FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Minneapolis Convention Center wins 2014 Venue Excellence Award from International Association of Venue Managers

MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 13, 2014 -- The Minneapolis Convention Center (MCC) was recently awarded the Venue Excellence Award for Convention Centers at the Annual Conference of the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) held in Portland, Oregon, on July 26 29, 2014.

The MCC displayed a significant emphasis on the development and support of a thriving team culture, evidenced by several initiativesincluding the implementation of an internal leadership forum designed to strengthen the current leadership team while fostering the growth of emerging leaders. Further, the facility demonstrated high satisfaction from their customers, significant achievements in sustainability, comprehensive safety and security programs and substantial service to the community.

Winning the IAVM 2014 Venue Excellence award is a great accomplishment for the staff at the Minneapolis Convention Center, said Jeff Johnson, executive director, Minneapolis Convention Center. Their hard work has produced great outcomes that focus on operating responsibly through industry leading sustainability efforts and an employee-centered culture. These provide a great work culture that allows our staff to better serve our customers each and every day.

To win, the MCC had to demonstrate excellence in operations impacting the customer, including customer satisfaction and sales and marketing, and the operation of the facility, including sustainability and financial integrity. Other categories included team building and professional development, safety and security, and service to the community. Some notable impacts were customer survey results indicating 98.2 percent of customers would return based on their experience in the venue, and a community events program that donated $92,000 in rental grants to 35 local nonprofit groups.

Our hearty congratulations go to the Minneapolis Convention Center on this much deserved award, said Melvin Tennant, CAE, president and CEO, Meet Minneapolis. We are proud of the work our partners at the MCC have done, especially in fostering leadership and sustainability. Its an added bonus for us that the working relationship between the MCC team and Meet Minneapolis is one of the best in the industry.

The Venue Excellence Award was created to annually recognize four venue types (convention centers, stadiums, arenas and performing arts centers) demonstrating excellence in the management and operation of public assembly venues. IAVM takes pride in its members and member venues that excel in providing their communities with a safe and enjoyable space for all types of events. The venue must excel in four major areas Operational Excellence, which includes sales & marketing, customer satisfaction, sustainability, financial integrity; Teambuilding & Professional Development, Safety & Security, and Service to the Community.

The 2014 Venue Industry Awards Luncheon took place during the 2014 VenueConnect Annual Conference & Trade Show in Portland, Oregon. The awards, hosted each year by the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM), honored exceptional venues and professionals in several categories.

PHOTO CREDIT/CUTLINE

Must use Photo Credit: © IAVM, VenueConnect 2014

ConventionCenter_Winner.jpg is attached
Jeff Johnson, executive director, receiving the Venue Excellence Award on behalf of the Minneapolis Convention Center. The award was sponsored by Freeman and presented by Michelle Johnson, CIO at Freeman Audio Visual Solutions.

ABOUT IAVM
Representing public assembly venues from around the globe, IAVMs active members include managers and senior executives from auditoriums, arenas, convention centers, exhibit halls, stadiums, performing arts centers, university complexes, racetracks, and amphitheaters. IAVMs mission is to educate, advocate for, and inspire public assembly venue professionals, worldwide. More information about IAVM is available atwww.iavm.org or via @IAVMWHQ on Twitter.

The International Association of Venue Managers (formerly Auditorium Managers) was founded in December 1924 by seven enthusiastic building managers with a vision of the future of public assembly venue management met in Cleveland, Ohio, on Dec. 27, 1924, to discuss the important issues facing the auditorium management industry. From that meeting came the formation of the Auditorium Managers Association. What grew from a dedication to the industry is now known as the International Association of Venue Managers, a world-wide organization that maintains the early commitment to their business and profession.

ABOUT MINNEAPOLIS CONVENTION CENTER

The Minneapolis Convention Center (MCC) is the largest indoor, contiguous, convention center in the Upper Midwest with over 1.5 million visitors annually, including 250,000 during the summer months. The MCC is more than a meeting place. It's more than a show space. It's a building all about building something elserelationships. A blend of form and function, the MCC provides aesthetically pleasing and innovative solutions for a variety of conferences, trade shows and events. With nearly 480,000 square feet of trade show space, 87 column-free conference meeting rooms, a 28,000-square-foot ballroom, and an auditorium with superb production and flexible technology options, the facility can handle any event from a small meeting to a large convention or trade show.

ABOUT MEET MINNEAPOLIS

Meet Minneapolis is a private, not-for-profit, member-based association. It actively promotes and sells the Minneapolis area as a destination for conventions and meetings, works to maximize the visitor experience and markets the city as a desirable tourist destination to maximize the economic benefit of the greater Minneapolis area.

Meet Minneapolis is accredited by the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) of the Destination Marketing Association International.

Follow us:

Online: www.minneapolis.org, www.minneapolisconventioncenter.com & http://go.minneapolis.org
On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/meetminneapolis?ref=ts
On Twitter: http://twitter.com/meetminneapolis
On Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/meetminneapolis/

#askMPLS

When visitors attending events in the city have questions about where to go, what to do or just need directions, all they need to do is ask by using the Meet Minneapolis hashtag #askMPLS on social media. Staff members are on the ready to respond to questions and assist to ensure a great visitor experience for all who come to Minneapolis.

MEDIA CONTACT

Kristen Montag, media & communication manager, 612.767.8038, kristenm@minneapolis.org, Minneapolis_PR on Twitter.