We let you know last month that IAVM member John Christison, principal and managing member at BCI+Network, was named a 2014 inductee into the Convention Industry Council (CIC) Hall of Leaders. Christison, along with two other inductees and two Pacesetter Award recipients, will be recognized at the Hall of Leaders Gala on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014, at the MGM Grand Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

“We are proud to support our industry professionals who have exhibited excellence in leadership skills to further enhance and improve the meetings and conventions world,” said Mike Dominguez, senior vice president of sales for MGM Resorts International. “We are proud at MGM Resorts to be trusted in creating an experience and evening of entertainment that makes for a memorable celebration for all of the honorees.”

Attending the gala is a great opportunity to network with industry peers and to show your support for CIC, which helps promote the value of meetings, conventions, exhibitions, and events. Tickets and table sponsorships are available for purchase.

Once again, congratulations John!

As you make travel plans for VenueConnect, please be sure to book your hotel as early as possible. Summer is a popular season for Portland, Oregon, and hotel blocks are filling quickly with housing deadlines fast approaching.

We recently added the Crowne Plaza Portland Downtown-Convention Center as another hotel option near the Oregon Convention Center. Rooms start at $189/night and include complimentary airport transportation. The reservation deadline for this hotel is Thursday, June 26, 2014.

There are still a small number of rooms available at the Hilton Portland & Executive Tower, the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Portland, and the Red Lion Hotel Portland Convention Center. The reservation deadline for these hotels is Monday, July 7, 2014, and rates start from $143 to $199.

Remember, you will receive a complimentary MAX Light Rail pass at registration, which will allow you to easily move between downtown, the convention center, and the airport.

For additional housing and travel information, or to make a reservation, please visit our VenueConnect Travel Information page.

Six World Cup stadiums have achieved LEED certification, awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The stadiums include Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro (LEED Silver), Castelao Arena in Fortaleza (LEED Certified), Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador (LEED Silver), Mineirão in Belo Horizonte (LEED Silver), Arena da Amazônia in Manaus (LEED Silver), and Arena Multiuso in Salvador (LEED Silver).

“Even as the world’s top teams take the field, the venues themselves are also in the spotlight, demonstrating not only the worldwide applicability and adaptability of the LEED green building rating system, but also Brazil’s leadership position at the forefront of the movement to high-performing green buildings,” said Rick Fedrizzi, CEO and founding chair of the USGBC. “FIFA and the Brazilian government have shown great leadership and commitment to mitigating the environmental impact of these World Cup facilities and for making them a showcase of sustainable construction for the international community.”

Each stadium incorporated multiple sustainable features that contributed to its LEED certification, reported the USGBC in a statement.

“For example, Castelao Arena features a 67.6 percent reduction in drinkable water consumption, a 12.7 percent reduction in annual energy consumption, and a 97 percent of the project waste was diverted from the landfill,” the USGBC reported. “Arena Fonte Nova, meanwhile, used 20 percent of its building materials made from recycled content, diverted 75 percent of the project’s construction waste from the landfill, and purchased 35 percent of its power from renewable sources like solar and wind.”

“The entire country of Brazil is making history with these LEED stadiums,” said Felipe Faria, managing director of Green Building Council Brasil. “We are grateful for the leadership demonstrated by the professionals in the marketplace and applaud their achievements. The many green elements incorporated into these stadiums will reduce the environmental impact of the games on Brazil from improved transit access to lower water and energy consumption.”

(photo credit: facebook.com/elissonriosfotografia via photopin cc)

It was 20 years ago today that a nation watched a white Bronco SUV drive up, down, and around L.A. freeways. O.J. Simpson was in the vehicle, and the former football standout was wanted by the police for questioning in a double murder. It was gripping television, as O.J. sat in the back of the Bronco with a gun in his hand, leaving many wondering if it would all end tragically.

The police chase wasn’t the only thing happening that day. Arnold Palmer was playing in his last U.S. Open, the New York Rangers were celebrating their Stanley Cup win with a parade down Broadway, the World Cup opened with a game at Soldier Field in Chicago, and the New York Knicks and the Houston Rockets were playing game five of the NBA finals.

None of that mattered much once that Bronco starting rolling. ESPN Films’ 30 For 30 series captures the day’s events perfectly in Brett Morgen’s “June 17th, 1994.” Unlike many documentaries, Morgen’s doesn’t include cutaways to interviews. He presents archival footage of the day’s events chronologically to tell the story. It’s similar to watching TV and changing the channels, with each channel contributing to the narrative. It’s a marvelous piece of work, and I encourage you to watch it below.

(Image: martinsvillechat.com)

The June 2014 issue of The Meeting Professional features a good story about convention centers and the creative things they’re doing to help keep their spaces filled. The issue also features IAVM member Rémy Crégut, general manager of the Montreux Music & Convention Centre in Switzerland, on the cover (that’s him in the photo above).

Crégut said that one way his venue worked to fill space during the recent economic downturn was by diversifying the client base.

“We hosted more local cultural events, more national congresses and more local assemblies,” he told author Peter Gorman. “Anything that didn’t require the expense of travel.”

He also suggested long-term agreements and guaranteed rates for repeat clients and international bookings.

“Now, even though we are back to regular business here, we are ready for the next crisis and prepared to react immediately,” he said. “That’s something we learned this time.”

Crégut wasn’t the only IAVM member featured in the story—Maura Gast, FCDME, executive director of the Irving CVB, also weighed in.

“Weddings and amateur sporting events are recession proof,” Gast said. “And while we didn’t envision being in the market for those sorts of things, well, they’re now staples for us. We’ve had large weddings, judo events, and gymnastics competitions. We recently had a wheelchair motocross event. We aim to build weekend demand for our hotels and restaurants.”

Please read the rest of the article for more ideas, and let us know in the comments section some new ways you’re helping to keep your venues filled.

(Image: Studio Bôregard)