Sep 22, 2021
Caesars Entertainment is gearing up to expand its extensive global resort portfolio with a new resort development in Danville, Va. Expected to break ground in December, the $500 million Caesars Virginia will include 500 hotel rooms, a state-of-the-art casino floor, Caesars Sportsbook, World Series of Poker Room, new dining and entertainment concepts, as well as meeting and event space.
“Caesars Virginia will be an economic driver for the region, both as a tourist and entertainment draw and through the more than 1,000 good-paying jobs the resort will create,” said Anthony Carano, president… more
Sep 16, 2021
With Zoom-fatigued attention spans on the wane and pandemic-weary people eager to get back into the world and converge face-to-face again, is a traditional conference center really what the doctor ordered for your next meeting or event? If not, maybe it’s time to get creative and aim for an out-of-box alternative venue to help create excitement and enhance attendee engagement. Here are five fun, unique and creative venues to keep on your radar for your next meeting or special event.
SGWS Wynwood (Miami)
Located in Wynwood, Miami’s eclectic creative arts and culture district, SGWS Wynwood is… more
Sep 14, 2021
While the pandemic may have sidelined events at convention centers and other venues for a while, several made great use of the downtime to continue constructing new venues or expanding existing facilities. Check out five of the most notable new developments in 2021.
Oklahoma City Convention Center
Oklahoma City significantly elevated its capacity for hosting meetings, conventions, tradeshows and other events with the opening of the $288 million Oklahoma City Convention Center and adjacent 605-room Omni Oklahoma City headquarters hotel early this year.
“The new venues and infrastructure… more
Aug 31, 2021
The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, Fla., has become the first facility of its kind to receive GBAC STAR Facility Re-accreditation from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association.
The OCCC was one of the first convention centers to receive initial GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation when the program was launched in 2020, and the re-accreditation comes following one year of successfully hosting events amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our GBAC STAR re-accreditation on outbreak prevention, response and recovery is… more
Aug 19, 2021
To help promote racial equity and overcome underrepresentation in its local travel and tourism industry, Experience Columbus and the Greater Columbus Sports Commission are partnering with Tourism Diversity Matters, a tourism and events industry resource for diversity expertise, to launch the Diversity Apprenticeship Program (DAP).
Designed to help close the significant racial equity gap in the Central Ohio hospitality community, the new apprenticeship program will provide hands-on experience and job opportunities to local students, recent graduates and professionals who identify as BIPOC (… more
Aug 13, 2021
The global hospitality industry continues readying itself for better times ahead with an array of new builds, remodels and expansion projects aimed to lure meeting and event groups through their doors. Take a look:
New Properties
The Industrial Hotel
Marriott’s Autograph Collection recently opened its second Pittsburgh property, The Industrial Hotel. Housed within the historic James Arrott building in the city’s Central Business District, the new 18-story hotel features 124 rooms, including 28 suites, a second-floor lobby lounge serving Pittsburgh-style craft cocktails, meeting… more
Aug 11, 2021
New Destinations International Futures Study Provides Recovery Roadmap for Destination Organizations
Destinations International, the world’s largest and only association dedicated to destination organizations, CVBs and tourism boards, has released its 2021 DestinationNEXT Futures Study, an updated study of key trends and strategies that will help thousands of destination organizations around the world stay thriving and relevant.
Built on the learnings from the 2014, 2017 and 2019 Futures Studies, the 2021 Futures Study identifies travel and tourism trends while taking a deep dive into the major opportunities for destination marketing and management leaders, thus providing a critical roadmap… more
Aug 02, 2021
New York City has opened its arms to the world again, ready to host groups with an impressive lineup of recently opened or soon-to-open venues.
“It’s time to return to New York,” said Fred Dixon, president and CEO of NYC & Co., the city’s official destination marketing organization and CVB, pointing to the increasingly vibrant atmosphere prevailing throughout the city. “As we all emerge from the pandemic, keeping an eye on the Delta variant, of course, our venues are prepared with the right safety protocols, and there's so much that has happened over the last year in terms of new… more
Jul 20, 2021
Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee, N.C., is gearing up to complete a $250 million expansion this fall. The four-year project, which broke ground in June 2018, includes a new 725-room hotel tower, an 83,000-square-foot convention center and new food and beverage offerings, among additional amenities.
“We are thrilled to see this project come to completion and to be able to offer our guests new amenities and offerings,” said Brooks Robinson, regional senior vice president and general manager of Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos. “This expansion has been an integral component to our property… more
Jul 19, 2021
One of the many effects of the pandemic was the movement of many city residents to nearby suburbs. The same reasons for the mini-exodus, namely cost and convenience, could also lead more events to make similar leaps.
If any region is capable of a shift in event locations, it’s the surrounding areas outside the nation’s capital. Beyond being home to the federal government, Washington, D.C., and its neighboring counties are the hub of many national associations. Marriott International makes its home in nearby Bethesda, Maryland (where its new headquarters will also be located) and Hilton’s… 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