Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1436811
7 B M & T ••• November/December 2021 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com ATLANTA HOSPITALITY HALL OF FAME INDUCTS FOUR NEW MEMBERS Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB)hosted the 22nd annual Atlanta Hospitality Hall of Fame, inducting four new members for their immense contributions to the city's hospitality industry. Held on Oct. 20 at Savanna Hall at Zoo Atlanta, the event highlighted the achieve- ments of the inductees and honored the Spurgeon Richardson Member of the Year award recipient. 2021 Hospitality Hall of Fame inductees: • Carl Adkins, executive director, Atlanta local organizing committee • Jeffrey L. Portman Sr., vice chairman, president and COO, AMC, Inc. • Nancy Gordy Simms, chairman of the board, The Varsity • Steve Smith, partner, Pendleton Consulting Group 2021 Spurgeon Richardson Member of the Year: • Elarbee, Thompson, Sapp and Wilson LLP Left to Right: David Rubinger, market president and publisher, Atlanta Business Chronicle; Jeff Portman, vice chairman, president and COO, AMC, Inc.; Nancy Gordy Simms, chairman of the board, The Varsity; Carl Adkins, executive director, Atlanta local organizing committee; Steve Smith, partner, Pendleton Consulting Group; William Pate, president and CEO, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau. WISCONSIN CENTER BREAKS GROUND ON 2024 EXPANSION Expanded Convention Center Will Increase Size to 445,000 Total Sq. Ft. Including a Larger Exhibit Hall and Rooftop Ballroom With Outdoor Terrace Overlooking Downtown The long-awaited convention center expansion reached a major milestone recently with the (Wisconsin Center) District (WCD) breaking ground on the construction site. In addition to WCD leaders and staff, several local leaders, government officials, and additional guests attended the Thursday groundbreaking ceremony. Speakers included Wisconsin Department of Administration Secretary Joel Brennan, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, VISIT Milwaukee President and CEO Peggy Williams-Smith, VISIT Milwaukee Board Chair Dr. Eve Hall, WCD Board Chair Jim Kanter, and WCD President and CEO Marty Brooks. "Today's groundbreaking is the formal celebration of our $420 million expansion that has been years in the making," Brooks said. "Doubling the size of the convention center allows us to execute multiple, simultaneous, and overlapping events, bringing even more visi- tors to Milwaukee. Meeting planners can expect flexible space, robust IT infrastructure, and top-of-the-line health and safety features, along with our signature bold, proud, experience-obsessed delivery of service. I couldn't be more excited for the future." With a planned Q1 2024 open date, the expanded Wisconsin Center will offer 445,000 sq. ft. of total convention space. That space includes a rooftop ballroom with a terrace overlooking downtown Milwaukee; a 300,000 contiguous sq. ft. exhibit hall; 24 additional meet- ing rooms for a total of 52; a minimum of 400 indoor parking spots; and six new loading docks. The project includes modernizing the exist- ing facility's interior as well. "This event marks the beginning of the Wisconsin Center's thrilling next chapter," Williams-Smith said. "An expanded convention cen- ter means more business, more visitors, and more national exposure for Milwaukee. This translates into billions of dollars in additional tourism spending to our community." Building More Designed with meeting planner input and located in the heart of downtown Milwaukee, the 300,000-sq. ft. Wisconsin Center conven-