Acknowledged for its high quality educational programs, the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International’s (HSMAI) Affordable Meetings® will host a “Meeting Planning Boot Camp” on Tuesday, April 13 in Navy Pier, Chicago, Ill., prior to HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings Mid-America exhibition and conference, April 14-15.

“The suggestion for this new approach to ‘101’ education came from Affordable Meetings’ Planner and Exhibitor Advisory Boards,” says Fran Brasseux, HSMAI executive vice president. “The senior leaders from both sides of the industry encouraged us to consolidate the education for newer meeting planners in order to give it more cohesion and more of an impact. This allows us to include more programming on the main conference agenda for topics of greater interest to advanced and intermediate planners.”

Vicky A. Betzig, CMP, president and owner of Meetings Industry Consulting, will lead the boot camp. Betzig has more than 25 years of experience and expertise in the meetings industry. A sought-after consultant, speaker and trainer, her diverse range of experience includes event management, meeting planning and marketing. Betzig is an active member in meetings industry organizations, having served on the board of directors for the Greater Midwest Chapter of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and for both the Chicago and Wisconsin chapters of Meeting Professionals International (MPI).

The boot camp serves to provide professionals with access to training, knowledge and insight into both meeting and event planning. Both industry veterans and new professionals will walk away from the boot camp with the necessary information, skills, and supporting resources needed to effectively plan and produce a meeting.

Boot Camp topics include:

• Establishing meeting goals and objectives
• Designing programs to meet your targeted audience’s needs
• Selecting speakers
• Budgeting and budget monitoring
• Reviewing and negotiating facility contracts
• Planning and managing food and beverage
• Developing comprehensive meeting specifications
• On-site management: pre-planning to customer service, trouble shooting, and more

Registration for the Meeting Planning “Boot Camp” is $99 for the day-long session and lunch. Meeting planners who attend can earn up to 6.0 continuing education contact hours towards CMP certification or recertification. For more information, visit .

About HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® Mid-America | HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® Mid-America will once again offer attendees the opportunity to meet and do business with more than 250 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. Visit for more information.

About HSMAI

The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) is committed to growing business for hotels and their partners and is the industry's leading advocate for intelligent, sustainable hotel revenue growth. The association provides hotel professionals and their partners with tools, insights, and expertise to fuel sales, inspire marketing, and optimize revenue through programs such as the Commercial Strategy Conference, Sales Leader Forum, and Adrian Awards. Founded in 1927, HSMAI is a membership organization comprising more than 5,000 members worldwide, with 40 chapters in the Americas Region. Connect with HSMAI at hsmai.org.

Rachel Rosenberg
+1 404-832-7711
HSMAI