Vegas Events

I recently read an interesting article in TIME in which author Joel Stein takes a trip to Las Vegas to see how the "heart of the American Dream" is doing in the wake of a real estate bust. Here's a description of what he describes as the devastation on the Strip:

"As I turn out of my hotel's full parking lot, veering onto the Strip, I come across something rarely seen in Vegas: frozen construction projects. I pass cranes abandoned at the site of the Echelon, a huge, multibillion-dollar project of four hotels that is now just three buildings of nine floors of concrete and steel beams sitting idly on some of the most expensive real estate in the country. I pass three more abandoned sites—63 empty steel floors of the Fontainebleau, a sad unfinished shell that was supposed to be Caesars Palace's Octavius Tower and two cranes halted on a structure that was supposed to be a St. Regis condo building...I never realized an economic defeat could look so much like a military one."

Stein's journey to the suburbs is equally disheartening, as its full of homes for sale, many of which are falling into disrepair or occupied by squatters.

What was especially interesting, though, was that despite the dismal scene, Stein encounters optimism from the people on the street, people who "still talk as if he or she is about to go on a winning streak".

Stein also interviews Sheldon Aldelson, chairman of the Las Vegas Sands Corp., whose stock price dropped from $144 to $1.42 last March, and now stands at about $12. Despite his losses, Adelson is confident that in the long run, the recession won't change the way Americans spend, won't change the viability of Las Vegas.

"There's no way this world will change. There's no way people are going to stop doing things they want to do," Adelson told TIME. "People aren't going to say, 'I'm going to see Old Faithful or the redwoods instead of taking a trip to Vegas. Or I'll go to Cape Cod with a book.' I don't think they're going to do that."

I think it's so interesting to read his comments, especially considering all he's lost in the recession. But at the same time, his thoughts may be ones to take with a grain of salt. After all, I'd hardly say he's hit rock bottom, like so many other Americans have who have lost everything.

What do you think? Will the recession ultimately change Americans' mindset on extravagance? In terms of meetings, do you expect to be going back to resorts, scheduling tee times, and coordinating five-course dinners for your attendees, or have you scaled back for good?

President Barack Obama and the administration are doing a good job of supporting face-to-face meetings, according to Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. The Obama Administration plans to host a retreat July 31 to August 1 where Cabinet officials will "assess the first six months of the administration and lay out goals and priorities for the coming months," said White House spokesperson Kate Bedingfield.

"Face-to-face meetings are often the most productive ways to strengthen relationships, develop strategies, increase productivity and achieve organizational goals," Dow said in a statement. "We applaud the Obama Administration for employing this productive and proven technique to enhance its activities."

Back in February, Obama made headlines in the meetings industry for a different reason.  At a presidential town meeting in Indiana, he made the comment, "You can't get corporate jets, you can't go take a trip to Las Vegas or go down to the Super Bowl on the taxpayer's dime."

Though these comments drew ire from Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and industry professionals at the time, Obama has since given his support to global travel. In March, he met with 13 travel industry executives to discuss the business community's concerns about the downturn in meetings and events. In May, Obama made a stop at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, saying, "There's nothing like a quick trip to Vegas in the middle of the week."

The upcoming two-day retreat is another step in the right direction, according to Dow.

"The Obama Administration is leading by example and the business community, media and policymakers should take note," Dow said. "During difficult economic times, all expenses should be reviewed, but beneficial travel and meetings must continue."

The 490-room Paradise Tower opens at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas this Friday. The tower, whose leather, wood and silver-studded velvet decor create an "anything-can-happen" feeling, also features a 3,500-square-foot penthouse and 10 pool suites. Part of the Hard Rock's overall expansion, Paradise will be followed by another tower with casino space and 374 rooms set to open in December.

Hard Rock's expansion is just one element of Las Vegas' still-growing hotel inventory. Set to open in late 2009, CityCenter, which finally secured funding back in May, will feature a 4,004-room gaming resort and the city's first Mandarin Oriental and Vdara Hotel, which combined will offer 2,400 residences. In 2010, the 400-room Las Vegas boutique hotel The Harmon is scheduled to open its doors at CityCenter as well.

Not everyone is welcoming these additions with open arms.

"Our view is one more room in Las Vegas right now is too much," Bill Lerner, the founder of research and advisory firm Union Gaming Group, told HOTELS magazine. "I understand someone carving out a niche but it's seemingly impossible to overcome the downward pressure simply from just more supply."

