SPA Keynote Speaker Announced

   The International SPA Association announced the keynote speaker line-up and details for its 22nd Annual Conference and Expo to be held at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee from Oct. 15-17, 2012.

    This year's conference theme of Inspire will resonate with attendees through an exciting line-up of notable keynote speakers that will kick-off on Monday, with Jim Collins -- author of the international bestseller "Good to Great." His most recent book is "Great by Choice: Uncertainty, Chaos, and Luck-Why Some Thrive Despite Them All," coauthored with Morten Hansen. It answers the question: Why do some companies thrive in uncertainty, even chaos, and others do not?

     Lisa Ling, an award winning journalist and former co-host of The View, will provide the keynote address on the second day of conference. Ling can currently be seen on Our America with Lisa Ling on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) and as a contributor to ABC News' Nightline and National Geographic's Explorer. Ling's achievements span the globe and her perspective delves into some of the most challenging, thought-provoking issues in society today.

Enterprise Connect: Kicks off Monday

   Enterprise Connect 2012 kicks off Monday (March 26) at the Gaylord Palms. Enterprise Connect (formerly “VoiceCon”) has become the premier industry event covering the evolving enterprise market for unified communications (UC), which has now expanded to encompass video teleconferencing, collaboration, contact center, and enterprise social networking, along with the IP PBX.
   Siemens Enterprise Communications announced that Chris Hummel, President, North America and Global CMO, was selected to give a keynote this year.
   Hummel will discuss what it takes for enterprises to fulfill the promise of unified communications (UC) as well as the key issues enterprises need to prioritize to drive real value from communications investment.

Real-world customers will share their stories to help illustrate how best to drive competitive advantage through collaboration, next-generation architectures and new deployment options such as the cloud. Additionally, Hummel will highlight exciting developments at Siemens Enterprise Communications that will move the communications market forward.

Fighting Fraud this Summer

    The 23^rd Annual ACFE Fraud Conference & Exhibition this summer at Gaylord Palms offers an unparalleled opportunity to advance careers as an auditor, compliance officer, investigator - or any profession relating to the prevention, detection and deterrence of fraud. 
    The conference runs June 17-22.     
    The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners is the world's largest anti-fraud organization and premier provider of anti-fraud training and education. Together with more than 60,000 members, the ACFE is reducing business fraud worldwide and inspiring public confidence in the integrity and objectivity within the profession. To learn more about ACFE, visit ACFE.com today.

Ethanol Conference at Gaylord

     The 17th Annual National Ethanol Conference (NEC): Accelerating Industry Innovation was held February 22-24 at Gaylord Palms.
      It was billed as event anyone involved in the ethanol industry could not afford to miss. The NEC is recognized as the preeminent conference for delivering accurate, timely information on marketing, legislative and regulatory issues facing the ethanol industry. With numerous networking opportunities, more business meetings are conducted and contacts made at this conference than any other ethanol conference.  

      Since 1996, the RFA’s National Ethanol Conference (NEC) has been recognized as the preeminent conference for delivering accurate, timely information on marketing, legislative and regulatory issues facing the ethanol industry.  With numerous networking opportunities, more business meetings are conducted and contacts made at this conference than any other ethanol conference.

     In 2011, more than 1,250 industry leaders attended the NEC, representing 42 states and 19 countries.  Nearly 60% had attended the NEC before.  Delegates cited networking, business development, and to learn about government policies and ethanol technology as their primary reasons for attending the NEC.

Lots o' Links

Tupperware makes the Washington Post Style section.

UCF economist Dr. Sean Snaith on Central Florida Spotlight.

Channel Intelligence CEO Rob Wight on the retail market.

Micro Key Solutions offers a mobile app.

Comptel event at Gaylord Palms in October.

News on Florida Hospital Celebration Health's new patient tower.

2011 NERF DART TAG World Championship held at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort

Natural Gas Summit at ChampionsGate.

