Apr 20, 2018
The Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority (RSCVA) Board of Directors has appointed global entertainment and convention venue management company, SMG, to oversee operations at Reno-Sparks’ major convention and entertainment facilities.
The four-year operating agreement includes the RSCVA-owned Reno-Sparks Convention Center (RSCC), the state-owned Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center (RSLEC), as well as the Reno Events Center (REC) and the National Bowling Stadium (NBS), which are both owned by the City of Reno.
“This is a great opportunity for the entire Reno Tahoe region and an… more
Apr 16, 2018
On Thursday, April 12, meeting professionals around the world came together to celebrate our great industry. I was lucky enough to be in Las Vegas – the meetings capital of the world – for a media tour centered around Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID).
Some key facts about meetings and Las Vegas:
Las Vegas offers more than 11 million square feet of convention space
In 2017, nearly 6.7 million people attended conventions in Las Vegas
Las Vegas hosts close to 22,000 meetings annually
Las Vegas is home to 3 of the top 10 largest convention centers in North America
Las Vegas has been the… more
Apr 13, 2018
Hilton Des Moines Downtown opened its doors for guests on March 21, with a public ribbon-cutting and a grand opening event.
Located just five miles from Des Moines International Airport, Hilton Des Moines Downtown is connected to the Iowa Events Center via the Des Moines Skywalk. It is the first convention hotel to open in Des Moines in more than ten years.
“We are immensely proud to bring this much anticipated facility to the Des Moines community,” said Mike Tousley, executive vice president and general manager of The Weitz Company, which developed, designed and built the property.
The… more
Apr 05, 2018
The Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach is the destination’s newest beachfront hotel, and the fourth Hard Rock Hotel in Florida. Located just over a mile from the iconic Daytona Beach Pier and the Ocean Center meeting, convention and event complex, the 200-room property offers 20,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor meeting space.
“The new music-inspired Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach is introducing the global brand’s iconic vibe and energetic beat to meetings and events along this wide stretch of world-famous Atlantic shoreline," said Kathy Masterson, director of sales, Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach… more
Apr 03, 2018
VISIT Milwaukee has launched a new website designed to redefine the city’s image for visitors and capture the spirit of Milwaukee’s people, neighborhoods, events and attractions, while driving visitation to the region.
The new site, which went live on March 17, has been expanded beyond the meeting planner to the convention attendee with entertaining new features including a slot machine-style “randomizer” on the homepage that provides a fun way to discover exciting things to do in the city, as well as a “My Trip” tool that allows visitors to plan their Milwaukee trip by curating a virtual… more
Mar 20, 2018
In 2017, Canada earned three of the top five spots in The Economist’s list of most livable cities worldwide. Many event planners are familiar with Vancouver and Toronto but are perhaps less familiar with the third city named to the list: Calgary.
Calgary sits in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, near arguably some of the best skiing in the world. It has become a technology hub, housing more tech start-ups than any other Canadian city. It’s also gaining traction as a destination for business conventions and events.
The largest event venue in Calgary is the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre… more
Mar 15, 2018
Fairmont Austin, the brand’s second largest property worldwide, opened its doors on Mar. 5 – just in time for the 2018 South by Southwest conference and festival.
The long-anticipated property, initially scheduled to open in June of last year, supersedes the J.W. Marriott Austin as the largest hotel in Central Texas. It is also now the largest Fairmont hotel in the U.S.
With 1,045 guest rooms, nearly 140,000 square feet of meeting space and direct access to the Austin Convention Center via an elevated walkway branded as “Red River Canopy Walk,” the hotel will appeal to many organizations… more
Mar 12, 2018
The city of Louisville, Ky., has added another high-end brand to its growing portfolio of hotel properties, in this case, a $300 million development designed to attract larger conventions and more leisure travelers to the Derby City.
Featuring 612 guest rooms, 226 apartments and 70,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, the Omni Louisville Hotel opened its doors ahead of schedule on March 6 with a ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration headlined by Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, Gov. Matt Bevin, Omni Hotels & Resorts owner Bob Rowling and Omni Louisville General Manager Scott… more
Mar 06, 2018
Hilton has expanded its hotel footprint into Vail, Colorado. On Mar. 1, the DoubleTree by Hilton Vail opened for business. The completely renovated landmark property, located less than two miles from Vail Ski Resort, features 116 modern guest rooms with complimentary WiFi and 2,782 square feet of meeting and banquet facilities.
The property offers three event spaces. The Terrace Ballroom features 1,935 sq. ft. of event space and can accommodate up to 200 guests theater-style or for a reception. The ballroom overlooks the patio and pool area, which can be booked as an adjoining option for an… more
Feb 27, 2018
ARIA Resort & Casino has completed the expansion of its convention center, adding 200,000 sq. ft. of space over four floors of the hotel. The new space incorporates features including views, natural light, outdoor areas and non-traditional meeting areas.
The $170-million-dollar construction project began in May 2016, and the expansion was completed in Feb. 2018, increasing the footprint of the convention space to 500,000 sq. ft. The new space officially opened on Feb 15.
I asked Tony Yousfi, ARIA’s vice president of sales, why meeting organizers might choose ARIA when there is such a… 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