Inside PACE 2009

Looking for some Great Thai Food in New Orleans? Look No Further!

2009-01-10T19:04:00.002-05:00

Being in the hospitality industry, I'm fortunate to know people in almost any city across the US. With New Orleans being such a huge convention town, I do know a lot of people there so coming out here for the Professional Convention Management Association Annual Meeting has been like Old Home Week. Last night a friend who use to live in DC and moved here to work at the Sonesta Hotel took me and

Check Out the Marriott Hotel in New Orleans

2009-01-10T16:56:00.001-05:00

This morning I went across the street to the Marriott to meet with our Convention Services Manager who will be handling all the SSPC pre-convention training. Have you signed up yet for one of them? Click on this link to see what is being offered: http://www.pace2009.com/program.php?m=&d=&sort=2&da= There is an interesting meeting going on at the Marriott right now - it's called a "social

What's Happening in New Orleans? A room at the Sheraton

2009-01-10T12:22:00.003-05:00

The association I belong to as a meeting planner, PCMA, is currently having their annual convention in New Orleans - so I flew out yesterday to attend. Leaving Dulles (DC Metro area) was a piece of cake, plus getting out of below 30 degree temps was fabulous!We arrived in New Orleans and it was about 65 and it felt great. I'm staying at the Sheraton, one of the hotels in our PACE room block.

First Time Going to Mardis Gras? Here's a Few Things to Know

2008-12-02T07:51:00.004-05:00

Mardi Gras - How it WorksIn New Orleans, a town famous for its French Quarter and Bourbon Street, for hot Cajun and Creole cuisine and for cool Dixieland jazz, one event surpasses them all as the city's legendary signature piece - Mardi Gras! It's a season of revelry and romance, of madness and music, of parades and parties, of comic costuming in the streets and grandiose private masquerade balls

AMERICAN EXPRESS BUSINESS TRAVEL ANNOUNCES ADJUSTED RESULTS OF FORECAST IN ANTICIPATION OF GLOBAL ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN

2008-10-28T14:42:00.001-04:00

NEW YORK, October 22, 2008 -- American Express Business Travel today published its annual Global Business Travel Forecast and Trends report. Originally slated for release in September, the American Express Advisory Services department responsible for producing the report delayed its release in order to evaluate the impact of market activities that have occurred over the last 30 days. In the past

U.S. Visa Waiver Program Expands

2008-10-21T13:28:00.001-04:00

The U.S. Visa Waiver Program--which allows citizens of certain countries to travel to the United States for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa--has been expanded to include the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, and South Korea. Travel Industry Association President and CEO Roger Dow called the expansion "a momentous leap forward for the American economy and proof

Airlines Roundup: Carriers Slash Fuel Surcharges

2008-10-21T13:25:00.000-04:00

Some major airlines have begun cutting the fuel surcharges they impose on flights between the United States and Europe, the Associated Press reports. The move comes in response to falling oil prices worldwide. -Southwest Airlines announced its first capacity cuts in 23 years--and also reported its first quarterly loss in 17 years, according to USA Today. -The Federal Aviation Administration could

Did You Know?

2008-09-25T06:51:00.003-04:00

The Saint Charles streetcar in New Orleans and the San Francisco cable cars are the nation's only mobile national monuments?

New Orleans is Friendly and Warm and Caring

2008-09-25T06:47:00.003-04:00

Wow! That’s all I can say about my morning today. So many things are running through my head I don’t know where to begin. I met such interesting people today that challenged my mind, challenged my heart and made me think about the wonderful country we live in. I met people in New Orleans that are totally amazing individuals and have made me reflect on my life’s choices.Wait until you come out

Getting Ready For PACE 2009

2008-09-24T06:57:00.002-04:00

And We’re OffThe day after Labor Day always kicks off the busiest time in our preparations for PACE. What some people don’t know is that many of the plans for the convention have been years in the making. Following each convention, we’ve kept the hotels in New Orleans informed of our room pick ups to make sure we have blocked enough rooms and to also make sure that we can meet our room block.

Quickly Returning to Normal

2008-09-05T16:41:00.001-04:00

Reprinted with permission from the New Orleans Convention Center.A picture paints a thousand words, they say. The Convention Center was virtually unscathed by the recent storm as seen in the images that can be viewed by clicking the link below. It did serve as the staging ground for first responders that served the region so well and was well protected by 1,000 National Guard troops who made us

More News from New Orleans

2008-09-04T15:53:00.002-04:00

7:54 a.m., Thursday, September 4, 2008 Reprinted with permission from the New Orleans Convention and Visitors BureauTHURSDAY'S DEVELOPMENTS:The city of New Orleans and the metropolitan area continues to move forward wonderfully in its post-Gustav recovery. Residents from across the metropolitan area, including surrounding parishes, have begun to return to homes and businesses.The biggest

A Message from the New Orleans Morial Convention Center

2008-09-03T16:49:00.000-04:00

The New Orleans Morial Convention Center has weathered the recent storm event with minor damage. All major systems are operable and the center is functioning at 100% capacity. All major systems of the city are expected to be functioning within the next 72 hours including the airport.We look forward to welcoming the American Institute of Architects - Louisiana Chapter on September 18-19, and a

