Certified Hospitality Sales Professional Joins Gateway Center Campus Sales and Marketing Team

ATLANTA – January 6, 2023 – The Georgia International Convention Center (GICC), the second largest convention center in the state, today announced the appointment of Ricki VanDuvall as director of sales and marketing. VanDuvall is a Certified Hospitality Sales Professional (CHSP) bringing more than 20 years of hotel industry experience to the GICC team. In her new role, she will oversee the team responsible for selling the convention space, as well as Gateway Center Arena and the Historic College Park Golf Course. She will also be responsible for driving growth to the destination by raising awareness for all hotels and venues situated on the GICC campus and collaborating with the ATL District Airport CVB to deliver meaningful revenue-generating events to the market.

“We are delighted to welcome such a strong industry professional with renowned hospitality experience to our family,” said Mercedes Miller, executive director of the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC) and the Gateway Center Arena. “With deep roots in the College Park community and exceptional interpersonal skills, we are confident Ricki will be of great value in continuing the growth of our destination.”

VanDuvall, an Atlanta native, spent her high school years in College Park before moving to Washington, D.C., where she earned her bachelor’s degree from Howard University. Before joining the GICC team, she served as a valuable asset at various hotel brands including the Crowne Plaza Atlanta Airport, Radisson Hotel Group and Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta Airport.

Throughout her career, VanDuvall gained experience overseeing a team of sales professionals, growing topline revenue and managing budgets to ensure positive flow. She has also demonstrated the ability to cultivate a creative and customer-focused environment. During her tenure with Radisson Hotel Group, she received the Golden Rose award for revenue generation – the organization’s highest recognition.

For more information, visit www.gicc.com. To stay updated on all things at the Gateway Center Campus, follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC)

Georgia’s second largest convention center, the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC), is uniquely positioned to offer guests and clients unprecedented convenience. As the world’s only convention center directly connected to a major airport, this modern facility embodies the grace and efficiency of flight itself. The GICC is also home to three new LEED-certified convention hotels; the Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway, the Renaissance Atlanta Airport Gateway and the Springhill Suites Atlanta Airport Gateway. Equipped with a wide range of cutting-edge facilities, including a 9,800 square foot Culinary Arts Center and Georgia’s largest ballroom at 40,000 square feet, this event space provides solutions tailored to each convention’s unique needs. The GICC has also successfully achieved GBAC Star Facility Accreditation and is committed to protecting the health and safety of all attendees at every event.

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Media Contact

Cameron Trice, Hemsworth Communications

770-286-2207 | GICCPR@HemsworthCommunications.com

 

Industry Veteran to Enter Enhanced Role Responsible for
Selling Gateway Center Campus Venues

ATLANTA – February 17, 2023 – The Georgia International Convention Center (GICC), the second largest convention center in the state, today announced the promotion of Darcel Ivey to senior sales manager. Ivey is a skilled and detail-oriented sales professional who has worked with the GICC team for nearly 25 years.

In her expanded role, Ivey solicits new and existing business for the Gateway Center Campus which includes the convention center, Gateway Center Arena and the Historic College Park Golf Course. She works to secure the event space for both corporate and public community events, as well as tradeshows and conferences. In addition, she is responsible for generating proposals and contracts and also attends industry events and tradeshows while working with several departments to ensure event success.

“Darcel’s industry experience, knowledge and attention to detail, alongside her passion, dedication, and renowned interpersonal skills, have made her an incredible asset to our team,” said Mercedes Miller, executive director of the GICC and the Gateway Center Arena. “We feel privileged to have worked with her for over two decades and look forward to watching her continue to succeed in her new role.”

Ivey joined the GICC team in April of 1998 bringing multiple years of hospitality industry experience and outstanding customer service and communication skills. Before joining the GICC, she served on the Embassy Suites Atlanta Airport team for over seven years, achieving multiple promotion advancements from administrative assistant to sales manager. Ivey graduated from Berry College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a minor in computer science.

As a Berry College alumnus, she served as an officer for the Berry College African American Alumni Association. Ivey is also a former member of the Georgia Chapter of Meeting Professionals International (GaMPI) and the Professional Convention Managers Association (PCMA). She is an active board member of the Ringer Center of Excellence Board of Directors, as well as a member of the Georgia Society of Association Executives (GSAE) and the Religious Conference Management Association (RCMA).

