Irving, Texas a Repeat Favorite For Groups, From AIMS to SOLE

A gondola ride complete with a singing gondolier … no, it's not Venice (or even Las Vegas), but Lake Carolyn in Irving, Texas. The Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau recently brought a group of VIP meeting professional guests to experience some of the city's other unexpected treats (including the largest private collection of Norman Rockwell's Scouting works at The National Scouting Museum) during the EDS Byron Nelson Championship at the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas.

Irving is a repeat favorite for some groups, including the Amusement Industry Manufacturers and Suppliers International (AIMS), which has held its meeting in Irving for five consecutive years with 1,535 total room nights in 2007; and SOLE (the International Society of Logistics), which held its annual conference August 2006 here and will be back for the SC4 Meeting in October 2008 with an anticipated 790 total room nights.

Conveniently located near DFW International Airport, Irving's 75-plus hotels and 11,000 rooms range from AAA five-diamond resort to all-suite extended stay and economy, with meetings numbering up to 500 delegates.

Unique off-property meeting venues include Texas Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, offering on-the-field space for 1,000 or more, and an upper-level Stadium Club, which can accommodate 25-300 for receptions. At the Circle R Ranch, attendees get a taste of the Wild West, from an entertaining shoot-out and horseback riding, to tasty grilled steaks and chicken around the campfire.

The Silverado Ranch, a 30,000-square-foot indoor Western event facility and entertainment complex, features 40,000 square feet of customizable dance floor space, two stages, a VIP area, period facades, props and décor, and the world's only mechanical bucking armadillo.

Not to be missed is the iconic Mustangs of Las Colinas bronze sculpture of nine wild mustangs galloping across a granite stream. The nearby Mustang Sculpture Exhibit includes a film about the history of the mustangs and seven-year making of the sculpture.

Philadelphia Encourages Locals to 'Bring It Home'

As a direct result of an increase in hotel occupancy, and with progress on the expansion of the Pennsylvania Convention Center, developers are looking to build new hotel properties, ranging from upscale boutique hotels to national chains in Philadelphia. In addition, according to a survey by the Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association (GPHA), Philadelphia hotels are investing $160 million in hotel upgrades. Some of the projects will be completed this year.

"By having higher hotel occupancies and rates, Philadelphia hotels can reinvest in amenities, services, and visitor comforts that will keep customers coming back," said John Kroll, president of GPHA and general manager of the Hyatt Regency at Penn's Landing. "One-third of the rooms in this city are being renovated this year, a sign of a healthy hotel environment."

The Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PCVB) has more than 245 meetings and conventions booked for this year alone, filling 482,993 total room nights with a $656 million economic impact. "In addition to the long-lead bookings, our short-term sales staff typically generates an additional 100,000 room nights for the year, within the year," said Jack Ferguson, PCVB executive vice president. The PCVB has launched a marketing campaign to encourage locals to "Bring It Home," which has already sparked a dozen leads for additional meetings and conventions.