MCLEAN, VA (March 2, 2007) � Companies seeking to target quality meeting
planners through one of the most highly-regarded trade expositions in the
industry are encouraged to register for the seventh annual Hospitality
Sales & Marketing Association International�s (HSMAI) Affordable Meetings®
Mid-America show, taking place April 11-12, 2007 at Chicago�s Navy Pier,
Chicago, IL.
In addition to an audience of more than 1,000 qualified meeting planners,
companies that choose to exhibit during HSMAI�s Affordable Meetings®
Mid-America program will benefit from the following:
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$500 discount for HSMAI members (one staff member of the applicant�s firm
must be an active member of HSMAI and based at the address to which the
contract is mailed)
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Free electronic post-show attendee list, including demographic information,
profiles of attendees, and extensive contact information
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Exhibitor welcome breakfast and seminar (NEW for 2007 � see description)
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Pre-show exhibitor educational tools (NEW for 2007 � see description)
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Exhibiting HSMAI members receive expedited on-site registration and member
recognition badges
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Inclusion in an extensive marketing campaign featuring direct mail and
comprehensive broadcast e-mails, reaching over 95,000 planners, as well
as ads placed in key industry trade publications
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Complimentary promotional brochures and stickers
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A free listing in the official show directory and online directory
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A comprehensive booth package to help minimize on-site costs
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Automatic entry in �Best Booth Awards Program�
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Three (3) exhibitor badges per booth included in the exhibit fee
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3:1 planner/exhibitor ratio
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Pre-show attendee lists at a bargain price
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Networking opportunities
NEW FOR 2007
Exhibitor Welcome Breakfast
Taking place on Wednesday morning (April 10) before the show opens,
a complimentary breakfast will be served, followed by a NEW Exhibitor Education
seminar on �The Importance of Follow-Up,� presented by Theresa Syer, of
Syer Hospitality Group, Oakville, ON, Canada.
Exhibitor Toolkit
Exhibitors will receive a toolkit providing the essentials for a successful
show, increasing the opportunity for greater ROO (return on objective).
The toolkit will be sent to every exhibitor prior to the show and consists
of pre-show marketing and promotional tools, booth display information
and sales tips during the show, and post-show follow-up tools.
Exhibitors at HSMAI�s Affordable Meetings® Mid-America show will
include hotels and resorts, university conference centers, unique meeting
sites, convention and visitor bureaus, cruise lines, transportation companies,
trade publications, software and audio/visual businesses, and other meeting
and convention suppliers.
The exposition at HSMAI�s Affordable Meetings® Mid-America provides
over 37,000 square feet of exhibit space and will feature more than 370
booths representing over 320 companies. Trade show hours allow planners
to do business on the exposition floor early from 10:30 a.m. � 1:00 p.m.
on both days.
New Companies Join Exhibition Line-Up
Evidence of its powerful �return on investment� for participants, the
line-up for this year�s event will showcase a variety of suppliers, including
more than 45 new companies (with more expected to register) joining the
roster of exhibitors sure to impress meeting planners attending the highly-anticipated
event.
A sample of companies exhibiting for the first time at HSMAI�s Affordable
Meetings® Mid-America include: Association of Black Cardiologists International
Library; Cable Beach Resorts; The Islands of the Bahamas; Grace Hospitality
Hotels & Resorts; The Hyatt Lodge; Illinois State University; jetBlue
Airways; Paragon Casino Resort and Hotel; Sodexho Conferencing; Simon
Fine Art; Tiger Oak Publications; and World Hotels.
In addition, a new luxury hotel group has joined the show � Morgans
Hotel Group, consisting of the following properties: New York-Morgans Royalton
Hudson, Miami-Delano The Shore Club, Los Angeles-Mondrian, San Francisco-Clift,
Scottsdale-Mondrian, and London-St. Martins Lane Sanderson.
Beyond a broad selection of destinations, hotels and services at all
price points, the exhibition will feature a Mid-America Affordable Meetings®
Bookstore offering a one-stop shopping source for attendees to find the
most up-to-date publications and resource materials focusing on the needs
of meeting planners at every level of experience, as well as a complete
line of CMP study materials.
The exposition also offers opportunities for planners to meet one-on-one
with industry experts at the Speakers Corner and research a broad selection
of destinations and services at all price points.
Prizes, Prizes, Prizes � For Exhibitors and Planners!
For the second year in a row, HSMAI�s Affordable Meetings® will
hold its �Best Booth Awards Program� to acknowledge those vendors who show
exemplary efforts in targeting and enticing attendees at the trade exposition.
Categories to be recognized for single and multiple booths include: Best
New Exhibitor Booth, Best Overall Booth and Best On-Site Booth Promotion
and Marketing. Winners will be announced and prizes awarded during
the show.
jetBlue airline tickets, AMEX gift cards and cash prizes, as well as
drawings at many exhibitor booths, remain popular attractions for meeting
planners.
During the exposition, exhibitors and attendees will be provided with
a $10 coupon on both days of the show to purchase food at the concessions
in the exposition hall, compliments of HSMAI.
More Than 20 Learning Opportunities Available
Rounding out the program for meeting planners is an educational component
featuring five workshops and 15 seminars where planning professionals of
all levels of experience can focus on the various �need to know� key subjects
of the industry, including a general session featuring a hot industry topic,
�The Future of the Meetings Industry: Impact and Actions.�
During this presentation, Joan Eisenstodt, Chief Strategist, Eisenstodt
Associates, and Marsha L. Rhea, CAE, Senior Futurist, Institute for Alternative
Futures, will conduct a lively and fascinating session that paints a clear
picture of what the meetings industry will be like in years ahead and what
core competencies planners will need in the future to be considered a successful
meeting professional. All attendees and suppliers are encouraged
to attend this informative seminar.
Over 1,000 attendees, representing meeting and event planners from
a variety of organizations, with a majority representing corporate, association
and independent sectors and the balance from government, non-profit, education,
religious and medical/health care organizations, trade show management
and the military, are expected to visit HSMAI�s Affordable Meetings®
Mid-America 2007 show.
Attendance at HSMAI�s Affordable Meetings® Mid-America is free-of-charge
for qualified meeting planners, defined as those who work full-time, part-time,
or as decision-making volunteers for corporations, associations, independent
planning businesses, or other active organizations.
Other shows for 2007 include: HSMAI�s Affordable Meetings® West,
HSMAI�s Affordable Meetings® West, June 19-20, 2007, San Jose McEnery
Convention Center � San Jose, CA (new date pattern) and HSMAI�s Affordable
Meetings® National, HSMAI�s Affordable Meetings® National, Sept.
5-6, 2007, Washington Convention Center � Washington, D.C.
For exhibitor information, contact Beth Petersen, show manager, GLM,
(914) 421-3377; fax (914) 948-2918; e-mail: [email protected].
Attendee information is available by calling 1-800-272-SHOW. Additional
information and a complete program schedule can be obtained by visiting
the show�s web site at www.affordablemeetings.com.
HSMAI�S AFFORDABLE MEETINGS®
HSMAI�s Affordable Meetings® is owned and presented by the Hospitality
Sales & Marketing Association International Americas region and managed
by George Little Management, LLC (GLM).
HSMAI is an organization of sales and marketing professionals representing
all segments of the hospitality industry. With a strong focus on
education, HSMAI has become the industry champion in identifying and communicating
trends in the hospitality industry, and bringing together customers and
members at annual events, including HSMAI�s Affordable Meetings®.
Founded in 1927, HSMAI is an individual membership organization comprising
more than 7,000 members worldwide, with 40 chapters in the Americas Region.
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