Hard Rock CEO and President Randy Kwasniewski disagrees. He told the magazine that both Hard Rock's expansion and the CityCenter project will help the market grow. It will attract new guests and cater to current guests who stay elsewhere because they want quieter sleeping rooms.

"I lived here for five months, and it can be a little intimidating at 4 o'clock in the morning when it sounds like the middle of the afternoon in your hallway," Kwasniewski said. "It simply goes back to a manner of being creative, and providing a product to the consumer that they've never seen before and never experienced before."

The Las Vegas market isn't all expansion, however. A number of projects have been canceled or put on hold due to the current economic conditions. The construction of the 660-room Octavius tower at Caesar's Palace, for example, has been halted by Harrah's Entertainment until further notice.

A little over a month ago, the Fontainebleau Las Vegas filed for bankruptcy. Now, the $3 billion Vegas casino, hotel and condominium project announced it will cancel a number of meetings and conventions planned there for the first half of 2010.

The cancellations will affect events scheduled from January 1 to June 29. Among those with events planned were the Consumer Electronics Association and the International Council of Shopping Centers.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority has said it will work to accommodate any meetings scheduled for the beginning of next year at Fontainebleau. The fate of meetings set to be held in the latter half of 2010 remains unclear.

"We fully expect Fontainebleau Las Vegas to be completed so that it can accommodate meetings and conventions. The timing of that opening will depend in large part on the timing of renewed financing," Fontainebleau said in a statement on the matter.

According to the Las Vegas Sun, developers say work on the 3,900-room resort, which was previously set to open in October, is about 70 percent complete.

Looking for a fun-filled destination with world-class entertainment at your next event? Well, look no further. Following a $100 million redesign completed in late 2008, the Las Vegas Hilton hotel’s 59 acres offer a whole new experience to guests in Sin City. 

Located right off the Las Vegas Strip, this luxury hotel is packed with excitement.  Guests can try their luck in the 74,000-square-foot casino or visit the 1600-seat Hilton Theater, where Barry Manilow headlines regularly.  Hungry? Eat at the world’s largest Benihana, a three-story Japanese Hibachi restaurant. After dinner, guests can grab a cocktail or hit the dance floor at Tempo, the Las Vegas Hilton’s up-tempo lounge.

With nearly 200,000 square feet of meeting room space, your next event will be a truly memorable affair at this Las Vegas hot spot.  Offering 16 exceptional restaurants on-site, 50 meeting rooms,  and, and almost 3,000 sleeping rooms — all within a mile of the Las Vegas Convention Center — the Las Vegas Hilton is the ultimate destination for corporate events.

View more information about the Las Vegas Hilton on the Cvent Supplier Network

Cvent will be attending DMAI’s 95th Annual Convention, held Tuesday, July 28, through Thursday, July 30, at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia. Held annually, DMAI’s show is expected to see over 1,000 destination marketing professionals. Last year’s conference in Las Vegas saw almost 1,300 attendees and over 100 exhibiting and sponsoring companies on a sold-out tradeshow floor.

With over 90 companies, this year’s expo has been limited to allow only the premier companies to showcase. Much like last year, the expo is well on its way to being a sold-out tradeshow floor. Cvent will be at booth 207 during the expo, which is held Wednesday and Thursday. 

Additionally, on Wednesday, July 29, Cvent executives will be hosting a private dinner at nearby Ray’s in the City. If you would like to come to the dinner or set up a private meeting during this tradeshow, please email Eric Eden, vice president of marketing, at eeden@cvent.com.

For more information on Cvent, please visit www.cvent.com.

Another holiday weekend is upon us, which means it's time to find out where everyone will be going. Priceline.com has released a list of the 50 most popular destinations for the 2009 Independence Day weekend, based on a survey of over 30,000 hotel booking requests made by customers.

Here are the top 10:

1. New Orleans, Downtown/Convention Center

2. Las Vegas, Strip Vicinity South

3. Chicago, Millennium Park/Loop/Grant Park Area

4. New York City, Times Square/Theater District

5. Seattle, Downtown/Pike Place

6. San Diego, Coastal Area

7. Chicago, North Michigan Avenue/River North Area

8. New Orleans, French Quarter

9. Washington, DC, White House/Downtown

10. Boston, Copley Square/Theater District

Priceline.com's "Travel Ekspert" Brian Ek had this to say about the results: "The big surprise this year is the emergence of New Orleans' downtown/convention center area as the #1 July 4 destination. This is the first time New Orleans is in the top spot for the holiday and could signal the completion of the city's comeback as a tourist mecca following Hurricane Katrina."

