Experience Columbus Launches Radical Campaign (9/5/2008)

COLUMBUS, OHIO—Experience Columbus has launched an unusual new marketing campaign in an unorthodox fashion: by touting what the city doesn’t have to offer.

“We don’t have pyramids in Columbus,” boasted the new slogan, with a picture of a pyramid with an X through it. “But everything you’d want for a meeting is right here in Columbus.” The campaigns features variations on that same theme—a picture of the Eiffel Tower, the Great Wall of China and Mount Everest, all with an X through them.

The idea, said Brian Ross, vice president of sales, at Experience Columbus, is to grab people’s attention through humor.

According to a statement on the Columbus CVB’s Website, “We've turned the table upside down and developed an approach that will promote our gems. After all, that's what it's all about. But first, we'll catch their attention in a nontraditional way.”

To promote this nontraditional campaign, the CVB is using nontraditional means. First, CVB staff invited area bloggers in to hear about the campaign and write their opinions about it, as well as about the city as a destination. The bureau also created a page at Twitter.com to allow people to write reviews and post thoughts about the city. Additionally, the bureau is in the process of creating a YouTube video about its ad campaign, showing the running of the bulls with the tag line, “You can’t run with the bulls in Columbus.”

Gaylord Plans New Resort and Convention Hotel (9/5/2008)

MESA, ARIZ.—Gaylord Entertainment will build a resort and convention hotel here, about 30 miles from downtown Phoenix.

The facility will be built on 100 acres within the 3,200-acre Mesa Proving Grounds.

Specific details regarding the size and budget for the Gaylord project have not been determined. The deal is contingent on future negotiation of entitlements and incentives and final approval by the firm’s board of directors.

According to the company’s research of major meetings markets, the Phoenix metropolitan market was rated a top choice destination by meeting planners.

Renovation Plans for Connecticut Hotel Revealed (9/5/2008)

MADISON, CONN.—Owners have unveiled a plan to revamp the West Wharf Road hotel, tearing down the current structure and replacing it with one four-story building that they said would include more event space and meet federal guidelines.

The hotel construction will take about two years to complete if it is approved. The facility would include larger rooms and more event and banquet space. The facility would also include a mini-spa.

Wyndham Hotel Group CEO Makes Exit (9/5/2008)

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—Wyndham Worldwide announced that Steven A. Rudnitsky, president and CEO of the Wyndham Hotel Group business unit, is leaving the company to pursue other interests. A search for a new CEO for the business is underway.

Cavallo ‘Healing Arts’ Spa Opens (9/4/2008)

SAUSALITO, CALIF.—Cavallo Point–the Lodge at the Golden Gate announced the opening of its Healing Arts Center & Spa.

The facility, located at the northern end of the Golden Gate Bridge, offers guests acupuncture sessions, bamboo body scrubs and sips from its tea bar. The 11,000-square-foot spa is staffed by 16 massage therapists and estheticians, and seven additional healing arts practitioners.

The lodge offers more than 14,000 square feet of adaptable meeting space. Some meeting rooms boast San Francisco Bay views. The facility can accommodate 10 to 300 people.

Clear and Travelocity Business Join Forces (9/4/2008)

NEW YORK—Clear, which operates a service that expedites security screening at airports, and Travelocity Business announced a marketing agreement that offers Clear to Travelocity Business clients.

Clear has established other marketing partnerships, including those with Delta Air Lines and Marriott Hotels.

Clear members are pre-screened and, after application completion, which involves providing iris and fingerprint images, receive a card that allows access to Clear’s security lanes.

Clear security lanes currently operate in airports in Cincinnati, Denver, Indianapolis, Orlando, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C’s Reagan National and Dulles airports, among others.

Clear was recently chosen by Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to operate a program there. Clear’s fast lanes are expected to open this month.

First Phase of Westin Resort Completed (9/4/2008)

CANCUN—The first phase of the Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort opened here, Starwood Vacation Ownership, a division of Starwood Hotel & Resorts Worldwide, announced.

The first phase consists of 78 two-bedroom villas, a reception building, a swimming pool and a gym. Once completed, the resort will have a total of 296 villas.

Loews Hotels Creates New V.P. Position (9/4/2008)

NEW YORK—Anthony Del Gaudio has been promoted to the newly created position of vice president of global distribution with Loews Hotels. Del Gaudio was most recently regional vice president of sales and marketing for the company.

In his new position, Del Gaudio will be responsible for the centralization of all relationships, promotional efforts and inventory and pricing for Loews’ portfolio of 18 hotels and resorts in the U.S. and Canada.

APEX Announces Formation of Standard Review Council (9/3/2008)

ALEXANDRIA, VA.—The Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX), an initiative of the Convention Industry Council, approved the formation of the Standard Review Council (SRC) to analyze past APEX reports. As of Aug. 27, APEX has developed seven accepted practices to create industry standardization and efficiencies between planners and suppliers.

