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News Update:

Tragedy Strikes Member's Home
As many of you have hard our friend and colleague Monique Romero-Green and her husband Cecil tragically lost their home to a house fire in the wee hours of Thursday, May 6, 2010.  You may have seen it on the news.  Fortunately everyone made it out of the house safely, including their house guests and their two dogs.  One of the dogs, Brownie, actually stood over Cecil in bed and woke him, which is how he saw the flames.  Unfortunately, it happened so quickly they were not able to save any of their belongings.

Thank you SO MUCH to all of you who have been reaching out and asking how you can help. Everyone has been letting Monique know of all your kind words, offers of help and prayers, and they are both blown away by the outpouring from family, friends and business associates.  Our industry really is amazing!!!  Many of you have asked about donating clothing, money, food, and so forth.  We think their short term clothing needs have been met, and getting food to them is a logistical challenge right now.

We did a little research and read some articles written by house fire survivors that suggest one of the most helpful and meaningful things family and friends can do is offer gift cards for department stores and restaurants, preferably those with multiple locations since you don't always know where they will be staying.  SuperShuttle and ExecuCar of Austin will be collecting gift cards from Target, American Express, Visa, and some local restaurants which will be especially helpful in the next week or so as they are trying to replace their credit cards, drivers licenses, and so forth.  

If you are interested in mailing a note or card (and gift cards) we know she would appreciate hearing from her MPI friends. You can mail it to her in care of  SuperShuttle and ExecuCar of Austin at PO Box 6170 Austin, TX 78762 and they will make sure she gets them.  Or feel free to send her an email and we're sure she'll have a chance to check them at some point in the near future.

Best of luck to Monique and her family during this tough time.
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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Andrea Depwe
Renaissance Austin Hotel

Andrea Depwe is Senior Account Executive at the Renaissance Austin Hotel. She handles the Texas state association market and has been a member of MPI THCC for eight years. She describes herself as efficient and answers "what previous job?" when asked to talk about her positions previous to the Renaissance Austin Hotel.

Now, let's get to know Andrea!

What's your current Job?
Senior Account Executive  at the Renaissance Austin Hotel , handling the Texas State Association market.  
 
What previous jobs have you held?
I've been here for over 22 years.  I began here in Convention Services then was promoted to Director of Convention Services the following year.  Once in sales, I handled the National Association market for about 10 years.   Graduated from Texas Tech University with a BS in Restaurant, Hotel & Institutional Management.
 
What is your biggest professional milestone?
I've been fortunate to achieve the highest awards offered for Sales Managers through Marriott.   I've received the President's Circle, Pinnacle Awards, and Chairman's Circle, all numerous times.  I've been told that I am consistent and always strive to have a dedication for excellence.  I  try to balance what will best meet my client's needs while maintaining profitability for the hotel.
 
What is your biggest personal milestone?
Having children "later in life."

 
What is the best part of your THCC membership?
Continuing to maintain and build relationships, both professional and personal in nature. I consider many of my long-time customers true friends as well.  
 
What is something unique about your hotel? 
The experience and longevity of our staff.  Many of our front-line employees have been here 20 years or more.  These are the individuals that truly strive for "excellence."  They are the associates that interact most often with all of our guests.  Also, our location is uniquely "Austin" and reflects the Texas Hill county beautifully.  The hotel sits on approximately 10 acres and our oak trees were recently valued at $ 4.3 million dollars.    
 
What is something about you nobody knows? 
My husband and I own a park and marina on Lake Austin - West Lake Beach.    The park was started by my mother-in-law- Dorothy Depwe 54 years ago.  We have company picnics, birthday parties and family reunions.   There's also a 60 slip marina. The park can accommodate groups up to 300 guests.  There's nothing else like it in the  Austin,  and  it's only 15 minutes from downtown and The Arboretum.  
 
Who would you invite to your fantasy dinner party?  
My Grandparents, my father and younger brother.  At this stage in my life there is so much I could have learned from each of them, and others if I'd simply taken the time to sit, listen and ask questions. 

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Silent Auction is right around the corner. Are you ready to bid on some amazing prizes?

We hope to see you on May 21st at the Embassy Suites and Spa in San Marcos. The Silent Auction and Gala will be an event to remember!

