http://www.pcma.org/PCMA News Storiesen-uswebmaster@pcma.comwebmaster@pcma.comhttp://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/feb/02/local-tourism-bureaus-merge-east-staff-retained/The San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau has merged with the San Diego East Visitors Bureau, and will now manage San Diego East’s $300,000 annual budget and retain all its staff.Mon Feb 8 16:21:45 CST 2010x11579http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-travel3-2010feb03,0,3726227.storyThe federal government hasn’t done enough to make foreign travelers aware of requirements that, beginning March 20, fine airlines $3,300 for each visitor from a visa-waiver country they allow to board a U.S.-bound plane without preregistering online, U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow tells the Los Angeles Times.Mon Feb 8 16:24:12 CST 2010x11580http://www.cityofknoxville.org/Press_Releases/Content/2010/0205.aspThe city of Knoxville wants to use $250,000 from a $2-million grant it received last year from the U.S. Department of Energy as part of the stimulus bill to install a solar-panel array on the roof of the Knoxville Convention Center.Mon Feb 8 16:27:23 CST 2010x11581http://www.hospitalitynet.org/external/4045310.htmlTop U.S. hotel companies are scouting out new brands to expand their reach abroad and keep their best customers from defecting to rivals as new rooms growth slow down.Fri Feb 5 08:16:54 CST 2010x11558http://meetingsnet.com/associationmeetings/news/0203-association-sponsorships-increase/Spending on association events increased last year and is expected to climb again in 2010, according to the IEG Sponsorship Report, published by IEG Sponsorship Consulting, Chicago.Fri Feb 5 08:21:42 CST 2010x11559http://www.btnonline.com/businesstravelnews/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004065212Houston and Ottawa were the only cities worldwide where hotel rates rose in 2009, according to travel management company HRG.Fri Feb 5 08:29:28 CST 2010x11560http://www2.nbta.org/usa/pressreleases/Pages/mb020310.aspxThe National Business Travel Association (NBTA) – the voice of the business travel industry – applauded the Administration for addressing issues vital to the corporate travel industry in its FY 2011 budget proposal.Fri Feb 5 08:32:47 CST 2010x11561http://www.hotelnewsnow.com/articles.aspx?ArticleId=2660&PageType=Featured&ArticleType=1A look at hotels through the eyes of the EPA.Fri Feb 5 08:36:07 CST 2010x11562http://www.btnonline.com/businesstravelnews/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004065013Following two years of sustained capacity cuts, domestic airlines are expected to slowly add supply this year, though full-year growth should register a modest 1 percent from 2009 levels, according to a forecast issued today by UBS.Thu Feb 4 09:02:35 CST 2010x11529http://www.mimegasite.com/mimegasite/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004064438In the same breath, U.S. airlines have both praised and criticized President Barack Obama's proposed 2011 budget, their trade association, the Washington, D.C.-based Air Transport Association of America (ATA), announced this week.Thu Feb 4 08:52:45 CST 2010x11527http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/business/02road.htmlAs business travel slowly comes back, the meetings part of it is struggling to regain its footing. In the process, it is being redefined.Thu Feb 4 08:55:59 CST 2010x11528http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_14298663The heads of major airlines, including United, American and Delta, said they're seeing the early indications of a resurgence as corporations get reacquainted with the idea of spending money on travel.Mon Feb 1 08:47:55 CST 2010x11514http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010910241_trade28m.htmlThe center decided to drop "trade" because it's not what the convention center does, said spokesman Brian Baum.Mon Feb 1 13:43:10 CST 2010x11516http://www.meetingnews.com/mimegasite/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004064174When it comes to dealing with issues and policies affecting the corporate travel industry, the National Business Travel Association (NBTA) has given the U.S. government a C+, it announced last week.Tue Feb 2 09:20:59 CST 2010x11519http://www.hotelworldnetwork.com/travel/us-travel-assn-supports-presidents-push-jobs-high-speed-rail-7239Following President Obama's State of the Union message Wednesday night and in anticipation of his announcement to award $8 billion in stimulus funds for development of light-rail corridors around the country, Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, issued a response.Mon Feb 1 08:32:57 CST 2010x11512http://www.citmagazine.com/channel/news/article/980925/Grass-Roots-predicts-static-venue-rates/Grass Roots has today published research suggesting rates for event venues will remain static this year.Mon Feb 1 08:40:47 CST 2010x11513http://www.hotelnewsnow.com/articles.aspx?articleId=2595&PageType=Featured&ArticleType=1The U.S. hotel industry is projected to end 2010 with decreases in two of the three key performance measurements, according to STR’s monthly forecast update.Wed Jan 27 08:15:09 CST 2010x11507http://www.mimegasite.com/mimegasite/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004062345Despite the economic challenges it experienced in 2009, the incentive travel industry is expecting the start of a slow but certain recovery in 2010, suggests a new study from the Incentive Research Foundation (IRF).Thu Jan 28 08:13:37 CST 2010x11510http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4045172.htmlThe usage of "social media" has undergone explosive growth in recent months driven by what appears to be an almost insatiable desire to "stay connected."Thu Jan 28 08:16:24 CST 2010x11511http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704094304575028640493254352.html?mod=googlenews_wsjThe International Air Transport Association, or IATA, said 2009 showed the worst demand decline in history, despite December traffic improving 4.5% from a year earlier.Wed Jan 27 08:35:11 CST 2010x11509http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gqLgt_pywpJyhVxgPyQUO7snIBfAThe United States is looking to a low-profile UN agency to help set tough new global airline security standards, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and officials said Tuesday.Wed Jan 27 08:30:00 CST 2010x11508http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703822404575019212570293060.html?mod=WSJ_Hospitality_leftHeadlinesTo attract business conferences in these tough times, some luxury resort hotels have resorted to a sort of strategy of last resort: They're