New Orleans Reaps Shows, Further Charity

The industry continues to send assistance to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, as they recover from hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The American Rental Assn. announced that The Rental Show would take place at New Orleans' Ernest N. Morial Convention Center as scheduled Feb. 12–15, 2007.

"The members of the American Rental Assn. want to show their support for the people of New Orleans, and this commitment by the (ARA) board offers the greatest opportunity to give our exhibitors and attendees the best possible show in 2007," said Allen Morehead, president of the Moline, Ill.-based association.

The Tradeshow Week 200 show's decision to stay with New Orleans is related to rebuilding, said ARA Chairman Tom Fouts. "Due to the large amount of rental equipment being used for recovery activities in the city and along the entire Gulf Coast, the rental industry will play a big part in the rebirth of New Orleans," he said.

The rotating show ranks No. 77 on the TSW 200. The 2004 show in Atlanta spanned 282,800 net square feet with 737 exhibiting companies and 5,858 attendees. The 50th annual ARA show will take place in Orlando Feb. 6–9, 2006.

The Morial center is expected to reopen after March 31, 2006.

Nevertheless, two additional groups decided to move their 2006 events out of New Orleans. The Learning Disabilities Assn. of America will hold its annual conference at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville (Fla.) Riverfront Feb. 26–March 1. The Natl. Ski Areas Assn. relocated its May 22–25, 2006, NSAA Natl. Convention & Tradeshow from the Hilton New Orleans Riverside to the Marco Island (Fla.) Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa.

Also this month, travel Web portal Expedia donated $50,000 to the Hospitality Industry Relief Fund. The Professional Convention Management Assn. Education Foundation established the fund in September to benefit hospitality- and meetings-industry employees affected by Hurricane Katrina. PCMA operates the fund in partnership with the Assn. for Convention Operations Management, Destination Marketing Assn. Intl. and the Society of Incentive Travel Executives.

PCMA President and CEO Deborah Sexton said the association was "honored that such a well-known and respected organization as Expedia has made such a large donation."

Marj Charlier, Expedia director of corporate social responsibility, said the company "specifically wanted to help employees who have provided the service for our customers. They are also the ones who have made New Orleans successful as a tourist attraction. We were also certain that PCMA would use the money effectively and it would go to the people who need it the most."

The HIRF is also planning a 2006 online Dream Auction of travel packages, including airline tickets, hotel accommodations, theater and attraction tickets that will raise money for the fund. The auction will begin in conjunction with PCMA's annual meeting in Philadelphia Jan. 8–11, and will conclude at the Feb. 16 Destinations Showcase in Washington, D.C.

Coinciding with the post-hurricane recovery, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security awarded the Intl. Assn. of Assembly Managers Foundation a $750,000 grant to strengthen emergency preparedness training programs for public assembly facility managers.

DHS announced $30 million in competitive training grants, with funding to 15 groups to help prevent, deter, respond to and recover from incidents of terrorism and natural disasters.