Iowa Boutique Prepares for July Opening

DAVENPORT, Iowa The Current Iowa, an art-focused addition to the Marriott Autograph Collection of hotels, announced a tentative launch date of July 5, 2017. The hotel is located in Davenport, Iowa, near The Figge Art Museum.

Combining Midwestern hospitality with youthful energy, The Current is said to provide a “hipstoric” experience in the heart of the Quad Cities. The Current Iowa comprises 78 rooms (including 30 suites) on nine floors, with the seventh and eight floors dedicated to modern luxury apartments. The Executive Suites have full kitchens and washers and dryers, an ideal set of amenities for extended stay guests.

The Current is part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, which is the luxury boutique and lifestyle division of exceptional one-of-a-kind hotels. Like its sibling, Hotel Blackhawk, (the No. 1 rated hotel in Iowa) the Current is also owned and managed by (I.H.S.) Innkeeper Hospitality Services, LLC from St. Louis, Mo.  

When it launches, The Current will offer three meeting rooms, a fitness room, a swimming pool, an oversized hot tub, access to a full spa, a club room, two restaurants and a private dining room.

Reported by:  Meetingstoday.com

Convention Industry Council Changes Name to Events Industry Council

The Convention Industry Council has changed its name to the Events Industry Council. The change comes a few weeks after management of the group, which is an umbrella organization for meetings industry associations, was taken over by SmithBucklin, the association management and services company. The EIC, which has 33 member associations, also announced a new look for the Certified Meeting Professionals (CMP) program, although nothing about the process itself has changed.
 
A brand task force worked with the CIC's board to reevaluate the future of the organization. According to the EIC, "It became apparent a name change was needed to better reflect the direction of the industry and the organizations we represent. 'Events' consistently came to the forefront as the most universal, progressive and preferred descriptor."
 
"As the leading organization representing the wide variety of professions and professionals in the events industry, the board of directors recognized a need to refresh and refine our brand to better serve our members and members' constituents," said Susan Robertson, CAE, executive vice president of ASAE, president of the ASAE Foundation, and chair of the CIC board. "Guided by a highly skilled brand task force, the process has been incredibly thorough. We reached out to leaders and influencers on a global level to ensure everyone was aligned with the direction of the Council."
 
According to the organization, the EIC's vision is to be the global champion for event professionals and event-industry excellence, continuing to promote high standards and professionalism in the events industry with the CMP program and four signature programs in sustainability, industry insights, knowledge and leadership.

Reported by:  meetings-conventions.com

CIC Rebrands and Reveals New Logo

The Convention Industry Council has rebranded as the Events Industry Council (EIC), and revealed a new logo to correspond with the change.

“As the leading organization representing the wide variety of professions and professionals in the events industry, the Board of Directors recognized a need to refresh and refine our brand to better serve our members and members’ constituents,” shared Susan Robertson, CAE, Events Industry Council chair. “Guided by a highly-skilled brand task force, the process has been incredibly thorough. We reached out to leaders and influencers on a global level to ensure everyone was aligned with the direction of the Council.”

The EIC will continue to run the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) program, driving and advancing the education, certification and professionalism of the industry. Event professionals with the CMP designation represent the best and the brightest throughout the world, and will continue to proudly display their accomplishment of the CMP milestone.

“Our industry is an exciting one, and it’s an honor to represent so many strong organizations and professionals with the CMP designation,” said Karen Kotowski, CAE, CMP, president and CEO, Events Industry Council. “The new look of our CMP logo represents the fresh ideas and quality that each Certified Meeting Professional brings to his/her employer and clients. Our CMP designation is powered by the Events Industry Council, and we are proud to have that clearly displayed in the new look.”

The brand also includes signature programs which represent key initiatives of the organization, allowing the organization’s resources to be fully optimized. The focus will be on: Sustainability, Industry Insights, Knowledge, and Leadership. Core activities captured within the signature programs include Green Meetings (Sustainability); APEX Standards, Economic Significance Study (Industry Insights); Webinars, Certificate Programs (Knowledge), and Hall of Leaders, Pacesetters, and Council Meetings (Leadership).

The Events Industry Council’s 33 member organizations represent over 103,500 individuals and 19,500 firms and properties involved in the meetings, conventions, and exhibitions industry.

Reported by:  meetingscanada.com