MEETINGS, INCENTIVES, CONVENTIONS & EVENTS · MEETINGS, INCENTIVES, CONVENTIONS & EVENTS page 5 page 11 page 8 Vancouver Again Voted Best ... European Meetings & Events Conference

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January 21, 2010Published by Odyssey Media Group

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MEETINGS, INCENTIVES, CONVENTIONS & EVENTS

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Vancouver Again Voted Best Canadian Destination By U.S. Travel AgentsFor the seventh consecutive year, readers of the influential US travel trade publication, Travel Weekly, have named Vancouver the best destination in Canada. At their annual Readers’ Choice Awards, held in New York City, Travel Weekly awarded Vancouver the top spot in the “Best in Destination: Canada” category. Those who vote in the awards are accredited travel agents who cast their ballots through an open, on-line process. The awards are widely recognized in the industry, and are presented annually to travel suppliers...

Mandarin Oriental, Sanya Partners Hainan Rendez-VousMandarin Oriental, Sanya is the luxury hotel partnering Hainan Rendez-Vous in what promises to be the event of 2010 on Hainan Island. China’s premier luxury lifestyle show is taking place over the Easter weekend from 2nd – 4th April, 2010, combining private jets, yachts and mega yachts, luxury real estate and lifestyle products, showcasing the finest brands the world has to offer. Guests staying at Mandarin Oriental, Sanya over this period can enjoy exclusive, complimentary access to the event.

Synonymous with high end luxury, Mandarin Oriental, Sanya is an obvious partner for the glamorous event, elegantly mirroring the lavishness being showcased and providing the epitome of spacious accommodation and refined sophistication. Spread out over 12 hectares, the hideaway retreat is situated on an unspoiled nationally protected coral beach and nestled amongst lush tropical bloom providing peace and tranquility. Visitors to the resort can enjoy oversized guest rooms, all luxuriously designed with touches of the local ethnic...

David Weir Joins iJET As VP Resiliency ServicesiJET Intelligent Risk Systems, a leading provider of global intelligence and business resiliency services, has announced that David Weir has joined the company as Vice President of Resiliency Services.

In this position, Weir will oversee and grow iJET’s resiliency services and solutions, managing ongoing client projects, relationships and support functions within iJET’s Professional Services Group, which provides specialized enterprise risk management solutions, consulting, assessments...

Scottish Exhibition + Conference Centre (SECC) Celebrates 25 YearsFirst unveiled in 1985, the Scottish Exhibition + Conference Centre (SECC) celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Since opening, the iconic events venue has hosted 3,889 events and welcomed over 28 million visitors through its doors; making the SECC one of Europe’s most successful venues. Last year alone, the SECC delivered £342 million worth of economic value to Glasgow and hosted a number of memorable events...

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Publisher & Managing Editor: Colin J. Holden - [email protected] Editor: Brian Menzies - [email protected] Editor: Edward Lambert - [email protected]

Technology Editor: Marten Streifel - [email protected]. Editor: Deborah Ibsen - [email protected]

Vancouver, Canada - San Francisco, USATelephone: (604) 543-7375

INSIDEMPI: FutureWatch Analyzes Shift In Meetings, Events Industry page 3Las Vegas Launches 2010 Convention Calendar

European Meetings & Events Conference Provides Business Drivers For 2010 page 4PCMA & Reed Travel Exhibitions Announce New Industry Partnership

Travelocity Business Announces Agreement With Meetings & Incentives page 5RADIUS Announces Strategic Additions To Global Hotel ProgramVancouver Again Voted Best Canadian Destination By U.S. Travel Agents

Landmark Congress For EFAPCO page 6NBTA Europe Adds Finnish Business Travel Association

Brighton Continues Evolution of Its MICE Product page 7U.S. Travel Sector To Meet Cuban Officials To Discuss Travel Potential

The QEIICC Offers Clients A 15 Percent Saving On Room Hire page 8Lime Venue Portfolio Continues Its Expansion Scottish Exhibition + Conference Centre Celebrates 25 Years

IMEX 2010 On Target For Bigger Business page 9HBAA Annual Dinner Introduces New Chairman Stephen Usher

Growth of Gulf MICE Sector Provides VIP Business Opportunities page 10AIME Announces Record Buyer RegistrationMontego Bay To Host 2010 Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX)

Delta Sault Ste. Marie Waterfront Hotel and Conference Centre Opens page 11Inkaterra La Casona Named First-Ever Relais & Chateaux Property In PeruMandarin Oriental, Sanya Partners Hainan Rendez-Vous

Associated Luxury Hotels Launches The “ALHI Level 5 Collection” page 12

Perth CB Appoints Ian Laurance As Chairman page 14David Weir Joins iJET As VP Resiliency ServicesGreater Fort Lauderdale CVB Names Regional Director, Group SalesHartmann Heads STR’s New Analytics Company

Turning Point For British Tourism In 2010 page 15Taos, New Mexico Unveils Unique 2010 Travel Campaign


NEWSLas Vegas Launches 2010 Convention CalendarLas Vegas launches into 2010 quickly, kicking off the year with a very busy convention calendar.

In the first quarter alone, the destination will host 11 conventions with more than 25,000 attendees, the top six of which will attract nearly 400,000 visitors and provide an economic boost of more than $620 million.

“December featured numerous special events and America’s Party on New Year’s Eve, and we are excited to carry that momentum into 2010 with some of the world’s largest trade shows,” said Rossi Ralenkotter, president/CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA).

The convention season gets under way with approximately 110,000 delegates of the International Consumer Electronics Show on January 7.

Following CES, the Shooting, Hunting & Outdoor Trade Show (45,000 delegates), the National Association of Homebuilders (55,000 delegates), World Market Center Las Vegas Market (50,000 delegates), World of Concrete (65,000 delegates), and MAGIC International (70,000 delegates) come to the destination.

Las Vegas has been the leading trade show destination, according to the Tradeshow Week 200 list of largest shows, for the past 15 years, and looks to continue that trend.

With more than 148,000 guest rooms and 10 million square feet of meeting and convention space, no other destination can offer the facilities, amenities and service that clients find in Las Vegas.

Conventions & tradeshow delegates represent approximately 15 percent of the overall visitation. The industry segment employs approximately 45,000 people and generates as much as $8.5 billion for the Southern Nevada economy.

www.lvcva.comwww.VisitLasVegas.com

MPI: FutureWatch Analyzes Shift In Meetings, Events IndustryIn the eighth edition of its annual research, Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and American Express have released FutureWatch 2010 to highlight trends and competitive factors shaping the future of the global meeting and events industry.

“As our businesses shift from the mindset of survive to thrive, it’s imperative that we have the ability to analyze relevant data and translate it into business success,” says MPI Chief Executive Officer Bruce MacMillan, “The 2010 edition of FutureWatch empowers industry professionals with timely data they can utilize to make critical business decisions.”

FutureWatch highlights that the world-wide meeting and events industry is transitioning into an era of creativity, flexibility and strategic relationship building. Evaluating the global perspective of both planners and suppliers alike, some of the key trends identified include:

Meetings located closer to home, fewer participants will travel long distances to get onsite.

Performance that organizations receive from the meetings they host will continue to be a major focus for planners.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) will be a continuing interest for meetings and events professionals’ organisations and a potential differentiator for companies and associations that can demonstrate a strong, sustainable commitment to effective CSR programs.

The in-depth report features insights into the overall outlook for 2010 as well as how planners and suppliers around the world are charged to do more with less.

FutureWatch indicates that globally planners predict a 2.8 percent increase in meetings held and a 4.5 percent increase in attendance.

The report also profiles the variations in needs and expectations across Europe, Asia and the Americas.

From the selection criteria of meeting locations to the importance of CSR in business decisions, FutureWatch is able to profile the expected needs of planners and suppliers in these various regions.

One shift the 2010 research indicates is that suppliers in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) identify shorter lead times as the most significant trend for the coming year, followed by gradual industry growth and continued flat conditions.

