SMG/DeVos Place was recently awarded the 2009 Prime Site Award by Facilities & Destinations magazine.

A combined total of nearly 200 Convention Centers, Meeting Hotels and CVBs have received “Awards of Excellence” for 2009.  Since 1993, the Facilities Media Group has given out the awards, and the list of winners and official announcement appear in the current issue of the Facilities & Destinations SuperBook.

 “We like to recognize quality as well as the hard work it takes to have a successful venue for meetings. We did get more venues voted on this year,” said Michael Caffin, Associate Publisher.

“Nobody has to be told that the economy made 2008 a difficult year and 2009 has shown little improvement,” said Caffin. “These awards always acknowledge quality in terms of service, the facility and the personnel at each venue and/or destination, but I would say that this particular group of award winners are above and beyond, because they were able to provide quality in an economic environment filled with cut-backs and uncertainty. These are people who delivered under unusually tough circumstances.”

Facilities & Destinations’ 2009 Prime Site Awards are based on the opinions of those in the industry directly involved with site selection - association and corporate meeting planners and executives, independent meeting planners, and trade show
managers.

Twenty-four other SMG-managed buildings were awarded with the 2009 Prime Site Award as well, including Greater Columbus Convention Center (Columbus, OH), David L. Lawrence Convention Center (Pittsburgh, PA), Atlantic City Convention Center (Atlantic City, NJ), Hampton Roads Convention Center (Hampton, VA), Cox Business Services Convention Center (Oklahoma City, OK), and Mobile Convention Center (Mobile, AL).

For a complete list of Facilities & Destinations 2009 Prime Site Awards please visit facilitiesonline.com/awards_winners. 

Facilitiesonline features news, industry links, a fun-to-read blog, and the industry’s most extensive online database of Arenas, Theatres, Coliseums, Theaters, Civic Centers, PACs, Amphitheaters, University Venues, Fairgrounds, Convention Centers and Special Event Venues. Thousands of Booking Agents, Promoters, Talent Buyers and Special Event Planners use Facilitiesonline every week to stay informed about the industry issue and specific events.  
 
DeVos Place is managed by SMG.  Headquartered in Philadelphia, SMG provides facility services to over 215 public assembly facilities including arenas, stadiums, performing arts theatres and convention and trade centers.  With facilities across America, and in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada, Europe and the Middle East, SMG controls over 1.5 million entertainment seats worldwide and manages more than ten million feet of exhibition space.  SMG has managed the Van Andel Arena since 1996 and DeVos Place since 1994.  For additional company information, visit smgworld.com.