On paper, the Phoenix Convention Center appears to be doing well after hosting a string of high-profile events including the NBA All-Star Game and President Barack Obama.

Five years after Phoenix broke ground on the $600 million transformation of Civic Plaza into a major meetings venue able to compete with those in other tourism-focused destinations, the renamed Phoenix Convention Center is ready for its official debut.

The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International awarded the Phoenix Convention Center with two industry honors, the center announced Thursday.

PHOENIX - Phoenix's convention center will soon be partially powered by solar energy.

The Starbucks is now open in the Phoenix Convention Center’s new west building — a major milestone for caffeinated meeting goers and the staff of the evolving project.

In Tuesday’s Tribune, a business story on Page A8 should have said space was still available at the Phoenix Convention Center for bookings in 2009 and 2010.

Phoenix officials think the city is ready to step up to the big time and host a national political convention downtown.

Phoenix won’t be hosting the 2012 Republican National Convention.

The $600 million Phoenix Convention Center expansion is roaring to its planned December completion. And that's fortunate, since the place has been booked for some really big conventions starting in January.

If someone stops you on a hiking trail and hands you a free bottle of water in the coming weeks, it could be a random act of Southern Baptist Convention kindness.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – As a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, Mayor Greg Stanton can imagine Phoenix playing host to a 2016 convention. And he doesn’t particularly care which one.

More than 24,000 handcrafted items are up for your perusal at the 40th annual Phoenix Harvest Festival Original Art and Craft Show, taking place 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 26-27 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 28 at Phoenix Convention Center.

Tempe is ready to compete with Phoenix and Glendale for convention business. The Tempe City Council has approved a plan to build a high-rise hotel and conference center near Arizona State University.

Phoenix Cactus Comicon 2008 is just about to get under way at the Mesa Convention Center. Superstar guest Wil Wheaton talks a bit about that in his latest blog entry.

High school students take note: The National College Fair, hosted by the National Association for College Admission Counseling, will be held this weekend at Phoenix Convention Center, 100 N. Third St. More than 200 college representatives will be attending. The free, public event takes place 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Session topics may include, "how to apply to highly selective colleges" and "how to write an effective college essay."