Gaylord Palms

A new off-road attraction experience is ready to break into the Orlando tourism market just a few miles from Walt Disney World Resort Walt Disney World Resort, according to the Orlando Business Journal. Legendary Excursions FL LLC, a Winter Springs-based Baja racing attraction, is shopping for more than 36 acres in northwest Osceola County off of U.S. 192 and State Road 417. The company plans to use the land for two tracks — a 5-mile track that would use the Baja race cars, and a 1.5-mile off-road go-kart track. The company is negotiating for operational space at the Gaylord Palms Resort, the paper reports.

Gaylord-DreamWorks: A New Alliance

    Gaylord Entertainment and DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. has unveiled a strategic alliance to expand Gaylord Hotels’ family-friendly leisure offerings to feature the DreamWorks Experience, the next generation of family vacation programming and world class entertainment.
     As part of this strategic alliance, Gaylord plans to offer unique leisure experiences for its guests featuring DreamWorks Animation’s iconic characters at all Gaylord properties. The live interactive experiences will include character breakfasts, newly themed Christmastime events, poolside activities in the summer, imaginative food-and-beverage offerings, private birthday parties, festive parades, merchandise and various themed entertainment. Gaylord Hotels plans to feature live appearances by characters from current DreamWorks Animation franchises, including “Shrek,” “Kung Fu Panda,” and “Madagascar,” as well as other future films and characters from the studio.
     “We are honored to form such an exciting alliance with one of the most visionary entertainment companies in the world to bring the iconic DreamWorks Animation characters to life for our leisure hotel guests,” said Colin V. Reed, chairman and chief executive officer of Gaylord Entertainment.
     “Gaylord Entertainment has displayed an incredible commitment to creativity and high-quality family entertainment, making each of their world-class U.S. resorts an ideal destination for the DreamWorks Animation brand,” commented Jeffrey Katzenberg, chief executive officer of DreamWorks Animation. “We look forward to bringing to life the characters, stories and worlds featured in our film franchises in new and innovative ways throughout the Gaylord Hotel guest experience starting this year.”
     “Visitors to Gaylord Palms and our community, be they tourists or locals, will be offered something unique and exciting,” said County Commission Chairman Brandon Arrington. “The opportunities that this partnership is bringing to Osceola County, Florida are endless.”
      “The DreamWorks Experience is a great strategic move by Gaylord Entertainment,” said County Commissioner Michael E. Harford, whose district includes the resort. “These beloved characters will attract thousands of additional guests to Gaylord Palms, which will translate into greater occupancy and more tourism dollars for the Osceola County market.”

Shrek and Pals to Call Gaylord Home.

   Shrek and his pals are about to make themselves at home in one of Central Florida's biggest hotels, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

    Gaylord Entertainment announced a deal Wednesday with DreamWorks Animation to bring the studio's characters to Gaylord hotels across the country, including the Gaylord Palms Hotel & Convention Center in Kissimmee.

    The partnership gives Gaylord access to DreamWorks' stable of cartoon characters, including those in movies such as "Shrek," "Kung Fu Panda" and "Madagascar." In Central Florida, the arrangement could help the company compete with local theme-park hotels by offering amenities such as "character breakfasts" and themed entertainment.

    "We have been looking for a significant way to expand our leisure offerings for some time, and this program with DreamWorks Animation will allow us to offer unique experiences that will enthrall our customers," said Colin Reed, chairman and chief executive officer of Nashville-based Gaylord Entertainment.

Avaya President to Speak at Gaylord Conference

Avaya Inc., a global leader in business collaboration systems, software and services, today announced that Avaya president and CEO, Kevin Kennedy, will deliver a keynote address at Enterprise Connect 2011, the industry's leading enterprise communications conference and exhibition. Kennedy will discuss the current state of the multimedia communications industry, including why business collaboration is an important element to enterprise communications and how it is changing the way businesses operate and people interact. The keynote will take place at 11:15 a.m. Eastern on Tuesday, March 1, 2011 at the Gaylord Palms.

