GREATERWILMINGTON, DE // MINNESOTA-// SOUTHTEXAS I IDAHO

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BRENDARIVERS PRESIDENT& CEO ANDAVOMEETINGS , INCENTIVESAND CONSULTING hile the news the Nashville CVB, perhaps a bit tongue­ and entertainment space. out of Nashville in-cheek but adding that 500 rooms have I The 260-room Virgin Hotel, with already come on-line in the three months 10,000 square feet of meeting space, duringPCMA's following the close of Convening Leaders. is scheduled to open downtown in January2018 "We didn't have the supp ly when we first December 2019. W opened the convention center and the I The 217-room MargaritavilleHotel, ConveningLeaders was all Omni [Nashville] Hotel opened in 2014. with 4,000 square feet of meeting space, aboutMusic City's full to Frankly, now we almost have the opposite is scheduled to open in the SoBro problem in that we have so much supp ly:' neighborhood in December 2019. burstinghotel pipeline, it's Major new hotels and other develop­ I The 169-room Dream Nashville, with alsoa refrainthat playsin ments include the following: 3,265 square feet of meeting space, I The JWMarriott Nashville is set to is scheduled to open downtown in othercities in the central­ contribute 533 rooms and 50,000 square December 2018. west part of the state. feet of meeting space downtown in a I Holston House, part of Hyatt's Unbound 33-story glass tower offering panoramic Collection, opened downtown near Nashville views of the Nashville skyline. The Broadway in January 2018 with 191 With a music offering that is second to property, which will feature the award­ rooms and five meeting venues offering none and a restaurant scene that is starting winning Bourbon Steak by famed a total of 2,233 square feet of space. to get international attention , Nashville has restaurateur Michael Mina, is projected I The four-acre, three-level SoundWaves always had the goods for groups if not the to open in July 2018 and is located indoor /outdoor waterpark is scheduled guest rooms to accommodate them . adjacent to Music City Center and near to open in late 2018 at Gaylord Opryland. That's changing in a big, big way, with the Bridgestone Arena. 14,246 rooms in the pipeline and 5,345 I A 591-room Hyatt Regency with Of course, the longtime group favorite is rooms under construction, according to 70,000 square feet of meeting space Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention the Nashville CVB. In 2018 alone 14 hotels is schedu led to open downtown in Center, which has grown by leaps and with 2,639 rooms are set to open. May 2020 in a new mixed-use urban bounds to epitomize the modern massive "Every corner has a hotel going up­ development. The $1 billion Nashville convention property since its opening in we're busier than a one-armed paper Yards will offer a total of 1,100 hotel 1977. The mammoth property boasts 2,882 hanger;' said Kay Witt, chief sales officer for rooms and 600,000 square feet of retail guest rooms, more than 100 conference