New Orleans Relents, Says ResidentsCan Return

2008-09-03T15:12:00.000-04:00

New Orleans Weathers Gustav

2008-09-02T19:32:00.000-04:00

Reprinted from This Week At PCMANew Orleans has survived Hurricane Gustav with limited damage. The city was mostly evacuated in advance of Gustav, which made landfall along the Gulf Coast of Louisiana on Monday morning.In a statement released late Sunday evening, New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau President and CEO Stephen Perry praised federal, state, and local officials for their planning

Businesses Wait Out Gustav

2008-09-02T10:26:00.002-04:00

Reprinted from www.Forbes.com The New Orleans Marriott is a PACE 2009 Headquarters Hotel.By midday Monday, Category-2 Hurricane Gustav had made landfall in Cocodrie, La., about 80 miles southwest of New Orleans. Power was knocked out in several areas, including New Orleans, and water began splashing over the top of several of the city's levees. Journalists, power-company workers and emergency

Additional News From New Orleans

2008-09-01T21:33:00.002-04:00

7:24 p.m. Monday September 1, 2008 (Updates posted at 7:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, and 7:00 p.m. Monday or more frequently if major news warrants)Printed with Permission from the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau.The city of New Orleans proved to be exceptionally well prepared for the wind and rain of Hurricane Gustav which struck Monday morning. The evacuation of some 30,000 visitors to the

News from New Orleans

2008-09-01T15:26:00.002-04:00

Reprinted with permission from the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau11:25 a.m. Monday September 1, 2008 (Updates posted at 7:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, 6:00 p.m., and 10:00 p.m., or more frequently if major news warrantsThe city of New Orleans is well prepared for the wind and rain of Hurricane Gustav that we are currently experiencing. The evacuation of some 30,000 visitors to the city this

Going to PACE 2009? Then learn the local lingo and get the most out of Mardis Gras!

2008-09-01T11:30:00.002-04:00

Ball, bal masque A masked ball, where a krewe’s court is presented to the club members. Old-line krewes throw decorous balls, often introducing debutante daughters of members. Attendance is by invitation only and limited to krewe members and their guests. A few newer krewes have refashioned the balls into bashes with celebrity guests and nationally recognized entertainment. Some are open to the

NO TIME TO WASTE: NEW ORLEANS IS GOING GREEN

2008-08-05T23:45:00.002-04:00

Call it green, call it sustainability, but being environmentally savvy is not a trend. It's an important business practice that's here to stay. The New Orleans CVB has formed the "New Orleans Hospitality Community Green Task Force" to become a more environmentally friendly destination for you.We understand that each organization is unique in terms of how it defines social responsibility. For

We Bet You Didn’t Know that...

2008-07-23T17:17:00.001-04:00

The Southern Food and Beverage Museum (SoFAB) http://www.southernfood.org/ opened its doors in the Riverwalk Marketplace on June 5, 2008. SoFAB, a museum dedicated completely to food and beverage and its impact on the South, will be home of the Museum of the American Cocktail (MOTAC) which is scheduled to open on July 21, 2008.The National World War II Museum http://www.nationalww2museum.org/

PACE Education Program Advisory Committee Working with Project Management Institute

2008-07-23T08:55:00.001-04:00

When the Rolling Stones sang “You can’t always get what you want and if you try sometime, you just might find, you get what you need” they weren’t dealing with the PACE Education Program Advisory Committee. At PACE 2009, not only will you get what you want but you’ll also get what you need. Just ask Stanley J. Walton PMP, Coatings Program Manager. We received an email from Mr. Walton

New Orleans Is Fastest Growing City in the U.S!

2008-07-14T19:47:00.002-04:00

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25618740/ Annette M. Suriani, CMPDirector, PACE Meetings and Exposition302-275-6213309 408-9424 (fax)suriani@pace2009.com www.pace2009.com

E-Marketing: Getting Better as We Go Along

2008-05-16T16:00:00.005-04:00

Like many organizations, PACE strives to strike the proper balance of communication with our supporters. We need to be effective and get our message out, but we don't want to be intrusive and annoying.We also want to remain faithful to our efforts to be more environmentally conscious, as well as adhere to our budget plans, by reducing paper waste and relying more on electronic marketing than on

Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler! (Let The Good Times Roll!)

2008-04-23T17:18:00.002-04:00

Have You Marked Your Calendar?New Orleans is rolling out the purple carpet for us February 15-18, 2009 when PACE brings its show to town. Plans are under way for one of the liveliest most talked about shows in the industry.Fat Tuesday is February 24, 2009 so do you know that during PACE 2009 we’ll be able to enjoy many of the Mardis Gras activities with none of the hassles? Check out the parades

New Orleans is Going GREEN!

2008-04-23T16:41:00.001-04:00

Call it green, call it sustainability, but being environmentally savvy is not a trend. It's an important business practice that's here to stay.According to Meeting Strategies Worldwide (www.meetingstrategiesworldwide.com), green meetings are defined as a "meeting that incorporates environmental considerations throughout all stages of the meeting in order to minimize the negative impact on the

A Good Time and Place for a Blog

2008-04-17T16:22:00.008-04:00

Welcome back to those of you who were regular readers of the PACE Blog in recent years. PACE 2009 is several months away, but that doesn't mean that the staff are just sitting on their hands watching the flowers bloom. Well, maybe some of us are, what with it being Spring and all and the weather finally turning a bit warmer. :-) Of course, that's just during the work day. At night when we're