Western update: new developments make the West hotter than ever.Is the West a better region for meetings than ever? See for yourself. From new resorts and hotels in Las Vegas Las Vegas (läs vā`gəs), city (1990 pop. 258,295), seat of Clark co., S Nev.; inc. 1911. It is the largest city in Nevada and the center of one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the United States. , Tucson, Seattle, and Albuquerque to convention center expansions in Denver, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Santa Clara Santa Clara, city, CubaSanta Clara (sän`tä klä`rä), city (1994 est. pop. 217,000), capital of Villa Clara prov., central Cuba. , and Palm Springs, the West is buzzing with activity. No matter where you travel in the West, you are sure to discover a fresh appeal to an amazing region that has been a long-time favorite of associations of all sizes. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ARIZONA MESA Arizona's third-largest city offers association groups small-town charm, convenience, and affordability in the heart of one of the West's largest metropolitan areas. Mesa is located only 12 miles from the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport “PHX” redirects here. For other uses, see PHX (disambiguation). Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (IATA: PHX, ICAO: KPHX, FAA LID: PHX ; yet it offers more than 60 hotels including top meetings properties such as the 273-room Sheraton Phoenix East (more than 52,000 square feet of meeting space), 263-room Hilton Phoenix East (more than 22,000 square feet of meeting space), and the 130-room Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Conference Center which features a new, 15,000-square-foot meeting facility. With an enticing outdoor environment, the Mesa Amphitheater is a popular venue for a variety of events. It offers outdoor seating for 4,200 and catering for group functions. Near the amphitheater downtown is the Mesa Centennial Center. It offers a 15,000-square-foot, open-floor exhibit hall and 25,000 square feet of additional function space. A theater with 100 tiered seats and videoconferencing capability is part of the center. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] All the splendor of the magnificent desert Southwest is at Mesa's doorstep. The city offers 25 golf courses as well as other outdoor options such as boating and hiking the surrounding mountains. Five museums, including the Mesa Southwest Museum The Southwest Museum is a museum, library, and archive located in the Mt. Washington area of Los Angeles, California. Its collections deal mainly with the American Indian. and Mesa Historical Museum, offer lots of cultural treasures as well. PHOENIX Phoenix residents continue to express confidence in their downtown's exciting future. In November, voters approved funding for additional segments to a light rail system under development. In addition to the initial 20-mile route that will open in late 2008, the new light rail system will now be complemented by 27.7 miles of suburban track within the next 20 years. The initial route will connect Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport with downtown hotels and attractions including the Phoenix Convention Center, which will open the first phase of its $600 million expansion in early 2006. The first phase of the project involves construction of the West Building, with 165,000 square feet of space including a 65,000-square-foot exhibit hall on the first floor. The existing South Building also will be connected to the new West Building, providing an additional 143,000 square feet of space for exhibits or meetings. The phased expansion will increase total rentable space from 302,000 to more than 900,000 square feet by total completion in 2009. Also scheduled to debut in late 2008 is a 1,000-room Sheraton that will be located just one block from the center. The 712-room Hyatt Regency Phoenix, with 45,000 square feet of meeting space, is located across the street from the center. Just one block away is the 532-room Wyndham Phoenix with 57,000 square feet of meeting space. TUCSON January marked the opening of the long-awaited Starr Pass Marriott Resort and Spa adjacent to the Tucson Mountain Park. The city's first new resort in almost 20 years, the Years, The the seven decades of Eleanor Pargiter’s life. [Br. Lit.: Benét, 1109] See : Time 575-room Marriott offers more than 88,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space. Among the event space are ball-rooms of 20,000 and 15,000 square feet. In addition, the luxurious resort also offers a 20,000-square-foot spa, 27 holes of championship golf, three pools, and underground parking. Other area resorts are upgrading, as evidenced by recent renovations completed by the 428-room Hilton Tucson El Conquistador conquistador (kŏnkwĭs`tədôr, Span. kōng-kē'stäthôr`), military leader in the Spanish conquest of the New World in the 16th cent. , which offers more than 100,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor function space. Hilton has spent more than $7 million upgrading the plush resort since taking it over two years ago. The Rio Rico Golf Resort also wrapped up renovations recently and renamed the property the Esplendor at Rio Rico. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Downtown Radisson Hotel City Center also unveiled plans in February to more than double its guest room inventory and build condominiums in two new towers. Under the plan, the 300-room Radisson would expand to 700 guest rooms, as well as update the existing property. The project is tied to a proposal to build a new downtown arena The Downtown Arena is a proposed Arena in downtown El Paso, Texas. If constructed it is expected to have a capacity of more than 17,000. Making it the biggest arena in West Texas, Ciudad Juarez and Southern New Mexico, and making it the biggest arena in El Paso above the Don Haskins that is now under consideration. The Radisson is near the Tucson Convention Center The Tucson Convention Center (TCC), previously named the Tucson Community Center, is a large multi-purpose convention center located in downtown Tucson, Arizona. , a facility that features more than 100,000 square feet of exhibit space that separates into three halls, a 20,000-square-foot grand ballroom, a 511-seat theater, 2,289-seat performance hall, and an 8,750-seat arena. CALIFORNIA ANAHEIM/DISNEYLAND Always fresh and fun, it's hard to imagine that Disney turns 50 in 2005. As an organization that knows how to throw a birthday party, Disney is certain to make 2005 a great year to meet in Anaheim with numerous community events and charity fundraisers planned. Disney's presence has brought meetings magic to Anaheim, which had a record year in 2004 when more than 1.175 million convention-related visitors spent $1.6 billion. The city's resort area now offers 20,000 hotel rooms and all the great attractions created by Disney's two theme parks and the Downtown Disney Downtown Disney is the name of two outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment complexes located at two Disney resorts:
