Convention centers across the United States are reporting steady operational progress, new sustainability milestones, and continued investment in infrastructure and technology, even as venues balance recovery efforts, major event demand, and long-term strategic planning.
SOUTH
North Carolina
Raleigh Convention Center Advances Fire Recovery
The Raleigh Convention Center entered the next phase of fire recovery in late March. New permanent cooling equipment arrived March 25 to replace temporary systems used after the December 1 fire. A crane returned to McDowell Street the week of April 1 to place the equipment on the roof. The venue also restored parts of its permanent kitchen as it moved away from the mobile kitchen at Red Hat Amphitheater. The center welcomed nearly 85,000 guests in the first quarter of 2026 during recovery work. Its culinary team served more than 89,000 meals and 100,000 desserts from the temporary kitchen.
Georgia
Atlanta CVB Reports 52 Million Visitors in 2025
Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB) held its 113th annual meeting April 22 at Georgia Aquarium. ACVB President and CEO William Pate reported that Atlanta drew 52 million visitors in 2025. Those visitors accounted for $21 billion in spending. The meeting also covered Atlanta’s role as a FIFA World Cup 2026 host city, its soccer history, and the relocation of U.S. Soccer Federation headquarters to the city.
Atlanta CVB Takes World Cup Outreach to Madrid
ACVB promoted Atlanta to international audiences during an April 23 media briefing in Madrid. The presentation took place at LEGENDS, The Home of Football presented by LALIGA. ACVB highlighted Atlanta’s infrastructure, international access, culinary offerings, and neighborhoods ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026. The bureau also staged a Madrid activation with a themed bus. During the event, ACVB presented a jersey from former Atlanta United captain Brad Guzan to the LEGENDS collection.
Florida
Rum Room and Venu Mark Three Years at Miami Beach Convention Center
Rum Room and Venu at the Miami Beach Convention Center marked their third anniversary April 22 with an Earth Day-timed celebration. The restaurant and private event space hosted an all-day program with live music, giveaways, and a happy hour menu. The event introduced The Rainmaker, a cocktail using ingredients from the restaurant’s terrace garden along Collins Park Canal. Rum Room and Venu are owned by the City of Miami Beach and managed with Sodexo Live! and Oak View Group (OVG). Venu operates in the restored 1916 Miami Beach Municipal Golf Course Clubhouse and supports private events tied to the convention center campus.
MIDWEST
Indiana
Indianapolis Marriott East Completes $25 Million Renovation
Indianapolis Marriott East has completed a $25 million renovation focused on guest rooms, meeting space, and public areas. The project updated 315 guest rooms and refreshed 90,000 square feet of meeting space. The hotel also added an indoor pool and upgraded its fitness center. The property offers a total of 497 guest rooms and supports conferences, corporate events, and social functions. Management said the renovation aims to strengthen the venue’s role in hosting meetings and events on the city’s east side.
Michigan
Huntington Place Earns LEED Gold Recertification
Huntington Place in Detroit earned LEED Gold recertification in March, marking its third Gold certification since 2019. During the review, the venue earned 62 points under the LEED O+M v4.1 Operations and Maintenance for Existing Buildings rating system. The scoring period ran from October 2024 through September 2025. In addition, Huntington Place reported strong marks in water efficiency, waste diversion, transportation, indoor air quality, and occupant experience. The venue also reported that 34 percent of occupants used alternative commuting methods during the review period. Overall, Huntington Place said the recertification supports its sustainability work across large-scale event operations.
Illinois
McCormick Place Hosts Supplier Marketplace Event
WEST
Texas
Palmer Events Center Closes April with Nine-Event Mix
Palmer Events Center closed April with nine events spanning career, technology, consumer, and community programming. The month included the Austin Card Show, which featured more than 400 vendors, and the City of Austin Career Expo. SaaStock USA and Microelectronics US brought technology-focused audiences to the venue, with the latter featuring more than 100 speakers. Other events included IDEA Public Schools College Signing Day, Austin Witchfest, the Statesman Cap 10k Expo, the 5 Star Barber and Beauty Expo, and City-Wide Vintage Sale.
California
Los Angeles Convention Center Marks First Year With Wi-Fi 7
NORTHEAST
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Tourism Groups Preview 2026 Outlook
Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) and Visit Philadelphia hosted a 2026 Tourism Outlook event April 7 at the National Constitution Center. During the event, the groups outlined destination-readiness work tied to major events and visitor growth. Tourism Economics projected international travel to Philadelphia will rise 4.5 percent in 2026 after a decline in 2025. Meanwhile, Center City hotel occupancy is forecast to increase 2.8 percent. Total hotel revenue is also expected to rise 6.3 percent. In addition, group business room nights are expected to grow 2.8 percent. PHLCVB said confirmed event business through 2030 already represents more than $1 billion in economic impact.
Philadelphia Report Shows 304 PHLCVB-Booked Events in 2025
PHLCVB and Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority (PCCA) released their joint 2025 Annual Report on April 15. PHLCVB booked 304 events in 2025, including 16 citywide events. Those bookings drew 559,304 attendees and generated 529,144 hotel room nights. The report put total economic impact from those events at $496 million. PHL Life Sciences accounted for 85 events, more than 70,000 attendees, and nearly 147,000 hotel room nights. PHL Sports drew nearly 260,000 fans and generated 108,000 hotel room nights. Philadelphia also welcomed 1.025 million international visitors in 2025.
Pennsylvania Convention Center Releases 2025 Sustainability Report
Pennsylvania Convention Center released its 2025 Sustainability and Impact Report. The document cited phase one of its digital signage project, LEED, Events Industry Council, and Global Biorisk Advisory Council recertifications, and Sage Certification for Accessibility. In 2025, the center hosted 14 sustainable events, including five with 100 percent waste diversion. Overall waste diversion reached 45 percent. Electric use dropped 15 percent, and water use fell 17 percent. Community programs also donated more than 1,400 items. The center began work on a new sensory room.
New York
Javits Center Marks 40 Years with New Brand Identity
The New York Convention Center Operating Corporation (NYCCOC) unveiled a new brand identity for the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on April 1. The update marks the center’s 40th anniversary and introduces the “Javits on the Hudson” campaign. The campaign highlights the venue’s West Side waterfront location and six-block campus near Hudson Yards. The new visual system keeps the Gold Apple mark and adds design elements tied to the Hudson River, rooftop green spaces, and glass façade. Javits Center said the updated brand will roll out across the campus, digital platforms, and marketing materials throughout 2026.
Javits Center Reports Sustainability and Donation Milestones
Albany County completed a 1.06-megawatt solar array on the roof of the MVP Arena parking garage. County officials said the system will generate about 1,157,693 kilowatt-hours in its first year and save more than $154,000 annually. The project is one of the largest solar installations at a sports and entertainment facility in the Capital Region. Albany County planned to finish 52 level 2 electric vehicle charging stations in the garage by the end of April. MVP Arena is managed by Legends Global.