FutureWatch also indicates that meeting planners and suppliers alike have a strong appetite for technology solutions, which is consistent with previous editions of the report. While evaluating 16 different areas of technology, planners rank the highest priority to improve the audiovisual experience for their participants, while suppliers’ highest priority is to improve their customer relationship management or CRM software.

A copy of the FutureWatch 2010 Executive Summary is available at no cost at mpiweb.org. MPI members can access the full report at no cost and the non-member price is US$299.

Additionally, Chair Elect to the MPI Board of Directors, Eric Rozenberg will present an in depth look at FutureWatch at the European Meetings and Events Conference in Malaga, Spain 28 Feb – 3 March, 2010.

mpiweb.org


European Meetings & Events Conference Provides Business Drivers For 2010At the turn of a new year many professionals are looking for inspiration and ways to transition their businesses from surviving an economic downturn to thriving in a new decade.

The European Meetings & Events Conference (EMEC) organised by Meeting Professionals International (MPI) in Málaga , Spain during 28 February through 2 March, 2010 will inspire delegates as they interact with industry peers and leaders.

A unique programme has been developed to provide significant return on the time invested in attending this event, by providing content in high demand based on issues identified by event professionals.

In addition to five pre-conference sessions, there are five different tracks and a variety of dynamic speakers will deliver presentations that empower attendees to make immediate improvements on their events and business strategies. Some of the sessions are:

- “Fight Talking – winning people’s time and attention” presented by Graham Davies from Content Ltd.

- “Greening COP 15” presented by Guy Bigwood from MCI Communication Spain

- “Next Generation of Meetings” presented by Johan Johansson from Fivestarday

- “Sustainability in Practice” presented by Jan Peter Bergkvist from SleepWell AB

“The impact of hosting such an important event is already putting Málaga on the map of main European destinations,” said Francisco Quereda, Director of Málaga Convention Bureau and EMEC host committee member, “In the near future this will help to consolidate Málaga among the top Spanish and European congress and events destinations.”

Delegates will attend from Europe, the Middle East and Northern America in order to learn about the future of the industry and they will all converge as Málaga sets the tone for an unmatched European experience.

Because professionals within the meetings and events industry are inherently creative, this conference will give attendees an additional shot of inspiration during a tough international economic period with a number of cutting edge technologies being deployed to aid networking and crowd collaboration.

At EMEC 2010 event professionals will experience non-traditional sessions, peer-to-peer learning opportunities, personal coaching and consulting opportunities, and learn ways to energize your conference experience with SongDivision.

Alongside the education programme are the opportunities to meet face-to-face with senior meeting professionals at a number of inspirational events including a traditional Málaga feria opening reception, a tapas tour and even a late night party at the Liceo in the old City of Málaga concluding with a fantastic closing event in Málaga’s bullring.

This year more than half of EMEC speakers are new to the line-up from European markets including Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, United Kingdom, Denmark and more. With programming relevant to meeting and business tourism specialists alike, now is the time to register for EMEC 2010 at www.mpiweb.org/emec. Special rates are available to MPI members.

Taking place at the Palacio de Ferias in Málaga , EMEC will host more than 400 meeting professionals working throughout the business tourism sector. MPI’s European events typically attract professional congress organisers, corporate planners, association and government planners and a host of suppliers including representatives of conference centres, hotels, airlines and audiovisual support professionals.

www.mpiweb.org/emec

PCMA & Reed Travel Exhibitions Announce New Industry PartnershipThe Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) announced from the PCMA Annual Meeting in Dallas an industry partnership that sees the two organizations collaborating on a range of new educational initiatives for AIBTM in Baltimore and EIBTM in Barcelona.

The announcement at PCMA’s Annual Meeting ‘Convening Leaders’ highlighted the commitment by both parties to create education and networking programs at both events, explore future collaborative opportunities and for PCMA to recruit and host Hosted Buyers to both AIBTM and EIBTM. Commenting on the partnership, Vanessa Cotton, Chair RTE Meeting and Incentives Events said: “This joint initiative comes at a time when providing high quality education, innovative resources and networking opportunities is paramount to those wanting to develop their career in the meetings industry. Both RTE and PCMA are dedicated to offering those within the industry best professional education. This partnership comes at an exciting time for the sector, particularly in the US, with our inaugural event AIBTM – to include a dedicated America Meetings Week - taking place in Baltimore in June 2011. The location of AIBTM is ideally suited to draw upon the largest concentration of meeting planners and buyers on the eastern seaboard. Over 13,000 industry professionals are located within just three hours traveling time of Baltimore including several PCMA chapters accounting for more than 1000 members.”

PCMA’s President and CEO Deborah Sexton said, “PCMA is delighted to further enhance our collaboration with Reed and further our exchange. We are dedicated to industry collaboration and this is a perfect way to continue to educate our members and industry and expand our horizons in our increasingly global marketplace. We look forward to a beneficial relationship that provides our members and industry with new opportunities.”

www.reedtravelexhibitions.comwww.pcma.org


Travelocity Business Announces Agreement With Meetings & IncentivesTravelocity Business, one of the fastest growing agencies in the business travel industry, has announced an agreement with Meetings & Incentives, a full-service meetings management company. The relationship complements the agency’s existing meeting and event management services, giving Travelocity Business’ growing portfolio of corporate clients a more comprehensive option to manage this expense.

Travelocity Business ranks among the top 15 travel agencies in North America, offering corporations a compelling combination of best-in-class automation and traditional travel management services. Meetings & Incentives (M&I), a full-service meetings management company, is ranked in the Top 25 by Corporate Meetings & Incentives and is responsible for more than $40 million in spend and more than 500 events annually.

M&I’s collection of primary services, now available to all Travelocity Business clients, includes:

- strategic meetings management; - domestic and international sourcing, with services in Latin America and Europe; - planning and registration; - on-site services and production; and - event marketing.

M&I also provides detailed reporting designed to ensure that customers’ cost-avoidance, audit compliance, savings and event goals are exceeded.

“Corporations are increasingly aggressive about looking into their meeting management spend, with managers under the gun to deliver measured value and savings from this historically unmanaged spend category,” said Tina Madden, chief financial officer for M&I. “Travelocity Business and its clients, with their proven appetite for automated solutions, represent an ideal fit for our cost-effective solutions. We look forward to collaborating with Travelocity Business’ clients and account managers to streamline and optimize meetings programs.”

“M&I shares our passion for delivering top-notch customer service via creative technologies and established expertise,” said Blake Goodwin, vice president of product development and marketing for Travelocity Business. “Together we will deliver a comprehensive, turn-key solution to help customers effectively

RADIUS Announces Strategic Additions To Global Hotel Program RADIUS has announced strategic additions to its industry-leading Global Hotel Program. RADIUS’ Global Hotel Program provides access to over 30,000 participating properties in 137 countries with a diverse range of accommodations and price points to meet the varied demands of today’s corporate travelers. Earlier this month, RADIUS introduced Key Hotel Partners, a group of worldwide hotel brands who have agreed to provide unique and enhanced benefits to corporate clients serviced by RADIUS Key Agency Partners. Key Hotel Partners include Accor Hospitality, Carlson Hotels Worldwide, Choice Hotel International, Hyatt, InterContinental Hotel Group, Sol Melia, WORLDHOTELS and Wyndham Hotel Group. This new product offering brings additional value to corporate clients who align their travel spend with RADIUS and drives traveler loyalty to the network’s supplier partners around the world. “Our evolving Global Hotel Program represents a fundamental benefit of a networked TMC model such as RADIUS,” explained Chris Vasiliou, President and CEO of RADIUS. “Especially today, multinational corporations need to go farther on fewer resources than at any time in recent history. Our new Key Hotel Partners will help corporate travel managers and procurement officers control costs while taking advantage of the local strength and global value that the RADIUS network brings to the marketplace.” “As a travel industry consultant with over 25 years of experience, I am constantly reviewing and reporting on industry best practices,” said Ralph Brown, president of R.D. Brown Company. “I have seen the RADIUS global network business model gaining increased traction and attention in the marketplace over recent months and years, and in my opinion, their Global Hotel Program is an excellent example of what multinational corporations are asking for today: maximum worldwide reach with local fulfillment of trusted international brands at attractive price points.” “The RADIUS Global Hotel Program, and in particular the new Key Hotel

manage spend across the transient and group categories.”

www.travelocitybusiness.comwww.meetings-incentives.com

Partners, bring remarkable added value and cost control to our traveling corporate clients,” explained Angela Abbate, Global Operations Director at Adelman Travel Group, a RADIUS Member Agency. “Benefits such as the Global Hotel Program, consolidated data management and reporting, and travel policy compliance are all part of what makes our global network so successful and attractive to businesses wishing to consolidate their regional or global travel management requirements.”

www.radiustravel.com

Vancouver Again Voted Best Canadian Destination By U.S. Travel AgentsFor the seventh consecutive year, readers of the influential US travel trade publication, Travel Weekly, have named Vancouver the best destination in Canada.

