Industry veteran Joe Sassano, who led the opening of the Edmund P. Joyce Athletic & Convocation Center in 1968 on the campus of the University of Notre Dame before his retirement in 2003, passed away on September 19 at the age of 85.

“I am saddened to inform you that Joe Sassano passed away at his home,” Fighting Irish Media (FIM) executive director Dan Skendzel said in an email. “He had been in and out of the hospital over the past few weeks dealing with congenital heart failure and will be missed.”

Sassano attended Notre Dame, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1955 and a master’s in guidance and counseling in 1959.

Sassano had been of the Joyce Center management since the building opened in 1968. He previously spent nine years as head football coach at Weber High School in Chicago, winning two Catholic League titles. He’s a 1955 Notre Dame graduate who also earned a master’s degree from Notre Dame in 1959.

“Not only was Joe a legend in the Notre Dame community for decades, but he also was a champion of supporting young professionals in our industry,” said Doug Booher, CFE, IAVM chair and director of University Events/Indiana University Event Services/Indiana University Auditorium. “As a South Bend native, I found Joe to be an early role model as I attended and worked on events that he hosted at the Joyce Center. He was a true professional and consummate gentleman; his kindness will not be forgotten.”

Visitation will be Sunday September 24th from 4-8 pm at the Kaniewski Funeral Home in South Bend. Monday morning visitation at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Notre Dame from 8:30-9:15. A mass of Christian Burial will follow at 9:30 at the Basillica. Burial will follow at Cedar Grove Cemetery, Notre Dame. To send online condolences, please visit kaniewski.com.

Memorial contributions may be made to the College Scholarship Fund of the Italian-American Heritage Society of Notre Dame/Michiana, P.O. Box 1201, South Bend, IN 46624.

Want to learn more about IAVM’s Academy for Venue Safety & Security? Register now to join our informational webinar on September 28, 2017 at 3:30 pm EDT.

Speakers will include AVSS Chair Paul Turner, CFE, CSSP,  Senior Director of Event Operations at AT&T Stadium, Mark Herrera, IAVM Director of Education/DHS Public Facilities Subsector Council, and a current Year 1 AVSS student.

This webinar is for venue and event managers, security professionals, and key personnel making sound decisions about the safety and security of guests, artists, teams, and staff. Attendees will be provided an overview of the International Association of Venue Mangers-Academy for Venue Safety & Security (AVSS) scheduled for February 15-19, 2018 in Minneapolis MN.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

 

The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) announced it has received the “Outstanding Venue Award” at the 2017 AFECA Asian Awards in Kaohsiung, Taiwan on September 6. Beating strong competitors from the region, the HKCEC’s leading position as one of the best convention and exhibition venues in the region was reaffirmed.

Monica Lee-Müller, managing director of Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited (“HML”), the

management company of the HKCEC, said, “We are delighted to receive this prestigious award from the Asian Federation of Exhibition and Convention Associations (AFECA) and industry peers, as it demonstrates our ongoing commitment to service excellence is being recognized by the industry. The award is a clear testimony of our continuous efforts in upgrading the HKCEC’s infrastructure, uplifting our service standards and driving sustainability.”

HML team’s professionalism also wins applauds from international event organizers.

Michael Duck, executive vice President of UBM Asia Limited, said, “The HKCEC is home to many of UBM’s most important regional and global exhibitions and we are very demanding on excellence in our venues. The HKCEC team is definitely one of the best among our venue partners in terms of service delivery, professionalism and dedication. Also, HKCEC’s continuous commitment to sustainability helps raise industry standards.”

Stuart Bailey, managing director of Diversified Communications Hong Kong, LLC, added, “The HKCEC is one of the best exhibition venues in the world and the management team who operate it are the reason for that fact.”

The HKCEC has already garnered 14 international and local awards and certificates since the beginning of 2017, including “Best International Convention and Exhibition Centre 2017” in Hong Kong Business Awards conducted by APAC Insider magazine, “Top 10 Conference Destinations” by Business Destinations magazine, “10 Years Plus Caring Company logo” by Hong Kong Council of Social Service, and “Indoor Air Quality Certificate” by HKSAR Government’s Environmental Protection Department. HML is the first organization in Hong Kong to obtain the ISO 20121 Event Sustainability Management System certificate.

The AFECA Asian Awards is organised by AFECA, the leading MICE industry association in Asia. With judges from various professional disciplines, the Awards is an annual regional event to celebrate and acknowledge excellence in the exhibition and convention industry, based on various criteria such as service standards, facility management, marketing and sustainability. It also promotes best practices in the region, and recognises the contributions of members in the global marketplace.

Please welcome our newest members who joined IAVM in August 2017. 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.

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The Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC), professionally managed by AEG Facilities, reported generating a record-breaking economic impact of $781 million for the City of Los Angeles in fiscal 2016/2017 with $478 million attributed to convention attendees direct spending. An additional $26.4 million was generated in tax revenues to the City, with $18.2 million in hotel transient-occupancy tax contributions to the City’s general fund. This is an increase over $90 million in total economic impact over last fiscal year.

The convention center also set a record in the number of events they hosted, including an increase in citywide conventions, resulting in an increased occupancy rate of 74 percent – industry standard indicates a convention center is considered fully occupied at 70 percent. During fiscal year 2016/2017, the LACC hosted 2.2 million visitors across 215 events. These events included prestigious consumer shows, industry trade shows, and 32 large-scale citywide conventions such as the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, American Association of Neurological Surgeons and College of Chest Physicians which filled an estimated 526,000 hotel room nights while sustaining 12,700 local jobs.

AEG Facilities, working closely with the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board has increased event bookings every year since assuming management in late 2013.

“As a centerpiece of Downtown LA, the Los Angeles Convention Center has proven to be an integral economic impact driver for the City,” said Doane Liu, executive director of the Los Angeles Department of Convention and Tourism Department. “LACC events support L.A.’s economy through the direct and indirect spending by event and convention attendees on travel, lodging, meals, transportation, and entertainment, saving local taxpayer dollars and contributing funds for essential city services.”