News from Unique Venues-ideas-info for the meetings industry

Susan Xioufaridou, Purdue University Conference Division Earns CMP

michele@uniquevenues.com (Michele Nichols) — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 MST

The Convention Industry Council (CIC) and Purdue University Conference Division are proud to announce that Susan Xioufaridou, sales coordinator, has earned the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation. This prestigious credential is recognized throughout the meetings, conventions, and exhibitions industry and demonstrates Susan's expertise in meeting management. Susan was among 393 professionals worldwide who passed the certification examination held February 2, 2008.

The CMP designation, established in 1985, was designed to increase the professionalism of meeting managers in all sectors of the industry; recognize and raise industry standards; and increase the value of these practitioners to their employers and individuals to whom their services are provided. Currently, over 13,000 meeting professionals in 35 countries and territories across the globe have earned the CMP credential.

Obtaining the CMP designation is a two-part process consisting of an application and a written examination, administered and monitored by an independent testing agency. Eligibility to take the examination is based on an extensive review of professional qualifications - candidates must have at least three years of employment in the meetings industry, and demonstrate responsibility and accountability for successful meetings. The comprehensive written examination tests knowledge of all functions of meeting management.

Keith Sexton-Patrick, CMP, director of Convention Services at Mohegan Sun and chair of the CMP board, commends the newest class of CMPs "for demonstrating high standards of proficiency in meeting management, which is not only a milestone in each individual's professional development, but proof of the individual's commitment to promoting the growth of the industry."

Young Life's Colorado Properties Join Unique Venues

michele@uniquevenues.com (Michele Nichols) — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 MST

Three Young Life properties located in Colorado have joined UniqueVenues.com to spread the word they are available for retreat and conference use during the non-summer months.

Young Life's national resort-quality properties are renowned for their exceptional facilities and service, and host over 40,000 kids across the country every summer. What most people don't know is that Young Life makes their facilities available to non-profit, 501(c)(3) organizations during the rest of the year.

"We weren't aware that Young Life made their properties available to groups outside of their own organization. We were richly blessed, and only hope we have the privilege of another opportunity to recreate and renew at their wonderful facilities," said a recent guest following a retreat at one of Young Life's twenty-one national properties.

Three properties, Trail West and Frontier Ranch, in Buena Vista, Colorado, and Crooked Creek Ranch, in Fraser, Colorado, chose UniqueVenues over other online directory options to promote their properties, because "UniqueVenues showed an aptitude for online marketing that was a notch above other directory options," according to Young Life's Colorado Marketing Manager, Brian Phillips.

By joining UniqueVenues.com, Young Life hopes to communicate the message to meeting planners that "We're not just for Young Life groups, we're not just a summer camp and we're certainly not your typical camp property," Phillips says. He adds they like to refer to their properties as resorts for teens. "But, they're such high caliber facilities that even adults are surprised by the level of service and quality they find the minute they step foot on one of our properties."

Incorporated in 1941, Young Life is an international, Christian outreach ministry to teens in more than 50 countries - utilizing over 20,000 staff and volunteers to express the love of Christ through relationships with young people.

AMA Opens State-of-the-Art Executive Conference Center in Washington, DC

michele@uniquevenues.com (Michele Nichols) — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 MST

American Management Association (AMA) has opened a brand new state-of-the-art Washington, DC area Executive Conference Center in the heart of Crystal City. The 18,000 square-foot facility is located at 2345 Crystal Drive in Arlington, VA. Situated within one mile of Reagan National Airport, the Center is just three blocks from the Crystal City METRO (Washington's commuter transport system).

The Center features 9 meeting rooms, a conference room and 3 break-out rooms and accommodates meetings for 5 to 90 people. There are ergonomically designed conference chairs, indirect lighting, comfortable lounges, continuous beverage bars. PC terminals for easy internet access, as well as a bookstore. Meeting rooms offer built-in projection equipment and sound systems. Hi-tech room provides multiple projectors, interactive whiteboards, walk & talk podium and options for wireless note-taking.

With other facilities located in Atlanta, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco, AMA Conference Centers are the right solution when your meeting needs exceed your own office space. To contact the Center directly, call (571) 481-2200 or visit www.amanet.org/meetings.

University of New England Breaks Ground on Pharmacy Studies and Research Facility

michele@uniquevenues.com (Michele Nichols) — Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 MST

The University of New England celebrated the groundbreaking for its new College of Pharmacy building at a ceremony held on April 30, 2008 on the University's Westbrook College Campus in Portland.

