Dec 09, 2021
As 2021 winds to a close, hotel companies far and wide are opening new properties, finishing up remodel projects or finalizing expansions in preparation for a busier 2022. Here are some of the most recent developments to keep on your radar:
New Properties and Spaces
Virgin Hotels New Orleans
As the latest lifestyle brand to open its doors in New Orleans’ artsy Warehouse District, Virgin Hotels New Orleans features 238 “chambers” (aka guest rooms), two penthouse suites, multiple outlets for dining, drinking and gathering, a 24-hour state-of-the-art fitness center and 5,000 square feet of… more
Nov 11, 2021
The city of Milwaukee will soon be doubling the size of its convention center via a multi-million-dollar expansion project. On Oct. 28, the Wisconsin Center District celebrated its long-awaited plan to grow the Wisconsin Center by hosting a groundbreaking ceremony attended by WCD leaders and staff, several local leaders, government officials and additional guests.
Speakers at the event included Wisconsin Department of Administration Secretary Joel Brennan; Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley; VISIT Milwaukee President and CEO Peggy Williams-Smith; VISIT Milwaukee Board Chair Dr. Eve… more
Nov 10, 2021
Connect teamed with World Meetings Forum (WFM), one of the most important events linking qualified hosted buyers with suppliers for the MICE industry, as part of its ongoing mission to present event planners with a diverse group of impressive destinations.
WFM has nearly 10 years of presence in Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean and was the first event in the region to return face-to-face in 2020 in Los Cabos.
Rafael Hernandez, chair of the WFM, will act as a liaison to Latin American, Central American and Spanish-speaking Caribbean DMCs to attend future Connect events.
“We are… more
Nov 02, 2021
North Carolina’s Charlotte Convention Center is now ready and able to host larger meetings and conventions, thanks to a $126.9 million expansion project that has added approximately 50,000 square feet to the 26-year-old downtown venue.
On Oct. 21, the City of Charlotte, the CRVA, construction partners, hospitality industry representatives and community leaders gathered to officially open and celebrate the new state-of-the-art space via a ribbon cutting ceremony that included the unveiling of a new public artwork and remarks from city government and tourism officials, including Mayor Vi… more
Nov 01, 2021
The Las Vegas tourism community recently took a giant step forward in the development of the Vegas Loop, an express underground transportation solution designed to help reduce traffic congestion while offering visitors and locals convenient access to the city’s myriad resorts, meetings and entertainment offerings.
On Oct. 20, Elon Musk's tunnel company, The Boring Company, received unanimous approval by the Clark County Commission for a special use permit and franchise agreement for the proposed 29-mile tunnel transportation system, which will connect to the existing Las Vegas Convention… more
Oct 18, 2021
Hotel and resort companies across the country have been busy bringing new-builds online while others expand and upgrade their existing properties to lure back leisure travelers and event groups. Take a look at the latest developments!
New Properties
ARCHER Hotel Tysons (Fairfax County, VA)
Archer Hotel recently expanded its growing portfolio with the debut of ARCHER Hotel Tysons, a new urban-chic boutique hotel in the new upscale Scotts Run South development nine miles northwest of Washington, D.C. Featuring 178 rooms and suites boasting a variety of design palettes and layouts, the… more
Oct 15, 2021
As the industry returns to face-to-face events, rest assured there will be no shortage of spectacular spaces in which to convene. With the array of new and expanded convention centers that have opened this year and are on track to debut in the near future, this seems to be one of the most prolific periods of new construction the industry has seen.
Here are four upcoming convention centers to keep on the radar, all of which are making dynamic architectural and design statements.
The Summit, Seattle
The home of the Space Needle knows a thing or two about bringing awe-inspiring icons to its… more
Oct 14, 2021
New York City’s Javits Center may be located in one of the busiest cities in the world, but it’s as green as it gets at this newly expanded facility. The center just unveiled an innovative 200,000-square-foot rooftop that features a glass-enclosed pavilion, an outdoor terrace and a one-acre working farm that is expected to generate up to 40,000 pounds of produce each year for the center’s banquet operations. The farm, along with other enhancements, builds upon the center’s other sustainability success stories, including an existing 6.75-acre green roof that serves as a habitat for area… more
Oct 12, 2021
Meetings, events, travel and tourism industry leader, Connect, is gearing up to welcome a pre-pandemic number of event professionals to its signature summer marketplace conference and trade show in Detroit next year. Set for Aug. 8-10, 2022 at TCF Center, Connect Detroit expects to attract approximately 4,000 decision-making planners and suppliers, who will gather together to meet, network, do business and experience all that the city has to offer for meeting and event groups.
The annual August conference will once again draw in attendees from four main market segments: corporate,… more
Oct 08, 2021
If the human species is good at one thing, it’s adapting. So too is the trade show and events industry, which was forced to “pivot” during the worst of the pandemic by moving into a more innovative, forward-thinking mindset via the leveraging of virtual event technology. What has resulted is a digital events revolution and a growing hybrid evolution that is likely to be a mainstay in the events world for the foreseeable future.
To meet the needs of events serving both in-person and virtual audiences, hybrid event production studios are popping up in cities and at convention centers across… more
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is more