At their annual Readers’ Choice Awards, held in New York City, Travel Weekly awarded Vancouver the top spot in the “Best in Destination: Canada” category. Those who vote in the awards are accredited travel agents who cast their ballots through an open, on-line process. The awards are widely recognized in the industry, and are presented annually to travel suppliers who excelled in product and service during the past year. Vancouver has been named best destination in Canada each of the seven years that the awards have been held. Dayna Miller, Tourism Vancouver’s director of Sales, Travel Trade, was in New York to accept the award. “What makes this award so significant is that it’s voted on by travel agents - the front line travel influencers who work directly with potential visitors to Vancouver,” said Miller. “Travel agents are some of our greatest allies in building visitation to Vancouver and it’s a great honour to know that they hold our destination in such high esteem.”

Tourism Vancouver works closely with the travel agent community, particularly in encouraging travel to the city from long-haul destinations. The organization’s sales teams regularly call on agents in the US, Europe and the Asia Pacific region to educate them on Vancouver products and packages that are then sold to consumers.


Landmark Congress For EFAPCOA record-breaking 180 delegates, from 17 countries, took part in EFAPCO’s 4th Congress held at the new state-of-the-art SQUARE Brussels Meeting Centre. Themed on Sustainability and Competitiveness in the Meetings Industry, it proved to be a landmark event in many ways.

Two days of action-packed plenary and parallel sessions featured experts from all manner of fields analysing the impact of new social media on the meetings industry, the implementation of sustainable solutions and creating new opportunities out of the current global economic challenges, to answering the expectations of PCOs and the upcoming Generation Y, plus understanding the impact of new VAT regulations on the congress industry.

EFAPCO President, Nicolas Le Brun said: “Post-event feedback has been tremendously encouraging. Everyone seems to have savoured the programme content, as well as its social programme. We made a deliberate decision to embrace as wide a vision as possible. Indeed over the two days there was only one PCO speaker – and she was not an EFAPCO member. The emphasis was on information-gathering, business networking and professional education.”

Indeed, a Future Leaders Forum, organised in conjunction with IMEX, the acclaimed Frankfurt trade show, attracted some 35 young participants from Poland, Italy and Brussels. A plenary session moderated by IMEX’s Director of International Relations, Tom Hulton, proved to be as enlightening and

entertaining as the rest of the sessions – and an encouraging highlight.

The congress, organised jointly by EFAPCO and BAPCO – the Belgian Association of PCOs – scored a technological “first” with an impromptu videoconference session.

At short notice, video links were set up with a snowbound David Stubbs, Head of Sustainability for the London 2012 Olympic Games. Prevented from travelling to Brussels by heavy snowfalls across England, he made his presentation on Delivering Sustainable Games from his London base.

It was made in tandem with a similarly topical report from Jan-Chrtistoph Napierski, Head of Sustainability for COP 15, the UN Climate Change Conference, which took place in Copenhagen in December.

The overall Congress philosophy on “thinking outside the box” was echoed by the social programme, which included dinner at Brussels’ new Musee Magritte Museum, a fabulous showcase of the life and work of surrealist artist Rene Magritte. Appropriately, that event was titled: Ceci n’est pas un Gala dinner”.

www.efapco2010.eu

NBTA Europe Adds Finnish Business Travel AssociationThe Finnish Business Travel Association has announced its commitment to the NBTA Europe network after the launch of the network on January 6th of this year. The regional association

represents one hundred and seventy companies in Finland, with 70% of members listed as buyers, taking total NBTA Europe membership well over the 2,000 mark. The decision means that all four Nordic regions are now committed to the network.

Speaking about the FBTA decision, Caroline Strachan, NBTA Europe Chairman, said, “We are so pleased that our Finnish colleagues have made the decision to support the new network. They have been advocates for a dynamic European network and will play a key role alongside the existing partners.”

Auni Karekari, Chairman of FBTA and Corporate Travel Manager for Kesko Corporation, added, “The FBTA board has made the unanimous decision to join and we are very much looking forward to seeing the benefits for our members in the coming months. We have a strong ethic of buyer-led decision making at FBTA and the goals and aspirations of NBTA Europe are perfectly aligned with our own. We are delighted to be a part of this exciting venture. ”

A representative of FBTA will join the Partnership Council headed by NBTA Europe managing director Paul Tilstone.

www.nbtaeurope.org

FBTA is a buyer-led network for business travel professionals, both buyers and suppliers, with the mission to enhance the understanding, knowledge and skills required in corporate travel and meeting management and procurement. FBTA´s aim is also to enhance the recognition and general conditions of travel and meetings management through public discussion, advocacy and education. The ultimate goal of FBTA is to provide added value to its members through cost effective - high-quality Travel & Meetings Management.

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U.S. Travel Sector To Meet Cuban Officials To Discuss Travel PotentialDozens of representatives of the U.S. travel sector will meet with their Cuban counterparts in a public forum to discuss the potential for travel between the U.S. and Cuba. The meeting will take place at the U.S.-Cuba Travel Summit to be held at the Gran Melia Cancun Hotel in Cancun, Mexico, from March 24-26, 2010.

This historic gathering is being organized by Alamar Associates in association with the NTA and sponsored by The United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA). Other sponsors to date include Marazul Charters, Vigilant Worldwide Communications, and The Americas Group.

A Cuban delegation of more than 20 officials and travel specialists traveling from Havana will include ministry officials as well as representatives of all of the major Cuban travel/tour operators.

“Over the years, these Summits have proven useful and successful in providing U.S. company executives practical information about how to do business in Cuba and whom to contact,” said Kirby Jones, president of Alamar Associates.

More than 100 attendees from the United States are expected to convene in Cancun including tour operators, cruise line executives, hotel representatives, tourism developers and investors and airline officials.

“This meeting will allow NTA members and others to meet their Cuban counterparts and give them a leading edge in learning about the business opportunities in Cuba,” said Lisa Simon, president of NTA, which has long supported the freedom to travel to Cuba.

In a statement to the organizers of the U.S.-Cuba Travel Summit, Senator Byron Dorgan (D.ND), the lead sponsor of the Senate bill to lift restrictions to travel to Cuba, said, “As sponsor of the ‘Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act’ to allow all Americans to visit Cuba, I wish the participants the very best when they come together in Cancun at the US-Cuba Travel Summit.

This meeting between US travel executives and their Cuban counterparts is a valuable first step for American companies and organizations to learn how things will work when Cuba is open to American tourism.”

The Conference agenda will include presentations by the Cuban ministry officials and officials of the major U.S. travel associations; panel discussions on the travel industry potential; practicalities about how to prepare for business in and with Cuba; what Cuba offers; experiences of firms already doing travel business in Cuba; and prospects for changes in the U.S. laws.

In addition, there will be breakout sessions on all aspects of travel in Cuba and more than two days for U.S. participants to talk informally and personally with all officials from Cuba.

“We are strong supporters of open travel to Cuba and the current bills in Congress to lift restrictions,” said Bob Whitley, President of USTOA. “We view this gathering as a clear signal that travel to Cuba is important to the growth and development of our US travel industry.”

