With travel slowed nearly to a halt around the world, this isn’t an easy time for anyone, let alone destination management organizations. While there is a silver lining to come, says Don Welsh of Destinations International, for now, CVBs around the country are doing what they can to assuage meeting planners’ fears by coming up with solutions for cancelled or postponed events and being a support system for destination partners.

The massive Las Vegas Convention Center project continued to move forward, with construction workers on behalf of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority beginning the extensive process of pouring 600,000 square feet of concrete flooring in the main exhibit hall in the new West Hall expansion.

The process will take between four and five months to complete and is a major step forward in the expansion construction, which is now 77 percent complete.

The 600,000-square-foot exhibit hall features 328,000 square feet of flexible space, the largest in North America.

In response to the growing health crisis in the U.S., large convention centers and hotel/casino properties across the country are temporarily suspending hosting events in an effort to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus. This comes as the CDC issued guidance on March 15 discouraging any gatherings of more than 50 people for the next eight weeks.

Two major convention venues in the Southeast U.S. have been expanding their event spaces to accommodate more trade show business. Here’s how things are developing with Atlanta’s Georgia World Congress Center and Florida’s Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center.

As the importance of lessening the environmental impact of meetings, trade shows and events only continues to grow, here’s what two Midwestern convention centers are doing to help make sustainable planning easier.

In the past year, San Jose has seen a significant amount of expansion, rebranding and new growth — including plans for a new Google campus that could house up to 25,000 employees — but it isn’t leaving its history behind. From the San Jose McEnery Convention Center to hotels, arenas, auditoriums, mansions and a wide variety of unique spaces and attractions, the city boasts a plethora of historic and modern venues for event planners to choose from.

Deadly earthquakes have been rattling the island of Puerto Rico in recent weeks, causing devastation in the area around Guanica on the southwest coast. On the other side of the island, however, in San Juan (which is celebrating its 500^th anniversary this year!), things are looking up. 

After experiencing a decline in meetings and events business leading up to and following Hurricane Maria in 2017, the northeast portion of Puerto Rico is not only open for business, but well-positioned to attract more meetings and events than ever — especially in the luxury segment.

Upping their games to attract more meeting and convention business in an ever-more-competitive market, major U.S. convention centers are busy with renovation and expansion projects. Here’s what to watch for.

Looking for a great new getaway location for your next Midwest team-building event, retreat or small meeting? There are many options in the state of Wisconsin (and you get the added bonus of abundant cheese curds).  

Take Rock County. Located just over the state border from Illinois, 83 miles from Chicago O’Hare Airport and 75 miles from Milwaukee General Mitchell Airport, Beloit and Janesville offer unique locations for small meetings.  

Just 64 miles from Milwaukee General Mitchell Airport and 140 miles from Chicago O’Hare Airport, you’ll find Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. The small Sheboygan County town has been a resort destination since the late 1800s, and in more recent years has become host to a number of events at The Osthoff Resort.