CVB-led Team Takes Over San Jose Venues

The San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau announced that the city selected its proposal for new management of the city's civic and cultural facilities. If implemented, the proposal could leave the current 12-member management staff of the San Jose McEnery Convention Center out of work.

In search of better bookings and greater efficiency, the city of San Jose called last year for a new approach to managing its convention center, civic auditorium and four cultural venues. Among those responding to the RFP were current city-appointed facility management, GL Events and Global Spectrum.

But the proposal the city preferred came from the CVB. It involves the creation of a new non-profit corporation called Team San Jose – whose board includes representatives from organized labor as well as the hotel and arts communities – to manage the facilities. Proponents say it streamlines the process of marketing, booking and servicing events in the venues by having two closely aligned entities work with clients from beginning to end. Although Team One and the CVB will be separate corporations, members of the CVB staff will sit on the Team One board, and Team One will be housed in the same building as the bureau.

"The CVB will handle marketing, negotiating contracts, pricing and booking space. Team San Jose will be responsible for building operations – making sure the client has a quality experience once they're in the building," explained Dan Fenton, president and CEO of the San Jose CVB. "Since the client has one point of contact, it's seamless."

Greater efficiency will be achieved, he added, by consolidating existing facility management into Team One and by forging strategic partnerships with caterers and other service providers. To pick up the slack, the CVB will have additional responsibilities. Leonard Zerilli, a 30-year veteran of assembly management and former chairman of the Intl. Assn. of Assembly Managers Foundation, will oversee facility operations for Team San Jose.

Although the proposal is subject to a 45-day negotiation period, Fenton is confident it will be adopted and take effect July 1.