As today’s convention centers up their game, they add all manner of value for groups.
“Convention centers that offer integrated, affordable new technologies help our association meet sustainability goals as well as provide for the health and safety and overall experience for our international delegates,” says Leslie Zeck, CMP, CMM, HMCC, director of meetings, International Association for Dental Research.
Prevue’s curated selection of destinations featured in this story all offer convention centers that represent the groundswell of value-add facilities. Read on to learn more.
Savannah is a boutique destination that’s all about personalized and authentic experiences, says Jeff Hewitt, CDME, executive VP, sales & service, Visit Savannah. “Savannah is a historical yet fun destination that doesn’t take itself too seriously,” he says. “It’s unique. Once you get to Savannah, you immediately find yourself in a place that exceeds expectations. It’s a walkable port city famous for its fin-to-fork culinary offerings. Known for its magnificent live oak trees decked with Spanish moss, the city’s beauty touches people’s hearts. It’s a destination that is nearly 300 years old and reflects every era of American history.” As well, “the hospitality gene seems to be inherently embedded here, and that carries over into the service deliverables for meetings and events.”
An expansion of Savannah’s riverfront, LEED Gold certified convention center is expected to be completed in late spring (2024) and will be a game changer, says Hewitt. The expanded facility will have a stylish all-glass façade, a new 40,000-sf ballroom and 32 customizable breakout rooms. Additional space will bring the exhibit hall to 200,000 sf, with a 58-ft-wide hangar door for getting large equipment into the hall. Plus, there will be 900 additional parking spaces, more outdoor space for events and activities, and expanded F&B facilities.
Meeting in Savannah has tangible benefits for meeting planners, says Hewitt. “We have worked very hard to develop a package for meeting and convention organizers that creates a rewarding value-add experience, with a very attractive convention center pricing model to reduce operational expenses.” This includes complimentary ground transportation and water taxi service from all hotels in the room block to the convention center, with more water taxis added to the daily service as needed. “Here, most convention hotels are on the river and have a ferry stop in front of them—it’s part of the experience,” Hewitt adds. Spring will also see the rollout of new hybrid electric ferry boats.
The Visit Savannah team can set up pre-planning visits and meetings with local venues, arrange local activities, provide visitor guides and, for large groups, create a dedicated hotel reservation portal. For attendees, the Show us Your Badge program enables big savings at restaurants, tours and attractions in the historic district.
Savannah is famous for local shrimp, blue crab, oysters and flounder, which the convention center’s award-winning catering department serves up along with other iconic Southern fare both at the center and offsite events, notes Hewitt. For example, “attendees can board river boats from their hotels that take them to a Civil War fortress, be welcomed by cannons and bonfires, and enjoy a celebratory local feast with a themed menu created by the convention center’s culinary team.”
“What draws planners to Los Angeles is our abundance of choice,” says Darren Green, chief sales officer, Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board. “A planner could hold all of an organization’s meetings, incentives and conventions in Los Angeles and never offer the same experience twice.” Everyone is welcome in LA, says Green. “We hear from our groups that attendees love LA because it is a destination that allows guests to be who they are, full stop.”
The Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) features flexible event space for meetings of all sizes, efficient labor and a wide availability of event services, notes Green. Spaces include a 720,000-sf exhibit hall, 147,000 sf of meeting space in 64 column-free meeting rooms and a newly renovated 299-seat presentation theater. “At the LACC, event planners can elevate their gatherings by taking advantage of the venue’s expansive outdoor spaces, indulging in an enhanced F&B offering, aligning with thecenter’s commitment to the environment and exploring opportunities for marketing activations,” he says. “Groups also benefit from the proximity to L.A. Live, the dynamic sports and entertainment district.”
Planners can work with LA Tourism to set up local volunteering and teambuilding programs; use the Business Connect program to tap into a network of more than 150 minority-, women-, LGBTQ+- and veteran-owned small business suppliers; and gift attendees with the Perks Pass mobile passport for discounts on dining, shopping, activities and entertainment. LA Tourism can also help planners create coveted “only in LA” experiences, from behind the scenes at Hollywood studios to venues at state-of-the-art sports stadiums.
Executive chef Mark Cornish recently joined Taste Los Angeles, powered by Levy Restaurants, LACC’s signature F&B provider. He has enriched the menu design for catered events and at concession areas, says Green. “Every culinary adventure at the LACC speaks to the unique LA experience.”
As well, the Los Angeles Convention Center is a model of sustainability and state-of-the-art technology. “Environmental initiatives are woven into the DNA of the LA Convention Center’s operational practices,” says Green.
Ensuring meetings are sustainable is of the utmost importance for Denver, says Lee Ann Benavidez, Visit Denver, SVP and chief sales & services officer. “Visit Denver collaborates with venues, hotels and other partners to ensure we’re offering sustainable options for a prosperous community where people and nature thrive,” she notes. The Events Industry Council recently awarded Visit Denver their Platinum level certification for sustainable event standards. Contributing to Denver’s exceptional level of meeting sustainability, the newly expanded Colorado Convention Center is LEED Gold certified and located within walking distance of more than 12,500 hotel rooms. “The center’s waste management, energy, water and air quality systems all focus on ways to make every event sustainable,” emphasizes Benavidez.
