Established in 1990, the Convention & Expo Summit has been held on an annual basis in Las Vegas, Nevada. Reflecting the growing importance and significance of conventions and expositions in Asia, it will be hosted in Hong Kong in 2003. The Summit will provide educators, researchers, industry practitioners and representatives of professional industry associations in the conventions, meetings and expositions field with a forum for exchange of information and debate. The program will feature competitively selected paper presentations, panels and workshops. Prominent industry leaders are invited to deliver keynote speeches. Site visits in the Pearl River Delta area will be arranged. 

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

The Convention & Expo Summit is a comprehensive education and research-oriented meeting for the convention and exposition industry. Befitting the global nature of the industry, contributions are invited from around the world from 

• Educators; 
• Industry Practitioners; 
• Industry Consultants; 
• Representatives of professional industry associations; and 
• Others interested in the field

Papers dealing with a broad range of topics related to research and education in the convention and exposition field in particular, but also in related fields such as incentives and events would be acceptable for presentation at the Summit. Potential topics include but are not limited to:

• Issues facing conventions and expositions in the twenty-first century
• Impacts of conventions and expositions on their host communities 
• Planning and development issues for convention and exposition destinations
• Human resources issues for the convention & exposition industry
• Convention and exposition marketing 
• Legal aspects of conventions and expositions
• Meeting management and marketing issues (e.g., site selection, housing, scheduling, promotion) 
• Exhibition management and marketing issues (e.g., selling exhibit space; exhibit floor layout; booth design, exhibitor and attendee marketing) 
• Negotiation with suppliers, clients, and labor unions 
• Effective use of audio-visual materials 
• Impact of technology (electronic meetings, virtual trade shows) 
• Studies relating to key industry players (e.g., convention & visitors bureaus, convention and exhibition venues, meeting managers, exhibition organizers, exhibition managers)
• Incentives 
• Event Management and Marketing 

Abstracts for proposed paper presentations, panels, and workshops should be submitted to the Summit Chairperson (contact information below). 
Abstracts should be limited to 3 pages (typed, double-spaced). Electronic submissions (Microsoft Word files) are encouraged but submission of abstracts via regular mail is also accepted. 

Deadline for submission of abstracts is February 28, 2003. Final versions of competitively selected paper presentations are to be submitted by April 28, 2003. 

For all accepted presentations, at least one (1) of the authors MUST register for and present the paper at the Summit.

PUBLICATION PLAN

Copies of accepted papers will be available as conference proceedings at the Summit. Selected papers from the conference proceedings will be considered further for publication in the Journal of Convention & Exhibition Management or the Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing. 

CONFERENCE ADMINISTRATION

Please direct enquiries and abstract/paper submissions to:

Tel: + (852) 2766 4031 Fax: + (852) 2362 9362
Email: [email protected]