Opening this fall is the new Doubletree Guest Suites Anaheim Resort/Convention Center, a 252-room hotel with 7,200 square feet of meeting space in the heart of the city's convention district. In addition, another Doubletree property, the Doubletree Hotel Anaheim/Orange County, completed a $6 million renovation in March. Fresh from a $180 million expansion completed in 2001, the Anaheim Convention Center Anaheim Convention Center is a major convention center in Anaheim, California. It is located across from the Disneyland Resort on Katella Avenue. Much of the Anaheim Convention Center has been renovated in recent years with state-of-the-art facilities. offers 1.6 million square feet of meeting and exhibit space. The impressive center includes 815,000 square feet of exhibit space, 52 meeting rooms, 130,000 square feet of meeting space, and a 38,000-square-foot ball-room. Due to the continued growth of the city's convention business, Anaheim city officials are considering yet another expansion that would create 100,000 additional square feet of exhibit space and result in new meeting space. Disney operates several large hotels with meeting space in the area, including the 751-room Grand Californian, 990-room Disneyland Hotel Disneyland Hotel may refer to:
LOS ANGELES/UNIVERSAL STUDIOS The buzz around the City of Angels is the proposed $1.2 billion hotel, retail, entertainment, and 1,000-unit housing complex called the Grand Avenue Project. The multiyear development would be a boon to the nearby Los Angeles Convention Center The Los Angeles Convention Center (abbreviated LACC) is a convention center in downtown Los Angeles. The LACC hosts annual events such as the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show, and was best known to video games fans as host to E3 until its cessation in 2006. , which is within walking distance of the city's downtown business district and more than 4,700 hotel rooms. The center offers 887,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space and a theater with 300 tiered seats. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Of course, nothing says Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. like the movies, so group events at Universal Studios Hollywood are a natural choice. The massive complex offers groups 28 back-lot movie sets, a dedicated sound stage, set lighting, elaborate movie props, and the Globe Theater, a 9,600-square-foot special events venue. The Universal CityWalk Universal CityWalk is a part of Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Japan originating from Universal's first park, Universal Studios Hollywood. entertainment district also offers a variety of private event options such as Tango Alley, where a 10,000-square-foot events center is surrounded by 33 places to eat and play. Universal's multiscreen cinemas and IMAX IMAX Noun a film projection process that produces an image ten times larger than standard theater complex offer 425 stadium seats and a six-story screen. Universal's theme park debuts its "Fear Factor" attraction this spring, where contestants compete in a variety of activities that make for a perfect team-building experience. Elsewhere, the Westlake Village Hotel and Spa will open late this year in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. . The 20-acre well-being complex will have physicians on site, a full-service spa, a conference center, and 267 guest rooms. MONTEREY Monterey is sporting a unique new group event venue with this month's opening of the newly renovated Golden State Theatre. Originally opened in 1926, the opulent theater can accommodate groups of up to 1,100. It has a large lobby and mezzanine level Mezzanine level The period in a company's development just before it goes public. for receptions. The Golden State Theatre is located in the heart of the city, only two blocks from the Monterey Conference Center, which was recently refurbished as well. The center's 19,600-square-foot Sierra Ballroom received new carpeting earlier this year, and the entire facility received upgraded broadband services. The center offers 61,000 square feet of meeting space, making it the largest coastal facility of its kind between San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden and Los Angeles. From bayside boutique hotels to large meetings properties, Monterey offers groups a world of choice in accommodations. The 380-room Portola Plaza Hotel The Plaza Hotel in New York City is a landmark 19-story luxury hotel with a height of 250 feet (76 m) and length of 400 feet that (122 m) occupies the west side of Grand Army Plaza, from which it derives its name, and extends along Central Park South in Manhattan. recently completed a $7 million renovation that transformed it from a Doubletree property. It offers 20,000 square feet of meeting space. In February, the 575-room Hyatt Regency Monterey unveiled new wireless broadband High-speed wireless transmission of data. What is "high" speed is always a changing number. Wireless systems are typically slower than land-based, wireline networks. In the past, wireless broadband started at 250 Kbps, whereas land-based broadband was generally considered to start at T1 Internet access See how to access the Internet. in its 30,000 square feet of meeting space (and other public spaces) as well as select guest rooms. The 341-room Monterey Marriott recently finished guest room renovations. It offers 16,000 square feet of meeting space. For private events with a culinary emphasis, the Culinary Center of Monterey offers beautiful classroom kitchens and a restaurant that seats 150 for plated meals and 225 for strolling dinner and receptions. Events at the teaching facility can be fully catered or can include hands-on demonstrations where groups do some of the cooking themselves. NEWPORT BEACH Newport Beach, residential and resort city (1990 pop. 66,643), Orange co., S Calif., on Newport Bay and the Pacific Ocean; inc. 1906. It is a popular seaside resort and yachting center. Manufactures include electrical and medical equipment, computers, boats, and adhesives. Newport Beach embodies the relaxed resort lifestyle in an urban Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, setting. The ocean-side community offers some of the region's finest resorts along its nine miles Nine Miles is a reggae "band" started by Yoshiaki Manabe (真鍋吉明) of The Pillows. The name Nine Miles comes from the name of the town in which Bob Marley grew up in Jamaica.