Denver’s walkable downtown has three major sports stadiums, the nation’s second-largest performing arts center, three colleges, museums and an aquarium, a mint producing 10 billion coins a year, a river offering white-water rafting, a downtown theme and water park, and hundreds of chef-driven restaurants including 26 noted in the recently published Michelin Guide Colorado 2023—all within a mile radius, says Benavidez.
One of Denver’s most spectacular event spaces can now be found at the Colorado Convention Center, where a reported $233 million expansion was completed in December 2023. The new 20,000-sf rooftop terrace features breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains and Denver’s skyline, with views continuing past huge doors that connect to a wrap-around, 35,000-sf pre-function concourse. As well, the new 80,000-sf, column-free ballroom can host groups of more than 7,500 for a general session, 4,600 for a catered event or be subdivided into 19 different meeting rooms.
Visit Denver has a full-time staff dedicated to working with planners, says Benavidez. “We’re prepared to assist with just about anything groups need. The Visit Denver team supports planners in a variety of ways, including coordination of site visits, venue assistance and providing marketing materials.”
“Memphis is a vibrant and electrifying city filled with rich history and a deep passion for sports and entertainment,” says Malvin Gipson, VP, sales, sports and convention services, Memphis Tourism. “The newly renovated Renasant Convention Center has truly elevated our city’s offerings, providing a world-class venue that complements our dynamic atmosphere.” The city’s authentic music scene, rich history and culture, culinary delights, riverfront location and affordability all add value to the groups that meet here, he notes.
After a $200 million renovation in 2020, The Renasant Convention Center is one of the largest and most technologically advanced convention centers in the southeastern U.S., with more than 350,000 sf of flexible event space, says Gipson. The renovation included the addition of a new 46,000-sf exhibit hall, an expansive lobby, upgraded meeting rooms and improved technological capabilities. These renovations bring numerous benefits, Gibson notes, including the capacity for concurrent events in the exhibition hall, so multiple groups can utilize the facility simultaneously. The upgraded meeting rooms and technological capabilities provide modern amenities and enhanced connectivity. “With state-of-the-art facilities and services, I am confident that the Renasant Convention Center is a premier destination for conventions and events, showcasing the best of what Memphis offers,” says Gipson.
There are many ways planners can work with Memphis Tourism and the Renasant Convention Center to achieve creative cost-savings and value-add results. Memphis is renowned for its rich cultural heritage and vibrant music scene and Memphis Tourism can help planners incorporate iconic local attractions and experiences into event programs. As well, planners can be connected with local partners and suppliers, resulting in cost savings and value-added initiatives. The convention center’s flexible space can be creatively utilized to achieve additional cost savings. And the Memphis Tourism and Renasant Convention Center team work closely with planners to negotiate hotel room blocks and discounted group rates with partner hotels.
“The walkability of San Antonio’s Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, located on the banks of our famous River Walk, is an enormous benefit for groups,” says Tyler Orwig, VP of association and tradeshow sales, Visit San Antonio. “It allows attendees to get to hotels, venues, restaurants and off-site events without the need for transportation. That often results in large savings, not to mention enhances the attendee experience. Sometimes referred to as the world’s largest hotel lobby, the River Walk provides group lodging and dining options for every budget, notes Orwig. “It also provides networking and teambuilding opportunities, with a plethora of activities ranging from shopping to arts and culture and from to barge rides to kayaking. And there are built-in entertainment and nightlife options—no planning required.”
In 2016 the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center underwent a $325 million expansion, marking the largest capital improvement project in the City of San Antonio’s history and increasing the center’s footprint to 1.6 million sf. The transformation created 514,000 sf of contiguous exhibit space and 86,500 sf of column-free multi-purpose space. There are 70 meeting spaces including the 54,000-sf Stars at Night Ballroom—the largest in Texas. The renovation also included advanced technology and an eco-friendly design using energy reduction measures. Adjacent to the center, the Hamisfair, home to the 1968 World’s Fair, has been undergoing redevelopment. “Recently, Phase 1 opened with five acres of public parkland, a five-pooled water feature and a great lawn area that can accommodate large events, concerts, dinners and receptions,” says Orwig.
Visit San Antonio’s Real & True Meetings Incentive Promotion FY24, aimed at short-term group demand, offers qualified groups financial savings during specified time periods. For every group, Visit San Antonio provides access to destination experience managers to help streamline the planning process, connections to local leaders, access to a planning assistant toolbox to help market events and a Show Your Badge program for attendees to get deals and discounts throughout the city. “The advanced technology at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center helps save money as well, offering complimentary standard WiFi throughout the building, digital read boards outside all meeting rooms, eco-friendly large water bubblers in meeting rooms that eliminate the need for expensive single use plastic water bottles, and beautiful aesthetics that eliminate the need for a lot of additional decor or lighting,” says Orwig.
denver.org/meetings; discoverlosangeles.com/meetla; wearememphis.com/meet; visitsanantonio.com/meeting-professionals; visitsavannah.com/meetings