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US Cities |
New Orleans : built to host events
hen it comes to experiential meetings that leave a lasting impression , there is
W no better destination than New Orleans .
Flagship congress centre , the New Orleans Ernest N . Morial Conventions Center ( NOENMCC ) is in the middle of a $ 557m capital improvement strategy that includes everything from the roof to the meeting rooms . And that doesn ’ t include the 7.5 acres of Convention Center Boulevard they have transformed into a pedestrian park and outdoor event space . In 2021 , the Centre achieved its first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ( LEED ) Gold certification , and also completed a
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$ 20.6m project to reduce energy-related expenses .
There is a new Four Seasons Hotel & Residences at the foot of Canal Street at the Mississippi River and the Caesar ’ s Superdome will conclude a $ 450m , five-year renovation in time for Super
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Left : Immerse in New Orleans vibrant cultural experience |
Bowl 2025 . Caesar ’ s Entertainment , Inc . invested $ 435m to renovate and rebrand Harrah ’ s Casino , including a new 340- room hotel tower opening in autumn 2024 .
Visitors can enjoy the cultural assets New Orleans is known for , like the French quarter and the Garden District alongside immersive experiences like Jam NOLA , and Vue Orleans , a cultural museum .
New Orleans has a thriving medical and scientific community . Tulane University will be awarded up to $ 23m to create an imaging system that will give doctors the ability to scan a tumour during surgery and determine within minutes whether any cancer tissue has been left behind .
In 2021 , New Orleans launched the Built to Host initiative designed to support local businesses . This involves highlighting the whole cultural experience including world-renowned cuisine and vibrant live entertainment
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Seattle : connecting to corporates
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VB Visit Seattle says a large share of the city ’ s event bookings come from medical , scientific , educational , and technology associations and , increasingly , corporate groups .
Seattle is built on a history of innovation and entrepreneurship and the opening of Seattle Convention Center ’ s Summit building has doubled capacity – crucial to a city seeking to attract more corporate groups . Previously , the Center ’ s space would often be booked by associations before corporate planners were ready to secure space .
In August 2024 Seattle hosted the Corporate Event Marketing Association ’ s CEMA Summit which drew 600 meeting professionals .
“ Given our geographic location , we are an ideal meeting destination for groups with significant attendee bases travelling from Europe and Asia , and SEA Airport ’ s new International Arrivals Facility seeks to enhance the delegate experience from the moment they touch
Above : Seattle , a creative canvas for corporate events down in Seattle ,” the bureau tells CMW . In 2023 , the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections ( CROI ) met at Seattle Convention Center ’ s Summit building and , in 2023 , Seattle hosted the Asia- Pacific Economic Co-operation ’ s Senior Officials Meeting . That brought 6,000 delegates from 21 member economies .
Visit Seattle says it is now common for sustainability to be mentioned in the RFP process with groups asking not just about the host facility , but also about local suppliers . “ Most commonly , we have groups asking about local food sourcing , energy procurement , and establishing a positive community impact . Seattle excels in these areas ,” the bureau reports .
Seattle Convention Center has two LEED-certified buildings and a waste diversion rate of 78 %. Despite this , the bureau notes budget still dictates exactly how a group will ultimately incorporate such aspects into their final programme . n
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