Join Us at GuestX 2025!
Join us at GuestX 2025 in Charlotte, NC from January 26-28 to learn, network, and elevate your venue’s guest experience to new heights. You’ll gain access to cutting-edge educational content that focuses on best practices and effective strategies for navigating the dynamic challenges of guest experience and crowd management and is curated by today’s leading industry experts.
What is GuestX?
IAVM’s premier conference dedicated to enhancing the guest experience, GuestX is an interactive and intimate event that provides attendees with exclusive insights into how various aspects of a venue influence the overall guest journey.
Who is it for?
GuestX is a one-of-a-kind conference for everyone invested in crafting an exceptional, safe and extraordinary guest experience.
Whether you work in sports, the arts, the conference and meeting industry, or anywhere people get together, GuestX offers insider perspectives on how every aspect of your operation impacts the overall experience at your venue.
What will I learn?
GuestX provides attendees with invaluable content via skills-based workshops and networking sessions that empowers them to put newly gained expertise into immediate action.
What are some of the topics covered?
Below is a sampling of sessions that you can expect at GuestX 2025:
- The Unseen Importance of Back-of-House Experience in Live Events
- Verbal De-Escalation Tactics for Event Staff
- Safety & Guest Experience: How to Evolve with the Times
- Designing and Delivering Successful Training Programs
Who are the speakers at GuestX 2025?
- Collin Anderson
Event Manager, Argus Event Staffing - Bruce Hack, CPP, ADAC
Director, Risk & Safety, The Charlotte Regional Visitor’s Authority - Scott Malone
Sr. Director of Global Safety and Loss Control, Oak View Group (OVG) - Keller Taylor, CVE
Vice President, BOK Center, Oak View Group (OVG)
Where is GuestX 2025?
All sessions will be held at the Charlotte Convention Center (located at 501 S College St, Charlotte, NC 28202) unless otherwise noted on the conference schedule.
A block of hotel rooms has been reserved for conference attendees at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Charlotte Uptown (located at 401 East Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Charlotte, NC, 28202). Please use this link to reserve your room within the block.
By booking within the hotel block you will receive the following benefits:
- Complimentary breakfast buffet daily in the hotel restaurant from 6:30-9:30 a.m.
- Complimentary evening reception to include 2 drinks daily from 5:00-6:30 p.m. in the hotel restaurant
- Complimentary Wi-Fi in your guest room
Please note, the hotel block will close on January 13, 2025 or when the block is full.
Want to unlock exclusive access to Guest Experience Professionals at GuestX 2025?
Elevate your brand and engage with decision-makers in venue management at GuestX 2025. As a sponsor, you’ll have the unique opportunity to showcase your products and services to top professionals who prioritize guest experience, safety, and innovation.
Contact us at sales@iavm.org or view the GuestX 2025 Prospectus to learn more!
Ready to register?
Visit guestx.iavm.org today!
Longtime Leader of the Omni, Atlanta’s Bob Dhue, Has Died
Pictured from left are Omni employees Chuck Duncan, Jack Popham, Bob Dhue, Bob Williams, and Mike Oshust at the 1983 ACC Basketball Championships final game. Reggie Williams is seated in front.
Robert Wayne (Bob) Dhue, longtime manager of the Omni in Atlanta, died Oct. 19 at the age of 79.
He was a “great friend and boss, too many great times to remember,” said Mike Oshust, who worked with Dhue at the Omni in Atlanta. Dhue brought his love of marketing to the forefront during his four years with World Championship Wrestling (WCW), a Turner Broadcasting Company. He was already president of The Omni when he added executive director of operations at WCW to his duties in 1992.
He made headlines when he created a mascot, Wildcat Willie, for the touring wrestling show, enlisting Jim Hedrick, who had been Harry the Hawk for the Atlanta Hawks during Dhue’s reign at the Omni. “Bob loved wrestling,” noted Oshust. “We had WCW in the building twice a month, 22 dates out of the year.”
Oshust concurred with Post that Dhue was a great boss, making sure everyone had adequate down time and family time in this crazy business. His mantra was, “just do your job.” The crew that ran the Omni, those who remain, still gather occasionally in Atlanta, Oshust said. They were that close-knit. All were also longtime members of IAVM (then IAAM), which Dhue attended regularly. They were regulars at the golf tournament, which Dhue loved as much as music and sports.
Pictured from left are Mike Oshust, Bob Dhue, Scott Simpson, and Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus employees, Allen Bloom and Richard Adler, at the 1991 Atlanta Classic ProAm.
Dhue began his career in venue management at the Omni in 1976 as director of booking. He was president of the since-demolished home of the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA from 1988 to 1996.