This is the 10th such U.S.-Cuba business gathering that has been organized in Cancun by Alamar Associates. Overall, more than 400 U.S. executives have been able to meet their Cuban counterparts in such sectors as food and agriculture, energy, general business, and travel.

www.uscubasummit.orgwww.NTAonline.com

Brighton Continues Evolution of Its MICE ProductWith 2010 set to be the year meetings make a comeback, VisitBrighton announces a series of development plans to be undertaken by some of its partners.

“We are delighted to announce that several of our most prestigious venues will look to develop and evolve their meeting, event and conference facilities over the coming year, further enhancing the destination’s already substantial MICE product,” comments Darren Johnson, Convention Bureau Sales Manager, VisitBrighton.

One of the destination’s most popular venues; ‘The Brighton Centre’ has recently been awarded almost £1million of additional funding to improve its visitor experience. The redevelopment plans will focus on improving the public areas of the venue, which will include an upgrade to the existing breakout areas and the addition of alfresco coffee shops. The conference centre’s Skyline restaurant will also benefit from the funding as well as new signage throughout and a significant investment in the furniture and furnishing over the coming year.

The largest banquet and conference facility to be built in Brighton & Hove since 1992 has also been planned. This comes as part of the Sussex County Cricket Club £8 million development designed to drive the club’s non-match day facilities. The development will be phased over two years. Phase One is due to be completed in April 2010 and will include the new banqueting and conference facility. Phase Two will see new builds of the South and South West stands and redevelopment of the member’s pavilion increasing the capacity of the two current rooms and creating a new cafe/bar/private reception room in the old stables.

Capitalising on the influx of smaller meetings coming to the city, Brighton Dome has partnered with myhotel Brighton for the launch of its fully equipped meeting space for less than 100 delegates in February. The Hilton Brighton Metropole will also announce the completion of its refurbishment of all 75 sea-facing bedrooms this month, which feature completely uninterrupted views of Brighton’s cosmopolitan seafront. Another hotel which has undergone recent refurbishments is The Thistle Brighton. The hotel’s meeting facilities, a selection of its bedrooms, The Promenade Restaurant and The Otium Leisure Club have all benefited


VENUES

from the upgrades.

“Continually investing in our MICE product has helped Brighton & Hove maintain its position as a premier

business destination for the South coast,” concluded Darren Johnson.

Meet Visit Brighton and partners on stand B111, at International Confex

2010, taking place on 23rd- 25th February.

www.visitbrighton.com/conferences

The QEIICC Offers Clients A 15 Percent Saving On Room HireThe Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre (QEIICC), London’s most prestigious purpose built centre for professional meetings and events, is offering its clients a 15 percent discount on room hire for all new enquiries for events to be held in January and February 2010.

Accommodating up to 2,500 delegates in the heart of London, the Centre combines unrivalled facilities with comprehensive services and expert staff to create the most effective events.

Comments Sue Etherington, acting commercial director at The QEIICC: “This offer underlines our continued commitment to providing increased value for our clients and working with them to ensure a positive response to the current financial climate.”

www.qeiicc.co.uk

Lime Venue Portfolio Continues Its Expansion On 14 May 2010 the world’s oldest stadium will have been reincarnated to provide Ireland’s national rugby and football teams with a new home, and the global events sector a signature space set to inspire both planners and delegates.

The continuous curvilinear shaped structure draws together technology and nature and has been rigorously designed to be the most sustainable venue in Ireland. Aviva Stadium is already setting its sights on becoming the world’s first BS 8901 certified sporting stadium, providing the assurance that all events will be planned and implemented in a sustainable manner; helping reduce carbon emissions and waste.

As event planners increasingly place ‘perception’ as a criterion of choice in their decision making process, Aviva Stadium has visibly positioned itself as venue of choice for corporates, agents and associations who seek to fulfil their wider CSR policies – a

veritable illustration of duty of care. The venue’s uncompromising service standards, award winning food and beverage, state of the art technology and globally renowned Dublin welcome will combine together to offer planners a cost effective solution for world class progressive events.

Set over 6 levels, spaces can be booked for discreet meetings, product launches, award dinners and large association conferences. The spaces offer non prescriptive solutions for live events from 2 to 2000 people. Overseen by skilled event planners and managers, clients will be encouraged to think outside the confines of the traditional hotel box and create spirited events where objectives are fulfilled and return on investment achieved.

News surrounding the Stadium has already resonated across Europe with business wins secured from competitor destinations including Barcelona, Berlin and Paris. The annual CEPIC Congress 2010 will bring together over 700 international delegates; closer to home 300 delegates from The College of Anesthetists of Ireland will meet for their 3 day annual conference.

Cailín Keaney, Marketing Manager for the Aviva Stadium, said: “Judging by the enquiries coming in, the message is certainly out there that we are about to open for business. And as a landmark opening in Dublin in 2010 we’re all hugely excited about stamping Ireland’s benchmark of event excellence on to Aviva Stadium”.

Louise Amphlett, head of Lime Venue Portfolio, said: ‘At the beginning of a decade set to revolve around sport, and taking into consideration the successes of other sporting venues, it is very exciting to be launching the Aviva Stadium.’

www.avivastadium.ie

Scottish Exhibition + Conference Centre Celebrates 25 YearsFirst unveiled in 1985, the Scottish Exhibition + Conference Centre (SECC) celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Since opening, the iconic events venue

has hosted 3,889 events and welcomed over 28 million visitors through its doors; making the SECC one of Europe’s most successful venues. Last year alone, the SECC delivered £342 million worth of economic value to Glasgow and hosted a number of memorable events.

The acclaimed venue has received many accolades over the years. This includes winning one of the industry’s most converted awards, Meetings & Incentive Travel’s Best UK Conference Centre two years running in 2008 &2009. It is also the only multi-purpose UK venue of its size to be awarded with the highest environmental accreditation by the Green Business Tourism Scheme 2009.

Speaking of the venue’s success, Ben Goedegebuure, Director of Sales, SECC; “Over the years the SECC has built up a reputation for hosting exceptional events and a proven track record for delivering visitors and delegates alike. It is these qualities that event organisers value.”

Joining forces with the Glasgow City Marketing Bureau (GCMB) the SECC has planned a host of initiatives to run throughout 2010, aimed at attracting new business tourism to the city.

At the forefront of these initiatives will be a campaign focusing on commemorating the SECC’s ‘25 Champions’. These Champions will be people and organisations that have helped position the SECC and Glasgow as the globally respected destination for events and business travel. Anyone from the taxi driver who delivers the delegates, right through to a hotel General Manager who ensures delegates are well looked after whilst doing business at the SECC.

“In what is set to be a very eventful year for us, the Champion initiative is our way of rewarding everyone who has played a role in helping us to achieve such an important milestone,” explains Ben Goedegebuure.

Scott Taylor, Chief Executive, Glasgow City Marketing Bureau concludes; “Since opening in 1985, the SECC has played a major role in establishing Glasgow as a leading conference destination. 25 years later, it not only remains the city’s flagship venue for


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meetings and exhibitions, but also reinforces Glasgow’s world-class conference credentials.”

IMEX 2010 On Target For Bigger Business Four months out from the opening of the eighth IMEX in Frankfurt organisers, the IMEX Group, have announced that they are on course to deliver more business opportunities than ever when the doors open on 25 May. The trade show’s performance to date confirms the results of the latest IMEX Global Insights Report (last quarter 2009). The Report asked a standing panel of 45 senior international meetings industry and corporate professionals for their views about the coming year. 57% expected the number of meetings, events and incentives they organised to remain the same. A further 33% confidently expected the number of events they held to be even higher in 2010. Says Ray Bloom, Chairman of the IMEX Group, “Our experience of both exhibitor and hosted buyer numbers upholds these findings. It suggests that the underlining fundamentals in our industry are robust, despite a changing global economic outlook. This bears out the fact that virtually every sector of our industry is consistently prepared to commit to IMEX knowing they have the opportunity of meeting the right people, doing good business and being assured of getting all the support they need.”