The College of Pharmacy building is UNE's first "Green" building registered for LEED certification, and the first modern building in the state dedicated exclusively to pharmacy education and research.

The new $12.3 million, 48,000-square-foot College of Pharmacy building will be completed in the summer of 2009 and will house rooms for pharmacy practice, sterile products and pharmaceutics labs, a drug information center, classrooms and offices for faculty and administration.

In addition, the research floor, with over 10,000 square feet of assignable space, has been designed to accommodate six principal investigators with laboratory and core equipment space. Designed by Port City Architecture and built by Allied/Cook Construction, both of Portland, the building is registered for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Purdue's Urban Market Named a Top Collegiate Convenience Store

michele@uniquevenues.com (Michele Nichols) — Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 MST

The National Association of College and University Food Services has named Purdue University's Urban Market one of the top on-campus convenience stores in the nation.

The honorable mention "Best in the Business" winner will be featured in the May biennial issue of the association's Campus Dining magazine.

Urban Market, located in Purdue Memorial Union's newly created Union Commons, was cited for the variety of its food service. A hot food counter serves healthy and organic foods such as turkey meatloaf with a hint of cranberry and polenta with wild mushrooms and marinated and grilled portabellas. The Grab & Go cold food service includes sandwiches and salads - many vegetarian or organic - such as Thai veggie wrap with a peanut Thai sauce and Urban Harvest Salad, a mixture of grapes, apples, walnuts, blue cheese and banana chips. Loops, a neon-and-chrome laced lunch counter, serves 30 hot and cold cereals with a variety of toppings all day long.

For student convenience, all prepared foods are available for dine-in or carry out. The grocery section includes a variety of natural energy snacks, upscale snack food and microwavable meals.

Gary C. Goldberg, director of dining services for Purdue Memorial Union, said daily sales at the market approach $2,300.

"The sundries and wellness products also have been popular with all of our customers, but perhaps, most particularly, with guests at the Union Club Hotel," Goldberg said. "We've created a niche market that serves a wide demographic."

The 1,800-square-foot Urban Market occupies a space that served for 25 years as a dining room designed to resemble a 19th-century rural train station. The store now features the motifs of a modern subway station, including black and white tile, bright lighting and neon signage.

The Urban Market is part of the $7 million Union Commons complex of quick-service restaurants that opened in fall 2007. Venues such as Lemongrass, La Salsa, Flatbreads, Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen and Zia Juice feature an array of international and healthy foods.

The University of South Carolina Wins Outstanding Institutional Achievement Award

michele@uniquevenues.com (Michele Nichols) — Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 MST

The University of South Carolina has been honored with the Outstanding Institutional Achievement Award from the Association of Collegiate Conference and Events Directors-International (ACCED-I).

The award recognizes a highly successful, significant campus-wide effort by an institution in the conference and events field.

The university's Office of Academic Enrichment and Conferences (AE&C), earned the honor for its coordination of the 2007 College Democrats of America (CDA) Convention last July. That event drew 527 delegates representing 41 states, four countries and 192 colleges and universities and was covered by reporters from around the world. Among the speakers were Democratic presidential candidates Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards. Also attending were prominent party leaders, including U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn; Alice Germond, secretary of the Democratic National Committee; S.C. Rep. Bakari Sellers; and the Rev. Romal Tune.

The Association of Collegiate Conference and Events Directors-International has a membership of more than 1,500 professionals at educational institutions in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

MIT Endicott House Introduces Several Unique Programs

michele@uniquevenues.com (Michele Nichols) — Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 MST

The MIT Endicott House, located in Dedham, MA, an exceptional mansion style conference center, has developed Themed Weekend mini-sabbaticals. Themes such as "Chef for a Day", where the group creates a meal through hands-on training and demonstrations led by the Executive Chef, Ed Cerrato. "Gardeners Paradise" will teach you how to enhance your garden and discover unique plants using techniques from the horticultural staff. These weekends include gourmet lunch and dinner and overnight accomodations, coupled with Sunday brunch.

In addition, MIT Endicott House has newly designed meeting/event enhancements such as cocktails receptions in our greenhouse, culinary demonstrations, and culinary and gardening teambuilding. Call 781-251-6363 for information on these and other exciting new programs.

