Association Events

Inside the Event: Association Highlights Local Vendors for October Feast

Wednesday, October 14, 2009 by Mallory Szabo
River North Business Association gathered their association guests for a new type of event last week that highlighted over 25 of Chicago's restaurants. This "October Feast" began at the Merchandise Mart where guests arrived to pick up their itinerary, maps and wristbands for the remainder of the evening.

This unique idea for an association networking event was well organized and began a new tradition as the associations first restaurant crawl. Each member set out on a specific route that stopped at different River North restaurants such as Buca Di Peppo, Bull & Bear, Hard Rock Cafe, Harry Caray's, Mercadito Chicago, Prosecco, Rock Bottom, Salute Wine Bar, Sunda, Bluprint Restaurant & Lounge, Theory, Sullivan's Steakhouse, and lastly Steve's Deli. Each restaurant had a samples of their signature menu items for guests as well as reserved seating to accommodate the groups.

After spending about 45 minutes in each assigned location, the groups continued on their route before arriving at the final destination, Martini Park. This up-beat venue is great for group events, offering a laid back environment with upscale ambiance. The after-party had live music, cocktails and dance classes.

This type of an event is great for association networking, especially in Chicago. Each neighborhood in Chicago has great restaurants that are happy to accommodate smaller groups throughout an evening. This type of event will also save planners some room in their budget, as it cuts the cost of transportation, private party room rentals, and food and beverage minimums. Not to mention it's a great way to give your group a taste of Chicago!

View more restaurants in Chicago on the Cvent Supplier Network

U.S. House Approves Travel Promotion Act

Thursday, October 8, 2009 by Cvent Staff
Travel and hospitality professionals rejoice! The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Travel Promotion Act by a vote of 358 to 66. This legislation will create a public-private partnership that will work to attract international travelers to the United States.

"The need for travel promotion has never been greater," said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. "As the recent vote of the International Olympic Committee demonstrated, the United States must invest in better explaining its security policies and attracting foreign travelers. The Travel Promotion Act is a 'win-win' for our economic and diplomatic efforts."

The act specifies that promotion efforts will be funded by private sector contributions and a $10 foreign fee paid by foreign travelers who do not pay for visas to enter the country. Oxford Economics estimates that a well-executed promotion program could attract 1.6 million new international visitors and generate $4 billion in economic stimulus.

The U.S. Senate passed identical legislation in September. However, an additional Senate vote is required and expected to happen in the coming days.

Use Twibbons to Promote Your Events on Twitter

Tuesday, October 6, 2009 by Sarah Larkins
Are you using social media to promote your association's cause? Or maybe a charity fundraiser you're hosting? What just about a corporate event? If so, I just came across a great idea for free event promotion on Twitter.

It's called a Twibbon. Basically, it's a service that overlays a small icon onto Twitter profile images of your supporters. For example, supporters of breast cancer research can sign up to suppor the cause by having a small pink ribbon placed in the corner of Twitter profile pictures.

Non-profit event planners can easily create Twibbons for either your cause or your specifc event. All you have to do is create a Twibbon image with design software such as Paint.NET or Pixlr (both free), upload it, and add a brief description. Check out the full instructions for creating a Twibbon here.

Twibbons aren't just for non-profits and charitable causes, though. I've seen them for sport teams, celebrities, TV shows and more. Meeting planners in all markets could use them to promote their upcoming events. Just consider a few of the event-related twibbons I found in use for events of all sizes and types:

Wine Bloggers Conference Twibbon

Rio 2016 Twibbon

TEDxMidAtlantic Twibbon

What's really cool about Twibbons is that once you create one for your meeting, it's logged in the Twibbon database. People can search for your Twibbon and find information about your cause or event, who is supporting it and more.

If you're looking to promote your event or meeting on Twitter, Twibbons are a great option. They're easy, free and fun!

