The Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Convention Center
Authority (PCCA) has officially signed a new contract with SMG, a leading
convention center management firm, to manage and operate the world-class
Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. The management and operations
contract with SMG is part of the Board’s continuing efforts to improve the
customer experience at the Center; enable the Center to compete more
effectively for major conventions and trade shows; and maintain the continued
growth of the Philadelphia region’s hospitality industry.
Gregory J. Fox, Chairman of the PCCA Board of Directors, and
Bob McClintock, COO and Senior Vice President for Convention Center also
formally announced that Lorenz Hassenstein will serve as SMG’s General Manager
for the facility and oversee the company’s management and operations staff of
approximately 85 individuals at the Center. SMG will assume responsibility for
management of the Center effective December 1.
“We are excited about our new partnership with SMG and are
committed to enhancing the customer experience at the Center and increasing the
number of conventions, trade shows and other events we host,” said Fox. “Our
goal is to fulfill the promise of the Center as a major contributor to the success
of the hospitality industry and economic driver for the Philadelphia region. We
look forward to working with SMG to modernize our operations, control costs and
increase revenues, and improve future bookings at the Center.”
The Board has identified four key focus areas to improve its
ability to compete in the global convention and meeting industry: management
operations, the existing labor supplier model, work rules, and billing
transparency for our customers.
“SMG is honored to become a part of the bright future of the
Pennsylvania Convention Center and the team of professionals throughout the
region that are part of the hospitality industry that plays such an integral
role in the economic vitality of the Commonwealth,” said McClintock. “We look
forward to bringing the benefit of our extensive network of expertise, industry
best practices and our focus on the customer to the Convention Center team.”
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett commended the PCCA on its
privatization efforts and for working to position the Convention Center for
future growth.
“Pennsylvania-based SMG has a national reputation for
effective convention center management and is well-suited for the task of
overseeing and managing the Center,” said Governor Corbett. “This agreement
will put in place an experienced convention center operator who will implement
industry best practices and work to ensure the continued growth and success of
the Philadelphia area’s hospitality industry, which has a direct impact on
thousands of jobs in the state and region.”
“This is a change that customers asked for, so the full
court press is on for this new management team to deliver. We are already
working closely with SMG’s team and the Pennsylvania Convention Center
leadership to strategically communicate this change to customers everywhere,
and will be working alongside them to elevate booking and rebooking rates as
quickly as possible,” said Jack Ferguson, President & CEO of the
Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, the sales and marketing arm of the
convention center.
SMG has more than 30 years of experience at more than 200
facilities and 72 convention centers. SMG currently manages significant centers
in some of the nation’s largest cities, including Chicago, Columbus, Denver,
Detroit, San Francisco and Salt Lake City as part of a portfolio that
represents more than 14.5 million square feet. In addition, SMG has extensive
experience working with organized labor in San Francisco, Chicago, Pittsburgh,
Providence, and Detroit. Fox said SMG will work closely with the Philadelphia
Convention & Visitors Bureau to increase bookings at the Center by
developing new business and bringing back past customers.
Lorenz Hassenstein, who will serve as General Manager of the
facility for SMG, has over 20 years of industry experience as both a trade show
producer and facility management executive. He brings a breadth of knowledge
and best practices drawn nationally and internationally from trade show
facilities and event producers around the country. Throughout his tenure,
Lorenz has worked collaboratively with community leaders, convention and
visitor authorities and the hospitality industry to drive customer
satisfaction, impact financial performance, and foster economic growth.
About the Pennsylvania Convention Center
The Pennsylvania Convention Center is located in
Philadelphia, the “cradle of liberty” and the birthplace of the United States.
Located in Center City, the Convention Center is situated at the center of the
city’s many cultural offerings and world-class dining and entertainment scene.
A $787 million dollar renovation and expansion of the Center, which received a
Gold level certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, was completed in
2011, increasing the size of the Center by 62 percent. The Center is now the
14th largest facility in the nation and features the largest exhibit space and
ballroom in the Northeast. The newly renovated Center has won numerous awards
and recognition, including a designation as the Best Government/Public Building
of 2011 by the Engineering News Record of New York. For more information, visit
www.paconvention.com.
Source: Exhibitor News
Network (ENN)
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