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Convention Center News:

Aviation Week’s MRO Americas 2012 Conference in Dallas didn’t go exactly as planned this week. In the middle of the conference, storm sirens began going off as the Metroplex was under a tornado emergency. But the staff at the Dallas Convention Center managed to evacuate all attendees to a safe location in a timely manner. It’s a great lesson in emergency management — Do you ask questions about disaster planning at your venues?

In an attempt to draw in new conventions, the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia is eliminating their 8 percent labor management fee. The change takes effect July 1 and is the first step in lowering labor costs at the center.

New York isn’t the only city struggling with an outdated convention center that’s lost its ability to draw in major conventions. According to the Miami Herald, the Miami Beach Convention Center is overdue for a makeover and a proposal is in the works to demolish it — along with City Hall and the old Jackie Gleason Theater — to make way for a modern multi-purpose development including a convention center, hotel, condos, office space, restaurants and parks. But like any improvement project, it’s not without controversy and must still be approved by voters.

No doubt the big story of this week revolved around the new CEIR Report which indicates that trade show industry activity increased by 2.7 percent in 2011, outperforming the GDP (gross domestic product). Check out this article from TSNN for more details.

Record-breaking show statistics are not exclusive to U.S. shows. Earlier this month, representatives from more than 80 countries gathered in the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre for Gulfood 2012. More than 3,800 companies showcased food and beverage products and services to an anticipated record turnout.

To help accommodate more expos, Miami announced the opening of a newly-renovated Miami Airport Convention Center, a 172,000-square-foot facility.

The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) recently released the results of their industry survey, which showed that trade shows command nearly 40% of B2B marketing budgets, making it the largest marketing channel. (Nearly four times the runner-up, trade magazine advertising.) Here’s a more in-depth report from EXPO Magazine.

New York’s plans to replace the Javits Center continue to cause controversy. Here’s the perspective from IAEE’s New York Area Chapter.

Recently the Department of Transportation ruled that airlines must publish “all-inclusive” fares with taxes and fees vs. just the base fare. So why doesn’t the same apply for hotels, Frommers asks? And if you’re exhibiting internationally and need a new passport, it will cost you more — 27% more, to be exact!