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!

President of the World Marketing Group, Ltd., and ConventionPlanit.com member Jane Schuldt, CITE received the 2008 IMEX Academy Award for the Americas last month in Frankfurt…

…Congratulations!

The awards are designed to recognize the tremendous contributions given by unsung heroes to the meeting industry.

Jane has served as President of SITE (Society of Incentive and Travel Executives) and the SITE Foundation, and works tirelessly to develop younger members of the industry. She is an acclaimed global leader who has given even ConventionPlanit.com valuable advice!

Who is your unsung hero for the industry? What are their contributions?

I came across one of the most unique hotel jobs recently…

…Hard Rock Hotel San Diego has a Vibe Manager - John Resnick is in charge of all the music at the hotel, including:

• creating play lists
• maintaining thousands of songs in the hotel’s music library
• establishing the “energy” at the Hard Rock
• musical cohesion throughout the hotel
• giving DJ lessons; “If a group comes in for their annual meeting, it can be a popular thing [to see] the CEO spinning tables,” he says

Check out the full Wall Street Journal Interview with John Resnick.

Do you love your industry job? What makes it different or unique?

Experient, the source for integrated meeting and event solutions, increases their sales power with the addition of strategic sales executives Joseph Ansay, Denise Marlow, Robin Murphy and Curt Zigler.

“Strategic sales executives are a vital part of Experient. Through their knowledge and experience in the hospitality and events industries, they are able to attract valuable business and provide our clients with excellent, integrity-fueled service,” said Bill Reed, Experient senior vice president, strategic sales.

“Joe, Denise, Robin and Curt each have a tremendous amount of skill, enthusiasm and commitment and I know their focus on helping our potential customers with solutions to their challenges will be a huge contribution to the Experient family.”

With a vision to perfect the event experience and a mission to help bring people together to drive business, Experient has joined together the three leading event services companies (Conferon, ExpoExchange and ITS) into one centrally managed resource for full-service, customized registration, housing, event management and lead retrieval services.

This year, Experient will create memorable event experiences at more than 3,300 events attended by more than 2.8 million people who will occupy more than 5.5 million room nights.

With 500 Hotels and 120,000 New Rooms in the Pipeline, Starwood to Expand Around the Globe

Early this year Starwood will mark a milestone with the opening of its 900th hotel, and expects to increase its portfolio by 50% over the next five years.

Starwood Fast Facts:

• • 500 hotels and 120,000 rooms are in Starwood’s active pipeline
• • Hotels outside North America account for half of new hotels
• • 70 Asian Pacific hotels to double by 2011
• • Aloft and Element to open first hotels in United States and Canada

“Our lifestyle brands and noted innovations have struck a chord with the development community as they believe this leads to increased loyalty as well as robust returns,” said Raymond “Rip” Gellein, President, Global Development Group.

“In 2008 we expect healthy expansion as our newest brands in the select service category continue to gain traction and our established upper upscale and luxury brands expand in markets where we are currently underpenetrated,” said Raymond “Rip” Gellein, President, Global Development Group.

Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI) has expanded its luxury portfolio in Chicago with the addition of The Peninsula Chicago as its newest member. A recipient of the prestigious Mobil Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond awards for six consecutive years, the hotel was recently named the #1 Hotel in North America by Condé Nast Traveler, and the #2 Hotel in the World by Zagat Survey.

The Peninsula Chicago becomes ALHI’s third member hotel in Chicago, joining the elegant InterContinental Chicago on Michigan Avenue, and the luxurious Four-Diamond Sofitel Chicago Water Tower on East Chestnut Street just one block from the Magnificent Mile.

“These three luxury-level hotels now provide planners distinctive opportunities and availability in the most sought-after venues in the city,” said David Gabri, president and CEO of ALHI.

“Planners now have reliable one-call access to the three hotels’ 1,546 beautiful guestrooms and suites, and more than 61,000 square feet of meeting space in Chicago, by simply calling their nearest ALHI National Sales Office.”

Set in the heart of Chicago’s famous “Magnificent Mile,” The Peninsula Chicago is ideally located for groups to experience all the city has to offer:

• Located in Chicago’s premier business and shopping district,
• Steps from the historic Water Tower.
• 339 luxurious guest rooms and suites that are furnished in a magnificent classical style
• 9,500 square feet of meeting space that can accommodate up to 550 people
• Scenic Outdoor Terrace: best-kept secret for planners
• 15,000-square-foot spa, which was named America’s Number 12 urban spa

Gabri said, “Each of our hotels in Chicago is truly special and unique. Planners can find the optimal solution for their specific needs and programs at varying distinguished downtown venues, with one call to ALHI.”