He also noted that many of the top locations are reachable by car for large segments of the population, likely due to the current state of the economy.

Did you find any of these destinations surprising? I'm a little surprised not just that New Orleans is number one, but that it actually has two spots on the top 10. I thought Philadelphia was a pretty popular July 4 destination (at least over here on the East Coast it is), so I figured that would be on the list.

Did your July 4 destination of choice make the list?

Read the full list at Priceline's Travel Blog.

Cvent will be attending MPI’s World Education Congress, held Saturday, July 11, through Tuesday, July 14, at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. One of the two main conferences MPI hosts, the World Education Congress is held in a different location each year. Last year’s conference in Las Vegas saw over 3,500 attendees and over 450 exhibitors from all over the globe.

This year, the conference is expected to see about 3,500 attendees and over 300 exhibitors. A major focus of the conference is the expo, which features over 300 exhibitors representing a mix of the top destinations and hotels as well as in-demand products and services. Cvent will be at booth 1523A during the expo, which is held on both Sunday and Monday afternoon.

Additionally, on Sunday, July 10, Cvent executives will be hosting a relaxed dinner at nearby Caffe Molise. If you would like to go to the dinner, or to set up a private meeting during this conference, please email Chuck Ghoorah, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, at cghoorah@cvent.com. For more information on Cvent, please visit www.cvent.com.

We look forward to seeing you there!

More bad news out of Las Vegas: the Fontainebleau Las Vegas has filed for bankruptcy.

The 3,900-room, $2.9 billion casino resort, which was set to open in October, failed to obtain about $800 million in construction funding from lenders. It had been trying to get this pre-arranged funding since it filed a $3 billion lawsuit in April against 11 lenders including Bank of America and JP Morgan Chase Bank.

The lawsuit has been withdrawn in Las Vegas and moved to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of Florida, Miami.

Despite filing for Chapter 11, bankruptcy counsel Scott Baena of Bilzin Sumberg said in a statement, "Fontainebleau Las Vegas will continue to aggressively prosecute claims against these lenders for failing to honor their contractual commitments."

The Fontainebleau Las Vegas was expected to open with 6,000 employees.

The construction of Nashville's Music City Center, a new downtown convention center, is becoming more and more of a reality. The Nashville Metro Council has voted 33-3 on a proposal to borrow $75 million to purchase almost 16 acres of land south of Broadway for the center.

If the proposal passes its final vote June 2, the last of the three needed to approve the purchase, the project to build the 1.2-million-square-foot facility will move forward. Construction is scheduled for completion in 2013.

Proponents of the new center say that by growing convention business, Nashville can reap economic benefits for tourism, jobs and downtown development. They also say that Nashville, with the 115th largest convention center in the country, is turning away business that the new convention center will allow it to accept.

Some, however, disagree with such predictions. Though the convention center will be much bigger than its existing facility, it won't be able to compete with those of other destinations such as Chicago (where the center is seven times larger) and Las Vegas (where it is five times larger).

"Nashville is not, nor will it ever be, in the top tier," Heywood Sanders, urban studies professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio, told Nashville News.

This, combined with a slowing convention business and still-increasing supply, should be considered before going forward with the center, according to opponents.

These issues and more regarding the Music City Center will be discussed Sunday, May 31, in a debate between project supporter Butch Spyridon, president of the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau, and opponent Sanders.

President Obama made headlines in February when he said, "You can’t go take a trip to Las Vegas or go down to the Super Bowl on the taxpayer’s dime." But as I blogged earlier, just yesterday he made a trip to Sin City and stayed in a 22,000-square-foot suite at Caesars Palace. Does this mean he's changing his tune? Sort of.

The Associated Press reports that, during a speech at Nellis Air Force base, Obama said, "Washington's OK, but it's nice taking some time to talk to Americans of every walk of life outside of the nation's capital. And there's nothing like a quick trip to Vegas in the middle of the week."

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman asked the president to endorse the city during his trip, the AP reported, and was satisfied with this comment.

"He didn't go as far as we wanted," Goodman said. "But no sense kicking a sleeping dog. After today, it's certainly over as far as I'm concerned."

Should Obama made more of an apology for his previous remark, which at the time Goodman said could "have ramifications which affect the industry as well as all of the citizens who live in Southern Nevada"? Maybe. But at this point, I'd agree with Goodman that essentially what's done is done.

