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DCU Center Recognized For Excellence Along With 26 Other SMG-Managed Convention Centers

Contact: John LaHair, DCU Center / SMG
Director of Marketing, 508-929-0126

Worcester, MA (August 20, 2007) - Wes Westley, President and CEO of SMG announced that the SMG-Managed DCU Center Convention Center has been selected to receive a 2007 Prime Site Award from Facilities and Destinations Magazine, along with 26 other SMG-Managed facilities. This award is voted on by Meeting Planners from associations, corporations and other organizations based on venue quality, features and services. It recognizes the top Convention, Exposition and Exhibition Centers throughout North America and the Caribbean.

Facilities and Destinations Magazine states, “There is simply no argument – SMG is the leading meeting venue management company… Every year, SMG venues consistently win more Prime Site Awards than those of any other single facility management company, and this year is no exception.”

“We are honored to receive the Prime Site Award once again,” said Jim Moughan, Assistant General Manager and Director of Sales for the DCU Center. “The staff of the DCU Center is committed to providing our event planners and attendees the best possible experience starting from the point where they consider booking the facility to the very end of their stay in Worcester.”

Some of the meetings, conventions, trade shows, banquets and special events that took place at the DCU Center during the 2006-07 season included: New England Waterworks Convention, The Original Sewing & Quilt Expo, MassHOPE Christian Homeschool Convention, Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Expo, Nobel Prize Gala Honoring UMass Medical School’s Craig C. Mello, PhD, Star Systems Dance Competition, Massachusetts International Auto Show and local-area High School and College Graduations. This season the facility will host new and returning events including: the Boston Church of Christ Convention, Log & Timber Frame Home Show, Worcester Wine & Food Festival, Rock & Shock Horror Convention, Holiday Arts Happening, Fallon Senior Spectacular, Emerald Club Dinner, New England Business Expo, Umass Starlight-Starbright Gala, Buy-Recycle Conference, MAHPERD Annual Convention, 3rd Annual MNA Clinical Nursing Conference, Worcester Bridal Expo, YOU INC. Fundraiser Gala as well as many other events.

Owned by the City of Worcester, the state-of-the-art Convention Center that opened in 1997 has been described as an architectural gem with sweeping panoramic views of downtown and amenities to host a variety of functions. With over 50,000 square feet of exhibit space, the Convention Center also includes 11 meeting rooms, a 12,144 square foot ballroom (the largest in Central Massachusetts), superb in-house catering, sophisticated communication services including high speed internet service with dedicated T-1 lines and video conferencing capabilities.

Headquartered in Philadelphia, SMG provides management services to over 200 public assembly facilities including arenas, stadiums, performing arts centers, theatres and convention, conference and trade centers. As the recognized industry leader since 1977, SMG provides construction and design consulting, pre-opening services, venue management, sales and marketing and event booking and programming. SMG also offers food and beverage operations through our in house catering company, Savor…catering by SMG, currently servicing 65 accounts worldwide. With facilities across the United States, 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.

The following is a listing of all SMG managed Convention Centers that were selected to receive a 2007 Prime Site Award from Facilities and Destinations Magazine:

Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, NJ
Baton Rouge River Center Convention Center, Baton Rouge, LA
Broward County Convention Center, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Colorado Convention Center, Denver, CO
Cox Business Services Center, Oklahoma City, OK
David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA
DCU Center, Worcester, MA
DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, MI
Direct Energy Centre, Toronto, ON
Ford Park, Beaumont, TX
Fresno Convention Center, Fresno, CA
Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, OH
Hampton Roads Convention Center, Hampton, VA
Hawaii Convention Center, Honolulu, HI
Knoxville Convention Center, Knoxville, TN
Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach, CA
Meadowlands Exposition Center, Secaucus, NJ
Memphis Cook Convention Center, Memphis, TN
Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, FL
Mobile Convention Center, Mobile, AL
Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA
Palm Springs Convention Center, Palm Springs, CA
Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center, Jacksonville, FL
Puerto Rico Convention Center, San Juan PR
Reliant Center, Houston, TX
Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, RI
Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, UT