Here's TTGmice's weekly round-up of MICE developments outside of Asia-Pacific.
US: A ‘pawsitive’ meeting experience with Renaissance Reno Downtown
The Renaissance Reno Downtown Hotel in Reno, Nevada, has launched a Puppy Meetings Package that offers groups a 30-minute play date with four-legged friends.
The break promises to unleash the benefits of interacting with pets – which range from mood improvement to reduced stress – with the goal of higher productivity and a more “pawsitive” meeting experience. A portion of the proceeds from the package will also be donated to the animal rescue organization of the meeting planner’s choice.
The Puppy Meetings Package is valid for events at Renaissance Reno Downtown Hotel with 25 or more attendees. The 214-key pet-friendly hotel can cater to groups of up to 650 with eight event rooms.
Canada: Capital city launches ThinkOttawa ambassador programme
Ottawa Tourism, Shaw Centre and Invest Ottawa have collaborated to launch an ambassador programme to bring more conferences and conventions to Canada’s capital city.
In addition to attracting potential ambassadors, the ThinkOttawa programme will also offer a number of solutions and support services to help win and deliver events across the city.
“Ambassador programmes are not unusual in the world of association conferences and congresses but we wanted to go the extra mile and create a truly bespoke offering for those individuals wanting to get involved,” commented Ottawa Tourism’s vice president, meetings and major events, Lesley Mackay.
“Specifically, we are looking to help those individuals become leaders, share knowledge, connect, introduce ThinkOttawa and identify opportunities for the city. As Canada’s capital we are home to national and international association representatives all looking to host events in creative and inspiring spaces. We want to show them why Ottawa is the perfect destination and how easy it is to hold events here.”
Spain: Fira de Barcelona’s two sites slated for expansion
Barcelona’s trade fair institution Fira de Barcelona will be expanding its two event venues – Gran Via and Montjuïc.
Designed by Japanese architect Toyo Ito, Gran Via currently has a total exhibition area of 240,000m2, which will be extended by 60,000m2 with the construction of a new two-storey building, and premises for offices and services. The expansion is scheduled for completion in 2024, and will bring the venue’s total size to 300,000m2.
Meanwhile, the Montjuïc venue will be remodelled to include functional, versatile and sustainable facilities. Once remodelled, the Montjuïc site will be able to host fairs by offering modular solutions that can adapt to the needs of a wide range of events. The Alfons XIII palace with its auditorium will then be used to host congresses, while the Victòria Eugenia palace used for cultural events. This €380 million (US$429) major infrastructure project has a target completion date of 2029.