Newport Beach's fabulous resorts keep getting better. The Newport Beach Marriott is in the midst Adv. 1. in the midst - the middle or central part or point; "in the midst of the forest"; "could he walk out in the midst of his piece?" midmost of a $60 million renovation that began last summer. Scheduled for completion this fall, the project is adding a 14,000-square-foot spa with 16 treatment rooms, updating its 41,000 square feet of meeting space, and adding 20 new luxury suites showcasing sweeping ocean vistas. All 532 guest rooms also will be completely redesigned, as will the resort's lobby, porte cochere porte cochere (French: “coach door”) Passageway through a building, or gateway in an outer wall, designed to let vehicles pass from the street to an interior courtyard. , and pool area. The prestigious Four Seasons Hotel Newport Beach also upgraded recently. The 295-room hotel completed its two-year, $20 million enhancement program with the January opening of a 4,000-square-foot spa with nine treatment rooms. With 35,000 square feet of meeting space, the Newport Beach property has more meeting space than any other Four Seasons in North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. . Also recently upgraded through multimillion-dollar projects are the 403-room Hyatt Newporter, with 20,000 square feet of meeting space, and the 132-room Balboa Bay Club The Balboa Bay Club & Resort is in Newport Beach, California on 15 waterfront acres and was founded in 1948. It is on the Newport Harbor. See also
OAKLAND Oakland's Jack London Square Jack London Square is a popular tourist attraction on the waterfront of Oakland, California. Named after the author Jack London and owned by the Port of Oakland, it is the home of stores, hotels, an Amtrak station, a ferry dock, the historic Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon, is in the midst of a $300 million, multiphase Mul´ti`phase a. 1. (Elec.) Having many phases; Adj. 1. multiphase - of an electrical system that uses or generates two or more alternating voltages of the same frequency but differing in phase angle development that began last November with the restoration of the historic 66 Franklin Building built in 1926. Located in the heart of Oakland, Jack London Square's redevelopment project also will consist of a 250-room, meetings-oriented hotel, the 185,000-square-foot California Harvest Hall, a theater complex, up to 20 restaurants, retail shops, and office buildings. Oakland's convention center is located only eight miles from its airport, giving event planners unmatched convenience in the Bay area. California's seventh-largest city features the Oakland City Center Oakland City Center is an office and shopping complex in downtown Oakland, California. It covers twelve city blocks between Broadway and Martin Luther King Jr. Way. 14th Street abuts the northeast side of the complex and the Oakland Convention Center and Marriott Hotel extend downtown. When combined with the adjacent, 484-room Oakland Marriott, the Oakland City Center offers 89,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space. The Hilton Oakland Airport also features an ample inventory of both rooms and space, with 364 guest rooms and 6,400 square feet of meeting space. As for Oakland International Airport
Oakland International Airport (IATA: OAK, ICAO: KOAK, FAA LID: OAK), also known as , it is serviced by 12 carriers that offer more than 200 flights and 26,000 seats daily. The airport is constructing a 6,000-space parking garage near the terminals to handle the growing traffic from the increasingly popular gateway. ONTARIO Ontario city officials recently approved an ambitious new development that will bring a large "urban village" next to Ontario Mills Ontario Mills is a large enclosed outlet mall located in Ontario, California; it is one of the primary tourist attractions in the Inland Empire. Mall, Southern California's largest entertainment and outlet mall An outlet mall (or outlet centre) is a type of shopping mall, in which manufacturers sell their products directly to the public through their own branded stores. Clothing, sporting goods, electrical products, cosmetics, and toys are among the types of items sold at outlet . Plans call for about 1.9 million square feet of development, including a potential luxury hotel, approximately 800 condominiums, 465,000 square feet of retail and commercial space, and an office complex. The city also may build an arena/community events center on adjacent land. The city already has a showcase exposition facility in the Ontario Convention Center that features a 70,000-square-foot exhibit hall, a 20,000-square-foot ballroom, and 24,000 square feet of meeting rooms. More than 2,000 hotel rooms surround the convention center, which is only two blocks from the Ontario International Airport. The airport offers more than 100 daily nonstop flights to more than 16 major U.S. cities and is only 35 miles from downtown Los Angeles Downtown Los Angeles is the central business district of Los Angeles, California, located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area. The sprawling, multi-centered megacity is such that its downtown core is often considered just another district like Hollywood or . Among Ontario's major hotels are the 484-room Doubletree, 164-room Sheraton, 309-room Hilton, and 293-room Marriott. Most area hotels offer complimentary shuttle service to the airport, convention center, and Ontario Mills Mall. PALM SPRINGS Anticipation is building for the September opening of the $34.7 million expansion of the Palm Springs Convention Center The Palm Springs Convention Center is a 160,000 square foot facility located in downtown Palm Springs, California. It can accommodate groups from 12 to 9,000 in size, depending on the configuration. . The project will nearly double the size of the existing facility by adding 20,000 square feet of ballroom and meeting space, 34,000 square feet of exhibit space, and 38,000 square feet of pre-function space. A 5,700-square-foot meeting room and expanded kitchen facility opened earlier as part of the project. The facility is also undergoing a dramatic exterior appearance change as the main door is being switched from the east side of the building to the west, where it will open to downtown Palm Springs with the San Jacinto Mountains San Jacinto Mountains Segment of the Pacific Coast Ranges, southwestern California, U.S. San Jacinto Peak is the highest point in these mountains, at 10,804 ft (3,293 m); the city of Palm Springs lies at its eastern base. rising directly behind. Part of the center's appeal is its proximity to upscale hotels. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Hilton Palm Springs and Hyatt Regency Palm Springs are within easy walking distance, while the 410-room Wyndham Hotel has direct access to the center. The Wyndham offers 28,000 square feet of meeting space and a day spa A day spa is a business establishment which people visit for personal care treatments such as massages and facials. It is similar to a beauty salon in that it is only visited for the duration of the treatment. . [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Among the 160 hotel properties that Palm Springs offers are numerous luxury resorts, such as the Miramonte Resort and Spa in the exclusive Indian Wells Indian Wells may refer to:
