WHAT'S NEW

There is plenty of convention center news in the region. Chicago's McCormick Place West Building, expected to open in 2008, will have 470,000 square feet of exhibit space and 250,000 square feet of meeting space. Cincinnati's Cinergy Center broke ground on a $160 million expansion and renovation with completion slotted for 2006.

The $220 million DeVos Place convention center in Grand Rapids, Mich., was completed earlier this year. It has 1 million square feet of function space. In September 2004, the Kalahari Convention Center, in Wisconsin Dells, Wis., unveiled an 80,000-square-foot expansion that more than doubled its size.

Attendees will find it easier to access the Midwest. Chicago's Midway Airport opened 43 new airline gates in 2004, while Traverse City, Mich.'s Cherry Capital Airport opened its new 100,000-square-foot terminal in October 2004. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is in the midst of a $1.6 billion expansion. And Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport is building a $250 million runway and runway extension.

Minneapolis/St. Paul's new light rail transit has begun full-service operation to Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport. The 12-mile transit line connects downtown Minneapolis, the airport, and the Mall of America.

And in Lisle, Ill., the 1,700-acre Morton Arboretum is adding two new attractions: a Maze Garden and, in September, a Children's Garden.

• FACILITY UPDATE

  ILLINOIS — CHICAGO

  The 300-room SOFITEL CHICAGO-O'HARE completed a renovation in 2004 that included its meeting facilities. The facility has 23 meeting rooms accommodating up to 1,000 people. Upgrades include plasma displays and high-speed Internet workstations.

• ROSEMONT

  In 2004, the 840,000-square-foot DONALD E. STEPHENS CONVENTION CENTER completed a 40,000-square-foot meeting space addition, which includes 22 meeting rooms, giving the center a total of 50. The conference center has a boardroom and a new grand ballroom accommodating 2,500 theater-style.

• CHICAGO SOUTHLAND

  Rosemont's Holiday Inn — O'Hare International became a CROWNE PLAZA in 2004. Renovations include landscaping and public and exterior areas. Completion is scheduled for fall 2006.

• SUBURBAN CHICAGO

  Rosemont's Radisson Hotel became the WYNDHAM O'HARE in November 2004. The 467-room facility has 32,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space in 23 breakout rooms.

• SPRINGFIELD

  The 80-room HILTON HOMEWOOD SUITES opened in 2004. The facility features 12,000 square feet of adjacent meeting and banquet space.

• INDIANA — INDIANAPOLIS

  THE HILTON GARDEN INN-TINLEY PARK opened in February. The 137-room facility features 1,700 square feet of meeting space that includes a 1,350-square-foot meeting room and a 15-seat boardroom.

• MICHIGAN — DETROIT

  The former Radisson Hotel Alsip is now the 193-room DOUBLETREE HOTEL CHICAGO/ALSIP. The facility underwent a multimillion-dollar expansion and renovation to join the Hilton family of hotels in 2004. It includes 13 meeting rooms with more than 15,000 square feet of meeting space.

• GRAND RAPIDS

  The Village of Schaumburg has approved construction of the SCHAUMBURG CONVENTION CENTER. The new facility will include a 100,000-square-foot exhibit hall, a 28,000-square-foot ballroom, 20,000 square feet of meeting space, and, in phase two, a 2,400-seat performing arts theater. Supporting the convention center will be a 500-room Marriott Renaissance hotel. Completion is scheduled for 2006.

• TRAVERSE CITY

  BENEDICTINE UNIVERSITY's $5.2 million sports complex, 30 miles outside Chicago in the Village of Lisle, opened in 2004. The complex includes a 3,000-seat lighted football stadium, a 750-seat lighted baseball field, press boxes, and meeting rooms and suites.

• MINNESOTA — MINNEAPOLIS

  The 269-room HOTEL ORRINGTON in Evanston reopened in October 2004 after a $32 million renovation. The facility's new 12,000-square-foot conference center opens this month.

• ST. PAUL

  The 308-room INDIAN LAKES RESORT in Bloomingdale has completed the majority of its $20 million renovation project, which included the redesign of its 30,000-square-foot conference center.

• MISSOURI — SPRINGFIELD

  In spring 2005, the 312-room HYATT LISLE completed its meeting space expansion. The facility now has 20 meeting rooms, including two boardrooms, a 4,140-square-foot ballroom, and a 2,100-square-foot outdoor pavilion.

