San Jose, CAMayor Chuck Reed and San Jose's city council last month approved an agreement to extend the management contract of several of the city's group venues to Team San Jose. The five-year extension includes such facilities as the McEnery Convention Center, the Center for Performing Arts, and the historic California Theatre.
Team San Jose employs a unique organizational model that consists not only of the San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau but also the local hotel, arts, and labor communities, as well as food and beverage partner Centerplate.
The city has gotten good reviews from meeting planners who have experienced the one-stop-shop approach that Team San Jose provides. A 67-percent increase in group and visitor revenues backs up the customer service reviews, according to statistics provided by the CVB.
But the management contract does not come without stipulations. The mayor and city council directed Team San Jose to create better performance measures to evaluate the impact of tourism on the community based on hotel room nights and visitor spending, and to create benchmarking opportunities to compare San Jose to competing cities. Also included in the contract are specific performance targets designed to increase the number of concerts at the Civic Auditorium.
West Hollywood's Bureau Adopts Eco-Friendly Measures Following City's Green Moves
West Hollywood, CAIn line with the city's recent push toward green buildings and sustainable workplaces, the West Hollywood Marketing & Visitors Bureau (WHMVB) is revamping some key practices. The bureau is partnering with Cultivate Communications to print all of its collateral with food-grade inks and earth-friendly paper. The organization is moving its press kits to digital versions (print versions will also be available), and recycling programs have been instituted.
WHMVB's green activities come on the heels of the city's Green Building Ordinance, which applies to all future residential and commercial projects in the city and creates a points system for new construction, with incentives for projects that achieve "exemplary" green status.
This could be good news for planners looking for environmentally conscious meetings destinations.
The city is investing in new parks, food waste recycling, and hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles, and it is joining the California Climate Action Registry to monitor greenhouse gas emissions.
Mooney Rises in Phoenix
PhoenixEarlier this month, Mike Mooney was promoted to chief operating officer of the Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau. Mooney has served the tourism industry for 20 years10 with the Phoenix organization. He has held many key positions there, including director of finance and administration, VP of finance and administration, and chief financial officer. Mooney is also a member of Destination Marketing Association International.
Golden Opportunities In Westchester County
White Plains, NYPlanners looking at Westchester meetings venues in
2008 have a new help tool. The Westchester County Office of Tourism has produced a new "Golden Apple" calendar, with special dates and rates at some of the area's top meetings and special events venues. New this year is a DVD presentation targeted to meeting planners and visitors that gives a closer look at attractions, events, and activities.
"This year's calendar is an important tool to help market Westchester
County for group travel and meetings," said Kim Sinistore, director of the Westchester County Office of Tourism. To get a free copy of the calendar or the DVD, visit www.westchestertourism.com
Houston Takes Award for 'Easiest City to Work With'
HoustonConferenceDirect, a firm that provides meetings services to more than 800 organizations worldwide, has named Houston the "Easiest City to Work With."
The firm has worked feverishly on Microsoft's World Partners Conference, which will be held in Houston July 2008. Brian Stevens, CEO of ConferenceDirect, said, "This award relates specifically to [the Microsoft event].Houston has invested time and money in getting to know our customer's needs."
The Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau and representatives from the George R. Brown Convention Center accepted the award.
Originally published January 28, 2008