"What's Going On?" with KCMPI Member Company Updates

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(Please send any company updates to Maria Davis at mdavis@4seasonsresort.com and Lori Turec at LTurec@fivestarspeakers.com).

AGENDA: Kansas City Achieves Top Destination Management Company Accreditation

Mission, Kan. (June 24, 2009) - Local Destination Management Company (DMC) AGENDA: Kansas City has received the official Destination Management Company Accreditation. The accreditation was jointly announced by the Association of Destination Management Executives (ADME) and the Destination Management Company Accreditation Commission.
 
ADME's accreditation program is designed to elevate professional standards and designate firms that demonstrate advanced knowledge and experience essential to the practice of destination management. AGENDA: Kansas City has met the standards and criteria that are indicative of the highest quality destination management service providers.
 
"We are delighted to have achieved this level of industry designation," said AGENDA: Kansas City's general manager Alton Hagen, CMP, DMCP. "We pride ourselves in the services we provide, and our goal each and every day is to meet — and exceed — our client's expectations. This has been our standard throughout our 20 years in business and we look forward to maintaining this criteria for at least the next 20 years."
 
AGENDA: Kansas City is a full service Destination Management Company that has provided event production, tour and ground transportation services to organizations in the Kansas City metro area since 1989. AGENDA: USA is the chauffeured transportation division of AGENDA: Kansas City. The company is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2009. More information about AGENDA: Kansas City and AGENDA: USA can be found at www.AGENDAKansasCity.com.
 

Overland Park Becomes Home to Kansas' First "Marriott International Greatroom"
Marriott Overland Park Completes Innovative Interior Renovation

Overland Park, Kan. (July 14, 2009)  - Today, the Overland Park Marriott completed an interior renovation to transform the traditional hotel lobby space into a "Marriott International (M.I.) Greatroom," designed to meet the unique needs of business travelers and vacationers. It will be the first to exist in Kansas, and Overland Park will be among a small number of suburban hotels to introduce the concept. Nationally, there are currently 90 Marriott Hotels with "M.I. Greatroom" lobbies, a concept that was launched in 2006.

"Overland Park is a thriving community with significant growth potential. We saw this hotel renovation as the perfect opportunity to enhance our investment in the region," said Kenneth Fearn, managing partner of Integrated Capital LLC, the Los Angeles-based, minority-owned hotel group that owns the Marriott Overland Park. In the past two years, the owners have invested $20 million in renovations to modernize the hotel's exterior and guest environment.

The completed M.I. Greatroom consists of three sophisticated zones designed to best serve the wide-ranging needs of Marriott guests. The Social Business Zone provides a comfortable lounge area for groups of guests to meet and socialize. The Individual Zone offers a quiet alternative for guests to unwind and the At Your Service Zone serves as a central point for information so that guests can make the most of their time in Overland Park. All the zones are equipped with the latest technology, including complementary WiFi throughout the entire space.
In addition to the zones, the M.I. Greatroom will also feature enhanced food options. The 5-10-20 menu, served in the various zones, includes moderately priced dishes that can be prepared and served within five, 10 or 20 minutes. The completed renovation also marks the grand re-opening of Nikko, the hotel's popular Japanese Steakhouse, which will now include a sushi bar accessible to lobby visitors. In addition to Nikko, a brand new restaurant, Epicure, will open its doors, serving traditional American dishes with a healthy approach.

"We are thrilled to be the first Marriott in Kansas to be home to an M.I. Greatroom. We serve a wide range of customers, from business travelers to vacationers, and can now boast a lobby that better meets the individual needs of every guest," said Shawn Cummins, the hotel's general manager.

To celebrate the opening, an official ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place this afternoon at the hotel. The ceremony is open to the media and will include participation from local community leaders including Tracey Osborne, CCE, President of the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce and City Council President Fred Spears.

For a sneak peak of the new M.I. Greatroom visit http://www.bookmarriott.com/731/index.html.

To make reservations or to inquire about an Overland Park hotel package, call 800-228-9290 or visit www.overlandparkmarriott.com.

About the Overland Park Marriott:
Situated in the heart of the Metcalf Corridor, The Overland Park Marriott features 398 guest rooms with Exclusive Marriott Revive® bedding and high-speed Internet access, making it an ideal destination for business travelers, while the Kansas City, Kan., hotel is also located just minutes from attractions such as the Kansas City Zoo and Arrowhead Stadium. Four restaurants, including the popular Overland Park, Kan., restaurant Nikko Japanese Steakhouse, as well as an indoor/outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, whirlpool and business center are all available on-site. For a Kansas City wedding reception or meeting, 14,000 square feet of event space accommodates up to 1,200 guests. The Overland Park Marriott is just 35 minutes from the Kansas City International Airport. The Overland Park Marriott is owned by Integrated Capital, LLC. The Los Angeles-based, minority-owned hotel group is a shining example of Marriott's Diversity Ownership Initiative, which set a goal in 2005 to have 500 hotels owned, managed or in the pipeline by women and minorities by 2010. Today, Marriott is well on track to meet its goal. For more information on Marriott's Diversity Ownership Initiative, visit www.marriott.com/diversity.