Meetings Focus set out to discover the convention center news that planners can use, and the current and recent activity is simply staggering. Here’s a look at some major highlights.
Made in Manhattan
The Javits Center in New York City will be wrapping a large and important upgrade this year, according to Karen Shackman of NYC DMC Shackman Associates.
“Its massive renovation project will be complete in 2013,” Shackman says. “The center received a much needed eco-upgrade, which includes installing a new green roof, mechanical systems and a complete redesign of the exterior glazing. The changes will create a more waterproof building and produce energy savings of 26 percent. Despite proposals to build a new convention center elsewhere, the Javits Center is booked for the foreseeable future and spectacular boutique hotels are popping up around it.”
Big Easy Expansion
The Morial Convention Center in New Orleans has been the recipient of a recent ‘grand’ expansion that planners should have on their radar for any Louisiana events in the works.
“The Great Hall opened in January 2013,” says Jenn Lotz, communications and P.R. manager for the New Orleans CVB. “The future site of many a command performance, the Crescent City’s New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center now features a 60,300-square-foot divisible Great Hall, 25,400-square-foot, multiuse pre-function space, and includes hotel-like appointments throughout.”
Lotz informs that the Great Hall is part of $140 million in upgrades made to the facility since 2006, with a focus on technology a major emphasis of the improvements.
“Key-card access and a fully integrated, digital signage system with screens were implemented in all 140 meeting rooms and throughout public space,” Lotz explains. PageBreak
Forging Ahead in Philly
Improvements at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia are taking a focus on food and comfort. Significant upgrades are nearing completion on the third floor of the facility, where enhancements began last year with the creation of an ergonomically friendly seating area and workstation. Planter boxes and banners draw attention to the comfy new area, and a new tasting kitchen is nearing completion as well, which will be used for VIP tastings, chef’s tables and other special events.
“Our focus on the customer led us to these improvements in our dining and hospitality areas,” says President and CEO Ahmeenah Young. “These changes give our meeting planners, exhibitors and attendees a complete experience that extends outside of their special events. Philadelphia is a modern renaissance city with a goal of a first-class experience for our customers.”
A Shore Thing in Long Beach
At the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, a $35 million investment over the past three years has refreshed lobbies, meeting spaces and much more, including:
- Free Wi-Fi in public areas
- A re-landscaped Terrace Theatre Plaza with a new palm tree tropical garden, ideal for outdoor events
- New lounge-style seating in the center’s signature restaurant
- Upgraded Green and VIP Rooms with new carpet, contemporary lighting and marble countertops
- The replacement of all 3,000 seats in the Terrace Theatre
The facility is also spending $7 million to add a spacious new ballroom with space for up to 5,500 attendees by the fall of this year. PageBreak
Anaheim Goes Alfresco
The Anaheim Convention Center, which seems to be constantly undergoing a large expansion or improvement, wrapped up one of its most aggressive projects ever in early January.
That’s when it unveiled the Grand Plaza, a 100,000-square-foot outdoor pedestrian esplanade spanning from the entrance to the Anaheim Convention Center and flowing between the Hilton Anaheim and the Anaheim Marriott hotels.
The plaza showcases 151 towering palm trees, 60 orange trees reflecting Anaheim and Orange County’s citrus heritage, a river of lights, water features symbolizing the mountains and ocean, a 48-foot lighted entry monument, and 80,000-plus square feet of colored concrete and pavers. Its eco-friendly features include lighting that utilizes LED technology, and drought-tolerant plants.
Clamor in Cleveland
Cleveland’s abuzz over the impending opening of its stupendous Global Center for Health Innovation & Convention Center.
Slated for a July opening, the global health facility will serve health care innovation, education and commerce through its cutting-edge spaces, programs and virtual offerings.
The million-square-foot campus will integrate permanent spaces in the 235,000-square-foot Global Center with top-notch trade show and conference facilities in the Cleveland Convention Center. The facility also features more than 90,000 square feet dedicated to event space, including a 32,000-square-foot ballroom with lakefront vistas.
The $465 million project is almost ready for its public debut, with the Convention Center set to launch in October.
Energized in Cincinnati
Thera Wright, marketing manager at the Duke Energy Convention Center, checked in with some news and trend-spotting thoughts from Cincinnati. Among the recent group trends she’s seen:
- Groups booking short-term versus people booking more than three years out
- Consumer shows are seeing an increase in attendance both with more exhibitors and more guests, along with guests spending more money while at the shows
- The need for breakout space continues to increase, which has been ongoing for a few years
- Educational breakouts shifting from convention space to more meeting rooms
- Planners seem to have more confidence in locking into dates now that the industry/economy has stabilized
- Focus on layering business as opposed to local
As for facility news at the venue, due to high-demand for unique ballroom space, the center took the opportunity to convert 195,000 square feet of exhibit hall space into a more stylish atmosphere with the purchase of 42 decorative ceiling/wave panels. Usually used for conventions, trade and consumer shows, the exhibit halls, according to Wright, can now be transformed into a space that is uniquely industrial, while every bit as vibrant and breathtaking as the ballroom.PageBreak
News from New Mexico
In Albuquerque, a $20 million upgrade of its convention center has kicked off and aims to wrap the first phase by August. Following completion of the entire project, slated for fall 2014, improvements will include:
- A new exterior facade
- Complete remodeling of the ballroom
- A new entertainment deck in the ballroom
- Massive windows with panoramic views
- West building lower level atrium completely remodeled to include a fireplace
- Addition of a lower-level food court/cafe
- Renovation of the West Building lower level kitchen, including a food tasting and demonstration room
- Installation of a new service corridor and service elevator for the ballrooms
- Recoating of the East Building exterior walls
The convention center renovation is part of $300 million in recent enhancements to the city’s hospitality product.
Classic Southern Comfort
In Athens, Ga., a $24 million expansion of the Classic Convention Center has allowed the city to double the size of its conventions.
The major additions are a snazzy new 8,000-square-foot atrium and a newly expanded 56,000-square-foot exhibit hall.
The expanded main exhibit hall will have a seating capacity of 4,500, and a standing capacity of 6,000 for concerts and other functions. It will also be able to host up to 275 10x10-foot booths, and features high-grade acoustics and AV equipment.
“This will allow us to attract larger conventions that before would not have been able to bring their event to Athens, as well as provide the space for our current convention clients to grow in size,” says Paul Cramer, executive director of The Classic Center. “We’re excited to host some of the largest gatherings in the state of Georgia, as well as the Southeast.”
Music to Nashville’s Ears
Nashville’s new convention center, the Music City Center (MCC), is slated for a grand opening in late May. The new MCC is currently under construction and will be built out at 1.2 million square feet and feature a 353,143-square-foot exhibit space with ample flexible space, 90,000 square feet of meeting rooms/break-out space, a 57,000-square-foot ballroom with a built-in stage and an 18,000-square-foot junior ballroom. The Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame will also be located inside the Music City Center.
The MCC showcases a “living” roof and is committed to gaining LEED Silver certification; 845 solar panels outline the guitar-shaped roof, and the energy generated from the solar panels will power different features of the convention center, such as escalators and fans.