Jun 20
Ashley ChalmersTrade Shows Event Industry Networking, Tips for Meeting Planners, Trade Shows, upcoming meetings industry events
ConventionPlanit.com saleswoman Julie Roberts has returned home after much travel and sales appointments across the country, including attending the Mexico Showcase & Travel Expo. She shares the following show reflections in part 1 of this series.
It was indeed a celebration time at Mexico Showcase this year!
Ten years and still a premier event to not just promote Cancun, Riviera Maya and Mexico in the convention, meetings and incentive marketplace but to set the bar for quality of accommodations and service. As always, organizers, led by Andy Ortiz with Global Incentives, constantly dazzled attendees with the great program, myriad of facilities, services, activities and the tropical ambiance available throughout the peninsula.
Thank you to all for all your hard work.
Cancun displayed its appeal to meeting planners as the host city. With pros such as Eduardo Chaillo, Mexico Tourism Board, Executive Director, Meeting Industry, based in Washington, DC, to act as your guiding light, just ask and all involved deliver.
The business of doing business was evident at Showcase, which is still one of the most productive, appointment scheduled, exchanges of information, requests and relationship building events in Mexico. Throughout the event, speakers addressed industry trends and issues while delivering useful information for planners and ideas for the future.
If you read the ConventionPlanit.com newsletter, you know what a Prezi is…but probably would not have thought one could be projected onto a building! Area experts like RocÍo Cárdenas with Cenacolo restaurant (if there’s a cuisine, Cancun has the restaurant) and Global Incentives Solia Juvonen were available to assist in arranging a fabulous “dine around” event for your group.
It has to be the setting in Mexico. I marvel at how a tradeshow can have such a feeling of tranquil communication instead of a hectic, harried pace. Everyone was prepared to learn about products.
From the warm greeting of our most professional transportation crew to the final showpiece reception at the ME Cancun (mmm), the settings, entertainment, themes, and presentations made me want to bring everyone I know south-of-the border. It’s temptingly easy to do because airlift to the Cancun International Airport is so excellent.
Stay tuned for more details from the showcase!
Apr 29
Ashley ChalmersTrade Shows ASAE & the Center, Event Industry Networking, Keep America Meeting, Trade Shows
Yesterday many of your favorite ConventionPlanit.com staff members attended the ASAE Springtime Expo at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
If the judging is up to us…we rule the event a total success!
The educational sessions were chock full of information (more on these later), and the General Session was pretty motivating, thanks to Bert Jacobs, Co-Founder of the popular clothing brand Life is Good.
Then it was onto the Expo Hall, which was filled with more vendors than ever! We are, of course, partial to the ConventionPlanit.com Booth!
Katherine Markham, CHME and Maureen Pickell, CTC at the CP Booth
We saw some familiar faces and many new ones at our booth. Much of the day was spent dancing to our catchy meeting planning music video, which was on display at the booth. Meeting planners can share in the fun of the video by entering a predict the future contest!
Another highlight were our friends from the Anchorage CVB, who generously sponsored our Grand Prize…a trip for two to Alaska! The gals even put together an adorable prize package, with a stuffed brown bear, moose and a gorgeous photo book of Alaska. We’ll show some photos of the prize early next week!
Oct 21
Laura CamicTips for Meeting Planners, Trade Shows attendee interaction, social media, Trade Shows
Earlier this month in Shreveport, Louisiana, the first ever Small Market Meetings Conference took place.
Planners engaged in conversations with properties nationwide from 2nd and 3rd tier cities – which is the foundation behind the conference! The reverse trade show approach was welcomed by both the planners and industry – giving them 6 minute appointments to engage in conversations they might not have the chance to in a traditional tradeshow format!.
Of course, one of the hot topics today is Social Media – and we had the opportunity to listen to Lesley Kyle, a Senior Event Manager at the Society of Plastics Engineers. Lesley shared her organization’s experience using social networking to enhance attendance and awareness of their meetings and annual conference.
She asked “Is Social Media a Fad?” – after watching presentation, I am sure to say that it is not going away!
Using social sites like LinkedIn and Facebook, Lesley and the Society of Plastics Engineers have been able to spread messages about their organizations and bring in the Gen X and Gen Y members that they had been seeking.
Some tips for success in social marketing that Lesley offered to planners:
1. Find Free Labor – often times you can find a college student searching for an internship to gain professional experience. Use them for free guidance as you build your social presence on the web.
