San Diego (Dec. 6, 2007) -- While visiting clients in four U.S. cities, San Diego Convention Center Corporation (SDCCC) staff and its hotel partners, joined Experient staff in volunteering at their favorite charities. Experient provides integrated meeting and event services and is a valued client and partner of the SDCCC. 

The non-profit organizations chosen by Experient for this first-ever joint holiday project with the SDCCC included:

•  Children’s Hospital, Denver. Members of the PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association) Rocky Mountain Chapter set up craft stations where volunteers could assist young hospital patients in making crafts.
  
•  Cradles to Crayons, Boston. Volunteers inspected, sorted and packed essential items, including clothing, shoes, books and toys into backpacks for poor and homeless children from birth to pre-teen.
  
•  Hugs for Kids, St. Louis. Provided volunteers with fleece and other materials to make 20 blankets for young patients at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Cardinal Glennon Hospital, Shriner’s Children’s Hospital and Raken Jordan Hospital. 
  
•  Haven of Rest Ministries, Twinsburg, Ohio. Provides shelter, food, clothing and counseling to needy adults and children. Volunteers assisted with sorting of food and clothing items, food preparation and mailings.

“It was such a win-win for all of us,” said SDCCC President and CEO Carol Wallace. “We were able to express our thanks to the Experient staff and at the same time, join with them in helping those less fortunate in their communities. This is what teamwork and giving back to others is all about.”

The San Diego hotels that participated in the client meetings and volunteer projects with Experient included the Hilton San Diego Convention Center, which is slated to open in fall 2008, the newly opened Hard Rock San Diego, the San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina, the Manchester Grand Hyatt, the Omni San Diego, the Hilton Gaslamp, the Sofia and Humphreys Half Moon Inn, representing the Shelter Island Group.

While the more traditional goals of client meeting trips is to introduce the Convention Center’s hotel partners, provide a destination update on San Diego and encourage future bookings, the volunteering was a wonderful way for the San Diego Convention Center Corporation to personally thank Experient staff for the outstanding client services they provide and to further strengthen our partnership with them.  More importantly, the volunteer aspect of this activity demonstrates the importance of community and helping others in need. 

The San Diego Convention Center Corporation is a public benefit corporation created by the City of San Diego. The Corporation is exclusively responsible for marketing, managing and operating the Convention Center. In its 18-year history, the Center has generated nearly $13 billion in economic impact, over $270 million in tax revenues and continues to serve as San Diego’s premier gathering place.
                                                                    
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