by Shadia Cook  Q: What are resort fees, and what am I really paying for?
A: Most planners who have booked events at resorts are familiar with a little thing called the “resort fee,” which can range from $10 per day on up. Generally, resort fees are non-negotiable, unlike other expenses such as room rates, meeting room rental, and so forth. Those who are unfamiliar with these fees - or who simply don’t understand them - may find them to be unreasonable or consider them just another source of revenue for the resort.
In reality, resort fees are designed to cover the costs of many onsite services offered. Most resort fees include expenses such as internet access in guestrooms, daily newspapers, telephone calls, in-room coffee service, and use of pools, fitness centers, etc.
 The Cobo Center, located in Detroit, has earned Green Venues Michigan (GLM) Steward certification from the Michigan Energy Office.
“Cost-saving green business practices have been extremely positive for job creation and retention in the hospitality sector,” said Martin Dober, Vice President of New Markets of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). “Venues across the state are continuing to show their commitment to environmental responsibility by earning Green Venues accreditation.”
 Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort officials yesterday announced that they have begun construction on an indoor Northern Lights Sky Ropes Course. It is anticipated to be completed and open for business by the end of the month.
According to Joe Eck, general manager for America’s largest waterpark resort, “This new attraction is going to be fantastic! It will tower 30 feet above the Northern Lights Mega Arcade and it will take guests to a whole new level of fun! Adventure enthusiasts wearing full-body safety harnesses will climb their way around 42 challenges in varying degrees of difficulty all while discovering how much of a daredevil they truly are!”
 Eved, an online marketplace for the meeting and event industry, today announced it has raised $9.5 million in a series B round led by New World Ventures and MK Capital.
The funding will enable the Chicago-area company to scale and expand its proprietary online platform, which has been adopted and championed by leaders in the meetings community. The $263 million industry, with 1.8 million annual U.S. corporate meetings and events, is one of few that have yet to migrate online. Eved’s global, proprietary online platform provides all companies in the event industry supply chain a complete sourcing, marketing, and e-commerce solution that allows buyers, sellers, and resellers the ability to interact and transact online.
 UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, continues to develop market research to provide reliable data on the international exhibition market. Several recent studies provide statistics giving a good picture of the industry at three levels: venues, the events held in those venues, and the companies who organize those events.
UFI’s 2011 “World Map of Exhibition Venues” identifies 1,197 venues with a minimum of 5,000 square meters of indoor exhibition space worldwide, corresponding to a total gross indoor exhibition space of 32.6 million square meters. This is an increase of 57 venues since 2006, with an overall growth of 3.4 million square meters (54% of the increase is related to new venues and 46% to extensions of existing venues).
 For a second consecutive year, the upscale Crowne Plaza Milwaukee West, located in the Milwaukee County Research Park, has received the prestigious Torchbearer Award and been named one of the brand’s top performers for excellence in operational and customer satisfaction. The award was presented by InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) at its annual conference in Las Vegas last month.
The Torchbearer Award is IHG’s highest honor for quality and customer service and goes to only the top eight Crowne Plaza hotels in North America.
 The Sioux Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau announced that a new Event Center will be built in Sioux Falls, SD for completion by Fall of 2014. On Tuesday, November 8, 2011 the city of Sioux Falls passed a public vote that supports the new $115 million multi-purpose arena.
The Event Center will be built adjacent to the current Convention Center and Arena adding 30,000 square feet of flat floor space for a combined total of 132,000 square feet within the entire complex. Seating for the facility will be 12,000 for basketball, 10,450 for hockey, up to 13,000 for a concert, 5,750 for rodeo, and 180 standard booths for a tradeshow.
 Hyatt Hotels & Resorts announced that Hotel Sierra Green Bay officially changed its name to Hyatt on Main, Green Bay. Hyatt on Main, Green Bay, offers comfortable luxury and Midwestern hospitality in Wisconsin's oldest city. The hotel features 241 guestrooms and 17 flexible meeting and event venues. Guests have access to a 24 hour business center, airport shuttle service, a fitness center featuring a sauna, a steam room and indoor pool and whirlpool.
The Pub, Hyatt on Main, Green Bay’s restaurant, offers guests seasonal American cuisine.
 Bill Derbins, General Manager of the Hiltons of Branson, announced that Andy Hampshire has been appointed to Executive Chef for the Branson Convention Center, the adjacent Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel, and nearby Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing hotel. Chef Hampshire oversees catering services and kitchen operations for all three Branson properties, including Level 2 Steakhouse at the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel. Chef Hampshire was born in England and began cooking at the age of 15. He earned his professional certification at South Cheshire College in Crewe, Cheshire, England, and moved to the U.S. when he was 19 to begin his professional career.
 Mid-Con has a new team with Tinley Park. The development and management assistance from the company is giving the convention center ease in coordinating events and competitive pricing compared to other venues because it has non-union status. Mid-Con is family owned with a long-standing reputation spanning over thirty years... and it will continue with Tinley Park for years to come. The convention center has already reinforced the local economy thanks to the finished expansion. Jobs? Yes, they are here.
Mid-Con is best known for its excellence in developing hotels, restaurants, and offices. Its latest partnership with the Tinley Park Convention Center is no exception. With the construction and support from Mid-Con, the TPCC is now bigger and better - not just in space. The addition of Holiday Inn and the renovated Bananas Restaurant completes the expansion.
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