PCMA Chair Calls for Upgrades in Miami

PCMA Chair Calls for Upgrades in Miami Johnnie White knows conventions. And the incoming chair of the Professional Convention Management Association knows he likes Miami... Read more >> New Hilton for Mississippi The look of Highway 90 in Pascagoula is about to change in a big way. Ground was broken Monday for a new flagship hotel in the city: A 119 room Hilton Garden Inn at the corner of Hospital Road and Highway 90... Read more >> New Hotel Breaks Ground in St. Petersburg Crews are pouring the foundation for the city's newest hotel, a five-floor Staybridge Suites near Bayfront Medical Center and Tropicana Field... Read more >> Twin Cities Marriott Wraps Major Upgrades The all-suite Minneapolis Marriott Northwest has finalized a $24 million improvement project. Formerly the Northland Inn Hotel and Conference Center, the newly flagged Marriott has installed a lobby great room complete with a huge stone fireplace, and a fitness center with 23 workout stations... Read more >> San Antonio “The emerging food scene here confirmed my feeling that San Antonio is ready for adventurous dining,” Executive Chef Mark Bliss told Southern Living this fall... Read more >> San Antonio News >> Northeast Florida On a long-ago day in early April, more than a century before the Pilgrims boarded The Mayflower, a group of Spanish explorers—already having claimed land in the Caribbean for the crown... Read more>> North Carolina With strong traditions in music, literature, dance, pottery and crafts, North Carolina’s cultural heritage is deeply rooted in the arts—and the state’s economy... Read more >> North Carolina News >> Virginia Winemaking in Virginia is nothing new. In fact, Jamestown settlers tried and failed over four centuries ago to establish a wine industry in their adopted homeland... Read more >> Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is more than doubling in size. Our expanded building will feature a beautiful 10,000-square-foot glass-enclosed Event Hall, adjacent to a stunning outdoor terrace, both offering a breathtaking view of the downtown Nashville skyline. Our new 800-seat CMA Theater will have incredible acoustics, and every guest will feel as if they are front row at an intimate performance. Event spaces will open in fall 2013. To learn more about new event spaces at the Hall or to reserve your space today, call (615) 416-2001 or visit CountryMusicHallofFame.org. Risks and Rewards: Crowd Sourcing an Event for 30,000 People Have you thought about giving up more control of your conference? What is holding you back? There is no guarantee your attendees will achieve their goals and objectives, even if you continue to plan your event the way you always have... Read more >> Surround Yourself with Great People Great people are the backbone to any organization. Identifying the right people is a skill that requires a little strategy and practice. Here are some tips for preparing for an interview... Read more >> Services With a Smile Perhaps fearing that there really is no such thing as “free”—and that all no-cost services carry a debt in some shape or form—too many meeting planners don’t avail themselves of the assistance CVBs can offer when planning and executing their programs... Read more >> No More Bored Meetings While there are many factors that determine whether an executive retreat will achieve its goals, content and venue usually trump them all. The venue really can enhance the small meeting/executive retreat experience, says Anne Thornley-Brown, president of Executive Oasis International... Read more >> Perfection in Paradise The Kahala Hotel & Resort has announced its Perfect Meeting and Incentive Package for group travel in 2013. The new offer is priced starting at $295 per night (subject to room availability, Run of House category)... Read more >> Capital Savings Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants is offering a special opportunity to experience the 57th Presidential Inauguration, taking place January 21, 2013. The boutique hotel company is offering up two of its hotels—in their entirety—to two groups of colleagues, friends or family to enjoy... Read more >> Site Scene Melia Atlanta unveiled Sky Twenty Five, a new event space on the top floor of the 25-story hotel, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering 360-degree views of Stone Mountain, Centennial Park, the Atlanta skyline and other sites... Read more >> Short Takes Palmetto Bluff in South Carolina’s Lowcountry offers new adventure excursions, including alligator tracking and a dolphin discovery cruise, as well as tranquil fishing trips and yacht rentals... Read more >> Regal Revamp for Lux Tampa Hotel - 10/17/12 Travel Industry Putting Americans Back to Work - 10/10/12 Historic Miami Hotel Back in Action - 10/3/12 Massive Makeover for Iconic Atlanta Hotel - 9/26/12 New Name, Management for Florida Resort - 9/19/12 Major Casino, Hotel Planned in South Florida - 9/12/12 New Site Showcases GSA Per Diem Rates - 9/5/12 Hurricane Isaac Heads For New Orleans Tourism Sites - 8/29/12 Federal Conf. Spending Investigated; Hurricane Threatens GOP - 8/22/12 ASAE Wraps Up in Dallas - 8/15/12 Omni Orlando Announces New Conf. Center - 8/8/12 MPI Inches Closer to Finding CEO - 8/1/12 October 24, 2012 CVBs: Negotiating for Services Wed. October 31, 2012 The top trendsetting CVBs are setting a new standard of service for meeting planners. By participating in this webinar you’ll learn what the most-innovative CVBs offer, often for free, to secure your business and help you negotiate a budget-friendly event at local facilities. Sponsored by: Utah Valley Meetings & Conventions Calgary! Las Vegas Hotel & Casino Stratosphere Las Vegas Anaheim/Orange County CVB Valley Forge Casino Resort New Bern Convention Center Dunwoody CVB Switzerland Convention & Incentive Bureau Chapel Hill Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment Hilton Milwaukee City Center Francois Calixte Conrad Miami Miami, FL Which unusual local spots would you recommend we check out? I always recommend that everyone check out the view from Atrio at Conrad Miami: our award-winning restaurant has amazing views of the sunset and is probably the only restaurant with a view like that. In Miami, a very unique area to explore is the growing Wynwood Arts District. There are many art galleries, boutique shops and trendy restaurants in the area. One gallery I highly recommend is Zadok Gallery, a fantastic gallery that also provides the artwork displays at our hotel.... Read more >> View All Insights >> Ray Bloom, Chair IMEX Group On Location: Tyler Davidson at IMEX “Looking for a resort-feel hotel within 45 minutes of central Rome for a conference of 40+...”