Pre-Scheduled One-on-One Appointments Highlight A Successful Two Days at HSMAI's Affordable Meetings West
For the first time in the event’s history, meeting planners were able to pre-book appointments with exhibitors at the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International’s (HSMAI) Affordable Meetings® West Exhibition and Conference at the Long Beach Convention Center from June 16-17, 2010.
“HSMAI received tremendous feedback from both exhibitors and meeting planners in regards to the turnout at this year’s event and the success of the new Meeting Concierge service for scheduling one-on-one appointments between the two parties,” said Fran Brasseux, executive vice president of HSMAI. “We conducted in-depth research prior to this year’s show and found an overwhelming number of planners place high value in pre-scheduled meetings with vendors. It is always our goal to continually enhance their experience at Affordable Meetings conferences based on the needs of the attendees and exhibitors.”
Approximately 200 appointments were booked prior to the first day of Affordable Meetings® West. HSMAI’s One-to-One Meeting Concierge worked individually with planners prior to the show to schedule appointments with exhibitors they were most interested in meeting with during the show.
“I loved the implementation of the pre-meeting concierge technology,” said Dennis Smith, World Hotels’ regional director of sales. “The system was very efficient in helping us accept appointments and allowed us to book a full schedule of meetings each day. I hope more shows start to make this option available.”
More than 800 meeting and hospitality industry professionals were on-hand for this year’s Affordable Meetings® West, making it a prime platform for connecting planners with representatives from some of North America’s top meeting venues and service providers. Joan Palmtag, regional director of accounts for the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau, commented, “We were able to see 50 people each day, which equals three weeks worth of sales calls. Affordable Meetings® West makes it very efficient for us to develop relationships with key meeting planners.”
Beyond fostering these important relationships, planners were encouraged to attend seminars led by industry experts. During the course of the two-day conference, attendees were privy to 22 seminars covering a wide-range of topics including successful email marketing strategies, overcoming the challenges of planning food and beverage in a “green” environment, social media as a marketing tool to increase meeting attendance and the top meetings technology trends for 2010.
An advanced seminar and networking breakfast for Certified Meeting Professionals (CMP) sponsored by the Mexico Tourism Board and Let’s Meet Mexico City kicked off the second day of the show. The CMPs enjoyed an in-depth presentation from Tim Brown, CEO of Meeting Sites Resource. Brown enlightened the audience to the multiple layers of a Strategic Meeting Management Program (SMMP). Covering such areas as proving the worth of meeting planners to senior management and measuring the seven dimensions of attendee experience, Brown encouraged the CPMs, “Don’t just find the best meeting practices, be aware of the next meeting practices.”
HSMAI also honored exhibitors with Affordable Meetings® Booth Awards:
Best Booth Overall (for the outstanding creation of an effective, attractive environment that communicates the brand’s message)
- Huntington Beach Marketing & Visitors Bureau – Best Single Booth
- Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority – Best Multiple Booth
Best On-site Booth Promotion/Marketing (for original and effective promotional and marketing materials)
- Hotel Hanford – Best Single Booth
- San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau – Best Multiple Booth
HSMAI’s last show for 2010 will be HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® National and Event Technology Expo™, Sept. 8-9, 2010, Walter E. Washington Convention Center – Washington, D.C. The National show will also feature pre-scheduled appointments scheduled via the Meeting Concierge service.
About HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® West
HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® West offers attendees the opportunity to meet and do business with more than 150 exhibiting companies during a unique exposition that will showcase venues, products and services to help produce various types of meetings and events. Year-after-year, the highly-acclaimed trade exposition is a main attraction for attendees looking to meet and network with knowledgeable suppliers who are determined to help produce valuable meetings and assist with purchasing decisions. 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. HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® is owned and presented by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International Americas region and managed by J. Spargo & Associates, Inc. Visit www.affordablemeetings.com for more information.
About HSMAI
HSMAI is the hospitality industry source for knowledge, community, and recognition for leaders committed to professional development, sales growth, revenue optimization, marketing, and branding. With a strong focus on education, HSMAI has become the industry champion in identifying and communicating trends in the hospitality industry, and bringing together customers and members at annual events, including HSMAI's Affordable Meetings®. Founded in 1927, HSMAI is an individual membership organization comprising more than 7,000 members worldwide, with 40 chapters in the Americas Region. For more information on HSMAI, contact the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International, 1760 Old Meadow Road, Suite 500, McLean, Va. 22102; (703) 506-3280; fax (703) 506-3266, or visit the website at www.hsmai.org. Join our social networking communities onTwitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.
