News for the Hospitality Executive |
Attendance Tops Prior Year, Educational Component Delivers MCLEAN, VA (July 6, 2007) � Eager to hone their skills from the unparalleled education delivered in five intensive workshops and 15 seminars presented over two days, meeting planner attendance at the 11th Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Affordable Meetings West® exceeded last year�s count with 667 attendees. Presented by HSMAI at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center last week, the multi-faceted show also featured an exposition of over 22,000 square feet of exhibit space with 272 companies occupying 248 booths. Planning professionals at all levels experienced expert insight, fresh ideas and inspirational advice in the interest of producing more successful, cost-effective meetings. The educational program catered to a wide range of expertise, from beginner and part-time planners, to experienced professionals with over 10 years of industry practice. Catering to a diverse audience, the topics ranged from Meeting Planning Boot Camp: The Basics: Part I and Part II, 180 Ways to Transform Your Meeting, Mastering Memory: An �Essential� for Meeting Planners and Communicate with Strength: 19 Words that Undermine Your Effectiveness to technology-oriented sessions such as Computer Magic: Finish Everything Six Times Faster and Technology Applications and Devices that Add to Your Meeting Attendee's Experiences. Also, specifically created for independent meeting planners was a session on Creating a Targeted Marketing Strategy to Help Grow Your Independent Meeting Business. A highly spirited and interactive General Session on �The Future of the Meetings Industry: Impact and Actions� was presented by Joan Eisenstodt, Chief Strategist, Eisenstodt Associates, and Marsha L. Rhea, CAE, Senior Futurist, Institute for Alternative Futures. With input and participation from the audience, the duo painted a vivid 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 meetings professional. The highly-anticipated return of five, three-hour workshops offered attendees in-depth coverage of important industry topics, including: Working With Hotels: How to Create Win-Win Partnership; Successful Negotiations: How to Negotiate Like a Pro; Forms That Work: Tools for Organizing, Tracking, Reporting, and Communicating; On-Site Management: The Final Stretch to Meeting Success; and Igniting the Creative Spark Within You. .
Best Booth Awards Honoring booth excellence, �Best Booth Awards� were handed out in three categories for both single and multiple booths. Award recipients were: Best New Exhibitor
Prize drawings were also held for cash and travel rewards. Winners
and prizes are:
$2,000:
The impressive list of sponsors for the 2007 West show included: San Jose Convention and Visitors Bureau (conference tote bags); Plasticard Locktech (hotel key cards); PC Nametag (name badges and lanyards); Long Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau (seminar handout book); and the San Jose Museum of Art (hosting a complimentary private viewing of its art collection on the opening evening of the show). New Companies Join Exhibition Line-Up Evidence of its powerful �return on investment� for participants, the
line-up for this year�s event showcased a variety of suppliers, including
new companies joining the roster of exhibitors. A sample of companies
exhibiting for the first time at HSMAI�s Affordable Meetings® West
were: Absolutely Fabulous! Events and Productions, The Callanish Group,
Ghiradelli Chocolate Company, GoPicnic, Inc., Las Vegas Monorail Company,
Orange Tree Golf Resort, Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort, DMI Hotels, Spandex
USA, Sprint-Nextel and Air Fulfillment Services.
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 39 chapters in the Americas Region. |
Contact:
HSMAI
|
Also See: | Wrap Up - HSMAI's Affordable Meetings® Mid-America Show, Chicago Navy Pier / April 2007 |
|