dropping the very word "resort" from their names.Tue Jan 26 10:53:40 CST 2010x11504http://www.hospitalitynet.org/external/4045112.htmlRevenue per available room fell 16.7 percent to US$53.71 during 2009, according to year-end reports from Smith Travel Research.Mon Jan 25 08:38:28 CST 2010x11502http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2010/01/18/daily75.htmlThe Washington Convention and Sports Authority filed its own lawsuit in the dispute over a planned convention center hotel, alleging that extortion attempts and abuse of the legal process by a local developer have paralyzed the authority’s attempt to build a convention center hotel.Mon Jan 25 13:05:09 CST 2010x11503http://www.hsmaieconnect.org/external/4045094.htmlOrlando's hotel industry ended 2009 with another bad month in a string of bad months — and, by many measures, its worst year on record.Fri Jan 22 13:47:35 CST 2010x11486http://www.hotelnewsresource.com/article43285Five_crucial_travel_strategies_for_____.htmlThis year, planning your travels isn't just about finding the best price, though that's certainly on everyone's mind. There are also new practicalities to consider that could have just as big an impact on your travels as how much you pay for your ticket.Fri Jan 22 13:50:00 CST 2010x11487http://www.btnonline.com/businesstravelnews/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004061149Reflecting the depths reached by the corporate travel industry in 2009, American Express' global corporate travel sales shrunk 30 percent year over year. That slide, however, seems to have stabilized as its global corporate travel sales were a more moderate 5 percent decrease compared with last year.Fri Jan 22 13:55:50 CST 2010x11488http://www.tradeshowweek.com/article/ca6715620.htmlFor certain destinations, religious, educational – and even sporting – events are helping to keep the meetings business on an even keel.Fri Jan 22 14:02:48 CST 2010x11489http://www.exhibitcitynews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=889:fair-practice-solutions-proposals-debated-in-chicago&catid=42:national&Itemid=123Proposals and counter proposals filled the air as the tradeshow industry in Chicago took center stage at the State Capitol in Springfield, Ill. Behind this flurry of activity and sudden concern was the abrupt announcement recently that two major trade shows would be leaving Chicago for other cities.Fri Jan 22 14:25:59 CST 2010x11490http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100120/NEWS05/1200374/Nashville+convention+center+wins+final+approvalNashville will build a $585 million convention center just south of the downtown arena, betting that bigger and better meeting space will bring more visitors and tax dollars to the city, the Metro Council decided Tuesday.Wed Jan 20 10:04:17 CST 2010x11384http://money.cnn.com/2010/01/20/news/economy/air_traffic_2009/index.htmThe airline industry suffered its largest drop ever in passenger revenue last year as a weak economy grounded many would-be travelers, an industry group said Wednesday.Wed Jan 20 15:07:45 CST 2010x11422http://www.btnonline.com/businesstravelnews/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004060389President Barack Obama's pick to run the Transportation Security Administration, Erroll Southers, today withdrew his nomination from the post as he faced increasing scrutiny from his tenure at the Federal Bureau of Investigation two decades ago and renewed vows to block his confirmation.Wed Jan 20 15:09:35 CST 2010x11423http://www.tradeshowweek.com/article/CA6715148.html?rssid=210Following the announcement by the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) of proposed labor changes at McCormick Place in Chicago, the center's two main contractors - GES Exposition Services and Freeman - released a joint statement criticizing the plan, Tradeshow Week reports.Tue Jan 19 12:22:35 CST 2010x11378http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20100112006444&newsLang=enStarwood plans to add more than 12,000 jobs this year - approximately half of them in the United States - as it opens hotels around the world.Tue Jan 19 12:24:22 CST 2010x11379http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/19/business/19hotels.htmlThough it may seem counterintuitive at a time when many hotels around the country are having trouble filling their rooms, nearly 100 hotels are scheduled to open in major American cities this year.Tue Jan 19 15:08:27 CST 2010x11380http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/DN-meeting_14bus.ART.State.Edition1.3cf7b50.htmlHosting the PCMA Annual Meeting should bring at least 30 additional revenue-generating meetings to Dallas, says the head of the city's convention and visitors bureau.Thu Jan 14 09:16:17 CST 2010x11370http://www.usatoday.com/travel/columnist/grossman/2010-01-12-air-travel-forecast_N.htmBarring the return of the H1N1 flu, an unexpected oil price surge or another unforeseen crisis, air travel may hold a few bright spots in the coming year. Read about eight factors likely to affect air travel for business travelers in 2010.Thu Jan 14 09:12:58 CST 2010x11369http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1316647420100113?type=marketsNewsUnited Airlines has raised the fees it charges to check baggage, following fee hikes by rivals Delta Air Lines and Continental Airlines.Thu Jan 14 09:19:20 CST 2010x11371http://www.hotelnewsnow.com/Articles.aspx?ArticleId=2501&ArticleType=1&PageType=LatestEconomic research firm e-forecasting.com in conjunction with STR announced that the Hotel Industry’s Pulse index gained ground in December.Thu Jan 14 09:21:24 CST 2010x11372http://www.btnonline.com/businesstravelnews/headlines/airline_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004058274Chief executives from American Airlines and Southwest Airlines this week said they don't expect to restore capacity within the next 18 months and that more industry consolidation during that period remains a possibility.Tue Jan 12 12:34:02 CST 2010x11363http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/06/AR2010010601461.html?sid=ST2010010803180Thousands of travelers have quit flying due to the long lines and uncertainty of airport security, and reform of the Transportation Security Administration should be high on the legislative agenda in 2010, National Geographic Traveler’s Christopher Elliott writes in The Washington Post.Tue Jan 12 08:23:23 CST 2010x11360http://image.exct.net/lib/fef51174706103/m/1/MPEA+-+2010+Legislative+PRESS+RELEASE.pdfLabor reforms, cost transparency and debt restructuring are critical for Chicago to compete for conventions and trade shows, according to Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, and officials