According to a survey of pre-registrants attending the ninth annual Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International…
According to a survey of pre-registrants attending the ninth annual Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International`s (HSMAI) Affordable Meetings West show June 15 – 16, 2005 at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, CA, the majority of the respondents (70 percent) expect to plan more meetings in 2005 and beyond. Most of those respondents (60 percent) anticipate planning one – five more meetings.
When asked how their role as a meeting planner has changed over the years, respondents indicated that in addition to generally organizing more meetings and events, they need to be more innovative, take on more responsibility, wear many hats, act as a specialist in multiple areas, and be more cost-effective. Nearly half of the respondents indicated that they have increased budgets to plan meetings.
The survey also revealed that HSMAI`s Affordable Meetings West was the top show at which they conducted business.
The results of our survey are great news for exhibiting companies because they reflect the quality of the meeting planners attending HSMAI`s Affordable Meetings West and show they are exceptional professionals who accomplish serious business at our trade exposition, said Robert A.Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI.
The survey was sent to 531 planners registered for HSMAI`s Affordable Meetings West. A total of 161 completed the survey (a 30 percent response rate) with most planners from association, corporate and independent sectors.
HSMAI`S Affordable Meetings West
There is still time left for exhibitors to secure booth space and for meeting and event planners to register for HSMAI`s Affordable Meetings West show June 15-16, 2005 at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, CA. Attendance at HSMAI`s Affordable Meetings West is free-of-charge for qualified meeting planners.
This show promises to be another outstanding educational, networking and business-generating opportunity for meeting planners and exhibitors, said Gilbert. Meeting planners will have access to an extensive showcase of venues and products in addition to the insight of experts in the industry, while exhibitors can liaise with qualified planners, conduct solid business and collect a great number of contacts, he added.
Limited booth space is still available as the trade show is currently 90 percent sold. This year`s trade expo will feature over 22,000 square feet of exhibit space at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center for 240 exhibitors and approximately 280 booths representing 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. Prepared to provide the best services and products, exhibitors will assist planners by offering cost-effective meeting packages and enticing incentives.
Meeting planners can shop the show and collect information on a huge variety of venues and services, peruse the HSMAI`s Affordable Meetings Bookstore for material specific to meeting planning (printed materials and audio/visual resources as well as a complete line of CMP study materials), talk with experts in all areas of meeting planning at the Speaker`s Booth, and win cash prizes and exciting trips.
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 $10 worth of coupons 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.
When not walking the aisles of the trade show, planners can take advantage of a dynamic program of 25 educational seminars that will focus on key subjects of importance to planners at all levels of experience. This FREE comprehensive educational series will offer attendees the opportunity to acquire expert insights, new ideas, and inspirational advice, helping them to produce more effective meetings.
Planners may choose from a variety of programs depending on their experience and interest. Topics include: meeting contracts, on-site management, negotiation skills, budgeting, effective communication, technology, marketing, designing a brochure and more. Select sessions will be repeated so that participants have the opportunity to attend sessions that run concurrently. Also, as an added benefit, attendees will receive a complimentary bound book containing handouts from all of the seminars.
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.
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.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
