Bad economic news may seem everywhere these days, but here’s some good news for meeting Planners. Destination Hotels & Resorts is offering a (nearly) company-wide discount to meeting planners—the “Destination Difference’. The ‘Destination Difference’ group and meeting special offer includes:   5 percent off of the group master bill; Meeting planner stays free; Companies receive one comp room for every 25 actualized; and an additional 5 percent is taken off of the master bill for groups that arrive on Sunday.

Some restrictions may apply and this offer is applicable for new business only and valid for groups booking by April 15, 2009 for stays through June 30, 2009 at most properties in the Destination Hotels & Resorts’ collection.

For more information visit www.destinationmeetings.com.

Or call one of the six national sales offices: 
 
Denise Simmons – Northeast
212) 561-2960
Jennifer Johnson – Mid-Atlantic/Southeast
(202) 904-9696
Bob Beach – Midwest
(312) 280-4554
Kevin Barosso – Rocky Mountain Region (plus Texas and Louisiana)
(303) 268-6874
Amanda Anderson, Southwest
(949) 305-4127
Denice Gigoux – Northwest
(925) 932-3854

Properties participation in the “Destination Difference” include: Vail Cascade Resort & Spa , Wild Dunes Resort , Sunriver Resort ,  Suncadia, Tarrytown House Estate & Conference Center, Tempe Mission Palms, Inverness Hotel & Conference Center , The Driskill Hotel, Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Conference Center. 

For a more complete list, visit: www.destinationmeetings.com

Franklyn M. Gimbel, Board Chairman, Wisconsin Center District(left),and Richard A. Geyer, President & CEO, Wisconsin Center District (right) welcomed Maestro Leon Botstein (center), who conducted the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra  for its performance at the Milwaukee Theatre in November. Since its founding in 1940, the orchestra's repertoire has been an exciting and innovative mix of the classical masterpieces of the past and exciting, contemporary musical compositions. In addition to serving as the conductor and music director for the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra since 2003, Mr. Botstein is the President of Bard College in New York, and is founder and co-artistic director of Bard Music Festival.

Led by Michael A. Nutter, Mayor of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia convention and meetings team came to New York City to meet with convention & meeting planners as well as the media. (left to right)  Jack Ferguson, Executive Vice President of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, Tom Muldoon, President, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, Ahmeenah Young, President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority, Mayor Nutter, and Thomas “Buck” Riley, Chairman of the Board, Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority. The Philadelphia Convention Center is near the completion stage of its current expansion, and there has been a flurry of hotel construction to accompany it. Mayor Nutter compared the attitude of the Philadelphia’s hospitality industry to the city’s baseball heroes, World Series Champs, the Phillies! Few convention centers enjoy such a leading advocate at city hall, but Mayor Nutter, prior to winning in a landslide election last year, served as President of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority. To read complete coverage of this event & find out how Philadelphia is expanding its convention, trade show and meeting services, click here! 

Michael A. Nutter, Mayor of Philadelphia, speaking to meeting planners and the media in New York City at a special event entitled, "Discover & Rediscover Philadelphia”  being interviewed for facilitiesonline. At right is Timothy Herrick, Editorial Director of The Facilities Media Group (photograph courtesy of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau).

 Michael A. Nutter, Mayor of Philadelphia, being interviewed for facilitiesonline. At right is Timothy Herrick, Editorial Director of The Facilities Media Group (photograph courtesy of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau). 
 

The glitter and grace of competitive ballroom dancing has returned the SMG-managed Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus Ohio with the Ohio Star Ball Dance Championships and“America’s Ballroom Challenge” currently being held at the venue.  The event is the largest professional/amateur ballroom dancing competition in the world, according to organizers, and is the grand finale of the DanceSport Series and member of the Dancers Cup Tour. Selected by the National Dance Council of America to host the World Pro/Am Championships and World Professional American Smooth and Rhythm Championships, the Ohio Star Ball will also be the site of the Best of the Best Challenge. The Ohio Star Ball Dance Championships have been held for more than a quarter of Century at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, going back to when the original facility was known as the Ohio Center. “The Ohio Star Ball is a long-established client that has reaped the benefits of the national television exposure that ‘Dancing With the Stars’ and other dance-themed programs have received in recent years,” said Craig M. Liston , Regional General Manager for SMG. 

The Ohio Star Ball Dance Championships at the Greater Columbus Convention Center also features a vendor mall with more than 40 dance supply companies offering specialized new shoes, dresses and accessories. 
 

Rascal Flatts backstage at the Colonial Life Arena with venue staff. (Left to right) Gary LeVox, lead singer for Rascal Flatts, Shannon Motley, Assistant Box Office Manager, Colonial Life Arena, Joe Don Rooney , lead guitarist for Rascal Flats, Jay DeMarcus, bass player for Rascal Flats, Abey Coker, Director of Marketing and Sales, Colonial Life Arena and Daniel Webb, Marketing Coordinator, Colonial Life Arena.