Strong Hotel Representation

Hotel groups will continue to be represented strongly at IMEX with many of the larger global groups bringing in additional hosted buyers for 2010. Ritz Carlton, Moevenpick Hotels, Fairmont/Swissotel Raffles and Starwood Hotels & Resorts have all increased their stand space. Scandic Hotels and Albert Management of Latvia will exhibit for the first time and Warwick International makes a welcome return.

Other new exhibitors so far confirmed for 2010 include Columbia, Meeting Point International and Showcare. The IMEX Wild Card Winners for 2010 are also all first-time exhibitors in the international meetings and events industry. The Wild Card Pavilion will host one of the fastest emerging destinations in Africa - Uganda - together with the mountain town of Morzine in France and the new Hof Conference and Cultural Center, Iceland.

Demand for exhibition space has been particularly strong from Asian meetings and events industry suppliers with Macau, Sri Lanka and Indian Holiday all expanding their presence. US exhibitors have also confirmed their enthusiasm and commitment with Anchorage, Arizona, Chicago, Texas and New York City already contracted and all those who attended in 2009 expected to exhibit on the IMEX US Pavilion again in 2010.

The Spanish Tourist Office is now firmly established as the second largest exhibitor at IMEX with just over 800 square metres of floor space. Both Madrid and Valencia will be taking their own exhibition stands.

Other exhibitors who have also increased their exhibition sizes at the Frankfurt show so far include the Czech Tourism Authority; Luxembourg; Carat Tours; Liberty International and Discovery Jordan.

www.imex-frankfurt.com

HBAA Annual Dinner Introduces New Chairman Stephen Usher The Hotel Booking Agents Association (HBAA) held its 11th Annual Dinner reception at Principal Hayley’s latest acquisition, the Grand Connaught Rooms, on Friday 15th January. The association, which places over £4.7bn of accommodation and conference business into hotels and venues throughout the UK, also gave new chairman Stephen Usher an opportunity to share his vision for 2010.

Setting the tone for the year ahead, Stephen outlined the HBAA’s short and medium term objectives. He went on to introduce the new HBAA Management Committee consisting of hotel booking agents and venues, and a Wise Council where invited corporate buyers, venue CEOs and Agency CEOs will provide a forum for reviewing the industry. In addition, Stephen announced that the HBAA would be creating many opportunities for both partners and members to be involved in shaping the longer term direction of the association.

The Tim Gasson Award, accredited to an individual for their outstanding promotion of the HBAA, was presented to Richard Rees from Macdonald Hotels and Resorts. On receipt of the award Richard commented: “Winning the Tim Gasson Award is a huge honour; I did not personally have the pleasure of knowing Tim, however, like most in the conference and events sector, I knew of Tim and his outstanding contribution to the industry, not least the HBAA. Being recognised by my colleagues in the HBAA for this prestigious award is something I will endeavour to live up to; Tim’s commitment to the industry was legendary. It is the people and professionalism within our industry that make it such a joy to work in.”

The event drew together over 400 of the industry’s leading hoteliers and agents and raised funds on behalf of the association’s appointed charity, Lynn’s Bowel Cancer Campaign.

www.hbaa.org.uk


Growth of Gulf MICE Sector Provides VIP Business Opportunities GIBTM, the exhibition dedicated to the meetings, incentive, events and business travel industry – also known as MICE – in the Gulf and Middle East has opened registration for meeting planners, incentives buyers and decision makers to apply for VIP Hosted Buyer status.

The three-day event takes place from 29 – 31 March 2010 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Convention Centre (ADNEC) and is set to welcome the largest ever gathering of meeting professionals in the Gulf. Driven by a quality Hosted Buyer Programme – a trademark of each event within the Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) global meetings portfolio – the programme provides exclusive VIP business meeting opportunities for senior level buyers and decision makers who are looking for new inspiration for their meetings, incentives, events and conferences.

Graeme Barnett, GIBTM’s Exhibition Director said: “Now in its fourth year, we are looking to offer more Hosted Buyer places to those working in the Gulf region’s meetings, incentives, event and business travel industry; one that has, and continues to see significant growth. I urge those within the industry to apply for Hosted Buyer status at www.gibtm.com/hostedbuyers. Attending this year’s GIBTM is a real opportunity to develop and expand business.”

VIP benefits as a Hosted Buyer include:

- Return flight with GIBTM’s exclusive airline partner Etihad Airways - Two to four nights accommodation at a 4 or 5* hotel - Complimentary transfers - Priority appointments with exhibitors via Buyer driven appointment system and access to a personalised online diary - Attendance at GIBTM networking functions including Icebreaking event at Fairmont Bab Al Bahr Hotel on Monday 29 March and Gala Evening on Yas Island on Tuesday 30 March - Three day education programme with ability to choose sessions prior to appointment matching - Buyer/Seller session on Monday 29 March - Exclusive entry to Hosted Buyer VIP lounge with complementary refreshments - Access to dedicated team of Hosted

Buyer Managers - Opportunity to apply for pre and post Abu Dhabi/Gulf tours, including ADTA sponsored ‘Abu Dhabi Day’

‘Abu Dhabi Day’, jointly organised with Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), is open to international Hosted Buyers on a first come first serve basis. It includes visits to the Sheik Zayed Mosque and Dhow area, Emirates Palace and Saadiyat Island Exhibition as well as an early evening cocktail reception at the Intercontinental Abu Dhabi.

To enjoy the benefits of the Hosted Buyer programme, those applying must meet the set qualification levels based on:

- Potential for future international business - Evidence of past/future business in the Gulf region - Number of international events held annually - Purchasing authority and annual budget - Amount of business conducted internationally

GITBM has seen substantial growth of 56% since its launch in 2007, attracting last year 1,693 visitors and Hosted Buyers - up nearly 15% on 2008.

www.gibtm.com

AIME Announces Record Buyer Registration The pre-scheduled appointments for the Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo (AIME) are open for exhibitors as AIME organisers report that a record number of hosted buyers have already qualified for the show.

AIME’s Event Director Rosemarie Sama says the two-way diary allows exhibitors and buyers to schedule their appointments and manage their event diary easily. “As of Monday, Exhibitors can go online and select those buyers they are interested in meeting at AIME,” Rosemarie said. “We’ve had a fantastic response this year to our pre-scheduled appointments diary with 19 per cent more buyers registered online to use the system. AIME will also offer greater diversity of business opportunities for exhibitors this year with buyers coming from 33 countries which is a significant increase from the 25 countries represented last year.”

Exhibitors will be able to select the companies they would prefer to meet

with during AIME. Buyers will then use the system to view companies who have requested meetings and select their preferences. Additional meetings will also be secured using the two way online diary, allowing exhibitors to book additional appointments and manage their own schedule.

A new feature of the pre-scheduled appointments in 2010 is Destination Appointments which will see destination Exhibitors having greater opportunity to present their news and product updates to exhibitors.

Eligible Exhibitors will give a 30 minute presentation at their stand twice a day for up to 20 buyers. All buyers will elect to attend at least one relevant destination presentation per day.

Destination Appointments will give Exhibitors the opportunity to provide a snapshot of their product to more prospects and secure more face to face time with buyers.

Taking place in Melbourne on March 2 and 3 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), AIME is the region’s pre-eminent meeting and incentive show with more than 850 exhibitors and more than 3,000 visitors expected to attend in 2010.