• KANSAS CITY

  The 117-room HILTON GARDEN INN SPRINGFIELD opened in May. The hotel features 5,000 square feet of flexible meeting space with high-tech capabilities and a boardroom. The meeting facility is adjacent to a landscaped patio for outdoor events.

• NEBRASKA — OMAHA

  The 366-room HILTON SPRINGFIELD unveiled a new 2,910-square-foot, four-room conference center in 2004. Total conference space is 37,777 square feet.

• OHIO — CINCINNATI

  Construction has begun on the 243-room CONRAD HOTEL INDIANAPOLIS. The city's first five-star property, the Conrad will feature more than 10,000 square feet of meeting space when it opens in March 2006. It will be connected via skywalk to the Indiana Convention Center & RCA Dome.

• CLEVELAND

  The 215-room OMNI INDIANAPOLIS NORTH underwent a $4.6 renovation to become a Hilton hotel. Changes included improvements to its 14,500 square feet of meeting and banquet space.

• COLUMBUS

  The 198-room HILTON GARDEN INN DETROIT opened in Detroit's Harmonie Park in 2004. The hotel features 31,000 square feet of meeting space.

• OKLAHOMA — MIDWEST CITY

  The 143-room luxury ROYAL PARK HOTEL opened September 2004 in suburban Rochester. The facility has more than 16,000 square feet of meeting space.

• WISCONSIN DELLS

  The 1,298-room MARRIOTT RENAISSANCE CENTER completed a $100 million renovation. Besides room improvements, more than 100,000 square feet of meeting space was renovated.

• FONTANA

  DEVOS PLACE convention center was completed earlier this year. It has 1 million square feet of space, including 35,000 square feet of subdividable meeting space, a 162,000-square-foot exhibit hall, a gallery with 28,000 square feet of reception space, and a 40,000-square-foot ballroom.

• CVBS

  ILLINOIS

  In April 2004, Northwestern Michigan College opened the HAGERTY CENTER, a 300-seat conference facility at its new Great Lakes Campus.

• The 583-room MINNEAPOLIS MARRIOTT CITY CENTER completed the first of a two-phase renovation to its meeting space. The center added 2,400 square feet of reception and exhibit space. The second phase began in May, and will include a renovation of the 15,000-square-foot Grand Portage Ballroom. The facility has 33,000 square feet of meeting space.

• The Tony Award-winning GUTHRIE THEATER has broken ground for a three-theater complex on the Mississippi Riverfront. The reception area will feature a cantilevered bridge extending toward the river. The project is expected to be complete in summer 2006.

• The 116-room HILTON GARDEN INN in Oakdale (10 minutes east of downtown St. Paul) has opened. The facility has 1,600 square feet of meeting space and offers a restaurant, free wireless Internet, and a complimentary 24-hour business center. It is connected to the Prom Center (a banquet, meeting, and reception venue) and is adjacent to Marsh Creek Golf Course.

• INDIANA

  A 120-room HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS opened in March. It has approximately 1,000 square feet of meeting space.

• MICHIGAN

  By fall 2006, the KANSAS CITY CONVENTION CENTER will complete a $74 million, 135,000-square-foot expansion and renovation. The expansion will add a 40,000-square-foot grand ballroom and 35,000 square feet of pre-function space.

• The 450-room HILTON OMAHA opened in 2004.The hotel features more than 30,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 10,000-square-foot ballroom and 6,800 square feet of pre-function space.

• CINERGY CENTER will complete a $160 million expansion in 2006. The 750,000-square-foot center will have nearly 200,000 square feet of exhibit space, more than 100,000 square feet of meeting space, and a 40,000-square-foot ballroom.

• The 256-room SHERATON CINCINNATI NORTH HOTEL open this summer. It is across from the SHARONVILLE CONVENTION CENTER and features more than 18,000 square feet of meeting space, 14 suites, and a business center.

• MINNESOTA

  The new 139-room CLEVELAND MARRIOTT EAST features 14,000 square feet of meeting space, boardrooms, and a 7,500 square-foot ballroom.