88 M f l d // 07 18 ' .. ·· • Mu,pl'rr0 '11,,e,,_ , r GRACELANDDIN ING, MEMPHIS ROOM, MEMPHIS and breakout rooms, six ballrooms and Ry­ top-shelf music destinations, either, being Memphis include a $140 million expan ­ man Exhibit Hall, with more than 260,000 a birthplace of the blues and the home of sion to Elvis Presley's Graceland campus square feet of space, making it the largest Elvis. and a new Bass Pro Shops at the Memphis non-gaming, in-hotel exhibit space in the The big news here is a major expansion Pyramid, including a 103-room Big Cypress world, according to the property. of the Memphis Cook Convention Center, wilderness-style hotel. Other attractions While lots of new product is the tune ev­ a $175 million project that is scheduled to include the world-class Memphis Zoo and eryone in the tourism business is whistling, break ground this summer. a burgeoning restaurant scene with scores the tried-and-true selling point in Nashville Designed by Atlanta's TVS Design, of new dining venues coming on-line. will always be its music scene. You pretty which managed the successfu l renovation "We're continually investing in the much can't go anywhere without encoun­ and expansion of Detroit's COBO Center product," Kern said. "If you haven't been tering a polished musician or aspiring and is currently also working on the 1.4 to Memphis in the last two or three years singer- practicing their craft. million -square-foot Las Vegas Convention there are a lot of new things to see and "For us in Nashville it's all about the Center expansion, the reimagined facility experience:' brand, and the brand for us is Music City;' will add a 125,000-square -foot exhibit hall said Witt, who added that a new direct and modernize and expand the facility's Jackson flight to London on British Airways should existing breakout rooms, maximizing the Located 70 miles east of Memphis and less bring in music fans from the U.K. and venue's location on the Mississippi River. than 130 miles west of Nashville, Jackson, other points in Europe . "Certainly on the "We're bringing the building up to the riv­ Tenn., is in an enviable position to capture international side there's some fascination er;' said Kevin Kern, vice president of com­ business from both markets or offer the with the music:' munications for the Memphis CVB. [TVS two music capitals as pre - or post-meeting According to Witt, major music venue Design] came to Memph is and said, 'You options , all at a more reasonable price happenings include a new spot by Dierks have a big building on riverfront, although point than either of the two large metros . Bentley, named Florida Georgia Line, and you don't take advantage of being on the "Our location, halfway between a partnership between country star Blake riverfront. You have a great footprint here, Nashville and Memphis, is a great thing ­ Shelton, in conjunction with Ryman Enter­ we think we can transform it into being a there's just so much going on with both tainment, on Ole Red Nashville at Gaylord modern, 21st century convention center. Nashville and Memphis;' said Lori E. Opryland. "Now the convention center will incor­ Nunnery, execu tive director of the Jackson "It's been interesting watching these porate its surroundings more positively;' Tennessee CVB. "It's an exciting time in artists jump in, whether they live in our Kern added. "We have a great opportunity this neck of the woods, and our afford­ community or not;' Witt said. "They're because we're right on the Mississippi ability outside of those markets makes investing in us." River. It's a transformation inside and out­ Jackson very attractive:' Meeting planners would miss a major we're skinning the building:' The major meeting facilities in Jackson opportunity if they didn't check in with the Kern expects a new 600-room hotel with are the 2,200-seat Carl Perkins Civic Center, CVB about hiring a local songwriter to per­ meeting space to be added close to the named in honor of the Jackson native form at their event, with Witt mentioning convention center, which currently has the who was one ofElvis Presley's signature Brett James, writer of]esus Take the Wheel, 600-room Sheraton Memphis Downtown guitarists, and who wrote Blue Suede Shoes, as but one good example in a city that is the Hotel attached to it. Kern added that the and a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Jackson, world capital of songwriting. convention center will remain open during with 167 guest rooms and more than 9,000 And Music City isn't going hungry for the project and when it is finished in the square feet of meeting space. new bars and restaurants, either, according fourth quarter of2019 it will be the largest Like other Tennessee cities, the common to Witt, who said that since 2015 Nashville venue between New Orleans and Nashville. thread in Jackson is music, with off-site has added more than 250 new venues, with "What Memphis offers is a one-stop venues such as The Legends of Tennessee 43 more open so far in 2018 and another shop, as the CVB also manages the con ­ Music Museum, site of the first Hard Rock 106 expected to welcome customers before vention center;' Kern said, "and obviously a Cafe in America due to Isaac Tigrett being the year wraps. very unique amenity package. We're laden a native Jacksonian, and Jackson's AMP at with great music history ... Elvis Presley the Market amph itheater. Groups can rent Memphis Graceland, Stax, Beale Street:' out both facilities and hire music acts. Memphis is no slouch when it comes to Other hot el and attraction happenings in Many groups like the small college town Continued on page 125

M f T d 89 ' .. -- • Mu,pl'rr0 '11,,e,,_ , Michael Owen// ManagingPartner// EventGenu ity // Nashville, Tenn.

