Silicon Valley’s innovative spirit can’t be contained. San Jose is Revolutionizing Meetings From pioneering green initiatives to (truly) cutting-edge technology, San Jose is redefining what it means to be a leader in meetings and conventions in 2024. A COASTAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION PUBLICATION MAY 2024 VOL. 17 NO. 3 $15.000.125” BLEED 0.125” BLEED 0.125” BLEED 0.125” BLEED San Jose is the heart of Silicon Valley, the world’s largest concentration of tech expertise and one of the country’s most sought-after event venues, the San Jose McEnery Convention Center. The center boasts over 360,000 sq. ft. of flexible convention space that seamlessly integrates green practices and intuitive tech to bring your event to the next level. sanjose.org/meet Inspiration Meets Innovation San Jose By The Numbers 3.9 miles from downtown to SJC, our international airport 1,500 downtown committable hotel rooms 2,500 city-wide committable hotel rooms Over 360,000 sq. ft. total Convention Center space Over 520,000 sq. ft. combined meeting & event space Over 200,000 sq. ft. total exhibit space in Convention Center 1,000 large foot exhibit booth spaces meet in san jose. Imagine the possibilitiesCourtesy of MGM Resorts International A COASTAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION PUBLICATION MAY 2024 VOL. 17 NO. 3 $15.00 F&B TRENDSF&B TRENDS PAGE 26 IN THIS ISSUE GLOBAL MEETINGS UPDATE CONTRACT TIPS NEW & RENOVATED FACILITIES NEW ORLEANS AMERICA’S PREMIER MEETING & CONVENTION DESTINATIONS844.350.4522 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 Colorado Springs 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 SPACEDEPARTMENTS DESTINATIONS FEATURES VIEWPOINTS 8 Trade Shows The Value of In-Person Interaction BY DAMARIS PIRAINO 12 Global Gatherings Adding Local Flavor to Attendee Experience BY SARA KARNISH 16 Contract Negotiations Identifying Roles, Responsibilities in a Very Complex Space BY MAURA KELLER 20 New & Renovated Convention Centers That Deliver BY MAURA KELLER 26 F&B Trends Simplicity & Health Meet Sustainability BY MARLENE GOLDMAN 4 Publisher’s Message 6 News & Notes 50 Career Track 30 New Orleans The Big Easy Never Disappoints BY DAVID SWANSON 10 Preparing Your Speakers Design, Deliver Powerful Presentations BY SCOTT STEINBERG AMERICA’S PREMIER MEETING & CONVENTION DESTINATIONS SPECIAL SECTION PAGE 37 © DESTINATION TORONTO 30 2037 26 12 ISSN 21628831 | USPS 003500 | A COASTAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION PUBLICATION | MAY 2024 | VOLUME 17 | NUMBER 3 MAY 2024 themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIES 3 ISSUECONTENTSA COASTAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION PUBLICATION PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Harvey Grotsky harvey.grotsky @ themeetingmagazines.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kristin Bjornsen kristin.bjornsen @ themeetingmagazines.com MANAGING EDITOR Maritza Cosano maritza.cosano@themeetingmagazines.com EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Rachel Galvin rachel.galvin @ themeetingmagazines.com CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Alana Castillas Erin Deinzer Cynthia Dial Marlene Goldman Dan Johnson Rayna Katz Maura Keller Christine Loomis Keith Loria Kathy Monte David Swanson PRESIDENT & CEO Harvey Grotsky VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS David Middlebrook david.middlebrook @ themeetingmagazines.com ADVERTISING SALES OFFICES 2500 N. 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Provide old and new addresses including zip code. Enclose address label from most recent issue and please allow five weeks for the change to become effective. Printed in U.S.A. ©2024 Harvey Grotsky Publisher When you need a team that gets the little details and the big picture, IT MATTERS WHERE YOU STAY. From Team Members who say, “Hi, happy to help!” to Trusted Advisors, an exclusive group of sales professionals, we go beyond what’s expected. We’re passionate about spreading the light and warmth of hospitality. That’s why we listen to what you need and work together on new ways to bring your vision to life, so that it all comes together exactly as planned. Your greatest stays are the moments we live for. Learn more at events.hilton.com. © 2023 Hilton linkedin.com/company/ ACFacilities @ACFacilities @ACFacilities facebook.com/ ACFacilities linkedin.com/company/ ACFacilities @ACFacilities @ACFacilities facebook.com/ ACFacilities FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIESMAY 2024 PUBLISHER’SMESSAGE 4 Concerns For Global Meeting Safety P lanning annual meetings and conventions years