Whether or not Obama's original comment impacted Las Vegas events, any retraction or apology at this point wouldn't do much. I'd rather look at it as a positive move that Obama visited Vegas and stayed in Caesars. His actions alone could be sufficient endorsement of a new attitude toward the city.

President Barack Obama knows how to hit up Las Vegas in style. Yesterday Obama checked into Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, where he attended a fundraiser for U.S. Sen. Harry Reid's re-election campaign and the Nevada Democratic Party. The 22,000-square-foot suite (ironically, not the hotel's presidential suite) featured four bedrooms, six bathrooms, two formal living quarters, a dining room, and a private pool on the patio.

According to E! Online, while at the hotel, Obama enjoyed a steak at the on-site Neros restaurant. He also stopped by the fitness center at Qua Baths & Spa for a morning run.

For planners who want to host an event at Caesars, reportedly Obama's favorite Vegas hotel and a frequent stop on his presidential campaign trial, you're in luck. Its classically designed meeting facilities encompass 300,000 square feet of space. Amenities include a full-service business center, state-of-the-art audio-visual capabilities, and a 24-hour dedicated in-room television channel to keep attendees updated on your event.

Caesars also features a variety of unique venues. The Colosseum, which has hosted acts such as Bette Midler and Jerry Seinfeld; the 4.5-acre Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis; and the open air Roman Plaza are all available for functions.

View more information on Caesars Palace

Memorial Day is nearly here! If you're among the many with long-weekend travel plans, you may be interested to know how they align with those of the rest of the country. According to priceline.com's 7th annual survey of the 50 most popular Memorial Day holiday destinations, the Las Vegas Strip is number one.

Here are the top 15 destinations:

1. Las Vegas, Strip Vicinity South

2. New York City, Chelsea Area

3. New York City, Times Square/Theater District

4. Boston, Copley Square/Theater District

5. Chicago, Millennium Park, Loop & Grant Park Area

6. Seattle, Downtown/Pike Place

7. Las Vegas, Strip Vicinity North

8. San Francisco, Union Square West/Nob Hill

9. New York City, Empire State Building Area

10. San Diego, Downtown & Harbor Island

11. Chicago, North Michigan Ave./River North Area

12. New York City, Midtown East

13. Austin, Downtown

14. San Diego, Coastal Area

15. San Antonio, Riverwalk

What do you think about the list? At first, I was surprised that Las Vegas was number one, but after thinking about it, it makes sense. I've heard about and seen so many great deals for flights and hotels in Sin City, it would definitely be something I'd look into for a long weekend!

The survey was based on actual booking requests made by priceline.com Name Your Own Price hotel service customers for the May 23-25 weekend. You can read the full list of destinations at Brian Ek's Priceline travel blog.

Last week, U.S. Senators Bryon Dorgan (D-N.D.) and John Ensign (R-Nev.) introduced the so-called "Travel Promotion Act of 2009" to the Senate. The legislation is designed to stimulate the U.S. economy by attracting more overseas visitors to the country.

"The international traveler provides an important boost to businesses and state and local governments nationwide, spending on average some $4,500 per person, each time they enter the U.S.," said Thomas J. Donohue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. "Taking steps to attract the international traveler will act as an important short- and long-term stimulus for our economy."

The act would establish a public-private partnership to create the first-ever U.S. promotion and communications campaign. The promotion would be paid for by private sector contributions and a $10 fee on foreign travelers from countries that do not pay for visas to enter the United States.

Industry leaders have quickly expressed their support for this legislation. U.S. Travel President and CEO Roger Dow issued a statement in which he said, "Building on more than 40 rallies that took place nationwide during [the May 12] inaugural Travel Rally Day, champions such as Senators Klobuchar and Martinez are helping our country better understand travel's unique ability to stimulate our economy in these tough financial times."

Other professionals, including Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Jay Rasulo, Chairman and CEO of Travelocity/Sabre Sam Gilliland, President and CEO of Carlson Hotels Worldwide Jay Witzel, and President and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Rossi Ralenkotter, gathered  at a Senate Commerce Committee panel convened by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn) to share their thoughts on tourism and travel.

"This part of our industry has been the source of undeserved and crippling attacks in recent months," Witzel said, according to Star Tribune. "An environment has been created in America where legitimate business travel is being questioned and canceled. This translates into additional loss of jobs, taxes and travel-related revenues for an industry that is already hard-hit from the general economic recession."

