FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
APRIL 7, 2006
Kitty Ratcliffe
Executive Vice President
New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau
504-566-5034
kratcliffe@neworleanscvb.com
Mary E. Power
CAE, President & CEO
Convention Industry Council
703-610-9030
mpower@conventionindustry.org
Convention Industry Council to Hold Board Meetings in New Orleans
Meetings to take place April 10-12 in CBD
New Orleans, La. – The Convention Industry Council’s (CIC) Board of Directors and its Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX) Commission are gathering jointly in New Orleans April 10-12 for industry meetings.
The CIC provides a forum for member organizations seeking to enhance the industry and facilitates the exchange of information and develops programs to promote professionalism with the convention industry and educates the public on its profound economic impact.
CIC is also responsible for the APEX project, which is working to create efficiencies and unite the entire meeting, convention and exhibition industry in the development and eventual implementation of accepted best practices.
“CIC is delighted to come to New Orleans to support the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Morial Convention Center and the hotels because they have shown us such great support throughout the years,” said Mary Power, CAE President & CEO of CIC. “We feel it is important that our leadership sees the substantial progress in New Orleans with their own eyes so as to accurately report back to their members about the current state of the city.”
In addition to the ten APEX commissioners, that represent all segments of the meeting, convention and exhibition industry , expected to attend the New Orleans meetings are leaders of most of the major convention-related organizations in the United States, including the CEOs of the American Society of Association Executives, the Professional Convention Management Association and the International Association for Exhibition Management. They will convene at the JW Marriott, the Sheraton New Orleans and the Marriott New Orleans hotels.
“Having the leadership of the convention industry in New Orleans this week is a tremendous opportunity for us to help the industry understand that the visitor experience in New Orleans is virtually intact,” said Kitty Ratcliffe, executive vice president of the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau (NOMCVB). “We are ready and able to successfully host meetings and conventions of all sizes.”
About New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau (NOMCVB)
Since 1960, the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau
(www.neworleanscvb.com) has been the driving force behind New Orleans' most important industry, attracting $4.9 billion to the region annually. Nationally recognized for superior customer service, NOMCVB represents over 1,200 members and provides convention services and visitor information for business travelers and vacationers. In 2004, the NOMCVB welcomed a record-breaking 10.1 million visitors to one of America's favorite meeting and leisure destinations. The NOMCVB is committed to rebuilding the city of New Orleans.
About the Convention Industry Council (CIC)
The Convention Industry Council's 31 member organizations represent more than 100,000 individuals, as well as, 16,500 firms and properties involved in the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industries. Formed in 1949 to provide a forum for member organizations seeking to enhance the industry, the CIC facilitates the exchange of information and develops programs to promote professionalism with the industry and educates the public on its profound economic impact. In addition to the CMP Program, CIC is also responsible for the Hall of Leaders Program as well as the Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX). APEX is working to unite the entire meeting, convention and exhibition industry in the development and eventual implementation of voluntary standards, which will be called accepted practices.