< Previoushe says. Attendance last year was only about a third of the past few conferences, Keesal says, but that was mostly related to current company restrictions rather than to fears about health and safety in Atlantic City. “Many of [our attend- ees’] companies still had travel restrictions in place. We were completely confident that the Caesars staff would do every- thing possible to provide the necessary health protection to our attendees, and that turned out to be the case,” Keesal says. “They were able to provide the necessary social distancing space for those requesting it, the necessary food and beverage protections were in place, and it was very obvious the neces- sary sanitizing and cleaning protocols were being followed. Those who were able to attend felt completely safe during their time at the conference and during their hotel stay.” Harrah’s is able to provide everything the group requires in one spot. “Harrah’s Conference Center is large enough to provide us with the multiple breakout rooms needed for our training sessions, as well as the space to hold general sessions. It provides us with ample vendor space and is able to feed 600- plus people in one seating. The conference center is laid out perfectly for our needs — flow of traffic for our vendors and ease of movement to various meeting rooms and the registra- tion location. It’s still relatively new,” Keesal points out, “and kept exceptionally clean. The hotel is constantly updating its hotel rooms, and provides our attendees with great amenities, including a fabulous variety of restaurants, evening entertain- ment and a fitness center. Our attendees need not ever leave the hotel and conference center during their stay.” That said, Keesal adds, “Atlantic City offers many other options, includ- ing the Boardwalk, if our attendees decide to venture outside.” Keesal says his group has had a positive experi- ence with Caesars staff over multiple years. “The Caesars staff has been amazing to work with over the years, from their executive management team and food & beverage staff, to the front desk and house- keeping. They bring representatives from each of these departments to our planning meetings so they can all hear our needs and concerns and assure they will be addressed. They are always accommodating and have been incredibly flex- ible during this pandemic.” MANY OPTIONS TO CHOOSE Planners and groups “should push forward with their events in these unprecedented times,” Keesal says. “Atlantic City is a great locale to hold a conference, and our organization plans on remaining in Atlantic City for many years to come.” Robert Carachilo, principal and event producer at Roberts Event Group, a Hosts Global member, couldn’t agree more. Based in Philadelphia, the company works frequently with associations and other groups meeting in Atlantic City. He says there are many reasons to choose Atlantic City. “Atlantic City is the seaside gaming and resort capital of the East Coast — hosting over 27 million visitors a year — making it one of the most-popular tourist destinations in the United States. It offers a central and convenient location for association groups to meet and host their events.” As for lodging, he says, “Atlantic City hotels and resorts offer a wide variety of amenities, while being inclusive for a multitude of budgets. Amazing views, fine dining and luxurious lodging are the norm here in Atlantic City. With almost 18,000 hotel rooms to choose from, Atlantic City has what you need when it comes to housing accommodations.” He says whether a group chooses the Marina District or a spot right on the renowned Boardwalk, Atlantic City provides exceptional meeting opportunities and facilities. “Atlantic City offers meeting space overlooking the Atlantic Ocean or situ- ated on the world-famous Boardwalk with the newest, largest, most technologically advanced meeting facilities from Balti- more to Boston. Atlantic City offers flexible meeting space, not only boardrooms and ballrooms, but a wide variety of outdoor spaces from rooftops to beaches. There are meeting facilities to meet every need.” themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIESSEPTEMBER 2022 Lauren Hagan Director of Meetings/Events Utility & Transportation Contractors Association of New Jersey We had to switch our menus around a bit because of the astronomical increase in the price of certain foods, but I was very pleasantly surprised. The Atlantic City Convention Center has hosted several events as the destination continues to rebound from the pandemic. COURTESY OF MEET AC 40As a location, Atlantic City is hard to beat in terms of conve- nience. “It’s located within one-third of the nation’s population, with a wide variety of transportation options available,” Car- achilo says. “The Atlantic City International Airport is located 12 miles outside of the city, and the Philadelphia International Airport is just 60 miles away. Atlantic City is also easily acces- sible by air from Newark and JFK airports. Transportation via shuttles, taxis and trains is both accessible and affordable.” A MIX OF OLD & NEW Carachilo points out that Atlantic City also offers an appealing combination of historic and new, state-of-the-art facilities. “Historic Boardwalk Hall, formerly known as Atlan- tic City Convention Hall, is