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SACRAMENTO Meeting in California's capital city offers a lot of advantages. Start with Sacramento International Airport Sacramento International Airport (IATA: SMF, ICAO: KSMF, FAA LID: SMF) is a public airport located 10 miles (16 km) northwest of the central business district (CBD) of Sacramento, in Sacramento County, California, USA It is run by Sacramento County. , located only 15 minutes from downtown Sacramento Downtown Sacramento is the central district of the city of Sacramento, California. The district is defined as north of R Street, south of H Street, east of the Sacramento River, and west of 16th Street. Downtown Sacramento is currently undergoing a major revitalization project. and featuring more than 150 daily flights. The airport recently received a flurry of new service from several airlines including new nonstop service to Washington, D.C., on both United and JetBlue, a third daily nonstop to Denver on Frontier, new nonstop service to Palm Springs on Horizon, and nonstop service to Maui on Aloha. A new, 5,300-space parking garage opened last fall at the airport as well. Once off the plane, delegates can stretch their legs in the city that invites visitors to walk to meetings. More than 2,000 hotel guest rooms are within walking distance of the Sacramento Convention Center The Sacramento Convention Center is the main center for events happening in Sacramento, California, USA, which encompasses three venues: The Exhibit Hall, The Community Center Theatre and the Memorial Auditorium. External links
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A new hotel is now under construction a few blocks from the state capitol. Ground was broken in November on a 239-suite Marriott Residence Inn that will include meeting space and other amenities. One of the city's main attractions for meeting delegates is the 28-acre Old Sacramento Historic District along the Sacramento riverfront. Restaurants, shops, hotels, and other attractions are in the district, among them the K Street Pedestrian Mall pedestrian mall pedestrian (US) n → Fußgängerzone f pedestrian mall n (US) → zona pedonale . Museum favorites include the newly renovated California State Railroad Museum The California State Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento is a tribute to the role of the "iron horse" in connecting California to the rest of the nation. The museum features 21 restored locomotives and railroad cars, some dating back to 1862. , Golden State Museum, and Crocker Art Museum The Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, California, USA has operated continuously longer than any other art museum west of the Mississippi River. Founded in 1885, it boasts an excellent collection of early California art including important works of Albert Bierstadt, Xavier . SAN DIEGO/PALA CASINO/PACIFICA HOTELS With San Diego's stunning beauty and almost perfect weather, it's no wonder the city continues to buzz with new hotel and resort developments. The former Radisson Hotel San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. became the Sheraton San Diego Hotel Mission Valley in January. The 260-room hotel recently completed a $5.9 million renovation. Also in January, the 306-room San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter reopened after a 14-month, $45 million project that completely reconstructed the property's exterior and interior. The new 500 West hotel also opened in January with 260 guest rooms in the historic Armed Services The Constitution authorizes Congress to raise, support, and regulate armed services for the national defense. The President of the United States is commander in chief of all the branches of the services and has ultimate control over most military matters. YMCA YMCA in full Young Men's Christian Association Nonsectarian, nonpolitical Christian lay movement that aims to develop high standards of Christian character among its members. Building downtown. Near the entrance of the Gaslamp District is the Hotel Solomar, which opened in April with 235 guest rooms, 9,000 square feet of function space, and a rooftop complex with a pool, cabanas, and an outdoor fitness center. Set to reopen by July 4 is the landmark, 273-room U.S. Grant Hotel, which has been closed since January for a $26 million makeover. The Omni San Diego Hotel, a luxury hotel connected by a sky bridge to the San Diego Padres Ballpark, is conveniently located across the street from the recently renovated convention center. The ballpark offers more than 27,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and a 9,266-square-foot grand ballroom, featuring a large prefunction area. The newly upgraded Shelter Pointe Hotel and Marina (a Pacifica Hotels property) is on 11 acres of lush tropical gardens at the tip of Shelter Island Shelter Island (1990 pop. 1,193), 7 mi (11.2 km) long and 6 mi (9.7 km) wide, between the two peninsulas of E Long Island, SE N.Y. Settled in the 17th cent. by English colonists, the island has been a summer resort since the 1870s. and only three miles from the San Diego International Airport San Diego International Airport (IATA: SAN, ICAO: KSAN, FAA LID: SAN), also known as Lindbergh Field, is located in San Diego, California. . The resort features 206 freshly renovated guest rooms and suites, 18,000 square feet of meeting space, and 23,000 square feet of outdoor event space including courtyards, gardens, and a private beach at the edge of the marina. Another Pacifica Hotels property is the Mission Valley Resort near San Diego's Old Town in the heart of the city. The 202-room resort features 7,000 square feet of meeting space and a 27,000-square-foot tennis, fitness, and racquetball racquetball, sport played indoors by two or four players, combining elements of court handball and such racket games as squash racquets. It is played on a standard handball court 40 ft (12.2 m) long, 20 ft (6. complex. Outdoor function space includes a court-yard gazebo gazebo Lookout in the form of a turret, cupola (small, lanternlike dome), or garden house set on a height to give an extensive view. Few late-18th- and 19th-century rustic gazebos survive, but 17th-century turrets built up in an angle of the garden wall are not uncommon. and manicured grounds. Pacifica recently added free wireless high-speed Internet See broadband. access for guests at its 23 California hotels. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In December, Harrah's Rincon Harrah's Rincon is a casino and hotel located north of San Diego, California near I-15 in Valley Center, California. The hotel has 653 rooms and a 21 story tower. The casino consists of 1600 slot machines and 51 tables including 8 poker room tables. Casino and Resort opened a new hotel tower and spa north of downtown. The property now offers 651 guest rooms. The Pala Casino Resort and Spa in northern San Diego County also recently completed a $105 million expansion that added 30,000 square feet of meeting space. In addition, the project created two new restaurants and two entertainment venues encompassing 3,000 seats. The 507-room resort also features a 10,000-square-foot spa and a large casino. SAN FRANCISCO San Francisco's appeal seems to know no end, as it continues to increase its tourism infrastructure. An influx of international visitors is expected next year, when the largest commercial passenger jet, the Airbus A380, begins landing at San Francisco International Airport “SFO” redirects here. For other uses, see SFO (disambiguation). For the television series, see . (SFO SFO (in Britain) Serious Fraud Office ). SFO will be one of only six U.S. airports able to accommodate the Airbus, which will transport up to 1,000 passengers. SFO has experienced a spurt of new service since completing its master plan in late 2003 that included a new international terminal, people mover people mover n. A means of mass transit, such as a moving sidewalk or a monorail, used to transport people, usually along a fixed route. people mover Noun Brit, Austral & NZ same as , and BART light rail link to downtown. This month, Independence Air begins nonstop service between SFO and Dulles International outside Washington, D.C. Independence is the sixth carrier to initiate service at SFO in the past 18 months. San Francisco is also seeing new hotels in 2005. In March, the Hotel Vitale