Joel Becker, who has been assigned to The Chattanoogan
The Chattanoogan hotel has hired an outside contractor to handle its audiovisual services in a partnership designed to bring new bookings and activity at the city-owned downtown hotel.
M&M Productions USA, an Oak Ridge-based event and staging company that offers lighting, audio, video production, high-definition broadcasting and online streaming services, is partnering with The Chattanoogan to take over services previously handled in-house at the conference center.
Tom Cupo, regional managing director of The Chattanoogan, said the agreement "will allow us to offer greater event production options and the latest in audiovisual technology to our meeting and event planners."
M&M Productions has a similar management and service agreement in Knoxville at the convention center, civic auditorium, coliseum and Chilhowee Park.
M&M Productions USA has hired full-time audiovisual manager, Joel Becker, to meet with clients and work with the hotel's sales team and event staff. Becker has more than 15 years of experience in audiovisual event management in the region and will serve as the direct client liaison.
Based in Oak Ridge, Tenn., M&M Productions USA has the largest equipment inventory in the region. The company has a live events division that handled more than 500 events last year, Brown said.
The Chattanoogan, located at Broad Street and 12th Street in downtown Chattanooga, is managed by Benchmark Resorts & Hotels. The city of Chattanooga is considering selling the conference center, although the facility is not yet listed for sale.
Certified by the International Association of Conference Centers, The Chattanoogan features more than 25,000 square feet of conference and meeting space, including 12 breakout rooms, five general session rooms, an executive board room and an 85-seat amphitheater. The 7,752-square-foot newly renovated and redesigned ballroom is the largest in Chattanooga.