HSMAI's Affordable Meetings(R) 2009 Event Series Announced
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HSMAI's Affordable Meetings(R) 2009 Event Series Announced
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Category: Worldwide - Industry economy
- Trends / Expert's advice
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2008-12-08
Mid-America and West Shows Add Event Technology Expo(TM)
The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) announces the dates of its 2009 Affordable Meetings(R) Conference & Expositions, a trio of highly-acclaimed events that attracts more than 3,500 motivated planners from all sectors who attend looking for quality resources and education to enhance their meetings and events.
Due to the overwhelming response from attendees and exhibitors at the debut Event Technology Expo(TM) (ETE) at the 2008 Affordable Meetings National, ETE will return in 2009, and will be expanded to include an ETE component on the show floor and educational sessions at all three shows. HSMAI's Event Technology Expo addresses all aspects of technology as it relates to tradeshows, meetings, and special events. Also, HSMAI's Hotel Sales Strategy conference is being held March 31, 2009, in conjunction with Affordable Meetings Mid-America.
The 2009 HSMAI Affordable Meetings series schedule is as follows:
-- Affordable Meetings(R) Mid-America
April 1 - 2, 2009
Navy Pier
Chicago, Ill.
-- Affordable Meetings(R) West
June 10 - 11, 2009
San Jose McEnery Convention Center
San Jose, Calif.
-- Affordable Meetings(R) National and Event Technology Expo (ETE)
September 9 - 10, 2009
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Washington, D.C.
"In today's economic climate, planners are seeking affordable options that still offer great value for their meetings," said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI. "The 2009 series will offer a diverse selection of vendors and a strong educational component to help planners stay in tune with the changes in the industry while meeting their goals and staying within tightened budget guidelines."
For exhibitors, HSMAI's Affordable Meetings offers the opportunity to connect with an exclusive group of planners. More than 56% of Affordable Meetings planners do not attend any other trade show.
Margarita G. Muselli of InterContinental Hotels Group, Latin America, a new division created exclusively for Latin America, attended Affordable Meetings Mid-America with a blank database in 2008. "My mission was to find new clients with potential for Latin America. At the show, we were able to zero in on prospective clients, leaving with a solid list of contacts for immediate follow-up after the show."
Planners note that in addition to finding quality resources to enhance their meetings and events, value comes out of the broad range of educational sessions offered at each conference. 2008 sessions focused on green options and new techniques to incorporate technology into meetings.
Attendees represent 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/healthcare organizations, trade show management and the military. Attendance at HSMAI's Affordable Meetings is free-of-charge for qualified meeting planners.
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