ConventionPlanit.com is a complimentary search directory and RFP portal for meeting planners. This blog will feature meetings industry tips and news geared toward meeting planners and an inside look at the trade-shows ConventionPlanit.com participates in.
An expansive roster of suppliers representing destinations, venues,
hotels and technology are ready to do business at the show – most
regions are larger than last year with marked increases from North
America, the Caribbean, Asia and Africa.
The number of US destinations has doubled – over 20 compared to
10 last year. Together with first time exhibitors – Savannah,
Bloomington, West Hollywood and Beverley Hills, they can all be found in
the new Brand USA pavilion.
Strong representation from Asia
includes Beijing returning, while Ho Chi Minh City – the largest city in
Vietnam – is new to the show. Indonesia and Japan are both increasing
their presence with Tokyo taking its own booth.
African
destinations also continue to grow with Senegal and Zambia among the
newcomers. Tanzania is returning with one of its largest ever booths,
while Rwanda will celebrate 10 years since its convention bureau was
launched and first introduced to the industry at IMEX Frankfurt 2014.
Many
European countries and cities are furthering their investment too with
Italy, Croatia, the Czech Republic and Istanbul among those increasing
their booth space.
The major hotel groups will all be showcasing
their portfolios including Accor, Hilton, Hyatt, Four Seasons,
Marriott, Radisson and Wyndham.
The area of the show floor
devoted to technology will showcase solutions covering payments, virtual
events and content management among others – TranslateABLE, Swoogo and
OUispeak are among the new additions.
News and research launches: The show’s global reach
makes it the perfect platform for major meetings and events industry
news announcements. Expect new research and updates from exhibitors
including Canada, Cvent, EIC, Gothenberg, ICCA, Los Cabos, Net Zero
Carbon Events, PCMA and Thailand.
Newcomers’ welcome package
First-timers to IMEX can make the most of a ‘welcome package’ of activities before and during the show – an introductory meet-up on the show’s opening day will help newbies to make new friends and get their bearings. Expect support, advice and ideas covering everything from how to plan meetings at the show, how to dig into education or decide what to wear, where to eat and who to meet!
Adapting to change is a top priority for association planners today –
whether it’s shifting member needs and demographics, or balancing
budgets, policies and partnerships. It’s a topic that runs throughout Association Focus, sponsored by Amsterdam Convention Bureau – a dedicated day of education for association professionals at IMEX Frankfurt.
The 2024 LAI Inspire &
ALHI Showcase at the Watergate Hotel, WDC last Friday wowed meeting
professionals with a unique event experience. Leading Authorities, Inc.
sponsored distinguished speakers who inspired a packed ballroom of
meeting professionals. Guests mingled during lunch and a reception with live
music. Whimsical lip readers, liqueur tastings and more, delivered an amusing
backdrop.
Jim Perrin, Regional Vice President of Sales, Associated Luxury Hotels, Inc. pictured with Katherine and David Markham, ConventionPlanit.com Co-founders
Katherine Markham, Janet Wilbur, Senior Director of National Accounts, The Watergate Hotel
New sustainability report shares behind the scenes success and learnings ahead of IMEX Frankfurt 2024
Ahead of this year’s IMEX Frankfurt, taking place 14 – 16 May, the team has published a Sustainable Event Report revealing the successes, experiments and learnings from last year’s show.
The report lifts the lid on sustainability planning in the run-up to and execution of IMEX Frankfurt 2023, sharing notable achievements in waste diversion and energy use, as well as highlighting opportunities for improvement.
DISCOVER DUNWOODY LAUNCHES PRODUCTION/TRAVEL/PROCUREMENT ASSOCIATES PROGRAM
DUNWOODY, GA – [1/17/2024] – Discover Dunwoody
is excited to announce the launch of their Recognition Program for
Production/Travel/Procurement Associates. This program aims to honor the
exceptional efforts and contributions of individuals within the entertainment
industry, specifically in the areas of production, travel, and procurement.
Mark Galvin, Vice President of Marketing at
Discover Dunwoody, comments on the initiative, saying, “Our Recognition
Program underscores Discover Dunwoody’s commitment to highlighting and honoring
the vital contributions of Production, Travel, and Procurement Associates.
This program aligns with our mission to support and elevate professionals in
the entertainment industry and helps Dunwoody connect to the professionals that
can book room blocks in our destination. Since we are only “12 minutes
from set to bed” when considering Assembly Studios, we are a great option
with 2,100 hotel rooms, 300 places to shop and 200 places to eat.”
In order to broaden our influence and increase awareness, we are partnering with Georgia Production Partnership (GPP), Women in Film and Television Atlanta (WIFTA), and Georgia Entertainment News. This collaboration ensures a fair and expert selection process, ultimately leading to a diverse range of nominees. These industry leaders play a crucial role in spotlighting exceptional individuals across renowned platforms. Nominations can also be submitted at www.discoverdunwoody.com/nomination-form/. Winners enjoy widespread recognition, solidifying the program’s credibility and significance in the entertainment community.
