HSMAI Arizona - Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International, Arizona Chapter

October 2003 Meeting

"Impact of the Phoenix Civic Plaza Expansion"
featuring Scott Sumners - Expansion Project Manager, Phoenix Civic Plaza
By Allison Reynolds, Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre

October Meeting Recap Photos Wow! The new Phoenix Civic Plaza is going to be huge!!! In about 7 years that is .... Scott Sumners came and spoke to us about this expansion project at our most recent HSMAI meeting, held at the Hilton Phoenix Airport. (Thanks to HSMAI members Debby Harloff, Karen Johnson and their staff who made this event successful. The breakfast was delicious!) Scott shared valuable information about the Phoenix Civic Plaza Expansion Project, such as:

The funding: Full funding because Phoenix voters approved state matching funds of $300 million with no increase in taxes!

The benefits: Phoenix will now be able to host much larger and concurrent events. Downtown business will "triple" as they are tripling the size of the building, convention attendance, and triple visit spending! For example: The exhibit halls currently accommodate 221,000 people; when completed they will accommodate 710,000. The meeting/ballrooms currently accommodate 81,000; soon they will accommodate 230,000! We will then be listed in the top 20 among meeting facilities! Clearly, this facility will set a new industry standard for Phoenix!

The development concept:
  1. Build and renovate the terrace;
  2. Demolish and replace the north building;
  3. Renovate the interior of the south building (future expansion site)

The timeline:
  Symphony Hall (12 months) from '04 - '05;
  Terrace (18 months) mid '04 - late 2005;
  North Building (36 months) 2006 - 2008;
  South Renovation (9 months) early-mid 2009

Other pertinent information: Major construction starts next year! 3rd Street will be closed for one year, from June '04 - June '05. No events on the books are cancelled. Construction will allow for business to continue in portions of the facility. For more information, please visit www.phoenixconventioncenter.com or call Scott Sumners at 602-534-6339.

A BIG thanks again goes to the Hilton Phoenix Airport for hosting our meeting, to Swank Audio Visual for providing our A/V needs, to the Summerfield Suites by Wyndham for providing accommodations for our students from NAU and to Photos Plus for our photo memories.

Raffle donors were: Royal Palms Resort & Spa, Ranger Resources, Jillians at Desert Ridge, Tri-Rentals Party Specialists and the HSMAI Communications Committee.

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