Designed for meeting planners looking to enhance their professional career and organize events and exhibitors seeking to target a group of quality planners, the fifth annual Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International`s (HSMAI) Affordable Meetings(r) Mid-America will take place April 6 – 7, 2005…
Designed for meeting planners looking to enhance their professional career and organize events and exhibitors seeking to target a group of quality planners, the fifth annual Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International`s (HSMAI) Affordable Meetings(r) Mid-America will take place April 6 – 7, 2005 at Chicago`s Navy Pier.
We`re confident that the creative program of educational events and networking opportunities in addition to a highly-anticipated trade exposition will result in another extremely successful Mid-America show, said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI.
In a very crowded marketplace, HSMAI`s Affordable Meetings(r) has emerged as the must-attend show series for exhibitors and meeting planners at all levels of experience. Last year`s record-breaking attendance at the Mid-America show is evidence of this event`s relevance to those professionals serious about the lucrative meetings business, added Gilbert.
HSMAI`s Affordable Meetings(r) Mid-America offers an exceptional educational component of 25 sessions that presents a broad range of topics such as meeting contracts, on-site management, negotiation skills, budgeting, effective communication, technology, marketing, designing a brochure and more. As an added benefit, attendees receive a complimentary bound book containing handouts from all of the seminars.
In addition to the educational program, attendees will have the opportunity to meet and do business with more than 300 exhibiting companies during a unique exposition that will showcase venues, products and services to help produce various types of meetings and events.
The exposition encompasses a plethora of activities and opportunities for meeting planners such as meeting one-on-one with industry experts at the speakers` booth and researching a broad selection of destinations and services at all price points. 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.
Vacation and cash prizes, as well as drawings at many exhibitor booths remain popular attractions. 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.
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, compliments of the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau and American Express.
Delegates can also visit the HSMAI`s Affordable Meetings(r) Bookstore, a one-stop shopping source where planners have access to material specific to the industry – printed materials and audio/visual resources as well as a complete line of CMP study materials.
Over 1,100 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(r) Mid-America 2005 show. Attendance at HSMAI`s Affordable Meetings(r) Mid-America is free-of-charge for qualified meeting planners.
Other shows for 2005 include: HSMAI`s Affordable Meetings(r) West, June 15 – 16, 2005 at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California, and HSMAI`s Affordable Meetings(r) National, Sept. 7 – 8, 2005 at the Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C.
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