Production/Travel/Procurement Associate
Recognition Program Highlights:
Choice of 200,000 Hotel Loyalty Points or $1,000 Perimeter Mall
Shopping Spree
2024 Associate of the Year:
The first 5 Quarterly Awards
1,000,000 Hotel Loyalty Points or $5000 Perimeter Mall Shopping
Spree
Recognition at an Entertainment Industry event
Nominate a Production/Travel/Procurement
Associate:
Visit Funwoody.com or DiscoverDunwoody.com
Click on Production Associate Nomination
Fill out Nomination form
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Monthly nominees will be highlighted through
articles published on the Discover Dunwoody website, social media platforms,
and other entertainment outlets.
###
For media inquiries, please contact: Ashley Rossolillo, Entertainment Coordinator, Discover Dunwoody, (630)-608-8269,, ashley@discoverdunwoody.com
About Discover Dunwoody:
Discover Dunwoody, the Convention and Visitors
Bureau for Dunwoody, Georgia, is dedicated to promoting Dunwoody as a premier
destination for leisure, meetings, and events. With its unique blend of modern
amenities, a beautiful natural landscape, and vibrant cultural experiences,
Dunwoody offers something for everyone. Discover Dunwoody works tirelessly to
showcase the city’s exceptional offerings and provide outstanding support to
its visitors, partners, and stakeholders. Dunwoody is only 12 minutes set to
bed from Assembly Studios.
As
part of their Fantasy Flight series, United Airlines team members at O’Hare
International Airport (ORD) took pediatric cancer patients and families on a
flight to the ‘North Pole.’ The Fantasy Flight series is a United Airlines
tradition that gifts children with serious medical conditions and their loved
ones with a special day of entertainment, food, and fun. The program stops at
12 of United’s domestic hubs and select international airports, spreading
holiday cheer across the globe.
For
this flight, United partnered with Cal’s Angels (an Illinois-based nonprofit
supporting families through pediatric cancer diagnoses) to host 33 pediatric
cancer patients and families. The day kicked off with Christmas carols sung by
an elf choir of ORD flight attendants and volunteers. After breakfast and
photos, guests boarded an ORD Boeing 767 aircraft. With the help of onboard
crew, passengers spotted a possible sleigh sighting, and even heard jingle
bells in the sky.
The Fantasy Flight program will continue throughout December, with upcoming North Pole trips in the states and abroad.
Providing the best hotel service and amenities is an art that Peppermill Resort has perfected for over 50 years. Exceeding client expectations with a unique experience has been at the forefront of this family-owned and operated resort. Peppermill Reno boasts an experience unlike any other with 1,621 guest rooms and suites as well as 106,000 square feet of flexible event space, which includes Northern Nevada’s largest clear-span meeting space at 62,000 sq. ft.
Attendees will always be provided with a fresh experience at
Peppermill Reno, as we are undergoing a transformation in our Peppermill Tower,
which features newly remodeled rooms and suites. Located in Reno-Tahoe and
spanning more than 45 acres, the property takes pride in continuously
reinvesting in the AAA Four Diamond Resort. We offer a complete range of
in-house services providing you with control over the cost and scale of your
event, while we attend to every need with expert skill, quality, and service.
Let the Peppermill Resort help you set the stage for a remarkable event in
Reno, Nevada.
Looking for the perfect elevated venue for your special event, wedding, opening reception or product introduction? The Havana Room is truly the perfect choice to impress you and your guests. This lavishly designed space at the Tropicana Las Vegas – a DoubleTree by Hilton is adorned with a magnificent crystal chandelier as the focal design element and located conveniently near the North Tower entrance for easy access. Other highlights include custom banquette-seating areas, an impressive dark wood dance floor, premium built in audio-visual technology, an expansive outdoor area as well as numerous branding opportunities. The Havana Room can easily handle up to 225 for a seated function and 800 people for a fabulous reception. There are still great dates available to utilize this amazing space in 2023 and we have some incentives for those that meet the minimum spend and book and actualize an event before December 30, 2023. These include 3X Hilton Honors Meeting Planner Points on banquet spend, upgraded bar packages, complimentary welcome cocktail/beverage, and much more. Please contact us at Sales@troplv.com for more details and availability.
But it should never come
off feeling gratuitous by those who are being shown your gratitude. My number
one rule has always been this: make it authentic genuine, and sustainable.
We used to do things like
bring pizzas to different departments and also gave away gift cards, movie
passes, etc. Those special times were always very much appreciated, as it was a
fun way to let off steam, particularly after a demanding group left the hotel.
