Plan Your Meetings

Names and Notes: October 2007

Names

Independent planner Kristin Goen, CMP, was named “Planner of the Year” by the Association of Meeting Professionals; Kim Allison, CAE, CASE, regional director of sales, Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association, was named “Supplier of the Year.” Roselle Foley, CMP, director of meetings, National Association of Chemical Distributors, is now president of the organization.

Vikki Wrede, chef concierge at the Clearwater Beach Marriott Suites on Sand Key [Fla.], was awarded membership in the exclusive Les Clef d’Or Association, which recognizes the best concierges worldwide.

Suzanne Scully was promoted to director of meetings and conventions for the St. Petersburg/Clearwater [Fla.] Convention & Visitors Bureau. Rhonda Sanborn was named director of hospitality education.

Ahmad Nourzad was promoted to Executive Chef for Affairs to Remember Caterers in Atlanta.

Hannah Smith, communications manager at the Athens [Ga.] Convention & Visitors Bureau, received a “best practices” tourism award from Gov. Sonny Purdue and the Georgia Department of Economic Development for establishing and implementing the Hospitality H.E.R.O.E.S. Program, which recognizes, trains and supports front-line hospitality employees. Other award-winners included Jan Hackett, president of the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce, for her work enhancing visitors’ experience in Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, and Frankie Willis for her commitment to the revitalization of the Village of Indian Springs.

Kelly Barbrey was promoted to vice president of sales and marketing of the Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports & Tourism, parent organization of the Columbia [S.C.] Convention & Visitors Bureau. Several other promotions were announced: Mandi Engram was promoted to director of Internet marketing and Nicole D. Smith was promoted to director of media relations and publications. Within the CVB, Crystal Morris was promoted to director of sales for the CVB, handling corporate and association markets, and Twila Jones was promoted to senior sales manager for the CVB, focusing on religious, multicultural and social markets.

Notes

National
Skybus is scheduled to begin nonstop, roundtrip service between Columbus, Ohio, and Chattanooga, Tenn., on Dec. 5. Other routes scheduled to debut on Dec. 5 include Columbus to Milwaukee, Wisc.; Gulport-Biloxi International Airport (serving Gulfport/Biloxi, Miss., and New Orleans); and the Charlotte County Airport in Punta Gorda, Fla., serving Southwest Florida.

Alabama
The Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau will hold its Third Annual Fright Night for meeting planners at WorkPlay on Oct. 18. Planners from Georgia also are welcome to attend the event, which is designed to introduce planners to CVB partners. For more information, e-mail jjefferson@birminghamal.org.

Arizona
Encore Creative, which has offices in both Tempe and Tucson, acquired Set Monsters, and is in the process of merging with Creative Decorating & Display. Expanded services offered now include professional meeting sets, props, theme parties, décor, design, entertainment and event planning.

The 274-room, Four-Star Glendale Renaissance Hotel & Spa will open this month with more than 95,000 square feet of meeting and expo space, including 30 meeting rooms, and two concierge levels.

California
Over the next year, the Los Angeles Convention Center will undergo a $3 million transformation to meet U.S. Green Building Council requirements for LEED certification. Upon completion, the eco-friendly, 4.1 million-sq. ft. convention center will run completely on renewable energy.

Colorado
Construction on the Four Seasons Hotel in Denver is underway. Scheduled to open in spring 2010, the hotel will have 16,000 square feet of meeting and event space, 240 guest rooms, a full-service spa and rooftop dining poolside.

Florida
The Bay Point Marriott Resort and Spa in Panama City Beach completed a three-year, $23 million renovation and resort development program. Improvements were made to the resort’s 316 guest rooms and 60 one-bedroom golf villas, adding plush Marriott beds and in-room work areas. Additions to the property include a pool and outdoor event area by the Grand Lagoon, a Nicklaus Design golf course, a state-of-the-art fitness facility and a 12,000-sq. ft. luxury spa. The resort also has a second golf course; multiple on-site dining options; a 40,000-sq. ft. meeting and convention facility with two divisible ballrooms, multiple breakout rooms, boardrooms and outdoor venues; and is located on a 1,100-acre wildlife sanctuary 15 minutes from the Panama City Airport.

