Start saving for your plane ticket now - the Fontainebleau Las Vegas is opening Fall 2009 and it’s very green and very cool…

…with features from ECO-Mode Personal Thermostats to iMac laptops in all of the guestrooms, to 300,000 square feet of upscale retail space, an in-house destination management company and 58 meeting rooms!

The hotel is on track to become Silver-Certified by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Program.

Be sure to check out the rooftop pool, the Fontainebleau Las Vegas boasts the world’s largest!

The Global Hyatt Corporation has donated $500,000 to ASAE & the Center’s Diversity and Inclusion Initiative.

Over the next several years, Hyatt will allow the Diversity and Inclusion Initiative to build organizational capacity, and the learning and knowledge of resources needed to support diversity and inclusion in associations and nonprofit organizations.

The initiative strives to raise awareness in associations and nonprofit organizations by establishing a common purpose and goal to work toward.

Die-hard Democrats and Republicans alike can celebrate their candidates while staying at one DC hotel - The Liaison Capitol Hill, an Affinia Hotel.

The Liaison is offering a “Pick Your Party” package for guests -

choose the “red” dining and nightlife guide to mingle with local McCain supporters and receive a copy of the Washington Times…

…or opt for the “blue” dining and nightlife guide to find Obama’s fans and get a copy of the Washington Post.

The packages also come with picnic baskets and “Not for Tourists” Washington city guides.

You can even buy a “Demodog” or “Republipooch” t-shirt for your dog!

Sheraton installed Microsoft Surface units in the lobbies of 5 of their hotels this week…

…Microsoft Surface is a 30-inch display built into a table top. There’s no mouse or keyboard - it uses touch.

It’s like a giantic iPhone, only better!

Hotel guests can browse pictures of the hotel, create playlists with the jukebox, and even find restaurants, bars, and entertainment in the city with 365-degree satellite maps.

Check out the Surface at these hotels:

• Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers – 811 7th Avenue 53rd Street, New York

• Sheraton Boston Hotel – 39 Dalton St, Boston

• Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers – 301 East North Water Street, Chicago

• Sheraton Seattle Hotel – 1400 6th Ave, Seattle

• Sheraton Gateway San Francisco Airport Hotel – 600 Airport Boulevard, Burlingame

ASAE & The Center’s Annual Meeting & Exposition is just a few weeks away - August 16-19 in sunny San Diego.

Here are a few of the great information sessions you can attend:

-The Annual Meeting as a Measure of Success
-Social Media Marketing
-Knowledge Strategies for Better Meetings
-Assessing the ROI of Meetings Marketing

You can also earn 2.4 certification or 24 re-certification points toward your Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation!

ConventionPlanit.com will be there…will you? Visit us at Booth #1553!

Orlando is making it easy to get a great meal for not a lot of cash…September is Orlando’s third annual Magical Dining Month.

Guests can dine at some of Orlandos’ most popular restaurants and get a three-course dinner for as little as $19!

Here are some of the over 50 participating restaurants:

Emeril’s Tchoup Chop
Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion Restaurant
Graze Restaurant
The Oceanaire Seafood Room

I’m getting hungry already! Get more information on these great meal deals and read the full article.

The Berlin Convention Office is the newest recipient of the Pinnacle Award for Convention Bureaus - congrats!

The award is based on a number of categories, including quality of information and diversity of services…

…if you’re planning an international meeting, the Berlin Convention Office will provide you the best information and the most expansive services.

Check out the Berlin Convention Office’s listing on ConventionPlanit.com to find out more about their services.

The nation’s first LEED-certified hotel brand, element by Starwood, has just opened its first hotel!

element Lexington, in Lexington, MA, celebrated its grand opening on July 1. The property is a mix of smart design and eco-chicness. It will be the concept lab for the brand.

How do you think the element brand will impact non-eco friendly hotels? Will the environment impact your property selection for your next meeting? Or is element appealing to a niche market?

Just a weeks ago, Indianapolis’ newest hotel - the Renaissance Indianapolis North Hotel - officially opened…

Hotel Highlights:

- Local community feel and flavor: located near the Arts and Design District

- 263 guest rooms & 4 executive suites: 32″ LCD HD TV’s, wireless internet, iPod jacks standard

- 15,000 sq ft of meeting space: use the Plum Perfect event planning program for the smoothest-run meeting

Check out the ConventionPlanit.com Newest Members page for a list of our most recent members and newest hotel openings.

Two Marriott hotels have just completed multi-million dollar renovations - Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC, and the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile in Chicago…

…if you’re thinking of planning a meeting in either city, here are some of the renovation highlights, found in both hotels:

-Reinvented Lobby: feature plamsa tvs, new self check-in kiosks, front desk pods, concierge desk, communal wi-fi tables and a Starbucks

-New Restaurants: Marriott Wardman Park has added a modern American steakhouse; Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile has added a restaurant featuring Midwestern style cuisine

-Updated Elevators: Get where you need to be, faster

-Meeting Room Expansions: Increased square footage at both locations

-Expanded Guest Room Features: including plamsa tvs, universal electronic docks, and Marriott’s Revive® bedding (300-thread-count, cotton-rich, white top and fitted bottom sheets, plusher mattresses, softer linens and more pillows)

It seems like these rennovations are going to make travel much easier!