By Kevin Kern

The City of Memphis and Renasant Bank announced a naming rights partnership for the Memphis convention and meetings facility to be renamed the Renasant Convention Center. The naming rights partnership, which takes effect
immediately, runs for 10 years, with the bank having the option to extend the naming rights via two 5-year term options. The naming rights agreement between Renasant Bank and the Memphis Convention Center was brokered by Denver-based Impression Sports & Entertainment and its partnership with Donegal Associates.

With the Convention Center’s marquee position along the Memphis riverfront, the naming rights partnership provides Renasant with bold visibility on the city’s skyline and numerous touch points that will connect its brand with the greater Memphis community. Currently undergoing a top-to-bottom $200 million renovation, the Renasant Convention Center is expected to be fully reopened in Fall 2020.

“We are very excited to show our commitment to being a strong partner with the City of Memphis through our Renasant Convention Center naming rights agreement,” said Renasant President and CEO, Mitch Waycaster. “While putting our name on the convention center is a tremendous regional identification move for our company, this is much deeper than just naming rights. We look to be an involved and active partner with the City and region through both community and economic development as well as banking and lending services.”

The naming rights agreement provides guaranteed revenue for the City-owned building. After the renovations are complete, Renasant’s logo will feature prominently on the exterior of the facility, complementing the all new glass and paneled façade.

“Any big project requires great partners, and we definitely have one in Renasant Bank,” Mayor Jim Strickland said. “They see the vision and the momentum we have in our city and want to play a major role in our future. The Renasant Convention Center will be a building that Memphians can be proud of and visitors won’t want to leave.”

Also commenting on the announcement, Renasant Memphis President, Dan Reid, said, “We believe the Renasant Convention Center will complement our strong presence of eight banking locations serving the greater Memphis area. We look forward to a great partnership with the City as we move forward together in the continued revitalization of downtown Memphis.”

The City of Memphis and the Memphis Convention Center Board of Commissioners engaged Impression Sports & Entertainment to explore and broker a naming rights partner for the meetings and convention facility in December 2018. The company identified Renasant Bank, with assets of approximately $13 billion and more than 190 banking, mortgage, financial services and insurance offices in Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and Florida, as a natural fit for this premier placement within the Memphis market.

“This partnership with Renasant Bank demonstrates the innovation and significant enhancements that we have planned for the convention center,” said Kevin Kane, President & CEO of Memphis Tourism. “So much more than a renovation, the transformation of our City’s meetings facility will aid us in sustaining and growing the tourism and hospitality industry’s impressive annual economic impact.”

When complete by Fall 2020, the Memphis Convention Center renovation will feature enhancements including a grand new entrance, high-end finishes and floor-to-ceiling windows that treat visitors to natural light and stunning river views. Other features will include a column free 118,000-square-foot main exhibit hall, a new exterior concourse and pre-function space, 46 breakout rooms, and a 28,000-square foot ballroom to host smaller events.
The renovation will also include public art, digital wayfinding, and additional loading docks for easier load in and load out. This game-changing project is being funded through the hotel/motel tax and Tourism Development Zone (TDZ) funds. The Memphis Convention Center and the adjoining Cannon Center will remain open and continue to host a limited scope of events during the renovation.

Kevin Kern is vice president public relations for Memphis Tourism/Renasant Convention Center.

By Matthew Glendinning

The mayor of Paris has sent a letter to IOC president Thomas Bach warning of the “risks” inherent in the recently-signed Olympic sponsorship with the accommodation marketplace Airbnb.

Airbnb was unveiled on Monday as a Worldwide Olympic Partner in the exclusive category of ‘Unique Accommodation Products and Unique Experiences Services’ and in a deal running until 2028.

In the letter, which was seen by AFP, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo expressed her “total determination to make sure regulations relating to rental platforms are reinforced” in Paris, host of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.

Hidalgo also said she could make short-term tourist rentals against the law in some parts of the city.

Hidalgo explained: “By removing a significant number of lodgings from Paris, Airbnb contributes to rising rents and worsens the shortage of apartments on the rental market, at a cost for all Parisians, in particular the middle class.”