in advance can be a stressful assignment in today’s world, especially if planning means selecting a destination in a country that is currently at risk to attendees. The big question is, “Will it be safe in a few years from now?” Due to heightened safety concerns, planners tell me they are not planning events in some countries while they assess the potential risks. Meetings and con- ventions should and will be booked, shifting to other global locations considered safe. Recent reports indicate that global events are growing but remain below pre- covid levels. All you have to do is watch the news, and every day, there seem to be new concerns about safety at home and abroad. Security seems to top the list of planner concerns and the well-being of attendees is a priority. Planning for the unexpected is not just a task but a necessity. This message may be simple and basic for you, but have you ever considered that natural disasters can sometimes occur unexpectedly? The unpredictability of safety concerns under- scores the need for proactive planning and robust risk management. Nobody knows what’s coming next. This may cause some potential attendees to opt out of attending an event as they may be concerned about traveling to a foreign destination with an unstable atmosphere. Attendees of global events should always be aware of an alternate plan in the event of an upris- ing or emergency of some kind. Risk management is the moral and ethical thing for associations and planners to prioritize. In a foreign destination, having the professional local partners engaged can help navigate the unexpected in potentially, challenging destinations. When you need a team that gets the little details and the big picture, IT MATTERS WHERE YOU STAY. From Team Members who say, “Hi, happy to help!” to Trusted Advisors, an exclusive group of sales professionals, we go beyond what’s expected. We’re passionate about spreading the light and warmth of hospitality. That’s why we listen to what you need and work together on new ways to bring your vision to life, so that it all comes together exactly as planned. Your greatest stays are the moments we live for. Learn more at events.hilton.com. © 2023 Hiltonthemeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIESMAY 20246 NEWS & NOTES Baird Center Expansion Complete MILWAUKEE, WI — On May 16, Hen- derson Engineers and the City of Mil- waukee celebrated the grand open- ing of the $456 million Baird Center expansion project. Already a not-to- be-missed destination, Milwaukee is now the proud home of the Midwest’s most innovative conference and con- vention center — the largest conven- tion center in the state. The expan- sion doubled the amount of space to 1.3 million sf, including a 300,000 sf exhibition hall, a rooftop ballroom and terrace and 52 meeting rooms. Every aspect of the expansion project was thoughtfully and meticulously planned with a focus on innovation, sustainability, equity, diversity and inclusion. For more information, visit bairdcenter.com. NEW ORLEANS, LA — The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Cen- ter (NOENMCC) is proud to announce its Senior Direc- tor of Sales and Event Services, Elaine Williams, CMP, CEM-AP, will serve on the Board of Direc- tors for the Inter- national Asso- ciation of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE). IAEE is the largest association in the exhibitions and events industry, with its membership organizing and hosting more than 20,000 exhibitions worldwide. Wil- liams began her career at the NOENMCC in 1996 as a sales manager for ARAMARK and joined the Convention Center’s sales team in 2007 as a national sales manager. She was promoted to her current role as director of sales in 2013. OAKLAND, CA — The Oakland Board of Port Commissioners unanimously voted and granted final approval to rename the “Metropolitan Oakland International Airport” to “San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport.” With the new name, the Port aims to attract more nonstop destinations by boosting travelers’ geographic aware- ness of the airport’s location on the San Francisco Bay. The airport’s three-letter code (OAK) and logo will remain the same. Although OAK has been located on San Francisco Bay since 1927, many travelers are unaware of its proximity to the region’s attractions, such as the San Francisco Bay Area’s renowned universities, wine country, three national laboratories, and neighboring cities of San Francisco and Berkeley. DALLAS, TX – The International Asso- ciation of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) announced it has renamed its IAEE Woman of Achievement Award to the