4 Reasons Why You Should Keep Business Travel in Your Budget

Monday, October 5, 2009 by Sarah Larkins
Are you working on next year's budget, but not sure you can get any buy in from company execs that taking part in meetings and events is still worthwhile? Take a cue from the U.S. Travel Association, who compiled a list of talking points for illustrating the benefits of business travel, based on the recent Oxford Economics study.

Business travel results in revenue and profit growth. Why not point out to your organization's leaders:

• Research shows that for every dollar invested in business travel, businesses benefit from an average of $12.50 in increased revenue and $3.80 in new profits.

• The average U.S. business would forfeit 17 percent of its profits in the first year of eliminating business travel. It would take three years for these profits to recover.

• Investing in business travel gains market share from competitors who restrict their employees from face-to-face interaction.

• More than ever, taking the time to meet your customers face-to-face, sharing best practices and incentivizing employees can strengthen your business and speed your recovery.

Read more tips at ustravel.org.

Nashville Convention Center Hotel May Be in Need of Public Funding

Wednesday, September 30, 2009 by Sarah Larkins
More news on the Nashville convention hotel project. According to The Tennessean, financing for the $300 million, Marriott property may need public financing, eliciting concerns some local hotel owners.

"That would be a major, major sea change from the market for private lodging properties right now," Mark Bloom, senior vice president for tax-free bonds with UBS Financial Services, Inc., and a minority owner of the Hilton Downtown Nashville, told the paper.

Though private financing is ideal, it may not be possible for such a large project to find private funding in today's marketplace. Nashville would pay off the debt on a publicly-financed hotel using revenue from the hotel itself.

Though some are concerned that a government-owned hotel could drive down room rates with no repercussions, Walt Baker, CEO of the Tennessee Hospitality Association, said Marriott would have control over sales.

"We wouldn't want to get into a pricing war with Metro [Council]," Baker told The Tennessean. "It doesn't matter as long as the management is independent and has control over pricing."

More Meetings Business Booked as the Poor Economy Becomes Less of a Factor

Tuesday, September 29, 2009 by Cvent Staff
Meetings Industry GrowthThe meetings industry is seeing some good news when it comes to growth. For the first time in a year, meeting professionals are no longer citing the "poor economy" as the most influential trend affecting their business in the coming six months, according to MPI's Business Barometer August 2009.

Additionally, in a significant change since February 2009, new budget cuts, staff reductions and new cancellations were indicated as an important current trend by less than one percent of respondents.

Taking the place of the "poor economy," "poor perceptions/coverage of meetings" is the top trend meeting professionals see affecting business over the next six months. As such, the no frills approach to meetings is staying strong: many planners are selecting non-"luxurious" destinations and venues and are planning fewer celebrations, excursions, etc.

Suppliers report more decisions to book meetings and events are being made in general, according to the study, and there has been a notable increase recently in the number of corporate meeting bookings. However, budgets remain low, which continues to impact meeting attendance in size. About three-quarters of respondents say that attendance to meetings and events has decreased since this time last year.

Areas of growth over the last year have included domestic associations (13 percent net), international associations (three percent net) and governments (20 percent net). Domestic and international corporate meetings have seen the greatest decline compared to last year, at 33 percent and 13 percent net drops, respectively.

Learn more about MPI's Business Barometer.

Tips for a Better "Closed Event" Message

Tuesday, September 29, 2009 by Cvent Staff
Closed SignPut yourself in the shoes of an event invitee. You've just heard about an event—an industry tradeshow, association seminar, user conference, etc.—that you really want to attend. You go to the event website to register, only to be met with a simple message: "This event is closed."

How frustrating! It's bad enough that the event is closed, but a message like these really closes the door completely to your potential attendees. What if someone wants to know if you'll be having a similar event next year (because they'd attend)? What if someone wants to be included in your event marketing so they'll be ahead of the game for similar events in the upcoming months? A simple "This event is closed" message doesn't give them any where to turn.

When you build an event with Cvent, it's easy to edit your "Event closed" message with more specific information. Include the planner's name and email as a contact, or provide specific instructions for those who would still like to register. You could even direct visitors to your events calendar so that they can sign up for future events. Don't close the door completely on interested guests!

