By Scott Trotter

Responding to accelerating job growth in the rapidly expanding area of conferences, trade shows, and meetings, Utah Valley University (UVU) has announced a new bachelor’s degree in event management.

The new major, UVU’s 92nd bachelor’s program, will be offered through the Woodbury School of Business and is the first degree of its kind in Utah.

“Business events is a fast-growing, multibillion-dollar industry, and the demand for event planners and managers — particularly post-pandemic as in-person events resume — is anticipated to grow by 8% this decade,” said Bob Allen, dean of the Woodbury School of Business. “With that labor force need and strong interest in this discipline among our students, it makes sense for UVU to invest in this new program.”

A 2018 study showed that every dollar spent on in-person U.S. events generates an additional $1.60 for the economy. In Utah alone, the events industry has a nearly $2 billion annual economic impact.

Five years ago, UVU introduced an event management minor. Since then, nearly 100 students have enrolled in the program. With an event management major, students can obtain a full complement of specialized skills in event research, design, organization, execution, and assessment.

With a focus on engaged learning, the program already has internships in place with businesses and organizations, including Culinary Crafts, Michelle Leo Events, the Utah Valley Convention Center, and the Delta Center. The number of internships is expected to grow as the program evolves into a bachelor’s degree. Students can also volunteer for major local events, including the Sundance Film Festival.

“The addition of the event management degree program will further UVU’s reputation of sending out the best and brightest young professionals who are quickly turning into respected industry leaders,” said Danny Wheeler, general manager of the Utah Valley Convention Center.

“We value our partnership with UVU because UVU students come to us with passion, excitement, and a vested interest in furthering their careers in event management,” said Michelle Leo Cousins, owner of Michelle Leo Events.

“We’ve extended employment opportunities to many of our interns upon their graduation. The announcement of UVU’s event management degree is another exciting step in the right direction, preparing these students for a successful future career in the hospitality industry.”

The event management degree incorporates curricula from UVU’s Hospitality Management and Communication Programs as well as the Woodbury School of Business and the School of Arts, making it a well-rounded business degree, according to Allen.

Scott Trotter is Senior Director of Communications, University Marketing and Communications, at Utah Valley University.

By Mary Deifer

Kerry Painter, CVE, general manager and director of the Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex, presented expansion plans and renderings to the Wake County Board of Commissioners for the Raleigh Convention Center’s proposed expansion, a project which will double the capacity of the popular venue and further cement its role as an economic driver for downtown. Already, the RCC is the force behind the most hotel room nights booked in the entire county.

“Last year we set an all-time record for the number of hotel room nights booked in downtown Raleigh, thanks to a packed schedule of conventions, shows, and other events,” Painter said. “This is a marker of success but also an indication that we can do even more. The truth is, we turned away business because we simply didn’t have room, not to mention the potential clients who weren’t even able to consider us due to our limited capacity. More space means more dollars spent at all of our surrounding and supporting businesses.”

Painter’s presentation – the first time the plans and renderings have been revealed to the public – is the next step in the process of gaining approval and funding for the project, which includes expanding the RCC and relocating Red Hat Amphitheater (rendering pictured below) to create a two-square-block destination for meetings, events, and entertainment.

Money for the venture is requested from the Interlocal Fund, which collects hospitality taxes for use by the convention center, arena, culture, sports, and arts activities. The Board of Commissioners and the Raleigh City Council manage the Fund; their next vote on how to allocate funds is scheduled by June 20.

“Even with the current hotel inventory we are missing out on opportunities due to having only one ballroom room, not enough meeting rooms, or exhibit space,” said Dennis Edwards, president and CEO of the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau. “This type of an expansion will give us the ability to layer a number of events simultaneously, which is difficult to do today, and attract larger conventions which we cannot host with the current footprint.

“It’s important we have a vision and a plan to address the current and future needs of the convention center, so this process is critical to our future success. An expansion of this magnitude takes years to plan and execute, so we need to be thinking about this now. “

RCC Expansion by the Numbers

The new Complex will:

Add 500,000 sq ft of meeting space, including some 30 additional breakout rooms
Include 50,000 sq ft and 30,000 sq ft flex halls for hosting large events or for breaking up into smaller areas
Add an additional capacity of 20,000 people (doubling the current RCC capacity)
Cost approx $316 million in construction costs by today’s dollars; adding other costs brings the estimated total project cost to $425 million

In the 2022/23 FY, RCC:

Booked 152 events equating to 332 days (with five months still remaining in the fiscal year)
Expects 329,000 visitors
Filled 88.7% capacity of sellable dates (most of the remaining dates aren’t available due to holidays or facility maintenance blackouts)
70% is the industry standard to be considered a healthy and successful convention center
Contributed to 92,454 hotel room nights booked – an alltime high, despite losing full service hotel rooms due to pandemic considerations
That’s 109% over the 2023 goal set by the City

Mary Deifer is Marketing Manager for the Raleigh Convention Center.

By Gloria Fong

Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited (“HML”) is celebrating the successful conclusion of the Hong Kong International Jewelry Show and the Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show which utilized all exhibition halls, the first time the “full house” sign has gone up since the pandemic. Held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (“HKCEC”) from March 1-5, 2023, the twin five-day jewelry shows attracted over 2,500 exhibiting companies from 36 countries and regions – with half of them from overseas – and over 60,000 buyers from 130 countries and regions.