opened with 199 guest rooms and a gourmet restaurant. This summer, The St. Regis Hotel will open at Third and Mission Streets, complete with 276 guest rooms, a 10,000-square-foot spa, a fine-dining restaurant, and 15,000 square feet of meeting space as part of a 40-story, mixed-use tower that will include condominiums. On the ground level of the St. Francis will be the $11 million Museum of the African Diaspora The Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) is a new museum in San Francisco, California, USA, dedicated to the diasporan histories of people of African origin and their influence and adaptation throughout the world. that will open this fall. The new museum and hotel are adjacent to the Moscone Convention Center, which opened its West Building expansion in 2003. The expansion added 300,000 square feet of function space, including a 100,000-square-foot exhibit hall on the lobby level. The second level of the new building offers 19 individual meeting rooms that can be combined into various configurations, while the third level features a 60,000-square-foot, column-free ballroom. The West Building brought total function space at Moscone to 900,000 square feet. SAN JOSE San Jose, city, United States San Jose (sănəzā`, săn hōzā`), city (1990 pop. 782,248), seat of Santa Clara co., W central Calif.; founded 1777, inc. 1850. Tech-savvy San Jose is earning a reputation as a great host for meetings as well. Convention officials report that San Jose has experienced a hotel room increase of more than 50 percent since 2000. Leading the new additions is the San Jose Marriott that opened in 2003 with 506 guest rooms and 21,000 square feet of meeting space. The 213-room Hotel Valencia Santana Row Santana Row is an upscale shopping center in San Jose, California. Westfield Valley Fair is located just to its north, on the other side of Stevens Creek Boulevard, and the Winchester Mystery House just to the west, across Winchester Boulevard. opened in 2003 as well. The Fairmont San Jose also added 264 rooms recently to bring its guest room inventory to 805. It offers 60,000 square feet of meeting space. If groups can't find enough meeting space in the local hotels, the San Jose McEnry Convention Center features a 143,000-square-foot exhibit hall, a 22,000-square-foot ballroom, and 30 meeting rooms. Just two miles from downtown is the Mineta San Jose International Airport For the Costa Rican airport, see . Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (IATA: SJC, ICAO: KSJC, FAA LID: SJC) is a medium-sized airport in San Jose, California. , with 200 daily flights. The airport is in the midst of a $1.3 billion expansion project that will significantly increase its capacity. The first phase, the $355 million North Concourse project, is scheduled for completion in late 2007. The entire project should be complete by 2013. SANTA CLARA Plans are moving forward on adding 24,000 square feet of ballroom space to the Santa Clara Convention Center. It is possible that construction will begin in 2005-2006, pending final approval from city officials. More than 2,800 hotel rooms are located within one mile of the 262,000-square-foot convention center, which currently offers a 100,000-square-foot exhibit hall, a 6,264-square-foot ballroom, 25 breakout rooms, and a 607-seat theater. Connected to the convention center is the Westin Santa Clara, with 505 guest rooms and 44,000 square feet of meeting space. Other major meetings hotels in the area include the 280-room Hilton Santa Clara, with 4,500 square feet of meeting space, and the 752-room Santa Clara Marriott, with 23,500 square feet of meeting space for your group's function. Northern California's largest family entertainment destination, Paramount's Great America Great America is a name shared by two American amusement parks opened by the Marriott Corporation in 1976. Both parks are now under different ownership and are known as:
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] COLORADO COLORADO SPRINGS/BROADMOOR RESORT Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, city (1990 pop. 281,140), seat of El Paso co., central Colo., on Monument and Fountain creeks, at the foot of Pikes Peak; inc. 1886. It is a year-round resort and a booming military, technological, and commercial city. is renowned for its natural beauty and resort facilities that allow visitors to enjoy the area in style. Among the area's attractions is the legendary Broadmoor Resort, which has been attracting presidents and famous celebrities since it opened in 1918. In recent years, the Broadmoor has spent millions to expand and upgrade the 3,000-acre complex at the base of Cheyenne Mountain. This fall, the resort will unveil the Broadmoor Hall, a 60,000-square-foot, pillar-free ballroom with a 25-foot ceiling, covered loading dock, and 30 recessed utility boxes with 100-amp, three-phase electrical service, microphone/intercom lines, CATV (Community Antenna TV) The original name for cable TV. It used a single antenna at the highest location in the community in order to deliver a quality signal to homes in areas with hilly terrain or other interference. , and video capabilities. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Broadmoor Hall is adjacent to the 20,000-square-foot International Center and the 18,000-square-foot Colorado Hall. The three facilities form the Broadmoor Event Center Complex, giving planners a total of 185,000 square feet of functional meeting and exhibit space throughout the property. Broadmoor offers 700 guest rooms with another 1,500 guest rooms within minutes of the resort via a shuttle service. Leisure amenities are highlighted by three championship golf courses as well as a 43,000-square-foot spa. DENVER Denver recently celebrated a milestone in its meetings infrastructure while it prepares for yet another huge addition. In December, the Colorado Convention Center The Colorado Convention Center is a multi-purpose convention center in downtown Denver, Colorado which recently underwent a major expansion. The expansion added 600,000 sq. feet of space and a 5,200 seat concert hall. The total area of the convention center is 1.2 million sq. feet. unveiled its $300 million expansion that doubled its contiguous exhibit space to 548,000 square feet and added a 50,000-square-foot ballroom, 35,000 square feet of meeting space, a 5,000-seat lecture hall, and a 1,000-space parking garage. Opening late this year is the 1,110-room Hyatt Regency that will serve as the center's headquarters hotel. The 37-story Hyatt will have ballrooms of 30,000 and 15,000 square feet and will be located across the street from a light rail station and just one block from Denver's mile-long pedestrian promenade, the 16th Street Mall. