IMEX America is America’s worldwide exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events, backed by the experience and resources of the IMEX Group of exhibitions; its focus is to demonstrate to provide outstanding business opportunities for exhibitors and buyers.
Among other big names, American Express Meetings and Events were present at the event; the company has released a tool to help clients obtain green hotel data to measure the effectiveness of their environmental initiatives. The program is based on the Carbon Accounting Co.'s Green Hotels Global initiative. Companies have now access to analysis of meeting planning as well as post-meeting evaluation stages.
American Express Meetings and Events also announced two new collaborations with integrated event marking and production firms in Europe, Le Public Système in France and WRG Creative Communication in the United Kingdom.
At the event, news about different locations, both national and international, were released.
Disney introduced a new private dining room at Kouzzina by Cat Cora at Disney's Boardwalk in Orlando. The new Coranation Room accommodates up to 24 people for sit-down events, and offers a country kitchen atmosphere, featuring massive wooden doors with ornate glass windows.
Disney Cruise Line is increasing its fleet with the Disney Fantasy, which will sail on March 31st, 2012.
Other news included the opening of the 840-room Aulani in Hawaii and a Magic Kingdom Fantasyland expansion that will include the Little Mermaid attraction and several private event venues.
Major expansions now in construction are boosting in Washington D.C.; CityCenterDC, a $700 million complex at the site of the old convention center, is on target to open its doors in different stages, starting in 2013. The project will include retail, restaurants, residential and office space, along with a 400-room hotel. The estate is expected to be a boutique brand. While this is occurring, the $500 million Washington Marriott Marquis is expected to open around June of 2014. The enormous property, with 1,175 guest rooms and 100,000 square feet of meeting space, will be connected to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center through an underground pedestrian walkway.
The Sydney International Convention, Exhibition and Entertainment Precinct is a new $900 million project on a 30 acres piece of land, surrounding the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Center. Once completed, the project will include the largest convention space in the country with a total of 430,000 square feet of space, capable to support sporting and entertainment events for up to 12,000 people. The project and construction are expected to be finished by 2016.
Before the end of 2011, construction of the Barangaroo harborside precinct is expected to start; it will comprise more than 5.4 million square feet of commercial, residential, tourism, retail, and community space. The project is expected to be completed in 2019.
The Star, Sydney's only casino, is undergoing an $850 million renovation that will result in a new hotel, 20 restaurants and bars, a high-end retail collection, a 2,000-seat theater, a 3,000-seat events center, a nightclub, and a casino. The new 171-room Darling hotel will complement the existing 480-room property and will include a spa, a gym, and a pool. The Darling is scheduled to open by the end of October 2011, while the rest of the project is expected to be completed by 2013.
Preparation for the next IMEX America is already underway; the event will be held in October 2012.