Montego Bay To Host 2010 Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) Jamaica’s resort capital, Montego Bay, will again be on show as it hosts the 20th annual Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) from May 11th-13th, 2010 at the luxurious Half Moon. Hosted by the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) and the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), JAPEX, the island’s premier travel trade show, offers the ideal forum for leading suppliers of the Jamaican tourism product to meet with travel wholesalers and tour operators from Europe and the Americas in a professionally-organized business exchange. JAPEX provides an engaging setting for international buyers, travel wholesalers and tour operators to learn about Jamaica’s tourism product,” said John Lynch, Jamaica’s Director of Tourism and Chairman, Jamaica Tourist Board. “Such a forum provides a great opportunity for our local tourism partners to have direct interaction with the trade partners to update them on new developments.”

www.visitjamaica.com


HOTELS & RESORTS

Mandarin Oriental, Sanya Partners Hainan Rendez-VousMandarin Oriental, Sanya is the luxury hotel partnering Hainan Rendez-Vous in what promises to be the event of 2010 on Hainan Island. China’s premier luxury lifestyle show is taking place over the Easter weekend from 2nd – 4th April, 2010, combining private jets, yachts and mega yachts, luxury real estate and lifestyle products, showcasing the finest brands the world has to offer. Guests staying at Mandarin Oriental, Sanya over this period can enjoy exclusive, complimentary access to the event.

Synonymous with high end luxury, Mandarin Oriental, Sanya is an obvious partner for the glamorous event, elegantly mirroring the lavishness being showcased and providing the epitome of spacious accommodation and refined sophistication. Spread out over 12 hectares, the hideaway retreat is situated on an unspoiled nationally protected coral beach and nestled amongst lush tropical bloom providing peace and tranquility. Visitors to the resort can enjoy oversized guest rooms, all luxuriously designed with touches of the local ethnic minority culture and offering panoramic views over the azure South China Sea. The journey is completed at the award-winning spa where guests will be utterly pampered in idyllic and serene surroundings.

The exclusive event over the Easter weekend is being brought to China’s southernmost tropical island by China Rendez-Vous, the luxury marketing company, and Visun International Yacht Club, Hainan’s first international world class marina. Sanya will witness unprecedented luxury, and a guest list that reads like a who’s who of the luxury industry. The province has been enjoying rapid development since it gained Special Economic Zone (SEZ) status just over 20 years ago, and the premier tourist city of Sanya is now being billed as the ‘Chinese Riviera’. The alluring display of high end luxury products is designed to mark the spectacular inauguration of Sanya as a cruising centre for the South China Sea.

www.mandarinoriental.com/sanya

Delta Sault Ste. Marie Waterfront Hotel and Conference Centre OpensDelta Hotels and Resorts has announced the official opening of the Delta Sault Ste. Marie Waterfront Hotel and Conference Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The property underwent an extensive $6-million redevelopment of the former hotel site making it the city’s first upscale, full service, four-star hotel.

“We are excited to open the doors to our first property in Northern Ontario which is an important market for our continued expansion,” said Hank Stackhouse, President and CEO, Delta Hotels and Resorts. “The Delta Sault Ste. Marie Waterfront is an exciting addition to our brand and supports Delta’s strategy of having premier locations in key markets. We are delighted to join the local community and look forward to providing a new experience for travelers to the Sault.”

The Delta Sault Ste. Marie Waterfront underwent an extensive redevelopment before it transitioned to the Delta brand. The redevelopment included upgrades to all guest rooms and amenities including all public areas, meeting space and food and beverage outlets. All 195 guest rooms and suites include Delta upscale offerings including the Delta Sanctuary bed and luxurious June Jacobs spa products.

Additional upgrades include a revitalized fitness centre with health club and indoor pool, as well as a new business centre. View Restaurant + Bar, led by Executive Chef Darius Martin, offers steak and seafood in an upscale casual dining experience with spectacular views of the river.

The conference centre offers more than 10,000 square feet of meeting space and is the most modern in the city with the largest number of meeting rooms, including the 5,208 square foot Algoma Ballroom.

The Delta Sault Ste. Marie Waterfront will be led by General Manager Bill Durnford, an accomplished industry veteran with extensive experience in hospitality, particularly in the Sault. Durnford, who has been at the helm of the hotel since 2000 while it operated under a different brand, will oversee all day-to-day operations at the property.

“I look forward to leading this team in building Delta’s brand presence in the Sault,” said Bill Durnford, General Manager of the Delta Sault Ste. Marie Waterfront. “Delta is well known for its high level of service excellence and we are both excited and ready to deliver the upscale Delta experience to our guests.”

The hotel is situated in a prime location on Sault Ste. Marie’s waterfront and is conveniently located in the downtown core within close proximity to local business centres and within walking distance to all major attractions. Located only 0.5 km from the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge, the hotel also provides close access to the U.S.

The Delta Sault Ste. Marie Waterfront is owned by Algoma Central Properties Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Algoma Central Corporation, and is managed and operated by Delta Hotels and Resorts.

www.deltahotels.com

Inkaterra La Casona Named First-Ever Relais & Chateaux Property In Peru Cusco’s first luxury boutique hotel, Inkaterra La Casona, has been officially named a member of the exclusive Relais & Châteaux collection, it was announced this week. Since opening its doors in 2008, the restored 11-suite hotel -- formerly a Spanish colonial manor house built over an Inca complex -- has played an important role in revitalizing Cusco’s hospitality scene. Its unmarked door, rustically lavish suites, authentic Peruvian décor & amenities, and impeccable service, have made Inkaterra La Casona the standard of hospitality in Cusco.

“We are very proud to have been selected to be part of such a prestigious organization,” said Jose Koechlin, Chairman and CEO of Inkaterra Hotels. “Relais & Châteaux represents the finest in hospitality around the world and for Inkaterra La Casona to be selected as the first member in Peru - the 11th in South America - is truly a great honor.”

Secretly evaluated by one of Relais & Châteaux’s discerning traveling “critics,” Inkaterra La Casona will join the association’s roster of 475 hotels and gourmet restaurants in 57 countries.

www.relaischateaux.com


Associated Luxury Hotels Launches The “ALHI Level 5 Collection”To make it easier for meeting professionals, incentives specialists and association executives who wish to conduct a program at one of North America’s very highest rated hotels or resorts, Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI) has launched the “ALHI Level 5 Collection” within its distinctive portfolio of hotels and resorts. This collection consists of ALHI’s 14 member hotels and resorts which have earned the highest and most distinctive recognitions of the prestigious AAA Five-Diamond rating, and/or the esteemed Forbes (Mobil) Five-Star rating, and ALHI’s newly-opened hotels that are designed to achieve one of these ratings when they ultimately become eligible for the ratings following their first year of operations.

The “ALHI Level 5 Collection” features a total of more than 12,500 “Level 5” rooms and suites, and over 1.5 million square feet of meeting space, making it one of the largest “Level 5” collections available to meeting professionals and incentive specialists in North America.

As part of the launch of this collection, ALHI has added an “ALHI Level 5 Collection” Quick Reference button to its home page at www.alhi.com to provide fast, one-stop access for planners seeking to research and conduct a program at one of the world’s highest-level meeting resorts or hotels. On the site, planners can quickly see and compare details of the ALHI Level 5 properties’ meeting, accommodation, recreational and dining offerings, as well as identify destination information and select “Luxury On Sale” value opportunities. A large photo gallery, meeting floor plans and specs, and a location map for each property are also easily accessible on the ALHI site.

“We established the ‘ALHI Level 5 Collection’ to applaud these members’ achievements at the highest level, and as a means for planners and incentive specialists to easily recognize and access our variety of options available at that high level,” said David Gabri, president and CEO of ALHI. “These prestigious designations distinguish these properties as among the very finest hotels and resorts in the world for meetings.”

Gabri continued, “While ALHI has a vast and incredible overall luxury portfolio worldwide, these members are recognized as being among the ‘best of the best’ – not just by our word, but by their earned ratings of AAA and Forbes/Mobil.”

For nearly 25 years, ALHI has served as a dedicated dues-based National Sales organization for its exclusive membership, to enable planners to gain reliable and local one-call, experienced national sales professional access and support to its outstanding member hotels and resorts worldwide which all specialize in meetings and incentive programs. ALHI’s portfolio of more than 125 Four- and Five-Diamond quality hotels and resorts worldwide features nearly 100,000 rooms and suites, and over 10 million square feet of meeting space.

