When it comes to meeting destinations, San Diego is among the top choices for planners and event professionals. Cvent’s 2018 ranking of top meeting destinations around the world ranks San Diego as the fourth top spot in the United States.

Cvent, a national meeting software and services company, is the world’s largest platform for sourcing meetings and events. According to their press release, the meetings industry is strong. “More events are being held all over the globe,” according to Cvent which “highlights the overall strength and positive impact the meetings and events industry has worldwide.”

Here is the list of the top 5 cities from the survey:

Orlando, Florida
Las Vegas, Nevada
Chicago, Illinois
San Diego, California
Atlanta, Georgia

“We hear our customers tell us time and time again that San Diego is about the whole package,” said San Diego Convention Center Corporation President and CEO Rip Rippetoe, CVE. “Meeting planners say they choose the San Diego Convention Center because we go above and beyond to provide excellent customer service, plus our city boasts beautiful scenery, perfect weather, world-famous attractions and thousands of hotel rooms, many within walking distance.”

The San Diego Convention Center is a LEED Gold certified venue which also gets high praise from our customers. They want to host meetings at venues that are sustainability leaders. Just this summer, for the first time, the Convention Center’s food and beverage team worked with our long-time customer Esri, whose events team began the effort of “zero plastics” during their meeting. (Read the story here.)

In addition, the San Diego Convention Center just underwent $25 million in infrastructure upgrades, with the most visible improvement being a new LED lighting element in the newly renovated Sails Pavilion, a 90,000 square foot iconic meeting space.

The San Diego Convention Center is a part of a thriving tourism ecosystem and a growing innovation economy. Meeting planners are able to host events here and take advantage of our region’s biotech, life-sciences and technology sectors, as well as our international connections with Mexico,” Rippetoe said. “Even San Diego’s world-famous craft beer culture proves the destination is thriving with opportunity for innovative business ventures.

“The cities featured in this year’s Top Destinations lists have invested significant time, energy, and resources into building premier locations that entice organizations, large and small, to plan meetings and events in their areas,” said Chris McAndrews, Vice President of Marketing for the Cvent Hospitality Cloud. “With meetings representing more than 13 percent of total travel and tourism spending and generating $845 billion in sales in the U.S. alone, they have become a major economic driver for these markets.”

Rankings were determined by a set of qualifying criteria including unique RFPs received, RFPs awarded as well as total room nights and room nights booked.

In fiscal year 2017, the San Diego Convention Center generated $1.1 billion in regional impact and produced a record 844,382 hotel room nights. Hotel and sales tax revenues equaled $25.4 million, and those funds go directly to the city’s general fund to pay for police and firefighter salaries as well as paving of city streets.

Daktronics has partnered with Citizens Business Bank Arena to design, manufacture, and install a new centerhung LED display system inside their venue in Ontario, California, this fall.

“We sent a survey to our ticket buyers, and we review and take seriously all comments from our guests. With our existing centerhung being 10 years old, we made arrangements to bring a new scoreboard to Citizens Business Bank Arena in 2018,” said Michael K. Krouse, President & CEO. “Not only our sporting competitions will be seen with better clarity, but our graduation ceremonies will benefit from this brand-new large LED screen board.”

Four main video displays will create the square-shaped centerhung system. Each main display will measure 11.5 feet high by 21 feet wide to bring larger-than-life imagery to fans in every seat. Connecting the corners of the main displays will be four wedge-shaped displays, each measuring 11.5 feet high by 3 feet wide. Four displays form a ring round the configuration, each measuring 2 feet high by 21 feet wide.

All of these displays feature a tight 6-millimeter line spacing to bring increased resolution and image quality to viewers at every event.

“We have worked with Citizens Business Bank Arena since it opened in 2008, and we’re thankful for the opportunity to continue to partner with them for their upgraded centerhung video display system,” said Robin Hall, Daktronics regional manager. “The fans will benefit from larger displays with LED corners to improve their overall experience. Citizens Business Bank Arena home teams and their partners will have a greater inventory and opportunity for their promotions as well.”

The main displays are capable of variable content zoning allowing each to show one large image or to be divided into multiple zones to show any combination of live video, instant replay, up-to-the-minute statistics, graphics and animations, and sponsorship messages.