What is yourback- The SouthernSteak & makes for a cool mini-pro- groundwith Nashville? Oyster,Deacon 's New gressive-type event. There I grew up in Nashville South & Etch are alI great, are several brand-newor and started playingmusic and withinreasonable about to open celebri- (R&B)in high school. I walkingd istance of the ty-drivenlocations in the then joined an entertain- conventioncenter and entertainmentdistrict, men! agencythat also was hotels. All the newvenues including BlakeShelton's an independentrecord in the entertainment Ole Red, DierksBent- promoterfor Motown district (see below)are ley's WhiskeyRow, and available for single-flooror 's Hicktown and BuddahRecords. I Nunnery said of the event, which was held eventually movedto New full buyouts.They focus complex.Authentic honky- in a restored church that was damaged Englandwhere g igs were as much on food as they tonks includemy favorite, plentifuI, pay was good, do entertainment.For city- Robert'sWestern Wor ld, in the CivilWar. "They had a fish fry and and our style of music was widesand mega groups, the original, Tootsies,and the ladies from the church brought in the a better fit. we have partneredwith Legends Corner.For Blues desserts ...You can't always do that in a multiple venues and the and R&Bthere's Bourbon larger community but here they just throw What makesNashville city to close streets and Street Blues& BoogieBar it down for guests:' throw "Bash on Broad- and B.B. King's. a goodoption for meet- way"events. T he Country ingsgroups? Hardin County MusicHa ll of Fame and What is the one place Nashvillehas alwaysbeen MusiciansHall of Fame at in Nashvillethat you With its biggest city being Jackson, Hardin a welcomingdestination Municipal Auditoriumalso alwayswant to take County is a great option for groups want­ for groupsof all sizes, but offer unique spaces for yourgroups to? ing to convene in the great outdoors in the openingof Music City unique guest experiences. Wel ove the historic Pickwick Landing State Park and Shiloh Center and thousands of RymanAuditorium. T he Military Park, the site of the monumental hotel rooms in the down- Whatare five great buildingoozes historyand the CivilWar battle. town area either on-lineor musicvenues that are the acoustics are superb. Pickwick offers a hotel, restaurant, cab­ about to be are a trifecta goodoptions for meet- Smaller groupscan dine game changer.The con- ins, campground, golf course, marina and a ing groups? on the stage and groups 6,000-square-foot convention center all on ventioncampus location- Livemusic is everywhere up to around4 ,500 can Pickwick Lake, a major recreational lake. just steps from Music in Nashville, so it's hard to buy-outfor concerts. Also, City'spacked, popularand pick just a few, but I'll try. this is not so much a "They don't have to stay in the meeting growingenterta inment WildhorseSa loon is great place, but there's one ex- room the whole time," said Beth Pippin, district---{)fferspl anners for largergroups and periencethat is unique to tourism director for Tour Hardin County, and attendees a wealth of perfectfor buyouts that Nashville. The foundation about groups meeting at Pickwick Landing, options for off-siteevents, want to host celebrity of the music industryhere which added new cabins in the last two dine-aroundsand free acts, as their production is the creative class---{)ur years and has plans to remodel the others. nights. is top-notch. We'vehad amazing . "Allof the hotel rooms are looking out over great feedbackat FGL Award-winninghit - the lake. It's a peaceful getaway halfway Whatare somegreat House(Florida Georgia writersgather "in the between Memphis and Nashville. optionsfor groupdining Line), just two blocksfrom round"to play hits they've "Alot of conferences that come here in Nashville? the conventioncenter. writtenfor famousartists, The explosivegrowth of Theyare suitable for a talk about the creative will set up tours going to the battlefield at unique and award-winning varietyof music styles and processand share funny Shiloh, or come to downtown Savannah, chef-drivenrestaurants are located betweent he and movingstories about which is our county seat;' Pippin said. means endless possibili- GooGoo Candy Shop and the inspirationfor their "In Savannah there's the Tennessee River ties. Forsma ller groups, Big Machine Distillery. It favorite . Museum, a veterans park and a little park in the historic district that people like to do tours of' wl feel ofJackson, which has seven higher investment downtown:' More CENTRAL/WEST learning institutions and many religious For a truly interesting group activity, TENNESSEE... 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 colleges nearby. Nunnery suggests tapping into the local MeetingsToday.com "We have a downtown that is experi­ citizenry for a real down-home affair that encing a resurgence," Nunnery said. "It's will provide attendees with a truly unique Online Exclusive been 20 years ago that we were hit with a experience. series of tornadoes, and the Urban Land We had one group come in, the Big Black Check out MeetingsToday.comfor a Institute created a plan, which is really Creek Historical Association, and do cem­ story about the new group options at starting to come into fruition with a lot of etery walks and red-back hymnal singing," Elvis Presley'sGraceland.

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