Meeting News - November 16, 2009 - (Page Cover1)

NEGOTIATING WITH SPEAKERS Flexibility, lower fees p.2 MEETINGS ARCHITECTURE Mtgs. pros back manifesto p.6 GREEN MEETINGS SPOTLIGHT Planner targets emissions p.10 Outstanding in every way. MeetingNews w w w. M e e t i n g N e w s . c o m November 16, 2009 MeetingNews VantagePoint Sands President Sees Las Vegas Volume Return Las Vegas Sands president and COO Michael Leven spoke with MeetingNews editor Michael B. Baker about group travel trends in Las Vegas and worldwide and his latest luxury resort project, Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. MeetingNews: How is group business for your properties? Michael Leven: Macao is doing very well, really exceeding expectations. Las Vegas is still struggling on pricing, not activity. We’re Canadian loyalty company lands U.S. foothold Carlson To Sell Its Iconic Marketing Arm By Seth Harris Las Vegas Sands COO Leven making some improvements. The future for Las Vegas bookings for next year is starting to look a lot better. January 2010 is looking continued on page 42 G roupe Aeroplan, a Canadian loyalty management company, this month announced an agreement to acquire Carlson Marketing, one of the largest loyalty marketing and event management service providers, for $175.3 million, including transaction costs of $6.5 million. The pur- More Meetings Cutting Paper, Energy, Wasted F&B By Jay Boehmer IN THE NEXT YEAR, HOW OFTEN WILL YOU INCORPORATE At IBM’s annual Information on GREEN ELEMENTS IN MEETING PROGRAMS? Demand conference in Las Vegas late last month, organizers MN Never Always replaced paper with digital alterResearch natives, sent uneaten meals to compost instead of landfills and Frequently even converted vinyl banners that Occasionally dotted the Mandalay Bay conference hall into tote bags afterward. This year’s conference was the group’s most environmentally sustainable yet, organizers said, and is part of a growing contingent of Source: A MeetingNews survey of 202 corporate and association meeting planners continued on page 44 meetings with more—and more creative—green practices. According to a recent MeetingNews survey, 93 percent of 202 Bloom called “America’s worldwide exhibition for corporate and association meeting By Jay Boehmer Seeking to mimic the success of its annual Frankfurt incentive travel, meetings and events.” planners said they plan to at least When the three-day show opens on Oct. 11, 2011, at occasionally incorporate green ele- tradeshow, IMEX late last month announced plans to ments into their meetings next leverage its brand name, the muscle of industry associ- the Sands Expo and Convention Center at The Venetyear, suggesting growing momen- ations, including strategic partner Meeting Profession- ian and The Palazzo, IMEX America will join a growing tum for such practices, since nearly als International, and the lure of host city Las Vegas to field of U.S.-based meetings and incentives exhibitions continued on page 8 continued on page 12 launch in two years what IMEX Group chairman Ray 7% 12% 46% 35% chase gives Groupe Aeroplan a presence in the United States and other countries outside of its markets in Canada, the Middle East and the United Kingdom, diversifies its revenue base and provides a stronger platform on which to expand its loyalty marketing services and coalition loyalty programs. When the deal closes, Carlson Marketing parent Carlson Companies will shed its original business started by founder Curt Carlson in 1938, which “frees up resources for Carlson that the company can deploy to accelerate the growth of its hotel, restaurant and travel businesses at a time when significant opportunities exist in these markets,” Carlson Companies president and CEO Hubert Joly said. The privately held Minneapolis company operates several hotel brands, including Regent, Radisson and Country Inns & Suites; T.G.I. Friday’s and Pick Up Stix restaurants and mega travel management company Carlson Wagonlit Travel. Volume 33/Number 14/$10.00 IMEX To Launch Las Vegas Meetings Tradeshow In ’11 http://www.meetingnews.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Meeting News - November 16, 2009

Meeting News - November 16, 2009
Table of Contents
Meetings Spotlight
Viewpoint
Event Profile
Construction Cites
Meeting People
Association Watch
Travel Dashboard
Dateline: Reno
Island Guide
South Regional

Meeting News - November 16, 2009