For more information, visit www.gicc.com. To stay updated on all things at the Gateway Center Campus, follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC)

Georgia’s second largest convention center, the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC), is uniquely positioned to offer guests and clients unprecedented convenience. As the world’s only convention center directly connected to a major airport, this modern facility embodies the grace and efficiency of flight itself. The GICC is also home to three new LEED-certified convention hotels; the Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway, the Renaissance Atlanta Airport Gateway and the Springhill Suites Atlanta Airport Gateway. Equipped with a wide range of cutting-edge facilities, including a 9,800 square foot Culinary Arts Center and Georgia’s largest ballroom at 40,000 square feet, this event space provides solutions tailored to each convention’s unique needs. The GICC has also successfully achieved GBAC Star Facility Accreditation and is committed to protecting the health and safety of all attendees at every event.

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Media Contact

Cameron Trice, Hemsworth Communications

770-286-2207 | GICCPR@HemsworthCommunications.com

Limited Tickets Remain for the 85 South Show: Return of the Ghetto Legends Live at the Arena Stage on December 28 & 29; Tickets on Sale Now for the Inaugural Winter Cabaret Ball Taking Place on January 21

 

ATLANTA – December 14, 2022 – Gateway Center Arena, a state-of-the-art 5,000-seat sports and event venue located in South Atlanta, today announced it will host the 85 South Show: Return of the Ghetto Legends and the inaugural Winter Cabaret Ball as part of a new partnership with Ticketmaster.

“The 85 South Show: Return of the Ghetto Legends is the first of many events we will host at Gateway Center Arena via a new official partnership with Ticketmaster,” Mercedes Miller, executive director of the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC) and the Gateway Center Arena, said. “We will kick off 2023 with another amazing performance and Gateway Center Arena’s first-ever Winter Cabaret Ball. While our arena is well-known for hosting Atlanta Dream and College Park Skyhawks games, we are excited to expand our entertainment offerings with more concerts, comedy shows and beyond.”

Presented by Outback Presents, two back-to-back nights of raw comedy will feature Wild’n’Out stars DC Young Fly, Karlous Miller and Chico Bean. Limited tickets remain exclusively via Ticketmaster for the Wednesday, December 28 and Thursday, December 29 shows.

DC Young Fly, Atlanta’s own westside comedian, became a recurring cast member in Season 7 of the improv comedy show Wild ‘N Out and was named “Rookie of the Year” in his first season. Chico Bean, a seasoned comedian, began his career in Greensboro, North Carolina. Karlous Miller is the world’s only comedian born in Oxford, Mississippi, who relocated to Atlanta to pursue a career in stand-up. Bean and Miller joined as recurring cast members in the fifth season of Wild ‘N Out and are well-known for their “Sucka MC Battles.” In October 2020 and 2021, the trio hosted the BET Hip-Hop Awards. They will bring all the freestyles, roasts and comedy to Atlanta this December!

Hosted by the hilarious MC Lightfoot, the inaugural Winter Cabaret Ball features an incredible lineup starring R&B legends – The Stylistics, Freddie Jackson, The Manhattans, Heatwave, Lenny Williams, Enchantment, and Ray Goodman and Brown. Doors will open at 6 p.m. on Saturday, January 21, with the show beginning at 7 p.m. Fans are encouraged to wear their winter white and, with a limited number of tables available, get tickets now via Ticketmaster.

As part of its new Ticketmaster partnership, tickets for all events at the Gateway Center Arena can be purchased directly from mobile devices, a convenient improvement to the overall fan experience.

For more information about the 85 South Show visit, www.85SouthShow.com or www.ArenaGatewayCenter.com/events/85south. Stay up-to-date on the latest news by following @85SouthShow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Those interested in purchasing tickets to events at the Gateway Center Arena, visit www.ticketmaster.com/gateway-center-arena-tickets-college-park/venue. For more information on all things at the Gateway Center Arena, visit www.ArenaGatewayCenter.com or follow @GatewayArena on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

 

About Gateway Center Arena

Gateway Center Arena is a state-of-the-art 5,000-seat venue located in Metro Atlanta’s Southside, just minutes from downtown Atlanta via MARTA or the highway and a three-minute Skytrain ride from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. With the help of their award-winning staff, the Gateway Center Arena is every guest’s ticket to quality entertainment and events. Line-ups include a variety of professional sporting events, concerts, family events, graduations, conventions and more. As the official home to the WNBA team Atlanta Dream and the Atlanta Hawks G-League team, the College Park SkyHawks, the Gateway Center Arena is designed with sports fans in mind. Event planners have everything they need to bring the experiences they imagine to life in this world-class facility.

