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 17 April 2008
Planners pack HSMAI’s AFFORDABLE MEETINGS® Mid-America
MCLEAN, VA | An estimated 1,100 meeting planners flocked to the Eighth Annual Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International’s (HSMAI) Affordable Meetings Mid-America Exhibition and Conference at Chicago’s Navy Pier to take advantage of the educational programs offered, seek fresh location and venue options, destinations, and related products and services for their upcoming meetings and events.
Meeting planners benefited from more than 20 educational sessions covering basic meeting planning skills to tips to lead in today’s multigenerational workplace, and a general session on overcoming event housing challenges and using search engines to your advantage. This year’s expo introduced 71 new exhibitors involved in various market segments such as special events, technology and international destination options. In total, the expo included 314 booths covering 31,000 square feet.
“The tremendous turnout for the conference shows there is great demand for affordable options for meetings in today’s economic environment," said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI. "HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings creates the opportunity for planners and exhibitors to connect and build working relationships and enable planners to develop professionally through the educational seminars and workshops held during the conference."
Additionally, HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings’ Booth Award winners were selected in the following two categories:
Best Booth Overall (for the outstanding creation of an effective, attractive environment that communicates their message.)
CARNIVALE Chicago – Best Single Booth
Peoria Area CVB – Best Multiple Booth
Best On-site Booth Promotion/Marketing (for original and effective promotional and marketing materials.)
Hawthorne Race Course and Expo Center – Best Single Booth
Benchmark Hospitality International – Best Multiple Booth
Attendees were eligible for daily prize drawings. The winners were:
- Shannon Sheridan, Leadingstar Events Media
- Kathy Helmick, Rubbermaid Commercial Products
- Wanda Henry, Accenture
- Jean Bonarek, A&J Catering
- Ada Jacobs, Association Management Center
- Nancy Pittman, St. Charles Community College
- Lisa Dickson, River of Life Christian Center
Other HSMAI Affordable Meetings for 2008 include: HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings West, June 11-12, 2008, Long Beach Convention Center – Long Beach, CA, and HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings National and the Event Technology Expo™, Sept. 10-11, 2008, Walter E. Washington Convention Center – Washington, D.C.
HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings remains a top exposition and conference for meeting planners to attend each year. For additional information and a complete program schedule, visit www.affordablemeetings.com.
About HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® Mid-AmericaHSMAI’s Affordable Meetings Mid-America offers attendees the opportunity to meet and do business with more than 325 exhibiting companies during a unique exposition that showcases 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 GLM, a dmg world media business. Visit www.affordablemeetings.com for more information.
About HSMAIHSMAI is an organization of sales and marketing professionals representing all segments of the hospitality industry. 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(r). Founded in 1927, HSMAI is an individual membership organization comprising more than 7,000 members worldwide, with 39 chapters in the Americas Region. For more information on HSMAI, contact the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International, 8201 Greensboro Drive, Suite 300, McLean, VA 22102, phone (703) 610-9024; fax (703) 610-9005, or visit the website at www.hsmai.org.
Rachel Rosenberg
Phone: +1 404-832-7711
Email: rachel.rosenberg@edelman.com
Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI)
www.hsmai.org
1760 Old Meadow Road, Suite 500
USA
- McLean, VA 22102
Phone: 703-506-3280
Fax: 703-506-3266
Email: info@hsmai.org
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