When current IAVM members begin voting on May 19 on the One Member, One Vote initiative, former IAVM chair Robyn Williams, CFE, knows how she will cast her lot. Her vote will look different than it did three years ago.

“Although I voted against the initiative brought forward in 2014, I support the One Member, One Vote that is coming before the membership now,” said Williams, executive director of the Portland’5 Centers for the Arts. “My past concerns were primarily around who could serve as Chair of the Association and those concerns have all been addressed with the minimum years of senior venue management experience and CFE requirements. I believe our Association will only grow stronger with a vote that is more inclusive and includes our Allied, Honorary, Retired and Associate members. The fear that we are moving away from being a professional association toward a trade association seems unfounded to me and history seems to have proven me right.”

The initiative coming up for a vote by members follows extensive study, review and open discussion over the last two years, at which point the IAVM Board of Directors voted unanimously to bring forward proposed changes to the bylaws that would make the Association more inclusive and diverse in its decision making. As a means to incorporate the perspective of all IAVM members, these changes would allow every member of IAVM equal opportunity to engage in the Association through the right to vote. These proposed changes must be approved by two-thirds of the current voting members of IAVM.

“I remember the ‘early’ days where those of us not in the top position at our venue had to sit at special tables in the rear of the room,” Williams said. “I remember the pushback against allowing anyone in venue management to become a member regardless of their position in a venue. And, I remember the fear of allowing faculty members and students in as members.

“Now that we all sit together with venue staff from all levels of our organizations and we have students participating on panels and faculty members writing our textbooks and Allied members serving on all committee types, you know what changed? We just got better, smarter and more professional in how we do our jobs. I believe this change will allow us to continue doing just that. If we really value our members, they should have a voice in our organization.

“That is why I am supporting the One Member One Vote initiative.”

For more information about the One Member, One Vote initiative, please click here.

Kentucky Venues signaled its commitment to increasing revenue and sales opportunities with two new hires of a chief revenue officer for Kentucky Venues and director of sales for the Kentucky International Convention Center. Both executives are development and sales industry veterans.

“This is the beginning of a strong sales initiative for Kentucky Venues,” said Jason Rittenberry, president and CEO. “We are focused on aggressively increasing revenue streams, identifying new areas of revenue and seeking new business. These new hires are leaders in revenue and business generation, and we look forward to them joining our strategic team May 1.”

Gary Friedman, chief revenue officer, is charged with increasing revenue for the Kentucky Exposition Center, Kentucky International Convention Center and in-house produced events, which include the Kentucky State Fair, National Farm Machinery Show, North American International Livestock Expo and Kentucky Hoopfest. Friedman most recently served as general manager of Louisville Arena Sports and Entertainment Properties at the KFC Yum! Center, and is experienced in college-level athletic promotions and sponsorships.

Patrick Gregory, director of sales, is tasked with recruiting downtown convention and meeting business for the Kentucky International Convention Center. Experienced in hospitality management and having worked with properties in Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, Cleveland and Jeffersonville, Indiana, Gregory most recently served as director of resort parks for the Kentucky State Park system.

“The Kentucky International Convention Center’s expansion allows us to pursue and sign not only more business, but more types of new business,” said Rittenberry. “Gary and Patrick have the experience and expertise to boost our revenue and client base, accomplishments that will benefit not only Kentucky Venues, but the entire Louisville business community and beyond.”

In another personnel move, Kentucky Venues’ Executive Budget Director Kevin Moore was promoted to chief financial officer. Formerly with Louisville Metro Finance, Moore has been with Kentucky Venues since 2013, and will continue to provide strategic financial leadership. Rittenberry said he is “confident in Kevin’s expertise and acumen. He is certainly deserving of this opportunity and promotion.”

Toyota and AEG are extending their comprehensive partnership across AEG’s flagship Southern California properties in a multiyear, multimillion-dollar renewal agreement. The new agreement, brokered by AEG Global Partnerships, renews Toyota’s longstanding Founding Partner status at STAPLES Center (Founding Partner since 1999), L.A. LIVE (Founding Partner since 2007) and StubHub Center (Founding Partner since 2003). As one of AEG’s longest standing partners, Toyota will remain an official partner to the two-time Stanley Cup Champions, the LA Kings – building on an already 27-year relationship with the franchise.

The automobile industry is set to transform and redefine fuel efficiency and emissions in the coming years, and the sprawling Los Angeles market – nestled in the state with some of the toughest clean-air rules in the country – is poised to be one of the most competitive transportation markets worldwide. The city is also quickly becoming one of the toughest and largest professional sports markets. As competition in both industries continues to escalate, Toyota and AEG, two of the leading forces in their respective industries, have cemented their decades-long strategic alliance. The renewal focuses on the valued relationship and mutual respect between the two companies and seeks to strengthen Toyota’s strategic stronghold in the booming Los Angeles sports and live events industry while highlighting AEG’s commitment to excellence for one of its most longstanding partners.

“Los Angeles is a mecca for the sports and automotive industries, and we are excited to deepen our ties with AEG, a true leader in live entertainment,” said Jack Hollis, group vice president and general manager of the Toyota Division at Toyota Motor North America. “Working alongside AEG for the past decade, we’ve been able to grow our partnership and our presence at some of the venues and with some of the teams that matter most to Los Angeles.”

Toyota has been a Founding Partner of L.A. LIVE, Los Angeles’ preeminent downtown entertainment district, since its beginning more than 10 years ago. As AEG continues to grow and add to its portfolio across five continents, it is uniquely positioned to offer Toyota an established, world-renowned platform to capitalize off the valuable audiences and unique assets that it has and continues to develop, adding unparalleled value for Toyota year after year.

