Meeting News - December 17, 2007 - (Page 1)

INSIDER REPORT: GOLF Includes new-course guide p. 42 CHEF TALK Manfred Jonas,Doral Resort p. 11 TRANSPORTATION & SVCS Cal State enters meetings biz p. 24 $1.5 billion in new developments. (That’s right. Billion. With a B.) MeetingNews w w w. M e e t i n g N e w s . c o m December 17, 2007 July 16, 2007 DO SOMETHING ORIGINAL. www.gotolouisville.com • 1-800-626-5646 Slippery Slope Oil prices threaten to top $100 per barrel; planners feel pain of higher supplier costs By Corrie Dosh Hotels/Resorts Hotelier creates new luxury and boutique chains to be Euro leader. 29671_2_25x2_ValueAd.indd 1 CVBs 9/19/07 12:48 DOUBLE THE PLEASURE: SOFITEL SPINS OFF TWO CROSS-COUNTRY TRIO PROMISES PACKAGES Baltimore and Fort Worth add Sacramento to its marketing alliance. see page 18 New York—Gas prices are at record levels, and crude oil prices are likely to exceed $100 per barrel, though recent fluctuations have made it difficult to project when exactly the threshold will be crossed. But what is clear is that the cost of oil has risen fivefold since 2002, and planners are feeling the effect through increased travel costs. continued on page 50 see page 14 GAYLORD SADDLES UP WESTIN IN SAN ANTONIO $1M PAYMENT ON LOAN IS DUE FOR MINNEAPOLIS Company buys Westin La Cantera, plans huge property expansion. see page 14 MeetingNews Exclusive Research From which budget does the majority of the money for running marketing and customer events come? Corporate Other marketing Planners 30.3% Existing meetings budget 46.3% 13.3% 10.1% Ad budget Expo budget PRA Merges with European DMC By Rayna Katz Bureau is on hook for first payment on $9-million city loan used for its Internet Destination Sales System. see page 18 RITZ-CARLTON TO BRING LUXE TO PALM SPRINGS New 244-room hotel with 24,000-sf spa will open in September 2008. see page 16 Ad budget 6.1% Expo budget 5.3% Other 21.1% marketing Association Planners San Diego—Adding representation in several more corners of the world, PRA Destination Management Inc. has been acquired by Allied Europe. The newly merged company—which also incorporates Allied Arabia and is called Allied International—will provide destination continued on page 54 International TRINIDAD CEMENTS REP FOR BUSINESS MEETINGS New 428-room Hyatt in Port of Spain is business ahead of pleasure. see page 26 Convention Centers SANDS’ MEGACENTER TO PACK BIG VEGAS PUNCH Las Vegas Sands touts Palazzo, Venetian, and Sands Expo & CC as meetings conglomerate. see page 22 67.5% Existing meetings budget China’s Potential On Wild Display China International Travel Mart is a blend of excitement and confusion By Maggie Rauch MELBOURNE EYES CC AS BIG MEETINGS BOOSTER New center will combine with existing one to form Australia’s biggest convention complex. see page 26 Source: MeetingNews survey of 333 meeting planners DALLAS MULLS LOCATION FOR CONVENTION HOTEL Three candidates are in the running, including next to Reunion Arena and a site next to existing CC. see page 22 Marketing Mavens By Robert Carey Meeting planners are being given increased duties in staging marketing and customer events. see page 30 Volume 31/Number 18/$10.00 Kunming, China—When I chose to relocate to Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan province in southwestern China, I knew I would be outside of the mainstream of international business activity. Although it has four million residents, continued on page 52 Destination Insider MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL Twin Cities hotels firm up offerings. see page 32 KENTUCKY EXPO CTR’S NORTH WING DEBUTS New $55-million, 215,000-sf extension goes to bat for Louisville. see page 22 MISSISSIPPI The latest news in Biloxi & Jackson. see page 34 NAME OF RALEIGH PLAZA WILL GO TO HIGH BIDDER Expected deal will put a name on the area around CC, not just building. see page 22 ASIA-PACIFIC A roundup of Far East happenings. see page 38 http://www.gotolouisville.com http://www.MeetingNews.com http://www.gotolouisville.com

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Meeting News - December 17, 2007

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