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Columbus Convention Center Plans Major Renovation


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Industry News Eye on MidAmerica
MIDAMERICA
Columbus Convention Center Plans Major Renovation

Pheasant Run Resort Finds Buyer, Will Undergo Improvements

New Indiana Hampton Inn Caters to Small Meetings

NATIONAL/GLOBAL
Palm Springs Ritz Emerges From Lengthy Limbo

Japanese-Themed Chicago Restaurant Makes Vegas Debut

Aloft and Element Team Up in Miami

Ambitious Louisville Project Includes New Omni

Orlando Resort Adds Major Meeting Space

Victoria, B.C., Showcases New Planner Incentive

L.A. Readies for Stylish New Meetings Hotel


Destination Photo
Michigan is filled with one-of-a-kind group experiences

Michigan is packed with instantly recognizable icons, from cars and Motown in Detroit to the historic escape into yesteryear at Mackinac Island or the shore-side beauty of Traverse Bay and Muskegon County.

Some cities rebuild new trademark draws every generation, like Ann Arbor’s gourmet culture or the craft beer movement in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. Every city has...
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More MidAmerica Destinations
Chicago hospitality locals share exploration tipsSouth Dakota is a land of scenic wonders


Grand Traverse Resort and Spa
Logo An emerging travel destination, Traverse City, Michigan, is gaining notoriety for a budding wine and microbrew culture in addition to its natural beauty along the coast of Lake Michigan. Nearby is one of the Midwest’s finest full-service resort destinations for golf, spa, and meetings — Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. The Resort’s nearly 600 rooms and 86,500 sq. ft. of indoor/outdoor function space, make it perfect for groups of up to 2,500 attendees.
Visit our website for more information.
Spotlight
VIDEO DESTINATION DEAL
Video Spotlight Destination Spotlight Programs & Packages
Greater Lansing CVB North Dakota Hilton Milwaukee City Center
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Meetings Focus Blogs Departments
How to Effectively Work With a Revenue Manager
Revenue managers work in tandem with the hotel’s sales department to ensure the best partnership possible is created between the property and a customer. While the sales department holds the primary responsibility to develop and maintain an understanding of a client’s needs, the revenue...
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Taking a Stand for People in Hospitality
If you follow the news at all, you probably heard the Arizona Legislature recently passed SB 1062 that would have allowed businesses in the state to discriminate against people who are Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, or Transgender (LGBT) on the basis of the business owner's or....
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Department  
New hotel, off-site and waterpark renovations in the Midwest (March 2014)
Le Meridien Indianapolis is slated to open this November following a $9 million renovation of the former Canterbury Hotel, which was originally...
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Department  
Chicago’s 2014 lodging statistics show growth
Chicago’s mayoral office announced record hotel performance numbers for 2013. The city’s room supply is currently the highest it has ever been, and 275,000 room nights were added last year...
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Simplify the way you plan: Meetings Focus Live! New Orleans
Logo September 21-24, 2014. Do you have plans to book an event in the Eastern half of the US, Mexico or the Caribbean? If so, you can’t miss this opportunity!

At Meetings Focus Live! New Orleans you will:
- Meet 1-1 with at least 20 Hoteliers/Venues/Suppliers
- Participate in at least 5 site visits
- Enjoy creative networking and CSR programs
- Learn from top Industry Leaders, in CEU-accredited programs
- Have a great time!
Apply for Meetings Focus Live! New Orleans today.
Past Issues
CMM Planners Turn Up Heat on MPI - 3/6/14
Regal Revamps Wrapped for Trio of Chicago Boutiques - 2/27/14
Downtown Chicago Hotel Sells for $139 Million - 2/20/14
Study Reveals Huge Impact of International Travel Show - 2/6/14
March 13, 2014
Meetings Focus  Webinars
Strategic Hotel & Contract Negotiations, Part 2

Wed. March 26, 2014
Join Meetings Focus and Robyn Mietkiewicz, director of global meeting management services at Meeting Sites Resource, an award-winning speaker and past president of MPI’s Orange County chapter, to discover how to up your game when it comes to meetings and events contract negotiations.

Sponsored By:
Atlanta CVB
Naples Marco Island Everglades
Overland Park CVB
Hyatt Regency Orlando
Upcoming Webinars:
Site Selection Best Practices
4/30/2014 - 1:00pm EST
The Future of Mobile and Events
5/14/2014 - 1:00pm EST
Enhancing the Attendee Experience
5/28/2014 - 1:00pm EST
Register or learn more.

Focus Feature
Focus Feature Thumbnail
Music-making, comedy and other fun diversions electrify corporate events
Snap quiz: What’s the surest way to make sure attendees are paying attention and absorbing your meeting’s key messages? Answer: Make sure attendees are laughing, playing and rocking a good time! “It’s not about having fun, it’s about increasing the return on your meeting investment...

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Concierge Insights
Neil Fiorito
Magnificent Mile Courtyard Marriott
Chicago, Illinois
What service can you provide to groups that they normally might not receive?
The service that I provide to our guests at the Courtyard Marriott Magnificent Mile is “Neil’s News!” This weekly feature keeps you informed of Chicago’s events and restaurants. I’m Neil and I like to keep you up-to-date and happy.

What is an unusual request from a group you’ve had?
I’ve had many UNUSUAL requests, but the one that sticks out had to be the time a woman asked if she could have her friend take a picture of her getting a piggy-back ride on me. I’m thinking it had to be a scavenger hunt of some kind, but I didn't ask...
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