International Meetings Found to Be the Most Recession-Proof

Monday, September 28, 2009 by Cvent Staff
International Chalk BoardIn these tough economic times, you'd think that international meetings would see a decline in attendance, perhaps an even bigger decline in attendance than that of domestic meetings. However, a recent survey from the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) reports otherwise.

In a survey of 120 association executives, over half of respondents reported significantly higher attendance (9.3 percent), slightly higher attendance (15.5 percent) or flat attendance (37.1 percent) at 2009 events compared with 2008. Still, 32 percent of respondents reported a slightly lower revenue, but only 14.4 percent reported "significantly lower" financial support from sponsorship and exhibition revenue, according to Successful Meetings.

"We've consistently claimed that international association meetings are the most resilient and recession-proof sector in our industry, and these results provide great evidence to support this view," ICCA CEO Martin Sirk said in a statement. "They're certainly not immune from the downturn, with 70 percent indicating that they had suffered some negative impact, but the detailed positive results demonstrate the sense of including international associations in any long-term strategic business mix."

The survey suggested that organizers may pull back on meetings for 2010, but most intend to keep their programs by selecting better value destinations, renegotiating contracts and making budget cuts. Lucky for these event planners, it's never been easier to compare and evaluate international meeting destinations than with the Cvent Destination Guide. With over 25 meeting planning overviews of cities outside the United States, the Destination Guide is your ultimate resource for international events.

Berlin Remains Top Convention Destination in 2009

Monday, September 28, 2009 by Cvent Staff
Berlin has been a popular meeting destination for years, ranking among the top 5 meeting destinations on the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) list for the past three years. This year, it continues to run the convention industry in Germany, attracting 3.97 professionals between January and June 2009. These visitors attended 50,850 events.

According to the Berlin Convention Office and Berlin Tourismus Marketing GmbH, the proportion of national meetings and conventions rose by two percent to 81 percent this year. Additionally, guests are staying longer in Berlin. The average length of stay rose from 1.6 days to 1.7 days.

"Association congresses in Berlin attracted the most participants from around the globe in 2008," said Heike Mahmoud, director of conventions of BCO, in a statement. "Not only are more professional visitors coming to Berlin, they are also staying longer. This can be attributed more particularly to the excellent offerings of the German capital as a convention destination: six convention centers and halls, the most up-to-date hotel landscape in Europe, 1,500 cultural events every day and excellent value for money—this combination has proved to be extremely popular with both event organizers and participants."

To find out more about these Berlin hotels, venues and more to start planning your events, visit the Cvent Destination Guide.

10 Ways to Make the Most of the Cvent Event Management Tool

Thursday, September 24, 2009 by Cvent Client Services
Everyone knows you can use Cvent for annual conferences, seminars, or even monthly meetings. Here are some ideas to unlock even more potential within your Cvent event tool, go above and beyond, and be a hero for your company or association! 

1. New Member Recruitment - Recruit new members and have them join online.

2. Membership Renewals - Existing members can renew their membership quickly and easily online.

3. Contact Updates - Get the most updated information for all your contacts and have the system automatically update your address book.

4. Newsletter/E-news - Send memos and newsletters through Cvent, or even messages from the President/CEO; customize them so each person feels like they are receiving their own personalized message.

5. Volunteer Positions - Post a list of positions that need to be filled so that people can sign up through Cvent, or simply collect a database of names of people willing to volunteer, their hours of availability, and what their interests are.

6. Information Submissions - Ideas for meetings/fundraising events, job postings, etc; any pieces of information you may need, you can have submitted through Cvent.

7. Opt-In Event - Put a link on your website for people interested in joining your mailing list (Great to use with number 4!).

8. Bookstore - Utilize Cvent's options for selling items in a quantity to sell books or other materials and collect shipping information.

