USAE
THE WEEKLY COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER OF ASSOCIATIONS, CVBs AND HOTELS VOLUME 44, ISSUE 6
FEBRUARY 9, 2026
Minneapolis Hotels Feel Strain of ICE Activity, Protests By Jordan Bradley
On February 4, Marriott Bonvoy brought its season-long Keysakes campaign to a close ahead of Super Bowl LX with a high-energy, musical pop-up featuring Marriott Bonvoy “Fanbassador,” Adam Devine and NFL players at San Francisco’s Ferry Building. Left to right: Devine with Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons; George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers; and Jordan Mailata, Philadelphia Eagles. See story on page 2.
Don Welsh Staying at Destinations International Through 2027 By Todd McElwee Don Welsh will continue to pilot Destinations International (DI) through 2027. The association’s president & CEO since 2016, he’s agreed to a contract extension through the conclusion of next year. His contract was set to expire at the end of 2026. “For the last decade, it has been my privilege to lead Destinations International (DI) as we refined its mission and grew both DI and the DI Foundation,”
he said. “I have enjoyed both the work and the people tremendously.” Welsh said he was approached by current DI Board Chair Leslie Bruce, CDME, and incoming Chair Kyle Edmiston, CDME, about the possibility of extending the contract late last year. He was grateful but asked for time to contemplate his plans as it had been a very challenging and difficult year with the illness and passing of his wife of 44 years, Jean. During these next two years Welsh
Miss. County Moves Forward with Conference Center & Hotel By Jordan Bradley The Madison County, Mississippi’s board of supervisors initiated the approval process for a 50,000-square-foot conference center and adjacent 250-room luxury hotel on February 2. The board of supervisors approved the project with four votes for, one against, and one abstention, according to the Clarion Ledger. According to the Madison County Business League (MCBL), the conference
center and hotel would be developed by PraCon Global Investment Group, the developer behind the city’s mixed-use development, the Prado Vista, which has the only Topgolf location in the state. The hotel is expected to have four restaurants and “will be the first hotel of its kind in the State of Mississippi, representing the highest level of luxury hospitality available in the market,” the MCBL said. Developers and local auPlease turn to page 4
said he plans to focus on strategic priorities including supporting DI’s new Chief Revenue Officer, Sharon Houghton, as she leads the association’s revenue strategy, and working closely with COO Gretchen Hall, CDME and Chief Impact Officer Sophia Hyder Hock to expand DI’s impact and membership engagement. He will assist Chelsea Welter in continuing to raise the profile of the DI Foundation and identify new revenue opportunities.
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Page 2 Waldorf Astoria to Embrace Winter with New Utah Resort Page 4 Fort Worth Unveils Plans for Phase 2 of Convention Center Transformation Page 5 Hard Rock Announces New San Juan Resort & Casino Page 7 Tropicana Atlantic City Reopens Hotel Tower
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Minnesota’s Twin Cities have been at the center of an extended federal immigration enforcement operation led by the United States Border Patrol, Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agencies. Clashes between protestors and federal agents have left two U.S. citizens dead, and the region in a state of fear and anger. For local hoteliers, the picture is “very mixed and complicated,” Angie Whitcomb, President and CEO of Minneapolis-based Hospitality Minnesota told USAE. Hoteliers are seeing an immediate and sustained impact to their revenue streams. “We’re absolutely seeing it in the metro area,” Whitcomb said. “Many of our members in the hotel [industry] are reporting increased cancelations, reduced reservations for both leisure and business travels, and then drops in food and beverage revenue, and events revenue.” However, the financial impacts are Please turn to page 2
FIRST to Host Robotics Competition in Houston Through 2034 Seven-year deal will mean $500M in economic impact By Todd McElwee FIRST, a global youth robotics community, will continue to host its largest annual competition in Houston from 2028 – 2034. Houston First Corporation shared the FIRST Championship draws more than 50,000 attendees annually with an economic impact of approximately $74 million. The George R. Brown Convention Center (GRB) has
hosted the FIRST Championship seven times with the most recent event taking place last April and the 2026 and 2027 sessions previously on the books. Houston beat out three other cities to secure the seven-year commitment, which starts in 2028. The deal will reportedly generate a total economic impact of more than $500 million. “I’m pleased that this inPlease turn to page 5