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Five other hotel projects that will bring 1,000 new guest rooms to downtown Denver have been announced since the center's opening. Construction is under way on a Hampton Inn at 18th and Sherman Streets, while a Hilton Garden Inn Hilton Garden Inn is the name of a chain of hotels operated by Hilton Hotels Corporation. Hilton Garden Inns are considered to be upscale, mid-priced hotels that are designed for both business and leisure travelers. The hotel brand is similar to that of the Courtyard by Marriott brand. is planned next door to the center. A 228-room Residence Inn by Marriott Residence Inn by Marriott is a brand of extended stay hotels. The chain was launched in 1977 in Wichita, Kansas by Jack DeBoer, and acquired by Marriott International in 1987. As of April 2005, there were over 450 Residence Inn hotels in the United States, Canada and Mexico. also is under construction, and a 50-story residential high rise that will include a Four Seasons Hotel is planned to get under way by year's end. The Denver Athletic Club also plans to add a hotel in a future development. Denver's largest current hotel, the 1,225-room Adam's Mark, is also undertaking a major renovation. The hotel offers 133,000 square feet of meeting space. Denver is also experiencing two other major infrastructure projects--a $91 million expansion of the Denver Art Museum The Denver Art Museum is an art museum in Denver, Colorado located in Denver's Civic Center. It is known for its collection of American Indian art, and has a comprehensive collection numbering more than 55,000 works from across the world. that will double its size by 2006 and the $75 million restoration of the Denver Auditorium Theater that will serve as the cornerstone of the Denver Performing Arts Complex Coordinates: The Denver Performing Arts Complex (sometimes referred to locally as "The Plex" or simply, "Denver Center") located in Denver, Colorado, is the second largest performing arts center in the world after New York City's Lincoln Center, and . VAIL Vail's luxury resort offerings have further improved with recent upgrades to several properties. The Vail Cascade Resort and Spa completed a four-year, $20 million make-over in late 2004 that included refurbishing its 292 guest rooms and conference space. It also added a restaurant and spa. The "ski-in" Beaver Creek Lodge recently completed a major renovation. The 72-suite property offers 5,000 square feet of meeting space and a newly remodeled fitness center. Other resorts that have upgraded recently include the Vail Racquet Club, Montaneros, Vail Mountain Lodge and Spa, and Lifthouse Condominiums. The old Tivoli Lodge was demolished last summer, and a luxury new 61-room hotel is scheduled to open at the site this summer. Vail Resorts is planning to redevelop the ski mountain's base area in Vail Village and Lionshead pedestrian village as part of its Vail's New Dawn plan, a multiyear redevelopment project. An upscale hotel, retail space, and restaurants are planned for the project, which is scheduled to begin this summer. Vail city officials also are moving forward with design plans for the Vail Conference Center. Construction on the new center could begin this spring. Daily nonstop jet service will begin this June on United between Chicago and the Vail/Eagle County Regional Airport. American Airlines also offers direct service to Dallas from Vail. IDAHO BOISE Boise's high desert climate in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains means moderate temperatures and low humidity combined with a world of choice in outdoor activities. Within one hour's drive from downtown are mountains, rivers, lakes, and desert. Boise's 25-mile Greenbelt path system also connects five major parks. There's plenty of choice in town, too, with a vibrant and culturally diverse downtown and surrounding area that is home to several Fortune 500 companies along with many boutiques, quality restaurants, pubs, farmer's markets, and outdoor concert venues. Idaho's capital city has much to offer to groups, starting with a recently expanded airport that's only a few miles from downtown. America West began offering nonstop jet service between Boise and Las Vegas in late 2004, bringing the number of cities connected to Boise via nonstop service to more than 20. Boise Airport's new 361,470-square-foot terminal includes a conference center, expanded baggage claim area, and expansive new ticketing on the second floor. For conventions, there's the Boise Centre on the Grove located downtown with more than 50,000 square feet of function space including a 25,000-square-foot ballroom and a 322-seat auditorium. The facility is adjacent to Grove Plaza, an outdoor events area. Also located at Grove Plaza is the 5,000-seat Bank of America
Bank of America (NYSE: BAC TYO: 8648 ) is the largest commercial bank in the United States in terms of deposits, and the largest company of its kind in the world. Centre, which includes banquet facilities for up to 500 people in its Grand Ballroom and 36 private suites. More than 600 first-class hotel rooms are within walking distance of the center, and more than 4,000 guest rooms are available citywide. NEVADA LAS VEGAS The pace of new development in Las Vegas continues to be astounding a·stound tr.v. a·stound·ed, a·stound·ing, a·stounds To astonish and bewilder. See Synonyms at surprise. [From Middle English astoned, past participle of astonen, , with spectacular new facilities that just opened and more on the horizon. The $2.5 billion Wynn Las Vegas Resort opened last month on the former Desert Inn site. The megaresort features 2,701 guest rooms, 18 restaurants, a spa with 45 treatment rooms, a championship golf course, and more than 200,000 square feet of meeting space. Among the meeting space are ballrooms of 50,197 and 25,389 square feet. This month, the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino completes its $80 million upgrade that includes 60,000 square feet of exhibit space to complement its existing 100,000 square feet. The Rio, which has 2,500 guest suites, also created a new entrance and renovated the lobby, front desk, and lounges. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The 548-room Renaissance Las Vegas opened in December with 20,000 square feet of meeting space on Paradise Road just off the Strip. It is a nongaming property. The Flamingo also recently opened a new 18,000-square-foot, 14-room conference center, bringing its meeting space inventory to 73,000 square feet including the 20,800-square-foot Sunset Ballroom. The Flamingo offers 3,565 guest rooms, two showrooms, eight restaurants, a spa, and three pools. Caesar's Palace will open its new 949-room, 26-story Augustus Tower this summer, bringing total rooms at the Las Vegas landmark to 3,340. The $289 million, all-suite tower will be the centerpiece of a $376 million expansion that includes 86,000 square feet of new convention and meeting facilities that will bring its total meeting space to 240,000 square feet. Last October, the $139 million expansion of the Caesars Palace's Forum Shops debuted with 175,000 square feet of new space. Following on the heels of the Venetian Resort's recent $250 million expansion that included 1,013 additional suites and 150,000 square feet of meeting space, a new "sister" property is under construction and scheduled to open in 2007. The Palazzo Casino Resort will be a 50-floor, all-suite resort with 3,025 guest rooms, a 105,000-square-foot casino, 450,000 square feet of meeting space, and 400,000 square feet of retail and entertainment venues. The Palazzo is adjacent to the Venetian, which now has 4,049 suites and nearly 1.9 million square feet of meeting and exhibit space when combined with the available space at the Sands Expo Center. Included in the space is the 85,000-square-foot Venetian Ballroom. