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1 VOLUME 3 7 , I S S U E 1 6 THE WEEKLY COMMUNITY. NEWSPAPER OF. ASSOCIATIONS, CVBs AND HOTELS. USAE APRIL 22, 2019. Cathy Tull Resigns from Las Vegas CVA. Departure Comes Amid Airline Card Scandal By Jonathan Trager Cathy Tull has become the latest Las Vegas CVA employee to leave the organi- zation under the pressure of an ongoing police probe into a scandal involving Southwest Airline gift cards. The former Chief Marketing Officer, who had worked for the authority since 2005, left on April 16. Tull earned nearly $366,000 in annual salary and benefits. Cathy's work helped establish the LVCVA as the world's top destination marketing organization, and we thank her for more than a decade of dedicated service, wrote Steve Hill, CEO of the Las Vegas CVA, in a statement. Tull's resignation comes soon after she was named in a police report as a target Roger Dow, President & CEO, Travel Association (left), passed the chairman's gavel to Elliott L.

2 Ferguson II, President & CEO, Destination DC and National Chairman, Travel Association, on April 12. The spring board meeting in Washington, was the first Ferguson presided in the investigation. She allegedly used over as National Chair. nearly $6,000 in gift cards or 18 flights. Authority spokeswoman Jackie Dennis Elliott L. Ferguson Oversees First said Tull recently reimbursed the tourism agency, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Travel Association Board Meeting USAE called phone numbers listed under Tull's address and left messages, but she didn't return inquiries before By Todd McElwee well. His three main focuses as National Advisory Board (TTAB). press deadline. Chair include championing policies and A better relationship with the National Las Vegas police have accused Brig Accepting the chairman's gavel in pursuing partnerships to expand travel; Park Service is also sought.

3 Lawson, former CVA Director of Business mid-April, Elliott L. Ferguson II, President welcoming the international traveler; and DC is an urban destination with a lot Partnerships, of concealing the purchase & CEO, Destination DC, has gotten to clarifying travel's economic impact to of green space, primarily run by NPS, of $90,000 in Southwest Airlines gift work as National Chair of Travel the nation. said Ferguson. Other destinations rely cards between 2012 and 2017 in finan- Association. Recently overseeing his first To expand travel Ferguson has target- heavily on NPS parks to attract visitors, cial records promoting Southwest. board meeting Ferguson not only spelled ed opportunities including the reauthori- and there are issues to address includ- Although auditors couldn't previously out priorities for his term but also sought zation of Brand USA; visa policy reforms; ing infrastructure backlogs, mainte- account for $50,000 worth of gift cards, feedback from fellow members.

4 Addressing infrastructure needs; and nance and motor coach regulations. detectives say they've found a significant Ferguson told USAE the meeting went working with the Travel and Tourism Please turn to page 2 Please turn to page 3. San Diego Council Inside St. Louis County Council Approves Earlier Convention Votes to Fund America's Center Initiative Center Expansion Measure Should Appear on March 2020 Ballot Testy Council Member Exchange in Meeting By Jonathan Trager for such a measure to be draft- By Jonathan Trager for one bond issue has yet to ed for the primary election be determined. The San Diego City Council ballot in March 2020 instead Page 3 The St. Louis County Coun- The measure now heads narrowly voted to place an ini- of the general election ballot in cil voted 4-3 along party lines to St.

5 Louis County Executive tiative on a ballot eight months November. The measure must Page 2 to kick in substantial funding Steve Stenger, who has said earlier than planned that will be approved by the council at Westin Convention Hotel Opens in for an expansion and upgrade he plans to sign it. The proj- help achieve a long-delayed an upcoming meeting. of America's Center. ect will include more exhibit Irving, Texas space, more loading docks, expansion of the city's conven- Joe Terzi, President & CEO The vote on April 16 means tion center. of the San Diego Tourism the county will devote $6 and a bigger ballroom at an Council members voted 5-4 Authority, said the vote was Page 3 million annually for 40 years. estimated cost of $175 million. Please turn to page 2 Unrelated Business Income Tax The county's 3.

