The Board of Directors of the
Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority (PCCA) has officially signed a new
contract with SMG, the nation’s 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.”
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.
Source: Meetings
Focus
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