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INSIGHT ON TEAM BUILDING By MaryBeth Matzek Planning ahead Convention sites in the New North region look to upgrade Plans to expand the KI Convention Center in Green Bay (shown) to 75,000 square feet are underway while a proposed exhibition center in Appleton and a hotel addition to the convention center in Oshkosh are also proceeding. Officials say because of the needs and demands for convention space, the Fox Cities region can support all three projects. M events in the Fox Cities. Depending on the group' ae Ibe is an expert at fielding requests from businesses and organizations looking to hold needs, Ibe, director of convention sales with the Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau, presents a diverse offering that includes everything from the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel with its ballroom and multiple meeting rooms to more specific venues, such as The Players Choice, which is primarily an expo space. "It really depends on what they're s size and looking for – we present them with a list of options and they can choose what will work for them," she says. There is one option, however, that Ibe can't offer right now – an expo and convention space that features full food service, room for exhibits, meeting rooms and more at one location. "That is definitely a gap we have, " she says. www. insightonbusiness.com December 2010 feasibility study, which led to the creation of the Fox Cities Exhibition Center Inc., which is seeking to build a $20 million expo center near the Radisson in downtown Appleton. Appleton isn't alone in its desire to That gap was documented in a expand its expo and convention space – Oshkosh and Green Bay are also in the process to upgrade its main convention centers. In Green Bay, the KI will expand its overall square footage while expanding (or in Appleton's case building) their convention centers. But Karen Harkness, community development director for the City of Appleton and a member of the exhibition center board, says the projects can only strengthen the region's economy. "Organizations like to move around. Think about when you go to conventions, it' meeting planners. Right now, the Wisconsin Dells same place year aſter year," she says. "If s profile" in the minds of we can present more offerings, it only raises the area' is clearly the state's convention leader with its giant water parks and "It really depends on what they're looking for – we present them with a list of options and they can choose what will work for them." – MAE IBE, direc tor of convention sales with the Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau the Oshkosh Convention Center, which was renovated just a couple of years ago, will be connected to a renovated, full- service hotel starting next year. Some may question the logic of having three cities so close together thousands of square feet that can be used for meetings and conventions. With Appleton, Green Bay and Oshkosh all looking to expand their offerings, the thought is that some of the business lost in recent s not oſten they are in the [continued] » June 2012 • INSIGHT | 27