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

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ACVB will freeze pay, change benefits providers and put a temporart freeze on new hires to help make up for flaggingy tax and privatesector revenues. Overall revenue is projectedc to bedown 3.2 percent for the bureaj in 2009. Overall, the bureau will cut expensezs by 9percent — mainly in payroll and related costsw — though it will boost its promotions budgeft slightly to help stimulate the sale of hotel room nights. Hospitality is an $11. 4 billion industry for Atlanta.
But with consumers cutting back on leisur travel and businesses slashing travel budgets, industry experts say Atlanta and citiez nationwide face a very difficult ACVB projects its revenues from taxes, membershipl fees, donations and donated services will be about $16.3 million. The nonprofit tourism agency plans to boost spendinvg on its promotional efforts in a year in whicyh it has a primes opportunity to capture lucrativetradeshow business. ACVB President-electt William Pate said the bureau hopes 2009 will bringy a big boost tofuture years.
The city playzs host to two Super Bowls of tradeshow Meeting Professionals International and the International Association of Exhibitionsxand Events. Pate said the bureauu hopes to ink deals for tradeshowswortj $250 million in economic impact during the two City officials might have approved a solution to one drawbackj to dining in downtown. A new regulation that allows valett parking on Peachtree Street downtown is turning into quite the draw for new restaurants and retailers. Robert Patterson, managing partner of the 180 , the redeveloperr of the bottom three floors of theformedr Macy’s downtown, said the city has given his project clearance for curbside valet parking.
Pattersonj said it’s a selling poiny for prospective retailers and restaurants that will occupy the buildingg along with anexhibition center. Developers expect to announce future retaiol and restauranttenants soon. Another restaurant that citerd valet parking as a bonus wasIl Mulino, the upscalw Italian concept that openecd recently in ’s One Ninety One Peachtree Tower. The terracottaq warriors sure know how to scares upa crowd. Michael Shapiro, the executive director of the , said “The Firsr Emperor: ” has quickly become “ther most popular exhibit we’ve ever had” based on advanced ticket salesand early-gate receipts.
The High has sold 100,00 advance tickets and 70,000 visitors have passef through the turnstiles in the firstthree weeks, Shapirok said. The High also noticed its largest-ever day-after-Thanksgiving with 7,000 attendees. The exhibit, which features archers and horses fromthe long-buried army of Firs t Emperor Qin, has been recognized as a top exhibit of 2008 by Time magazinwe and The . Shapiro said the exhibit could get an additional boostg in attendance in January after Brand Atlantsa begins its marketing campaign in earnest outsidsthe city.
The warriors exhibition and The and theGreat Pharaohs” exhibitiomn at is projected to bring more than 1 millionj visitors and a $150 million shot in the arm to the metr area’s economy. William the president-elect of the Atlanta Conventionh & Visitors Bureau, said the exhibits “cement the powerd of cultural tourism in the TheW Atlanta-Downtown Hotel & Residenceas is rounding out its managemen team. Susan Deluzain Barry has been namex director of salesand marketing; Jaly Bekele will be the directo of talent resources; and Maguy Larochelle is the director of revenue management. Last the (NYSE: HOT) hotel named Tim Dahlen its newgenerak manager.
The W Atlanta-Downtownh is set to open Jan. 27.