arts center marked a turning point, enabling the venue to diversify beyond traditional meetings and conventions. The most recent expansion, completed in 2022, added 30,000 square feet of exhibit space and a waterfront reception area overlooking the bay. This growth compliments industry trends showing that meeting planners increasingly prioritize venues offering both functional space and destination experiences. Mueller notes the impact of continuous improvements: “In the past two years, we’ve put in over 11 million in interior renovation and updates both in technology and aesthetics.” Tom Perlozzo, Tourism and Business Development Director, explains their modernization strategy: “We’ve moved from what I call institutional into modern day kind of look and feel. And our clients are gravitating to that.”The building’s transformation aligns with broader industry demands, as 64% of attendees now cite immersive experiences as essential event elements. TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION AND CLIENTFOCUSED AMENITIES Modern convention centers face mounting pressure to deliver seamless technology experiences, as 73% of attendees now expect conferences to use cutting-edge tools.The Roland E. Powell Convention Center has responded with comprehensive upgrades that eliminate common client pain points around equipment costs and compatibility issues. “Now all of our breakout rooms have dropped down screens, overhead projectors, updated audio, all of which is included in our complimentary meeting room rental package,” Mueller explains.This inclusive approach addresses a key industry challenge where rising event costs force planners to seek venues offering integrated solutions rather than expensive add-ons. The center’s most significant equipment investment targets the growing sports tourism market. Mueller describes their Olympic-grade flooring purchase: “For sports in the building, we just invested in Taraflex 5 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 10 ROLAND E. POWELL CONVENTION CENTER
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