Black Meetings and Tourism

November / December 2018

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I N T H E N E W S B M & T November/December 2018 www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 6 EXPANDED ANAHEIM CONVENTION CENTER LURES MULTI-YEAR BOOKINGS FROM INTERNATIONAL EVENTS Experiencing the flexibility and modern allure of the expanded Anaheim Convention Center (ACC) in 2018 has inspired The National Association of Music Merchants( (NAMM) and Natural Products Expo West to book the dynamic facility for multiple years. ACC's expansion opened its doors to attendees in September 2017, pro- viding an additional 200,000 sq. ft. of meet- ing space to the West Coast's largest conven- tion center. This has allowed for an even greater variety of event uses under one roof. Having met in Anaheim for almost four decades, NAMM will make ACC its home through 2023 (for the next five years). Their 2018 show in the expanded space was the largest in their 117-year history with a record-setting 115,000 atten- dees, a 7% increase over the previous year. For future winter shows, they have secured peak January dates when attendees are especially interested in meeting in Southern California to escape cold weather across the rest of the nation. "The NAMM Show has called the Anaheim Convention Center home for nearly 40 years," said Joe Lamond, NAMM President and CEO. "Our members travel from 140 countries to attend NAMM and look forward to coming to Anaheim to advance global trade in the music and sound products indus- try, attend the NAMM U educational sessions and to network with friends and peers. Like NAMM, the convention center has grown over the years and we've expanded our activities to create a true 'crossroads' of the music industry. The Anaheim community has been a great partner, and for me personally, having been attending NAMM since 1983, it feels like 'coming home' each January!" The expanded center also helped Anaheim's meeting package fulfill growing needs for Natural Products Expo West. Their 2018 expo at ACC allowed for a 5.8% increase in exhibitors and an impactful 8.5% increase in attendance. This inspired them to commit to meeting in Anaheim through 2022. "Natural Products Expo West is the gathering place for the rapidly growing natural products industry and a launching pad for industry innovation and trend-setting," said Lacey Gautier, Show Director for Natural Products Expo. "The 2018 show was the most successful yet with our much-anticipated expansion into the Anaheim Convention Center's North Halls and we're looking for- ward to future years of continued growth in Anaheim. In addition to the expanded exhibit space, the Anaheim Campus provides many unique and spacious venues for our growing audience. With a robust education program and networking opportuni- ties throughout the week, we are able to offer an enhanced forum for community engagement." ACC hosts an average of nearly one million attendees a year. With its recent expansion, the center officially joined the "1 million-square-foot-club," becoming the 11th-largest con- vention center in the U.S. DESTINATION IMAGINATION SELECTS KC FOR INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION VISIT KC'S LARGEST SINGLE BOOKING SINCE 2008 Destination Imagination (DI) has selected Kansas City to host its 2019 and 2020 Global Finals competition. More than 17,000 young people are expected to attend, generating more than 30,000 room nights and pouring nearly $14 million into the local economy. Kansas City was initially shortlisted with two other cities—St. Louis and Louisville—before winning the bid. The event is KC's largest current booking in terms of room nights for 2019. Dubbed the "world's largest celebration of creativity," Global Finals brings more than 17,000 students, parents and educators from more than 15 countries together. Students who participate in DI spend months solving one of seven project-based learning Challenges that blend STEM learning with the arts and help them to think creatively and critically, collaborate with others, and problem solve. Students compete at local and national levels, vying for a coveted spot at the Global Finals tournament, which is held each May. "With our increased growth at Global Finals, we want to

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