Century Boulevard Ground Zero for Conventioneers.

Business Editors & Lifestyle Writers

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 10, 2000

"We are ready for our close-up" says Merry Norris, executive director of the Gateway to L.A. PBID.

Located on Century Boulevard at the doorway to LAX, the area will be ground zero for the thousands of politicos, delegates and reporters coming to Los Angeles for the Democratic National Convention in August.

"We'll be reviewing final plans and activities for the convention at our general membership meeting on July 14," said Norris. "But all of our members, including hotels, restaurants, office buildings, small businesses, several major parking facilities and the more than 30,000 people who work in the district, have been planning for the convention for some time."

Many of the Gateway to L.A. PBID hotels are hosting state delegate blocks and report capacity bookings during the convention. According to Gregory Lehman, general manager for the Renaissance Hotel on Airport Boulevard, "We have national and some international media; the Marriott is hosting Texas and Nebraska. We all expect things will be hopping 24-hours a day."

Erik Dahlerbruch, director of sales and marketing for the Hilton Los Angeles Airport on Century Boulevard said, "Sixty-percent of our guestrooms have been set aside for the convention; we have the delegations from Louisiana, Florida and the District of Columbia. We and the other three-star hotels in the area expect a complete sell-out during and directly after the DNC."

The area is getting a big boost in its preparations from LAX. "LAWA Executive Director Lydia Kennard and Ted Tokio Tanaka Architects' team have installed a magnificent gateway for the City of Los Angeles along Century Boulevard. I think their lushly landscaped palm-lined drive and 26 monolithic architectural pylons will become a Los Angeles landmark," said Norris. "We are thrilled with their efforts."

Gateway to L.A. PBID commercial management companies, office building owners and businesses are preparing employees too. "Next week our tenants will be receiving a special memo reminding them to prepare for the DNC," said Peter Italiano, PM Realty's Southern California regional manager, "As with the Olympics in 1984, employers and individuals should be planning for increased business and traffic on L.A. streets and freeways."

Seymour Kahn, chairman of the board and CEO for Mercury Air Group, Inc., a leading provider of aviation petroleum products, cargo services and aviation informational technology, expects increased activities at their private jet fueling site at LAX. "We're ready for them," he said.