Western update.

Americans have been heading west since the nation began. You don't see many wagon trains anymore, but you do see more and more association executives who have found this part of the country to be the perfect venue for their meetings and conventions. Hotels are being renovated, convention facilities are being expanded, and new airports are being built. Here's just a taste of what you can expect when you bring your next meeting west.

SAN FRANCISCO 

Study on Expansion of Exposition Space

According to Sharon Rooney, director of public relations for the San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau, a feasibility study on whether to build a "Moscone III" is in the works and will be completed this month.

Further expansion of the existing center, according to Rooney, is not feasible because of geographic constraints, meaning that any new exposition space would be at another site.

Arts Center Offers Event Space Across From Moscone

Since opening last October, the Center for the Arts at Yerba Buena Gardens--across the street from the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco--has become a popular venue for special events during association conventions. When not hosting artistic performances, the $44 million arts complex offers its elegant space to visiting groups, with special rates offered to nonprofit organizations.

Historic Sir Francis Drake Hold Reopens

The historic Sir Francis Drake Hotel at San Francisco's Union Square reopened in April after being closed for several months for a complete renovation. The 65-year-old landmark hotel is owned and operated by Kimco Hotel and Restaurant Management Company, which specializes in reviving vintage hotels.

Under the renovation, the 417-room hotel added a new cafe, restaurant, and lobby bar and updated all guest rooms, including honor bars and two-line phones with modem capabilities.

Plan Now to Attend ASAE's Annual Meeting

San Francisco will host ASAE's 74th Annual Meeting & Exposition August 27-30. In addition to more than 100 programs in 18 disciplines of association management, the ASAE meeting will feature three important general sessions that will explore dimensions of change.

The exposition will feature more than 700 booths, all with suppliers devoted to meeting your needs.

San Francisco hospitality will be showcased in several special events such as the Tuesday, August 30, hotel dine-around where delicious, sit-down meals will be served by nine premier hotels. A reception at the San Francisco Hilton will precede the dinners, while a dessert extravaganza at the San Francisco Marriott will top off the evening in style.

LOS ANGELES 

Convention Facilities in Los Angeles Undamaged by January Earthquake

Despite serious damage in some areas of Greater Los Angeles, the city's convention infrastructure emerged primarily intact after the major earthquake that struck on January 17. According to Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau spokesperson Gary Sherwin, the city lost no group business as a result of the earthquake.

"The convention center had only one broken window and all of the downtown hotels are fine," says Sherwin.

Los Angeles CVB Opens Regional Sales Offices in New York, Chicago

The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau in March opened regional sales offices in New York and Chicago for the first time. The two offices are staffed with bureau salespersons who are living in the cities. The New York office is staffed by Susan Sweeney, an associate vice president who has worked for the bureau for four years. Kay Hollander staffs the Chicago office. Hollander recently joined the bureau after serving as senior associate vice president at the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Los Angeles Convention Center Off to a Good Start

Since opening last November, the Los Angeles Convention Center has been drawing great reviews, according to Gary Sherwin.

"A lot of the groups who have been there have reported strong attendance, and we have had some rebookings," he says, adding that the center's first official convention, the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions last November, enjoyed record attendance and has rebooked for 1996.

The Los Angeles Convention Center offers 680,000 square feet of total exhibit space.

SACRAMENTO

Sacramento Convention Center Expansion To Be Complete by Early '95

Sacramento's $80 million convention center expansion will triple the size of the existing facility when completed in early 1995. One of the most enormous municipal undertakings in the city's history, the expanded center will encompass 384,359 square feet when completed.

Major features of the convention center will be a ground-level exhibit hall; an upper-level, hotel-style ballroom; rooftop terrace; 31 convertible meeting rooms; more than 136,000 total square feet of meeting space; and a 2,452-seat performing arts theater.

The center is expected to operate continuously during the expansion and remodeling of the existing facility.

Expanding Convention Center Helps Sacramento Shed a Few Tiers

A $45.8 million Convention Center expansion, set for an early 1995 opening, is expected to boost Sacramento's Destination City status.

One of the most enormous municipal undertakings in the history of California's capital, the expansion project will triple the size of the existing downtown convention center.

The completed 384,359-square-foot facility will feature a ground-level exhibit hall, an upper-level Grand Hotel-style ballroom, rooftop terrace, 31 convertible meeting rooms, more than 136,000 square feet of exhibit space, and a 2,452-seat performing arts theater.