The Omni Coliseum opened as part of the large Omni complex that developed the southern end of downtown Atlanta in the early 1970s to attract convention and professional sports industries to the city. Portions of this complex, most notably the CNN Center, exist today, but the Omni arena was torn down in 1997. Philips Arena, now known as State Farm Arena, was built in its place.
Dhue was vice president of National Car Rental Arena, Miami, for Leisure Management International, opening that venue in 1999. In 2001, he returned to Atlanta and founded R. Dhue & Associates, becoming a facility management and marketing consultant.
Photographed in 1990, from left, are Mike Oshust, Bob Dhue, and Richard Adler.
Dhue was born in 1945 to Harry and Cecilia Dhue (Zitter). He was an only child but made a large family of friends in the venue business.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Linda, with whom he shared many years, and by his daughters, Laurie Dhue (a longtime newscaster of whom he was very proud), Nancy Dhue Suh (Chris), and Lauren Mecham (Jon); and son, Mark-David Chandler (Ashley); four grandchildren, and many friends, and extended family members.
There will be a celebration of his life Nov. 16 at 1 p.m. at Parish Grove (Cathedral Towers), 2820 Peachtree Rd. NW, Atlanta.
Durham Convention Center Takes Center Stage
Prime Site Award
Visit their newly revamped website at durhamconventioncenter.com to learn more about this exciting IAVM Member Venue!
All photos, video, and information were provided by Durham Convention Center.
We are spotlighting the incredible ways our members are putting their knowledge into action! Whether it’s a new initiative inspired by an IAVM event or session, a training program that elevated your team’s performance, or an innovative solution that made your venue more efficient—your story matters! Send us yours today!
Oklahoma City Council Hires Architects for OKC Arena
On Tuesday, Oklahoma City Council approved a contract with the architectural team of MANICA Architecture as the Design Architect and TVS as the Architect of Record for the design and development of Oklahoma City’s new arena.
“Both TVS and Manica Architecture have designed iconic arena and stadium projects worldwide,” OKC Director David Todd said. “They have a proven track record of creating functional, memorable buildings that communities are proud of.”
Kansas City-based MANICA specializes in sport and entertainment venues. Some of their NBA and NFL designs include Chase Center in San Francisco, Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the proposed Chicago Bears stadium in Chicago, and the new Nissan Stadium in Nashville, which is currently under construction.
“At Manica Architecture, we choose projects where we can truly make a difference in that city, and Oklahoma City is at the top of that list,” said David Manica, owner and founder of Manica Architecture. “This project won’t be the start of the renaissance in Oklahoma City, but rather the continuation of that momentum. We begin this effort with no preconceptions. We want to come to the table to listen and really understand what the city and team want for future generations. We have an incredible opportunity to work together to create a signature facility that can make the city shine and be truly unique to Oklahoma City and its people.”
Some of Atlanta-based TVS’s projects include Jio World Center in Mumbai, India; Longgang International Arts Center in Shenzhen, China; Duke Energy Plaza in Charlotte, NC; Marriott Marquis in Washington, D.C.; and the MOTE Science Education Center in Sarasota, Fla.
“TVS is honored to serve as Architect of Record for the new Oklahoma City Arena, and we are excited to be partnered alongside Design Architect MANICA, Oklahoma City, and The Thunder,” TVS Principal Rob O’Keefe said. “Together, this formidable team will deliver a facility that will serve the citizens of Oklahoma City for generations.”
Next Steps
The arena will be built on the City-owned site where Prairie Surf Studios, formerly the Cox Convention Center, is located. The existing building is expected to be demolished in 2025. Design will begin immediately, and construction will start in 2026, with completion scheduled for 2028.
Arena Background
In December 2023, Oklahoma City voters overwhelmingly (71%) approved a penny sales tax to build a new, publicly-owned arena. In May 2024, the Oklahoma City Council approved a development agreement for the City’s new arena between the City and PBC Sports and Entertainment, LLC (PBCS&E), owners of the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Oklahoma City Blue.
The new arena will be funded by a 72-month, one-cent sales tax that will start when the MAPS 4 tax ends and will not increase the sales tax rate. The arena will also be paid for with $70 million in MAPS 4 funding and $50 million from the Oklahoma City Thunder ownership group.
The $900 million arena will be at least 750,000 square feet and be built to:
- Benefit the residents of Oklahoma City
- Meet NBA specifications and requirements
- Maximize team revenues, ensuring the sustainability of major league professional sports in Oklahoma City
The City will own and be responsible for maintaining and operating the new arena, which will be home to the Oklahoma City Thunder NBA team.
The Thunder will continue to play home games at Paycom Center until the new arena opens, with a target completion date of June 2028 and a contractual obligation to open the new arena by June 2030. The Thunder’s 25-year commitment to remain in Oklahoma City begins when they move into the new arena.