IAEE Cathy Breden Woman of Achievement Award to honor IAEE Executive Vice President and COO Cathy Breden, CMP-F, CAE, CEM, who will be retiring from the association on June 28, 2024. The call for nomina- tions for the 2024 IAEE Awards, includ- ing the IAEE Cathy Breden Woman of Achievement Award, remains open until August 30, 2024. For more information, visit iaee.com/iaee-awards. WASHINGTON D.C. — Destination DC (DDC), the official destination marketing organization for Washington, DC, shared its ongoing commitment to attracting international groups at IMEX Frankfurt. DDC’s convention sales and services team draws customers by focusing on the benefits of the Connected Capital and the added value for group access to leaders in key industries including tech- nology, sustainability, biotech/pharma, education and medical. Meetings and events play a critical role in bringing economic impact to Washington, DC. This year, there are an estimated 483,894 total room nights stemming from con- vention center business, with an esti- mated 452,527 total room nights from non-convention center business. In addi- tion, there are more than 19 new hotels or renovations in the pipeline, adding over 3,500 new or renovated rooms. IAEE Renames Woman of Achievement Award Destination DC Attracts Global Meetings Williams Metropolitan Oakland International Airport Renamed Convention Center’s Elaine Williams Elected to International Events Association Board COURTESY RENDERINGMAY 2024 themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIES 7 MIAMI BEACH — Fontainebleau Miami Beach will celebrate one of the most signifi- cant expansions in its seven-decade history with the opening of the all-new Coastal Convention Center in Q4 2024. Spanning five stories and 45,000 sf, this state-of- the-art facility features a versatile, modern design to elevate customized business and leisure events — ranging from personal and intimate to grand, large-scale events — within Miami’s booming social and convention tourism industry. The Coastal Convention Center will feature a 16,500-sf divisible ballroom with an outdoor terrace, a 9,500-sf junior ballroom, 15 total meeting rooms and 15,000-sf of pre-function space. Standout features include floor-to-ceiling windows, outdoor, street-level meeting space, LED walls and wayfinders, and a 7,000-sf, flexible Tides Rooftop Terrace with scenic ocean views. For more informa- tion, visit fontainebleaumiamibeach.com. NEW ORLEANS, LA — Setting a new benchmark for meetings in New Orleans, the Higgins Hotel & Conference Cen- ter, Official Hotel of The National WWII Museum, breaks outside the norm by pro- viding a modern alternative to traditional meeting spaces in a city that is “Built To Host.” Their world-class facility offers a unique sense of place while paying hom- age to an era of international collabora- tion. Ideal for meetings of every size and scope, they are offering a “Sizzling Sum- mer Special Offer” from July to September 2024 — 15 percent Banquet Menu discount for all groups over 20 rooms! For more information, visit higginshotelnola.com. ASAE Announces 2024 Gold Circle Award Recipients WASHINGTON — ASAE announced the recipients of the 2024 Gold Circle Awards, which honor the creativity, execution and success of outstanding marketing, mem- bership and communications cam- paigns in the association commu- nity. The 2024 Gold Circle Award winners were recognized during ASAE’s Marketing, Membership, Communications + Tech Confer- ence, which took place May 30-31, 2024, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC. The Gold Circle Awards are sponsored by ASAE Business Ser- vices, Inc., the wholly-owned sub- sidiary of ASAE that develops and manages contemporary business solutions needed by associations to better run their enterprises. To see winners, visit asaecenter.org. Fontainebleau Miami Beach To Unveil All-New Convention Center Higgins Hotel & Conference Center’s Sizzling Summer CENTRE’D AROUND YOU. Make an impact with your next event at Boise Centre. Our versatile meeting and event spaces, modern amenities, and expert event planning team is at your service to ensure an unforgettable event experience. Located in the middle of the city’s energetic, walkable downtown Boise Centre is surrounded by local breweries, restaurants, shops, hotels and is minutes from outdoor adventures. boisecentre.com • Convenient downtown location • Numerous direct flights and seven minutes from the airport • Surrounded by restaurants, breweries, and nightlife • Over 1,300 hotel rooms within walking distance • Outdoor activities close by hiking, rafting, biking, and more COURTESY RENDERINGNext >