of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA).Tue Jan 12 08:30:29 CST 2010x11361http://www.visitsaltlake.com/articles/index.cfm?articleID=218&menuID=114By joining forces and co-selling each city, the three sales organizations have the ability to be more competitive by offering possible discounts for booking Salt Lake, Baltimore and Fort Worth in a multiyear deal. If one of the cities is not a good fit for a group, the respective sales team will promote the other two destinations.Tue Jan 12 08:33:19 CST 2010x11362http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/01/11/body.scanners/index.htmlThe Washington-based Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) says the TSA specified in 2008 documents that the machines must have image storage and sending abilities.Mon Jan 11 08:20:50 CST 2010x11359http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/010910dnbuspcma.38999b3.htmlThis week, more than 3,000 members of the Professional Convention Management Association will test Dallas' convention facilities, and its facility at hosting conventions. Future business worth millions of dollars is on the line.Sat Jan 9 14:26:52 CST 2010x11358http://www.btnonline.com/businesstravelnews/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004057450The 19 largest domestic airlines in November collectively recorded their best-ever monthly on-time performance and set a record for the lowest rate of mishandled bags, according to U.S. Department of Transportation data released today.Fri Jan 8 09:53:36 CST 2010x11356http://www.hotelworldnetwork.com/businessgroup/business-travel-not-affected-attempted-airline-attack-7024A survey of more than 150 travel managers by the National Business Travel Association shows that the December 25, 2009 attempted bombing of an Amsterdam-to-Detroit flight is likely to have little impact on business travel levels.Wed Jan 6 21:23:14 CST 2010x11352http://www.btnonline.com/businesstravelnews/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004056768he National Business Travel Association of the United States, the world's largest association for corporate travel professionals, announced today that it has expanded into Europe under the name NBTA Europe.Wed Jan 6 21:26:38 CST 2010x11353http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/05/business/05currency.html?emc=eta1Coming on top of global economic weakness, the dollar’s travails just compounded the financial hardships faced by the professionals who plan and attend overseas meetings.Tue Jan 5 00:00:00 CST 2010x11349http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/us/04webtsa.html?hpCitizens of 14 nations, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Nigeria, who are flying to the United States will be subjected indefinitely to the intense screening at airports worldwide that was imposed after the Christmas Day bombing plot, Obama administration officials announced Sunday.Mon Jan 4 14:30:45 CST 2010x11346http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/kit-eaton/technomix/full-body-scanners-airports-good-bad-and-uglyAs more U.S. airports announce plans to use full-body scanning technology, concerns about privacy are heating up, according to Fast Company.Mon Jan 4 16:13:23 CST 2010x11348http://www.magnetmail.net/actions/email_web_version.cfm?recipient_id=166924154&message_id=897542&user_id=ACTEMore than half of business travel managers expect to rely more on technology-based alternatives to travel in 2010, although doubts about the effectiveness of teleconferencing persist, according to a new survey from the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE).Mon Jan 4 14:28:34 CST 2010x11345http://www.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2009/12/28/meeting-planner.htmlU.S. News & World Report has published its list of the 50 best careers in 2010 — and "meeting planner" is on it.Thu Dec 31 10:00:37 CST 2009x11341http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4044819.htmlWith the arrival of the New Year, there are some encouraging signs that the travel industry is poised for a gradual recovery, although not as quickly as many travel service suppliers would like. The culprit remains the languishing economy.Wed Dec 30 10:22:15 CST 2009x11339http://www.ustravel.org/news/press-releases/travel-industry-calls-urgent-analysis-air-travel-screening-techniquesThe U.S. Travel Association is urging policymakers to embrace screening techniques that meet a three-part test: strengthen security, balance travelers' privacy needs and improve traveler facilitation.Wed Dec 30 10:29:26 CST 2009x11340http://www.tsa.gov/press/happenings/dec25_guidance.shtmOn Dec. 25, 2009, an individual on board Northwest Airlines Flight 253 set off a device and was subdued by passengers and crew. As a result of this incident, TSA has worked with airline and law enforcement authorities, as well as federal, state, local, and international partners to put additional security measures in place to ensure aviation security remains strong.Mon Dec 28 09:40:51 CST 2009x11332http://specialevents.com/economy/special-event-budgets-expected-to-stay-skintight-in-2010-Special-Events-study-says/"Skintight" budgets are the No. 1 challenge facing planners in 2010 - but uncertainty about the economy has dipped slightly, according to a recent survey of event professionals by Special Events magazine.Mon Dec 28 16:49:37 CST 2009x11333http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/25/business/global/25air.html?_r=3&scp=4&sq=airlines&st=cseUnlike U.S. airlines, carriers in the Asia-Pacific region have resisted cutting services and instead are beefing them up, even on low-cost airlines, The New York Times reports.Mon Dec 28 16:52:08 CST 2009x11334http://www.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/12/26/us.passenger.restrictions/index.htmlPassengers flying into the United States from abroad should expect additional security measures at U.S. and international airports after a passenger detonated a device aboard a flight from Amsterdam, Netherlands to Detroit, Michigan, the Transportation Security Administration said Saturday.Mon Dec 28 09:10:54 CST 2009x11331http://www.mimegasite.com/mimegasite/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004054724Speaking to reporters in Chicago, United Airlines Chairman, President and CEO Glenn Tilton said the outlook for business travel is improving as companies become more confident in the prospects of a global economic recovery, Reuters reported.Wed Dec 23 09:00:23 CST 2009x11328http://www.hsmaieconnect.org/news/154000320/4044809.htmlThe U.S. hotel industry posted declines in all three key performance measurements during November, according to data from STR.Wed Dec 23 09:05:33 CST 2009x11329http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/ghost.aspx?ID=/Economic_Studies/Productivity_Performance/Economic_Conditions_Snapshot_December_2009_McKinsey_Global_Survey_results_2490For the first time in 2009, a majority of business executives — 54 percent — expect consumer demand to rise in the short term, according to a global survey conducted by McKinsey and Company.Mon Dec 21 12:55:42 CST 2009x11324http://www.dot.gov/affairs/2009/dot19909.htmU.