9. Sponsorship/Advertising - Use the registration process to gain sponsors or sell advertising space.

10. Elections - You can use our event registration tool to nominate and vote for future board of directors!

By simply changing the terminology within an event and creating custom processes that fits your organization's needs, you'd be surprised at what tasks you can streamline with Cvent.

Be creative, explore, and maximize what you can discover within your Cvent account! Have fun!

Join Us for "The ABC's of SMMP" Webcast on October 20!

Tuesday, September 22, 2009 by Cvent Staff
Given the beating our industry has taken of late, there is no better time for planners to demonstrate the value they bring to an organization. A number of experts are predicting the birth of a new corporate position: meetings architect, or meetings designer. The key is to think strategically, not just logistically.

Join Meetings & Conventions on October 20, 2009, at 2 PM EDT for the webcast "The ABC's of SMMP," sponsored by Cvent. Moderated by Senior Editor Michael Shapiro, the webcast will provide an introduction to Strategic Meetings Management Programs, or SMMP, the tenets of which the National Business Travel Association has been developing since 2004. With a new SMMP certification in the works and strategic planning more important than ever, this webcast will get you up to speed, so register today!

And don't forget, you can get involved in the discussion on Twitter using #mcwebcast. Follow Cvent for any updates!

5 Reasons to Use Social Media for Your Association Events

Friday, September 18, 2009 by Sarah Larkins
You know that the majority of associations are using social networks. Many of them are also using or interested in using social networks solely to promote their events, according to a recent survey by Omnipress. Why? The following are some of the top reasons cited by associations currently using social media for their events:

Networking• To create pre-event interest/enthusiasm
• To facilitate interaction among conference participants
• To increase attendance
• To capture summaries, opinions, reviews and other feedback from attendees
• To allow members who cannot attend stay connected to the conference

Even associations who are not currently using a social networking site can appreciate their value. Respondents noted that they can be valuable for:

• Connecting attendees with each other through common profile interests
• Facilitating online interaction between attendees and speakers for questions and answers before/during/after the event
• Providing attendees with "daily news" email updates on conference happenings

Overall, it's this idea of connection and communication that social media networks foster that appeals to associations when it comes to their events. After all, as one survey respondent said, "Over 50 percent of our conference attendees have indicated that their primary reason for attendance at national meetings is networking." What better way to encourage this this than with social media?

Read the full survey analysis
on Social Networks for Conferences.

Travelers Are Getting Back on the Bus

Wednesday, September 16, 2009 by Sarah Larkins
Charter BusI recently read an article in The Washington Post about the resurgence of bus travel. Once written off as unsafe, unsanitary and basically unappealing, bus travel is making a comeback. After all, it's affordable, eco-friendly and convenient—it's much easier to hop on a bus than navigate through airport check-in and security with your one bag and mini shampoo bottles.

In fact, the American Bus Association reports that nationwide, ridership rose by 20 percent between 2005 and 2007 up to 751 million passenger trips.

"We move about the same numbers as domestic [air] carriers each year and more people in two weeks than Amtrak does all year," ABA spokesman Eron Shosteck told The Post. "This is Transportation 2.0."

Travelers looking for bus transportation in Washington, DC can find a number of companies from which to choose. BoltBus, for example, travels to New York City from DC for—get this—as a little as $1 if you book far enough in advance. Compare that to airplane tickets for $60 and up (one-way) and Amtrak tickets starting at $49 (one-way) from the same date—both of which I checked today as a comparison—and it looks like some pretty affordable DC to New York transportation.

So this story got me thinking. With meeting and event planners trying to save money any way they can, is bus transportation becoming more of a realistic option for events? Whether recommending that your attendees travel via bus, or scheduling a charter (BoltBus offers this as an option), it seems like the right time to get back on the bus.

What do you think? Would you give it a try for your next out-of-town conference, or is it too much hassle to try to get past bus travel's less-then-stellar (though often undeserved) reputation?

