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Oklahoma City Open for Business After Tornado Despite a deadly tornado in the surrounding suburbs, Oklahoma City remains open to visitors. Germany Hosted 362 Million Meeting Attendees in 2012 The meetings industry is doing its part to fortify the German economy, according to a new study by the German Convention Bureau. PCMA Forms Global Partnership with IAPCO The Professional Convention Management Association has formed a partnership with the International Association of Professional Congress Organizers. IMEX in Frankfurt Off to Strong Start with More, Expanded Booths Organizers opened IMEX in Frankfurt by announcing an increase in new exhibitors at this year's show. Viceroy Hotel Group Plans Dubai Property Viceroy Hotel Group will open its first hotel in Dubai in 2017. Survey: Air Passengers Willing to Pay More for Personal Space Comfort trumps costs for most air passengers, finds a new survey by Harris Interactive. Amtrak Upgrades Passenger Wi-Fi Amtrak is upgrading its on-train Wi-Fi to 4G technology. Wisconsin’s Tourism Economy Grew 5 Percent in 2012 Tourism in Wisconsin had a total economic impact of $16.8 billion last year, according to the Wisconsin Department of Tourism. Certain Inc. Takes 'Personalized' Approach to Event Management Certain Inc. has made several enhancements to its enterprise event management platform, the goal of which is personalizing the event experience for attendees. PCMA Announces AIBTM Education Program The Professional Convention Management Association has announced its education lineup for the Americas Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition. Dallas Convention Center Renamed for Retired U.S. Senator The Dallas Convention Center is now the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. AIBTM Confirms More Than 50 New Exhibitors for 2013 The 2013 edition of the Americas Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition will feature more than 50 first-time exhibitors. Group Travel Lags Transient Bookings, TravelClick Reports Hotel bookings by individual travelers are outpacing those of groups, according to TravelClick. Melbourne Seeks U.S. Events Business The Melbourne Convention Bureau has appointed a new representation agency in North America. IMEX America Expects More Hosted Buyers, Exhibitors in 2013 To date, one-third of all contracts received by IMEX America for 2013 have included increased booth space. SmithBucklin Acquires Inventures Inc. Association management company SmithBucklin has acquired alliance management company Inventures Inc. Dead Gaylord Hotel Project Lives Again in Denver Stalled plans to build a Gaylord convention center and hotel in suburban Denver are back on, according to news reports. DoubleDutch to Create Mobile App for Inaugural Meetings Show UK The Meetings Show UK has selected DoubleDutch to develop the mobile app for its inaugural event. Former Starwood Executive Matthew Avril Named to Zentila Board of Directors Zentila has named veteran hotel executive Matthew Avril to its board of directors. ICCA Names Top 20 International Meeting Destinations of 2012 The International Congress and Convention Association has released its annual rankings of the world's most popular international association meeting destinations. RecertTrack Publishes Guide to Association, Meetings Industry Certifications RecertTrack has published a new guide to association and meetings industry certifications. Kohler Resort Completes Guest Room Renovation in Wisconsin The American Club resort in Kohler, Wis., has completed a renovation of The Carriage House, its 55-room annex. Report Links Business Travel Spending, Post-Recession Recovery Companies that invested in business travel during the downturn are outperforming those that didn't, according to a new study. IAEE Partners with Eduardo Chaillo to Form Mexico Chapter The International Association of Exhibitions and Events has formed a new IAEE Mexico chapter in partnership with industry veteran Eduardo Chaillo. New Marriott Meetings App Lets Planners Make Real-Time Requests Marriott International has launched a new smartphone app that lets meeting planners adjust and edit their meeting requests in real time during their meeting. U.S. Airlines Operating Fewer Domestic Flights, Study Shows Between 2007 and 2012, U.S. airlines cut 14 percent of yearly scheduled domestic flights. Study: Face-to-Face Meetings Matter to All Age Groups Millennials and baby boomers agree on the value of face-to-face meetings, finds a new study from the Center for Exhibition Industry Research. Industry Leaders Promote Travel During Congressional Hearing Travel industry leaders testified before Congress on May 7 to tout the economic contributions of travel and tourism. CheapHotels.org Names Top 20 Most Expensive Caribbean Destinations Virgin Gorda is the Caribbean's most expensive destination, according to a new analysis by CheapHotels.org. TSA Expands PreCheck Program to International Travelers The Transportation Security Administration is now offering expedited security screening for U.S. passengers traveling internationally. Q&A With Riu Plaza Hotels The Spanish hotel company best known for its Mexico and Caribbean all-inclusives opens up to the growing meetings market with its line of Riu Plaza Hotels. Nielsen