From Oct. 27-31, the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort will host the 27th Annual Florida Encounter, showcasing what Florida has to offer meeting and incentive groups. If you’re interested in attending, submit your application for attendance to encounter.visitflorida.com.

Crescent Hotels & Resorts acquired the 293-room Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk Hotel. A $6 million renovation and expansion will increase the property’s meeting space to 11,300 square feet and complete upgrades of the guest rooms and lobby.

Georgia
Elite Green Car, Atlanta’s first eco-friendly chauffeured transportation company, now offers a fleet of super ultra-low emission, full-size Lexus RX400 hybrids. Other state-of-the-art amenities available include XM NavTraffic and GPS Tracking systems, WiFi Internet access, Sirius satellite radio, DVD and CD players, and surround sound. Elite Green Car is available for airport transportation, corporate travel, VIP/Executive transportation, and special events and occasions.

A 414-room Loews hotel is scheduled to open in Midtown Atlanta in April 2010 as part of the 12th & Midtown development. The development also will feature retail, restaurant space and residences, and is part of the Midtown Mile, a plan to transform the Peachtree Street corridor between North Avenue and 15th Street into a vibrant urban retail district, similar to Chicago’s Michigan Avenue.

The Buisson Arts Center reopened in downtown Dahlonega. Programming includes Artist Rendezvous parties held on the third Saturday of each month, featuring live music and porch picnics during the day, and evening dance parties in the gallery.

Lake Lanier Islands Resort opened a new, waterfront, outdoor wedding venue, the Summer House Gardens, behind the Emerald Pointe Hotel & Conference Center. The three-tiered gazebo and event lawn accommodate 250 guests. Seated dinners under a neighboring wedding tent accommodate 300 guests.

Louisiana
RREEF Real Estate and Loeb Partners Realty acquired the Astor Crowne Plaza, New Orleans. The French Quarter hotel will remain open during renovations to update its interior. Amenities include 707 guest rooms, 27,500 square feet of meeting space and 22,500 square feet of ground floor retail space.

North Carolina
A 100-room Hotel Indigo is to open in Asheville in summer 2009. The property will be located in a pedestrian-friendly shopping and arts district downtown. Amenities include 89 guest rooms, 11 suites, 465 square feet of meeting and event space, a 24-hour business center, a fitness studio, high-speed and wireless Internet access, and views of the Great Smoky Mountains.

South Carolina
Poogan’s Porch, the oldest restaurant in downtown Charleston, received the 2007 Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator magazine for the fourth consecutive year.

The Woodlands Resort & Inn, near Charleston, was ranked the No. 2 Hotel in the U.S. and Canada (No. 27 worldwide) by Travel & Leisure magazine.

The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort was ranked the No. 1 U.S. Resort Hotel by Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report.

Hard Rock Park is scheduled to open in Myrtle Beach in 2008. Amenities of the 140-acre music-themed amusement park include a multi-purpose, live-music amphitheater; rollercoasters, restaurants, cafés and retail stores.

Also to open in Myrtle Beach next year is the Market Common, a mixed-use residential and retail development on the site of the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base.

Tennessee
Wilderness at the Smokies, an indoor/outdoor water park resort with a golf course, restaurants, retail and condo units, opened last month in Sevierville.

Texas
Omni Hotels purchased the building housing the Omni Austin Hotel Downtown, which has carried the chain’s flag since 1992. The 20-story, 375-room hotel has 20,000 square feet of meeting space and will undergo a $10 million guest room renovation.

The Hyatt Regency Dallas will close its Reunion Tower on Nov. 16 as part of a $55 million renovation of the tower, historic Union Station, and the hotel’s meeting space and guest rooms. The Reunion Tower will reopen in fall 2008. Hotel projects are scheduled for completion by the end of the year, and the Union Station meeting space will be available for dates beginning in late summer 2008.

The Hilton Anatole began Phase Two of its multiyear, $45 million renovation project. By the end of this year, 700 guest rooms and 126,304 square feet of meeting space will be refurbished.

The Omni Fort Worth Hotel is to open in November 2008 across from the newly renovated convention center downtown. Amenities include more than 600 guest rooms, almost 70,000 square feet of meeting space, unique restaurants and lounges, and a full-service spa.