About Ticketmaster

Ticketmaster is the world’s largest ticket marketplace and the global market leader in live event ticketing products and services. Through official partnerships with thousands of venues, artists, sports teams, festivals, performing arts centres and theatres, Ticketmaster processes 500 million tickets per year across 30+ different countries. Ticketmaster is a part of Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV).

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Media Contact

Cameron Trice, Hemsworth Communications

770-286-2207 | GICCPR@hemsworthcommunications.com

Chef Blake to Lead All Culinary Operations and Concessions
for Popular College Park Sports and Event Venue

ATLANTA – December 19, 2022 – Gateway Center Arena, a state-of-the-art 5,000-seat sports and event venue located in South Atlanta, today announced the recent promotion of Blake White to Executive Chef. In this new role, White will manage all of the arena’s food and beverage operations, including overseeing concessions and maintaining quality service standards, as well as focusing on the creation of new culinary experiences with unique event and game day menus.

“Since joining the GICC Campus team earlier this year, Chef Blake has made a tremendous impact, working alongside Chef Matt Finley to take our food and beverage operations to a new level,” said Mercedes Miller, executive director of the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC), Gateway Center Arena and Historic College Park Golf Course. “We are excited to watch Chef Blake flourish in his elevated role!”

Chef Blake joined the Proof of the Pudding @ GICC team as executive sous chef at the beginning of 2022, bringing more than 15 years of culinary experience to the team.  In that role, he oversaw the culinary staff and kitchen operations for all GICC and Gateway Center Arena events. Growing up in Decatur, Georgia fostered Chef Blake’s passion for Southern comfort food and BBQ, and ultimately inspired him to pursue a career in the culinary industry. After graduating from Le Cordon Bleu College for Culinary Arts, he worked in the kitchen for various catering event operations. Chef Blake brings a fresh perspective and unparalleled talent to the Proof of the Pudding @ GICC team.

“Chef Blake has been a great addition to the GICC family, and to watch his incredible growth has been a privilege,” said Howard Hickman, food service general manager at the GICC Campus. “As Chef Matt transitions into developing and managing campus-wide catering efforts, we look forward to watching Chef Blake continue to enhance the Arena’s amazing culinary program.”

For more information on the Gateway Center Arena, visit www.ArenaGatewayCenter.com or follow @GatewayArena on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

 

About Gateway Center Arena

Gateway Center Arena is a state-of-the-art 5,000-seat venue located in Metro Atlanta’s Southside, just minutes from downtown Atlanta via MARTA or the highway and a three-minute Skytrain ride from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. With the help of their award-winning staff, the Gateway Center Arena is every guest’s ticket to quality entertainment and events. Line-ups include a variety of professional sporting events, concerts, family events, graduations, conventions and more. As the official home to the WNBA team Atlanta Dream and the Atlanta Hawks G-League team, the College Park SkyHawks, the Gateway Center Arena is designed with sports fans in mind. Event planners have everything they need to bring the experiences they imagine to life in this world-class facility.

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Media Contact:

Blake Hamilton, Hemsworth Communications

864-918-1089

GICCPR@hemsworthcommunications.com

 

The Atlanta Dream will tip off their 15^th season against the Dallas Wings on the road on Saturday, May 7, the WNBA announced Thursday as part of the 2022 schedule.

The Dream will make their first appearance on the Gateway Center Arena hardwood Wednesday, May 11 against Los Angeles as part of a Home Opening Week Celebration. The week will also include Head Coach Tanisha Wright’s first meeting against her former team, the Las Vegas Aces, who will come to town Friday, May 13.

“I think this schedule provides a good opportunity for us to be really competitive in the league this year,” Wright said. “Our schedule is really balanced between multi-game homestands and long road trips. We will use those road trips to build character before we’re deep into our schedule. The competition against this caliber of teams will really help us build as a young team.”

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