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Tourism Tax Hikes Urged for Boston

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Meetings Focus - the Destination Experts
Meetings East Newsline
April 5, 2011
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Industry News
Tourism Tax Hikes Urged for Boston
Proponents of a $2 billion expansion of the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center are proposing that lawmakers hike hotel taxes in Boston and Cambridge, as well as on tour bus and airport car rental fees, to help raise funds.
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Sands Casino Hotel Set for Pennsylvania
The Sands Casino in Bethlehem, Pa., is on target to unveil a 300-room hotel, which will include meeting space and a restaurant run by celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse, in May.

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Site Survey Notes Shorter Incentives
Site's recently released Focus on Program Content survey indicates that incentive meetings are decreasing in duration, while including more individualized and CSR activities.
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CIC Partners with IMEX America
The Convention Industry Council announced a partnership with IMEX America that includes significant involvement with educational content at the meetings and incentive trade show debuting Oct. 11-13 at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas
Read more »
 
Rocky Gap Lodge & Golf Resort
Click here $50 Gift Card Per Room with 40 or more room nights*

Rocky Gap Lodge is still the Mid Atlantic's best meeting value. This Spring and Summer, get a $50 resort credit for every room you book through August. What's the fine print? Not much! Book 15 rooms for three nights or 20 or more for two nights and every room picked up gets a Rocky Gap gift card. The card can be used during your stay or redeemed later. Minimum group rate of $129 applies. Certain dates may be higher. Rocky Gap is located in the beautiful Western Maryland mountains and is an easy two-hour drive from Washington DC, Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Harrisburg.

Call (800) 724-0828 or email info@rockygapresort.com to find out why over 95 percent of our meetings re-book and why we've received the AAA Four diamond award for 10 consecutive years, or visit us online at www.rockygapresort.com.

 
Featured Story
Drive-to Meetings  

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 Global 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 ...

 
Tropicana Casino & Resort
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Re-energize your meetings at Tropicana Casino & Resort! With more than 122,000 square feet of meeting space, 2,129 luxurious rooms and suites, a professional staff—including five CMP's, a business center and free Wi-Fi in rooms and our Rooftop Lounge, we'll show you our seamless expertise, blending work with pleasure at our spectacular facility.

Experience over 20 dining options, 20 shops, 15 lounges and nightclubs and more. For more information, visit www.tropicana.biz or contact Pam James, Director of Hotel Sales at (609) 340-4515.

 
Site Scene

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 »

F&B Strategies

Checklist, Please!

By ARLENE SHEFF

A common statistic that is bandied about the meetings industry states that F&B costs are commonly the second-highest budget item (after guest rooms), so getting this portion of your event correct is absolutely crucial to the bottom line.

And it certainly doesn't take a veteran planner to know that a substandard F&B effort is perhaps the most likely meeting component to leave a bad taste in the mouth of your attendees!


Read more F&B Strategies »

 
MeetingsFocusForum.com
Click here 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!

MeetingsFocusForum.com is live!

 
Past Issues

Eisenstodt Wins Top IACC Award - 03/29/11
U.S. Travel Sets Plan for Security Reform - 03/22/11
Ohio Resort Launches Major CC Expansion - 03/15/11
CC Expansion Debuts in Philly - 03/08/11
Site Studies Incentive "Wow" Factor - 03/01/11
Ritz-Carlton Debuts in Toronto - 02/22/11
Storms Costing Airlines Big Bucks - 02/15/11
U.S. Hotel Development in Deep Decline - 02/08/11

 
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Venues with a View: Ion & WP24 at L.A. Live
Chief Content Director Tyler Davidson recently traveled to Los Angeles to check out some great venues with a view at JW Marriott and The Ritz-Carlton at L.A. Live.

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Meetings Focus Poll
How has your view of planning for contingencies changed in the last year?
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F&B: Creating Impressions on a Budget
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Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Food and beverage functions can either wow your guests or leave a lasting bad taste in their mouths. Now, more than ever, it's important to work effectively with catering managers and chefs to create added value, even on a limited budget. Join Meetings Focus and Arlene Sheff, CMP, and learn new ways to impress your guests with creative menus and food service methods.

Sponsored by: Myrtle Beach Convention Center, San Antonio CVB, Loews Philadelphia Hotel, Hershey Meetings, Villas of Grand Cypress, Loews Lake Las Vegas, Hutton Hotel, Myrtle Beach Area Convention Bureau and Loews Miami Beach Hotel.

Visit our webinar page to register or learn more.

 

Meetings East
Hot Deals

Columbus, OH
Hyatt Regency Columbus
$109
7/23/2011 - 7/28/2011