Expositions Sold to Onex Onex Corp. has acquired trade show producer Nielsen Expositions, an affiliate of Nielsen Holdings, for $950 million. Active Network CEO and Chairman Both Resign Active Network's CEO and chairman have resigned, effectively immediately. Atlanta Attracted Record Number of Visitors in 2012 Atlanta set a new tourism record in 2012, welcoming 40.4 million visitors. Meeting Planners Expect More Meetings, Bigger Budgets, IMEX America Reports A majority of North American meeting professionals are more optimistic today than they were a year ago, according to the latest IMEX America Index of Optimism. Travel Industry Employment Increased in April The travel industry created 13,300 jobs in April. A Fresh Look at Toronto New attractions are keeping the city in the spotlight. Hotel Monaco Chicago Completes Meeting Space Renovation Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants' Hotel Monaco Chicago has completed a renovation of its lobby and meeting space. ICCA Launches New Resource for Association Meeting Planners The International Congress and Convention Association has launched a new resource for planners of international association meetings. Travel Exports Growing Three Times Faster than Other Exports U.S. travel exports continued to grow in March, even as exports overall declined, according to the latest government report. Hawaii Makes Hotel Tax Permanent Hawaii legislators have voted to make a temporary 9.25 percent tax on hotel rooms permanent. Obama Nominates Travel Industry Ally for Commerce Secretary President Barack Obama has nominated Hyatt Hotels heiress Penny Pritzker as U.S. Secretary of Commerce. DMAI Announces Annual Meeting Theme: 'Better Together' Destination Marketing Association International's 2013 annual meeting will focus on collaboration and partnership among DMOs. JW Marriott Essex House New York Celebrates Grand Opening JW Marriott celebrated the grand opening of its newly acquired JW Marriott Essex House New York in style. Business Travel Recovering in Middle East, North Africa After the Arab Spring, business travel in the Middle East and North Africa is showing signs of recovery, according to Hogg Robinson Group. International Arrival/Departure Forms Go Digital U.S. Customs and Border Protection has announced the automation of the Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record. White Paper Explains How to Navigate, Negotiate Meeting-Venue Wi-Fi The Convention Industry Council has published a new white paper to help meeting professionals assess their group's Wi-Fi needs. Optimizing the Audit Clause How to deal with hotel audit-clause issues. Change Your Leadership Style To transform your business, first transform yourself. Meetings That Make Sense Sensory experiences are so innate that we usually fail to recognize their importance. Secure Lines: Protecting Your Meeting Content Risk assessment isn't just about atttendee safety, meeting content needs protection, too. The Digital Association Associations and their meeting strategies have been evolving in recent years as more associations embrace digital technology. San Diego Update San Diego is all set for a banner year of meetings business. What's New in London An influx of capital investment has stoked the opening and expansion of a huge number of properties in England's capital. A Look at Mexico's Meetings Landscape There's more to Mexico than margaritas and mariachis. 3 Days in Montreal Montreal is where Old World traditions meet cutting-edge culture. 6 Steps for a Successful International Meeting When you take your meeting outside of the U.S., things can get a bit complicated. Temple University Hospitality Students Go Green Temple University students hold second annual Green Initiatives Awards. Research: Sustainable Meetings Survey Planners overwhelmingly say they use green practices, but do attendees care? Beyond Brochures CVBs and DMOs offer a number of services that planners often don't think to ask about. Dr. Jorge Bisteni-Bustani Prescribes Mexico A planner shares his wisdom. Hyatt Regency Debuts New Meeting Space in Greenville, S.C. The Hyatt Regency Greenville in Greenville, S.C., has completed a multi-million dollar, property-wide renovation. Disney Cruise Ship Targets Groups with New Spaces, Experiences Disney's oldest cruise ship, the Disney Magic, will undergo a major renovation this fall. Chef Robert Irvine Partners with Comcast to Promote Technology to Hoteliers Comcast Business has partnered with celebrity chef Robert Irvine to highlight for hotels the importance of technology. IMEX Launches New Education Event for Corporate Meeting Planners IMEX in Frankfurt has announced a new education and networking event for corporate meeting planners. Congress Passes Bill to Remedy Sequester-Fueled Flight Delays Congress has passed legislation that will reduce sequestration-induced flight delays. Minneapolis Mulls Convention Center Hotel  Matt Alderton Minneapolis’ convention and visitors bureau, Meet Minneapolis, has released the results of a feasibility study examining the need for a 1,000-room hotel near the Minneapolis Convention Center, it reported this week. Conducted by Convention, Sports & Leisure International (CSL), with su Marketers Struggle to Prove Trade Show ROI, Study Shows Senior marketers value trade shows and events, but