Meetings Industry Prepares for H1N1 Virus

Tuesday, September 15, 2009 by Sarah Larkins
CaduceusIn the beginning of September, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that it found flu activity had increased in the United States as compared to the previous weeks. Nearly all of the influenza viruses found were 2009 H1N1 influenza A viruses, or, as you and I more commonly know it, the swine flu.

As the Department of Health and Human Services prepares to release upwards of 50 million doses of a new vaccines for H1N1, the meeting industry is taking precautions of its own. In fact, the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) recently released a recommendation to its global membership that called for the "temporary suspension of a timeless tradition that is the basis of greetings and agreements in western civilization—the handshake." That suspension would be in effect until the H1N1 influence virus threat has been reduced to the status of a common cold.

"We have been told that the best way to impede the spread of the H1N1 flu virus is to repeatedly wash our hands, especially after touching our faces, or coming into contact with someone else’s face or hand," ACTE Executive Director Susan Gurley said in a statement. "A random polling of ACTE members has revealed it would be easier to drop the traditional handshake for the duration of the health crisis—should one develop—as opposed to sneezing or coughing into a sleeve."

Meanwhile, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) recently released "H1N1 Influenza Management in Hotels," a guide for lodging businesses to use in managing H1N1 influenza viruses at their properties. In addition to basic sanitation practices, the guide outlines advice for employees and guests who have the H1N1 flu or other strains.

After all, being informed about the flu is one of the best ways to be prepared, according to AH&LA President and CEO Joseph A. McInerney.

"Leadership in a crisis depends on information, and this guide will help fill in the blanks about what to do," McInerney said.

Meeting planners as well as hotels can learn more about H1N1 and download the manual at AH&LA's website.

Treat Attendees to Fresh and Healthy Fare at "Locavore" Restaurant Venues

Monday, September 14, 2009 by Sarah Larkins
Last week in the nation's capital, non-profit group Fresh Farm Markets received approval to open a farmers' market in downtown DC. On Thursdays from September 17 through October 29, Vermont Avenue Northwest between H and I Streets will close to traffic to make room for vendors to sell fresh food from area farmers, an idea that's been backed by President Obama and the First Lady themselves.

Farmers' markets like the new one in DC are making it easier for people to eat close to home. This so-called "locavore" dining is growing in popularity. After all, it means that the food is fresher, having basically been purchased right after picking, and it's more eco-friendly—food doesn't need to be transported long distances nor heavily packaged.

Not only home cooks can take advantage of the locavore dining movement. Restaurants are getting on the bandwagon as well, which means that even when your business guests are on the road, you can treat them to fresh, healthy fare at your events.

Restaurant Nora in DCRestaurant Nora
 
Committed to sustainable agriculture, Washington, DC restaurant Nora became America's first certified organic restaurant in 1999. From grass-fed beef to handmade goat cheeses to freshly-picked wild mushrooms, Nora uses fresh, seasonal ingredients to craft cuisine that is anything but bland. Menu options have included crispy Amish duck breast with maple sherry vinegar jus and grass-fed grilled rib eye steak with macaroni and cheese gratin.

Restaurant Nora offers four DC private event facilities. From dinner for 10 people in its cozy Parlor Room to receptions of up to 50 people in its Gallery Room, Nora's versatile spaces welcome events of all sizes. The restaurant is also a great DC banquet room for lunch events, for which the entire venue can be rented exclusively.

North Pond

Located in Lincoln Park, this Arts and Crafts-style Chicago restaurant features great views of the Chicago skyline and expertly-crafted cuisine. Chef Sherman supports local farmers with his purchases, selecting ingredients at the height of their seasons. Menu examples include smoked pork tenderloin with roasted black figs and charred pimentos and grass-fed grilled New York strip steak with warm purple and gold cauliflower.

With its floor-to-ceiling glass doors and attentive staff, North Pond is a great spot for Chicago wedding receptions, corporate dinners, association luncheons and more. This spacious Chicago event banquet facility can accommodate up to 110 guests.

