New exhibiting companies, expanded regional sections, more convenient hours and value-added lunch coupons highlight the extraordinary trade exposition at the ninth annual Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International`s…
New exhibiting companies, expanded regional sections, more convenient hours and value-added lunch coupons highlight the extraordinary trade exposition at the ninth annual Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International`s (HSMAI) Affordable Meetings West show taking place June 15-16, 2005 at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, CA.
The trade show is currently 90 percent sold out, and space is still available. A total of 299 booths (for approximately 240 companies among 23,920 feet of exhibit space) is expected. Exhibitors represent hotels and resorts, university conference centers, unique meeting sites, convention and visitor bureaus, transportation companies, trade publications, software and audio/visual businesses, and other meeting and convention suppliers.
Our trade show continues to be an unmatched educational and networking opportunity for meeting planners and suppliers, which is why we sell-out space so quickly and welcome new companies year after year, said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI.
New companies joining this year`s roster of impressive exhibitors include Bollotta Entertainment, San Diego, CA; Danville Promotional Advertising, Danville, CA; Pacific Palms Conference Resort, Industry Hills, CA; Valley Forge Convention Plaza; Sea Crest Oceanfront Resort, North Falmouth, MA; the Detroit Convention & Visitors Bureau; the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau; the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau (Texas); Cabo Traveler Advisors from Mexico; Las Brisas Hotels & Resorts; and the five-star luxury Don CeSar Beach Resort in St. Petersburg Beach, FL. Additionally, the Arizona state section grew by three booths for a total of 13 from that area.
In an effort to provide meeting planners with all the resources they`ll need to effectively plan all aspects of their events, the exposition at HSMAI`s Affordable Meetings West will feature booths from Conferon (one of the nation`s leading meeting planning firms), Cruises Only and Luxe Worldwide Hotels (representing hotels and resorts across the globe) – all new exhibitors.
Providing more convenient hours for conducting business and connecting with suppliers, the trade show features new hours: 10:30 am – 1 pm each day of the show.
For added value and networking opportunities during the exposition, exhibitors and attendees will be provided with a $10 coupon on both days of the show to buy lunch at the food concessions in the exposition hall, sponsored by HSMAI and contributors San Jose Convention and Visitors Bureau, Bauer`s Transportation, Yellow Checker Cab Company of San Jose and Radisson Hotel San Jose Airport.
In addition to a broad selection of destinations, hotels and services at all price points, the West trade exposition features a Speaker`s Booth where meeting planners can liaise with industry experts, and the HSMAI`s Affordable Meetings Bookstore, 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.
Rounding out the program for meeting planners is an outstanding educational component (featuring 25 information-packed seminars) where planning professionals of all levels of experience can choose from a variety of valuable seminars that will focus on the various need to know key subjects of the industry. This FREE comprehensive educational series will offer attendees the opportunity to acquire expert insight, new ideas, and inspirational advice, helping them to produce more successful, cost-effective meetings.
Approximately 800 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 West 2005 show. Attendance is free-of-charge for qualified meeting planners.
HSMAI`s Affordable Meetings West is the second show on the Affordable Meetings 2005 calendar. The first show in the series, HSMAI`s Affordable Meetings Mid-America, a successful, sold-out event that took place April 6 – 7 at Navy Pier in Chicago, welcomed 1,100 meetings planners, building momentum for a sensational year. The remaining event in 2005 is HSMAI`s Affordable Meetings National, Sept. 7 – 8 at the Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C.
HSMAI`s Affordable Meetings is owned and presented by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International Americas division and managed by George Little Management, LLC (GLM). For the second consecutive year, HSMAI`s Affordable Meetings Mid-America and West events were named the Planners` Best Bets for 2005 in a readers` poll conducted by Meetings Media, publisher of Meetings East, Meetings Mid-America, Meetings West and Meetings South. Additionally, HSMAI`s Affordable Meetings was named the most popular meetings event according to an online survey conducted by Meetings & Conventions magazine.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