Gaylord to host Enterprise Connect

   Enterprise Connect, formerly VoiceCon, produced by UBM TechWeb, today announced keynote speakers and new conference programs for Enterprise Connect Orlando 2011. Enterprise Connect will be held February 28 - March 3 at the Gaylord Palms Hotel and covers the full range of platforms, services and applications that comprise modern communications and collaboration systems. Registration is now open at http://www.enterpriseconnect.com/orlando/.
   The keynote lineup reflects the changing market landscape in enterprise communications and collaboration, comprising top executives from companies with a long history of market leadership as well as relative new-comers who have achieved more recent success. The keynoters are:

• Avaya's Kevin Kennedy, President & CEO
• Cisco's Barry O'Sullivan, SVP Voice Technology Group
• HP's Arthur Filip, VP and GM, Technology Service Consulting, Enterprise Business
• Microsoft's Gurdeep Singh Pall, Corporate VP, Unified Communications Group
• Skype's David Gurle, General Manager and Vice President, Skype Enterprise

   Full release here.

Clinic systems conference at Gaylord

eClinicalWorks®, a market leader in ambulatory clinical systems, kicked off its 2010 Users’ Conference at The Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center with more than 2,500 attendees and 132 presentations and training sessions. The conference brought together users of eClinicalWorks software for training and networking.

Gartner Outsourcing & Vendor Management Summit

   Neoris, a global business and IT consulting company that specializes in SAP and application outsourcing, announced its sponsorship and participation in the Gartner Outsourcing & Vendor Management Summit 2010 that was held at Gaylord Palms.
   At the event, Neoris gave a presentation on Earned Value, which helps businesses reduce risk, manage costs and streamline operations on IT outsourcing initiatives.
    Neoris’ experience and focus in SAP solutions and nearshore outsourcing has gained industry recognition in 2010. Gartner Inc. named Neoris one of the top 20 IT services providers with the highest market share in Latin America based on revenue. Neoris also was recently named to the 2010 Global Services 100 and recognized by SAP for its leadership with customers, the SAP community, and its revenue contribution across Latin America.
   About Neoris
   Neoris is a global business and IT consulting company that specializes in SAP and application outsourcing. Neoris is the largest IT consulting and systems integration company in Mexico and the second largest in Latin America. Neoris offers systems integration, custom application development, IT consulting and software deployment and support solutions. The company is a leading provider of nearshore outsourcing services through a global delivery model leveraging six worldwide software development centers. In 2009, Global Services ranked Neoris as the Best IT Service Provider in Latin America. Headquartered in Miami, Fla., Neoris has operations in the United States, Europe, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. For more information, visit www.neoris.com.

A-Life Hospital exhibits at Gaylord

   A-Life Medical, Inc., the pioneer in and leading provider of computer-assisted coding (CAC) products and services for the healthcare industry and its wholly owned subsidiary, A-Life Hospital are exhibiting and demonstrating its pioneering CAC offering including its Actus® solution during leading industry trade association platform.
    Demonstrations to highlight Actus’ capabilities as well as its ICD-10 features and functionality. In addition, Mark Morsch, vice president of technology at A-Life, will present on Saturday (September 25) at 1 p.m inn the Osceola Room 4-6 at the Gaylord Palms Hotel and Convention Center on the topic of “Computer-Assisted Coding of Medicare Advantage (Part C) Hierarchical Condition Codes - A Case Study.”

The 2010 Hot Concepts! Awards will be presented during Nation's Restaurant News' 51st Annual Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators Conference at the Gaylord Palms Resort  from October 3-5, 2010. Pizza Fusion, the all-natural and eco-friendly restaurant franchise has been selected as one of Nation’s Restaurant News Hot Concepts of 2010. The rapidly growing franchise is continuing its expansion on a two-pronged front. First is by raising equity financing for a corporate store expansion program and secondly through aggressive area developer, multi-unit operator and franchising opportunities

New Tradeshow for Environmental Management Slated for Gaylord

    Waste & Recycling News, the leading news source for environmental management, is launching a new world-class business conference. The 2011 Corporate Recycling & Waste Conference (CRWC) is scheduled for Sept. 27-29, 2011, at the Gaylord Palms Resort. 

