Meeting News - February 2, 2009 - (Page Cover1)

CVBS Recession survival steps p. 10 INTERNATIONAL Unification on terminology p. 13 INSURANCE MEETINGS Buoyant budgets & incentives p. 18 CHEF TALK Ocean’s Eleven: Sean O’Connell presides over Fontainebleau Miami Beach’s 11 restaurants. page 5 MeetingNews w w w. M e e t i n g N e w s . c o m F e b r uJuly 16, 2007 a r y 2, 2009 Of Presidential Proportions Obama’s inauguration creates monster citywide pendent experts claimed it was closer to 1.3 million. But more important, the event foreshadowed a promise to pump new life to the U.S. political process—and Washington, DC. “The [president] and the Presidential Inaugural Committee wanted to make it the most accessible of any inauguration in history,”said Bill Hanbury, president and CEO of Destination DC, the capital’s convention bureau.“You can see that with the Neighborhood Ball (an official ball that had an everyman guest list and hip entertainment like Mary J. Blige, Beyonce, and Jay-Z). You can certainly see it with the Jumbotrons called for on the [National] Mall.” Hanbury said 70 percent of the parade route was open to the general public. “In the continued on page 38 Photo: U.S. Department of Defense/Chad J. McNeeley Hotels & Resorts BEVY OF SUPPLIERS LAUNCH ONLINE BOOKING SYSTEMS Nikko Hotels, Choice Hotels’ new Ascend Collection, and a Boston collective each has established web portals for group bookings. see page 8 Insider Report GAMING DESTINATIONS CES co-location in Las Vegas; Wynn launches Encore; a new ice lounge; Q&A session with Tropicana Las Vegas; Reno’s transformation still going strong; Detroit’s arts and cultural sites round out group activities; giant solar-panel installation infuses Atlantic City Convention Center with energy. starts on page 20 Convention Centers PHILADELPHIA EXPECTS A BOOM IN CENTER CITY Anticipating its convention center expansion in 2011, the city works to secure hoteliers for lodging support. see page 9 Incentive Report ISLAND DESTINATIONS Belize offers feel of exclusivity; the natural side of Puerto Rico; Park Hyatt confirms project in Bermuda, while Tucker’s Point Hotel sets its debut for April; Aruba Marriott’s major renovation work yields a hotel-within-hotel. see page 34 The new commander-in-chief was sworn in on Jan. 20 in front of a record crowd. By Brad Crawford President Barack Obama’s swearing-in on Jan. 20 broke the attendance record set by Lyndon Johnson’s 1965 inauguration—the official tally was 1.8 million revelers, though inde- SEATTLE’S WSCTC HAS PLAN IN THE HOPPER FOR 2014 Early proposal seeks to double exhibit space to about 400,000 sf; meanwhile, a 1,200-room hotel is being mulled. see page 9 Sluggish CES a Shock to the Vegas Circuit Retrenchments at electronics show reflect economic woes Vegas Convention Center, The Pink Taco at the Hard were wider and In Vegas, you the carpets big empty spots Rock Hotel & Casino had 15 there were have leverage you (especially in the South Hall) empty bar stools and six haven’t had in a and big “conversation areas.” empty tables at 10 o’clock on a Saturday night. There were While the Consumer long time. Supply empty spaces in the parking exceeds demand. Electronics Association, lots, streets were devoid of the consortium behind —Chris O’Malley, partner, Pepcom Inc., co-producer and co-owner of pedestrians, and seats at the Experience! press and exhibitor the Digital CES, reported over 2,700 event at CES blackjack tables were unoccuglobal pied. Slot machines stood like sentinels, wait- exhibitors (including 300 ing for someone—anyone—to try their luck. first-timers), which unveiled The Consumer Electronics Show was in 20,000 new products across town again, but for once, there was plenty of 1.7 million sf of exhibit space, elbow room. Attendees compared their the number of exhibitors was negotiated room rates unfavorably to dis- still down from last year’s continued on page 20 counts created by oversupply. At the Las By Michael Goldstein MeetingNews ExclusiveResearch “ International Inertia Our survey of planners about how they tackle Increase the nuts 11.3% bolts of and international meetings produces surprising see page 16 results. Compared to 2008, the number of attendees at international programs you are planning in 2009 will: Stay the same 60.4% Increase 15.1% Decrease 24.6% ” Source: 338 of MeetingNews survey respondents Volume 33/Number 2/$10.00 http://www.MeetingNews.com http://www.mimegasite.com/mimegasite/research/index.jsp

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Meeting News - February 2, 2009

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