February 8, 2012

Raleigh Convention Center Goes Solar

Raleigh Convention Center Goes Solar
The City of Raleigh has announced that construction has begun on a 500-kilowatt solar energy system at the Raleigh Convention Center... Read more >>

New Orleans’ Windsor Court Completes $22 Million Restoration
The Windsor Court Hotel announces a $22 million restoration of the entire property... Read more >>

AMEX Finds Gaping Holes in 100 Corp.Travel Policies
New research by American Express Global Business Travel outlines gaps and opportunities... Read more >>

Viceroy Hotels Adds Cassa Hotel to its Urban Retreat Collection
Viceroy Hotel Group has announced the addition of Cassa Hotel, in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, to the company’s growing portfolio... Read more >>

Miami/Fort Lauderdale
With a possible mega-casino resort on the horizon and other properties and attractions newly opened or on the way in 2012, Miami and Fort Lauderdale are running neck and neck toward pre-recession visitor and development figures... Read more >>

Atlanta
Not so long ago Atlanta underwent a rebranding. “Every Day is an Opening Day” was the new slogan. The $200 million Georgia Aquarium and other new attractions were opening, and neighborhoods were transforming. But like many destinations, the Great Recession reined in the momentum... Read more >>

Oklahoma
In the popular 1943 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, Oklahoma, the title song exclaims “We know we belong to the land, and the land we belong to is grand!” Read more >>

Miami Airport Marriott

Rewarding Events reward you at the Miami Airport Marriott. Book by April 30, 2012 for your next event by September 30, 2012 and receive the following rewards: Complimentary room rental, 15% off Food & Beverage menus or CMP package, complimentary high-speed internet access in all attendee guest rooms, up to 20% off Audio-Visual menu prices*, 5% room rebate on master account, 25% off parking, 1 per 35 complimentary room policy, and more.

Click here for more information.

Hospitality Professionals Visit Schools
This week, dozens of Hospitality professionals entered P-4, P-6 and M2 classrooms Island-wide to deliver the first of four one-hour lessons in hospitality... Read more >>

Gullivers founder David Babai returns with group trip wholesaler G2 Travel
Six years is a long time to be away from the travel industry, but GTA founder David Babai has decided to come back for another go... Read more >>

Hotel trends: How to stay ahead of the curve
Following our recent advent into the first quarter of 2012, individual business owners and brands are undoubtedly reviewing... Read more >>

Hyatt announces three KSA hotels
A new Park Hyatt Riyadh and two new properties in Jeddah - a Grand and a Regency - were announced by Hyatt Hotels Corporation today... Read more >>

Do or Die
For meeting planners who don’t have a contingency or safety plan in place—or for those who need to update an old plan... Read more >>

Value Proposition
While there has been much talk of the return of the hotel seller’s market in 2012, hotel negotiating experts say planners can still find value... Read more >>

Bigger & Better
Despite what most meeting planners might expect, the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which affected the ocean destinations of the four Gulf states... Read more >>

Mountain Marvels
Mountains are arguably some of the most beautiful things in nature. They inspire poetry (think J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘Durin’ and Robert Frost’s ‘The Mountain’), they guard towns against violent weather and they create endless adventure options for outdoor enthusiasts... Read more >>

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!

MeetingsFocusForum.com is live!

Meetings Make You Stupid. What?!?!
We all know that meetings can be dull and boring. A new study shows that they can also make you stupid... Read more >>

NYC Comfort Zone
For business travelers seeking an inviting New York City location for upcoming corporate meetings and events, The Kimberly Hotel has announced... Read more >>

Keeping Fit in the Westin World
Westin Hotels & Resorts has announced a complete refresh of the WestinWORKOUT® program to match the evolving fitness trends among guests... Read more >>

Vintage Value
New in 2012 at Napa’s Vintage Estate is the just-announced Winter Meeting Package, available through March 31... Read more >>

Site Scene
Florida
The Naples Beach Hotel reopened its championship golf course last year after a closure for upgrades. The 125-acre resort boasts 34,000 square feet of meeting space anchored by a 22,000-square-foot clubhouse. An updated pool complex with event and teambuilding venues rounds out the group options...

The historic 347-room Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club unveiled its updated lobby, featuring a library space, fire pit and additional veranda seating...

Louisiana
Baton Rouge will gain a 74,000-square-foot casino and a 12-story hotel with 206 guest rooms with the opening of L’Auberge Casino & Hotel this summer. Construction costs are estimated at $357 million, and the hotel will also offer event seating for up to 1,600 and outdoor festival grounds...

Read more >>

Tempting Top Ten: Best U.S. Hotels Named - 2/1/12
Air Travel Rights Fly Into Place - 1/25/12
Orlando Getting Cluster of Biz Traveler Hotels - 1/18/12
HQ Hotel Shot Down in Va. Beach - 1/11/12
Houston Planning Major Convention Area Development - 1/4/12
Ft. Lauderdale's Airport Hilton Must Be Demolished - 12/29/11
Houston Again Mulls Conv. Center Hotel - 12/22/11
Northern Kentucky CVB Adds CEO - 12/15/11
Hilton Focused On Luxe Growth - 12/8/11
Cruise Meetings Picking Up Steam - 12/1/11
Omni Miami Moves Closer to Becoming Casino Complex - 11/17/11
Benchmark Hospitality Heads South - 11/14/11

February 8, 2012

Exclusive Video from the PCMA Annual Meeting

Tips from top planner pros, moderated by Tyler Davidson of Meetings Focus.

Contingency Planning: Preparation Pays

Wed. February 29, 2012
Years after terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, and hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and mere months since unprecedented droughts, hurricanes and flooding in the U.S, and a deadly outbreak of e-Coli in Europe, we still do little to protect meeting participants and property. The potential for weather interruptions, brown- and black-outs, food poisoning--even death--are real. Large or small--paper cuts or disasters--we are woefully unprepared for contingencies.

Sponsored by:
LOEWS Philadelphia Hotel
Kansas City Marriott Downtown
The Roosevelt Hotel
Hotel Contessa Suites on the Riverwalk
Hyatt Regency Dallas

“...[yoga] seems like a great way to chill out while waiting for a flight at SFO... ”