A collection of new changes in the meetings world, updated daily.
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- Kalahari Resorts Hires Cindy Foley, CMP for Assistant Director of Sales
Kalahari Resorts, a leader in the waterpark resort and conference industry in Wisconsin, has hired Cindy Foley, CMP, as the assistant director of sales. With nearly 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Foley will work closely with the director of sales in this newly created position to oversee sales, catering and conference personnel for Kalahari Resort, home to the largest independently owned convention center in the state.
Over the years, Foley has been an active and widely respected member of the hospitality community. She has held 18 leadership roles in Meeting Professionals International (MPI) - Wisconsin Chapter and has received countless awards from the organization including the Hall of Fame Award, Industry Advocate Award and Supplier of the Year. In addition, she served on the board for the Wisconsin Society of Association Executives from 2004 until 2010 and was presented with the Associate Member of the Year Award in 2007.
- River City Casino Opening Draws Crowds
Pinnacle Entertainment, a leading owner and operator of resorts and casinos in the United States opened their latest endeavor, the River City Casino in St. Louis yesterday to a crowd of thousands. River City is a fabulous new tourist destination and entertainment venue for locals and visitors to the St. Louis area and represents an investment of approximately $380 million, one of the largest private investments in the region.
- Meet Minneapolis Announces New VP of Finance & Admin (03/08/10)
Meet Minneapolis, the Official Convention + Visitors Association™, has named David Knoll to the newly formed position of vice president of Finance and Administration.
- Changes Ahead at the Lincolnshire Marriott Resort (03/08/10)
The Lincolnshire Marriott Resort has been a prime resort and events space in Chicagoland for over 35 years. ON March 1, the resort will break ground on its renovation project, completely redoing the lobby and upgrading many of the resort's most famous and popular features including ballroom and meeting space renovations and creating an M.I. Greatroom.
- Q Center is pleased to announce Armon L. Haagen (DOS)
Q Center, the largest conference center in the United States, today announced that Armon L. Haagen has joined its management team as Director of Sales and Marketing.
- SmithBucklin Promotes John Stoiber to Sr VP
SmithBucklin the world’s largest association management and professional services company, announced today the promotion of John Stoiber to Senior Vice President & Chief Executive—Business Trade Industry Practice. He is also a member of the SmithBucklin corporate management team and will continue to work out of the company’s Chicago office and report to SmithBucklin Chairman & CEO, Henry S. Givray.
- UCM to Open New Recreation and Wellness Center March 2011
Construction of a new state-of-the-art recreation and wellness center at the University of Central Missouri is well underway. The target opening date for the center is set for March 2011, and reservations are now being accepted for the new facility for summer 2011. The wellness center will greatly enhance the amenities currently offered at UCM and more than double the gymnasium space available for use at the university.
- Innovation through Collaboration (02/19/10)The Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce, the Middle Michigan Development Corp., and the Mount Pleasant Area Convention & Visitors Bureau are now housed under one roof – creating an opportunity to not only share ideas and resources, but to pioneer new collaborations and ventures as well.
- Crowne Plaza Opens in Downtown Chicago(02/18/10)
The Avenue Crowne Plaza Hotel Chicago is one of Chicago's favorite choices of Luxury hotels in downtown Chicago, IL. Located in the heart of downtown Chicago, IL the Ave is steps away from Michigan Avenue's "Magnificent Mile" offering ultimate world-class shopping, dining, arts and entertainment.
- Doubletree Opens Tenth Chicagoland Location (2/15/10)
Doubletree Hotels has announced the opening of the Doubletree Hotel Libertyville-Mundelein in the northwest Chicagoland suburbs. Conveniently situated within an hour’s drive of both Chicago and Milwaukee, the 183-room hotel is located in the Village of Mundelein, just minutes from Lake Michigan, majestic state parks, quaint historic villages and first-class shopping and entertainment.
- Sioux Falls Guest House Inn & Suites Joins Guesthouse Intl (2/12/10)
BOOMERANG HOTELS announces the opening of the Guest House Inn and Suites, Sioux Falls, SD (formerly Kelly Inn). This is the first Guest House Inn and Suites franchise in South Dakota!
- FAVORITE FRENCH RESTAURANT REOPENS AS COLETTE BAR & BISTRO (02/11/10)
The new Coletter Barr & Bistro, formerly Chez Colette, opens today at the French luxury hotel Sofitel Minneapolis after a month of renovations, just in time for Valentine's day. The popular French restaurant's new name comes along with a hip, modern redesign, cutting-edge technology and an additional private dining area.