2. Start with one site get a strategy, get comfortable with social media, and then move on to another form of social media… Basically, don’t bite off more than you can chew!
3. Be consistent with your message.
4. Create a bi-weekly or weekly plan of messaging.
5. Monitor your content, monitor your sites and be respectful.
If you want to hear more from Lesley Kyle, check out this video from her presentation at the show!
Aug 25
maureen-pickellTrade Shows ASAE & the Center, attendee interaction, meeting industry, Tips for Meeting Planners, Trade Shows
The ConventionPlanit.com dynamic duo, Julie and mysef, attended a session entitled “What is the Future of tradeshows?” and learned a lot about charting the course for a new business model.
Instead of “re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic” (as one supplier succinctly put it) we should be polling association members, staffers, meeting planners and exhibitors all to come up with a trade show that lives up to everyone’s expectations…as well as providing ROI.
The night ended with Cindy Lauper…talk about a “Grand Finale!”
Jun 28
Ashley ChalmersTips for Meeting Planners ASAE & the Center, meeting experiences, meeting ideas, Trade Shows
Need some creative ideas for public relations at your next convention or tradeshow? The ASAE Greater Washington Network recently held a PR Idea Swap at ASAE headquarters in Washington, DC, with content and planning provided by the ASAE Communication Section Council.
One of the table discussions during the event focused on convention and tradeshow public relations. Here are some of the ideas that participants offered:
• An association of builders held a live building competition on its tradeshow floor as a way to generate interest from the media. Held over several days and complete with awards for the best design, the building competition was a draw to the show floor and allowed the association to highlight the art of the profession.
• A special exhibit sponsored by the host association can generate interest in a tradeshow. For example, the association of builders arranged to borrow a well-known exhibit that had appeared in the National Building Museum for display in its exhibit hall.
• Special displays can help attract media attention. For example, SNAXPO, the tradeshow of the Snack Food Association, featured a display of the newest and most innovative snack foods, which is always a popular draw for members of the media. The display helps reporters by showcasing the latest trends in the snack food industry.
• Another creative way to generate publicity around a convention is to utilize a captivating theme for the convention as it relates to the organization. For example, an association of funeral homes built its convention theme one year around “Survivor.”
• A national association of museums generates PR by partnering with local museums in the cities in which it holds its annual convention. The local museums often have already developed relationships with the local media, and the national convention gives the local museums a chance to hook in reporters to a broader conversation about museums, while drawing positive attention to their own museums.
• Create something unusual and attention-getting on the exhibit floor – The American Industrial Hygiene Association built a “mock meth lab” in its tradeshow to demonstrate the health and safety hazards associated with meth labs and the role of industrial hygienists in dealing with these dangers after the labs are shut down. It attracted lots of media attention. On another occasion AIHA got CNN to feature a “mold dog” from one of its exhibitors, since industrial hygienists diagnose mold problems. The dog actually searched out mold in a television studio live on CNN.
What are some of your own creative PR ideas?
Jun 07
Ashley ChalmersTrade Shows Event Industry Networking, overseas meetings, Tips for Meeting Planners, Trade Shows, upcoming meetings industry events
ConventionPlanit.com saleswoman extraordinare Julie Roberts has returned home to Florida after a whirlwind month of travel and sales calls, including attending the Mexico Showcase & Travel Expo. She has shared the below show recap with us:
If you have not had the opportunity to attend this terrific event in the past, do plan to do so for the future. Organized by the Cancun Convention & Visitors Bureau, Mexico Tourism Board and Global Incentive Management Mexico – DMC, the 3 day schedule offers a terrific opportunity to experience Mexico, research venues and evaluate services while reviewing your program details on a one-on-one basis with knowledgeable hospitality professionals.
There was plenty to digest this year, and we’re talking about more than just the wonderful cuisine. A warm welcome greeted guests at every turn. Professionals representing hotels, audio-visual/technology companies, decorators, restaurants, caterers, off-site venues, transportation, eco-tourism, were on hand to enthusiastically share the enjoyment and fun while providing their “know how” for every aspect of hosting a group, special event or congress. Charlie Moore, with Faith Christian Fellowship, has attended Showcase every year and uses it to evaluate and gather new ideas for his clients. He has run 3 successful programs in Cancun and finds “the event does what it says: it ‘showcases’ the tremendous variety available for events and really cements my relationship with hoteliers.”
