Compass Group, based in Charlotte, N.C., has won the management contract for the Microsoft Conference Center at the company's corporate campus in Redmond, Wash. The center plans to open in January, according to Chuck Barletta, executive director of conference and event planning for Compass Group.

Barletta says the Conference Center has 85,000 square feet of meeting space and will accommodate up to 3,000 people. Each room will feature technologically advanced audio/video equipment, allowing one person to be broadcast to all 42,000 employees and associates on the campus.

Microsoft employees and partners who wish to reserve conference space will be able to do so at the center's interactive Web site, where they can use ESP 2000 scheduling software to click on different floor plans and customize their event. Barletta developed ESP 2000 with Steve Schlichter, vice president of Hodges & Irvine Technologies of Detroit.

Debra Lee, director of operations for the Compass Group, will manage the Microsoft Conference Center.

Compass Group at Microsoft Conference Center 1 Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052 425/936-5600 e-mail: d-deblee@microsoft.com Web site: www.compass-usa.com