The Association of Luxury Suite Directors (ALSD), which covers the premium seat marketplace, has partnered with Soccerex, who have brought together the global soccer (football) industry for over 20 years, connecting the game’s key stakeholders from over 40 countries around the globe.

Bill Dorsey, Chairman and Founder of the 29-year-old ALSD with 1,300 members explains:

“The ALSD is doing its first international conference in London, where Soccerex is located, this October 10-12,” said Bill Dorsey, chairman/founder of ALSD. “Soccerex is doing a major conference in Miami this November 15-16. We are complementary to each other, and do not compete. So, we simply decided to partner to market, promote, provide materials, and support the conference at Soccerex in November; they in turn will assist the ALSD in reaching its global audience in much the same way.”

The collaboration makes further sense because of the FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States in 2026, and the enormous growth of MLS and USL soccer leagues in the U.S. Soccerex partners with global leaders in the soccer marketplace, such as Concacaf, LaLiga, and MLS.

“The sports world is getting smaller. We are seeing major leagues in the United States encroaching upon the rest of the globe. At the same time, soccer is now firmly established in the United States,” Dorsey said.

“The growth of premium seating is phenomenal,” Dorsey added. “In 1990, only 3% of the seats were considered premium. Today, 20% of a major venue’s seats are considered premium, which can account for nearly 40% of the ticketing revenue. It’s our assertion that premium seating or rather a premium experience will grow exponentially around the globe, and in all soccer venues.”

Soccerex have delivered 44 events across the world over 22 years taking in 17 cities in 13 countries, connecting over 60,000 senior attendees from clubs, leagues, federations, and venue and supplier sides of the marketplace.

The November conference will cover topics such as stadia technology and design, growth of soccer in the U.S., fan culture, digital fan engagement, social influencers, and esports.

“In today’s soccer industry, revenues from VIP, corporate and hospitality services are an important part of a club or federations commercial model,” said David Wright, Soccerex marketing director. “Working with ALSD, we will be able to call upon their expertise and unrivalled network in this sector to ensure a better experience for stadium professionals attending Soccerex USA in November in Miami through tailored topics and networking opportunities. In exchange, we are delighted to be supporting ALSD in our home city of London, a city with world-class stadiums that are home to some of the best Premier League clubs and The FA.”

SearchWide Global, an executive search and recruitment firm in the travel, tourism, venue management, experiential marketing, tradeshow and exhibition, sports, and entertainment industry, announced the promotion of Mark Gnatovic to executive vice president and Kellie Henderson as senior vice president. Both joined SearchWide Global in 2006.

Gnatovic will continue to lead the venue management, experiential marketing, and tradeshow and exhibition practices and take a leadership role in sports and entertainment. He will also continue to play an important role in the areas of training and mentoring within the organization. Prior to SearchWide Global, Gnatovic spent 15 years in the hotel and convention industry and currently serves as a Board of Trustee for IAVM.

Henderson will continue to be a leader within the destination organization search segment and will elevate her focus on diversity and inclusion for all of the industries SearchWide Global serves. She will also continue to play an important role in the areas of training and mentoring with Connect (SearchWide Global’s mid-level management search service) and the research department. Prior to SearchWide Global, Henderson worked within the DMO and hotel industries and is actively involved with Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners (NCBMP).

Please welcome our newest members who joined IAVM in July 2018. Thank you for being a part of the association!

Also, let us get to know you better by participating in the I Am Venue Management series. Please visit http://www.iavm.org/i-am-venue-management-share-your-story to share your story and photo.

