Sep 10, 2021
While the pandemic may have sidelined events at convention centers and other venues for a while, several made great use of the downtime to continue constructing new venues or expanding existing facilities. Check out five of the most notable new developments in 2021.
Oklahoma City Convention Center
Oklahoma City significantly elevated its capacity for hosting meetings, conventions, tradeshows and other events with the opening of the $288 million Oklahoma City Convention Center and adjacent 605-room Omni Oklahoma City headquarters hotel early this year.
“The new venues and infrastructure… more
Sep 08, 2021
Ellen Schwartz isn’t exactly afraid to speak her mind. In fact, being outspoken is more like her superpower. A dynamic yet down-to-Earth industry professional who has worked for more than 40 years in the trade show and events industry, she exudes the kind of confidence that comes from years of experience and the wisdom gained from working her way up the ranks in show management, convention center sales and marketing roles and finally, venue management.
In this first edition of our new interview series about women in leading roles in the meetings and events industry, TSNN had the privilege… more
Aug 24, 2021
To help promote racial equity and overcome underrepresentation in its local travel and tourism industry, Experience Columbus and the Greater Columbus Sports Commission are partnering with Tourism Diversity Matters, a tourism and events industry resource for diversity expertise, to launch the Diversity Apprenticeship Program (DAP).
Designed to help close the significant racial equity gap in the Central Ohio hospitality community, the new apprenticeship program will provide hands-on experience and job opportunities to local students, recent graduates and professionals who identify as BIPOC (… more
Aug 19, 2021
The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, Fla., has become the first facility of its kind to receive GBAC STAR Facility Re-accreditation from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association.
The OCCC was one of the first convention centers to receive initial GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation when the program was launched in 2020, and the re-accreditation comes following one year of successfully hosting events amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our GBAC STAR re-accreditation on outbreak prevention, response and recovery is… more
Aug 16, 2021
As the trade show industry continues to forge ahead with health and safety still very much top-of-mind, major shows across the U.S. have been pulling off successful in-person iterations. Here are two significant events that happened in Chicago and Orlando recently.
ASI Show
As the first trade show to take place at McCormick Place since Chicago’s shutdown, the ASI Show was also the first large, in-person show for the $20.7 billion promotional products industry in more than 15 months.
Held July 14-15 and hosted by the Advertising Specialty Institute, the show’s attendance exceeded… more
Aug 10, 2021
While many entities have been stumbling over major hurdles with employee retention and engagement throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, New Orleans’ Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (ENMCC) strode forward—by leaps and bounds.
The center, already decorated with several “Top Workplaces” awards, including two this year, launched the Innovation Lab in July, aimed at even further improving company culture and, ultimately, customer satisfaction by placing ownership of the initiative in the hands of employees.
Employees will set goals, provide timelines and drive strategy and content for the… more
Aug 03, 2021
One of the many effects of the pandemic was the movement of many city residents to nearby suburbs. The same reasons for the mini-exodus, namely cost and convenience, could also lead more events to make similar leaps.
If any region is capable of a shift in event locations, it’s the surrounding areas outside the nation’s capital. Beyond being home to the federal government, Washington, D.C. and its neighboring counties are the hub of many national associations. Marriott International makes its home in nearby Bethesda, Maryland (where its new headquarters will also be located) and Hilton’s… more
Jul 23, 2021
Life at one of the busiest convention centers in the U.S. has been anything but idle over the past 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. New York City’s Javits Center closed for events last year, but it has been humming with other activity ever since, playing a key role in the recovery of the Empire State while operating as a COVID-19 field hospital then as the largest vaccination site in the U.S., administering more than 600,000 shots.
Behind the scenes, it was also busy working on the final phase of a $1.5 billion expansion that was completed in May, adding 1.2 million square feet of total… more
Jul 12, 2021
Last month was a historic one for Dallas Market Center. The B2B trade center and wholesale marketplace for the home décor, gifts, lighting, housewares, holiday/floral, apparel and accessories markets experienced its biggest summer month of buyer traffic in more than ten years, with tens of thousands of buyers from across the U.S. converging upon the Apparel & Accessories Market, Total Home & Gift Market, KidsWorld and Lightovation events.
Spanning 5 million square feet of exhibit space, including hundreds of permanent showrooms and hundreds of booths in temporary expo space, the June… more
Jul 05, 2021
Las Vegas has been busy setting the stage for the next generation of meetings and conventions with a slew of new state-of-the-art venues. Now home to 14 million square feet of meeting, conference and exhibition space, the iconic desert destination offers planners more exciting options than ever, with more than 2 million square feet of new space and three resorts launched in the past 18 months alone.
“That additional space will allow Las Vegas to host more meetings and it will allow our current clients to grow their business,” said John Schreiber, vice president of business sales for the Las… more
Partner Voices
Dallas already boasts 35,000 hotel rooms, award-winning global cuisine, and a walkable downtown. But we are just getting started.
Visit Dallas is thrilled to announce that the city of Dallas is doubling down with a massive new convention center and entertainment district. Featuring 800,000 square feet of exhibit area, 260,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and 170,000 square feet of ballroom. The center will connect business travelers with dining and shopping options in the popular Cedars District means more places to get down to business, and even more ways to unwind.
“Dallas is already a great meetings and conventions destination, with the accessibility of two major airports, affordable labor, and an outstanding hotel product,” said D. Bradley Kent, Visit Dallas senior vice president and chief sales officer. “The new center and Convention Center District will enhance Dallas’ competitive position and are exactly what our customers’ need and have been asking for."
What’s New – AT&T Discovery District
Located in the heart of Downtown Dallas, this new district on the AT&T corporate campus is tailor-made for groups of all sizes. It boasts a multi-sensory experience, including outdoor event space, the AT&T Theater, and multiple dining outlets including JAXON Beer Garden and The Exchange, a bustling food hall.
Hotels Coming Soon
Names like the JW Marriott (Downtown), lnterContinental Dallas (Uptown), and Hotel Swexan (Uptown) are adding luxury amenities and bountiful event spaces. The projects will debut in 2023 and beyond.
JW Marriott
This new, 15-story, 283-room hotel will open in the heart of the city’s downtown Arts District this year. The property features a 25,000-square-foot grand ballroom, as well as a spa, restaurant, lobby bar, fitness center, and a rooftop pool deck and bar.
InterContinental Dallas
Located in Cityplace Tower in Uptown, InterContinental Dallas will feature sweeping panoramic views of the Dallas skyline. Guests will enjoy spacious, high-end rooms and amenities, including more than 21,000 square feet of event space.
Hotel Swexan
Hotel Swexan, a new, 22-story luxury property, is rising in Uptown’s Harwood District and will make its mark on the Dallas skyline. Opening this year, it is a sculptural building with cantilevered upper floors, as well as a 75-foot rooftop infinity-edge swimming pool and a hidden underground lounge.