Greens

This San Francisco restaurant has proved that vegetarian cuisine is more than deserving of a place among fine dining establishments. The restaurant sources much of its organic produce from the Green Gulch Farm, located 14 miles away, in order to craft menu selections such as wild mushroom ravioli with chanterelle mushrooms, roasted potato pesto pizza with smoked mozzarella and fontina cheeses, and ricotta corn cakes served with fresh salsa and pumpkin seed cilantro pesto.

An elegant San Francisco banquet facility, Greens has 20 years of experience hosting weddings, ceremonies, non-profit events, business gatherings, etc. The main dining room, whose windows face the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marina, can seat up to 135 guests and accommodate up to 200 guests for standing receptions. The private dining room is a more intimate San Francisco special event facility, offering seating for up to 50 guests.

Meeting Destinations: Berlin on the Cvent Destination Guide!

Friday, September 11, 2009 by Cvent Staff
According to the International Congress & Convention Association, Germany is a hotspot for meetings and events. In fact, in 2008, the country ranked as the number 1 destination outside of the United States to host an association meeting, having hosted over 400 of them last year. Lucky for planners, Cvent has made it even easier to plan and book events in Germany, having just launched the Berlin meeting planning profile on the Cvent Destination Guide!

With over 500 hotel rooms and several large convention facilities, Berlin is a top-notch destination for your international events; in fact, it ranked number 5 on ICCA's 2008 list of the most popular cities for international association meetings. From unique Berlin venues such as the Chamaleon Theater to traditional facilities such as the Internationales Congress Centrum Berlin, it's never been easier to find space for your events in Berlin.

With the addition of Berlin, the Cvent Destination Guide is your go-to resource for international events. With comprehensive meeting planning information for more than half of the ICCA's top 10 destinations—and plenty more on the way—on the Destination Guide and our ever-expanding database of international hotels and venues, it's easier than ever to start planning your international meetings through Cvent.

Dallas Hotel and Meeting Planner Promotions

Friday, September 11, 2009 by Eric Eden
We have talked to many CVBs and DMOs who are running interesting meeting planning promotions. At HSMAI's Affordable Meetings National, I met with the Fort Worth CVB, who showed me their meeting planner promotion and I thought it was unique.

The Arlington, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Irving CVBs have partnered together to offer a meeting planning promotion that covers the DFW metro area. They describe the promotion as "the nation’s first multi-city, multi-brand, attrition-free program." The promotion caught my attention because Dallas is the fourth largest metro area in the U.S. and I like the idea of limiting the risk for event planners associated with attrition to stimulate meetings. It is great that Dallas hotels, across chains and brands, can work together to put together a stimulus plan like this for meeting planners. They are offering value beyond just a simple cash back offer or discount. These are details of the promotion

• No-attrition room contract to groups of all sizes that book and complete their meetings before June 30, 2010

• 20% discount on group ground transportation

• Group discounts on American Airlines

You can check out Dallas on the Cvent Destination Guide, or contact the Dallas area CVBs on the Cvent Supplier Network for more information.

Leaders Celebrate Senate Approval of the Travel Promotion Act

Thursday, September 10, 2009 by Sarah Larkins
Yesterday the U.S. Senate passed the Travel Promotion Act in a vote of 79-19. Intended to promote leisure, business and scholarly travel to the United States, the legislation will establish a public-private partnership to actively promote and market the country to international travelers.

Not surprisingly, hospitality professionals and government officials across the country are speaking out in praise of the bill. Take a look at some of the following quotes from leaders across the country:

"Essentially, it means that the United States will be more competitive in trying to lure international travelers to our country. And Las Vegas, of course, is one of the top spots for those international travelers," said Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority's Vice President of Public Affairs Vince Alberta.

"The United States Senate today took a giant step toward regaining America’s position as the premier travel destination and strengthening our struggling economy," said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, in a statement. "Nearly every company, city, state and developed nation understands the power of promotion. By getting in the global game, America will create tens of thousands of new jobs and strengthen its image in the world as visitors leave with an improved perception of our country and her people."