- Greater Greenbay CVB Receives International Accreditation (01/29/10)
The Greater Greenbay CVB was awarded with the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) accreditation. It is one of only 101 CVBs accredited in the world. This accreditation means that the CVB has attained a significant measure of excellence.
- Rough Riders Hotel and CC Expansion, Medora, ND (1/28/10)
Located in the heart of downtown Medora this charming, historic hotel is newly renovated with 68 additional tower rooms. Beginning the summer season of 2010 you can stay in one of eight Historic Rooms with one queen or king bed, or one of the sixty-eight new Tower Rooms with two queen beds or 1 king bed. The dining room has been expanded and is perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
- Eaglewood Resort 7 Spa Announces Its Green Sealâ„¢ Silver Certification Awarded For Its Environmental initiatives (01/26/10)
Eaglewood Resort & Spa, a Benchmark Hospitality property, has achieved the Green Seal™ certification, it was recently announced by Charles Reece, general manager for the property. This AAA – Four Diamond award-winning resort is just one of only 40 throughout the country to have earned this prestigious distinction. Green Seal is a 20-year-old, independent, non-profit organization dedicated to creating a more sustainable world. Green Seal created a rigorous, science-based environmental standard for the industry, which includes nearly three dozen environmentally responsible criteria for lodging properties.
- Kane County Announces New Exhibition Space. (01/25/10)
The Kane County Fairgrounds is proud to announce our new exhibition space. The new space is perfect for events, such as boat, RV and housewares shows, as well as weddings and other types of banquets / receptions. The new space includes...West Exhibition Hall, 130 X 120, 15,600 square feet of exhibit space, East Exhibition Hall-130 X 120, 15,600 square feet of exhibit space,32,000 total square feet of exhibit space,40 acres of parking, RV Parking utility Hook-up, Available 2nd Level Conference Room, Office space for show coordinators, Full kitchen area, Banquet hall suitable for weddings, gatherings and special events.
- Minnesota's Radisson Plymouth Completes Renovation (01/22/10)
The Radisson Hotel & Conference Center located in Plymouth, Minn., at 3131 Campus Drive, announced the completion of its year-long renovation.
- Radisson Hotel & CC Announces Completion of Renovation (01/21/10)
The Radisson Hotel & Conference Center located in Plymouth at 3131 Campus Drive today announced the completion of its year-long renovation. The million dollar renovation included redesign of the Creekside Café and Lounge, new lobby furnishings including some chandelier lighting, and renovation of the conference rooms on the main and lower levels which included some new ceilings, lighting and sound systems.
- Quad Cities CVB Launches New Website (01/21/10)
With a new year comes a new look, as the Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau launches a new website aimed to make it easier than ever to access all you could ever want to know about the Quad Cities.
- The Dearborn Inn, A Marriott Hotel Unveils Meeting & Event Space Renovation (01/18/10)
The Dearborn Inn, A Marriott Hotel has just revealed their newly completed meeting and event space renovations.
- Minnesota Lodging Association Selects Dave Brott as "2009 Hotelier of the Year"(01/15/10)
The Minnesota Lodging Association has honored Dave Brott (Hilton Garden Inn, Bloomington) with its "2009 Hotelier of the Year" Award.
- Congratulations to Judy Tallant (01/15/10)
Judy was awarded Star of the Quarter for the MPI Heartland Chapter. The award was presented to Judy Tallant at the January 13th Central POD meeting. Judy was recognized for her volunteerism to our Heartland Chapter. Judy was nominated by one of her fellow chapter members.
- Providence Group to manage Regency Lodge in Omaha, Nebraska (01/11/10)
Jed C. Heller, President of the The Providence Group, LLC, a Massachusetts-based full service hospitality management company, announced today that the company has been engaged to manage The Regency Lodge, a 145-room property in greater Omaha, Nebraska.
- Chez Colette Receives a Makeover (01/07/10)
Chez Colette, Sofitel Minneapolis’ popular French restaurant, is being redesigned and renovated for the first time since the hotel opened in 1975.
- Xanterra Assumes Management of the Deer Creek State Park Lodge and Conference Center (1/4/10)
National and state park concessioner Xanterra Parks & Resorts will assume management of the Deer Creek State Park Lodge and Conference Center on Feb. 1, 2010. The lodge will reopen for business on Feb. 26, 2010. The company has begun accepting reservations for lodge rooms after that date.
