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Magazine Online |
The Authority On African-American Conventions, Incentives, & Leisure Travel |
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BMT ANNUAL CONVENTION CENTER REVIEW The convention center remains the backbone of the meetings and conventions industry and for good reason. These cavernous facilities often have several advantages over other venues, depending on the needs and size of your group, which keep meeting planners booking. For one, convention centers are solely focused on conventions and events where hotels are mainly concerned with getting heads in beds. Because of this singular focus, a convention center may be more equipped to handling an event. Size is on the centers’ side, with massive exhibit halls, ballrooms and lecture halls becoming the norm. But convention centers are also capable of hosting smaller events. Because of their size, convention centers can be more flexible than other meeting venues. A small group can still meet while a large convention or event is going on without any hassle. In recent years convention centers have stepped up their game to compete in the fierce meetings industry. Centers around the country are upgrading their technology, renovating existing space and adding services to keep their customers satisfied and impressed. Gwen Wilson, sales, marketing and event manager for the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando states that “We are constantly developing programs and seeking the latest technology to ease event and convention planning and execution.” President of the San Diego Convention Corporation, Carol Wallace also points out some improvements to their facility. “Last month we launched a new on-site flight check in service for convention and trade show attendees. Another area of improvement is food service. Our in-house caterer offers impeccable service and a superb selection of menus for every occasion.” With convention centers providing so many amenities and services it becomes clear that they are your first choice when planning an event both large and small. Black Meetings & Tourism would like to offer our list of convention centers around the country that are bound to meet all of your requirements and surpass your expectations.
ALBUQUERQUE CONVENTION CENTER The Albuquerque Convention Center is located in the heart of vibrant downtown Albuquerque. Proudly managed by SMG and nestled between the breathtaking Sandia Mountains and the majestic Rio Grande River, the Albuquerque Convention Center is the premier convention venue in the Southwest. The Center consists of two complexes under one roof, making it the ideal facility to host a meeting, banquet, convention or concert. The facility boasts easy access to Interstates 25 and 40, total exhibit space of 167,562 sq. ft., a 2,350-seat auditorium, 27 meeting rooms, a 31,000-sq. ft. ballroom and 718 covered parking spaces. The center also is equipped with versatile public areas and outdoor special event staging areas. There is an on-site preferred audio-visual provider, high-speed Internet capability, computer networking and telephone and data line services. Total exhibit space: 167,652 sq. ft.
AMERICA’S CENTER America’s Center is the convention complex of St. Louis, Missouri. The center features 502,000 contiguous sq. ft. of exhibit space in six halls, 83 meeting rooms, the 1,411-fixed seat Ferrara Theatre, the St. Louis Executive Conference Center for private meetings of up to 100 people and the Edward Jones Dome. Total exhibit space: 502,000 sq. ft.
AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER The Austin Convention Center is located in the heart of the capital of Texas. The convention center is conveniently situated downtown, between the shores of Town Lake and historic Sixth Street. It has easy access to I-35 and is a short distance from 5,500 downtown hotel rooms. Stretching over six city blocks and 881,400 gross sq. ft., the Center offers 246,097 sq. ft. of column-free exhibit space divisible into five contiguous halls that can accommodate 1,396 10’ x 10’ booths. Ballrooms of all sizes are included in the facility’s package. The upper level Grand Ballroom on the north side is one of the largest in Texas, with 43,300 sq. ft. and enough space for over 3,000 to dine in style. The Center boasts 54 meeting rooms and show offices that offer 61,440 sq. ft. and are located on all four levels. The center also continues to bring a new standard for high tech capabilities and services in the meeting facility business. It has upped the ante in the technical convention industry by installing a state-of-the art communication infrastructure. Meeting planners also appreciate the highly skilled and technically proficient in-house staff. Total exhibit space: 246,097 sq. ft.
BIRMINGHAM JEFFERSON CONVENTION COMPLEX The South’s best meeting and convention value is all wrapped up in one at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex. Alabama’s foremost entertainment and meeting facility, the BJCC is located less than four miles from the Birmingham International Airport and convenient to all the city’s major attractions and points of interest. Events and meetings of all types can be accommodated in its five public buildings: Arena, Concert Hall, Theatre, Exhibition Halls and Ballroom. The complex also includes a large central piazza used for outdoor events. The Exhibition Hall has a main floor covering 220,000 sq. ft., generous space for presenting expansive trade shows and exhibitions. Banquets can be easily arranged through the Exhibition Hall’s two spacious kitchens and full catering service. Seventy-four meeting rooms can accommodate 20 to 1,900 people. The 3,000-seat Concert Hall offers a sense of intimacy with its soft, roomy seats while the BJCC Arena provides 19,000 seats with a main floor covering 17,000 sq. ft. The 1,071-seat Theatre has all the impressive qualities of the Concert Hall. Total exhibit space: 220,000 sq. ft. Getting In Touch Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex – (877) THE-BJCC www.bjcc.org
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