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced a new rule that significantly strengthens protections afforded to consumers by, among other things, establishing a hard time limit after which U.S. airlines must allow passengers to deplane from domestic flights.Mon Dec 21 15:02:54 CST 2009x11326http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/apps/vendors/default.aspx?i=PRNEWSContinental Airlines will begin rolling out in-flight Wi-Fi service in the second quarter of 2010 on its Boeing 757 aircraft.Mon Dec 21 12:57:51 CST 2009x11325http://www.tradeshowweek.com/article/CA6711884.htmlThe Convention Industry Council recently announced it was launching a trade and consumer marketing campaign promoting the face-to-face industry, "Face Time. It Matters." The new campaign will work with the U.S. Travel Assn.'s "Meetings Mean Business" campaign to promote all sides of the industry, CIC officials said.Thu Dec 17 13:06:34 CST 2009x11319http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/new-pkf-report-projects-accelerated-recovery-for-u.s.-lodging-industry/PKF Hospitality Research (PKF-HR) today announced that, according to its December 2009 edition of Hotel Horizons, the pace of recovery of the U.S. lodging industry has accelerated from previous expectations.Wed Dec 16 14:29:52 CST 2009x11314http://www.hotelnewsresource.com/article42769.htmlThis week, economic research firm e-forecasting.com in conjunction with Smith Travel Research announced HIP hit another bump in November.Wed Dec 16 08:34:36 CST 2009x11313http://www.eibtm.com/files/3464_eibtm_industry_report_print_2009_v6_notrim.pdfMany industry professionals believe that the public perception of meetings and events has become one of the most influential trends in the industry - and will continue to be so, according the EIBTM 2009 Industry Trends and Market Share Report, a comprehensive analysis of the global meetings market based on industry sources, including Convene's18th Annual Meetings Market Survey.Mon Dec 14 16:12:06 CST 2009x11309http://www.tradeshowweek.com/article/CA6711009.html?industryid=HotelFrom the "Vegas backlash" to "bankruptcy," Tradeshow Week looks back at the highs and lows of the year in meetings and exhibitions.Mon Dec 14 16:14:11 CST 2009x11310http://www.destinationmarketing.org/page.asp?pid=373The Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) developed by Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) has accredited 101 destination marketing organizations (DMO), including nine that were announced this week.Mon Dec 14 16:16:22 CST 2009x11311http://www.mimegasite.com/mimegasite/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004052190Hotels provide city, county and state governments with much needed tax revenues, and infuse local economies with millions of dollars every year, shows a new case study from the Destination & Travel Foundation.Thu Dec 10 08:22:43 CST 2009x11263http://www.hsmaieconnect.org/news/154000320/4044667.htmlThere’s no doubt that travel lends itself to online discussion. Travel blogs, community sites, and user reviews litter the internet landscape. What’s interesting though is how being a part of the online conversation is fast becoming an integral part of strategic planning as oppose to being an added ‘nice-to-have’.Thu Dec 10 08:26:48 CST 2009x11264http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0916843920091209?type=marketsNewsThe U.S. airline industry is seeing consistent signs of recovery that point to improved outlooks in 2010, executives at several top carriers said on Wednesday.Thu Dec 10 08:37:03 CST 2009x11265http://www.tradeshowweek.com/article/CA6709523.html?nid=2795&rid=150650807&source=titleThe number of trade show managers who expect revenue growth in 2010 — 31 percent — narrowly exceeds the 30 percent of respondents who anticipate declines, according to a Tradeshow Week survey. The largest group — 38 percent of respondents — expects revenue to remain flat.Tue Dec 8 08:35:18 CST 2009x11258http://www.ustravel.org/resources/Public_Affairs/Releases/U.S._Travel_JobCreationLetters_12.2.09.pdfU.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow stressed the power of the travel industry to create jobs, and recommended seven actions the federal government should take, in an open letter to President Obama and members of Congress, following the White House Jobs Summit.Tue Dec 8 08:36:35 CST 2009x11259http://view.exacttarget.com/?j=fe9011707260037f73&m=fef81c717d6105&ls=fe2a16767c63047d711578&l=ff951373&s=fe2117747d6603757d1575&jb=ffcf14&ju=fe581174736c047f701d&r=0The Destination & Travel Foundation (a consolidation of the charitable and educational arms of the U.S. Travel Association and Destination Marketing Association International) has published a case study of Phoenix’s hotel-tax contributions, which shows that the average hotel guest room generated 8 percent more annually in property taxes than the average household, while using a fraction of local government services.Tue Dec 8 08:37:59 CST 2009x11260http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4044562.htmlIt’s almost time to close the door on 2009 and for most hoteliers, not a moment too soon.Thu Dec 3 18:35:14 CST 2009x11256http://www.btnonline.com/businesstravelnews/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004050519The Internal Revenue Service today announced that it is lowering its 2010 standard mileage rate to 50 cents per mile from the 55-cent rate for 2009.Thu Dec 3 18:43:04 CST 2009x11257http://www.conventionindustry.org/aboutcic/pr/pr%202008/NewandImprovedCMPApplicationtoLaunchJanuary1.htmThe CMP Board of Directors has approved a new streamlined CMP application which will take effect January 1, 2010. The updated application has been modified to ensure relevancy to a broader global meeting professional while maintaining the high standards of the credential.Wed Dec 2 08:51:42 CST 2009x11254http://www.hotelnewsnow.com/Articles.aspx?ArticleId=2242&ArticleType=0U.S. hotel industry rates, revenue, and occupancy will begin to recover in 2011, according to Smith Travel Research, which predicts a 5.5-percent annual increase in revenue per available room.Mon Nov 30 12:14:39 CST 2009x11250http://www.tradeshowweek.com/article/CA6708531.html?industryid=49070Nearly