Brooke Adamson, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA), Charlotte, NC
Luis Roberto Aguilar, Expo Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico
Jatzin Alvarado, AEG|L.A. LIVE, Los Angeles, CA
Saul Ancona, Centro Internacional de Congresos Yucatan, Merida, Mexico
Lisa Angelo, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Canton, OH
Cristina Arciniega, ICC Baja Sur, Los Cabos, Mexico
Paco Bayer, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
Trenton Becker, Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, Dallas, TX
Michael Becker, STAPLES Center, Los Angeles, CA
Jenna Bell, Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, UC Davis, Davis, CA
Gilberto Benítez, Baja California Center, Tijuana, Mexico
Morgan Benjamin, Colorado Convention Center, Denver, CO
Sarah Bertsch, Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, IN
Matthew Bettenhausen, AEG Worldwide, Los Angeles, CA
Julie Bilyea, City of Overland Park, Overland Park, KS
James Boschken, Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Joseph Bower, Dewitt Stern Insurance & Risk Advisory, New York, NY
Jeffery Boyd, Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, Madison, WI
Kevin Brown, Harman, Kansas City, MO
Gary Bryant, Ontario Bollards Inc., Georgetown, ON, Canada
Randy Buescher, Epstein, Chicago, IL
Andrea Burgoyne, Bell MTS Place / True North Sports & Entertainment Ltd., Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Maylee Carr, Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, Dallas, TX
Danielle Chabot, AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami, FL
Paul Chandler, Germantown Performing Arts Center, Germantown, TN
JR Cook,Manhatten, KS
Tiffany Cooper, Portland’5, Portland, OR
Gary Costa, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, ON
Cameron DeBose, American Airlines Center/Center Operating Company, Cedar Hill, TX
Loretta DeGrazia, Paramount Fine Foods Centre, Mississauga, ON, Canada
Andrea DeLaune, Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
Kate Devine, Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Danielle DiMeglio, Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Desiree Dixon, Colorado Convention Center, Denver, CO
Eric Duncan, Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
Nicholas Dunn, , Chester, VA
Lance Ewing, Cotton Global Restoration, Houston, TX
Sonya Fedorko, WesBanco Arena, Wheeling, WV
Lisa Feigenbaum, Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Jose Miguel Fernandez, ICC Baja Sur, Los Cabos, Mexico
Demetria Ferrouillet, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LA
Alvaro Flores, Expo Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Oscar Garcia, Palcco Guadalajara, Zapopan, Mexico
Oliver Garcia, Centro Internacional de Congresos Yucatan, Merida, Mexico
Vania Garza, Delking, Monterrey, Mexico
David Gilbert, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
Jose Antonio Gomez, WTC Veracruz, Boca del Rio, Mexico
Jorge Gonzalez, Mesa Arts Center, Mesa, AZ
Michele Gonzalez, Austin Convention Center, Austin, TX
Fatima Goretti, Palacio De Convenciones Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Mexico
Ashley Gormley, Safeco Field, Seattle, WA
Karen Graham, Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
Raul Granados, Palacio De Convenciones Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Mexico
Laura Gutierrez, Centro Citibanamex, Mexico, D.F., Mexico
Fernando Gutierrez, Centro Cultural y de Convenciones del Estado de DURANGO, Durango, Mexico
Rob Hall, The Uplands, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands
Dean Hannula, Chandler Center for the Arts City of Chandler, Chandler, AZ
Nathan Hasty, FELD Entertainment, Palmetto, FL
West Hatae, Safeco Field, Seattle, WA
Gabriel Hedgepeth, , ORLANDO, FL
Laura Henigson, Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), Seattle, WA
Shawn Hensler, Kentucky Venues, Louisville, KY
Mariana Herrera, Fiestas de Octubre, Jalisco, Mexico
Kayla Hicks, Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Paula Hobbie, Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
Jake Hoffman, Centennial Management Group, Inc, West Valley City, UT
Catherine Hollingworth, Revolution Place, Grande Prairie, AB, Canada
Chris Hunsaker, Safeco Field, Seattle, WA
John Jacobs, Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Trevor James, SaskTel Centre, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Alejandro de Jesus Jimenez, Fiestas de Octubre, Jalisco, Mexico