The architectural firms Vitiello Associates of Sacramento and Loschky Marquardt Nesholm of Seattle have designed the eye-catching expansion to take full advantage of the city's natural grace and charm. From beautifully landscaped terraces, guests may enjoy views of the treelined State Capitol Park and the lively K Street pedestrian mall. Fish-eyed windows stretching 160' x 32' will dominate each end of the building. Each of the center's main entrances will be lit by long saber lights that extend 50 feet in the air.

The center will operate continuously during the expansion (and remodeling of the existing facility). In early 1995, events will start to take place in the new portion; within a year from then, the remodel of the older facility will be completed, creating a commercial anchor for the eastern end of Sacramento's downtown mall, and the centerpiece for the city's arts and entertainment district. One million dollars in public art will adorn the new center.

Total price tag: $80 million Total result: spectacular!

PALM SPRINGS

Spa Hotel Reopens

The Spa Hotel Resort and Mineral Springs reopened last December after being closed for a $9 million renovation. The 230-room hotel is on the site where the mineral springs from which Palm Springs received its name flow.

Riviera Resort Undergoes Renovation

During the past 18 months, the Palm Springs Riviera Resort and Racquet Club has undergone a comprehensive, $20 million renovation including new carpet, wallpaper, and furniture; the addition of pool-side suites; and refurbishing of the nine tennis courts.

ANAHEIM

Disneyland Hotel Redecorates Restaurants

The Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim recently redecorated three of its six restaurants' to feature new looks. The hotel's premier dining establishment, Granville's Steak House, added a private dining room that can seat up to 18 people.

Pan Pacific Hotel in Anaheim Undergoes Renovation

The Pan Pacific Hotel is undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation. The 502-room hotel is redesigning the property to incorporate a contemporary decor in its guest rooms, meeting facilities, lobby, restaurant, and pool deck. The renovation will take nearly two years to complete, with the lobby area finished last month and the first phase of the guest room renovations to be completed this month.

Waterfront Hilton Adds Pavilion

The Waterfront Hilton Beach Resort in Huntington Beach added a 6,000-square-foot pavilion last month, featuring French doors, landscaping, and large windows. The resort now offers 20,000 square feet of meeting space.

LAS VEGAS 

Las Vegas Hotel Room Inventory Surpasses 86,000

A new age of family entertainment emerged in Las Vegas late last year when four Las Vegas Strip resort-attractions opened at a cost of more than $2 billion. Las Vegas, which now has more than 86,000 hotel guest rooms, boasts 13 of the 20 largest resort hotels in the world. Three of those 13 tremendous resorts opened late last year--the 5,005-room MGM Grand Hotel and Theme Park, the 2,900-room Treasure Island, and the 2,526-room Luxor.

The MGM Grand is a 112-acre resort hotel, casino, and Hollywood-image theme park that includes the world's largest resort hotel casino, a 33-acre movie lot theme park, and a 15,200-seat arena. Treasure Island is adjacent to the Mirage Hotel and features a 90,000-square-foot casino, an outdoor theater resembling a small bay village and a ship-to-ship cannon battle staged at its entrance. The beautiful Luxor features a full-scale reproduction of King Tut's tomb and a majestic entrance between the paws of a massive sphinx.

The $90 million Grand Slam Canyon also opened in 1993 adjacent to Circus Circus Hotel-Casino as a climate-controlled, indoor amusement park with roller coasters, a water flume ride, and a laser tag arena.

JUNEAU

Juneau Offering New Meeting Planners' Guide, Video

The Juneau Convention and Visitors Bureau will debut an all-new meeting planners' guide to Alaska's capital city next month. The 20-page, four-color guide will feature information about the Centennial Hall Convention Center, meeting hotels and tours, attractions, and services available to meeting planners and delegates. The bureau also now has a 10-minute travel video on Juneau that is designed for the meeting or travel professional who has not yet visited Alaska. Planners can receive the guide and video by calling the bureau at [phone].

GUIDE TOO MEETING SITES IN SAN DIEGO 

"San Diego is the perfect destination," observes Bill Myers, CAE, vice president and convention manager for the American Academy of Family Physicians, Kansas City, Missouri. "It offers all the amenities that one looks for in a convention destination."

"Friendly," "professional," "attentive to detail," "efficient and well organized," "beyond anything I could ask for," "courteous," and "impressive" --these are just a few of the positive comments association executives offer about their meeting experiences in San Diego.

