Saint Louis, MO (March 29, 2005) – The International Association of Conference Centers (IACC) is planning a series of customer education events under the compelling title of “AmaZing Meetings… Discover the Magic.” The first of these events will be at the Eaglewood Conference Resort & Spa in Itasca (suburban Chicago), Illinois on Thursday, May 26, 2005.

The primary objective of these programs is to give participants a better understanding of the many ways that an effective meeting environment can have a positive impact on adult learners, the facilitator or meeting leader - and ultimately, the organization.

According to Sue Tinnish, IACC’s Director of Training & Development, the events will also demonstrate how genuine conference centers provide the most productive environment for smaller meetings. “Planners can partner with conference centers to create truly ‘amaZing’ meetings that engage participants and promote better retention and learning,” Tinnish observed.

“These events will foster a greater understanding of the strong benefits of the conference center concept, Tinnish said, “Organizations can ill afford to waste time or money on unproductive meetings, so the choice of a meeting site is not to be made lightly or in haste. Too often, individuals charged with planning and conducting meetings have found that the inherent nature of hotels, resorts and conventions centers can work against meeting efficiency. Conference centers, on the other hand, concentrate full-time in satisfying the needs of smaller meetings and they provide a productivity-enhancing setting where everything from facility design to supportive staff is controlled on the client’s behalf.”

The program will also feature a panel of seasoned customers who will discuss planning issues and compare experiences in planning and delivering successful events at various types of facilities.

“AmaZing Meetings…Discover the Magic” will be presented by the renowned Bob Higa (“The Magic & Illusions of Higa”), who also produces the annual conference for the International Association of Conference Centers. Higa is well-known in the meeting industry for his entertaining and unique blend of magic with a message (www.bobhiga.com).  According to Higa, “More than ever, organizations are asking their associates to deliver greater value and increased results.  If meetings are the vehicle, then conference centers should be the destination.”

The International Association of Conference Centers, founded in 1981, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting understanding and awareness of the conference center industry.  Active members meet a stringent set of Universal Criteria and agree to a Code of Ethics. Currently, the association includes approximately 400 members from the United States, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, France, England and Japan.