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MPI – Deep in the Heart! Come join us for a rip-roarin’, in-your-face Celebration of all things Texan!                   Who? All MPI-THCC Members and Guests                          What? A Celebration of Texas (a.k.a. MPI Gala) When? Friday, May 21, 2010                                 Where? Embassy Suites San Marcos Hotel & Spa                                        Why? Because we’ll all be there and hope you’ll join us!!   Please join us at MPI -Texas Hill Country Chapter 2010 Annual Awards Gala and the Board of Directors Installation Ceremony. The banquet will take place at the Embassy Suites San Marcos on Friday, May 21, 2010. The evening promises to be great fun with the performance of the talented native San Antonio group “High Hair and Jalapenos”, Texas flair and good humor.  The program will also include silent auction; all items are donated by fellow MPI members from all over Texas! The organizing committee has reserved a block of rooms at the Embassy Suites San Marcos at a special rate of $ 99 a night. You must book by April 30th in order to take advantage of this great rate. Please call the Embassy Suites San Marcos at 512-392-6450 and mention code MAB (MPI Annual Banquet) to make your reservation. You can also book your room on line at www.sanmarcosembassysuites.com using the same code. Click here to learn more! SPECIAL NOTE: If you are interested in being part of a car-pool from either Austin or San Antonio please let Janice know via email: mpi@austin.rr.com. Once we have a list of people interested in car-pooling we will put you all in touch with each other to work out the details.

THCC Welcomes  Our New Members:		Student: Cindy Breed Austin Community College 8909 Young Lane Austin, TX 78737 Cindy.breed@g.austincc.com	Supplier: Cara Englishbee Sales Manager Doubletree-Austin University Area 1617 N. IH-35 Austin, TX 78702 512.479.4000 Cara.englishbee@hilton.com
Planner: Sharry (Billene) Mercer Event President, CEO Conference Management Services, Inc. 3833 S. Texas Avenue, Ste. 221 Bryan, TX 77802 979.846.6800 mercer@cmsworldwide.com		Planner: Della Smith Office Manager Conference Management Services, Inc. 3833 S. Texas Avenue, Ste. 221 Bryan, TX 77802 979.846.6800 dsmith@cmsworldwide.com

Press Release FYI If you would like to send a press release, there is now an easy form available on the web. Just access it, fill it out, and send to the PR Committee, and you've got news! Have Breaking News? MPI-THCC is proud to help spread the word about our members/industry. We want to hear from you.  Send your news to: commteam@mpithcc.org	Austin Marriott South’s Chef Tyler won the Austin CHEF SHOWDOWN!!  The Chef Showdown is a "Top Chef" style competition.  Using locally grown ingredients, each chef will prepare an appetizer and a main course for guests to enjoy.   Participating Chefs include: • Chef Kevin from Southwest Bistro • Chef Tyler from The Limestone Restaurant • Chef Tim from Hill Country Dining Room Come on, THCC members , we know more of you have awesome news to share! Send your dirt to commteam@mpithcc.org.	Reach Out! Would you like to reach the MPI-THCC membership right at their desktops? Sponsor Hill Country Spotlight! Click here for information about advertising, or call Josh Henry at 512.847.7120 We have lots of advertising opportunities on the website, and a great special on ads and enhanced membership directory listings. Contact Josh for the scoop!

Way To Go, Al!
Al Lomas, CMP, CMM, CFE, CEM and THCC Director of Special Education Projects has been invited to teach a CEM (Certification in Exhibition Management) course in Seoul, Korea May 27.

Al was recommended by IAEE – CEM staff when the KAEI (Korean Association of Exhibition Industry) asked for a CEM faculty member to teach “Basic Conference and Meeting Management”. Al has accepted the 6 ½ hour teaching assignment and will fly to Korea May 24.

Al specializes in CEM courses involving meeting management, event operations and security/risk management. Al also has future CEM teaching dates confirmed in Las Vegas and New Orleans later this year.

Still Getting “Around Austin”!

Ed Howard is the new Sales Manager for the Norris Conference Centers – Austin.  Contact Ed at:  (phone) 512-451-5011; (fax) 512-451-1444;  (e-mail)
e.howard@norriscenters.com
 

Norris Conference Centers - San Antonio is proud to announce the promotion of Rebecca Peterson - to General Manager.

As many of you may know, Rebecca joined our company in January 2008 as a Sales Manager.  Her dedication to serving our clients is one of the many attributes Rebecca brings to her role.  She remains committed to these relationships and will continue to assist clients who are seeking to book events with us.

Building on the growth of our San Antonio business since it's opening in 2005, we are confident Rebecca will find success as the General Manager.  Prior to joining our team, Rebecca was in a senior management role with Community Bible Church, which will serve her well as she makes this transition.

Rebecca has been married to her high school sweetheart, Rodney for 33 years and has three beautiful and talented daughters and two wonderful son-in-laws.

www.norriscenters.com
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Dallas CC Awarded LEED Silver

The Dallas Convention Center was awarded LEED Silver Certification because of its many green features.

The facility’s eco-friendly features include energy efficient lighting with reduced mercury content; environmentally sensitive cleaning products and practices; low-flow fixtures; and a comprehensive recycling program, in addition to many other green facets. The center achieved a 58.7 percent savings on electricity consumption and a 55.6 percent savings on the consumption of natural gas since the start of the building’s journey to achieve LEED certification.

