Welcome to our special section — highlighting notable convention centers as well as convention and visitors bureaus and tourist boards — containing essential information for association meeting planners.

Many of the featured CVBs, convention centers, and tourist boards are also winners, by the vote of our readership, of our coveted Inner Circle Award for 2008 (see listing below). Readers of Association Meetings magazine chose these winners based on their high level of service, flexible function space, and the quality of food and beverage.

Check out pages 55 through 74 for a look at some of what's new with our highlighted CVBs, tourist boards, and convention centers.

CVBs and Tourist Boards

Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association

Branson Lakes Area (Mo.) Chamber of Commerce & Convention and Visitors Bureau

Choose Chicago

Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association

Kansas City (Mo.) Convention & Visitors Association

Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

Long Beach Area (Calif.) CVB

Louisville (Ky.) CVB

Orlando/Orange County CVB Inc.

Visit Pittsburgh

Puerto Rico Convention Bureau

San Antonio CVB

San Diego CVB

Seattle's CVB

Virginia Beach (Va.) CVB

Convention Centers

Anaheim (Calif.) Convention Center

COBO Center, Detroit

Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, Ill.

George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston

Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta

The Hampton Roads (Va.) Convention Center

Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center, Louisville

Las Vegas Convention Center

McCormick Place, Chicago

Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Convention Center

Oncenter Complex, Syracuse, NY

Orange County Convention Center, Orlando

Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, Washington, D.C.

San Diego Convention Center

Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C.