Meetings industry buyers and suppliers can mark their calendars for the three 2005 Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International’s (HSMAI) Affordable Meetings® shows.
A premier exposition that is free-of-charge to qualified meeting planners and boasts an impressive 3 to 1 planner/exhibitor ratio for doing business.
The calendar for 2005 is as follows:
· HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® Mid-America
April 6 – 7, 2005
Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
· HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® West
June 15 – 16, 2005
San Jose McEnery Convention Center, San Jose, CA
· HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® National
Sept. 7 – 8, 2005
Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC
“2004 has been extraordinary for HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings®. In addition to the three-show series being named Best Industry Trade Show in a readers poll conducted by Meetings Media, our Mid-America event held in April celebrated its highest-ever meeting planner attendance with 1,171 quality planners having participated in the two-day event,” said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI. “We anticipate that the 2005 program will yield equal if not more impressive results and accolades,” Gilbert noted.
Meeting and event planners attending the HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® exposition and educational conference represent a variety of organizations, with a majority from corporate, association and independent sectors and the balance from government, non-profit, education, religious, medical/health care organizations, travel agents, trade show management and the military. The HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® shows draw a large number of meeting planner attendees from corporations as opposed to professionals from meeting planner organizations. As individuals with little or no background in the industry, they find great value in the show as an educational training ground, something of a university for the meetings industry.
Each of the HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® events offers an exceptional educational component that presents a broad range of topics such as meeting contracts, on-site management, negotiation skills, budgeting, effective communication, technology, marketing, designing a brochure and more. As an added benefit, attendees receive a complimentary bound book containing handouts from all of the seminars.
One of the most appealing components of each HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® show is the diverse trade show featuring an abundance of properties and services at all price points. 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. Prepared to provide the best products and services, exhibitors assist planners by offering cost-effective meeting packages and enticing incentives.
Rounding out each show are tremendous networking opportunities and prize giveaways in addition to the HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® Bookstore where planners have access to material specific to the industry – printed materials and audio/visual resources as well as a complete line of CMP study materials.
HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® is owned and presented by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International and managed by George Little Management, LLC (GLM).
For exhibitor information, contact Beth Petersen, show manager, GLM, Ten Bank Street, White Plains, NY 10606-1954, or call (914) 421-3377; fax (914) 948-2918; e-mail: beth_petersen@glmshows.com. Attendee information is available by calling 1-800-272-SHOW. Additional information and a complete program schedule can be obtained by visiting the show’s web site at www.affordablemeetings.com.
Logos, product and company names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