Gilliland said: "Paralyzing confusion abounds in our industry and in corporations about what the Treasury Department considers 'luxury' and 'excessive' expenditures in the area of business travel. Meetings, conventions and incentive travel are proven business tools that allow companies to establish valuable relationships, solicit feedback and reward employees."

A similar legislation passed last year with bipartisan support in the U.S. House of Representatives.

A quick update regarding Las Vegas meetings: things have yet to improve in Sin City. Despite public efforts such as Vegas Means Business, Las Vegas saw 446,588 attendees in March this year, compared to 637,755 last year, reports Tradeshow Week.

The number of conventions and meetings held this March in Las Vegas also dropped 19.6 percent. Last year at this time it saw 2,269 conventions and meetings as compared to 1,824 hosted this year.

Cinco de Mayo or the Fifth of May marks Mexico's defeat of the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.  However, it is also a great reason to indulge in a night out on the town accompanied by music, margaritas and mouth-watering Mexican cuisine.

Never ones to miss out on a good party, many restaurants, businesses and hotels thrive on commercialized holidays like Cinco de Mayo seizing the opportunity to entertain and promote their offerings.  So what special Cinco de Mayo events are taking place in your area? 

Chicago celebrates Cinco de Mayo at the Magnificent Mile Hotel offering guests the opportunity to participate in a grape crushing, to taste traditional Mexican cuisine and sip on white sangria. Tickets to the special event can be purchased for $10 at the door.  The event will take place from 4:30 pm to 7pm on May 5th.

Washington, DC joins in the Cinco de Mayo festivities at Alero, one of U Street's newest and most popular Mexican restaurants.  Alero is offering several drink specials including $3 house margaritas and Mexican beers.  Live Latin music will be available from 6 pm to 11 pm. 

Las Vegas celebrates Cinco de Mayo at the MGM Hotel's Diego restaurant.  Diego will be offering drink specials such as a Dos Equis with a tequila shot for $10, a bucket of beer for $20 and an assortment of appetizers specials.  All offers are available from 2pm until 10 pm. 

Atlanta celebrates Cinco de Mayo with the 2nd Annual Virginia Highlands Cinco de Mayo Block Party.  The event will feature authentic Mexican food, numerous beer and margarita bars, a smash the pinata contest and even a hot pepper eating contest.  Gates will open at 5pm with a $5 cover. Live music begins at 6pm and ends at 11pm.

Los Angeles celebrates Cinco de Mayo at El Puerto Escondido Restaurant.  Here, for a $25 donation, you will receive dinner and two drinks.  The party will take place from 6pm to midnight.  Music and give-a-ways are also part of the evening agenda. 

New York City celebrates Cinco de Mayo at Vinters.  Watch Chef Snow and Benson compete for the best guacamole and sangria recipes and enjoy refreshing sangria, great company and delicious food.  The event will take place from 5pm to 7pm and cost approximately $15 per person.

Regardless of your destination, there are likely some incredible deals to be taken advantage of so put on your green, white and red and go celebrate! Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

Back in early April, I blogged about how the CityCenter project in Las Vegas was facing an uncertain future. Now, though, it seems the road ahead has been cleared and the project is in fact on its way to completion.

According to The Money Times, Bank of America has released a $1.8 million loan to MGM and partner Dubai World to continue financing the construction. Additionally, Dubai World dropped its lawsuit against MGM, which it originally filed in March citing that MGM breached the joint-venture pact. The partners have come to an agreement under which MGM has agreed to pay out-of-pocket for future cost overruns of CityCenter.

The news probably comes as a relief to some, as CityCenter, a mixed-use gaming, hotel, residential, retail and entertainment destination, is estimated at having over 8,500 current and 10,000 future jobs riding on it. However, the market in Las Vegas at this time certainly already struggling, so who knows how other properties on the strip feel about its completion.

The CityCenter's ARIA Resort & Casino alone will feature a 300,000-square-foot convention and meeting facility.

First the economy, now the swine flu. The meetings and travel industry has taken some rough hits over the past months. While some of it is warranted (limiting travel to Mexico), some of it was undeserved (eliminating corporate travel to so-called lavish destinations like Las Vegas). Either way, meeting planners are undoubtedly struggling to stay positive these days.

Don't use the hardships as an excuse to sit on the sidelines. In all the research I've seen and all the professional thoughts I've read, it all comes down remaining competitive. It's a proven strategy that has worked throughout history.