San Diego offers a wide variety of locations and facilities for meetings, large or small; of meetings held in San Diego, 68 percent are national in scope. "We have all the elements: beautiful weather year-round, quality facilities, easy accessibility, and a personable hospitality industry," says Reint Reinders, president and chief executive officer of the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau has recently announced a new marketing slogan, "San Diego--more than a change of scenery." "It more accurately reflects the diversity of what we have to offer the meeting planner and visitors," says Reinders. "San Diego has so much to do, so many varied experiences possible, that we are trying to point out that we have more to do than just about any other destination. It is also more reflective of our collaborative relationships that make San Diego a marvelous community and an destination."

"I am impressed with the hospitality of the people, their knowledge, and how quickly people responded to our meeting needs," says Judy Keel, director of meetings for the Computer Measurement Group.

"We train our people to be friendly and provide them with information that will help them as they serve others," says Donna Alm, communications division manager for the convention center.

Training includes information about each convention being held at the center, as well as the resources and amenities, available to visitors to San Diego. The same kind of care and attention has become a standard meeting planners and their delegates can expect, even with smaller meetings held in area hotels or resorts.

Among the groups that have found San Diego a successful meetings venue are the American Association of Homes for the Aging, the International Society for Optical Engineering, the California Pharmacists Association, the Association of Academic Health Centers, the American Machine Tool Distributors Association, the National Electrical Contractors Association, the American Bankers Association, and the California Women Lawyers.

From the association's perspective, San Diego offers

* convenient accessibility;

* a first-class convention center for large conventions and expositions;

* outstanding hotels and resorts with meeting facilities to accommodate smaller meetings;

* an abundance of dining and entertainment opportunities;

* an array of events, attractions, and cultural activities that provide enjoyment for people of all ages; and

* shopping boutiques and specialty stores.

CONVENTION CENTER

"Serving our clients' needs is important to us," remarks Carol Wallace, executive vice president and general manager of the San Diego Convention Center. "The reception our facility has had among meeting planners has been overwhelming, but we are planning to double our space by 1997, not only to retain current clients with their expanding requirements but also to enlarge our market share."

Along with its expansion, the center is responsible for the operations and marketing of the nearby performing arts center, together known as the San Diego Concourse. "This gives us some additional capabilities to work with the diverse needs of meeting planners," adds Carole Ann Dahle, sales division manager. "Each of these facilities has its own specific characteristics that provide association executives greater flexibility when scheduling their programs."

Convention center characteristics include

* 760,000 square feet of meeting space;

* a main exhibit hall consisting of 254,000 square feet of contiguous space;

* two 40,000-square-foot registration lobbies;

* a 40,000-square-foot ballroom

* a 100,000 square feet of meeting space that can be divided into 32 separate rooms;

* banquet capabilities for 6,000 at a single seating;

* a 100,00-square-foot, column-free, multipurpose area on the upper level, covered by a dramatic roof structure resembling sails;

* six rooftop tennis courts and a pro shop;

* a restaurant reservation booth in the lobby;

* a waterfront amphitheater for 400, along with elegantly landscaped outdoor plaza and terrace areas;

* a business center;

* a nurses station and security staff;

* underground parking for 2,000 cars;

* an audiovisual service center and on-site audiovisual company;

* four show managers' offices; and

* uniformed door attendants at the entrance.

"We looked at what first-class hotels had and decided that those amenities and services should be the attributes we offer meeting planners here," notes Alm.

The San Diego Concourse offers 65,000 square feet of exhibit space, 18 meeting rooms, a 3,000-seat theater, and in-house catering. It is connected to the convention center by a trolley.

Comments Doris Roach, director of exposition management for the International Association of Hospitality Accountants, Austin, Texas, "We found a facility that allowed us to be creative with our meetings, and whose personnel were incredibly supportive."

HOTEL AND RESORT FACILITIES

San Diego is actually many destinations in one. San Diego County is composed of 18 incorporated cities; of which the largest is San Diego. "The city is comfortable and not overwhelming," says CVB President Reinders.

Coronado is one of San Diego's resort pearls: The charm of its tree-lined streets, Victorian homes, California bungalows, historic sites, quaint shops, and bountiful recreation gives Coronado a unique character for a memorable experience. Coronado offers association executives 1,434 first-class sleeping rooms with facilities to accommodate groups up to 1,700 delegates, plus 12 other hotels, motels, and inns. Coronado is easily accessible by car, trolley, or passenger ferry.