The tradeshow is organized with an efficient appointment schedule. With the show being in Cancun, the destination was well represented, as were other zones of Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America. Everyone got down to the business of doing business in the atmosphere created by the Cancun Convention Center staff and decorator.
You need never be concerned with the delivery of service for detailed programs. Omega World Travel’s Alonzo Duncan commented, “Mexico Showcase has opened my eyes to some wonderful meeting alternatives in Cancun for my clients. The tradeshow networking appointments were very worthwhile, allowing us planners to focus our attention on specific products, maximizing the time available during the exhibition. I would definitely attend again.”
These folks are at the top of their game.
The Q & A game (Oh, the fun of “were you paying attention!”) at Saturday’s luncheon only added to the program touting Re-Evaluate, Re-Invent, Re-Investment and Re-Silient for updating planners, agents and brokers on the MICE business climate of Mexico today. Mexico is experiencing media sensationalism, just as any number of global destinations. Adding the economic climate and other challenges from the past few years, representatives did not shy away from acknowledging tough issues and then demonstrated how your price-points will get great value with flexible or no attrition clauses, expanded emergency management, additional airline service and competitive rates. Some surcharges are even disappearing! The luncheon panel gave an excellent “walk through” of master account management in regards to the VAT tax refund as well.
Another program presentation covered the ease with which larger groups can bring in exhibits, materials etc. through customs by working with local freight carriers at a most reasonable cost. The National Onion Association’s Wayne Mininger commented that he has done programs on both the Caribbean and Pacific sides of Mexico and what he finds most impressive is the “service, service, service” with a “can do” attitude of everyone involved (including the story of a gardener building an easel for him!) “The most extraordinary things are done just to make sure things work and run smoothly by this industry in Mexico,” says Mininger.
In planning for the future, Andy Ortiz with Global Incentive Management reflects on how 9 years ago a small ‘Showcase’ was organized solely for Cancun. Now, all of Mexico provides support.
“The wonderful participation and support of Mexico Showcase comes from a group of professionals who understand what this business is about and they want people to know we can deliver. They know having professional planners and organizers coming to actually experience our service, is what has produced the twenty million in revenue directly attributable to this show for our country,” Ortiz said.
Yes, Mexico is fun and always will be, given the warmth of its citizens, but know that the country plays on a global stage when it comes to group business, whether it’s a wedding party or an international congress.
You can learn for yourself at next year’s 10th Anniversary, April 28 – May 2, 2011!
Apr 22
Ashley ChalmersTrade Shows meeting experiences, Trade Shows
Guest blog post – courtesy of Branders.com
Successful exhibitors know that a giveaway vastly improves the conversion of visitors to leads. Now we understand why: Giving a gift causes the visitor to your booth to want to reciprocate, to give something back. Below you’ll see how this research can be applied to make you more successful at your next show using CHEAPER giveaways.
Leading researchers at Arizona State University have identified one of the most powerful persuasive forces in all of human psychology. Further research by industry professionals has linked this same force directly to success in lead generation on the trade show floor.
Dr. Robert Cialdini reports in his top-selling work, Influence, that all humans in all cultures are conditioned to respond to any gift with a reciprocal gift or act. This conditioned response is so strong that most people are simply compelled to return the kindness of a gift, even if they really don’t want to. Moreover, Dr. Cialdini’s research shows that the value of the gift has little to do with triggering the reciprocity effect in the recipient. Experiments have shown that when fund-raisers asked strangers for money, they could multiply the average donation simply by giving a ten-cent article before asking for the donation. This effect is really that powerful.
This is how you can use “reciprocity” immediately to increase your success.
First, use a less expensive item. Our research suggests that the value of the item is not terribly important. If you use a more expensive giveaway because you want to feel proud of it, that’s fine. But realize that the extra expense is not necessary to trigger the reciprocity effect. It is the powerful subconscious reciprocity effect that causes the visitor to linger with you and answer your questions–not the value of the giveaway.
Second, give the item before you ask for anything. The powerful reciprocity effect is triggered in the second person by the one that gives first. Be the first giver and you will reap the rewards. You’ll also feel great.
Combine the first discovery (give an inexpensive gift) with the second discovery (give it before asking for anything) and you will find that you have reduced your spend on giveaways and that you have gotten far more out of the giveaways you use.
As a tradeshow attendee, does this theory stand up? Are you more inclined to use a vendor who gives you a booth giveaway before asking for something from YOU?