During the recession in the early 80s, for example, the Harvard Business Review published an article stating, "Rather than wait for business to return to normal, top executives should cash in on the opportunity that the rival companies are creating for them. The company courageous enough to stay in the fight when everyone else is playing safe can bring about a dramatic change in market position."

What's your plan for staying in the fight? I came across some interesting tips offered by CFR & Associates regarding strategies to break through in this economy. Here are a few I find particularly useful for meeting planners:

• Be passionate and excited about your business. Like Brian McGovern blogged last week, your clients and attendees expect enthusiasm. They want to be inspired to attend a meeting. A negative attitude certainly does not make for an exciting event.

• Invest in your people/employees. This really speaks to organizations holding internal events. There has been so much negative press on recognition/incentive events that planners are scared to hold them, regardless of any budget concerns. That's no way to foster a company culture that can pull through tough times.

Remember Texas Roadhouse? They hosted a big recognition event in San Francisco for all their employees in early April. They know that an investment in your people yields great returns.

• Be laser-focused on what you spend money on. If you aren't tracking your budget and implementing a meetings policy to manage your events efficiently, it's no wonder you are hesitant about your future success. If you don't know your meetings spend, you can't identify areas for cost savings, nor can you prove the ROI of your meetings to executives, stakeholders, and yourself.

• Be other-focused. When all is said and done, you can't have a meeting without attendees. It's easy to get caught up in hotel negotiations, venue sourcing, and food and beverage selection, but don't forget this critical element!

Just like you, attendees are struggling. Make it easy for them to justify registering for your event. You can do this by listening to them and providing session content and networking opportunities of value. Work with
their needs by offering volume discounts or session-only registration options.

What are your best tips for not just making it through, but actually succeeding, in today's market?

USA TODAY recently published an interesting article about meeting planners turning to second-tier cities as meeting destinations. Thanks to lower costs and less negative perception, these secondary destinations make sense for planners facing budget cuts and public scrutiny.

Executive Director of the American Choral Directors Association Mark Sharp, for example, choose the Marriott Renaissance in Oklahoma City for the group's biennial convention. He also rented the city's main concert hall, and found the convention overall was 30 percent to 40 percent less expensive than its last one in Miami.

"Oklahoma City saved me from being in the red," Sharp told USA TODAY. "This part of the country is cheaper."

Not surprisingly, mid-tier meeting destinations have jumped on this trend by marketing their locations as such. Ads for the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau promote the city as an "accessible, affordable alternative," according to Christopher Baum, marketing and sales vice president. Visit Milwaukee dedicates an entire page of its planners' website on why it offers "Big City Bang for Small-Town Price."

At the same time, many big cities have venues offering deep discounts in an attempt to prevent losing groups to smaller destinations. Mark Pond, president of Computerized Airline Sales and Marketing Association, told USA TODAY that he choose Las Vegas for the great discounts at the Monte Carlo.

Have you been looking at more second-tier locations for their inherent affordability? Or would you rather stick to big cities and take advantage of the great hotel deals and promotions going on?

Something I found interesting about this article was actually a comment on it. One reader remarked that you need to factor in other costs like travel expenses. Often times it's harder to find affordable, convenient air travel options to smaller cities. Obviously you have to look at the big picture when planning an event.

Check out the whole USA TODAY article, and don't forget, you can read more about the meeting options for all these cities at the Cvent Destination Guide.

You already know that Las Vegas saw 340 group cancellations during the first 90 days of 2009. Now Hawaii has reported 132 cancellations of meetings and incentives trips in the state so far this year and next, which equates to a loss of 87,003 room nights. This fact prompted Hawaii officials to write a letter to President Barack Obama, detailing the impact of the economy on the state's tourism activity.

According to the letter, conventions, meetings and incentive rewards (CMI) account for 442,000 visitors, which is seven percent of its total visitor arrivals. Its meeting cancellations have cost a loss in direct revenue of around $58.8 million, or an economic impact of $97.6 million in total lost output and 694 full- and part-time jobs.

Hawaii officials ask Obama to oppose any legislation that restrict companies' abilities to use CMI travel legitimately.

"There has been great concern about the adverse effects caused by the well-intentioned efforts to address the problem of corporate excess and business travel for the companies who have received emergency finding from the government. It has caused a further downturn in CMI travel, especially for Hawai’i," the letter states. "In this period of economic downturn when our government and businesses are striving to restore economic stability, the last thing we should do is implement policies or encourage behavior that jeopardizes any industry, especially one that has such a far reaching
impact on communities all across America."

You can read the entire letter at Hawaii.gov.