Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/140546
•pg_3-13__BMT_pg3-58 6/22/13 1:34 AM Page 9 • The Shrine Expo Hall, featuring more than 150 vendors selling clothing, jewelry and other goods. • The Prince Hall Shriners Diabetes Walk. • Opening Ceremonies and the Parade of Stars, featuring the Shrine's Drill Patrol, Marching Clubs, clown cars and color guard. • The annual Drill and Color Guard Competition by the Daughters of Isis. • The Shrine's annual Book Bag Program, where the organization donates book bags filled with school supplies to students at a local school. "Hosting successful conventions is more than just opening our convention facilities," said Lincoln. "It's about our entire community welcoming our visitors with opening arms, making them feel like they're part of something bigger and showing them the people, places and passion that make Cincinnati such a special place." About the Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau The Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau is an aggressive sales, marketing and service organization whose primary responsibility is to positively impact Hamilton County's and the City of Cincinnati's economy through convention, trade show and visitor expenditures. The travel and tourism industry traditionally has been a $3.4 billion industry in Cincinnati USA, employing 81,000 people in a variety of fields and, historically, bringing five million visitors to the region annually. For more information, visit www.cincyusa.com. MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. WELCOMES AIRPORT EXPANSION A big year for aviation news, Myrtle Beach International Airport welcomed the completion of a $113 million expansion project that opened this spring. This massive project extends the passenger terminal from six to 13 gates; and added nearly 40,000 sq. ft. of glass and new dining facilities including two local restaurants bringing Carolina Coastal flair. New parking areas and a rental car facility round out the expansion. To complement the news, air service developments include new daily direct service that began April 25 on Spirit Airlines from BWI (Baltimore/Washington) and PHI (Philadelphia). For additional information on the Myrtle Beach area, visit www.visitmyrtlebeach.com or call (888) Myrtle-1. WHAT'S NEW IN SAN JOSE VISITOR INDUSTRY: NEW CONVENTION CENTER TO N. CA'S TALLEST, FASTEST ROLLERCOASTER From Northern California's tallest and fastest wooden coaster to new Virgin America service at San Jose Mineta International Airport, San Jose is gearing up for a busy season. Visitors can already experience some of the exciting new changes at the San Jose Convention Center:, which is undergoing a $120 renovation and expansion set for completion in September 2013. In effort to modernize the center and provide more centralized areas for networking, Team San Jose recently refurbished the lower level lobby with new sit steps and electrical outlets. The new Lobby Lounge named The Hub, offers an inviting, naturally lit space for guests to meet between meeting sessions. Above The Hub, the newly renovated concourse connects the refurbished Executive Ballroom and meeting rooms with Exhibit Halls 1, 2 and 3, providing pre-function, registration and networking spaces. The center remains fully operational throughout the project. www.sanjose.org. California's Great America park celebrated a major construction milestone as Gold Striker – soon to be Northern California's tallest and fastest wooden coaster – reached its topping off point recently. A construction crane lifted the highest section of the lift portion into place with media watching from the park's iconic Star Tower observation deck. The Old West coaster will boast high-speed twists, turns and drops, standing at 108 ft. at its highest point with a first drop of 103 ft. at a 50-degree angle. Riders will careen along 3,197 feet of track at speeds close to 54 miles per hour. The ride experience, which debuts this spring, will last more than two heart-pounding minutes. B M & T ••• May/June 2013 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 9