February 17, 2011

Crowne Plaza Closes in Cedar Rapids

Meetings Focus - the Destination Experts

February 17, 2011


Crowne Plaza Closes in Cedar Rapids The Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Cedar Rapids in downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is closed for a major renovation scheduled for completion in late 2012. Read more »
Minnesota Resort to Target Meetings Leisure Hotels & Resort, a Kansas City-based management company, has been awarded management of Cove Point Lodge on the shore of Lake Superior in Beaver Bay, Minn. Read more »
Storms Costing Airlines Big Bucks The U.S. airline industry could suffer over $600 million in losses due to flight cancellations resulting from this winter's severe storms, according to a report in Businessweek. Read more »
NBTA Changes Name to GBTA With the intent of reflecting the increasing globalization of business travel, the National Business Travel Association changed its name to the Global Business Travel Association. Read more »

Overland Park
	Sophistication is served with suburban hospitality in Overland Park, Kan., located in the Kansas City metro area with easy access to an international airport and major highways. Thirty-four hotels offer over 5,100 rooms—nearly 1,000 within walking distance of the 237,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art OP Convention Center. The adjoining 412-room Sheraton Hotel offers 20,000 square feet of additional event space. Home to a variety of attractions, restaurants and shopping—see why Overland Park is above and beyond. By design.
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Drive-to Meetings

Driving Demand

By RUTH A. HILL

Are attendees increasingly likely to drive to a meeting rather than fly? Travel industry forecasts and an uptick in regional bookings—corporate as well as association—reported by some CVBs indicate a shift toward more meetings that favor the drive-to market.

With everyone from American Express Business Travel to Runzheimer International and the National Business Travel Association predicting a rise in corporate travel this year—along with higher hotel rates and airfares—it's natural to assume that some organizations will find it more cost-effective and convenient to meet closer to home.

Read more about Drive-to Meetings ...

MeetingsFocusForum.com
	Log on now and get in on the conversation with Joan Eisenstodt, industry education leader, and your fellow meeting planners. Talk about planning issues, destination dilemmas, issues with contracts, ROI, CSR and more. Just join in, post your question and we know you'll find the answer!
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Tips for Drive-to Meetings

Drive-to meetings can be one option in the planning arsenal to control costs as meetings costs rise for 2011 and beyond. Malinda Pettaway, associate director of sales for the Greater Raleigh CVB, offers some points to consider in the planning of these meetings:

• Negotiate free or discounted parking fees with your hotel or other venue.

• Look for easy-to-find lodging and venues near an interstate highway or other main road.

Read more Tips for Drive-to Meetings »

Site Scene

Kansas

Holiday Inn Express and Suites Hays opened recently with 91 guest rooms. Amenities include an indoor pool and whirlpool, business center, fitness area, wired and wireless high-speed Internet access and flexible meeting space to accommodate up to 100 people. For more information, call 785.625.8000.

Read more Site Scene »


Hotel Transactions Booming - 2/03/2011 Indy Convention Center Debuts Expansion - 1/27/2011 PCMA Picks Chicago for Future Conference - 1/20/2011 Reforms Lure Major Convention Back to Chicago - 1/13/2011 Historic Wisconsin Resort Closes Doors - 12/15/2010 Chicago CTB Chief Resigns - 12/07/2010 Hotel Tax Hike Proposed for Michigan - 11/17/2010 Chicago Taps Big Guns for Convention Board - 11/10/2010

LATEST VIDEOS
Meetings: On Location!

Chief Content Director Tyler Davidson touched base with Tourism Toronto CVB President & CEO David Whitaker at the unabashedly pink "Imaginarium" at PCMA's Convening Leaders conference in Las Vegas.

Meetings Focus Poll

What professional development opportunities will you have in 2011?

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Conference Centers: Achieving Objectives

Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2011
Join Meetings Focus and Joan Eisenstodt, a premier meetings industry educator and consultant, for this free one-hour webinar that details how you can utilize the dedicated facilities offered by conference centers to invigorate your meetings and provide the maximum opportunity for your organization to reach its goals.

Sponsored by: Banff Centre, Glen Cove Mansion Hotel & Conference Center, Greater Raleigh CVB, The Peabody Orlando, Radisson Hotel Valley Forge, Sheraton Fairplex and South San Francisco Conference Center.

Visit our webinar page to register or learn more.