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A $600 million expansion of the Palms Casino Hotel was announced in March. The expansion will include 347 guest rooms, 599 luxury condos, a 2,200-seat showroom, meeting space, and themed party suites in a 40-story tower. Also recently announced was the $1.5 billion Cosmopolitan Resort and Casino that will be located near the Bellagio. The Cosmopolitan will encompass more than 2,400 condo-hotel and hotel rooms, more than 150,000 square feet of event space, a 70,000-square-foot casino, 1,800-seat theater, and 300,000 square feet of retail, restaurant, and entertainment space. It is expected to open by early 2008. Colony Capital recently acquired the Las Vegas Hilton The Las Vegas Hilton is a hotel, casino, and convention center in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is a joint venture between Colony Capital, which owns 60 percent, and New York City-based REIT Whitehall Street Real Estate Funds, which owns the remaining 40 percent. and announced that it will undertake a $70 million upgrade of the property that is located next to the Las Vegas Convention Center The Las Vegas Convention Center is owned and operated by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and is located in Clark County, Nevada. It is one of the largest Convention centers in the world. At the end of 2004, the center had 3. and its 3.2 million square feet of exhibit space. The Hilton offers more than 200,000 square feet of meeting space and 3,174 recently refurbished guest rooms with both wireless and high-speed Internet access. Mandalay Bay continues to enhance its massive complex since opening a 1,122-room, 43-story hotel tower (THEhotel at Mandalay Bay THEhotel is a high-end 43-story 1,117 suite hotel owned and operated by MGM Mirage. It is located on the Las Vegas Strip within the Mandalay Bay complex. While marketed as a separate hotel, THEhotel is an integrated expansion of Mandalay Bay. ) as well as the 1.5 million-square-foot Mandalay Bay Convention Center The Mandalay Bay Convention Center is one of the largest privately owned and operated convention centers in the world. The 1 million square foot facility is owned by MGM Mirage. It is attached to the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino and adjacent to the Mandalay Bay Events Center. in 2003. THEhotel features the $25 million BATHHOUSE spa, 20,000 square feet of meeting space, high-speed Internet access, two new fine dining restaurants, and the newly opened Ivan Kane's Forty Deuce nightclub. Mandalay Bay also recently opened its Mandalay Place retail center with 41 unique shops and restaurants located on a skybridge connecting Mandalay Bay and Luxor. The resort offers 4,342 guest rooms overall and a 12,000-seat events center. The new Las Vegas monorail The Robert N. Broadbent Las Vegas Monorail is a mass transit system located in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. It is owned and operated by the Las Vegas Monorail Company. For tax purposes, the Monorail is registered as a charity, which is allowed under Nevada law since the Monorail system has an attractive stop at the Imperial Palace that features a 25-foot waterfall and 40-foot replica bonsai bonsai (bōn`sī), art of cultivating dwarf trees. Bonsai, developed by the Japanese more than a thousand years ago, is derived from the Chinese practice of growing miniature plants. tree. The Imperial Palace offers 2,700 newly renovated guest rooms, 40,000 square feet of meeting space, and wireless Internet access throughout the facility. Another stop along the monorail monorail, railway system that uses cars that run on a single rail. Typically the rail is run overhead and the cars are either suspended from it or run above it. route is Bally's and its directly connected, sister property, Paris Las Vegas This article is about the Las Vegas hotel. For other uses, see Paris (disambiguation). Paris Las Vegas is a hotel and casino located on the famed Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA , that is owned and operated by Harrah's Entertainment. . Bally's offers 2,814 guest rooms and more than 175,000 square feet of meeting space in 43 self-contained rooms. When combined with the meeting space at the 2,916-room Paris, Bally's can offer planners more than 300,000 square feet of function space. Come 2006, the 2,500-room Aladdin will become the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino Planet Hollywood Las Vegas is a luxury casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip formerly known as The Aladdin. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide is rebranding the hotel as a Sheraton Hotel and will operate the hotel portion of the project. through a $100 million upgrade. The resort will have a completely new facade, 114,000-square-foot casino, and 75,000 square feet of meeting space. RENO Downtown Reno gained another top meeting facility when the Reno Events Center The Reno Events Center is a 7,500-seat multi-purpose arena in Reno, Nevada. It was built in 2005. It will be home to the Reno franchise in the East Coast Hockey League in 2006. Reno Sparks Convention Center opened earlier this year. The $27.5 million, 7,500-seat arena encompasses 55,000 square feet of exhibit space on its floor due to retractable re·tract v. re·tract·ed, re·tract·ing, re·tracts v.tr. 1. To take back; disavow: refused to retract the statement. 2. seating. Its second floor offers almost 5,000 square feet of space in six meeting rooms that can be combined in various configurations. The center is part of a $65 million, two-phase project to develop a special events and convention venue in the heart of downtown Reno. Of course, the recently expanded Reno-Sparks Convention Center already is a major exposition facility with 500,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space. It is within minutes of several large casino resort hotels with ample meeting space of their own. The 1,995-room Reno Hilton has 200,000 square feet of meeting space, while the 1,400-room Nugget Nugget A 15 year Gold FHLMC (Freddie Mac) bond; similar to a Dwarf. Casino Resort features 110,000 square feet of meeting space. Other top properties include the Peppermill Hotel and Casino (1,070 rooms, 40,000 square feet of meeting space), Harrah's Reno (950 rooms, 14,000 square feet of meeting space), and Atlantis Casino Resort
Atlantis Casino Resort Spa is a hotel and casino in Reno, Nevada. It is currently owned by Monarch Casino and Resort, Inc. (1,000 rooms, 24,000 square feet of meeting space). [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Overall, Reno offers 20,000 hotel guest rooms, and several other top resorts are just 38 miles away in the spectacular Lake Tahoe region. NEW MEXICO ALBUQUERQUE Albuquerque began celebrating its 300th birthday in April, making it only the 22nd U.S. city to claim a Tricentennial tri·cen·ten·ni·al adj. Tercentenary. n. A tercentenary event or celebration. Adj. 1. tricentennial - of or relating to or completing a period of 300 years tricentenary . The city's meetings industry appears to be in a festive mood as well as several new projects are under way or recently completed. The Albuquerque Convention Center began a $6 million renovation last fail that is adding free wireless Internet hot zones throughout the public spaces; upgrading other information technology to include a fiber-optic backbone and category 5 cabling to the exhibit halls, lobbies, and all meeting rooms; installing new LCD information kiosks; adding a business center; and other improvements that will be completed by year's end. The center features 167,562 square feet of exhibit space including a clear span of 106,200 feet. The facility also includes 27 meeting rooms, a 31,000-square-foot ballroom, and a 2,350-seat auditorium. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In April, a 260-room Embassy Suites opened in downtown with 20,000 square feet of meeting space. The former Holiday Inn Mountain View also became the MCM (MultiChip Module or MicroChip Module) A chip package that contains several bare chips mounted close together on a substrate (base) of some kind. Elegante Hotel and Event Center in March. The 342-room hotel with 7,400 square feet of meeting space underwent a multimillion-dollar upgrade. The former Wyndham Garden Inn completed a $1.5 million renovation in April that transformed it into the Nativo Lodge. The 150-room Nativo, which blends New Mexico's Pueblo style and colors with contemporary furniture, offers 7,000 square feet of meeting space. Off-site event options keep increasing in Albuquerque with recent developments. In September, the National Hispanic Cultural Center The National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico is an establishment for preserving and promoting the culture of the Spanish-speaking world. The NHCC is located in the South Valley of Albuquerque, just south of downtown on Avenida César Chávez and 4th St. opened the new Roy E. Disney Roy