The SRC will be responsible for overseeing the previous work of the seven panels and the new initiatives involving green meetings and exhibit data standards. Volunteers are being sought to work on the SRC and other APEX councils. For details on how to volunteer, visit www.apexsolution.org.

Kings House Hotel Opens on Route 66 (9/3/2008)

FLAGSTAFF, ARIZ.—The retro-style Kings House Hotel opened here, announced Investors Hospitality Management. The renovated hotel is located on historic Route 66.

The 56-room hotel features a variety of green features, and is a little more than a mile away from Flagstaff’s train station and adjacent to the Flagstaff CVB. New complimentary guest room amenities include DVD players, microwaves and refrigerators.

Spa Guest Rooms Debut at Trump Tower Chicago (9/3/2008)

CHICAGO—Trump Tower Chicago unveiled 53 spa guest rooms at The Spa at Trump. The rooms range in size from 600 square feet to 900 square feet.

“[The rooms] provide a truly unique experience for the midweek business traveler, and finally, local residents and weekend visitors have a resort-like venue in downtown Chicago,” said T. Colm O’Callaghan, vice president and managing director for Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago.

Starwood Announces New President of Hotel Group (9/3/2008)

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—Matthew Avril has been promoted to president of Starwood’s Hotel Group, announced Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. Avril succeeds Matt Ouimet, who is leaving the company.

Sergio Rivera, who had been co-heading Starwood Vacation Ownership with Avril, will now have sole management responsibility for this business.

Marriott Opens at New Convention Center (9/2/2008)

RALEIGH, N.C.—The Raleigh Marriott City Center, a 400-room hotel attached to the new 500,000-square-foot Raleigh Convention Center, is up and running.

The 16-story hotel will be the new headquarters for the convention center. The hotel includes 20 suites, a 30,000-square-foot ballroom and more than 15,000 square feet of meeting space. The property boasts another 6,000 square feet of breakout meeting rooms.

New Country Inn & Suites By Carlson Opens in Atlanta (9/2/2008)

ATLANTA—The new 123-room Country Inn & Suites By Carlson Atlanta at Buckhead opened here.

The facility features a meeting room for up to 50 people, an outdoor patio and a business center. The property is located 15 miles south of Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

New Non-Stop Flights from San Francisco to Puerto Vallarta Announced (9/2/2008)

MEXICO CITY—Mexicana Airlines announced new non-stop flights from San Francisco to Puerto Vallarta. The service begins Dec. 3 and will be scheduled four times a week.

The flights will depart San Francisco International Airport on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 11:10 a.m., arriving in Puerto Vallarta at 4:10 p.m. From Puerto Vallarta, the flights depart on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 5:30 p.m., arriving in San Francisco at 7:25 p.m.

New Passport Card in Production (9/2/2008)

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Department of State began production on the new U.S. Passport Card, a wallet-sized document used for re-entry into the U.S. at land border crossings and seaports when arriving from Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico.

Effective June 1, 2009, travelers will be required to present a single document denoting both citizenship and identity when entering the U.S. through land or sea borders. The U.S. Passport Card cannot be used for international air travel.

Information on cost and how to apply for a U.S. Passport Card is available at www.travel.state.gov.

More Gaming in the Motor City (8/29/2008)

DETROIT—The Greektown Casino ‘s expanded gaming area is officially open, offering 600 new slot machines, which brings its total number of slot machines to 3,000.

A 400-room hotel will open at the site in February 2009, as part of efforts to revitalize the financially troubled casino-hotel property.

New Embassy Suites Opening in San Marcos (8/29/2008)

SAN MARCOS, TEXAS—A new Embassy Suites hotel will open here in October. The property, Embassy Suites San Marcos–Hotel, Spa and Conference Center, will feature more than 80,000 square feet of flexible meeting space.

A number of conferences are booked at the 283-suite property for early 2009, including the International Tour Management Institute, the Texas College and University Facilities Conference and the Texas Justice Court Training Center.

Southwest Cutting Flights in 2009 (8/29/2008)

DALLAS—Southwest Airlines will cut its schedule by 190 flights, or about 6 percent, beginning Jan. 11, due of decreased travel demand, according to the carrier.

The changes mostly involve reductions in frequency of flights. The decision comes after the low-fare carrier in July recorded its first drop in monthly passenger traffic since 2004 amid a weakening economy and record fuel prices.

Casino Construction Halted in Buffalo (8/28/2008)

BUFFALO, N.Y.—Seneca Gaming Corp. halted casino-related construction as a result of a nationwide tumble in gambling revenues.

Building has been suspended on the $333 million casino and hotel in Buffalo, as well as the $130 million expansion of the hotel at the Seneca Allegany Hotel and Casino in Salamanca, N.Y. It is not clear if or when construction will continue.