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, centers, and tourist boards are also winners, by the vote of our readership, of our coveted Inner Circle Award for 2007 (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 60 through 107 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

Visit Charlotte (N.C.)

Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau

Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau

Greater Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Convention & Visitors Bureau

Irving (Texas) Convention & Visitors Bureau

Jamaica Tourist Board

Long Beach Area (Calif.) Convention & Visitors Bureau

Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc.

Greater Pittsburgh Convention & Visitors Bureau

Puerto Rico Convention Bureau

San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau

San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau

Scottsdale (Ariz.) Convention & Visitors Bureau

Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau

Convention Centers

Charlotte (N.C.) Convention Center

COBO Center, Detroit

Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, Ill.

George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston

Hampton Roads Convention Center, Hampton, Va.

Indiana Convention Center & RCA Dome, Indianapolis

Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center, Louisville

Las Vegas Convention Center

McCormick Place, Chicago

Oncenter Complex, Syracuse, N.Y.

Orange County Convention Center, Orlando

Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia

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

San Diego Convention Center

Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C.