Forgotten Gateway: Coming to America through Galveston Island

On March 3, San Antonio will open an amusement park with a unique mission: to create a play space for individuals with special needs. Billed as the world's first ultra-accessible family fun park, Morgan's Wonderland covers 25 acres and sits on the former site of the Longhorn Quarry, northeast of downtown. The project's inspiration came from Morgan, the special-needs teenage daughter of founder-philanthropist Gordon Hartman, who watched her struggle at birthday parties, playgrounds and pools.

"The special-needs children come first," Hartman said about the $32 million, three-year construction. "They have an opportunity to do things they've never done before, like ride in a swing or a carousel or sit with their family in a train."

While researching his idea, Hartman sought out sample rides suitable for physically challenged individuals but came up empty, so he prototyped his own. For example, he created an off-road adventure ride that allows children to cruise around a rock-strewn track. The Jeep-like vehicles can accommodate wheelchairs and feature such innovations as sensors that protect passengers with neck problems.

Other attractions include swings (three equipped for wheelchairs), a sand circle with four wide paths, a pirate-themed island, a sensory village, a fishing wharf and the Garden Sanctuary, a calming space with art and piped-in music.

"San Antonio now has another venue that complements what's already here, SeaWorld and Six Flags Fiesta Texas," Hartman said.

The park is free to all special-needs guests; other visitors pay $5. Reservations are required and can be made at 210-637-3434 or http://www.morganswonderland.com. The activities-filled grand opening will be held April 10.




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Shlachter & Co.: Cowtown hotels are leaders in hospitality, with high occupancy

By SHLACHTER & CO.

Fort Worth hotels had their highest first-quarter occupancy rates in quite some time, and remain above the national average, according to the Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau and the latest Smith Travel Research report.

From January through March, Fort Worth's hotel occupancy was 57.6 percent, compared with a national average of 51.9 percent, the report said. Occupancy at just the downtown hotels was 67 percent, it said.
Hotel demand for the first three months was up 5.4 percent. In the U.S., demand was up 5.3 percent, the report said.

Room revenues citywide totaled $58.5 million.

The latest results show strength and continued growth in Fort Worth's hospitality industry, said David DuBois, president and CEO of the Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau.

"As we go into the summer travel season and prepare for large regional events such as next year's Super Bowl, we expect to see additional long-term positive results for our hotels and hospitality partners," he said.

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Six Flags Over Texas Prepares For Daily Operation
Parent Company Six Flags Entertainment Emerges from Restructuring

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Registration for the WEC in Vancouver, British Columbia, opened last week, offering a $399 rate to members and nonmembers through April 23. When the discount expires, the rates will be $625 for members and $935 for nonmembers through June 25. After that they jump to $935 and $1,045, respectively.

If the WEC’s promotional rates are still too high, a hosted-buyer program is being offered to qualified planners who commit to meeting with 18 suppliers over three days. The hosted-buyer program provides attendees with four complimentary hotel nights and a free registration, which includes lunches and two receptions in addition to the educational sessions.

The conference will offer eight educational tracks, including those on corporate social responsibility, strategic meetings management, contracts and legal concerns, and the future of meetings.

Meeting Professionals International’s (MPI) World Education Congress (WEC) serves as a forum where ideas, marketplaces, and people all intersect to explore concepts and share perspectives from around the globe. With an expected attendance of more than 3,000 meeting professionals – over 40 percent of which are projected to be meeting planners – WEC is an extraordinary opportunity to tap into the energy of the meeting and event industry’s fast-paced decision-makers.

CMM: Certification in Meeting Management
The mission of the Certification in Meeting Management (CMM) program is to select, educate, and certify management-level meeting and event professionals. The focus of the certification is to provide continuing educational enhancements to the strategic decision-making ability of these leaders to manage and deliver exceptional meetings and events that drive organizational success.

What is the CMM Educational Program?
MPI’s CMM educational program is an intensive learning opportunity designed for experienced and highly accomplished members of our global meeting industry community seeking personal career advancement and professional recognition.

The five-day program enhances the strategic decision-making ability of these leaders, enabling delivery of exceptional meetings and events that drive organizational success. The CMM certification and resulting designation is the most prestigious in the meetings and events industry. The program is continuously updated and revitalized with curriculum enhancements for today’s evolving business culture.

Who is qualified to obtain the CMM?
Obtaining a CMM certification is rewarding for those with experience and the need to continue to project their careers to the next level. Qualified candidates will be:

Link for more information: http://www.mpiweb.org/Education/CMM.aspx?utm_source=MPI&utm_medium=email&utm_content=CMM&utm_campaign=MPINews%2B042710

Hats off to creative director Jeff Daigle; graphic designers Jason Judy (who was responsible for the excellent cover designs of the October and November issues) and Sherry Gritch; editors David Basler, Blair Potter, Michael Pinchera, Jessie States and Jason Hensel; and One+'s wonderful advertising staff.

More important, though, thank you to our readers who help us every day create a great industry magazine. We couldn't do it without you.