U.S. convention center briefs this month focus on operational changes that affect booking and delivery, from venue upgrades and accessibility work to major-event reporting and destination funding moves. Updates span new sustainability diversion efforts, pre-event planning for 2026 mega-events, and fresh infrastructure steps tied to airport and downtown connectivity.
WEST
California
Los Angeles Convention Center Donates 8,000 Pounds of Exhibit Wood to ANE Foundation
Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) donated 8,000 pounds of wood from exhibit booths to the ANE Foundation for reuse in Altadena recovery work tied to the January 2025 Eaton fire. The venue said four tons was about 60 percent more wood than a typical event generates at the facility. The release said the materials will be used for temporary walls, fencing, and covering exposed pipes. The venue also cited a 75 percent waste diversion target set by the City of Los Angeles.
Nevada
InfoComm 2026 Sets June 13–19 Run at LVCC, Exhibit Dates June 17–19
InfoComm 2026 will run June 13–19 at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). Exhibit dates are June 17–19. The release positioned the program around conferencing and collaboration systems, with sessions focused on artificial intelligence-enabled meeting tools, enterprise deployment, and interoperability. The schedule also lists a conferencing and collaboration education track running Tuesday, June 16 through Thursday, June 18.
Oregon
Mindaro Event Center Opens 8,000-Square-Foot Venue Near PDX With 5,300-SF Ballroom
Mindaro Event Center opened near Portland International Airport (PDX), listing more than 8,000 square feet of event space about three miles from the airport. The venue is anchored by a 5,300-square-foot ballroom with capacity up to 380 for banquet or reception use and four layout configurations. The site also lists a 2,000-square-foot breakout room, plus two boardrooms for groups of 10 and 20. The property named Jawfish Restaurant as exclusive caterer. Two Hyatt hotels are also planned on the campus, including a 112-key Hyatt House slated for spring and an 88-key JdV by Hyatt scheduled for fall 2026.
SOUTH
Georgia
ACVB Briefing Drew 300+ Hospitality Attendees Ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026
Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB) held an industry briefing at the Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University. The event drew more than 300 attendees. The session covered FIFA World Cup 2026 planning topics for the hospitality community. Topics included visitor servicing, public safety, and transportation. The panel included representatives from the City of Atlanta, the Atlanta Sports Council and World Cup Host Committee, and ACVB.
South Carolina
Florence Center Extends Legends Global Management Deal Through July 2030
Florence City-County Civic Center Commission signed a five-year agreement with Legends Global to continue managing the Florence Center through July 2030, with a five-year option. The contract also includes a commitment to invest in new VIP seating. The venue cited recent arena upgrades tied to pro hockey, including chiller, lighting, sound, scoreboard updates, and a center-hung four-sided video screen. The Pee Dee Ice Cats set a league home attendance record of 7,837 fans at the venue. Florence Center lists a 10,000-seat arena, three ballrooms with a largest ballroom at 14,500 square feet, and 1,800 free on-site parking spaces.
North Carolina
Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex Launches Three Redesigned Venue Websites
Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex launched redesigned websites for Raleigh Convention Center, Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts, and Red Hat Amphitheater. The Complex said it worked with Ablr on accessibility and user experience. The sites include keyboard navigation, alternative text on images, and screen reader compatibility. The Complex said the builds follow Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2 Level AA.
Tennessee
Music City Center Grants Easement Access for Boring Company Tunnel Route
The Music City Center Convention Center Authority (MCC) approved an easement agreement allowing The Boring Company access along the west side of the convention center property. The easement ties to the planned Music City Loop tunnel network, announced in July 2025, which would connect downtown Nashville to Nashville International Airport. The proposed 9.5-mile route would run adjacent to the convention center along 8th Avenue. The authority said a separate agreement would be required to add a station at the convention center.
Alabama
Saban Center in Tuscaloosa Tops Out, 118,000-Square-Foot Learning Campus Targeting 2027 Opening
Saban Center marked a topping-out milestone for an 118,000-square-foot STEM and arts learning campus in Tuscaloosa’s River District. Organizers said the project is scheduled to open in 2027 and will sit on a 7.71-acre site along the Black Warrior River. The plan includes a State of Alabama STEM Hub on site, plus space for partners including Tuscaloosa Children’s Theatre and IGNITE. The release also cited a locally sourced recycled marble exterior and a central glass tower with a large illuminated globe feature.
MIDWEST
Ohio
Greater Columbus Convention Center Hosted Arnold Sports Festival March 5–8
Greater Columbus Convention Center hosted the Arnold Sports Festival March 5–8. Organizers reported more than 100,000 attendees. They also reported more than 20,000 athletes across 25-plus sports and events. The Arnold Expo listed 800 booths from 276 exhibitors. The venue converted the Battelle Grand Ballroom into a 4,076-seat bodybuilding theater and Exhibit Hall D into a 2,250-seat Strongman arena. The venue also reported 14,740 vehicles parked across its garages and 8,000 concurrent Wi-Fi users. The release estimated $16.8 million in direct visitor spend.
Illinois
Chicago Approves Tourism Improvement District With 1.5 Percent Hotel Assessment Starting May 1
Chicago City Council approved a tourism improvement district to fund Choose Chicago. The plan adds a 1.5 percent assessment on lodging stays at hotels with 100 or more rooms in designated zip codes starting May 1, 2026. Choose Chicago projected the assessment will raise nearly $40 million per year. The release also listed five-year projections of 25,000 jobs, $2.9 billion in visitor spending, and $63.5 million in hotel taxes.
Indiana
Indianapolis’ The Alexander Joins Marriott Autograph Collection After Renovation
The Alexander in downtown Indianapolis will join Marriott’s Autograph Collection on March 26 after a property-wide renovation. The hotel listed upgrades across 209 guest rooms and 16,500 square feet of meeting and event space. It also cited updates to an outdoor plaza used for receptions and activations. The hotel said its meeting corridors and public areas integrate a curated art collection with rotating local artist displays in the CityWay Gallery meeting space. The property is three blocks from the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium and is LEED Silver certified.
NORTHEAST
Maryland
Visit Baltimore Names Kireem Swinton President and CEO
Visit Baltimore appointed Kireem Swinton as president and chief executive officer. Swinton had served as interim president and chief executive officer since July 2025. He previously served as vice president of sales and customer experience. Visit Baltimore cited bookings including the 2033 American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Annual Meeting and Exposition and an extension of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) tournament through 2029. The organization also cited 2024 destination totals of 28.5 million visitors and $4.3 billion in spending.
New York
Javits Center Marks 40th Anniversary with New Brand and “Javits on the Hudson” Campaign
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center (JKJCC) introduced a new brand identity and launched the “Javits on the Hudson” campaign as part of its 40th anniversary. The New York Convention Center Operating Corporation said the refresh will roll out across the campus, digital platforms, and marketing materials during 2026. The update keeps the “Gold Apple” mark and adds new design elements tied to the Hudson River and the venue’s waterfront setting. Javits Center opened in 1986.
Image caption: Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau hosted a FIFA World Cup 2026 briefing with (left to right) William Pate, Dan Corso, LaChandra Burks, and moderator Ramon Reyes. Photo: Photosynthesis Studio.
