| Dear Meeting Professional, With the Lakers currently playing in the NBA finals, I figured it would be appropriate to write a sports-themed intro this month. Suffice to say, I was the kind of kid who won the "most spirited" trophy when I played soccer. With that said, I'm not sure who Pau Gasol is but I know he's one of the reasons our venerable Lakers have made it to the finals again. Honestly, I know more about the venue where they play their home games...STAPLES Center. NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE, one of LA's hottest concert venues, recently opened right across the street from STAPLES Center and the entertainment campus has been crazy busy as of late. For those sports fanatics who can't miss a game even when they're enjoying a concert, you can get updates from the theatre's lobby by looking through the floor-to-ceiling windows peering out towards STAPLES Center and NOKIA Plaza. In fact, there was quite a bit of that going on during the American Idol finale, which took place the same night as a Lakers playoff game. Not everyone in my family is as naïve as me when it comes to sports. My aunt and uncle are such rabid (in a good way) football fans they have a bookie. When it comes to football, I've been known to say a few ridiculous things; including the day not so long ago when Jeff Leung (LA INC.'s Director of Western Region Convention Sales) asked me who was playing in the Super Bowl. I had to take a wild guess. "Detroit?" He looked appalled. But -- surprise! -- I do enjoy going to Dodger Stadium. Baseball is slower and I can carry on a conversation with my guests. That's my kind of game. Sincerely, |
 | NBTA Projected to set Convention Record The 2008 National Business Travel Association (NBTA) International Convention & Exposition, to be held in Los Angeles from July 27-30, is on pace to be the largest convention in the association's history. With more than a month away, 90 percent of the 20,297 blocked hotel rooms have already been reserved. According to NBTA, this year's convention will be the largest and most successful in the 40-year history of the event. "The success NBTA is seeing with respect to its record-setting attendance is indicative of what we're seeing across the board when conventions arrive in Los Angeles," said Mark Liberman, president and CEO of LA INC. "Last fiscal year, attendance for conventions held at the Los Angeles Convention Center jumped as high as 20 percent compared to attendance at the same conventions held in other cities in 2006. Meeting professionals understand this trend and are booking Los Angeles at an unprecedented pace." LA INC. forecasts 43 citywide conventions will be booked by the end of fiscal year 2008; totaling 646,000 room nights and generating an economic impact of $355 million for Los Angeles in the coming years. More than a quarter of LA's domestic and international visitors are business travelers. In fact, Los Angeles draws 6.2 million domestic business travelers annually and 1.3 million international business travelers. If you would like to book a record-setting meeting or convention in Los Angeles, contact LA INC. today. www.discoverLosAngeles.com |
  | Wii Want Your Meetings Meeting professionals who submit an RFP between now and July 31 will be automatically entered to win a new Wii Game System from Nintendo. These hugely popular gaming systems will be awarded to three lucky meeting professionals. The RFP must be a new prospect for Los Angeles and have a minimum of 50 rooms on peak or a minimum of 300 total room nights to qualify. The drawing will take place on Aug. 4 and RFPs can be submitted by clicking the link below. LA INC. is also pleased to announce the winner of the recent "Live Like a Celebrity" promotion. Alex Bryant with National Association of Home Builders has won the trip for two to LA to see the Tony Award-winning musical Wicked and experience the LA celebrity lifestyle. www.discoverLosAngeles.com |
 | LA Successfully Hosts PCMA Leadership Conference This month (June 8-10), Los Angeles hosted the 2008 Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Leadership Conference at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel. The general session was led by keynote speaker, Maria Elena Durazo (Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO) who spoke to the delegation about what it takes to lead a labor federation made up of over 300 local unions, representing more than 800,000 workers. LA INC. hosted the opening night reception at The Edison in Downtown and more than 400 attendees lounged at the one-of-a-kind underground locale nominated by Condé Nast Traveler as one of "The Hottest" venues in the world. LA INC. also hosted a wonderful dinner at the Music Center, home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Center Theatre Group, the Los Angeles Opera and the Los Angeles Master Chorale. |
 | Bowl Season Begins in Hollywood The Los Angeles Philharmonic opens the 2008 Hollywood Bowl summer season on June 20 with the Ninth Annual Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame ceremony. The 87th season features classical music by the LA Phil; popular weekend shows with the LA Phil and Hollywood Bowl Orchestra; jazz, world music, pop, rock and special presentations; as well as family and educational programs. The theme of this year's July 4 Fireworks Spectacular is "A Ball at the Bowl with the LA Dodgers." The Dodgers are celebrating their 50th season this year in Los Angeles and the July 2-4 shows will be filled with classic baseball music, Dodgers players, plus a guest performance by Randy Newman. This season also marks a new chapter in Hollywood Bowl history as it will be Esa-Pekka Salonen's final Bowl season. Salonen will step down as LA Phil Music Director at the conclusion of the 08/09 season and 27-year-old Venezuelan phenom, Gustavo Dudamel, will take his place for the 09/10 season. Salonen leads Mahler's "Symphony of a Thousand" for his final Bowl appearances on Sept. 9 and 11. The summer season ends Sept. 28 with Kidzapalooza, a seminal rock concert music festival for families. |
 | "9 to 5: The Musical" World Premiere The much-loved 1980 hit movie makes its musical world premiere at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles on Sept. 3. Based on the film, "9 to 5: The Musical" will feature a brand-new score by seven-time Grammy Award®-winner Dolly Parton that includes the blockbuster title song and direction by two-time Tony Award®-winner Joe Mantello (directing his first new musical since Wicked). Emmy Award®-winner and Tony Award®-nominee Allison Janney stars as Violet Newstead, the super-efficient office manager who joins her fellow co-workers -- frazzled divorcée Judy Bernly (Stephanie J. Block) and sexy secretary Doralee Rhodes (Megan Hilty in the role originated by Dolly Parton in the film) -- to turn the tables on their "sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical, bigot" of a boss, Franklin Hart Jr. (Tony Award®-nominee Marc Kudisch). The musical is set to run through Oct. 19, 2008. |
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Michael K. Krouse
Senior Vice President
Sales
Phone: 213-236-2359
Fax: 213-451-1459
mkrouse@lainc.us |
Why use a CVB? You'll save valuable time by working with LA INC. The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau when planning your meetings or conventions in Los Angeles. Not only will LA INC. handle all aspects of your site inspection, but its award-winning client services department will meet - and exceed - your expectations. Among the other benefits you'll receive is an unbiased account of hotels and other venues that suit the needs of your group and access to LA INC.'s many member vendors, including hotels, restaurants, attractions, destination management companies and transportation companies, which will work with you in planning a successful, well-attended event. |   Gain access to a world of tools that will help make your next event a success!   The 32,000 square-foot GRAMMY MuseumSM opens in December at L.A. LIVE with four floors of interactive exhibit space, commemorating the 50th year of The Recording Academy® and GRAMMY® Awards.
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