Business View Magazine | July 2022

173 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 7 COLUMB I A METROPOL I TAN CONVENT ION CENTER that are custom and high quality,” Britt says. “So that is a unique factor in our facilities. We can produce plated meals for 800, 900, 1000 people at the superior level of a hotel restaurant. Our chef came from high-end hotels in the past, so it’s definitely a great selling feature.” CMCC offers customizable menus, using ingredients that are sourced regionally. Britt adds, “Our chef is a great champion of our sustainability, which is kind of unique for a convention center. Because we do a lot of custom menus, he does a lot of the sourcing of our products. And during the growing season, which in South Carolina is spring, summer and fall, we are able to source about 80 percent of what we use, regionally, within 150 miles. It’s nice for the clients because it’s fresh and local and lowers the carbon footprint of what we’re sourcing as well.” Sustainability is always top of mind for the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. It was actually built in 2004 to include environmentally conscious elements, and they have continued to add and upgrade them ever since. “Even before sustainability was super trendy, it made sense for us to operate efficiently,” Britt says. The building features large, multi-storey-height glass walls which were constructed of low-e glass to help protect from South Carolina’s high summer heat. In 2015, they took it one step further by upgrading to an automated control system for the building’s HVAC. “The windows help reflect the sun and manage the heating and cooling in the facility,” Britt notes. “The HVAC allows us to closely control the heating and cooling in the building. If it’s not rented, we don’t necessarily heat it and cool it to a client comfort level. We have it come on only an hour before client access time.” Every bulb in the building has been changed 1200 Pickens Street, Columbia, SC 29201 803.227.3400 www.hilton.com/en/hotels/caecdgi 1210 Pickens Street, Columbia, SC 29201 803.227.3410 https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/caehtht 2 hotels. 1 great location. Suites that'll make you smile With separate sleeping and living spaces, our studio and one-bedroom suites provide you the perfect floor plans whether you stay one night, one week, or more. Luminous spaces There's plenty of natural light and space to gather in the lobby, with high-tech meeting rooms to mix, mingle, and take care of business. End each day with a happy sigh, as you sink into the crisp sheets in your spacious room, and wake up to the morning sun shining through your wide windows. • Connecting Rooms • Free WiFi • Non-smoking rooms • Digital Key • On-site restaurant • Indoor pool • Fitness center • Pet-friendly rooms • Business center • Meeting rooms A M E N I T I E S