Published on : Saturday, December 14, 2013
Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board (LA Tourism) executives announced today that AEG Facilities has officially started full operations as the private-sector operator of the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC), bringing with it a new management team and an array of new services.
AEG Facilities has appointed Regional Vice President of Convention Centers Brad Gessner as Sr. V.P. & General Manager for LACC.
Management of the City-owned, convention center in Downtown Los Angeles was awarded to AEG Facilities by the City of Los Angeles on Oct. 24, 2013. AEG and LACC worked side-by-side during a 70-day transition period to ensure a seamless change, which concluded Dec. 3, 2013.
“We’re excited for this next chapter at the Convention Center and hope this will bring more conventions and visitors to improve Los Angeles’ economy,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.
“Operational excellence is critical to our ability to deliver the best possible service and solutions to our convention partners, and now LA has the best in the business,” said Ernest Wooden Jr., President and CEO of LA Tourism. “Not only is AEG a trusted partner, but is one of the world’s leading owner-operators of sports and entertainment facilities, including L.A. LIVE which shares LACC’s campus. We’re thrilled to embark on this new collaboration. Brad and the AEG Facilities team share our passion for LA and the endless meetings opportunities in the City of Angels.”
NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM
Gessner joined AEG Facilities more than a year ago and will continue to serve as the company’s Vice President of Convention Centers. He will also be responsible for all day-to-day management and the overall management, including booking and operations of the LACC. He brings more than 35 years of experience to the position, most recently serving for six years as the General Manager of the San Diego Convention Center. Gessner has pulled together a group of highly skilled, deeply experienced industry professionals with established networks and track records of success in the convention business in Los Angeles and other top convention cities.
NEW SERVICES AND PARTNERS AT LACC
As part of the management change, AEG Facilities has also instituted new polices, upgraded amenities and guest services designed to further establish the LACC as the region’s preferred location for conventions, trade shows and meetings of all sizes.
New Food and Beverage – Beginning Jan. 1, 2014 the LACC will launch its new “Taste of LA” food and beverage experience as the venues signature and exclusive dining experience. Operated in partnership with Levy Restaurants, “Taste of LA” will feature upgraded menus in both concession fare and catering while providing new dining options in line with the city’s culinary star power.
New In-House Audio Visual Provider – Encore Event Technologies, the hospitality division of the Freeman Company, joins the LACC team as the in-house preferred provider of audio/visual services, and the “exclusive” on the LACC’s “house sound.” Encore Event Technologies has the expertise and inventory to provide all audio visual needs from simple meetings to elaborate, state-of-the-art general session productions. Their dedicated in-house team will add expertise for all of LACC’s clients.
LACC Opens Up Electrical – Show Managers will now have the opportunity to select specific services from preferred provider lists that are vetted and compiled by the LACC staff. Beginning with the event utility services category, the “approved vendor model” will enable Show Managers to select from preferred providers including Edlen Electric, Trade Show Electric/GES or Freeman Electric.
The new management team at the LACC complements a series of new developments in Los Angeles including the opening of the much-acclaimed $1.9 billion Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles World Airports (LAX). Los Angeles also has 10 new hotels currently under construction, with 2,135 rooms set for completion before the end of 2014, including the $172-million joint Residence Inn and Courtyard by Marriott project in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, directly across the street from the L.A. LIVE sports and entertainment complex and a block from the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Source:- Discover Los Angeles
Tags: Destination News
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