Atlantic City’s first convention center, and an iconic landmark built in 1929. Home of the Miss America Pageant, it played host to the city’s growing conven- tion industry. Boardwalk Hall has hosted an amazing list of dazzling entertainers and knock- out sporting events throughout its 85-year history,” he says. “The Atlantic City Convention Cen- ter is conveniently located and provides 486,600 contiguous sf of exhibit space, as well as 45 meeting rooms featuring an extra 109,100 sf, ample pre-function space and all the amenities you would expect, including free Wi-Fi, an on-site A/V provider, food service for everything from snack bars to banquets, media and an on-site business center.” And both facilities continue to make improvements and upgrades, Carachilo points out. “The Atlantic City Convention Center and Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall became New Jersey’s first convention center and arena to achieve GBAC STAR facility accreditation,” he says. “Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall also went through a $10 million renova- tion in the lobby/atrium, featuring the Atlantic City Experience.” Perhaps more than anything, Atlantic City is known for its entertainment value, which can definitely be a draw for attendees — and it’s not just about the gaming. “The city’s world-class entertainment facilities and venues offer a variety of performers, acts, shows and concerts. The Boardwalk Hall routinely hosts popular talent and great sporting events. Vari- ous public shows are hosted at the Atlantic City Convention Center, and the casino hotels and comedy clubs showcase an assortment of acts, too,” Carachilo says. The beach, he adds, sets Atlantic City apart from other gaming destinations, and along with the Boardwalk, provides an amazing venue for team-building activities, or for attend- ees to tour or relax on their own when meetings end. “Mil- lions of guests stroll, ride a bicycle or tour the Boardwalk on a distinctive rolling chair,” Carachilo says. “The first permanent boardwalk was built in 1870 as a way to keep sand off of hotel carpets. Today, the boardwalk is more than 5 miles in length and 60 feet across at its widest points. The present structure is seated on concrete and steel pilings, constructed of thousands of two-by-fours. Beach Olympics is a popular team-building activity for groups, as are high-tech scavenger hunts.” In addition to playing some of the city’s popular games, there are other attractions. “You can climb into a temperature- controlled gondola and ride on the 227-foot-high Ferris wheel for breathtaking views of the ocean and the famous Board- walk,” Carachilo says. “Atlantic City’s unique coastal location provides for many great leisure activities, from boating and fishing excursions, to beautiful golf courses. The variety of conveniently located eateries, including the many celebrity chef-operated restaurants, makes it easy to offer dine-arounds and wonderful culinary experiences.” THE REBOUND IS CLEAR What everyone seems to agree on is that meetings and events in Atlantic City are clearly rebounding. “Hotels and casinos are bouncing back, and visitor numbers are gradually increasing since [last] summer,” Carachilo says. “Caesars is investing $400 million into remodeling its three resorts, while newer venues like the Hard Rock & Casino Atlantic City and the Ocean Casino Resort continue to do well.” Looking forward to the rest of 2022 and into 2023, he says, “I’m optimistic about seeing people come together once again and enjoy meeting and socializ- ing in person. Atlantic City has the beach and Boardwalk for unparalleled outdoor experi- ences, and spacious rooms for large or small meetings.” In addition to the conven- tion center and Boardwalk Hall improvements, the city has made other investments, including completing a $4.7 million tour- ism district renovation project. There are also multiple new restaurants and new venues at some of the city’s hotels and casinos for planners and attend- ees to discover. Atlantic City is back and ready for business. The one pos- sible downside for planners? Space for the rest of 2022 and into 2023 is already filling up — a solid sign that the meetings industry is on the upswing. | AC&F | SEPTEMBER 2022 themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIES Lauren Hagan, director of meetings/events with the Utility & Transportation Contractors Association of New Jersey, says the Tropicana Atlantic City was well suited to host her group’s recent annual convention. Scott Keesal President New Jersey Special Investigators Association Atlantic City is a great locale to hold a conference, and our organization plans on remaining in Atlantic City for many years to come. COURTESY OF LAUREN HAGAN 41he deserving winners of the 2022 Distinctive Achievement Awards presented by Association Conventions & Facilities magazine have met or exceeded the high standards that association meeting planners demand today. Many of the more than 20,500 meeting professionals who read Association Conventions & Facilities cast their ballot for the hotels, resorts and convention and visitors bureaus that successfully accommodated their association meetings during the past year. The Distinctive Achievement Award winners were judged on the following criteria: CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAUS • Superior Service and Support • Top-Notch Assistance with Promotion, Accommodations and Site Inspections • High Level of Assistance to Identify and Liaise with Suppliers, Vendors, Facilities, Venues and Local Government • Outstanding Communication and a First-Rate Website HOTELS & RESORTS • Superior Service Standards • Excellent Accommodations and Meeting Facilities • Reasonable Room Rates and Labor Costs • Advanced Technological Capabilities and a First-Rate Website • Environmentally Friendly Policies • Paramount Safety and Security You will find profiles of several of the best of the best on the following pages. | AC&F | BEST OF THE BEST THE BROADMOORVISIT DETROIT NEW ORLEANS & COMPANY VISIT MILWAUKEE RESORTS WORLD LAS VEGAS GREATER BOSTON CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU CELEBRATING THE themeetingmagazines.com 42 ASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIESSEPTEMBER 2022HE BEST CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAUS Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau Atlanta, GA Choose Chicago Chicago, IL Destination Cleveland Cleveland, OH Destination DC Washington, DC Discover Puerto Rico San Juan, Puerto Rico Experience Columbus Columbus, OH Explore St. Louis St. Louis, MO Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau Boston, MA Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau Miami, FL Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Las Vegas, NV Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau Long Beach, CA Louisville Tourism Louisville, KY Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. Nashville, TN New Orleans & Company New Orleans, LA NYC & Company New York, NY Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau Oklahoma City, OK Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau Philadelphia, PA San Diego Tourism Authority San Diego, CA San Francisco Travel Association San Francisco, CA Team San Jose San Jose, CA Visit Anaheim Anaheim, CA Visit Dallas Dallas, TX VISIT DENVER Denver, CO Visit Detroit Detroit, MI Visit Fort Worth Fort Worth, TX Visit Houston Houston, TX Visit Indy Indianapolis, IN VISIT Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI Visit Orlando Orlando, FL Visit Tampa Bay Tampa, FL Visit Tucson Tucson, AZ CONVENTION CENTERS Austin Convention Center Austin, TX CAESARS FORUM Las Vegas, NV Colorado Convention Center Denver, CO Georgia World Congress Center Atlanta, GA Hawai’i Convention Center Honolulu, HI Huntington Place Detroit, MI Indiana Convention Center Indianapolis, IN Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas, NV Music City Center Nashville, TN Myrtle Beach Convention Center Myrtle Beach, SC New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center New Orleans, LA Ocean Center Daytona Beach, FL Orange County Convention Center Orlando, FL Puerto Rico Convention Center San Juan, Puerto Rico San Diego Convention Center San Diego, CA Tampa Convention Center Tampa, FL Walter E. Washington Convention Center Washington, DC HOTELS & RESORTS ARIA Resort & Casino Las Vegas, NV Atlantis Paradise Island Paradise Island, Bahamas The Broadmoor Colorado Springs, CO Caesars Palace Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV Caribe Royale Orlando Orlando, FL Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center Nashville, TN Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City Atlantic City, NJ Hilton Anatole Dallas, TX Hilton Chicago Chicago, IL Hilton New Orleans Riverside New Orleans, LA Hilton San Francisco Union Square San Francisco, CA Hyatt Regency Chicago Chicago, IL JW Marriott Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN JW Marriott Washington, DC Washington, DC Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino Las Vegas, NV MGM Grand Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, NV Mohegan Sun Montville, CT New York Marriott Marquis New York, NY Omni Dallas Hotel Dallas, TX Omni Nashville Hotel Nashville, TN Orlando World Center Marriott Orlando, FL Resorts World Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV Rosen Shingle Creek Orlando, FL Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood Hollywood, FL Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk Chicago, IL Sheraton New Orleans Hotel New Orleans, LA Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort Lake Buena Vista, FL Washington Hilton Washington, DC Wynn Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV 2022 DISTINCTIVE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNERS SEPTEMBER 2022themeetingmagazines.com 43 ASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIESAUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER W ith world-renowned restaurants nearby, 12,000+ hotel rooms within a 2-mile radius of the facility, and iconic music venues just a short walk away, there is no better place to host your next event than in Austin, Texas. As a LEED Gold-certified and a Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR accredited facility, the Austin Convention Center (ACC) sits in the heart of the capital city’s downtown business district. This is the perfect place to serve as your home base for meetings and events in the ATX. Spanning six city blocks, the ACC offers 374,000 square feet of meeting and