Convention Center Facilities

Montgomery Convention Center

Montgomery, Ala.

News: The 30-year-old Montgomery Civic Center is undergoing a $29 million transformation. It will be renamed the Montgomery Convention Center.

Specs: The changes will create 70,000 square feet of exhibit space and add a 1,800-seat performing arts center.

Time Frame: Opening February 2008

Extra: An adjacent $150 million, 12-story, 347-room Renaissance hotel will include a 14,000-square-foot ballroom and meeting space.

Wilmington Convention Center

Wilmington, Del.

News: The Wilmington Convention Center is expected to open downtown on the riverfront in late 2008.

Specs: The center will include a 40,000-square-foot exhibit hall, a 12,000-square-foot ballroom, and 10,000 square feet of breakout rooms.

Extra: The center is adjacent to a 250-room Marriott.

Ocean Center

Daytona Beach, Fla.

News: Daytona Beach's Ocean Center convention complex is undergoing an expansion.

Specs: The renovated facility will have 190,000 square feet.

Time Frame: The project is expected to be complete in 2008.

Extra: Several area hotels have undergone multimillion-dollar refurbishments, including the 742-room Hilton Daytona Beach Ocean Walk Village, The Plaza Resort and Spa, and new four-diamond resort, The Shores Resort and Spa.

River Center

Baton Rouge, La.

News: The Baton Rouge River Center, which expanded in 2004, is undergoing another another renovation and expansion.

Specs: The project includes turning the old 26,000 square feet exhibit hall into a ballroom.

Time Frame: Completion set for 2008.

Capital City Convention Center

Jackson, Miss.

News: Construction is under way on the new $68 million Capital City Convention Center project in Jackson.

Specs: The meeting center will offer more than 110,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space.

Time Frame: The center is scheduled to be complete in early 2009.

Raleigh Convention Center

Raleigh, N.C.

News: The Raleigh Convention Center is set to open in summer 2008.

Specs: The center will include more than 500,000 square feet of space, 19 meeting rooms, a 150,000-square-foot exhibit hall, and a 32,000-square-foot ballroom. An attached Marriott hotel will offer 15,000 square feet of meeting space.

Extra: At least five international conferences, 11 national and regional conventions, and 55 state conventions and conferences have reserved the center.

Norman Convention Center

Norman, Okla.

News: The new Norman Convention Center is scheduled to open in August 2008.

Specs: The center will have 43,000 square feet of function space, including a 28,800-square-foot, divisible grand ballroom; a 7,200-square-foot ballroom; and 7,200 square feet of meeting rooms.

Extra: The center will be attached to a 250-room Embassy Suites.

Tulsa Convention Center

Tulsa, Okla.

News: The Tulsa Convention Center is undergoing a renovation that will be complete in fall 2008.

Specs: The project includes a 35,000-square-foot ballroom and 20,000 square feet of meeting space in 35 breakout rooms. Upon completion, the convention center will house more than 250,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 106,000-square-foot exhibit hall.

Chattanooga Convention Center

Chattanooga, Tenn.

News: The Chattanooga, Tenn., Convention Center has expanded.

Specs: The 185,000-square-foot center has 100,800 square feet of exhibit space, 21 breakout rooms, six ballrooms, seating for 8,500, and 40,000 square feet of pre-function space. Exhibit space includes a 150,012-square-foot, column-free exhibit hall and 53,800 square feet of pre-function space.

Extra: The 31,029-square-foot ballroom features programmable LED lighting.

Hotels

University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center

Springfield, Mo.

News: The University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center has renovated all 271 guest rooms.

Specs: The hotel has 39,000 square feet of meeting space and is adjacent to the Springfield Expo Center.

Hyatt Hotel on the River Walk

San Antonio

News: The 1,000-room Hyatt Hotel on the River Walk, adjacent to the downtown convention center, will open in 2008.

Specs: The hotel will offer 79,300 square feet of meeting and ballroom space.

Airports

Will Rogers World Airport

Oklahoma City

News: A $110 million project at Oklahoma City's Will Rogers World Airport is complete.

Specs: Improvements included expansion of the ticket counters and baggage claim areas, a new concourse, and installation of a cutting-edge in-line baggage screening system.

Myrtle Beach International Airport

Myrtle Beach, S.C.

News: Myrtle Beach International Airport is in the midst of a $200 million expansion.

Specs: The project includes a new commercial airline terminal complex that will add 14 gates.

Extra: The terminal will accommodate wide-body 747s as well as commuter jets.