Midwest Meetings | Convention/Event Centers News - Midwest Meetings

GREATER COLUMBUS CONVENTION CENTER BECOMES WORLD’S FIRST CONVENTION CENTER TO QUALIFY AS KULTURECITY CERTIFIED SENSORY INCLUSIVE

7/17/2019

The SMG-managed Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC) has become the first convention center in the world to become Certified Sensory Inclusive through KultureCity.

The GCCC collaborated with KultureCity to improve the capabilities of the facility and staff to accommodate guests with sensory processing challenges and provide an inclusive, seamless and enjoyable experience for them at the GCCC.

NATIONAL PTA 2019 CONVENTION & EXPO BRINGS LEARNING SESSIONS & FREE PALOOZA TO GREATER COLUMBUS CONVENTION CENTER JUNE 20-23

6/20/2019

The National PTA 2019 Convention & Expo is bringing child advocates together at the SMG-managed Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC) for learning opportunities, elections and PTA Palooza.

“We have a large agenda and anticipate at least 1,100-plus people will be attending. Most are leaders from all over the country,” said Donna Taylor, director of meetings and events for the National PTA. “The Palooza in the expo hall is for families, with fun activities, and is one of our highlights.”

GREATER COLUMBUS CONVENTION CENTER AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY PARTNERS CELEBRATED #EXHIBITIONS DAY ON JUNE 5

6/6/2019

SMG-managed Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC) associates met with other local hospitality industry partners to celebrate the sixth annual #Exhibitions Day.

WORLD’S LARGEST MULTI-SPORT FESTIVAL RETURNS TO GREATER COLUMBUS CONVENTION CENTER FEBRUARY 28 THROUGH MARCH 3

2/27/2019

The world’s largest multi-sport festival – the 2019 Arnold Sports Festival – returns to the SMG-managed Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC) and additional local venues from February 28 through March 3 with the biggest festival yet.

Featuring more than 200,000 attendees, plus 22,000 athletes from 80 nations around the world competing in 80 events and 17 Olympic sports, the Arnold Sports Festival showcases more athletes than the summer and winter Olympics combined. It has also expanded to include additional festivals in Australia, Europe, South America and South Africa.

GREATER COLUMBUS CONVENTION CENTER ADDS TESLA AND UNIVERSAL ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS TO GOODALE GARAGE

2/18/2019

The SMG-managed Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC) has added and activated 20 vehicle-charging stations within its Goodale Garage.

“As electric vehicles (EVs) increase in popularity, we are proud to add quick-charging stations to accommodate motorists, including event attendees, area employees, travelers and visitors to the Short North Gallery Hop,” said GCCC Assistant General Manager Ryan Thorpe. “We are thrilled to be able to offer EV owners this new amenity and add to the city’s inventory of charging stations in support of Smart Columbus’ own goals.”

All charging stations are located on the first level of the Goodale Garage. EV owners will be charged $2 per hour to park their vehicles while charging and can pay for parking via their phone and the city’s new ParkMobile ParkColumbus app.

NATION’S LARGEST SERVED BREAKFAST HONORING MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. TO BE HELD AT GREATER COLUMBUS CONVENTION CENTER

1/21/2019

The 34th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Breakfast will be held Monday, January 21 at the SMG-managed Greater Columbus Convention Center with Dr. John B. King. Jr., former U.S. Secretary of Education, delivering the keynote address.

“Our theme this year is ‘The Purpose of Education – intelligence plus character,’ which refers to a theme Martin Luther King Jr. wrote while at Morehouse College,” Bert Castle of the Martin Luther King Breakfast Committee, Inc. said. “We hear a lot about the education gap these days and it will be great to hear John King’s perspective from his role in President Obama’s administration.”

‘FUNDAMISM’ is Topicof Keynote Speech During Ohio Turfgrass Foundation’s 2018 OTF Conference & Show Returning December 3-6 To Greater Columbus Convention Center

11/27/2018

The region’s largest turfgrass and landscape conference will return with a nearly sold-out trade show when the OTF (Ohio Turfgrass Foundation) Conference & Show is held December 3-6 at the SMG-managed Greater Columbus Convention Center.

“We love Columbus. Our attendees really enjoy coming here,” said Brian Laurent, executive director of OTF. “We have a fantastic, very upbeat keynote speaker in Paul Long and are almost sold out of exhibit space.”

“Your Foundation for Success” is the theme of this year’s event, with networking, research, tools and growth at the forefront of the programming.

Greater Columbus Convention Center chooses HappyOrNot® to enhance and retain high levels of guest satisfaction

9/14/2018

Enhancing guest experience is a priority for the Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC) and installing the HappyOrNot service has helped the facility improve and retain high levels of guest satisfaction. With just a touch of a button, attendees instantly rate their experience in restrooms by selecting one of four Smileys depicted on HappyOrNot terminals.

Comparing the first to the last full month of collecting data, GCCC has increased its Happiness Index Score from 68 to 81, an impressive 13-point difference. The score is based on feedback from 570,000 data-points from HappyOrNot Smiley Terminals located in 50 restrooms inside the 1.8- million-square-foot convention center. “Even though most of the data collected has been positive, we are still gathering measurable and actionable feedback,” explained Assistant General Manager Ryan Thorpe for the SMG-managed facility. “The data collected has allowed us to resolve service issues while customers are still on the premises.”

GREATER COLUMBUS CONVENTION CENTER TEAM JOINS HOSPITALITY PARTNERS IN CELEBRATING #EXHIBITIONS DAY TO HONOR EVENT INDUSTRY

6/8/2018

The SMG-managed Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC) gathered with other industry partners on June 6 to celebrate the fifth annual #Exhibitions Day.

The group gathered in front of the facility’s 60-foot LED Art Wall for a photo opportunity to show support for their industry colleagues who traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with legislators. The delegation met there to share with legislators the contributions made to the national economy by exhibitions and the initiatives designed to sustain the continued growth of the industry. More than 100 industry representatives typically meet with federal legislators and policy influencers to share statistics and success stories, generate awareness and build relationships in support of our industry as an increasingly significant economic engine throughout the nation.

GREATER COLUMBUS CONVENTION CENTER JOINS CUSTOMIZABLE CONNECTED CITY MOBILE APPLICATION THROUGH LOUD-HAILER TO ENHANCE GUEST EXPERIENCE

3/30/2018

The SMG-managed Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC) is participating in the new Columbus2GO mobile application developed by Loud-Hailer that provides citywide information in a single streamlined source.

Once the application is downloaded to an Apple Operating System device (iPhone, iPad, etc.), Columbus2GO utilizes non-beacon Bluetooth Blue Low Energy technology to deliver hyper- local, customized content from the GCCC and other entities throughout the city when the user is within appropriate range of the organization participating. Users receive information specific to where they are located, including from the GCCC channel.

The technology eliminates the need to toggle through multiple apps or rely on a cellular signal, Wi-Fi or internet service for hyper-local information. Users need only need to provide a name and password, have their Bluetooth turned on and decide what information they want to see through channel subscriptions. They can opt in at no cost and preserve their privacy through this encrypted and secure service.