exhi- bition space. There are five column- free exhibit halls, totaling 247,052 square feet, and two ballrooms that range up to 40,510 square feet. What’s more, there are 54 meeting rooms and show offices, and ample parking, with 1,700 spaces in two garages. CHECK OUR TECH There is robust and complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the facility. In fact, more than 20,000 wireless devices can connect simultaneously, so there is no need to go looking for the full connectivity sweet spot. There are video walls for additional wayfinding and client messaging to go along with a 24/7 network-support team for event customization. THE CENTER OF IT ALL The ACC has two adjacent hotels, the 800-room Hilton Austin and the 1,048-room Fairmont Austin, connected by walkways. Across the street, the new Austin Marriott Downtown opened its doors with 600 guest rooms. Additional nearby hotels include Four Seasons Hotel Austin, JW Marriott Austin, Courtyard Austin Downtown/ Convention Center, Residence Inn by Marriott Austin Downtown/Convention Center, Hilton Garden Inn Austin Downtown/Convention Center, Hampton Inn & Suites Austin-Downtown/Convention Center, The Driskill, Omni Austin Hotel Downtown, W Austin, Hyatt Place Austin Downtown and The Westin Austin Downtown. CUSTOMER SERVICE The ACC has a stunning 100% customer-survey rat- ing from attendees saying they would schedule another event at the ACC. The staff takes great pride in its cus- tomer service and making sure the attendee receives the full Austin experience while in the city and in the build- ing. The ACC is fortunate to manage 90% of its services, such as housekeeping, security, IT and exhibitor services, all provided by in-house trained staff. The team practices a service-first culture and takes ownership of the attend- ee experience. The ACC’s catering team works with area vendors to procure local ingredients for catering menus. Among the most popular items are local favorites such as street- style tacos, smoked meats and Tex-Mex. Also, more than 90% of the menu items are produced in-house. | AC&F | 500 E. CESAR CHAVEZ ST., AUSTIN, TX 78701 CONTACT: AMY K. HARRIS, CMP, DIRECTOR OF SALES | TEL: 512-404-4200 CONVENTIONSALES@AUSTINTEXAS.GOV | AUSTINCONVENTIONCENTER.COM FACTS & FEATURES Total square feet of meeting space: 370,000 square feet, including five contiguous exhibit halls that can provide 247,052 square feet of column-free space Convention Center FYI: There are 48,000 hotel rooms in Austin; 12,000+ of them are downtown within a 2-mile radius of the facility BEST OF THE BEST CELEBRATING THE Everyone is Talking About Austin themeetingmagazines.com 44 ASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIESSEPTEMBER 2022MAKING YOUR VISION OUR MISSION Located in the heart of downtown Austin, Texas 150+ nonstop flights to Austin from 95 destinations Austin-Bergstrom International Airport named Top 10 Best Airport in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler three years in a row SEE FOR YOURSELF WHY EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT AUSTIN, TEXAS. With world-renowned restaurants nearby, 12,000-plus hotel rooms within a two-mile radius of the facility, and iconic music venues just a short walk away, there is no better place to host your next event than the Austin Convention Center. With our cutting edge technology, customized network solutions and complimentary Wi-Fi throughout, we are ideal for many events with de- tailed and substantial technology needs. 100% CLIENT SATISFACTION Our service-first culture, with an all in-house staff, takes ownership of the guest’s entire experience. As a result, 100% of our clients would like to return for their next event based on survey results. TECHNOLOGYGREATER BOSTON CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU B oston is compact and accessible, with convenient public transportation that includes free service from Logan International Airport to South Station aboard the Silver Line. If you need charter transportation — buses, limousines, boats or yachts — Boston has every base covered. Known as “The Hub,” Logan offers nonstop daily flights from more than 100 domestic and international destinations. Hotel accom- modations near the convention centers couldn’t be more conve- nient. The growing Seaport District has nearly 6,000 rooms within 1 mile of the spacious Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC), while the Hynes Convention Center (HCC) is connected to three hotels and two major shopping destinations, offering planners the perfect all-weather, all-inclusive meeting solution with 7,200-plus rooms within 1 mile of the HCC. With properties ranging from renovated historic buildings, to boutique hotels, to state-of-the-art contemporary hotels, the city offers something for every type of group. Stay in the Waterfront or Seaport neighborhoods and enjoy harborside luxury that makes every stay exquisite. To be in the center of it all, explore the Back Bay, Beacon Hill and Downtown neighborhoods. New properties, such as the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport, as well as the soon-to-open Raffles Back Bay, are exciting modern additions. Planners have so many options in Greater Boston, which is home to hundreds of cultural sites that offer out- standing facilities for private