Successful Meetings - June 2008 - (Page 67)

Essential Tool Box Convention Centers/Facilities: Alliant Energy Center, 100,000 sf of dedicated space; 17 meeting rooms (largest accommodates 1,000); 9,762-seat Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, 85,000 sf of dedicated space; 23 meeting rooms (largest accommodates 1,400); includes 45,590-sf William T. Evjue Rooftop Gardens (accommodates 3,043 for receptions). Daily Business Costs*: Hotel $124.51 F&B $91.41 Car Rental $77.27 For More Information: Greater Madison CVB www.visitmadison.com *Business Travel News 2008 Corporate Travel Index Meeting Sites Madison,WI BETTER CHEDDAR: Meeting planners commend Madison for being “a great little city with a lot to offer.” A walkable city, with a firm commitment to environmental standards, Madison boasts a lively restaurant and nightlife scene—and yes, you can find Wisconsin cheese there too. Last year was a banner one for greening, as meetings facilities and city infrastructure joined to make a smaller carbon footprint. By Terri Hardin Monona Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. YEARS IN THE MAKING The and Sue Fern of Event Pro-SSSS have used and recommend the 240-room Hilton Madison Monona Terrace. A natural, according to Joy, is combining the meeting with an event in the Capitol Building nearby. (“Unbelievable,” says Fern. Thai Pavilion, Olbrich Botanical Garden “The Capitol Building was outstanding for the reception.”) HOME TEAM RECOMMENDS Gloria Nelson also recommends the Alliant Nelson of Gloria Nelson Event Design LLC, recommends Monona Terrace as Energy Center (“Think exposition space being “beautiful, with a lovely rooftop.” with meeting breakout facilities and also Nelson as well as Judith Joy, cooperative useful for special events”), which is development specialist, for MA-based served by the nearby 237-room Sheraton. Terrace Community and Convention Center, adapted from a design by legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright (who had originally drawn up the center’s plans in 1938), was completed in 1997. Perhaps it was just as well, as Wright is arguably one of the more controversial architects of modern times. “One in every five buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright has been destroyed,” states the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy, which seeks to preserve the remain- der. The Terrace commands Madison’s waterfront and is a natural focal point for meetings. Rolling in Green When it comes to meetings, Madison, WI, did its best to become the greenest city in the U.S. in 2007. Last year, both of its meeting facilities received environmental desigMonona nations: the 85,000-sf Monona Terrace Terrace Community and Convention Center became the first existing convention center to earn “silver” certification under the LEED Program for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB), and the 100,000-sf Alliant Energy Center became a Travel Green Wisconsin certified business. Last June, the city of Madison was also among 13 cities to receive the first Solar America Cities SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS JUNE 2008 Award, grant funding for its goal to double its solar use by 2009. Additionally, the city has introduced five diesel-electric hybrid buses in the Metro Transit fleet. Finally, Dane County Regional Airport (which is served by Northwest, United Express, American Eagle, Midwest Express, Continental Express, and Delta Connection) received an Environmental Achievement Award from the Airports Council International–North America. Thus, planners considering Madison can be assured that the city takes its greening very seriously. —TH 67 http://www.visitmadison.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Successful Meetings - June 2008

Successful Meetings - June 2008
Contents
Editor's Note
Industry Trends
Events
Suppliers
Associations
Planner Spotlight: Kelly Broz
Technology Talk
Food & Beverage
Websites of the Month
Pre-Event: Tech
Pre-Event: Bartering
Tools of the Trade
Dialing for Dollars
The All-in-One Resort
Bottom-Line Speakers
Places & Spaces
Florida’s West Coast
Mississippi
Atlanta
Wisconsin
Chicago
Gurus

Successful Meetings - June 2008