ALT LAKE IS A NEW FORCE IN MEETINGS. More than $1.5 billion in nearly completed con- struction projects in the
central business district alone, plus the expected 2012 comple- tion of the City Creek mixed-use downtown development, position it to enter the ranks of major meeting destinations in the West. After the 2002 Olympic Winter
Games, Salt Lake launched a re- invention initiative that improved its infrastructure with rebuilt freeways, airport and conven- tion-center expansions, and a major light-rail system. All these features have made the city more accessible and desirable than ever, and a new TRAX light-rail line from Salt Lake City Interna- tional Airport, slated for comple- tion by 2013, will up the ante. Improvements also are under way at the Salt Palace Convention Center, where an installation of the nation’s largest rooftop solar array is scheduled to wrap up this year. Comprising 11,319 solar panels, the project will double Utah’s current solar capacity, gen- erate approximately 25 percent of the annual energy consumed at the convention center, and redefine what it means to hold a “green meeting” in Salt Lake. Easily accessible from any- where in the United States, Salt Lake has established itself as a major outdoor destination in an urban setting. Four world-class ski resorts lie within 30 minutes of the AAA Five-Diamond Grand America Hotel and the Hotel Monaco. Entertainment options include professional opera and symphony companies, Broadway Across America musicals, NBA basketball, MLS soccer, and much more. ■