HSMAI's Affordable Meetings Mid-America Reports Increased Attendance with 1,057 Meeting Planners; Booths Sell Out at 341 / May 2002

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HSMAI's Affordable Meetings Mid-America Reports
Increased Attendance with 1,057 Meeting Planners;
Booths Sell Out at 341

CHICAGO, IL (May 6, 2002) � The second annual Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International�s (HSMAI) Affordable Meetings® Mid-America, which took place April 17-18, 2002 at Chicago�s Navy Pier in Chicago, IL, drew an impressive 1,057 meeting planners � an increase over last year�s inaugural event which welcomed 1,025 professionals. The sold-out exhibit floor accommodated 341 exhibit booths representing 333 companies.

Beyond the tradeshow, the comprehensive conference program presented 31 educational seminars led by prominent industry speakers addressing pertinent issues facing the meetings industry today. The educational sessions offered new ideas and practical suggestions relating to all aspects of meeting planning.

�In addition to providing a face-to-face venue for buyers and sellers, it is imperative that we continue to make Affordable Meetings® a valuable and relevant resource by providing an extensive program of educational seminars conducted by industry professionals and experts in the field,� said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI.

SEMINAR HIGHLIGHTS:

A two-part seminar facilitated by Joan Eisenstodt, president of Eisenstodt Associates, LLC, highlighted the essential issues associated with coordinating a meeting. During �The Basics of Meeting Planning,� Eisenstodt advised planners on the importance of matching venues and programs to groups� individual needs and profiles. She also provided a site inspection checklist that planners should use when assessing venues as well as key elements for them to keep in mind in order to stage a successful and effective meeting.

Dave Voracek, The Brochure Doctor®, presented �22 Tips for Turning Your Brochures & Mailers into Better Marketing Pieces.� Various pointers in the areas of copywriting, typography and photography � to make material visually interesting and engaging � were offered to planners. According to Voracek, enhancing the impact of direct mail pieces is unquestionably linked to an increase in selling power.

In �Buyer Be Prepared: How The Proper Meeting Can Save You Money,� Henry Schaffer, Esq., of Howe & Hutton, supplied meeting planners with a wealth of information on writing contracts. In addition to avoiding vague language, a properly written contract must state the express intent, rights, responsibilities and liabilities of all parties involved.

eMarketing was the focus of the seminar �How to Use Web Technologies to More Efficiently Plan and Produce Your Meetings and Events� by Chuck Goorah, senior vice president of business development at cvent.com. Goorah demonstrated the power of eMarketing with statistics that reveal how more people use e-mail than the web (78 million vs. 68 million), e-mail enables marketers to engage in personal conversations with customers, and e-mail advertising can be 75-90 percent less expensive than traditional direct mail.

POSITIVE PRAISE ABOUNDS FOR EVENT:

Informative seminars, an exciting tradeshow and exceptional networking opportunities make participants from around the country praise the quality of HSMAI�s Affordable Meetings® Mid-America event.

Todd Payne, national sales manager, Greater Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau said: �We find Affordable Meetings® to be a great opportunity for us because the expertise of meeting planners attending the show runs from entry-level to expert, and we enjoy meeting them and working to help them do business with Columbus.�

For Joel Grossman, president of Tourism Solutions, �Affordable Meetings® Mid-America provided an opportunity for us, representing the Caribbean island of Curacao, to reach many mainstream American meeting planners in one place.�

Kathleen Ruby, director of sales, Hilton Garden Inn Oshkosh, WI, finds �the energy level here [at Affordable Meetings® Mid-America] is really exceptional and the meeting planners are very professional.�

RECEPTION & PRIZE WINNERS:

A highlight of HSMAI�s Affordable Meetings® Mid-America was �The Roaring Twenties in the Windy City� networking reception where exhibitors and planners interacted with colleagues. In addition to the evening�s festivities, daily drawings were held on the exhibition floor awarding vacation and cash prizes to a select group of lucky winners.

The winners were:

Vacation Prizes

Vicki A. Jarboe, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign / �Discover Tropical Paradise at the Caribe Royale Resort Suites and Convention Center in Orlando, Florida� / Sponsored by: Caribe Royale Suites, Orlando / Airfare sponsored by: US Airways
Sarah Chappell, Wallace Communications / �Fun in the Sun and More in Cancun, Mexico� / Sponsored by: Cancun CVB / Airfare sponsored by: US Airways
Tish Anderson, South Carolina Chamber of Commerce / Roundtrip air tickets for two to anywhere in the United States / Airfare sponsored by: US Airways

The following participants won cash prizes, which were sponsored by HSMAI:

Janice Chelma, meeting planner, International Association of Pupil Personnel Workers: $3,000
Emily Telling, administrative assistant, Market Development, ACPA: $2,000
Lisa Loveless, meeting coordinator, Emergency Nurses Association: $1,000

HSMAI�s Affordable Meetings® is owned and presented by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International and managed by George Little Management, LLC (GLM).

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Contact
Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International
1300 L Street, NW, Suite 1020
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 789-0089
www.hsmai.org

Also See

The 'Complete' HSMAI Schedule of Events for 2001 - 2002 / Nov 2001

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