News
More room with a view - Sun Herald, By MARY PEREZ, Wed, Aug. 19, 2009
BILOXI - Most of the construction at the expanded Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention Center is done and when the big conventions start coming to Biloxi, "all segments of the community are going to feel the impact,"
Executive Director Bill Holmes said.
That starts in October, when scientists from around the world arrive for a marine science convention and exhibition. They will stay, shop, dine and sightsee along the Coast.
Days before they arrive, the Mississippi Nurses Association convention will come to town, and a Mary Kay convention is already signed up for next year.
These visitors will be greeted by architecture at the center that reflects the Coast, from the wavy roof to the lobby floor with its color patterns that progress from the beach to the deep-blue Gulf waters.
Designed by Eley Guild Hardy Architects and built by Yates Construction, the expansion doubles the size of the Convention Center.
Just north of Beach Boulevard, the setting provides scenery seldom seen at a convention center and window walls that make the most of the views. The grounds are landscaped with Medjool palm trees and native plants.
Holmes said the building is high-tech with fast wireless Internet access, state-of-the-art sound, video and security plus sound baffles to contain noise.
Polished concrete floors in the exhibit hall reflect all the lights suspended from the soaring ceiling. The room can be divided into four large rooms and there are seven private meeting rooms beside the exhibit hall.
Holmes isn't worried about filling that space.
"To not sell this community and this building is like not being able to sell water and ice in the desert," he said.
With about 400,000 square feet of combined space in the addition and the totally remodeled existing convention center, "that puts us into getting 85 percent of the business that's meeting across the United States right now,"
said Holmes. "We're not as big as New Orleans, Atlanta or Houston, but we're bigger than Baton Rouge, Mobile, Jackson and Birmingham."
Paula April, marketing director for the convention center, said the expansion isn't just to bring in new business. It allows her to book multiple events on the same date and lets existing customers grow their shows.
The home builders' show will bring in another group in March and the Southern Gaming Summit is teaming with a bingo convention in May. She said the convention center can hold two Mardi Gras parties and a convention at the same time. The Coast has the airline seats and hotel rooms to accommodate conventions, April said. With the expanded meeting space, "all three pieces are in place now to get business," she said.
"Our next goal is to secure a hotel adjacent to or on-site," said Holmes, who has a file folder of interested developers.
In November, a tour is planned for about 20 meeting planners who would be most likely to bring large meetings to the Coast, April said.
Crews worked overtime to get the convention center ready to host the National Governors Conference, which overlapped with the Mississippi Municipal League conference.
Without the expansion, April said they would have had to turn away the state's leaders, who have met on the Coast for years, or the nation's governors.
Throughout the construction, "it's just been an unbelievable spirit of cooperation," Holmes said.
Construction workers adjusted their schedules and guests put up with bare floors and folding chairs. Some inconvenience will continue a little longer.
Crews are building an east concourse on the convention center and have just started working on a new parking garage.
The adjacent Coliseum has continued to host events such as Cruisin' The Coast in October and top entertainers, including Kenny Chesney, who will perform in September.
FEMA paid to repair Hurricane Katrina damage to the Coast Coliseum and Convention Center, allowing all the facilities to be new or improved at the same time.
"Katrina was bad," Holmes said, "but she left some opportunities."
|