half of all exhibitors think exhibition services costs have risen by more than 5 percent since last year, and 47 percent are unhappy with their tradeshow performance, according to the Tradeshow Week Annual Corporate Exhibitors SurveyMon Nov 30 12:17:08 CST 2009x11251http://www2.nbta.org/usa/pressreleases/Pages/rls112509.aspxThe U.S. Department of Transportation has drawn praise from the National Business Travel Association (NBTA) for fining Continental, ExpressJet, and Mesaba Airlines a total of $175,000 for an Aug. 8 incident that stranded passengers on an aircraft for six hours.Mon Nov 30 12:19:22 CST 2009x11252http://www.hotelnewsresource.com/article42450.htmlThe U.S. hotel industry posted declines in all three key performance measurements during October, according to data from STR.Mon Nov 30 10:13:40 CST 2009x11245http://blog.ceir.org/roi-tool-kit/ceir-president-doug-ducate-on-recessions-we%E2%80%99ve-been-there-before%E2%80%A6one-man%E2%80%99s-opinion-about-this-onePreliminary data indicates that the exhibition industry declined by 13.5 percent in the third quarter of this year compared with 2008, according to the latest CEIR (Center for Exhibition Industry Research) Index. The decline marks the sixth consecutive quarter of negative growthMon Nov 23 10:18:16 CST 2009x11234http://www.btnonline.com/businesstravelnews/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004044531The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has proposed that the Global Entry pilot program — which automates the customs process at 20 U.S. entry points for prescreened travelers who pay a fee — be made permanent, which would allow it to expand.Mon Nov 23 10:20:33 CST 2009x11235http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704533904574543642283583488.htmlIf you're planning to fly this Thanksgiving, be prepared for some fresh hassles at the airport. New security rules, changes in airline staffing and holiday crowds mean that vacationers—especially those who haven't flown in a while—may need more time and money to navigate travel.Fri Nov 20 10:45:21 CST 2009x11231http://www.hotelnewsresource.com/article42368.htmlHealth care reform is an important topic for the hotel industry because it is directly related to labor costs which are usually the largest operating expense for a hotel. In 2008, total hotel labor costs equaled 32.9 percent of revenue and 45.8 percent of all operating expenses.Thu Nov 19 12:09:51 CST 2009x11229http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/18/AR2009111803493.htmlThe luxury Ritz-Carlton hotel chain will cease to be a stand-alone division under the Marriott International umbrella as part of a reorganization that the Bethesda-based company plans to complete by 2011.Thu Nov 19 12:13:18 CST 2009x11230http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4044352.htmlHotel managers are not the only party at the negotiating table. Meeting planners have also been given the challenge of setting up effective events at the least possible cost.Wed Nov 18 12:20:06 CST 2009x11226http://www.hsmaieconnect.org/news/154000320/4044357.htmlEconomic research firm e-forecasting.com, in conjunction with Smith Travel Research, has announced the Hotel Industry’s Pulse index edged back up in October after hitting a snag the previous month.Wed Nov 18 12:43:18 CST 2009x11227http://www.hsmaieconnect.org/news/154000320/4044328.htmlAlthough its contribution to global GDP has slipped further in 2009, and the recovery will be slow, Travel & Tourism remains a key engine of growth, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.Tue Nov 17 09:06:10 CST 2009x11223http://www.siteglobal.com/Portals/0/Library/Site_Index_FocusOnTheEconomy-S1.pdfHalf of motivational-events professionals believe the industry will rebound to pre-recession levels within two years, while the other half think it will take more than two years, according to the Site International Foundation's latest Site Index.Tue Nov 17 09:08:10 CST 2009x11224http://www.toronto2015.org/lang/en/news/toronto-region-wins-2015-pan-parapan-american-gamesToronto has been chosen to host the 2015 Pan-American Games on July 10-26, 2015, and the 2015 Parapan American Games on Aug. 7-14.Tue Nov 17 09:10:08 CST 2009x11225http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5i5vz_fCGx6cls8BBoXruJ8PvCcqwU.S. hotel room prices are expected to drop a total of 8.8 per cent in 2009 compared to 2008 and will continue creeping down in 2010, though at a much slower rate, according to the 2010 lodging forecast from PricewaterhouseCoopers Hospitality&Leisure Practice.Fri Nov 13 10:51:45 CST 2009x11221http://www.mcmag.com/article_ektid30640.aspxThirty-nine percent of international association executives anticipate higher attendance at their major events in 2010 vs. 2009 figures, according to a joint study by the International Congress and Convention Association and IMEX.Thu Nov 12 11:55:49 CST 2009x11215http://www.mimegasite.com/mimegasite/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004041753IMEX, Europe's largest and most important meetings industry exhibition, has announced several speakers and workshops for Association Day 2010.Thu Nov 12 11:58:35 CST 2009x11216http://www.mimegasite.com/mimegasite/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004041002For the first time in its five-year history, the United States has been ranked No. 1 in FutureBrand's Country Brand Index (CBI) study, which also named the country the world's fourth best conference destination.Wed Nov 11 11:14:39 CST 2009x11213http://www.btnonline.com/businesstravelnews/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004041754Marriott International next year will introduce U.S. Green Building Council-certified prototypes for its midprice, select-service and extended stay brands, the company announced today.Wed Nov 11 11:25:31 CST 2009x11214http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4044200.htmlThe U.S. Travel Association today announced that projected modest 2010 increases in leisure, business and international inbound travel will enable the industry to add nearly 90,000 American jobs.Fri Nov 6 11:59:32 CST 2009x11167http://www2.nbta.org/usa/pressreleases/Pages/rls110609.aspxThe National Business Travel Association debuted its Strategic Meetings Management Certification (SMMC) with a sold-out inaugural program at Emory University in Atlanta on Nov. 2–6Mon Nov 9 13:22:22 CST 2009x11169http://www.mimegasite.com/mimegasite/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004040626At the urging of travel industry associations, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has withdrawn its plan for a 10 percent increase of fees paid by travelers entering the