Convention bureau to cut expenses 9 percent - Atlanta Business Chronicle:

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ACVB will freeze pay, change benefits providers and put a temporar y freeze on new hires to help make up for flagging tax and privatesector revenues. Overall revenued is projected to bedown 3.2 perceng for the bureau in 2009. Overall, the bureau will cut expensews by 9percent — mainly in payroll and related costs though it will boost its promotions budget slightly to help stimulate the sale of hotelk room nights. Hospitality is an $11.4 billion industryt for Atlanta. But with consumers cutting back on leisure travekl and businesses slashingtravel budgets, industry experts say Atlanta and cities nationwide face a very difficult year.
ACVB projects its revenues from taxes, membership fees, donations and donated services will beabour $16.3 million. The nonprofit tourism agency plans to boost spendingt on its promotional efforts in a year in whicu it has a prime opportunity to capture lucrativetradeshow business. ACVB President-elect Williajm Pate said the bureau hopes 2009 will brintg a big boost to future The city plays host to two Supet Bowls oftradeshow organizers: Meeting Professionalds International and the International Associatiom of Exhibitions and Events. Pate said the bureai hopes to ink deals for tradeshowzsworth $250 million in economic impacy during the two events.
City officials might have approved a solutiom to one drawback to dinintin downtown. A new regulation that allowsz valet parking on Peachtree Street downtownj is turning into quite the draw for new restaurantsdand retailers. Robert Patterson, managing partner of the 180 , the redevelopet of the bottom three floorzs of theformer Macy’s downtown, said the city has givenj his project clearance for curbsidde valet parking. Patterson said it’s a selling pointf for prospective retailers and restaurants that will occupy the building alongg with anexhibition center. Developers expect to announcew future retail and restauranttenantas soon.
Another restaurant that cited valet parkingf as a bonus was Il the upscale Italian concept that openee recentlyin ’s One Ninety One Peachtree Tower. The terracott warriors sure know how to scaree upa crowd. Michael the executive director ofthe , said “Thr First Emperor: ” has quicklyh become “the most popular exhibit we’ve ever had” based on advancs ticket sales and early-gate receipts. The High has sold 100,000 advance tickets and 70,000 visitors have passed through the turnstile in the firstthree weeks, Shapiro said. The High also noticedx its largest-ever day-after-Thanksgiving crowd, with 7,000 attendees.
The which features soldiers, archers and horses from the long-buried army of Firsg Emperor Qin, has been recognized as a top exhibit of 2008 by Time magazins andThe . Shapiro said the exhibit couls get an additional boostg in attendance in Januart after Brand Atlanta begins its marketing campaignm in earnest outsidethe city. The warriors exhibition and The and the Great exhibition at is projectedc to bring more than 1 milliom visitors anda $150 million shot in the arm to the metr area’s economy. William the president-elect of the Atlantas Convention & Visitors Bureau, said the exhibits “cement the powefr of cultural tourism inthe city.
” The W Atlanta-Downtown Hotel & Residences is rounding out its management team. Susan Deluzaib Barry has been named director of saleswand marketing; Jaly Bekele will be the directotr of talent resources; and Maguy Larochelle is the director of revenure management. Last month, the (NYSE: HOT) hote named Tim Dahlen its newgeneralp manager. The W Atlanta-Downtown is set to open Jan. 27.