North America Collection Includes Landmarks

The “ALHI Level 5 Collection” provides extraordinary facilities and services for program options from one U.S. coast to the other, plus locations from northern cities down to the resort shores of Mexico. Options in the collection range from an exclusive 40-room resort to an impressive new 4,004-room resort, as well as properties with meeting space ideal for smaller groups, and hotels that can accommodate groups requiring up to 300,000 square feet of meeting space.

California

Three options in the “ALHI Level 5 Collection” are in California, including the 295-room Island Hotel Newport Beach, the 220-acre charming Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, and the world-class Grand Del Mar in San Diego.

Island Hotel Newport Beach provides stunning views of the Pacific Ocean, offers 30,000 square feet of meeting space, is adjacent to famed “Fashion Island,” and is situated midway between Los Angeles and San Diego.

The Ojai Valley Inn & Spa features 308 luxurious guest rooms and suites, the popular-with-the-stars Spa Ojai, a PGA Tour championship-level golf course, a full tennis center, and 16,000 square feet of first-class meeting space.

In Southern California, in San Diego County, the new Grand Del Mar is amazing, nestled amidst the picturesque Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve, providing 249 impressive guest rooms and suites, a world-class championship golf course, award-winning spa, outstanding dining, and over 20,000 square feet of meeting space.

Western U.S.

Other Western U.S. “ALHI Level 5 Collection” options include famed destinations and resorts including The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, the incomparable Bellagio in Las Vegas, The Skylofts at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and the impressive Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City. ALHI is also including in the collection two remarkable new properties which just opened in December 2009 in the impressive $8.3 billion CityCenter development on the Strip in Las Vegas: the amazing 4,004-room ARIA Resort & Casino, and the first Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Nevada, the distinctive Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas.

The Broadmoor is a trifecta “Level 5” award winner member, with the resort having achieved and sustained 50 consecutive years of Level 5 excellence by Mobil and AAA, and Level 5 status with its signature Penrose Room restaurant, and also


distinguished recognition of The Broadmoor Spa. This spectacular Colorado resort is nestled in the foothills of the incredible Rocky Mountains, and features 185,000 square feet of meeting space, 744 guest rooms, suites and cottages, as well as 18 restaurants and lounges, and three championship golf courses.

The 3,933-room Bellagio is world-renowned for its magnificent ballet of dancing fountains, world-class service steps beyond excellence, and incredible hotel in the heart of Las Vegas. Bellagio serves meetings and events with its 200,000 square feet of meeting space, and provides guests 19 dining options including two “Level 5” AAA Five-Diamond restaurants, a 65,000-square-foot spa, a fine art museum, world-recognized casino, and is home to the critically acclaimed “O by Cirque du Soleil” in its show theatre.

The Skylofts at MGM Grand is a luxury boutique hotel located on the top of the popular and premier MGM Grand, and thereby provides access to the elegant resort’s 600,000 square feet of meeting space (which includes the all-new 92,000-square-foot Marquee Ballroom), 18 restaurants, 8 bars and clubs, state-of-the-art spa, 6.6-acre pool complex, and 171,000-square-foot casino. The 51 lofts feature floor-to-ceiling windows that provide dramatic views of the famous Las Vegas skyline.

The Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City is a fantastic discovery for many when they first experience the luxurious European charm and design of this city center hotel, which is set along side and convenient to the Rocky Mountains. Grand America Hotel features 775 beautifully appointed and large guest rooms, award-winning services, excellent dining and bar options, over 75,000 square feet of meeting space, impressive artwork throughout, and breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains.

The contemporary ARIA Resort & Casino, which opened in the heart of Las Vegas’ new CityCenter in December 2009, offers 4,004 new guest rooms and suites, 300,000 square feet of technologically advanced and magnificent meeting space, 16 restaurants, and a new “Viva ELVIS by Cirque du Soleil” show in its theatre. Featuring a sleek and striking modern design, ARIA boasts spectacular public spaces, scenic gardens, and a soaring three-story lobby.

The 47-story, non-gaming Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas debuted in December 2009, bringing the traditions and world-renowned Mandarin Oriental service and ambiance to the “City of Lights” in an ideal location in CityCenter. The hotel offers 392 sophisticated guest rooms, 12,360-square feet of meeting space, an impressive 23rd floor Sky Lobby, a 27,000-square-foot spa, and an exceptional restaurant by Michelin-rated celebrity chef Pierre Gagnaire. Both Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas and ARIA Resort & Casino are connected to the remarkable and unique Crystals at CityCenter shopping and entertainment district.

Across North America

Also garnering the “ALHI Level 5 Collection” honor are such extraordinary properties as the famed Lodge at Sea Island Golf Club in Georgia, the newly-constructed and extraordinary Cloister at Sea Island in Georgia, the elegant and world-recognized Peninsula Chicago in Illinois, The Greenbrier in picturesque White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, and the newly-renovated multi-year Level 5 leader in Cancun, Mexico, the exceptional Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach.

Located along Southeastern Georgia’s scenic Atlantic Coast, the Sea Island Resorts (the incredible Lodge at Sea Island Golf Club and the new Cloister at Sea Island) provide a true touch of the south. The Lodge is reminiscent of an English country manor, and offers 40 spacious and luxurious guest rooms and suites that overlook emerald fairways of its championship golf courses and the St. Simons Sound. The stately and significantly larger Cloister at Sea Island offers 175 large guest rooms and suites, situated among hundred-year-old oaks, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and tidal Black Banks River. Offerings at Sea Island include a total of 17,000 square feet of meeting space, three championship golf courses, five miles of private beach, the 65,000-square-foot Cloister Spa and Fitness Center, a golf learning center, a tennis center with eight Har-Tru clay courts, a beach club, and the Five-Star Georgian Room restaurant.

The Peninsula Chicago was recently voted the #1 hotel in the United States by Condé Nast Traveler and Zagat Survey, and offers 339 exquisitely-furnished and large guest rooms and suites. Located literally along the center of Chicago’s famed Magnificent Mile, this world-renowned hotel features 9,500 square feet of elegantly-appointed meeting space which includes a beautiful glass-enclosed ballroom that is connected to an outdoor terrace, providing spectacular panoramic views of the Magnificent Mile. The hotel offers four restaurants from which to choose, and is just steps from world-class shopping, entertainment, restaurants and parks.

With renowned first-class service, and new ownership and excitement, The Greenbrier features 634 exceptional guest rooms and suites, and 85,000 square feet of conference space (with more than 35 meeting rooms). Tucked among 6,500 majestic acres of the truly picturesque Allegheny Mountains in West Virginia, the famed resort offers more than 50 recreational options, which includes three championship golf courses, a 40,000-square-foot spa, a culinary arts center, and the Golf Digest Academy, as well as eight restaurants and lounges including the exceptional new Hemisphere restaurant.

The all-suite Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach, which is Mexico’s longest standing recipient of the AAA Five-Diamond award, is ideally situated opposite the Convention Center and within walking distance of malls, dining, shopping, recreation and nightlife. Providing 602 newly renovated oceanfront suites which offer panoramic views of the Caribbean from large balconies, the hotel also features 85,000 square feet of dedicated meeting and function space, a world-class spa and fitness center, marina, poolside/beach activities, and five dining options including the AAA Five-Diamond Le Basilic restaurant.

Associated Luxury Hotels has 16 professionally staffed National Sales Offices to serve, with locations in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Kansas City, Louisville, New York City, North Carolina, Orange County (CA), Orlando, Philadelphia, Richmond, San Diego, and Toronto. Go to www.alhi.com to identify the ALHI sales professionals in your area.

Gabri added, “The ALHI National Sales team consists of trained sales professionals who know all of the details of the ‘ALHI


PEOPLE

David Weir Joins iJET As VP Resiliency ServicesiJET Intelligent Risk Systems, a leading provider of global intelligence and business resiliency services, has announced that David Weir has joined the company as Vice President of Resiliency Services.