United States, the National Business Travel Association (NBTA) announced this week.Mon Nov 9 13:30:05 CST 2009x11170http://www.mimegasite.com/mimegasite/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004037058Hyatt Hotels Corp. shares began trading on the New York Stock Exchange Thursday as the company completed a nearly $1 billion initial public offering, taking the company public for the first time in decades.Fri Nov 6 11:55:38 CST 2009x11166http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=ajhWbfs7OuZw&pos=5Hyatt Hotels Corp., the chain controlled by Chicago’s Pritzker family, raised $950 million in the third-largest U.S. initial public offering this year, after bankers in the past week were forced to pull three IPOs.Thu Nov 5 09:10:48 CST 2009x11163http://www.mimegasite.com/mimegasite/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004032698Eighty-three percent of associations currently are using one or more digital tools to market and execute their events, although most are not yet using those tools to their full potential, according to a new survey from Champion Exposition Services, a San Francisco-based event and tradeshow marketing firm.Thu Nov 5 09:14:10 CST 2009x11164http://www.btnonline.com/businesstravelnews/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004032678Egencia projects average ticket prices to annually increase in nearly all top North American business travel markets in 2010, with some cities even expected to experience double-digit percentage-point hikes, according to its 2010 Corporate Travel Forecast and Hotel Negotiability Index, released this week.Wed Nov 4 08:47:10 CST 2009x11161http://www.exhibitorsdaily.com/index.php/news/86-0910/1670-eic-formed-to-combat-industry-concernsFive meetings industry associations have joined together to form the Exhibit Industry Council (EIC) to advocate for trade-show exhibitors and promote best practices at trade shows, exhibitions, and events: Corporate Event Marketers Association (CEMA), Exhibit Designers & Producers Association (EDPA), Exhibitor Appointed Contractor Association (EACA), Healthcare Exhibitors Association (HCEA), and Trade Show Exhibitors Association (TSEA).Tue Nov 3 07:18:02 CST 2009x11156http://www.championexpo.com/press_releases/102910_SOCIALMEDIASURVEY.pdfA survey by Champion Exposition Services (CES) reveals that 83 percent of associations use digital media tools, and that a growing number use Facebook (67 percent), Twitter (54 percent), and LinkedIn (48 percent.)Tue Nov 3 07:20:15 CST 2009x11157http://mailcenter.newmediagateway.com/dcvb/main/index.php?action=viewsenthtml&id=8143&ids=a1eb95b37512e5744513f265b6838497c28f3dc6&viewers%20%20%253C%20MeDonald S. (Don) Freeman, Jr., chairman of Freeman, has been appointed by Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert to chair the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau for the 2009–2010 fiscal year.Tue Nov 3 07:22:28 CST 2009x11158http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/wingingit/66019968.htmlDespite President Obama's declaration of a national emergency to deal with the rapid spread of swine flu, the vast majority of the companies aren't canceling meetings or business trips because of it.Tue Oct 27 07:07:21 CDT 2009x11138http://www.btnonline.com/businesstravelnews/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004030783The Association of Corporate Travel Executives announced that executive director Susan Gurley has resigned and will leave the organization Dec. 31.Thu Oct 29 09:24:50 CDT 2009x11140http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704222704574499624180541580.htmlTravelocity.com LP plans to announce that travelers who book hotels on its Web site, and then later find the same reservation at a lower price online anytime before the day of check-in, will be refunded the difference between the prices.Thu Oct 29 09:27:48 CDT 2009x11141http://www2.nbta.org/usa/pressreleases/Pages/rls102009.aspxMore than half of travel buyers expect their travel spending to increase in 2010, while 31 percent expect no change from 2009, according to a new report from the National Business Travel Association.Mon Oct 26 14:45:37 CDT 2009x11136http://www.ceir.org/The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) has just released The Power of Exhibitions in the 21st Century, a large-scale analysis of generational differences in perceptions and attitudes about the exhibitions and events industry.Mon Oct 26 14:52:49 CDT 2009x11137http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/10/24/h1n1.obama/index.htmlPresident Obama on Saturday declared a national emergency to deal with the "rapid increase in illness" from the H1N1 influenza virus.Sat Oct 24 12:49:35 CDT 2009x11135http://www.meetingnews.com/mimegasite/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004029066President Barack Obama so far has visited more countries in his first year in office than any other U.S. president before him, McClatchy Newspapers recently reported, prompting the meetings industry to hold him up as an example, citing his busy travel schedule as proof of the power of business travel and face-to-face meetings.Wed Oct 21 16:03:45 CDT 2009x11129http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/DN-amrearns_22bus.ART0.State.Edition1.3cf20aa.htmlThree major airlines said Wednesday that it appears the industry is showing slow improvement from its lows earlier this year, though fares, revenue and profit still lag far behind what they'd like to see.Thu Oct 22 10:14:05 CDT 2009x11131http://www.mimegasite.com/mimegasite/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004024217The number of travel managers who expect their company's travel policies to become tighter in the next 12 months for the first time has crossed 50 percent, according to an AirPlus International survey released on Friday. The survey of 1,500 travel managers—100 each from 15 countries, including Brazil, China, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States—was fielded in February and March.Wed Oct 21 16:06:30 CDT 2009x11130http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2009-10-12-business-travel-outlook_N.htmIncreases in business travel spending are expected to happen slowly and to be small, USA Today reports.Mon Oct 19 14:14:41 CDT 2009x11098http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/16/business/16fees.html?