are challenged to measure their returns, finds a new study by the Exhibit & Event Marketing Association. GBTA Announces Laura Bush as 2013 Keynote Speaker Former First Lady Laura Bush will be a keynote speaker at the GBTA Convention 2013. MGM Resorts Plans Outdoor Entertainment District Near Las Vegas Arena MGM Resorts International has unveiled its plans for new "outdoor experiences" surrounding a planned Las Vegas arena. Report: Sequestration-Driven Flight Delays Could Cost U.S. $9.3 Billion Sequestration could cause delays for more than 6,700 flights per day across the United States, a new analysis finds. Incentive Travel Participants Moved by Destination, Study Shows Incentive travel participants crave new and exciting destinations, finds a new Maritz Travel survey. Online Event Attendance Growing, Study Shows A Virtual Edge Institute survey shows that online event attendance is rising, but that event producers need help monetizing their products. Experient Upgrades Hotel Partner Portal Experient has released a new, enhanced version of its event housing management tool for hoteliers. New Orleans Plans New, $650 Million Airport Terminal Mayor Mitch Landrieu has unveiled plans for a new, state-of-the-art terminal at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. Travel Industry Backs Immigration Reform The travel industry has applauded several key provisions of the Senate's proposed immigration reform bill. TSA Delays New Knives Rule The Transportation Security Administration has decided to delay a controversial new rule allowing pocket knives aboard U.S. airplanes. FAA: Travelers Should Expect 'Heavy to Moderate' Flight Delays Travelers at major U.S. airports could experience flight delays beginning this week as furloughs begin for air traffic controllers. PCMA Plans Global Medical Meetings Summit The Professional Convention Management Association has announced a new, invitation-only event for senior medical meeting professionals. Minneapolis Radisson to Become America's Fifth Radisson Blu Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group plans to convert the Radisson Plaza Hotel Minneapolis into a Radisson Blu. Boston Convention Centers Open, Operational Following Marathon Bombing Despite the Boston Marathon bombings, Boston's convention venues are open and hosting their scheduled events. Best of EIBTM 2012 to Be Broadcast Online April 22-26 EIBTM Online Education Week 2013 will take place April 22-26. San Francisco Welcomes Conventions with Eco-Friendly Banners San Francisco is using environmentally friendly banners to welcome convention attendees. CWT Launches New Business Travel Solution to Reduce Stress, Increase Productivity Carlson Wagonlit Travel has launched a new tool to help companies mitigate the impact of business travel-related stress. Proposed Legislation Would Lessen Sequestration's Blow to Travel Sen. Roy Blunt has introduced legislation that would protect "essential" government services from sequester cuts. South Africa Tourism Looks Beyond the Safari Country’s tourism minister discusses $93-billion infrastructure investments and new tourism legislation. Mountain Travel Symposium Hosts First MICE Exchange The 38th annual Mountain Travel Symposium included the event's first-ever Meeting, Incentive, Conference and Exposition Exchange. FTC Halts Trade Show Scam Targeting Exhibitors A federal judge has temporarily halted a scam targeting U.S. trade show exhibitors. Two Meetings Industry Associations Form New Alliance The International Association of Exhibitions and Events has formed a new partnership with the International Association of Venue Managers. Hyatt Regency Dallas Completes $50 Million Renovation The Hyatt Regency Dallas has completed a $50 million facelift of its 1,120 guest rooms. MPI Names New President and CEO Meeting Professionals International has named Paul Van Deventer its new president and CEO. PCMA Selects Future 'Convening Leaders' Host Cities The Professional Convention Management Association has chosen Vancouver and Austin as host cities for future annual meetings. A Q&A With the New CEO of MPI Successful Meetings talks to MPI’s Chairman, Kevin Hinton, and newly appointed CEO, Paul Van Deventer, about their plans for MPI going forward. Montréal Launches Meetings Blog Tourisme Montréal has launched a new blog that caters to meeting planners. Obama Sends Budget to Congress, Impact on Travel Mixed President Barack Obama's proposed 2014 budget includes provisions that both help and hurt travel, according to the Global Business Travel Association. IMEX in Frankfurt Announces Association Day Program The IMEX Group has announced the program for Association Day 2013 at IMEX in Frankfurt. Zentila Partners With Northstar Travel Media New partnership will streamline venue search. New Sky Train Connects Phoenix Airport, Light Rail The new PHX Sky Train connects Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport with the regional METRO light rail system. U.S. Travel Association to Congress: TSA PreCheck Should Be Expanded According to the U.S. Travel Association, expanding the TSA's trusted traveler program will increase security and decrease costs. APEX Standard for Sustainable Accommodations Published ASTM International has published the final of nine APEX/ASTM Environmentally Sustainable Meeting standards.