Point Loma and Shelter and Harbor Islands provide visitors with a magnificent view of the beauty that Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo first discovered in 1542. Point Loma provides visitors a vantage point for a panoramic view of San Diego Bay, the Pacific Ocean, and adjacent beaches from the Cabrillo National Monument. Shelter and Harbor Islands are the center of San Diego's yachting industry, offering tropical settings overlooking the glittering waters of San Diego Bay as unique meeting venues. Point Loma offers 618 sleeping rooms with facilities to accommodate groups up to 300. Shelter Island offers 560 hotel rooms with facilities to accommodate groups up to 2,000 delegates, and Harbor Island has 1,258 rooms with facilities that can handle groups of up to 1,800 delegates.

South Bay encompasses four communities and serves as a gateway to the Mexican border. Massive shipbuilding yards, the U.S. Naval Base, marinas and launching ramps for small pleasure craft, the ARCO year-round training center for Olympic athletes, and Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge are among the many attractions of the area.

East County is a region of golf and tennis resorts. Forested mountains, lakes, the historic mining town of Julian, the San Diego Railroad Museum, and the largest state park in the country, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, provide visitors with other opportunities when visiting the San Diego area.

Mission Valley and Old Town capture the Spanish heritage of San Diego. Founded in 1769 by Father Junipero Serra, Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala was the birthplace of San Diego. Among its attractions are major shopping centers, sports and entertainment facilities, the University of San Diego, and the historic Old Town. Association executives will find 626 rooms and facilities that can accommodate groups up to 200 in the Old Town area and 4,118 hotel rooms and meeting space for groups up to 3,000 in Mission Valley.

Downtown San Diego is a vibrant mixture of restaurants, neighborhoods, shops, attractions, and hotels. Attractions include the Embarcadero, Seaport Village, Horton Plaza/Gaslamp Quarters, Balboa Park (Starlight Bowl can handle up to 3,000 people), the San Diego Zoo, and the convention center. Nearly 7,369 hotel rooms exist within the downtown area, including meeting facilities for groups of up to 2,700 delegates (excluding the concourse).

Mission Bay contains 4,600 acres of grassy slopes and calm waters and serves as an aquatic park with 27 miles of bayfront (and 17 miles of oceanfront beaches) for those who enjoy watersports, biking, or jogging. Site of Sea World (which handles groups of 1,200) and Belmont Park, there are 1,877 hotel rooms and meeting facilities for up to 1,400.

La Jolla and Golden Triangle make for a beautiful coastal area overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The "golden triangle" is formed by the intersection of three interstate highways and is famous for its upscale shopping, dining, and high-tech businesses. The area is also known for the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, the campus of the University of California San Diego, the Tony Award-winning La Jolla Playhouse, the Torrey Pines State Reserve, and the PGA-recognized Torrey Pines Golf Course. For associations, there are 2,366 hotel rooms and meeting facilities for 1,400.

North County provides a diversity in landscape, from quaint seaside villages to vast open fields and wineries. Del Mar is the site of the famed Del Mar Thoroughbred Club (the Grand Stand can seat 15,000) founded by Bing Crosby in the 1930s. Oceanside is home of the largest of California's 21 missions, Mission San Luis Rey, and gateway to the Marine Base at Camp Pendleton. Carlsbad is known for its golf courses, resorts, and tennis courts. Escondido is home of the San Diego Wild Animal Park. Associations will find 4,108 hotel rooms with meeting facilities for groups of up to 1,300, in a variety of hotel or resort settings.

"The facilities we have used are among the finest in the country," observes JoAnn Macek, executive director of the Specialty Advertising Association of California. "We are a family-oriented association, and when we hold our annual trade show, families enjoy San Diego."

For More Information

San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau 401 "B" St., Suite 1400 San Diego, California 92101-4237 [phone] or Fax [phone] Washington, D.C., office: [phone] Chicago office: [phone]

San Diego Convention Center 111 West Harbor Dr. San Diego, California 92101-7899 [phone] or Fax [phone]

Coronado Visitor Information 1111 Orange Ave., Suite A Coronado, California 92118-2112 [phone] or Fax [phone]

International Visitor Information Center Horton Plaza [phone]

RENO

Peppermill Hotel Casino Expanding in Reno

Reno's Peppermill Hotel Casino will begin work on a 27,000-square-foot casino expansion this spring. As part of the project, a parking garage and 300-room tower will be added to the complex. When the project is completed, the hotel will have 950 rooms.

Eldorado Hotel Casino in Reno Adding All-Suite Tower

The Eldorado Hotel Casino in Reno will break ground this spring on a 10-story, all-suite tower. The 44 deluxe suites are scheduled to open in May 1995 to coincide with the opening of the mega-resort "Project C," Reno's first theme destination resort to be built and run by the Eldorado and Circus Circus Enterprises.