events. From presidential libraries to art museums, and America’s oldest ballpark, Boston has such a diverse selection. New concert ven- ues, such as MGM Music Hall and Roadrunner, join a stel- lar lineup that includes TD Garden, House of Blues, Big Night Live and Symphony Hall, just to name a few. The internationally acclaimed Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Museum of Science, and New England Aquarium are all major destination draws that also function as unique meeting spaces. Moreover, Boston is now teeming with food halls and experiential culinary spaces. Boston Public Market opened first in 2015, and has since been joined by Hub Hall, Eataly, Time Out Market and High Street Place. These emporiums feature some of Greater Boston’s best and most innovative chefs. For more information on how to book Boston for your next meeting or event please contact us at sales@ bostonusa.com. | AC&F | 2 COPLEY PLACE, SUITE 105, BOSTON, MA, 02116 CONVENTION/GROUP SALES PHONE: 617-867-8244 | SALES@BOSTONUSA.COM | BOSTONUSA.COM FACTS & FEATURES Boston Cambridge Partner Hotels: 88 Boston Cambridge Partner Hotels total guest rooms: 26,551 Local FYI: Known as “The Hub,” Boston’s Logan International Airport offers nonstop daily flights from more than 100 domestic and international destinations. BEST OF THE BEST CELEBRATING THE themeetingmagazines.com 46 ASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIESSEPTEMBER 2022 PHOTO BY KYLE KLEINBOSTON PLAN TO MEET IN BOSTONUSA.COM/MEETINGS To plan your meeting in Boston, send your RFP or contact us at sales@bostonusa.comTHE BROADMOOR W ith the addition of Bartolin Hall, The Broadmoor introduces the long-awaited “Convention Center at The Broadmoor.” Broadmoor Hall, International Center, Colorado Hall and Bartolin Hall offer more than 200,000 sf of flexible convention and exhibit space. Combine this with the additional meeting, breakout and boardroom venues throughout the property, and The Broadmoor now boasts a total of more than 315,000 sf of indoor and outdoor adaptable, flexible function areas. As the longest-running Forbes Five-Star, AAA Five- Diamond property, The Broadmoor continues to cultivate relationships in the meetings industry by incorporating cutting-edge industry necessities. Choose between 784 guest rooms, suites, cottages, brownstones, and The Estate House at The Broadmoor, which features elegant touches and amenities that have enchanted guests for more than 100 years. Each luxuri- ous retreat features either one king or two double beds, plush furnishings and an array of modern amenities. The Broadmoor and The Broadmoor’s Wilderness Experiences are the perfect destinations to enjoy a temperate climate consisting of 300 days of sunshine and low humidity. From horseback riding along moun- tain trails to rock-climbing instruction, tee off with the pros on two legendary golf courses, or perfect your swing with our award-winning pickleball and tennis programs. Nestled in the elbow of Cheyenne Mountain, nature’s playground is knocking at our back door. Whether you choose to hike the Chamberlain Trail on your way to The Broadmoor or climb the 224 steps to the top of Seven Falls, trail systems are plentiful and within walk- ing distance from The Broadmoor’s main campus. At The Broadmoor, that means endless authentic adventures and activities to discover in any season. With an abundance of restaurants, cafes and lounges, The Broadmoor has a wide variety of distinctive and award-winning dining. Fully customizable menus offer groups myriad carefully crafted options to suit discern- ing tastes and dietary requests. The journey to whole-body wellness transports us to unexpected places, both physically and mentally. The Spa at The Broadmoor is known internationally for in- novative services and integrated approaches to health and relaxation. Colorado Springs Airport is 15 minutes from the resort and offers more than 4,900 seats a day for passengers via Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, Frontier and United. Denver International Airport, 70 minutes north of Colorado Springs, hosts more than 1,600 na- tional and international flights daily. | AC&F | 1 LAKE AVENUE, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80906 CONTACT: PEPPER DOMBROSKI, DIRECTOR OF SALES | TEL: 855-502-2081 SALES@BROADMOOR.COM | BROADMOOR.COM FACTS & FEATURES Total guest rooms/suites: 784 Total square feet of meeting space: 315,000 sf Special services & amenities: For many, the Colorado Rocky Mountains is considered the Holy Grail for soothing the soul through adventures, activities and an escape from stress. Book The Broadmoor, and everyone wins. BEST OF THE BEST CELEBRATING THE themeetingmagazines.com 48 ASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIESSEPTEMBER 2022844.350.4522 Broadmoor.com 1 Lake Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80906 Welcome to the True Colorado Convention Experience. So much space, the possibilities are wide open. Nestled in the scenic foothills of the Rockies, the Convention Center at The Broadmoor offers over 315,000 square feet of meeting space. And every detail and service has been considered to make your event a success. Book your event today at conventioncenter.broadmoor.com 315,000+ SQ FT MEETING SPACE 93,500 SQ FT TRUE EXHIBIT SPACENext >