The platform was also accused of “destabilising local businesses and competing harshly with traditional hotels”.

At Monday’s announcement of the Airbnb deal, Bach defended the brand against criticism that the platform was pricing people out of cities.

“It is quite normal that such a disruptive business then needs to settle and needs regulation. This is happening in a dialogue with Airbnb and cities and countries,” Bach said.

Earlier this year, the mayor’s office released findings which revealed that the share of unoccupied housing in Paris had jumped by three points, from 14.1 per cent to 17 per cent, over the last five years.

The main reason cited was the boom in tourist rentals driven by dedicated internet platforms. The phenomenon slows the supply of sustainable housing in Paris and causes a decrease in the number of inhabitants, the report said.

According to the same report, the city does not seek to prohibit individuals from occasionally renting their homes, but will fine platforms, like AirBnb, that offer to rent housing that has already been rented 120 days in the year.

Paris took legal action against Airbnb this year in a bid to have the company fined €12.5m ($13.8m) for allowing owners to rent their properties without having them properly registered.

Airbnb invoked European law that would exempt the platform from monitoring user activity. The Court of Justice of the European Union should decide on the case in 2020.

According to the Financial Times newspaper, the deal with Airbnb is worth $500m (€452m) over the nine-year term. This covers three Summer and two Winter Olympic Games in five major cities: Tokyo 2020, Beijing 2022, Paris 2024, Milan-Cortina 2026 and Los Angeles 2028.

It is reported that, along with a significant rights fee, the $500m total takes into account the cost of services that Airbnb will provide, including free accommodation for athletes and executives.

The views of the Paris authorities on Airbnb may run counter to those of smaller event host cities, such as Eugene, Oregon, hosts of the World Athletics Championship in 2021. The city has roughly 200 hotel rooms constructed as of today and would likely need 12,000 to accommodate all of the visitors to the event.

Matthew Glendinning is an editor at Sport Business Group.

Most people tend to support or sponsor an organization because he, she or the company they work for may have a personal connection or experience related to that organization. In my case, never is that more true than with the IAVM Foundation, and in particular The Joseph A. Floreano Scholarship & Internship Program, which is named after my predecessor Joe Floreano, CFE.

Joe was, and his kegacy is still of, an industry icon who gave unselfishly of both his time and financial resources to an industry he truly loved. His name on this prestigious program certainly gave me good reason to support and give to the Foundation, and it also is for all of you as well. Each of us has had a “Joe” in our professional life who encouraged and guided us to get involved and support programs in our industry that make us better. Your willingness to sponsor or donate provides much needed funds for Leadership Development, Diversity and Young Professional programs, as well as scholarships and internships, all of which help to ensure that we are building the future leaders of tomorrow. The Foundation touches and supports all of the major IAVM initiatives important to our industry, from VMS, to AVSS, Senior Executive Symposium, Certifications, Training, Regional and Annual conferences. I think it is easy to see that OUR Foundation plays some part in literally every aspect of your public assembly venue life.

As we approach the season of giving and #GivingTuesday on December 3rd, I would ask that each of you consider making a donation to the IAVM Foundation. The amount is secondary to your participation, as we believe that there truly is strength in numbers and that the more members that give the more we can accomplish for Your Foundation and Your Future.

Make your “Joe” and your Foundation proud!

Jim Brown
Executive Director
Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center

The IAVM Board of Regents is seeking applicants for the position of Food and Beverage Guest Instructor for the 2020 Venue Management School. This individual will teach the Year 2 class: Food Service Management.

Guest instructor application eligibility includes the following:

1. All applicants must have at least 5 years of work experience at a Department Director level or higher level of management of a food & beverage provider company or self-operated food & beverage service within a venue.
2. All applicants must have a 4-year college degree.
3. Applicants are not required to be IAVM Members.
4. Applicants are not required to have either the Certified Venue Professional (CVP) designation or Certified Venue Executive (CVE) designation
5. Applicants are not required to have graduated from VMS

All eligible individuals are encouraged to submit their application via this LINK by Tuesday, December 6th. By Friday, December 20th, all applicants will be informed if they have been selected for an online interview.