- Benchmark Hospitality Appoints Wende Blumberg GM for Hotel Contessa, TX(12/22/2009)
Benchmark Hospitality International has announced the appointment of Wende Blumberg as general manager for Hotel Contessa, the Personal Luxury Hotel(TM) on the Riverwalk in San Antonio, Texas. Greg Champion, chief operating officer, made the announcement.
- Rotary Lauds Bruening's Service
The Rotary Club of Galesburg at its regular membership luncheon meeting Dec. 3 recognized Diane Bruening as the recipient of the cub’s Outstanding Vocational/Community Service Leader Award for the second quarter of the 2009-10 Rotary Year. Bruening is executive director of the Galesburg Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Welcome Center.
- Independence Events Center Opens (12/9/09)
The all new 68 million dollar Independence Events Center, a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose arena with 5,800 fixed seats, 25 luxury suites, a bar/grill and community ice rink has opened its doors for business. Planners have created a spacious feel, with wide concourses, seven full service box offices and plenty of bathrooms. As a plus, 2,000 free parking spaces are on site. Fans will appreciate that no seat is further away from the action than 16 rows.
- Wessels Living History Farm named top tourism attraction in state (12/7/09)
The Wessels Living History Farm, located on the southern edge of York, was named the Outstanding Tourism Attraction in the state, during the Nebraska Tourism Conference held in Norfolk this week.
- Lisa Peterson Named To Lead White Lodging's Region 9 Hotels as Vice President (12/3/09)
White Lodging has appointed Lisa Peterson to the position of Regional Vice President where she will oversee operational and financial performances for hotels in Utah, Arizona, and Grand Junction, Colorado.
- Radisson Plaza Hotel Minneapolis Appoints New General Manager
Radisson(R) Hotels & Resorts announced the appointment of Tom Mason as the new general manager of the Radisson Plaza Hotel Minneapolis at 35 South 7th Street in the heart of the city's downtown area. Mason brings more than 25 years of property management experience in the hospitality industry to the position.
- Two Hotels Renovate & Grow in McHenry County, IL (11/24/09)
Overnight guests and conference attendees are enjoying the results of major renovation and expansion projects at two hotels in McHenry County, Ill. The Holiday Inn in Crystal Lake completed a $4 million renovation to the entire building, both inside and out, from the guestrooms to the ballroom, and from the lower level to the seventh floor. The Hampton Inn in McHenry added a second meeting room and 40 guestrooms, increasing total meeting space to 1,500 square feet and guestrooms to 117.
- Staybridge Suites Milwaukee West-Oconomowoc Now Open (11/17/09)
Pabst Farms Development Inc., developers of the largest master-planned community in southeastern Wisconsin, together with S&L Hospitality, a hospitality development and management company in Madison, Wis., welcomed business owners, chamber members and community leaders to a Grand Opening Ribbon Reception on June 2, commencing the opening of the new, 128-room Staybridge Suites(R) Milwaukee West-Oconomowoc located at 1141 Blue Ribbon Drive, Oconomowoc, Wis., 53066.
- New 21c Museum Hotel to Open in Cincinnati, Ohio
Building on its mission of engaging the public with contemporary art and supporting the revitalization of American downtowns, 21c Museum Hotels will renovate and restore the former Metropole Hotel - an historic landmark in downtown Cincinnati - to its original purpose as a hotel and a centerpiece of the city.
- Doubletree Arrives at Cincinnati International Airport (11/10/09)
Newest Doubletree Airport Hotel Located at Terminal Entrance for Easy Take-Offs and Landings.
- Marriott Bloomington - Normal Hotel & Conference Center Opens (11/04/09)
Mr. John Q. Hammons announces the opening of his third hotel this year with the debut of the nine-story, 230-room/suite Marriott Bloomington - Normal Hotel & Conference Center (www.marriottnormal.com) in the revitalized Uptown Normal, Ill. Located at 201 Broadway Avenue, the contemporary-designed hotel and adjoining 40,000 gross square feet of meeting space created nearly 150 new jobs.
- Flint HIlls Discovery Center in Manhattan, KS (11/2/09)
Kansas is very close to adding one more jewel to its crown of attractions with the Flint Hills Discovery Center in Manhattan. Construction on this estimated $23 million facility is expected to begin in the summer of 2011 and will focus on how the people and the land of the Flint Hills shape one another.