• GENEVA STATE PARK RESORT AND CONFERENCE CENTER in Ashtabula County completed its lakefront resort and conference center at Geneva State Park, adjacent to Geneva-on-the-Lake, in May 2004. The 160,000-square-foot facility includes a lodge with 113 guest rooms. The conference center also includes a 5,250-square-foot convention hall, a large meeting room, three smaller rooms, and a business center.

• OHIO

  The 415-room ADAM'S MARK was renovated and has become THE COLUMBUS, a Renaissance hotel. It features 10,000 square feet of meeting space.

• The 228-room COLUMBUS AIRPORT MARRIOTT, two miles from Port Columbus International Airport, opened in June 2004 after a multimillion-dollar renovation. It has more than 14,000 square feet of meeting space and function space.

• The new 150-room SHERATON HOTEL MIDWEST CITY & CONFERENCE CENTER is attached to the 60,000-square-foot Reed Center meeting and convention facility.

• The 378-room KALAHARI WATERPARK RESORT & CONVENTION CENTER completed an 80,000-square-foot convention center expansion in 2004. The 125,000-square-foot convention center features 42 meeting rooms, including a nearly 21,000-square-foot ballroom and exhibit hall. The resort boasts the largest indoor waterpark in the nation.

• WISCONSIN

  The 334-room ABBEY RESORT & FONTANA SPA underwent a $35 million renovation. The renovation will affect all aspects of the resort, including its meeting space. Located on Lake Geneva in Fontana, Wis., the resort features 30,000 square feet of meeting space. Three restaurants, a marina, the 33,000-square-foot Fontana Spa, tennis courts and nature trails round out the facility.

CHICAGO CONVENTION AND TOURISM BUREAU
(312) 567-8500
Fax: (312) 567-8533
www.choosechicago.com
Total Hotel Tax: 14.9%

PHANTOM PLANNER

CHICAGO SOUTHLAND CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU
(708) 895-8200, (888) 895-8233
Fax: (708) 895-8288
www.visitchicagosouthland.com
Total Hotel Tax: Averages 10% in Southland communities

Special Venues

ROSEMONT CONVENTION BUREAU
(847) 823-2100
Fax: (847) 696-9700
www.rosemont.com
Total Hotel Tax: 12.5%

Indianapolis 2005

SPRINGFIELD CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
(217) 789-2360, (800) 545-7300
Fax: (217) 544-8711
www.visit-springfieldillinois.com
Total Hotel Tax: 10%

INDIANAPOLIS CONVENTION & VISITORS ASSOCIATION
(317) 639-4282
Fax: (317) 639-5273
www.indy.org
Total Hotel Tax: 12%

DETROIT METRO CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
(313) 202-1800, (888) CALL-DTW
Fax: (313) 202-1808
www.visitdetroit.com
Total Hotel Tax: 13% to 15%

GRAND RAPIDS/KENT COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
(800) 678-9859; Fax: (616) 459-7291
www.meetgrandrapids.org
Total Hotel Tax: 13%

GREATER LANSING CVB
(800) 648-6630; Fax: (517) 487-5151
www.lansing.org
Total Hotel Tax: 10% to 11%

TRAVERSE CITY CVB
(800) 940-1120; Fax: (231) 947-2621
www.mytraversecity.com
Total Hotel Tax: 8%

GREATER MINNEAPOLIS CONVENTION & VISITORS ASSOCIATION
(800) 445-7412; Fax: (612) 767-8001
www.minneapolis.org or www.minneapolismeetings.com
Total Hotel Tax: 13%

SAINT PAUL CVB
(800) 627-6101; Fax: (651) 265-4999
www.visitsaintpaul.com
Total Hotel Tax: 13%

GREATER CINCINNATI CVB
(800) CINCY-USA; Fax: (513) 621-2156
www.cincyusa.com
Total Hotel Tax: 17%

POSITIVELY CLEVELAND
(216) 875-6600
www.positivelycleveland.com
cvb@positivelycleveland.com
Total Hotel Tax: 15.5%

EXPERIENCE COLUMBUS
(800) 354-COLS; Fax: (614) 221-5618
www.experiencecolumbus.com
Total Hotel Tax: 16.75%

BROOKFIELD CVB
(800) 388-1835; Fax: (262) 789-0221
www.brookfieldcvb.com
Total Hotel Tax: 13.1%

GREATER MILWAUKEE CVB
(800) 231-0903; Fax: (414) 273-5596
www.milwaukee.org
Total Hotel Tax: 14.6%

• If you're meeting in Milwaukee, consider booking rooms or venues in Brookfield, Wis., as well. Just 10 miles from Milwaukee, the smaller city atmosphere may translate to lower rates. Click on the “Promos” link on the Brookfield CVB's Web site (www.brookfieldcvb.com) for specials.

