Meeting News - March 23, 2009 - (Page 28)

Destination Insider: Mississippi Edited by Rayna Katz rayna.katz@nielsen.com Combined with a recent renovation of the existing space—which included new ceilings, new walls, and new sound systems to replace those damaged by Hurricane Katrina—the project is slated to cost approximately $70 million. The July target date is intended to have the facility ready in time for the National Governors Association’s annual conference, a high-profile event that was scheduled to go to the region in 2006, before Katrina nixed it. Although the conference is a relatively small event (approximately 1,000 attendees), officials hope the national attention will market the destination. Additionally, the Biloxi region is pursuing a 750-room luxury convention hotel to sit adjacent to the Coliseum. “There are several companies looking at that right now, so we know it’s not going to be long before that happens,” noted April. “I think within three years we’ll see a convention hotel open right next to us.” —Phillip Hennessey The MS Coast Coliseum and Conv. Center, still under construction, is about to dazzle. MS Coast Coliseum, Convention Center To Expand in Size and Market Scope The expansion will transform Biloxi’s meetings infrastructure landscape The Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center will open 250,000 sf of new space this July. The expansion will bring the facility’s total from 180,000 sf to 425,000 sf and will include a 130,000-sf exhibit hall, seven new meeting rooms, and a new lobby. The expansion is welcome news for large groups. Previously, the Biloxi area’s biggest convention spaces were the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino and the IP Casino Resort Spa, which have, respectively: 1,740 rooms and 29,000 sf of meeting space, and 1,088 rooms and 37,000 sf of meeting space. The expanded convention center will be able to accommodate large association conferences and citywide meetings that the area’s hotels and resorts couldn’t support. “It will give us a bigger market to go after,” said Paula April, director of marketing for the Coliseum. “We’re going after a national market: 6,500 people that need full convention services— including exhibit hall, banquet space, meeting rooms—for an individual room night block of 2,000 rooms.” “With the inventory of luxury hotel rooms already here because of the casinos, and with the number of air seats on jets (about 50,000) coming into our airport, we now have the meeting space—the third piece of the pie that will allow us to market to much more of the country’s meetings business,” she said. Coast Coliseum and Convention Center Expansion Shifts the Types of Groups Eyed by the Gulf Coast To fill the expanded Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center in the midst of a down economy, the Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau (MGCVB) is targeting larger meetings. “It’s going to be increasingly challenging to book business with the way things are in terms of the economy,” said Richard Forester, executive director.“Our challenge is going to be finding new business that we can attract to the convention center, facility and to the Coast. “We’ll look more at the association and trade-show markets,” he said. “It’s going to be tough to have a grasp on, or an understanding of, what the corporate meeting business is going to be like until the dust settles.” Forester plans to promote the destination to members of regional groups, like the Louisiana Society of Association Executives and the Alabama Council of Association Executives, with which the bureau has existing relationships. The CVB is stepping up promotions at these associations’ monthly and annual events. “We’re trying to be realistic about it, but we’re also trying to take advantage of what we do have,” said Forester. “We’ve got a new building to market and we want to get that word out.” Meanwhile, Forester’s team is working to stress the breadth of the area’s activities— including year-round golf, fresh- and salt-water fishing, an array of casinos, and 26 miles of beach—as well as the destination’s low cost. “I think the greatest thing we have going for us is the perceived value,” said Forester.“You can get a lot of bang for your buck here.” Those increased efforts may lead to an increase in family convention travel, he said. continued on page 30 28 MeetingNews March 23, 2009 www.meetingnews.com http://www.meetingnews.com

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Meeting News - March 23, 2009 Contents What’s Up @ MeetingNews.com Meetings Mean Business As 'Meeting Matter' Marriott Unveils Promo Columbus, OH, Addresses Convention Hotel Issues People Making News Orlando Strives for Cost Transparency Is Biz-Class Air Travel Dead? Greenest Planner Awards Mid America Insider Report: Conference Centers Destination Insider: Mississippi Gulf Coast Las Vegas Destination Insider: Cleveland Ad Index Live from the Forum

Meeting News - March 23, 2009

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