VEGAS INC Magazine - Latest Las Vegas business news, features and commentaries about gaming, tourism, real estate and more
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VEGAS INC CONVENTION CENTERS in a battle TO win MARKET SHARE ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS THE BIGGEST: With 2.2 million square feet, Chicago's McCormick Place is the nation's largest convention center, but Chicago's dominance of the lucrative convention business is under increasing challenge from warmer destinations, including Las Vegas and Orlando. CONVENTIONS, From page 1 Bay Convention Center, and with 150,000 hotel rooms, the city can handle gatherings of any size. The proximity of McCarran International Airport to the city's meetings spaces also plays well with conventioneers, as does the airport's nonstop flight offerings and relatively inexpensive fares. Last year, 4.9 million people attended 21,615 shows in Las Vegas. But the competition is fierce. Convention hosts from coast to coast hope to grab market share from the valley. Which cities are Las Vegas' biggest convention rivals? Here's a look: Orlando Like Las Vegas, Orlando tries to sell itself as a business and pleasure destination. Meeting planners tout the proximity of convention facilities to Walt Disney World and Universal Studios. People can attend meetings and spend 20 20130513_VI01_F.indd 20 an extra few days at the theme parks. Or their spouses and children can enjoy the attractions while a convention is taking place. Orlando says it has the second largest convention center in the country. The 30-year-old Orange County Convention Center draws 1.4 million people to more than 200 events a year. Orlando's signature shows include the Premiere Beauty Show, PGA Merchandise Show, AKC/Eukanuba National Championship and International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. The convention center is near several large hotels, and a bridge connecting the facility to the Rosen Plaza Hotel, an 800room convention hotel, is expected to be completed this summer. Orlando also is a center for medical tourism. Lake Nona Medical City, a 650-acre health center for medical care, research and education, is a global destination for health care services. ••• Chicago The largest convention center in North America is Chicago's McCormick Place, which sits two miles south of downtown Chicago and hugs the shore of Lake Michigan. McCormick Place includes four connected buildings that have more than 175 meeting rooms, ballrooms, assembly halls and theaters. Each year, it hosts the Chicago Auto Show in February, International Home and Housewares convention in March and National Restaurant Association show in May. Chicago's O'Hare International Airport is a hub for United and American airlines and about 12 miles from the convention center. The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority in February also announced plans to build a $400 million, 1,200-room hotel adjacent to McCormick Place. The project is expected to begin next year and be completed by 2016. ••• BY THE BAY: A view of the north and nouth exteriors of San Francisco's Moscone Center. San Francisco More than 900,000 people attended conventions at San Francisco's Moscone Center last year. The convention center, which has six exhibit halls and 700,000 square feet, is home to the annual Oracle and SalesForce shows, which each draw between 40,000 and 60,000 people. The Moscone Center sits in the heart of downtown San Francisco, in walking distance of dozens of hotels, museums | 1 3 M AY 2 0 1 3 | 5/9/13 2:11:35 PM