NCED's Conservation Efforts Recognized by EPA

michele@uniquevenues.com (Michele Nichols) — Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 MST

NCED is one of 250 Marriott Hotels whose conservation efforts have been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

NCED Initiatives:

Guests have the choice of having their bath linens and bed sheets changed daily.

Low flow shower heads and sink aerators

Recycled batteries

Recycled fluorescent bulbs

Recycled cardboard

Recycled white paper

Recycled toner ink cartridges

Recycled kitchen grease

Recycled aerosol cans

Recycled paint waste/solvent waste

Electronic thermostats in all guest rooms with an economy setting which turns the unit off when not in use

On site herb garden

Pre-scheduled turn off of heating and cooling units in unoccupied areas

Lighting timers set to 30 minutes in closets and store rooms

Alarms on walk-in doors to alert when door has been left open too long

Ozone system is utilized in Laundry

The EPA also presented Marriott with its 2007 Energy Star® Sustained Excellence Award and has named the company "Partner of the Year" since 2004.

Marriott, an Energy Star® partner since 2004, has embarked on an ambitious, company wide mission to improve the environment and control costs in partnership with its hotel owners and franchisees. As a part of the program, all hotels receive the company's energy conservation program training.

Additional environmentally friendly Marriott initiatives:

Group "Re-Lamp" campaign, which replaced 450,000 light bulbs with fluorescent lighting in 2006, saved 65 percent on overall lighting costs and energy usage in guest rooms;

Linen Reuse Program, a nationwide effort to encourage guests to reuse linens and towels during their hotel stay, saved 11 to 17 percent on hot water and sewer bills involved in laundering operations at each hotel;

Marriott's smoke-free policy in all U.S. hotels announced last year, improves indoor air quality and will result in a 30 percent reduction in energy use for air treatment systems;

Marriott's "Ozone Activated Laundry" and "Formula One Systems" can save up to 25 percent in energy used in laundry systems;

Replacement of 4,500 outdoor signs with LED and fiber optic technology yielding a 40 percent reduction in outdoor advertising use in its first year;

Installation of 400,000 new shower heads which reduces hot water usage by 10 percent each year; and

Appointed environmental stewards - Directors of Energy and an architect certified by the U.S. Green Building Council for Leadership in E

Maggiano's Little Italy Chicago Wins Wedding Reception Site Award

michele@uniquevenues.com (Michele Nichols) — Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 MST

Maggiano's Little Italy Restaurant located at 516 N. Clark Street in downtown Chicago has won The Knot's Best of Wedding Reception Site Award.

Maggiano's is a Southern Italian restaurant in Chicago's River North area featuring Family Style Dining. The restaurant features ten private dining rooms and can accommodate parties from 15 to 450. Maggiano's Wine Cellar has the feel of post WWII Little Italy while the space at 111 W. Grand feels like an old mansion. Maggiano's is ideal for all types of business events and meetings as well as any social occasions, especially weddings!

Two Dates Announced for Exclusive Event Planner Ship Tour & Luncheons

michele@uniquevenues.com (Michele Nichols) — Fri, 02 May 2008 00:00:00 MST

CruisesOnly and Unique Venues are pleased to announce two exclusive site inspection opportunities that feature cruise ships as venues. Royal Caribbean Cruises and Carnival Cruise lines ships have been selected to host these events aboard ships while docked at Cape Liberty, New Jersey and the Port of New York and respectively.

Designed for corporate and leisure group event planners with true business opportunities, these Event Planner Ship Tour & Luncheons are designed to showcase the many features and benefits of choosing a cruise ship as a group venue versus a land-based hotel.

"Come see how these cruise ships offer tremendous value and superior satisfaction," offers Breton Applebaum, Director of New Business Development for CruisesOnly. "Imagine combining exact cost controls and endless creative choices. Meetings, incentives, and association trips come alive at sea!"

Escorted by CruisesOnly and cruise line experts throughout the afternoon visit, a full agenda is planned to deliver three essential experiences. First, attendees take a guided walking tour and perform an inspection of guest accommodations, meeting space and public areas. Next, two informative presentations provide details of how to plan the most successful group events aboard a cruise ship. After receiving handout materials and participating in an open Q&A session, event planners will be treated to a sit down luncheon in one of the onboard restaurants for a wonderful dining experience.

On Thursday, May 22nd, Royal Caribbean Cruises Explorer of the Seas hosts the first of two Event Planner Ship Tour & Luncheons while docked at the Port of New York. On Monday, June 2nd, Carnival Cruise Lines Miracle hosts while docked at Cape Liberty, which is located in Bayonne, New Jersey. The function is expected to begin with a meet and greet at approximately 10:30 am at the port and end at approximately 2:30 pm.