Monica Lee-Müller, Managing Director of HML, commented, “There was no better time to be hosting the twin jewelry shows as the opening followed on the heels of the city’s lifting of the mask mandate. The full utilization of exhibition spaces by the twin jewelry shows underscored a strong rebound of Hong Kong’s exhibition and convention sector. Since the reopening of borders with overseas destinations and the Mainland, HML has seen a surge in booking enquiries from both overseas as well as local exhibition and convention organizers.

“HML will continue to proactively promote to global exhibition organizers Hong Kong’s advantages as a strategic city within the Greater Bay Area and its unique strengths in expanding smooth and convenient linkages between China and other international markets. HML has continued to press ahead with our investment plan, upgrading our facilities, and strengthening staff competence. These efforts, coupled with our experience and expertise in supporting world-class events, has laid a solid foundation for us to gear up for the return of international events and welcome visitors back to Hong Kong and the HKCEC. We are confident that Hong Kong will reclaim its leadership status as the Trade Fair Capital of Asia.”

Gloria Fong is Head – Corporate & Marketing Communication for the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

By Swan Li Chew

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre’s (MCEC) Club Melbourne Ambassador Program welcomes two new Ambassadors, Chef Alejandro Saravia and Emma Coath, both innovative thinkers and leaders in food and agriculture.

Chef Alejandro Saravia is on a culinary mission to champion Victoria’s produce, farmers, and growers. Through his celebrated dining concept Farmer’s Daughters, his latest project Victoria by Farmer’s Daughters at Federation Square, and residency in Australia’s most prestigious member’s dining room, the MCC Long Room at the MCG, Saravia is showcasing the quality and diversity of producers from across the state.

Known for introducing Peruvian cuisine to Australia’s food culture, Saravia has cooked in world-class kitchens in Peru, New York, Barcelona, Paris, London, and Sydney. He is an acclaimed chef and restaurateur, an astute businessman, and an entrepreneur who strives to bring ground-breaking ideas to life.

Emma Coath is Managing Director of Rocket Seeder, a company that supports innovators and entrepreneurs to develop solutions to the world’s biggest problems in the food and agriculture sector by giving early-stage startups the best possible chance to develop a sustainable enterprise for global impact.

A strategic thinker and innovative professional with expertise in stakeholder and project management, and international market research and development, Coath connects thought leaders and challenges conventional perspectives.

“As Club Melbourne Ambassadors, Emma and Alejandro will join Melbourne’s best and brightest minds to showcase the city’s world-leading expertise,” said Club Melbourne Manager Clare Kellett. “Through their networks, interests, and collaborations, Emma and Alejandro will strive to promote Melbourne and Victoria to the world, boost the economy, and bring thought leadership to the city.”

The Club Melbourne Ambassador program is a cohort of eminent Victorians from diverse disciplines of medicine, science and environment, technology, engineering, business, and education. The program works with MCEC and the Melbourne Convention Bureau to secure significant conferences and events that promote Victoria as a knowledge destination.

Since its inception in 2005, the Club Melbourne Ambassador Program has secured 160 international conferences worth over $1 billion to Victoria’s economy.

Swan Li Chew is Corporate Communications Manager for the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

By Claire Kramer

The United Soccer League Championship’s Indy Eleven and Keystone Group unveiled renderings of plans for the transformational Eleven Park neighborhood development, anchored by a new multipurpose stadium. With an expected capacity of around 20,000 seats, the stadium will serve as the new home for Indy Eleven, situated in the center of a development set to transform the southwest quadrant of downtown Indianapolis with apartments, office space, retail space, restaurants, parking garages, a hotel, and public plazas with green space.

The stadium, with Populous leading design and Browning Day as architect of record, is anticipated to be completed in 2025 and is designed for fan experience and relation to its site. It will make space for 2,400 supporters in a steep, safe-standing section on the north end of the stadium. On the west, the building will offer a wide array of premium choices, from the field club seating on pitch level surrounding the team benches, up through the mid-line club with suites, party suites, and a terrace club above. On the south, a taproom provides game day club atmosphere for 700 fans with a viewing terrace for nongame day watch parties and events. On the east, seats will be concentrated on the sideline with the widest concourse and best concessions and restroom ratios in the league. The design wraps the exterior of the stadium in a dynamic, color-changing façade that reflects the forward-looking nature of the development.

“A world-class stadium is designed as a true destination, a reflection of its community, and a catalyst for growth in the area. This is our mission with the new stadium for Indy Eleven,” said Phil Kolbo, a principal at Populous. “The stadium will anchor Eleven Park, providing a home for Indy Eleven that creates new and tailored experiences for Indianapolis fans in a venue designed with the innovation and aspirations of a great global soccer venue.”

“The vision of this transformational development into a live, work and play village is becoming reality. Eleven Park will not only change the skyline of Indianapolis, but will add over a thousand jobs, have a huge economic impact, create quality of life benefits, and attract talent and opportunities to our city and state,” said Ersal Ozdemir, Chairman and Founder of Keystone Group & Indy Eleven. “We’ve been investing in downtown for over 20 years and believe it is important now more than ever. Our goal for Eleven Park is to continue the city’s tradition of using sports as a business driver for Indiana by increasing Indianapolis’ profile as a global city and showcasing the world’s most popular sport.”

Claire Kramer is Associate, Public Relations Manager for Populous.