_r=2&scp=1&sq=fee%20wars&st=cseDomestic and international airlines are introducing new fees, for everything from advance seat selection to surcharges for travel on popular travel days.Mon Oct 19 14:17:55 CDT 2009x11099http://www.conventionindustry.org/aboutcic/pr/pr%202008/CICAnnouncesInauguralCMPGlobalExamDay.htmThe Convention Industry Council (CIC) is adding a CMP Global Exam Day on Feb. 20, 2010, with testing locations to include Mexico, South Korea, Singapore, South Africa, and Italy.Mon Oct 19 14:20:26 CDT 2009x11100http://www.mimegasite.com/mimegasite/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004022693The Hotel Industry Pulse has slowed down after two months of increases. The HIP, an indicator of hotel business growth, had declined 2.1 percent in September, bringing the current level to 79.7.Mon Oct 19 09:49:59 CDT 2009x11094http://www.btnonline.com/businesstravelnews/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004021780Business travel prices in 2010 will begin to curl upward, primarily led by airfares, as suppliers work to regain their pricing power lost in the last year from the economic downturn and subsequent plummet in travel demand, according to corporate travel consultancy Advito's 2010 preliminary industry forecast, which it released to BTN today.Thu Oct 15 09:08:12 CDT 2009x11089http://www.rttnews.com/Content/TopStories.aspx?Node=B1&Id=1093741&Category=Top%20StoriesStocks rose by substantial margins on Wednesday, as the day's news on the earnings and economic fronts generated considerable buying interest.Thu Oct 15 09:02:44 CDT 2009x11087http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS124899+13-Oct-2009+BW20091013As most C-level executives look to gain greater control of travel program spend moving into the 2010 budgeting season, American Express Business Travel, a global industry leader in business travel management, today announced cXo planning dashboard (cXo).Thu Oct 15 09:05:13 CDT 2009x11088http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-GreenBusiness/idUSTRE5974A120091008The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) - the United Nations' agency for information-technology issues - is promoting videoconferencing as a way to reduce global warming, Reuters reports.Mon Oct 12 15:46:49 CDT 2009x10989http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/08/business/global/08swine.html?_r=3&scp=10&sqAirports, hotels, and airlines are taking preventive measures - including dispensing hand sanitizer and posting hand-washing information - against the spread of H1N1 flu, The New York Times reportsMon Oct 12 15:48:58 CDT 2009x10990http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704252004574459083159765074.htmlAirline domestic seat capacity is 5 percent lower in October 2009 than it was in October 2008 - and more route cuts are coming, according to The Wall Street Journal.Mon Oct 12 15:52:30 CDT 2009x10991http://www.ustravel.org/pressmedia/pressrec.asp?Item=998The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1035, the "Travel Promotion Act," with strong bipartisan support, by a vote of 358 to 66. The legislation creates a public-private partnership to promote the United States as a premier travel destination and better explain U.S. security policies. The Senate passed identical legislation earlier in September, but procedural dynamics require an additional Senate vote anticipated in the coming weeks.Thu Oct 8 08:05:34 CDT 2009x10950http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/10/06/security.screening/index.htmlThe days of being able to walk through airport security checkpoints while wearing shoes and a jacket could return if an experimental program proves successful, some Department of Homeland Security officials say.Wed Oct 7 09:51:36 CDT 2009x10905http://www.ustravel.org/pressmedia/pressrec.asp?Item=997The International Olympic Committee’s first-round elimination of Chicago as the site for the 2016 Summer Olympics underscores the "need to change impressions of what the experience of travel to the U.S. is like for international visitors" — beginning with passage of the Travel Promotion Act, according to Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U. S. Travel Association.Tue Oct 6 08:57:50 CDT 2009x10865http://www.aibtm.com/page.cfm/Action=Press/pressID=2/nocache=trueThe inaugural Americas Incentive Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (AIBTM) will be held June 21–23, 2011, in Baltimore, Reed Travel Exhibitions has announced.Tue Oct 6 09:00:27 CDT 2009x10866http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/news/releases/pressrelease.aspx?ID=2009221Despite perceptions that "Generation Yers are spoiled and entitled," a new J.D. Power and Associates report that analyzes online conversations between people ages 22–29 finds that Generation Yers are "becoming particularly value-conscious and focused on finding employers that offer stability and long term growth opportunities."Tue Oct 6 09:02:32 CDT 2009x10867http://www.mimegasite.com/mimegasite/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004017174American Express Business Travel expects a pent up need for travel and meetings to be unleashed in 2010. This increased demand will likely cause rates to slightly increase in most travel categories by the end of 2010, according to the American Express Global Business Travel Forecast released today.Fri Oct 2 08:44:35 CDT 2009x10835http://meetingsnet.com/associationmeetings/news/0929-asae-survey-virtual-meetings-popular/A new study by ASAE and The Center reveals a growing interest by association professionals in attending virtual meetings. The study is a follow-up to one that was conducted in January 2009; both surveys measure how association professionals have reacted during the current recession.Wed Sep 30 13:26:56 CDT 2009x10833http://image.exct.net/lib/fef51174706103/m/1/SpeedRFP+Announcement+Release+-+Distribution+Version.pdfLeaders of the meeting and hotel industries came together at a press briefing at the 2009 Motivation Show to unveil SpeedRFP (www.SpeedRFP.com), a new product for creating, submitting and tracking RFPs online.Thu Oct 1 07:34:29 CDT 2009x10834http://www.mimegasite.com/mimegasite/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004016019Spending declines and discounting will likely continue, but the travel industry may finally be poised for a rebound.Wed Sep 30 13:22:59 CDT 2009x10832http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssFinancialServicesAndRealEstateNews/idUSBNG54230520090924There is "some evidence" that companies are beginning to increase their travel budgets, although a recovery in the hotel industry won't come before 2010, Andrew Cosslett, chief executive of the InterContinental Hotels Group, tells The Wall Street Journal.Mon Sep 28 18:32:38 CDT 2009x10829http://www.portlandonline.com/mayor/index.cfm?c=49519&a=263767Citing the "current economic climate," city and county officials in Portland, Ore., have let a development agreement to build a headquarters hotel for the Oregon Convention Center expire.Mon