basic web browsing and e-mail applications, but would be limited in its capacity for streaming audio and video and more complicated applications. It is a public Wi-Fi system, as well, and will not provide information security. “We see this as an investment in our customers,” said Sean Hunter, director of aviation at Armstrong International. “We’ve been asked about this service many times and are now able to provide it to the traveling public.” The new access is more than a convenient perk for the airport’s travelers. The $400,000 expense includes the installation of a second network to be used only during emergency situations. The emergency network operates at unrestricted high speed but is only available to FEMA and other mutual aid responders. Delta Inaugurates Nonstop JFK-Malaga, Spain, Route New York—Groups eyeing the south of Spain for meetings or incentives will appreciate new nonstop service from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to Pablo Picas- so International Airport starting June 4, 2008. Delta will increase service to five days beginning July 8. “Malaga is the gateway to Andalusia, one of Spain’s most popular destinations for Americans,” said Javier Pinanes, director of the Tourist Office of Spain in New York. The region is a seat of Spanish culture and architecture and boasts hundreds of miles of coastline and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. For conventions and meetings, planners will find the 645,800-sf Malaga Trade Fair and Congress Center, with two pavilions, a 32,300-sf meeting hall, two auditoriums, and divisible conference rooms. H.B. Stubbs’ New Showing In the Pacific Northwest Warren, MI—H.B. Stubbs Companies, the exhibit and event marketing solutions firm, expanded its reach www.meetingnews.com November 19, 2007 http://www.buttine.com http://www.meetingnews.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Meeting News - November 19, 2007

Meeting News - November 19, 2007
Contents
What’s Up @ MeetingNews.com
Chef Talk
Transportation & Services
People Making News
MN Webcast Report
Successful Meetings University
Advertisers Index
Live from the Forum

Meeting News - November 19, 2007