• When you meet in Grand Rapids, Mich., attendees can receive a complimentary copy of The Grand Rapids Press. The paper comes with a special wrap that welcomes your group and includes a discount coupon. Attendees just show their badges and the coupon to receive special discounts at downtown restaurants and stores.

• Need help moving your people? Detroit People Mover tokens, which pay for transportation around the downtown area on a three-mile automated, elevated train, can be included in your convention package.

• Click the “Deals & Discounts” link on the Greater Lansing CVB's Web site (www.lansing.org) for deals and discounts at Greater Lansing's hotels, restaurants, and shopping venues.

• Looking for the best view of Cincinnati? Built in 1930, Carew Tower is the tallest building in Cincinnati, at 49 stories and 574 feet. Head to the Carew Tower's observation deck for an unobstructed view in every direction. (513/241-3888)

• Looking for a fun and unusual teambuilding event in MINNEAPOLIS? Strap on your helmets and take a MAGICAL HISTORY TOUR. Your group will explore the Minneapolis Riverfront area via Segways. A professional guide leads you on a three-hour tour, complete with a refreshment stop at the Mill City Museum Café. (952) 888-9200; Fax (952) 885-0098; www.magicalhistorytour.com.

• Built within the limestone ruins of the Washburn A Mill, MILL CITY MUSEUM was once the centerpiece of the world's flour milling industry. Today, the MINNEAPOLIS museum's 12,000-square-foot exhibit space is packed with hands-on activities, from sampling fresh bread to exploring the riverfront and historic Stone Arch Bridge. The museum features an eight-story glass facade overlooking the Mississippi River and can accommodate 750 reception-style. (612) 341-7555 or (800) 727-8386; Fax (612) 341-7001; www.millcitymuseum.org.

• In 2004, TRAVERSE CITY's Victorian CITY OPERA HOUSE completed an $8.5 million restoration. The 1891 opera house, recognized as a Michigan state landmark, has been completely renovated. Its main performance space, the Connie Binsfeld Auditorium, seats 730. (231) 941-8082; Fax (231) 941-7374; www.cityoperahouse.org.

• CINCINNATI'S NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FREEDOM CENTER opened in August 2004. The $110 million, 158,000-square-foot facility features exhibits that tell the story of the historic struggle to abolish human slavery. The facility includes a space for special events in addition to an education and research center, five history galleries, a changing exhibits gallery, and a performance theater. (513) 333-7500 or (877) 648-4838; Fax (513) 333-7716; www.freedomcenter.org.

• In Sandusky, treat your attendees to CASTAWAY BAY, Cedar Point Resort's newest indoor waterpark resort. The 51,000-square-foot facility features a 100,000-gallon wave pool, a water coaster, and 35-foot-tall body slides. Other amenities include more than 12,000 square feet of meeting space, a spa and massage center, and a 6,000-square-foot arcade. The adjacent hotel has 237 guest rooms. (419) 627-2106; Fax (419) 627-2267; www.cedarpoint.com.

• At the FORD MOTOR CO. CONFERENCE & EVENT CENTER in DEARBORN, MICH., you'll find nearly 10,000 square feet of flexible meeting space that accommodates 840 seated or 1,000 reception-style. A 100-seat theater features a 16-by-20-foot wall screen. Eleven meeting rooms hold eight to 120 guests. AV equipment — including a 60-foot video wall and an AV production control room that allows you to make changes to your event without disturbing attendees — close the deal. (313) 621-2900; Fax (313) 621-2600; www.cec.ford.com.

Throughout 2005, the city of Indianapolis is hosting a celebration of its arts and culture. In this “convergence of major cultural events,” the city is featuring traveling exhibits, large-scale programs, and recently completed expansion projects. For more information, contact the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association at (317) 639-4282 or www.indy.org.