IACC CEO Mark Cooper announced the theme and lineup of speakers and presenters

for the 2014 IACC-Americas Annual Conference. The event is scheduled forMarch 19-21, 2014at Pacific Palms Resort in Los Angeles, CA. Cooper commented that the conference will focus on educating members on what it takes to remain innovative and competitive in today's marketplace.

According to Ken Misterly, the Conference Chair and General Manager at The Millennium Centre in Johnson

City, "This conference will be more participation driven with an emphasis on relevant, cutting-edge content along with important opportunities for networking", said Cooper. "Our key objective is to provide an exceptional "IACC meeting experience" for all attendees attending from all over the Americas and indeed from around the globe."

The theme for the 33rdIACC

Annual Americas Conference isCatch the Waveof latest trends in the conference center industry with education supporting:
  • Executive Learning
  • A Series of In-depth Sales Training Sessions
  • Marketing
  • Technology
  • Food and Beverage
  • Conference Planning
  • Business Ethics
  • Team Building and Leadership

Industry superstarCindy Novotny of Master Connection Associates will kick off the conference with her

keynote"Disrupt Your Status Quo"encouraging the delegates to "reinvent yourself and your sales process NOW." Cindy notes, "The conference center model remains unique and the meetings industry has been challenged in recent times and without some dramatic change to your mindset you will constantly struggle to win more business." Cindy's no-nonsense, reality- based delivery provides a reason to go back to work and make immediate change.

Avinash Chandarana MCI's

Group Director Global Learning will present anentertaining and insightful plenary sessionon "Crossroads of Culture--How to Do Business and Work Together in a Global Marketplace." Chandarana, aleading figure on intercultural issues, shares insights in how to make your interactions count by honing your cross-cultural skills and discover a simple yet effective framework that will transform your perspective on culture.

An insightful workshop"Innovative Conference Center Design" will be

presented by John Potterton, Operations Director from FMC Technologies Learning Center. This workshop will present some of IACC's most creative members talking about how they design winning meeting environments and just how much thought goes into creating spaces and services to deliver the very best IACC Meetings Experiences!

Mark Woodworth, President, PKF Hospitality Research, will present "PKF

Industry Trends" – a popular workshop on the state of the economy and how it is affecting the Hospitality and Meetings Industry in the Americas.

Other workshops will include:

Jeff Kear of Plannningpod.com:"Conference Planning-Organizational Tools for

Meeting Planners". This interactive session introduces state-of-the art conference app. In the session, the delegates will have a chance to:

· Discuss what they see planners use

  • Discuss what slightly more advanced users generally use
  • Get an overview of the tools that exists on the market, competing as well as planningpod.com's

Midori Connolly:Hybrid Meetings

Virtual and hybrid meetings enable the meeting planner to extend an in-person event

to the audience unable to attend, which in turn increases in-person attendance the following year. This session will teach delegates to:
  • Differentiate between in-person, virtual and hybrid meetings
  • Understand the facility considerations to address with prospective clients
  • Learn what you can do to build your business through virtual and hybrid meetings

Chuck Salem: "Leading the Service Philosophy"

Chuck will lead this interactive workshop on how to LEAD the service philosophy as an

administrator to assure good service will be had by the customers.

The 33rdannual conference will also feature the 11th

Copper Skilletcompetition featuringIACC conference centre chefs from around the world gathered to compete for the prestigious culinary award – the Copper Skillet – and the distinction of becoming the IACC Conference Centre Chef of the Year.

About IACC

Founded in 1981, IACC is dedicated to representing the best meeting venues globally and is, by definition, the future of the meetings industry realised. The association brings together the brightest, most innovative minds from around the globe. IACC elevates the meeting experience by creating a unique point of entry that is inclusive of the best-in-class meeting venues internationally. IACC membership is a symbol of meeting excellence and exceptional connections amongst the best in the meeting industry. This exclusiveness makes IACC's members part of an elite group representing the most innovative, forward-thinking, and results-driven meeting venues globally.

All members meet a set of stringent Quality Standards and agree to a Code of Ethics. IACC includes over 400-member conference venues from Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Belgium, Denmark, England, France, Italy, Netherlands, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, Wales, Canada, and the United States.

The IACC Mission Statement: "To bring together the brightest industry minds to promote the best meeting venues, which deliver exceptional meeting experiences. There are meetings... And then there are IACC Meetings".

The IACC Vision: "IACC is a global community of passionate people and organisations delivering innovative and exceptional meeting experiences."