The Nashville Convention Center has been cleared for redevelopment after city officials voted unanimously to rework an existing arrangement with the adjoining Renaissance Nashville Hotel . The deal comes two months before the new $623 million Music City Center opens, and five months after plans to convert the facility into a medical mart fell through. “I don’t have a plan for it,” says the city’s finance director, Rich Riebeling. “We’re going to think creatively about the long-term use of that property.” The Renaissance has agreed to commit $25 million to renovations.
San Diego Mayor Bob Filner wants the San Diego Convention Center to take over the marketing of the facility—duties that currently belong to the city’s convention and visitors bureau. The move would reverse a decision the convention center board and city council made last year in response to hotelier demands. “[That] action was a politically initiated demand made by local hoteliers as part of the center’s expansion financing agreement,” Filner says in a letter. “The action by the SDCCC board (and City Council) was handled in a rushed manner.”
Utah officials took the next step toward getting a new hotel adjacent to the Salt Lake Palace Convention Center with SB267, providing tax credit for the proposed facility. “Last year, we lost future conventions that would have brought 150,000 people, created $140 million and supported 5,000 jobs,” says Carlene Walker, a Visit Salt Lake executive committee member.
Convention bookings stayed flat for Cincinnati in 2012, reports the Cincinnati Enquirer. The CVB had 205,715 room nights and a total estimated economic impact of $61.3 million. While last year’s growth was minimal, it followed seven consecutive years of steady increases. Bookings in the city have gone up 37 percent since 2005.
A new $1.5 million sky bridge connecting the Rosen Plaza and Orange County Convention Center in Orlando will be dedicated to Gary Sain, the late president and CEO of Visit Orlando.
Reed Exhibitions announced the launch of the International Airport Infrastructure Show and Conference to be held in 2014 at the International Exhibition Center CROCUS EXPO in Moscow.
The Hawaii Tourism Authority released an RFI regarding management of the Hawaii Convention Center. The facility, featuring more than 200,000 square feet of exhibit space, is currently managed by SMG. The contract expires at the end of 2013.
Show producer Hall-Erickson has announced the cancellation of The Motivation Show at Chicago’s McCormick Place. Motivation Show Las Vegas will be collocated with PPAI Expo in 2014, Incentive Magazine reports.
Penton Media’s Waste Industry Group, including WasteExpo, has partnered with the Australasian Waste and Recycling Expo to co-market their respective content and events. “Now our intelligent group of solid waste, recycling and organics professionals can get a greater global industry perspective,” says Rita Ugianskis, managing director of the Waste Industry Group.
Las Vegas casino and resort Treasure Island is in the process of hiring a consulting firm to prepare a feasibility study on a possible new convention center, Vegas Inc. reports.
See Also: The Week In Tradeshows | March 4
UBM Live’s Cruise Shipping Miami conference and exhibition is reporting 11-percent preshow growth, headed into its show this year. The annual event attracts around 11,000 attendees.
The International Woodworking Fair has agreed to a six-year extension with Experient, which will continue to provide registration and housing, lead retrieval and data management services for the event.
Experience Columbus (Ohio) outlined its goals following approval of a budgetary increase by city officials. Experience Columbus CEO Brian Ross wants to nearly double the total of large meetings booked, up to 48 annually.
All Marriott hotels will offer free lobby WiFi to visitors and overnight guests alike by the end of March, USA Today reports.
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