6 5% hotel tax Kathleen Kitty Ratcliffe, provides the revenue stream President of Explore St. Louis, (UBIT) Coalition Pens Letter to to back bonds for the project. said convention supporters Congress are thrilled with the result of The St. Louis Board of Al- dermen overwhelmingly ap- the vote. Page 6 proved an equal contribution It's a really important proj- Tony Rodio Chosen as CEO of in December. Whether the city ect for the hospitality industry and county issue two separate in St. Louis, Ratcliffe told Caesars Entertainment; Board sets of bonds or the county USAE. It was a really unique Weighs Potential Sale pledges its funds to the city Please turn to page 4. Page 2 USAE APRIL 22, 2019. N. N EE W. W SS. Westin Convention Hotel Opens in Irving, Texas By Grant Broadhurst missing until now.

7 Most of us don't get to see these It's been a long time coming. things come to fruition during our ten- The 350-room Westin Irving Conven- ure, or we inherit bits and pieces from tion Center at Las Colinas held its grand other people, Gast said. We've had a opening on April 10. Located next to the staff that's been here a long time and Irving Convention Center, the hotel has for everyone to see it come to fruition 20,000 square feet of indoor meeting on their collective watches has been space as well as a really special.. 10,000 square foot Adding the hotel now Zak Kimble, Direc- event lawn. tor of Sales & Mar- Adding the hotel lets us pursue the more keting at the hotel, now lets us pursue traditional conventions told USAE the hotel's the more traditional conventions wheth- whether those are state location near the con- vention center and the er those are state or or national conventions.

8 Toyota Music Factory national conventions. Adding the hotel was entertainment com- Adding the hotel was plex is one of its best critical, Maura Gast, critical, Maura Gast, selling points. The 350-room Westin Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas held its grand opening on April Executive Director of Executive Director of We a re t h e l a s t 10 in Irving, Texas. From left to right: Councilman Allan Meagher, Councilman Kyle Taylor, Visit Irving, told USAE. piece of the puzzle, Councilman Oscar Ward, Mayor Rick Stopfer, Westin General Manager Todd Winch, Councilman However, she said Visit Irving, told USAE. Kimble said. David Palmer, Councilman Al Zapanta, Councilman Phil Riddle, and City Manager Chris Hillman. it's also the culmina- The hotel has breakouts, Kimble said. He said the hotel's customer base tion of a project to build a convention 20,000 square feet of indoor meeting Additionally, he said the hotel has will be a mix of leisure, convention-re- center and hotel that started back in space which includes a 10,000-square- a 10,000-square-foot event lawn and lated business, and in-house meetings 1999.

9 The 275,000-square-foot conven- foot grand ballroom, a 4,200-square- a 1,600-square-foot pool deck that is brought to the hotel by the Marriott tion center, she said, opened in 2011 foot junior ballroom, and foyer space, bookable for events. sales force. and averages nearly 300 events a year. according to Kimble. He said the ball- The hotel also has two dining options: Obviously it's very exciting having But though a Holiday Inn Express is rooms each have outdoor patio areas a poolside bar and a modern Mexican been hired on when it was just a couple near the convention center and other across the foyer. restaurant with an outdoor patio area floors being built with lots of cranes and lodging is in the general area, a true All basically on one level, which and a semi-private dining room that can dirt and construction, and now having headquarters convention hotel was is great for the flow of meetings and host up to forty people.

10 A finalized hotel, Kimble said. San Diego Continued from page 1. center. Revenue would also be dedicated to homeless programs, affordable hous- ing, and city infrastructure. November ballot. If you have multiple tax issues, getting one passed is pretty difficult, Terzi told nipulation, she said at a rally before the council meeting, according to KPBS. We are setting ourselves up for special very important for us and emphasized The longer the wait for the green light to USAE. interests to control the outcome of these that all nine city council members spoke expand the convention center, the more One point of controversy that has elections.. in support of the measure. the organization is stymied in booking reared its head is Measure L, which KPBS also reported that if the San We're really excited the city council larger conventions or assuring growing was approved in 2016.