Reed Travel Exhibitions says it has gotten “phenomenal global interest” in its hosted buyer program for the inaugural World Travel Market Latin America show (April 23-25, Såo Paulo, Brazil). Close to 900 senior buyers have applied for 250 seats, organizers say.

The Boardroom, a surfing expo, will launch a new event at the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, California (July 20-28) this year with both trade and consumer components. The brand’s main show recently announced a collocation with Surf Expo (Sept. 6-8).

A record number of tourists visited Phoenix’s western suburbs in 2012, according to the Arizona Republic. The Glendale (Ariz.) CVB says new advertising targeting resulted in more than double the amount of information requests year-over-year.

GES could face fines of up to $91,000 after the Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the contractor for “four alleged safety violations,” according to the Chicago Tribune.

The city of Tucson (Ariz.) and the Rio Nuevo Multipurpose Facilities District settled a two-year dispute, agreeing to terms for a $6 million renovation of the Tucson Convention Center. The deal also puts into motion plans for a 500-room convention center hotel, which would include 50,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.

Jim Rooney, executive director of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, will testify before state legislators at an oversight panel hearing to discuss agency spending and upcoming expansion plans, reports the Boston Herald. The CCA is in the early stages of a proposed $2 billion expansion of the Boston Convention Center.

The Schaumburg (Ill.) Convention Center has upgraded its Distributed Antenna System to improve cell phone reception and data network access.

The Salt Lake Tribune takes an extended look at the pros and cons of the Salt Lake City convention business. Scott Beck, president and CEO of Visit Salt Lake, addresses several points like liquor laws, suboptimal usage and offers a behind-the-scenes view of the bidding process.

Messe Düsseldorf is launching Energy Storage North America (Sept. 10-12) at the San Jose (Calif.) Convention Center this year. The show coincides with proposed energy storage procurement changes in the state.

See Also: The Week In Tradeshows | Feb. 18

The Salem (Ore.) Conference Center is considering a name change to the Salem Convention Center, writes the Statesman Journal. “Industry standards have changed with respect to the use of the term ‘convention center,’” says a city official.

City officials in Winston-Salem, North Carolina are mulling renovations for the Benton Convention Center. Plans to update the 100,000 sq. ft. facility range from $3.3 million to $23.9 million.

Hotel-motel tax revenues are up in the first full year after a $22 million expansion of the Tinley Park Convention Center in suburban Chicago. Hotel occupancy reached nearly 60 percent in 2012, the highest it has been since 2007.

The Marshfield News Herald profiled Matt McLean, new executive director of the Marshfield (Wis.) Convention and Visitors Bureau.

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