It is essential that you take necessary measures to assure the proper care and preservation of your floors. Maintaining proper conditions within your building after work is completed is essential to assure the trouble-free life of your floor.

To protect your investment and to assure that your floor provides lasting satisfaction and the performance that you expect, it is recommended:

ROUTINE MAINTENANCE
FLOOR STAINS, GUM, and SHOE MARKS
Floor stains can be avoided by wiping spillage from the surface immediately. Staining occurs when spills are absorbed into the finish. Gum can be removed by freezing and scraping it off with a plastic putty knife. Shoe marks should be removed with approved* floor cleaner.
DAILY
Daily sweeping with a properly treated dust mop* will keep the floor surface free from dust, grit and abrasive particles. Keep all walk off mats clean.
MONTHLY
Remove foreign debris and clean entire floor with approved floor cleaner*.
ANNUALLY
The industry recommends that your maple floor be “screened” and re-coated with a new coat of finish at least once a year.  Properly abrade and tack-clean the floor as recommended by the finish manufacturer prior to applying finish.

*APPROVED MAINTENANCE PRODUCTS
Contact your flooring contractor to determine the brand and type of finish used on your floor. You should contact the finish manufacturer for detailed maintenance products and procedures. When oil based finishes are used, spot cleaning with 100% virgin mineral spirits may be performed for hard to remove dirt and stains. Recycled mineral spirits can contain any number of contaminates, based on where they may have been used; when recycled it is impossible to remove all foreign materials in the liquid. When using 100% virgin mineral spirits you should allow it to flash off a minimum of one hour, no less, depending on conditions (humidity).

GENERAL CARE
Temperature, Humidity and Ventilation
Be sure that your HVAC system is operating to provide a temperature range of 55-80 degrees and 35-50% relative humidity.  Ventilation equipment should be available for year-round use.  Humidity and Ventilation are critical considerations for your new wood floor.  35-50% relative humidity is normally required for long trouble-free life.  If humidity rises to over 50%, promptly begin circulating air by opening interior doors and windows and by activating the ventilating system. However, do not draw warm, moist air in from outdoors, as excessive humidity will cause wood to expand.  Summer months are especially critical.  Inspect your wood floors regularly.  If necessary, turn on the heating system.  If less than 35% humidity level persists, use humidification to prevent excessive dryness and possible wood shrinkage.  Maple flooring, being a solid wood product, is hygroscopic material.  It will expand and contract as it absorbs and releases moisture.  It will change dimensionally until it reaches equilibrium with the surrounding environment.  This is an uncontrollable, yet natural characteristic of solid wood flooring.  Excessive expansion and shrinkage issues that may result due to environmental conditions are not the responsibility of the manufacturer or the installer, and are not covered under warranty.

EXCESSIVE TIGHTENING
When excessive tightening of the floor becomes noticeable, reduce the wood moisture content. Lowering relative humidity and providing airflow can assist this.

EXCESSIVE CRACKS
When unusually wide cracks begin to appear, increase the relative humidity in the room.

KEEP WATER OFF THE FLOOR SURFACE
Avoid exposure to water from tracking during periods of inclement weather by the use of walk off mats at all entrances. Windows and doors should be closed during rainy weather. All leaks must be corrected immediately. Machine scrubbing or power machines that induce water under pressure should not be used. This is a critical point since industry warranties exclude damage due to moisture.

PREVENT EXPOSURE TO MOISTURE
Any evidence of dampness within your building should be called to the attention of your architects and engineers. Interior drains and down spouts should be properly insulated to prevent the development of excessive condensation moisture. Exterior drains and downspouts should be kept clear and flow away from the building. All exterior doors should have watertight thresholds.

EXPANSION JOINTS
Expansion joints around the perimeter of your floor, at columns, or inserts, should never be blocked or obstructed.

ANCHORING BLEACHERS
No fixtures, equipment or bleachers should be lagged through wood floors into concrete without first cutting wood away from lag bases and making provisions for expansion in the floor system.

Feature provided by Greg Pierce, Portable Sales Manager, with Robbins Sports Surfaces