    The Corporate Recycling & Waste Conference will feature speakers from general businesses, the environmental management sector and government.The conference focuses on how business executives can advance their organizations’ sustainability issues while controlling expenses and maximizing profits.
      The Corporate Recycling & Waste Conference will bring together environmental executives from Fortune 1000 firms, procurement managers, sustainability officers, business owners, policymakers, commodity managers, waste handlers, recyclers, equipment manufacturers, operations managers at recycling and waste facilities, regulators, packaging experts, attorneys, consultants, educators and advocates.

FCA Convention comes to Kissimmee

    The Florida Chiropractic Association's National Convention and Expo starts Thursday in Kissimmee at Gaylord Palms. The FCA has brought back and enhanced the new Plenary Session Saturday morning this year to get attendees not only a taste of what’s being offered class-wise throughout the convention, but to get everyone excited for the future of the profession. This year full courses are offered for DCs, CCPAs and CAs, CRTs and LMTs. This year’s expo will have some 400 vendor booths with products and services. Read more.

Gaylord Revenue rises

    Gaylord Entertainment Co. on Monday said its second-quarter revenue per available room rose, despite the shutdown of one of its four hotels because of flooding. The Gaylord Opryland has been closed since the first week of May because of major flooding in Nashville. Through June 30, advance reservations for 273,151 room nights were canceled at the severely damaged hotel.
    The company has worked to transfer conventions scheduled for that facility to other properties. Advance bookings through June 30 included 43,645 flood-impacted room nights that were transferred to other Gaylord hotels, the company said.
    Revenue per available room, an important gauge of a lodging operator's performance, rose 5.7 percent at its properties in Kissimmee, Grapevine, Texas and National Harbor, Md.
    Total revenue per available room, which includes food and beverage sales and other services, rose 4.7 percent at the three remaining hotels.
    Gaylord Entertainment is scheduled to post full second-quarter results before the market opens on Aug. 3.
    In afternoon trading, Gaylord shares added 47 cents, or 2 percent, to $24.90. The stock has changed hands between $10.22 and $34.55 in the past 52 weeks.

Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ: CTAS), the leader in secure document management, announced that nominations for its 2010 Excellence in Healthcare Information Management Award are open. The award will recognize one leading healthcare facility that has gone above and beyond to implement secure document strategies to protect its patients’ private information and remain compliant with government standards. The winning organization will receive accommodations for two to learn more about data protection at the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Convention and Exhibition taking place September 25-30. The winner will receive two complimentary registration passes and three nights stay at the Gaylord Palms Hotel. The organization may also opt to make a donation to its charity of choice instead of attending the conference. All practicing healthcare organizations are eligible. Entries must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern on August 1, 2010.  Submissions can be made at www.cintas.com/healthcareaward.

Get the report on Florida's Super Region

At the Super Regional Leadership Conference at Gaylord Palms last week, world renowned urban planner Professor Jonathan Barnett and members of his University of Pennsylvania Urban Design Studio (PennDesign) presented the results of Connecting for Global Competitiveness: Florida’s First Super Region, an in-depth study that demonstrates the potential advantages of coast-to-coast connectivity and develops a "Super Regional Strategy" for transportation and land use, economic and workforce development, environmental sustainability and quality of life issues. 

Click here to get the publication.

Area gains convention business because of floods

    The devastating floods in Nashville, Tenn., have led to a little extra convention business in Central Florida, the Orlando Sentinel reports. Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, a key convention destination in Nashville, said the flooding has forced dozens of conventions to relocate. The resort, damaged by the floods, said it would refund deposits for conventions scheduled at least through early August and would try to relocate guests to other Nashville hotels "whenever possible."
    The Gaylord Palms resort in Kissimmee has absorbed about eight business groups from its sister property in Tennessee, with the transfers totaling about 12,000 room nights combined, spokesman Jeff Abbaticchio said.
    The Orange County Convention Center is host this weekend for 4,500 people from the American Society of Millitary Comptrollers. The group's convention was initially scheduled for Nashville but was moved at the last minute after record rainfall caused Nashville's Cumberland River to overflow earlier this month.