Hyeonji Jo, Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games Organizing Committee, Pyeongchang County, Canada
Stewart Johnston, Newnan Centre, Newnan, GA
Mariah Jones, Safeco Field, Seattle, WA
Andrew Jones, Safeco Field, Seattle, WA
Roxanne Jorgensen, Dee Events Center Weber State University, Ogden, UT
Eric Jubinville, Team San Jose, San Jose, CA
Jeff Kiltie, The Aventura Arts & Cultural Center, Aventura, FL
Shelby King, Saratoga Springs City Center, Saratoga Springs, NY
Paraskevas Kokkonis, Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games Organizing Committee, Pyeongchang County, Republic of Korea
Kelly Laing, Paramount Fine Foods Centre, Mississauga, ON, Canada
Melissa Leung, Safeco Field, Seattle, WA
Samasoni Liua, AEG, San Diego, CA
Lacey Long, Utah Valley Convention Center, Provo, UT
Briana Mackow, SaskTel Centre, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Blake Malcom, STAPLES Center, Los Angeles, CA
Ruth Mason, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Costa Mesa, CA
Jenna Massaro, Safeco Field, Seattle, WA
Juan Carlos Mata, Poliforum Leon, Leon, Mexico
Tanya May, Maverik Center, West Valley City, UT
Thomas McAfee, Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
Michael McGuire, Safeco Field, Seattle, WA
Jason McKay, WinSport, Calgary, AB, Canada
Marlo McKinley, Sports and Entertainment Services, Phoenix, AZ
Jesus Medina, Centro de Convenciones San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosi, Mexico
James Minella, PlayStation Theater, New York, NY
Ron Miranda, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA
Jon Moore, FedExForum, Memphis, TN
Wilford Mortensen, Utah Valley Convention Center, Provo, UT
David Moss, Tampa Sports Authority, Tampa, FL
Altagracia Murillo, Baja California Center, Tijuana, Mexico
Andrew Nicholson, Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Luis Gerardo Ortiz, Poliforum Leon, Leon,
Cinthya Pablos, Delking, Monterrey, Mexico
Heather Peron, Pasadena Center Operating Company, Pasadena, CA
Jozee Perrelli, Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Jennifer Phillips, Fredericton Convention Centre, Fredericton, NB, Canada
Brian Proud, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Canton, OH
Hector Quintero, Queretaro Centro de Congresos, Queretaro, Mexico
Benito Reyes, Centro Cultural y de Convenciones del Estado de DURANGO, Durango, Mexico
Rebecca Richardson, Utah Valley Convention Center, Provo, UT
Patricia Rodriguez, Expo Santa Fe Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
Juan Rodriguez, Safeco Field, Seattle, WA
Lauren Rowland, Saratoga Springs City Center, Saratoga Springs, NY
Rodrigo Saavedra, SMG/Charleston Area Convention Center Complex, North Charleston, SC
Jose Andres Salinas, Centro de Convenciones WTC Morelos, Xochitepec, Morelos,
Sergio Cesar Salmeron, WTC Veracruz, Boca del Rio, Mexico
Kyle Sanders, Paramount Fine Foods Centre, Mississauga, ON, Canada
Kenneth Schmidt, McCormick Place/ SMG, Chicago, IL
Catie Scott Thompson, Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Jonathan Serret, City of Thousand Oaks – Bank of America Performing Arts Center, Thousand Oaks, CA
Aaron Shapiro, Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
David Sherrill, Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Paul Silverman, Rogers Place, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Jordan Smith, Safeco Field, Seattle, WA
Israel Sosa, CIEC WTC Cd. de Mexico, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
Linda Stack, Harris Center for the Arts, Folsom, CA
Trevor Stowers, Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, Dallas, TX
Johanne Thibodeau, Olympic Park, Montreal, QC, Canada
Dave Thomas, Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Lindsay Timmermans, Prince George Conference and Civic Centre, City of Prince George, Prince George, BC, Canada
Martha Irene Trujillo, Fiestas de Octubre, Jalisco, Mexico
Jason Velez, Priava, New York, NY
Miguel Angel Villalba, Expo Reforma, Ciudad de México, DF, Mexico
Margarita Vital, Centro de Convenciones San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Rebecca Walton, Northern Kentucky Convention Center, Covington, KY
Daniel Walton, AEG Management Glendale, Glendale, AZ
Kaitlin Wilkinson, BancorpSouth Arena and Conference Center, Tupelo, MS
Jennifer Willison, Seafair, Seattle, WA
Dean Yarborough, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Costa Mesa, CA
Allison Yee-Garcia, Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Sean Young, Rose Quarter, Portland, OR