Meeting News - March 9, 2009 - (Page 44)

Destination Insider: Tennessee Edited by Rayna Katz rayna.katz@nielsen.com Stage Set for Music City Center in Nashville A project that has been talked about for a decade will take a big step forward with a vote this month by the Nashville Metro Council to “turn loose some bigger dollar amounts” for a new $595 million, 1.2-million-sf convention center, said Butch Spyridon, president of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We take nothing for granted, but we feel very comfortable [about the vote],” said Spyridon. “The city really understands the value of this industry.” Ground-breaking is expected to take place this summer. The Music City Center is vital, according to Spyridon. Scheduled for a 2012 completion, the Knoxville’s TouchKnow&Go Kiosks Are a First for Tennessee Visitors to Knoxville now can let their fingers do the walking, 21st century-style, at four new electronic kiosks that provide information on restaurants, shops, and tourist sites, as well as some other local attractions. The first of their kind in Tennessee, the TouchKnow&Go kiosks are located at the Knoxville Visitors Center, at the Knoxville Convention Center, and in the Market Square District. Users can locate restaurants, shops, golf courses, transportation, and area attractions, and print out maps and directions. Mobile and online versions are available at www.touchknowandgo.com. Listings are formatted alphabetically. Each listing has a short, informational summary. “When you’re attending a convention, you don’t have a lot of time to figure out where you’re going to eat that night, or how far an attraction is from your hotel,” said Erin Burns Freeman, spokeswoman for the Knoxville Tourism & Sports Corp. “This is a way for us to take Southern hospitality to a new level.” new center will offer a 375,000-sf exhibit hall, a 60,000-sf ballroom, and a 3,000-seat theater. Spyridon is optimistic about Nashville’s future, despite a 7-percent drop in business from 2007 to 2008.“You have to be bold and smart to take a calculated risk,” he said, referring to the new venue. So far, the risk is paying off. “We already have 100,000 room nights on the books for 2013 to 2019,” said Spyridon.“The prospect of this building has gotten us through some doors we’ve never been able to enter before.” A “buzz campaign” for the center, as Spyridon calls it, launched last December, with a music video produced by the CVB; “Music Calls Us Home” touts the appeal of Music City. “It’s been a tremendous hit,” said Spyridon. “I’ve had people tell me it’s the best [representation] they’ve ever seen of what this city’s really about.” The video is currently airing on Great American Country television network and can be seen on the CVB’s website. “This new center will take us into the next generation of hot cities,” said Spyridon. Memphis Already Has 200,000 Convention Room Nights Booked Memphis has hit a milestone with 200,000 room nights already booked for 2009—a near 30-percent increase over 2008. “We’ve been very aggressive,” said John Oros, executive vice president and COO of the Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau, in explaining the increase. “The more people find out about us, the more they like us. This is a record year for us.” Oros admitted that “the current climate has put a damper on some of the hotel projects we’re looking into.” But, he added that he is “excited” about the new 200-room, luxury Peabody Suites, a sister hotel to the historic Peabody Memphis. The project recently went back to the drawing board, said Kelly Earnest, Peabody Memphis’ spokeswoman. “Initially, we were just going to have the second and third floors of Peabody Place mall,” said Earnest.“Now, we’re taking the space on the first floor, as well.” The Peabody Suites is scheduled for completion in 2010. H —Section written by Julie Catalano www.meetingnews.com Gaylord Opryland Resort Serves Up Group Menus Mixing Low Cost, Quality For planners whose budgets are becoming increasingly leaner, Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, in Nashville, rolled out its Straight Forward Meetings Menu in February. The offerings are intended to be “sensitive to the needs of our clients in this very stressful year” without compromising on quality, said property spokeswoman Kim Keelor. “It’s the same award-winning quality at budget-friendly prices,” she said. The property serves two million meals for about 1,500 conferences each year. Executive chef Michael Swann developed menus that provide guests with a different dining experience each day of their event. Items include grilled lobster macaroni and cheese, Iowa pork chop with plum glaze, pan-seared Adriatic snapper with artichokes, and seasonal vegetables. 44 MeetingNews March 9, 2009 A tomato and cheese dish, on a discount The kitchen will be forced to be creative in finding lower-priced options without sacrificing quality, but the staff is happy to make the adjustment, Swann said. “We have to look at things that are more economical, like making our own sausage, or doing a braised short-rib or lamb shank instead of filet mignon,” said Swann.“It takes more ingenuity in the kitchen, but the end result is a five-star meal that’s more affordable for our customers.” http://www.touchknowandgo.com http://www.meetingnews.com

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Meeting News - March 9, 2009

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