Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/105245
ICI•Pg_23-33__BMT_pg3-58 1/22/13 4:45 AM Page 23 CONVENTION CENTER REVIEW convention center. The Center features 881,400 gross sq. ft. and covers six city blocks. The five contiguous Exhibit Halls have 246,097 sq. ft. of column-free space, 54 meeting rooms and show offices with 58,152 sq. ft., and seven ballrooms, including one with 43,300 sq. ft. Pre-wired during construction, the Center is a gigabit rated building. It is one of the most technologically advanced convention centers in the country, with state-of-the-art communication and utility services. Two close by garages provide 1,685 parking spaces for visitors. BY SOLOMON J. HERBERT hoosing the right convention center for your meeting or conference is no simple task. It not only requires that you select a facility that is easily accessible and within close proximity to nearby Aramark, the Center's food and beverage management division, is hotels and resorts, but one that also can accommodate the needs of your delegates with top-of-the-line meeting an exclusive service offering premier food and beverage preparation. The Center also boasts of two fully-equipped kitchens. space, amenities, service and support. Gone are the days when meeting planners will settle • • • STATS • • • for a cavernous box that offers none of the conveniences Total Exhibit Space: 246,097 sq. ft. and comfort found in hotel function space. Today's Largest Hall: 79,525 sq. ft. sophisticated professionals demand centers that provide Largest Ballroom: 43,300 sq. ft the highest in quality – from architectural beauty and Number of Meeting Rooms: 54 gourmet cuisine, to the latest in audio, communications Telephone: (512) 404-4500 and graphics technology. Website: www.austinconventioncenter.com When planning your next meeting please consider one of the following convention centers as options for your event. By investing in the African-American market BIRMINGHAM/JEFFERSON they acknowledge the value that Black meeting planners CONVENTION COMPLEX and their associations bring to the table, and deserve In the heart of thriving, fun-filled Birmingham is the Birmingham your business. C AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER The Austin Convention Center is a LEED® Gold certified building located in the heart of the capital of Texas, one of the most affordable cities in America. The convention center has a convenient downtown location, between the shores of Lady Bird Lake and historic Sixth Street. It has easy access to I-35 and is a short distance from 6,000 downtown hotel rooms. The facility's expansion has allowed events to expand their conventions, trade shows and expos. It has also brought new conventions and visitors to Austin and its Jefferson Convention Complex. Here you will find everything you need for whatever your event requires: an array of top-notch facilities, 757 adjoining guest rooms, a helpful event staff and a host of specialized services. An impressive 220,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space is just the beginning. One of the most compelling features of the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex is that it has all the right components in one complex. The centrally located, modern facility also includes 100,000 sq. ft. in 74 meeting rooms, and The Medical Forum, a conference facility unlike any other in the country that's equipped with state-of-the-art communications technology. B M & T ••• November/December 2012 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 23