“As AEG has grown over the years, we’ve been fortunate enough to grow our relationship and partnership with Toyota as well,” said Russell Silvers, senior vice president, AEG Global Partnerships. “Toyota is a like-minded company that shares our core values and commitment to consistently be able to over deliver and offer our fans and guests more. It’s an honor to continue our extensive, far-reaching relationship with them across some of the most iconic assets in our portfolio. We look forward to continuing this relationship into the future and deepening Toyota’s ties with us and Los Angeles.”

With the demand for more zero-emission cars on the rise, Toyota’s strategic partnership agreement with AEG will help continue its position as one of the most well-known sustainable mobility suppliers – providing Toyota with a stage to reach many car-conscious Californians. AEG will underscore Toyota’s commitment to sustainable transportation with designated charging stations at L.A. LIVE for electric and certain hybrid vehicles. Toyota will also have the ability to brand these charging spaces across select parking garages at L.A. LIVE.

The longevity of the relationship between AEG and Toyota will also be highlighted through Founding Partner signage at L.A. LIVE and STAPLES Center, LED exposure and five permanent vehicle displays across the L.A. LIVE campus and at STAPLES Center as well as the continuance of the company’s longstanding LA Kings car giveaway at the end of the season. Furthermore, Toyota will have Founding Partner signage displays and a permanent vehicle exhibit at StubHub Center.

By TheStadiumBusiness

The Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League are searching for a new naming-rights partner for its home stadium after opting to revise its agreement with current sponsor the University of Phoenix. The 63,400-capacity venue has been known as the University of Phoenix Stadium since opening in 2006 but it will soon have a new name.

The Cardinals confirmed that its relationship with the university would be continuing, but said that the stadium’s name would be changing “at some point in the future.” The facility will continue to be known as the University of Phoenix Stadium while the Cardinals search for a new sponsor.

“We look forward to continuing our relationship with University of Phoenix while at the same time are excited about identifying a new naming-rights partner for the next era of the stadium’s success,” Cardinals executive vice-president and chief operating officer Ron Minegar said in a statement. “Our partners at University of Phoenix have been a major factor in the building’s success which has not only been a tremendous source of community pride but also an unparalleled economic driver for Arizona.”

The university will continue to serve as the Cardinals’ official education partner and support team initiatives such as the Focus to the Finish scholarship, MVPs in the Classroom, Classroom All-Stars and Donate Educate.

Joan Blackwood, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for the university, said, “We have determined it’s best to evolve our partnership and shift away from stadium naming rights going forward.”

Since opening in 2006, the University of Phoenix Stadium has hosted 11 Fiesta Bowls, two Super Bowls, three college football national championship games, one Pro Bowl and the NCAA’s Final Four event.

The University of Phoenix reportedly agreed to pay a fee of $154.5 million over the course of 20 years when acquiring the naming rights to the venue in 2006.

By Adam Leposa

One year after the heaviest period of the Zika virus, Puerto Rico’s meetings scene is showing signs of growth. Milton Segarra, president and CEO of Meet Puerto Rico, shared with International Meeting Review the very latest.

The destination has been able to start the year with 40 to 60 groups booked, representing over 25,000 room nights.

“Meetings have been, since day one, one of the most important parts of our strategy,” Segarra said. The sector currently represents almost 10 percent of the destination’s gross national product, bringing $125 to $150 million in economic impact.

The number of cases of the virus came in well before forecasts. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had initially forecast a number of cases representing 20 to 25 percent of the island’s population, the actual number recorded during 2016 was 37,889, representing just over 1 percent.

“I think there is a new perspective in travel. One of the main areas is, ‘How will healthcare impact me while traveling?’” Segarra said. “As the media story [about the virus] developed, all eyes were here.”

The destination worked with the CDC and the Department of Health on a series of precautions aimed at controlling the virus, including eliminating mosquito breeding grounds, weekly house inspections, weekly clean-up campaigns and surveillance to track the mosquito population. At the same time, the island also worked to educate planners on the precautions that were being taken.

“It took us a year to educate people,” Segarra said. “While there were some cancellations in 2016, we were able to book more groups than the number that had cancelled.”

Additionally, some groups that had cancelled in 2016 have opted to return. ICANN, which cancelled its 2016 conference in Puerto Rico, has since rebooked for 2018, bringing an additional 1,500 attendees and 8,406 room nights to the destination.

Looking ahead, the island is set to roll out a number of new product developments of interest to meeting planners. The historic El San Juan Hotel reopened in February after a $60 million renovation with over 25,000 square feet of event space. In the trendy Condado neighborhood, the AC Hotel San Juan Condado recently opened its doors. It has 233 guest rooms, a rooftop deck, bar and pool, and 11,122 square feet of event space spread across eight rooms.

In terms of renovations, the Sheraton Old San Juan hotel just overhauled its 9,000 square feet of meeting space in Jaunary as part of a larger renovation project, which is in its final phases and also includes the hotel’s guest rooms, public spaces and pool area. The Verdanza Hotel recently completed a soft renovation of its meeting facilities and added 4,000 square feet of new meeting space, bringing the property’s total to 20,000 square feet.

Looking further ahead, early 2019 is the scheduled debut of the District Live! project in Puerto Rico’s convention center district. The project includes a new 6,000 seat concert and entertainment venue that will anchor a ne five-acre hospitality and entertainment district adjacent to the Puerto Rico Convention Center. The area will also have a cinema, 170-room luxury hotel with 6,000 square feet of meeting space, a 44,000 square foot plaza with an LED screen that’s being billed as the Caribbean’s largest, an 18,000 square foot “day and night” disco and an urban zip line.

Adam Leposa is the managing editor of International Meetings Review.