"Colorado’s tourism industry is an economic engine we must keep strong," Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) said in a statement after the Senate vote. "The Travel Promotion Act will help us market our ski slopes, rivers and parks overseas, boosting an industry that means jobs and prosperity for thousands of Coloradans."

"Tourism is a powerful engine for job creation and economic growth, both in Minnesota and nationally, but today the travel industry is facing many challenges," said Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) in a statement. "By passing the Travel Promotion Act, we will not only boost the tourism industry, but our economy."

"As the global economy sputters our visitor industry suffers, and any help the federal government can provide our number one industry would aid our economic recovery," said Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), according to Pacific Business News. "As the gateway to the Asia Pacific region, Hawaii is uniquely positioned to serve as a hub for international visitors wishing to travel to our islands and then onto the U.S. Mainland. This legislation is an important first step in the right direction."

"From world class vineyards on Long Island and in the Finger Lakes to Niagara Falls to the beautiful Adirondacks and all the attractions of New York City, there is absolutely no place better to vacation than New York, said Sen. Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.). "During these tough economic times, it is critical that we promote New York's tourism to help turn our economy around and ensure long term growth. I have long advocated for this type of federal initiative into tourism promotion because I believe it holds tremendous economic opportunity for New York State."

The bill now heads to the House of Representatives.

Travel Promotion Act Faces Vote in U.S. Senate

Wednesday, September 9, 2009 by Sarah Larkins
The day has finally come for a final vote on the Travel Promotion Act. Introduced by Senators Bryon Dorgan (D-N.D.) and John Ensign (R-Nev.), the legislation will create a public-private partnership that will work to attract international travelers to the United States.

Every developed country in the world has such promotional campaigns to attract foreign visitors, according to Geoff Freedman, senior vice president at the U.S. Travel Association. The United States is being left behind.

"The United States is the world's anomaly," Freeman recently told the Associated Press. "And the results speak for themselves."

According to the U.S. Travel Association, changing security policies and negative foreign press coverage have deterred foreign travelers from visiting the United States since the September 11 attacks. In fact, the country saw 634,000 fewer overseas visitors in 2008 than in 2000 despite 56 million more global overseas travelers worldwide.

The act specifies that promotion efforts will be funded by private sector contributions and a $10 foreign fee paid by foreign travelers who do not pay for visas to enter the country. Oxford Economics estimates that a well-executed promotion program could attract 1.6 million new international visitors and generate $4 billion in economic stimulus.

Additionally, the Congressional Budget Office predicts that the legislation would reduce the federal deficit by $425 million over the next 10 years.

Chicago Venue Spotlight: McCormick Place Named Best Convention Center

Monday, September 7, 2009 by Mallory Szabo
McCormick PlaceChicago convention center McCormick Place has been named North America's premier convention facility in the past, welcoming almost three million visitors per year. Now, a new accomplishment can be added to its list of accolades—Best Convention Center!

Last week, the Trade Show Exhibitors' Association (TSEA) Foundation's Gala took place on Wednesday evening in Chicago. The evening's festivities included food from local restaurants and intricate decor as well as the announcement of the association's Red Diamond Choice awards. Every year, over 5,000 industry professionals vote on the top facilities in the country for these awards, and this year Chicago's very own McCormick Place took home the title of Best Convention Center.

McCormick Place is the nation's largest convention facility. Comprised of four buildings, it boasts a combined total of 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space, 173 meeting rooms, four Chicago ballrooms, the Arie Crown Theater and much more. Not surprisingly, this versatile center hosts some of the largest convention and trade shows in the country, such as the yearly Chicago Auto Show hosted by the Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA).

Although massive in size, McCormick Place is committed to sustainability. The center recently obtained LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification in its East building. It has also undertaken many additional green efforts to help the environment.

Since 1994, McCormick Place has been making headlines for its unique design and exhibitor-friendly facility. The title of Best Convention Center is yet another admiration to add to the ever-growing list of accomplishments.

View more information about McCormick Place on the Cvent Supplier Network