Exhibitors, do you use this tactic? What results have you found?
Feb 22
Ashley ChalmersTrade Shows imex, meeting industry, Trade Shows, upcoming meetings industry events
If you’re a meeting planner, your chances of attending IMEX America for free through a hosted buyer program have just increased 30%!
IMEX America announced today that 2,000 qualified planners will be hosted – the largest number for any US trade show.
The show will take place at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas October 11-13, 2011. Hosted buyer qualification will use the same guidelines IMEX Frankfurt uses.
If you are interested in attending the show with the ConventionPlanit.com hosted buyer group, please email stephanie.kreps@conventionplanit.com!
Sep 03
Ashley ChalmersTips for Meeting Planners, Trade Shows meeting ideas, meeting planner help, Trade Shows
Dr. Radde's book Seating Matters offers innovative setups for meeting rooms
Quick, what’s the best way to get the most seats in a meeting room?
Straight across, theater-style, right??
“Think again!,” says Dr. Paul O. Radde of The Thrival Institute, who has authored a new book, Seating Matters.
“The industry mindset is that straight rows maximize a room, but they don’t – they create dead space,” he says.
“Dead space is any excessive or wasted space in a room that could be excellent seating for participants, such as up front around the stage or down the center of the room. For example, the center aisle, the best seating space in the room, is not set for chairs.”
Radde recalls a meeting at a major hotel where he had arranged to have curved rows with all the seats facing the center of the stage. When he arrived for the event, however, he found that the hotel staff had lined up straight rows instead, believing that was the only way to fit 1,800 seats in the ballroom.
That evening, Radde worked with the staff to reset the room with curved rows and showed them how to fit not only the required minimum of 1,800 seats in the room, he easily had room for another 300 seats for a total of 2,100 – even with the fine tuning of widened aisles toward the back of the room to create adequate space for schmoozing.
Straight-row seating is problematic for Radde on several counts:
1.) It requires people seated facing the wall on the outside of front rows to turn in their seats and turn their heads up to 85 degrees to view the stage.
“Unless people are within the three seats closest to the aisle in the center of the room, they report discomfort within 15 minutes,” Radde says, “and this detracts energy and attention from their positive meeting experience.
2.) “You come all the way across country or the world to meet, network, and learn with your peers and colleagues,” Radde explains. “So you don’t want to be slotted into a straight row when with a little imagination you could be in a more interactive setting.”
Angled and curved row innovations allow people who cannot see each other in straight rows, to see and interact with each other across the entire room.
Seating Matters lays down five principles to troubleshoot and design state-of-the-art seating arrangements in any meeting room. These principles not only increase seating capacity but also reduce stress, promote networking, and enhance learning. More than 70 illustrations and photos give the reader accurate descriptions of innovative setups.
Replacing Rounds
Meal functions at rounds present yet another challenge addressed in Seating Matters. Round tables crowd the room, create huge dead space, and make it difficult for people to talk with colleagues seated directly across the table. They raise their voices to cover the distance, but soon give up and chat with the persons next to them. Then too, half the people at a full round are facing away from the speaker. Turning chairs around is a cumbersome option.
Radde suggests using rectangular tables with the short ends aimed at the stage, forming a room-wide “starburst” pattern. Participants sit on the long sides of the table with one person seated at the head of the table facing the stage. This creates a more intimate setting, allowing people to see and talk to each other and to see the stage without turning chairs around. Tables shaped like trapezoids can also be used to create this type of setting.
“Meetings are supposed to bring people together, but even before people arrive, the straight row seating arrangements have limited the potential interaction and dynamic of the meeting.” Radde declares.
“I hope planners and facilities will read my book and see how a little creativity and innovation with seating will vastly improve the meeting experience for their participants. Best of all, it costs nothing to do this, while creating more value for the meeting.”
The book Seating Matters is available at www.Thrival.com.
Aug 19
Ashley ChalmersContests, RFP, Tips for Meeting Planners, Trade Shows ASAE & the Center, rfp valet, Trade Shows
As the attendees of the ASAE Annual Expo headed home today, Maureen Pickell, our friendly blogger from the show, offers some closing insights from the expo hall:
“Planners have been stopping by the ConventionPlanit.com booth in spite of the fact that we are not giving out prizes for playing booth games.
What is attracting the planners is a quick tour of the site and learning about our special RFP Valet American Express Reward card offer for using this service.”
…Well, maybe you can win a prize at our booth after all!
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