Meeting News - December 15, 2008 - (Page 4)

What’s Up @ MeetingNews.com Web Top 5: November 16 – 22, 2008 Hotels & #2 DolceConsultingResorts Launches Free Service to Help Budget-Challenged Planners Reconfigure Their Meetings In response to the downturn in the economy, which has companies cutting corporate travel budgets and stressing corporate responsibility, Dolce Hotels and Resorts has introduced a complimentary consulting service that is being billed by executives there as the hospitality industry’s “first program addressing corporate belt-tightening and responsible corporate governance.” (Nov. 14, 2008) Rose Hall Area #4 In Jamaica, theMore Resorts Blossoms with The Rose Hall enclave on Jamaica’s northwestern coast last month received its latest inventory boost with a Phase II property at the Iberostar Rose Hall Beach & Spa Resort complex, and more is on the way. Set to open this month is Iberostar's Phase III property, and in March 2009, hotelier Horst Schulze, of RitzCarlton fame, will debut his new resort brand at Rose Hall—already the location of a 427room Ritz-Carlton resort with 25,000 sf of meeting space. (Nov. 17, 2008) #1EMBATTLED AIG CANCELS 160 MEETINGS AND EVENTS Responding to media criticism, insurance giant American International Group Inc. (AIG) has announced that it has canceled more than 160 events and approved just one—last week’s meeting in Phoenix, which AIG chairman and CEO Edward M. Liddy called an “essential”training seminar. (Nov. 13, 2008) The Web Top 5 and other breaking stories, feature articles, and blogs are available 24/7 at MeetingNews.com. Sales #3 For Marriott’s NewFamily VP, The Hotel Biz Is A Affair It’s not uncommon in this industry to find hoteliers who love their work so much that they say it’s in their blood. But in the case of Stephanie Coleman Linnartz—recently named senior vice president of global sales at Marriott International—it’s true. (Nov. 12, 2008) #5 Miami Beach Welcomes Back Recharged Fontainebleau Resort After closing most of its property in 2006 for a $1 billion renovation and expansion, Fontainebleau Miami Beach has officially reopened. To mark the occasion, the resort had a weekend of high-profile celebrity events showcasing the new changes. (Nov. 17, 2008) Hot Deals meetingnews.com/hotdeals * MEETING PACKAGE: Louisville Courts Planners with Cash Incentives The Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau has announced a series of cash incentives for groups that meet in the Kentucky stronghold for the first time prior to Jan. 1, 2011. * MEETING PACKAGE: Dolce Offers ‘Inspirational’ Deal for Planners Dolce Hotels and Resorts has a series of incentives for planners who book meetings at any of its North American properties in 2009. * MEETING PACKAGE: Ocean Reef Club Waives Cancellation Fees To calm the nerves of planners who may have to cancel their programs in the face of economic hardship, the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, FL, has announced a new policy whereby it will waive all cancellation penalties for new groups that book. * MEETING PACKAGE: MonteLago Village Resort Offers Commission for Lake Las Vegas Meetings MonteLago Village Resort at Lake Las Vegas, in Henderson, NV, has announced that it will give planners 15-percent commission on sleeping room revenue and 5-percent commission on food and beverage revenue when they book their meetings there by Jan. 31, 2009. *Please call to confirm all prices and terms. Career summit continued from cover With the help of his wife’s family, his quest led him to the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, where over 130 job seekers, including more than two dozen other wounded soldiers, attended a career summit for the defense and security fields. Kimberly Hessler, CEO of Homeland Security Careers, said,“This event is the combined efforts of the National Homeland Defense Foundation and our Colorado Springs-based Homeland Security Careers. Our goal is to bring together industry and public-sector employers with this next generation of homeland security career professionals, like Wood, who are often just left hanging without any real career direction.” The sixth-annual Homeland Defense and 4 MeetingNews December 15, 2008 Security Symposium and Career Summit kicked off Oct. 28 and continued through Oct. 30. At the Broadmoor, Colorado Hall’s versatile 15,000-sf exhibit center and the International Center’s 18,000 sf of column-free seating provided the perfect setting for both intense breakout meetings and exhibits. Wood and other job seekers listened to leading experts in emergency management and homeland security and defense talk about current and projected career requirements. Topics ranged from “The Growing Cyber Threat” to “The Future of Terrorism” to “Enhancing Cooperation with the U.S. Intelligence Community and Building International Cooperation.” A few steps away, booths of government and industry leaders looking for the next generation of homeland security professionals lined Colorado Hall. Companies such as Boeing, IBM, and Sandia National Laboratories mingled with the local firms, like Rivada Networks and Norad. The exhibit included collaborative efforts from Canada, Mexico, Australia, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. This year’s theme, “Securing our Homelands through International Collaboration; Neighbors Helping Neighbors,” inspired Wood. “Before this week, I felt like I was in a rut due to my injuries,” said the serviceman. “The moment I arrived at the Broadmoor, I felt at home. Through my contacts at this three-day career symposium, I finally feel like someone threw me a career lifeline.” r www.meetingnews.com http://www.mimegasite.com/mimegasite/index.jsp http://www.MeetingNews.com http://www.meetingnews.com/hotdeals http://www.meetingnews.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Meeting News - December 15, 2008

Meeting News - December 15, 2008 Gloom Looms for Rooms Sixth Homeland Defense and Security Symposium's Career Summit... Perspectives What’s Up @ MeetingNews.com Chef Talk People Making News Hotels & Resorts %20%20%20%20%20Dolce Offers to Rebuild Meetings in Public Crisis CVBs %20%20%20%20%20Charlotte's Tim Newman Cultivates a Green Team International %20%20%20%20%20Downturn Deals Sands a Bad Hand in Macau Transportation & Services MN Exclusive Research Green Beat Insider Reports %20%20%20%20%20Affordable Las Vegas %20%20%20%20%20Galveston Destination Insider %20%20%20%20%20Phoenix Incentive Reports %20%20%20%20%20Europe %20%20%20%20%20Ski Destinations Meeting News Planners' Choice Awards Advertisers Index Live from the Forum

Meeting News - December 15, 2008

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