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PHILADELPHIA NAVIGATES “NEW NORM” The Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PCVB) unveiled its Annual Report & Business Plan – “Navigating The New Norm” to its members on September 28. PCVB Executive Vice President/Incoming President & CEO Jack Ferguson outlined the ways in which the PCVB is preparing for the opening of an expanded Pennsylvania Convention Center in March 2011. Joining Ferguson left, in front of Philadelphia’s new movie poster-themed – The World Premiere of an expanded convention center were: PCVB Senior Vice President, Convention Division Julie Coker and PCVB President Tom Muldoon. THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTER TAPPED TO HOST 30TH ANNUAL IACC CONFERENCE “The economy has turned the corner and nowit is time toREVITUP”EricWhitson,director of Sales&Marketing atThe National Conference Center, announced that the International Association of Conference Centers of The Americas has selected the award-winning conference facility to host the 30th annual conference. Whitson commented,“we are proud to be hosting the 30th annual IACCconference and excited to be presenting such an upbeat theme as the industry turns the corner toward recovery.” IACC’sAnnual Conference Planning Committee selectedThe National Conference Center for its convenient location on 110 acres in northern Virginia just out- side ofWashington, DC, the availability of technologically advanced meeting rooms, superb dining, and a property- wide commitment to environmental ini- tiatives and practices. IACC Americas President Tom Cappucci said, “we look forward to‘revving it up’ atTheNational ConferenceCenter andwe are confident that they will help produce a successful andmemorable conference.” Highlights of the conference will include a customer panel and the eighth annual Copper Skillet Competition, which recognizes the best conference center chefs in the world. The annual conference will also feature the third annual Thought Leader Summit (“Creating CompellingMeeting Experiences”) which willbe broadcast live to the conferencewhile audience participantswill send comments and questions to the panel viaTwitter. IACC’s annual conference has consistently presented cutting-edge educational and networking workshops, and this year’s theme “REV ITUP,” promises to offer sessions that will help conference center professionals: • Get up to speed on the latestmeeting trends and technologies • Fuel their knowledge during sessions with industry experts • Tune up their contacts as they network with fellowmembers • Hit the fast track with career-building skills • Charge their battery as they relax with colleagues The conference is scheduled forMarch 23-25, 2011. Registration is nowopen. Contact IACCat (314) 993-8575 or register online at: http://events.iacconline.org/2011annual/index.cfm?fuseaction=cor_av&artID=7754. Founded in 1981, the InternationalAssociation of Conference Centres is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to pro- moting understanding and awareness of the conference center industry and to givingmember properties the tools necessary to provide an exceptionalmeeting experience.Activemembersmeet a set of stringentUniversalCriteria and agree to a Code of Ethics. For more information, visit the website at www.iacconline.org Black Meetings & Tourism November/December 2010: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 11