Project C has yet to receive its official name, but work has already started on the 1,700-room, $230 million themed resort. Located in the heart of downtown Reno, Project C will feature a 16th Century Spanish seaport theme.

Reno Hilton Renovates

The Reno Hilton's $86 million renovation is continuing. Work was completed on the hotel rooms and is in progress on the 100,000-square-foot casino floor and restaurant area. Reno Hilton officials are also considering building a new 1,000-room tower.

SALT LAKE CITY

Salt Palace Convention Center Expanding

The Salt Palace Convention Center expansion project is now under construction with a projected completion date of October 1995. The $70 million expansion will add 56,000 square feet of exhibit space, a 36,000-square-foot ballroom, and 54,000 square feet of meeting space. The expansion and renovation project also will add a landmark 100-foot glass and steel cylinder that will mark the grand entrance by illuminating it at night.

Salt Lake International Airport to Have New Runway In 1995

Work is under way on a new $118 million runway at the Salt Lake International Airport. Airport officials project a December 1995 completion date, and they anticipate the new runway will give the airport a 40 percent increase in flight capacity during good weather. The Holiday Inn-Airport recently completed a $2 million renovation of its guest rooms, restaurants, and meetings rooms, including addition of a new boardroom.

Salt Lake City Area Hotels Undergoing Renovations

Several Salt Lake City area hotels and resorts have undertaken major renovation projects recently. The Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort has undergone a $4 million renovation, including erection of a 15,000-square-foot tent for concerts, meetings, and exhibits. The Red Lion Salt Lake will spend $4.5 million renovating its 502 guest rooms.

The Doubletree Hotel recently completed a $2.5 million renovation of its 381 guest rooms, corridors, and the lobby area. The Salt Lake City Marriott spent $3 million during the past two years renovating all guest rooms, redecorating the lobby, and laying new ballroom carpeting. The Little America Hotel and Towers finished upgrading all of its 850 guest rooms in 1993. The Salt Lake Hilton will complete the ongoing renovation of its 351 guest rooms and 36 suites. The Airport Hilton is finishing renovation of all its guest rooms by this summer as well.

DENVER

Denver's International Airport to Open

When Denver's International Airport opens it will be the world's largest airport, encompassing 53 square miles. Located 24 miles from downtown Denver, the $2.7 billion facility will have 11 runways capable of accommodating 110 million passengers per year at ultimate build-out of the airport.

Denver's International Airport will feature an underground automatic train that will link the terminal to the initial 84 gates on three concourses.

Harveys to Open Hotel/Casino in Central City

Harveys Casino Resorts will open a 40,000-square-foot casino and 118-room hotel in Central City, Colorado, 45 minutes from Denver. The project, to be called the Harveys Wagon Wheel Hotel/Casino, is the first Harveys gaming venture outside Nevada. The complex is expected to open in July 1995.

PORTLAND

Oregon Arena To Be Constructed Near Oregon Convention Center 

Construction of the 20,000-seat Oregon Arena is now underway with a projected opening date of October 1995. Set to be the new home of the NBA Portland Trail Blazers, the Oregon Arena also is expected to host big-name entertainment and other special events.

Funded primarily by Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen, the Oregon Arena will also include a mall featuring restaurants, movie theaters, and a large public square. The new arena is juxtaposed to the convention center.

Expansion of Oregon Convention Center Under Study

Feasibility studies are now in progress to analyze expansion of the 500,000-square-foot Oregon Convention Center. The center's business plan proposes the addition of 100,000 square feet of meeting space by 1999, pending the outcome of the feasibility studies and vote approval of a bond measure.

SEATTLE

Seattle Kingdome Exhibition Hall Opens

The Seattle Kingdome opened a 90,747-square-foot exhibition hall in January. This addition brings total trade show space at the Kingdome to 281,147 square feet. The exhibition hall is located at the south side of the stadium.

Washington State Convention Center to Expand

The Washington State Convention and Trade Center, opened in 1988, plans to add another 140,000 square feet of heavy load exhibit space that will bring its total exhibit space to 242,000 square feet. The new space will occupy the top floor of a new five-story building with sky bridges connecting it to the present convention center. Construction is expected to begin in 1996 with completion in 1998.

BOISE

Boise Hotel Index Expands As City Grows

Boise's hotel community is expanding as Idaho's largest city continues to grow at one of the nation's fastest rates. According to Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Bobbie Patterson, Boise's total hotel room inventory will grow by 10-15 percent soon when five hotels currently under construction bring an additional 325-350 rooms to the city.