Event planners located in the tri-state area as well as from surrounding states including Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New England are invited to submit a reservation request. CruisesOnly will issue confirmations to qualifying event planners and collect the nominal fee to reserve a spot on a tour.

To be on a priority waitlist, event planners are invited to contact Breton Applebaum, CruisesOnly Director of New Business Development, at bapplebaum@NLG.com. He can also be reached by phone at (800) 244-7447 x30019. CruisesOnly officially begins accepting reservation request

Score Big With Your Next Reception at FedExField

michele@uniquevenues.com (Michele Nichols) — Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 MST

Imagine having your client or employees running out through an inflated Washington Redskins' football helmet onto a National Football League field. The scoreboard is flashing a big "Welcome" as they start their flag football game. Meeting football greats, stepping onto the same Bermuda grass that has borne the cleats of everyone's favorite NFL players at one time or another, how could such an experience be anything but memorable?

One phone call can make that happen at FedExField - Home of the Washington Redskins. Most meeting planners within the Washington, D.C. area don't realize that with the exception of home-game days, FedExField has event spaces available for 50 to 5,000 participants year-round.

The glass enclosed club-level - a spacious atrium that circles the entire field - is perfect for trade shows and fundraiser galas. The exclusive Owner's clubs, overlooking the playing field, can host much smaller groups in more intimate comfort and style with the finest leather furniture and oak décor; a perfect fit for corporate events, meetings, client receptions and holiday parties. FedExField parking lots are available for outdoor events such as automobile ride and drives and car shows.

"Walking into these spaces that they would never have access to otherwise," Kristen Gardner, Vice President of Special Events, pointed out, "It's different and it's a huge draw. People are excited about coming here."

Special options include a flag-football package that features an after-game reception in the Owner's club, special tours of the Redskins' locker rooms and playing field, even special appearances of Redskins' cheerleaders and alumni players can be coordinated.

Thousands of on-site parking spots are free of charge. The stadium is located right off the capital beltway, just eight miles from Washington, D.C.

Event resources at FedExField include wireless Internet access, sophisticated audio-visual equipment, large plasma-screen monitors and the aforementioned stadium scoreboards.

When looking for your unique venue, consider that FedExField can provide excitement along with the facilities you need to ensure an event that's both successful and memorable.

Denver's Seawell Grand Ballroom is a Space with Dramatic Flair

michele@uniquevenues.com (Michele Nichols) — Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 MST

Everything about the Donald R. Seawell Grand Ballroom is dramatic. Everything.

From its 20-foot-high windows, providing a panoramic view of the majestic Rocky Mountains, to its ceiling-canopy of "fiber stars," which hide a sophisticated superstructure of theatrical lights and suspension beams, the Seawell Ballroom performs with panache for audiences ranging from 100 to 1,000.

The facilities manager, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, could hardly operate it in any other fashion. In addition to the ballroom, the DCPA operates four theater spaces within the Denver Performing Arts Complex.

"We are a theater company, so we approach the ballroom theatrically," explained Susan Hennessy, DCPA's director of event services.

The event staff goes well beyond setting up tables, arranging for centerpieces and insuring the correct podium is in place. They use 200 theatrical lights, including "pin-spotting," the fiber-optic stars, fabric panels and guest placement to create the right setting, colors and emotional effects.

Through the use of such resources, they can make the ballroom just right for a small group or 1,000 people. Lighting can create an intimate setting for dinner then a disco for after-dinner dancing.

Projectors, screens, and fabric panels can be placed anywhere within the ballroom, while objects of up to 4,000 pounds can be suspended. The facility's advanced technology is supported by Cat 6-wired networks.

The DCPA event staff offers what it calls "a turnkey operation" - planners would call it a one-stop shop - where all the client's needs are fulfilled by vendors obtained and coordinated by the event staff.

Meeting participants find themselves in downtown Denver, there are eight floors of parking, and they can enjoy on-site pre- and post-event entertainment, such as a back-stage tour beforehand and group tickets to a major Broadway road show afterward.

This August, the ballroom will be a host venue for the Democratic National Convention. And if the race for the presidential nomination remains as close as it has been in recent months, the Donald R. Seawell Grand Ballroom will be a suitable stage for the drama's final scenes.