Feb 13, 2020
Deadly earthquakes have been rattling the island of Puerto Rico in recent weeks, causing devastation in the area around Guanica on the southwest coast. On the other side of the island, however, in San Juan (which is celebrating its 500th anniversary this year!), things are looking up.
After experiencing a decline in meetings and events business leading up to and following Hurricane Maria in 2017, the northeast portion of Puerto Rico is not only open for business, but well-positioned to attract more meetings and events than ever — especially in the luxury segment.
The 5-acre El Distrito, a… more
Feb 07, 2020
Upping their games to attract more meeting and convention business in an ever-more-competitive market, major U.S. convention centers are busy with renovation and expansion projects. Here’s what to watch for.
Las Vegas Convention Center District Taking Shape
The 1.4 million-square-foot, $1.5 billion Las Vegas Convention Center District expansion and remodeling project is moving along on schedule. Last fall, the convention center announced it had completed more than 60 percent of the project’s Phase Two expansion, which broke ground in January 2017 and began construction in fall of 2018.… more
Jan 17, 2020
Looking for a great new getaway location for your next Midwest team-building event, retreat or small meeting? There are many options in the state of Wisconsin (and you get the added bonus of abundant cheese curds).
Take Rock County. Located just over the state border from Illinois, 83 miles from Chicago O’Hare Airport and 75 miles from Milwaukee General Mitchell Airport, Beloit and Janesville offer unique locations for small meetings.
Beloit
Ironworks Hotel has an almost-steampunk feel, with wood complemented by metal elements throughout. It offers 3,300 square feet of flexible event… more
Jan 03, 2020
PCMA Convening Leaders, the annual PCMA conference for event planners, is coming to San Francisco on Jan. 5-8, 2020. Not only does this mark a 20-year anniversary for the city — the last time Convening Leaders was held in San Francisco was 2001 — it is also perfectly timed to showcase the revamped and expanded Moscone Center.
Convening Leaders draws approximately 5,000 attendees with a nearly even split between event planners and industry suppliers. The majority will be seeing the new version of Moscone for the first time. Meanwhile, the San Francisco Travel Association intends to show… more
Jan 02, 2020
Just 64 miles from Milwaukee General Mitchell Airport and 140 miles from Chicago O’Hare Airport, you’ll find Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. The small Sheboygan County town has been a resort destination since the late 1800s, and in more recent years has become host to a number of events at The Osthoff Resort.
The Osthoff’s roots date back to 1886, when the original Otto Osthoff’s Hotel was opened by German entrepreneurs Otto and Paulina Osthoff. In the century since, the grounds have changed hands several times. The current iteration of the resort dates to 1995.
Today, the resort features a… more
Dec 11, 2019
Heading to the City of Angels for a meeting or event next year? The city is exploding with new and renovated hotels to inspire every type of group. Whether you’re looking for a meeting space in a historic hotel or a trendy rooftop for a cocktail reception, you have plenty of options to choose from. Here are five venues that are catching our eye for 2020 and beyond.
The Wayfarer DTLA
Opening January in the downtown Los Angeles Broadway Corridor’s former Ritz Milner building, this boutique property will have 156 rooms plus four restaurants and a highly unique stairwell gym. While the trendy… more
Dec 09, 2019
China’s newest and largest convention center, Shenzhen World, opened in early November. The venue, which will be the biggest exhibition and convention center in the world once its Phase 2 construction is completed, is also aiming to be the most sustainable and most intelligent. One thing is certain: The impressive facility will play a significant role in growing the region’s economy.
Located in the Pearl River Delta, Shenzhen is China’s technology innovation hub and home to more than 3 million businesses. The city has grown from a small fishing village to a metropolis in just three decades… more
Dec 02, 2019
It’s a big month for Portland, Oregon: Last week, its Oregon Convention Center officially completed a momentous $40 million renovation. It marked the first large-scale renovation to take place at the facility since it was built three decades ago, and also took place during OCC’s busiest year to date — a feat in itself.
The renovation included updates to public spaces throughout the venue to improve accessibility, creating a new plaza to serve as a flexible outdoor space option for events, and elevated design touches that reflect the building’s surroundings.
“We made sure to keep our local… more
Nov 18, 2019
When it comes to planning group dinners or receptions, hotel restaurants used to be the fall-back option: convenient but not exciting. But in Portland, Ore. the tables have been turned. Some of the finest restaurants in the city — and in the Pacific Northwest — are located inside Portland’s downtown hotels.
This is good news for every planner who dreads finding a hot restaurant for private dining, and also for attendees who are tired at the end of their event day and would rather not deal with taxis, Ubers or Lyfts.
Marcus Hibdon, director of public relations and communications for Travel… more
Nov 11, 2019
Several hotel brands and convention centers are jumping on the green bandwagon to help the environment and people in need through an array of sustainability and CSR initiatives.
TCF Center Snags LEED Gold Certification
Detroit’s TCF Center has been awarded LEED Gold Certification, making it the largest LEED-certified building in the state of Michigan. The LEED rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, is considered the foremost program for buildings, homes and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained and operated for improved environmental and human health… more
Partner Voices
Just when it seems like Las Vegas can’t get any bigger, brighter or more exciting for groups, MGM Resorts raises the bar again. The company continues to invest and innovate across its portfolio of Las Vegas resorts, with new attractions and upgraded experiences for attendees of all interests.
Remodeled Guest Rooms
MGM Grand is the largest single hotel in the world with over 5,000 guest rooms and an 850,000-square-foot conference center. It is home to the newly remodeled MGM Grand Studio Tower—700 reimagined guest rooms with a fun mid-century vibe. Nearby, the iconic New York-New York Las more