Earth Day is this week on April 22, but the single-day theme can definitely be used all month long during April. Often we associate Earth Day activities with being outside in the sun and natural environment, but one topic that has been newsworthy lately are the effects that plants may have on indoor air pollution. Some sources, including NASA, show research that house plants can have a very beneficial effect on indoor air contaminants, and to the point that some even “clean the air.” The EPA is a bit more conservative and states that more research needs to be done, and the most effective way to improve indoor air quality is still through mechanical ventilation and air conditioning systems.

Either way, indoor and outdoor plants are a welcomed sight to our buildings and facilities. Our guests and staff alike seem to “breathe a little calmer” when they are walking in one of our gardens, sitting next to a planter, or working in an office with a plant on their windowsill.

To learn more about this topic, please visit these sites: “9 house plants that clean the air and are hard to kill” and “Can plants control indoor air pollution?”

(Image: Sean Hagen/Creative Commons)

The Minnesota Vikings plan to build 15 additional suites in the new stadium set to open in 2016.

The new, 10-person suites will be known as the Norseman Lounge Mini-Suites and will replace three of four loge lounges planned in the stadium’s original design. The suites will be available for all Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority events year-round.

“With the tremendous interest we have seen through the first year of suite sales, it became apparent that we should add a smaller, unique seating product,” said Vikings Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Steve LaCroix in a statement. “We think the Norseman Lounge Mini-Suites will be highly-desired by both individuals and businesses.”

The Vikings’ new stadium will have a total of 131 suites, including the new mini-suites, when it opens. Approximately 70 percent of the total suites have been sold.

(Image: Minnesota Vikings)

Sherpa clients receive valuable data on guest behavior via geolocation technology. Here, exhibit floor traffic is captured to show area density and attendee movement during an event.

IAVM is pleased to announce a 2015-2016 global partnership with Sherpa Solutions. This is the highest partner level available at the association and reflects a tremendous commitment to the community of venues and professionals it serves.

Through the new partnership, attendees to all of IAVM’s conferences and schools will experience Sherpa’s award-winning app platform, including additional venue-wide indoor geolocation features at the VenueConnect Annual Conference & Trade Show (August 1-4, 2015) and at the International Convention Center Conference (ICCC), October 1-3, 2015.

“Sherpa is an innovator in our industry, and their focus on leveraging emerging technologies to improve the guest experience makes them a great partner for IAVM,” said Vicki Hawarden, CMP, president and CEO of IAVM. “Sherpa has been a supportive member for several years, and I look forward to the expanded collaboration that will emerge through this partnership.”

Jacques Racine, founder and chief innovation officer with Sherpa Solutions, shares in the enthusiasm for this new partnership.

“Sherpa is proud to partner with IAVM and contribute to the success of all its events,” Racine said. “We have been attending the ICCC meetings for several years and have always found great value in IAVM. We believe in investing in such an industry leading organization—one that always supports its members.”

Sherpa RTLS Solutions Inc. was founded in 2009 and quickly became a leading developer of mobile applications for the trade show and exhibition industry. With more than 30 staff members, Sherpa is actively involved with over 200 events in six countries. Sherpa counts many of the biggest trade show and conference organizers in the business as clients, including Reed Exhibitions, Emerald, Penton, Diversified, and Informa.

VenueDataSource is happy to share with you the latest “Business Barometer,” in which positive trends are evident.

For example, looking at the average ratings during the course of the full 2014 year, most managers indicated that current business conditions are better than the prior year (64 percent), as evidenced by the fact that the majority felt that attendance (54 percent), revenue (61 percent) and the number of events (50 percent) increased. But this improvement came with a cost, as 25 percent reported increasing their full-time head counts, and two-thirds said it increased their full and part-time labor costs.

Perceptions of future business prospects are even more optimistic, with three-quarters of the managers predicting that attendance (72 percent), revenue (75 percent), and business overall (77 percent) will increase.

Business is good and poised to get even better.

Download the latest “Business Barometer” to learn more about business conditions in your sector (e.g., arenas, convention centers, etc.), and visit the VenueDataSource page to stay up-to-date with the latest research that will help make you informed business decisions.

The NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks unveiled images last week of the teams new, multipurpose arena and sports and entertainment district set in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

“We’re not just trying to build a new home for the Milwaukee Bucks, but create a 365-day attraction for Wisconsin residents that will help revitalize downtown Milwaukee,” said Bucks President Peter Feigin in a statement. “We’re excited to share this glimpse of our vision for the future as we continue to work with our local and state partners to arrive at a viable plan. This collective effort will create a ripple effect of growth, development, and transformation for the entire community and region.”

The Bucks hired architectural firm Populous to lead the project.

“These early conceptual renderings represent the owners’ vision to create a world-class facility and year-round destination that will revitalize downtown Milwaukee and spur growth and development throughout the region,” said Brad Clark, senior designer at Populous. “We envision this dynamic entertainment experience as one that could seamlessly connect to the greater Milwaukee community. The goal is to design a lasting symbol for all of Wisconsin, pairing the crafted scale of Milwaukee’s architecture and innovative spirit with the natural beauty of the state.”

The proposed site, which primarily sits between Fourth and Sixth streets from State Street to McKinley Avenue, will seamlessly link with active development on all sides, including Old World Third Street, Schlitz Park, The Brewery, the Milwaukee riverfront, Water Street, and the Wisconsin Center.

The Bucks and Populous aren’t the only ones excited about the project. So are the fans, as evidenced via Twitter.

I’m extremely excited for this project & glad the @Bucks ownership group envisions developing a community, instead of just an arena #MKE

— Joe Gricar (@jgricar) April 8, 2015

If the renderings for the news @Bucks Arena and entertainment district don’t get you excited for this team city and state, you have no pulse

— Tyler Price (@tylerprice1819) April 8, 2015

Bucks new arena looks dope

— Ryan Braun (@justin_dietman) April 8, 2015