- Staybridge Suites Opens First Kansas Hotel in Wichita (10/27/09)
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG, NYSE: IHG] announced that a new 88-room Staybridge Suites recently opened in Wichita. The Staybridge Suites location is the state's first Staybridge Suites hotel. The new Staybridge Suites Wichita is located at 2250 N. Greenwich Road, St. N, Wichita, Kansas 67226.
- Weber's Boutique Hotel and Restaurant Announces the Newest Meeting Facility in MI (10/12/09)
Weber’s Hotel and Restaurant announces the completion of a full-scale transformation of its Main Ballroom and surrounding areas. $500,000 worth of renovations make a noticeable alteration in the now-expansive, bright setting of Weber’s Main Ballroom.
The Main Ballroom exudes crisp, white elegance in a panoramic, yet intimate setting. The space is well-suited to accommodate weddings, meetings, and special events in a comfortable, upscale environment. Bright new paint, stylish carpeting, new ceiling
- Introducing the Four Points by Sheraton Indianapolis Carmel
The city of Carmel, Indiana, on the affluent north side of Indianapolis, is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the Midwest, with scores of international businesses and cultural landmarks having opened in the past ten years. It's also now home to the brand new Four Points by Sheraton Indianapolis Carmel, which recently opened its doors to guests eager to explore this exciting area.
- Buffalo Ridge Resort & Event Hall
Back in the first half of the 20th century, the South Dakota School for the Blind was located in Gary, South Dakota – a small town on the eastern edge of the state. In 1959, the school was relocated to Aberdeen, leaving Gary’s campus abandoned. Fast-forward to 2009. Fifty years later, the campus has been revitalized into Buffalo Ridge Resort & Event Hall. The facility has hotel rooms, camping, a convention center, and a recreational lake – all of which maintain its historical appeal. Dormitories have become hotel rooms and office space, and an auditorium has become a ballroom and event hall.
- Hilton Worldwide Launches New Corporate Identity
The new corporate name and logo follow the company's recent relocation of its global headquarters from Beverly Hills, Calif., to McLean, Va. Hilton Worldwide (formerly Hilton Hotels Corporation) today announced the launch of its new corporate name and logo. Hilton's new name, Hilton Worldwide, signifies the company's global breadth and reach, and the logo incorporates key design elements that reflect Hilton's rich heritage, vision for the future and commitment to excellence in service.
- Doubletree Hotel Rochester/Downtown Opens
To celebrate its new Doubletree name, the Minnesota hotel has completed a $10 million renovation project, which transformed the former Radisson(R) hotel into a modern hotel with stylish guest rooms, increased meeting and event space, delicious dining offerings and more.
- Kemper Museum Turns 15 (9/30/09)
The sleek exterior of Kansas City’s Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, designed by Gunnar Birkerts, only hints at the activity within its walls. The open, light-filled atrium provides a striking setting for art activities in the Museum, which is accessible to all, free of charge, year-round. The permanent collection, temporary exhibitions, free public programs, special events, and the ever-popular Café Sebastienne provide endless opportunities for education and entertainment.
- Mountain Iron Hotel to Add Conference Center
The owner of the new Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Mountain Iron announced plans Wednesday to build an adjoining 10,000-square-foot conference and event center -- adding about $1 million more in investment to what was already a $9 million project.
- Minneapolis Convention Center Offers Meeting Planners Option to ‘Green Your Event’
The Minneapolis Convention Center (MCC), today announced it has entered a partnership with Boulder, Colo.-based Renewable Choice Energy as the first convention center in the U.S. to offer meeting planners and conventions Green Your Event packages to balance the environmental impact of event-related emissions and electricity use.
- Greater Lansing CVB Moving to New Address
That’s right! In an effort to better serve visitors to the Greater Lansing region, the Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau is moving downtown! At our new home in the first floor of the Stadium District building, guests to the area can get valuable information in our new Visitor Center and meeting planners will find the CVB conveniently located across the street from the 125,000 square foot Lansing Center.
- 5 things to know: 27 July 2009
Hotel performance data for June 2009 was released by STR and STR Global this week. In the Americas year-over-year comparisons, occupancy for the region dropped 9.8 percent to 61.3 percent; average daily rate declined 10.6 percent to US$97.96; and revenue per available room decreased 19.4 percent to US$60.05.
