Minn. Strengthens Mtgs.

<B> Minn. Strengthens Mtgs.</B>

By Frank Rosci

Key infrastructural developments in Minneapolis continue at a rapid pace as an improved airport and an expanded convention center promise to make the city an even more viable business travel and corporate meetings destination.

"Recent improvements show the relative strength of the area," said Peter Hedlund, vice president of sales at the Greater Minneapolis Convention & Visitors Association. "The city's growth also demonstrates the need for even more hotel space, which will be in especially great demand when work on the convention center is completed in December 2001."

Hundreds of hotel rooms will be added to the downtown inventory within the next three years (<I>BTN</I>, May 17), while several yet-to-be-named hotel chains plan to build just a short walk from the convention center, Hedlund said. "With the city's added meeting and hotel space, we anticipate anywhere from a 3 to 15 percent increase in occupancy."

Expansion of the Minneapolis Convention Center will allow for the concurrent production of multiple shows for the first time. This effectively will eliminate the peaks and valleys that have plagued the city's meeting business in the past. "The market is there. Now we will have the capability to tap into it as never before," Hedlund said. An added boost to the CVA's sales and marketing ability will be an exhibit hall reserved solely for private booking use.

In airport news, St. Paul International is in the midst of an ongoing $2 billion renovation/expansion project (<I>BTN</I>, July 19). Elements of the airport makeover completed to date include moving sidewalks in the Green concourse, the international arrivals facility and the ground transportation center.

Getting from the airport to downtown Minneapolis will become easier once a light rail transit system is completed in 2003. The 12.2-mile LRT will link downtown, the Mall of America and the airport. "This service could make transportation one less thing for meeting planners to worry about, since in many cases, it will eliminate the need for hotel shuttles to and from the airport," Hedlund said.