Edward Disney, KCSG, (born January 10, 1930) was a longtime senior executive for The Walt Disney Company, which his father Roy Oliver Disney and his uncle Walt founded. Center for the Performing Arts, which includes a 691-seat proscenium proscenium In a theatre, the frame or arch separating the stage from the auditorium, through which the action of a play is viewed. In ancient Greek theatres, the proskenion was an area in front of the skene that eventually functioned as the stage. theater, a 288-seat theater, and a smaller facility. The $15 million New Mexico Veteran's Memorial continues to expand to become one of the largest military memorial facilities in the nation. Nearing completion, the 25-acre facility has a catering kitchen, indoor function space for 150 people, and an outdoor amphitheater in the garden area. OREGON PORTLAND Getting around always has been easy in pedestrian-friendly Portland. New public transportation projects have made it even easier. The city's 38-mile MAX light rail system recently debuted a $350 million expansion that links Portland's exposition facilities with its airport and top hotels. The Portland Streetcar line also completed an $18.5 million extension that now reaches the popular RiverPlace Marina District. Among the restaurants, hotels, shops, and galleries located in the area is RiverPlace Hotel, which completed a $4 million renovation in late 2004. The upscale hotel features 39 guest rooms and spacious suites as well as meeting space that can accommodate up to 200 people. Other projects are adding to Portland's fascinating collection of meeting space and hotel facilities. Following a $45 million expansion in 2000, the Portland Art Museum The Portland Art Museum (PAM) in Portland, Oregon, United States, was founded in the last days of 1892, making it the oldest art museum in the Pacific Northwest. Upon completion of the most recent renovations, Portland Art Museum became one of the twenty-five largest art museums in is now in the midst of a $34 million historical restoration to be completed this fall. The project will create 27,000 square feet of additional gallery space and restore three historic ballrooms available to private groups. The Oregon Historical Society The Oregon Historical Society (OHS) is an organization that encourages and promotes the study and understanding of the history of the Oregon Country, within the broader context of U.S. history. also recently completed a project that created elegant new event space. More facilities with a historic twist involve the redevelopment of Portland's old U.S. Custom House into an upscale boutique hotel. Plans are to transform the Custom House, built in 1901, into an 82-room hotel with elegant staircases, unique woodwork, and vaulted ceilings. In other recent hotel news, the former Doubletree Hotel-Jantzen Beach on Portland's Hayden Island has become a Red Lion Hotel. The 318-room property with 34,000 square feet of meeting space will be renovated. The biggest news in recent years involved the 2003 expansion of The Oregon Convention Center The Oregon Convention Center is a convention center in Portland, Oregon. It is located on the east side of the Willamette River in the Lloyd District neighborhood. The Oregon Convention Center is best known for the twin spire towers which provide light into the building's interior. . The 407,500-square-foot, $116 million project created the largest exposition facility in the Pacific Northwest with 255,000 square feet of exhibit space, a new 34,400-square-foot Portland Grand Ballroom, the 25,200-square-foot Oregon Ballroom, and 52,000 square feet of meeting space. UTAH Utah, state, United States Utah (y  `tä'), Rocky Mt. state of the W United States.
SALT LAKE CITY Work is under way on an expansion of the Salt Palace Convention Center that will enlarge the facility by 40 percent. Scheduled for completion by July 2006, the Salt Palace expansion project will add 145,000 square feet of exhibit space and 72,000 square feet of meeting space. Upon expansion, the Salt Palace will offer 685,000 square feet of exhibit, meeting, and ballroom space. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A fiber-optic backbone runs through the center, which was one of the first exposition facilities in the country to offer a wireless environment for convention delegates. Salt Lake City's hotel and retail communities are expanding as well. Just three blocks southwest of the Salt Palace, the Rio Grande Plaza will open in late 2005 with a new Hilton Homewood Suites hotel. Across the street from the convention center, two major shopping centers are in the midst of a $500 million redevelopment project scheduled for completion in late 2006. The first phase of a new aquarium also opened last year just three blocks west of the center. The entire 70,000-square-foot Living Planet Aquarium will open in 2007. A new children's museum is scheduled for completion in 2006 as well. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Convenience is a key reason why the Salt Palace has been a popular host of major events. It is within walking distance of 7,125 hotel rooms and 90 restaurants that are part of Salt Lake City's thriving downtown, which includes the new $300 million Gateway shopping and entertainment district just one block west of the center expansion. WASHINGTON SEATTLE One has to look no further than Seattle to witness the rebound of the hospitality industry. More than a dozen proposals for new hotels are under consideration or construction including luxury properties that are certain to be popular for meetings. The $100 million Four Seasons Hotel Seattle is under construction overlooking Puget Sound near Pike Place Market Pike Place Market is a public market overlooking the Elliott Bay waterfront in Seattle, Washington, United States. The Market, which opened August 17, 1907, is one of the oldest continually-operated public farmer's markets in the country. . The elegant hotel, scheduled to open in 2007, will feature 150 guest rooms, 40 private residences, and a main ballroom that will showcase water views with floor-to-ceiling windows. Another upscale hotel under construction is the 160-room Pan Pacific Hotel, scheduled to open by August 2006 as part of a 550,000-square-foot complex that will include restaurants, condos, and retail shops. The 120-room Hotel 1000 also is under construction in the former Warshal's Sporting Goods site on First Avenue. Other plans announced recently include a 400-room expansion of the Sheraton and a 343-room hotel at Eighth Avenue and Olive Street that would be part of a high-rise tower with 170 condominiums. The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's $2.4 billion expansion is certain to bring a lot more visitors to the new Seattle hotels. This month, the airport's Central Terminal expansion opens with a glass-enclosed courtyard and more than a dozen new eateries. Last summer, a new and expanded 14-gate Concourse A and adjoining new South Arrivals Hall opened. The entire project is scheduled for completion in 2010 and will include construction of a third runway, enhanced transportation system, new terminals, enhanced security, and additional curbside baggage check-in locations. SPOKANE In the heart of the inland Northwest, Spokane offers an abundance of attractions, activities, and amenities to convention delegates. In the heart of downtown, surrounded by 100 acres of green space, is the Spokane Convention Center. Currently being expanded, the center will soon feature a 100,000-square-foot, column-free exhibit hall. Scheduled for completion in fall 2006, it will be one of the few "green" convention centers nationwide. By 2007, a new 25,915-square-foot ballroom, a 2,700-seat theater, and more than 57,000 square feet of newly renovated meeting space will be available. |
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