It’s like being back in school – anything that is a break from the doldrums of
everyday tasks or schedules is embraced by many and seen as a good thing. Those
type of “breaks in the action” to show gratitude are important for team
camaraderie and strengthening the bonds between fellow employees who come
through for you in some way every day. Too often their deeds are taken for
granted.
But there is a very
important additional element to all of this high-fiving and pizza, cakes and
celebrating together. It’s called sustaining those warm & fuzzies all year
long.
Many fellow staffers love
the celebrations, and I’m not suggesting you cut those out. But what they
really appreciate on a deeper level is a more sustained, constant dose of
empathy, understanding, and spirit of cooperation for 52 weeks a year; day in
and day out, through the easy days and the rough days. The recommendation here
is to show “in the moment” reinforcement and gratitude when it happens
or when you see it, when there is no big show to be made. That awareness of
those people will pay off in gold. Those little moments, done with consistency,
mean more to most than the once-a-year office celebration.
Las Vegas, Nevada, Thursday October 19 – The
12th edition of IMEX America closes on a note of welcome reassurance
for the global business events industry today marking its biggest
show ever.
With almost 15,000 confirmed participants on the show
floor at Mandalay Bay, of which over 5,000 were buyers (including
4,000+ hosted buyers), the success of this year’s IMEX America confirmed
the sector has made a fast, robust comeback with growth in all areas,
and both short and long-lead business being booked. Exhibitors also
reported the welcome return of incentive trips and citywide,
multi-venue events.
Buyers, of which one fifth represented the
corporate sector, took part in over 80,000 pre-scheduled meetings in
three days, of which 73,000 were 1-2-1s with exhibitors.
Beth
Olson, director of sales at Visit Santa Barbara, said: “The walk-up
meetings have been as beneficial as our scheduled meetings – that was a
hidden surprise for us! Our booth partners already have several RFPs in
hand and in four days here I’ve covered more business than in
four months!”
“We invested in our own booth for the first time as
we wanted a stronger presence at the show,” explained Daniel Palamo,
Director of Global Sales for Houston First Corporation. “We’ve had more
meetings than ever before and a great quality of buyers. They’re coming
to us ready to close business.”
Biggest IMEX America ever
Personalization
Many
exhibitors attracted strong interest from buyers with their
personalized merchandise and unusual activations. The Visit Phoenix
booth was constantly busy as buyers lined up to have their photos
printed onto an edible cookie. Visit Baltimore’s temporary tattoos also
created a buzz, while Brand Makers saw crowds of buyers lining up to
design and brand their own baseball cap.
Elsewhere the show’s
biggest ever Inspiration Hub, sponsored by WebEx, saw over 2000 people
attend education sessions in a variety of formats across six tracks.
Topics ranged from the personal – how to manage individual and team
members’ mental health – to future trends and forecasts for different
territories, sectors and worldwide. As an example, Data Driven Event
Marketing Insights with Brittney Hegarty and Nicola Kastner, was set for
30 people but 85 showed up. The high level of interest spoke volumes
about how event planners now using data to design events that achieve
greater marketing leverage.
AI and event technology were both big
talking points among exhibitors and buyers. Interest in AI is clearly
strong, although anecdotal reports suggest that so far only a few
companies are using it at an enterprise level.
Convenience on the go
Reaction
to the ease and simplicity of the new IMEX app powered by Expoplatform
was positive, with buyers appreciating the ability to schedule meetings
‘in the moment’ when they spotted business contacts live online. Several
exhibitors with a few meeting spaces to fill successfully tapped into
the app’s ‘promoted posts’ feature to fill up their schedules within the
day. Now that lead-scanning is free and built into the app, the data
showed that 124,000 contacts were scanned during the week. The majority
were supplier to buyer, but a proportion is also buyers connecting with
buyers and exhibitors with exhibitors, confirming the collaborative
nature of the industry and the multiple ways in which value and human
connections are created face to face at IMEX. In addition, 3000 meetings
were booked via the app during the show – a new feature that served its
purpose of ‘convenience on the go’.
IMEX Group, CEO, Carina
Bauer, remarked, “I’m delighted the industry turned out in such strong
numbers from across the globe this week and that IMEX America once again
provided a carefully-designed platform for everyone to come together
for business, building better human connections around the world,
growing and learning from each other. This was our biggest show ever,
which was clear from the fact you can’t see the edges anymore!”
IMEX CEO Carina Bauer at the closing press conference
Speaking at the show’s traditional closing press conference alongside IMEX Chairman Ray Bloom and CEO, Carina Bauer, were Steve Hill, President & CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority; Stephanie Glanzer, Chief Sales Officer & Senior Vice President at MGM Resorts International and Drew Holmgreen, Chief Brand Officer at Meeting Professionals International.
IMEX America 2024 will take place at the Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, and
opens with Smart Monday, powered by MPI on Monday October 7, followed by
the three-day trade show October 8 -10. www.imexamerica.com
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