In this position, Weir will oversee and grow iJET’s resiliency services and solutions, managing ongoing client projects, relationships and support functions within iJET’s Professional Services Group, which provides specialized enterprise risk management solutions, consulting, assessments, customized intelligence and analysis, emergency response and resiliency services. iJET’s Professional Services offerings, combined with iJET’s Worldcue® Global Control Center technology, enable organizations to effectively meet the growing business resiliency needs of today’s global marketplace.

Hartmann Heads STR’s New Analytics CompanySTR has formed STR Analytics (www.STRanalytics.com) to extend its range of analytical services and creative applications to the hotel industry. This new endeavor will satisfy the demand for more in-depth and comprehensive analysis of STR products, including Performance, Census, and Pipeline databases.

STR Analytics will be directed by Gregory Hartmann, MAI, CHA, from offices in Boulder. Hartmann heads a team that includes seasoned hotel data analysts and consulting veterans Steve Hennis and Carter Wilson, along with several senior professionals holding advanced degrees in a variety of business disciplines.

“STR Analytics was created to better assist consultants, brokers, operators, owners, lenders, hotel company executives and financial analysts in using the STR data more fully as well as obtaining a broader spectrum of insights not previously offered through STR in Hendersonville,” said Mark V. Lomanno, STR’s President.

STR CEO Randy Smith said the new company fills a need of STR’s customers. “For years our clients have been asking us to offer more than Trend, Pipeline and Market Performance reports, and I didn’t think the timing was right,” Smith said. “But after tracking our industry through the fifth—and worst—downturn I have seen in my career, those clients are now asking for more than our data ... they are asking for our help in using our data. Therefore, STR Analytics will use our data to collect and present hospitality-specific insights that I believe will serve our industry in the future.”

www.str.com

Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB Names Regional Director, Group Sales Sally Ann Slater, a 21-year veteran in travel sales and marketing, has been named by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau (GFLCVB) to the position of regional director of group sales based in Washington, D.C.

Most recently, Slater was regional sales manager of the Americas for Travel Alberta where she had responsibility for meetings, conventions and incentives sales. Previously, she was owner and president of The Zoe Group, a Maryland-based consulting, marketing and sales company working with convention and visitors bureaus on business development programs.

She is a member of Meeting Planners International and also holds memberships in the American Society of Association Executives, Professional Convention Management Association, Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International, Association of Meeting Professionals, and CVBReps.

Perth CB Appoints Ian Laurance As ChairmanHigh profile tourism industry identity and former West Australian parliamentarian Ian Laurance AM has been appointed Chairman of the Perth Convention Bureau.

Mr Laurance, who recently stepped down as Chairman of Australia’s North West Tourism, accepted an invitation to join the Bureau’s Board as a Consultative Director and take on the role of Chairman.

The Bureau is a non-profit membership-based organisation responsible for marketing Perth and Western Australia as a business events destination. In the six months to the end of December, the Bureau secured convention and incentive travel business worth more than $60 million in direct delegate expenditure.

Level 5 Collection’ hotels and resorts, as well as ALHI’s entire impressive worldwide portfolio. So they’re ready to be great resources for meeting and incentive specialists, and can help identify the best venues for your specific programs and objectives. And since there is no cost to planners’ organizations to utilize the National Sales services of ALHI -- since ALHI is funded by members’ dues -- a call to ALHI makes planning programs so much quicker and easier.”

www.alhi.com

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DESTINATIONS

National tourism agency, VisitBritain, forecasts a return to growth for British tourism in 2010. Recent figures for 2009 suggest that the tourism industry has reached a turning point, marking it as an economic driver to lift Britain out of recession as we enter 2010, and beyond.

During the first 10 months of 2009, 300,000 more inbound holiday visitors chose the UK as a holiday destination. In the three months to October, leisure and business inbound visitors spent £5bn while in the UK, that’s 3% more than during the same period of 2008, as visitors took advantage of the great value for money that Britain offered.

An improving economic situation and favourable exchange rate has resulted in the number of visitors to the UK from North America increasing at an annual rate of 11% in the three months to October, a very encouraging trend for the new year.

Looking ahead to 2010 we forecast a slight rise of 0.8% in the volume of inbound tourism to 30.4million, with inbound visitor spending rising to £17.1 billion, an increase of nearly 4% on 2009. If sterling remains weak we may see a steeper increase in visitor spending than expected.

Sandie Dawe, chief executive, VisitBritain said: “Over recent years tourism has been the fastest growing industry in the world. In the UK, it is the 5th largest industry and 3rd largest export earner. Our forecasts suggest that whilst, 2010 will not see record numbers of inbound visitors or visitor spend, the prolonged weakness in the value of sterling will result in a stronger performance, particularly in visitor spend.

“These figures from the International Passenger Survey, and VisitBritain’s forecasts, suggest that Britain’s tourism is now heading back in the right direction and whilst conditions will still be tough, we believe that the exchange rate will make Britain attractive and offer exceptional value for the new year.”

VisitBritain will be launching three-year global campaigns in 2010 along three key themes: Classic, Dynamic

and Luxury, encompassing traditional Britishness, youth and high revenue markets.

A new VisitBritain iPhone app has been launched as part of VisitBritain’s film tourism work around the new Sherlock Holmes film, allowing users to locate and then visit locations from their favourite British films. The theme of film tourism will be continued around the release of the new Robin Hood film.

Sandie added: “The Ryder Cup will also take place in Britain in 2010 at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, South Wales and we will be capitalising on the opportunities that hosting this prestigious event brings. So, challenging times ahead, but there are some signs of optimism, with VisitBritain launching key campaigns which will help build the value of the visitor economy in the UK over the next year.”

Opportunities in 2010

- Growing demand for business travel. - Sterling remaining weak. - Stability in the aviation sector if oil prices are steady and consumer confidence returns. - UK being highly rated as a nation brand, especially our heritage and cultural offering. - Additionally in 2010 ramping up of activity relating to the Cultural Olympiad and growing activity associated with the Games in 2012. - Set piece events such as Glastonbury, Wimbledon, the Ryder Cup in Wales and The Edinburgh Festivals.

Challenges for 2010

- Whether the global economic recovery continues to gather momentum. - The competitive environment looks set to get even tougher. - The increases (in November 2009 and planned for November 2010) in Air Passenger Duty. - The exchange rate is both a potential challenge and an opportunity for inbound tourism in 2010. - Some airlines remain in financial difficulty as was evident from the recent collapse of flyglobespan. - Visa fees and processes remain a barrier to visitors from some markets.

www.visitbritain.org

Turning Point For British Tourism In 2010

Taos, New Mexico Unveils Unique 2010 Travel CampaignThe Town of Taos, New Mexico, announces its 2010 tourism theme: Escape the Modern Day. Rejuvenate in Taos. Return to Sacred Places, which encourages people, longing to rejuvenate their lives, to escape the stresses of the modern day and make a journey of self discovery.

Travel industry research is showing that people want to de-stress, reconnect relationships, stay closer to home, spend less and have experiential vacations in 2010. Taos is naturally about these things, and the 2010 Return to Sacred Places campaign highlights how visitors may experience them while in Taos.

You don’t need a map to find sacred places in Taos. They’re everywhere…on well-traveled roads to the historic Taos Pueblo, along a winding alley to an art gallery, in a colorful shrine tucked into an adobe wall, and in the sound of the river as it winds down a mountain canyon.

“Everyone loves getting away for a vacation – especially when it involves rest, relaxation and rejuvenation,” Taos Public Relations Director Cathy Connelly said. “We’re encouraging people to take a truly one-of-a-kind vacation this year – one where they connect with what is important to them. Taos, NM provides something for everyone in a low-key, non-urban, relaxing and rejuvenating, awe-inspiring setting.”

Taos is the result of centuries of history and a fusion of diverse cultures that create a unique town full of unforgettable places - its treasured stories, personal observations, and literal “places” to escape the modern day.

“Taos is honoring its sacred places – ancient and new, man-made and natural, inner and outdoor,” Taos Mayor Darren Cordova said.

“In 2010, we invite people to discover all Taos’ special offerings - our traditions, values, lores and legends.”

www.TaosPueblo.comwww.TaosSacredPlaces.com

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