Sep 28 18:34:59 CDT 2009x10830http://www.btnonline.com/businesstravelnews/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004015802Business Travel News' 22nd annual Corporate Travel 100 benchmarking report shows a decline in overall spending for the largest buyers of business travel to $10.3 billion in 2008 from $11.2 billion in 2007. Declines in travel spending are poised to be even more dramatic this year, as aggressive budget cuts, tightened policies and increased use of travel alternatives expanded late last year and continue well into 2009, companies report.Mon Sep 28 18:37:01 CDT 2009x10831http://www.hotelresource.com/trends-detail-sid-41294.htmlThe U.S. hotel industry posted declines in all three key performance measurements during August, according to data from STR.Wed Sep 23 16:01:36 CDT 2009x10788http://www.hsmaieconnect.org/news/154000320/4043499.htmlHilton Worldwide (formerly Hilton Hotels Corporation), the leading global hospitality company, today announced the launch of its new corporate name and logo.Wed Sep 23 16:04:14 CDT 2009x10789http://www.btnonline.com/businesstravelnews/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004015087The Air Transport Association, which represents the largest domestic passenger airlines, could be amenable to "a firm time limit on tarmac delays for domestic flights," according to a Transportation Department official.Wed Sep 23 16:08:10 CDT 2009x10791http://www.asaecenter.org/files/economyresources/impact%20study%20summer%202009.pdfMore than twice as many association members believe their employment situation will get better in the coming year, compared with those who think it will get worse, according to a new study from ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership — but despite their increased optimism, many respondents are still wary about spending money on member dues.Mon Sep 21 13:55:20 CDT 2009x10680http://www.acte.org/resources/press_release.php?id=434The Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) has recommended that its members emporarily stop shaking hands, to help halt the spread of the H1N1 virus.Mon Sep 21 13:57:39 CDT 2009x10681http://www.visitdallas.com/media/conv_center_hotel/Dallas officials broke ground on Sept. 15 for the city-financed Omni Dallas Convention Center Hotel, a 23-story, 1,000-room property that is scheduled to open in early 2012.Mon Sep 21 14:00:37 CDT 2009x10682http://www.ustravel.org/resources/PDFs/ROI/9-03-09_Oxford_Economics.pdfOxford study on the real value of business travel as it relates to the impact on individual company performance and, by extension, the performance of the U.S. economy.Wed Sep 16 11:54:56 CDT 2009x10511http://image.exct.net/lib/fef51174706103/m/1/Starwood+Press+Release.pdfStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced today that the company scored a 100 percent rating on the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) sixth annual Corporate Equality Index and is a recipient of the HRC “Best Places to Work” award.Wed Sep 16 11:51:06 CDT 2009x10510http://charlotte.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2009/09/14/daily24.htmlWorldwide airline losses will total $11 billion this year, the International Air Transport Association forecasts. Industry revenue for the year is expected to fall 15 percent to $455 billion from $535 billion in 2008.Wed Sep 16 16:05:21 CDT 2009x10517http://meetingsnet.com/corporatemeetingsincentives/news/0914-cic-public-messaging-task-force/The Convention Industry Council has launched a public messaging task force to improve the image of meetings, the latest industry effort to battle the negative public perception of events and business travel. CIC has hired YPartnership Inc., a well-known advertising, public relations, and marketing company in the hospitality industry, to develop half a dozen key messages for CIC's 34 member associations to use for internal and external communications this fall.Tue Sep 15 07:46:47 CDT 2009x10463http://www.iccaworld.com/npps/story.cfm?ID=1964More than half of international association executives expect attendance at their 2009 events to hold steady or increase over 2008, according to new data from the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) and IMEX.Mon Sep 14 14:32:35 CDT 2009x10460http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32761683International air travel is showing signs of recovery but might not bounce back fully until 2011, Boeing Vice President for Marketing Randy Tinseth said at the 2009 Asian Aerospace International Expo and Congress last week.Mon Sep 14 14:36:25 CDT 2009x10461http://www.ahla.com/content.aspx?id=27290&The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) has issued H1N1 Influenza Management in Hotels, a free 26-page report for lodging professionals to use in managing potential flu outbreaks at their properties.Tue Sep 15 08:50:03 CDT 2009x10464http://www.ustravel.org/pressmedia/pressrec.asp?Item=993The U.S. Senate passed S. 1023, the “Travel Promotion Act,” with strong bipartisan support, 79 to 19. The legislation creates a public-private partnership to promote the United States as a premier travel destination and better explain U.S. security policies.Thu Sep 10 07:09:44 CDT 2009x10451http://www.mimegasite.com/mimegasite/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004009718Although it can sometimes help them execute meetings that are more affordable and more convenient, a majority of meeting and event planners agree that technology is no substitute for face-to-face meetings and events, according to a pre-conference survey of attendees by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI).Thu Sep 10 11:02:32 CDT 2009x10452http://www.hsmaieconnect.org/news/154000370/4043196.htmlAs the recession unfolds, a growing number of budget-minded business travelers are shifting to lower-price hotels, whether by choice or because their bosses are telling them to.Wed Sep 2 12:18:53 CDT 2009x10442http://www.mimegasite.com/mimegasite/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004008117Despite the controversial release by Scottish authorities of convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdul Baset Ali al-Megrahi, Scotland's convention and visitors bureau has said it's unconcerned about potential travel cancellations by Americans.Wed Sep 2 12:17:27 CDT 2009x10441http://www.tradeshowweek.com/article/CA6687140.html?rssid=210Team San Jose President and CEO Dan Fenton said he will not suspend the exclusive contract with Teamsters Local 287 to provide labor at the San Jose (Calif.) McEnery Convention Center, which representatives from IAEE, SISO and ESCA asked for during a meeting Aug. 27 in San Jose.Wed Sep 2 12:16:10 CDT 2009x10440