"Boise is growing incredibly fast, with the second fastest percentage-based growth rate of any city in the nation," says Patterson of Boise, which has a metropolitan population of approximately 200,000. Patterson says that such growth, combined with a solid white-collar corporate base, is spurring hotel growth, especially in the corporate transient market.

PHOENIX

The Pointe Hilton Resorts Undergo Renovations

The Pointe Hilton Resort at Tapatio Cliffs recently completed a $14 million renovation project including new Spanish-Colonial decor in all 584 suites, electronic voice messaging, expanded spa and salon, and expanded concierge and registration areas. The Pointe Hilton Resort on South Mountain also is near completion of a $14 million renovation project.

Scottsdale Conference Resort Completes Expansion

The Scottsdale Conference Resort in March completed construction of its largest, most elaborate, technologically advanced meeting room. The new 10,000-square-foot Grand Coronado features a permanent stage, a 10,000-watt surround sound system, theatrical lighting, a rear projection screen and six custom chandeliers. The resort now offers 50,000 square feet of combined meeting space.

Crescent Hotel in Phoenix Gets $1 Million Refurbishment

The Crescent Hotel in Phoenix is in the midst of a three-phase, $1 million refurbishment project that is adding new soft goods to each of 342 guest rooms, refurbishing all meeting space, and converting a former restaurant into 6,000 square feet of event space.

Phoenix Civic Plaza to Undergo $30 Million Refurbishment

Construction will begin next month on a $30 million modernization and refurbishment of the Phoenix Civic Plaza. Projected to be completed in spring 1995, the upgrade will involve the facility's interior and exterior.

Interior improvements include new carpeting, wall coverings, paint, furnishings, lighting, acoustical panels, signage, and access doors. Significant modifications reflecting the guidelines put forth by the Americans With Disabilities Act are planned as well.

TUCSON

Tucson National Golf and Conference Resort in Midst of Renovation

The Tucson National Golf and Conference Resort recently completed the first phase of a comprehensive, three-phase renovation to the resort. Phase two, to be completed by this fall, will see the addition of two new restaurants, the upgrading and renovation of the resort's 15,000 square feet of meeting space, and major changes to the resort's European-style spa.

Phase three, with a targeted completion date of 1995, will expand the golf course, add new tennis courts and pool, renovate the lobby, and possibly develop homesites on the 150 acres of land surrounding the existing golf course.

WESTERNERS ON THE MOVE

Eugene Dilbeck Named President of Denver CVB

Eugene Dilbeck was named president of the Denver Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau last January. Dilbeck was the director of the divisions of tourism in the states of New Jersey, Texas, and Oklahoma. Dilbeck currently serves as chairman of the American Society of Travel Agents' Tourism Committee and the National Tour Association's Destination Marketing Organization Council.

Western Association Executives Assume Key Roles in ASAE

Western association executives are in key leadership roles at ASAE and the ASAE Foundation. Robert H. Elsner, CAE, is current ASAE chairman and executive vice president and CEO of the California Medical Association. The Southern California native told ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT last year that he hopes his administrative year gets "back to basics" with a bigger focus on education and working more closely with associate members.

George D. Kirkland is the current chair of the ASAE Foundation, and president of the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau. He is overseeing the ASAE Foundation's "Endowing the Future" $5 million capital fund-raising campaign. The campaign is a key component of the foundation's new grant-making role that will fund several important research projects and other activities related to association management. Under Kirkland's leadership, the fund-raising campaign has been highly successful to date.

Yet another western association executive who is making a national impact is Bobbie Patterson, executive director of the Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau. Patterson is chair-elect of the International Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus. Patterson will become chair of IACVB this summer.

For More Information

Alaska

* Juneau CVB: [phone]

Arizona

* Phoenix and Valley of the Sun CVB: [phone]

* Tucson CVB: [phone]

California

* Anaheim Visitors and Convention Bureau: [phone]

* Los Angeles CVB: [phone]

* Palm Springs CVB: [phone]

* Sacramento CVB: [phone]

* San Francisco CVB: [phone]

Colorado

* Denver Metro CVB: [phone]

Idaho

* Boise CVB: [phone]

Nevada

* Las Vegas CVA: [phone]

* Reno and Sparks CVA: [phone]

Oregon

* Portland Oregon Visitors Association: [phone]

Utah

* Salt Lake CVB: [phone]

Washington

* Seattle King County CVB: [phone]