Meeting News - February 25, 2008 - (Page 6)

Inside the Meetings Industry Edited by Elizabeth West elizabeth.west@nielsen.com MPI’s Unconventional ‘Meet Differ ent’ Has Impact Houston—Meeting Professionals International’s Professional Education Conference - North America buzzed in Houston Feb. 2-5, with open formats and technology at its fore. From staging self-directed, chat-room-style education sessions to using a trade show floor that literally broke down the traditional pipe-and-drape barriers, the conference pointed attendees toward an exciting future for the meetings industry—even as it stumbled through a few transitions to do so. The highlights of the show included Monday’s general session with author, speaker, and business consultant Tim Sanders, whose address delved into the “responsibility revolution” facing corporations today and strategies that attendees could use to effect socially responsible changes in their organizations. A 360-degree, circular projection and stripped-down stage setup created a feeling of transparency and directness. Another success was the open-format trade show floor, with pipe and drape all but nonexistent, leaving a free-flowing design that encouraged idea exchange. Many attendees found the setup more casual and friendly, with centrally located refreshment tables and clear sight lines from one booth to the next. Other new formats were introduced at the conference with mixed results. Of particular note were the education “cafes” seemingly modeled after online chat rooms. Participants were asked to create content by opening up discussion tables around topics and issues they wanted to explore with their peers. Interested attendees joined tables at any time they wanted during the hour-long cafes. Discussion areas included new technology, return on investment, green meetings and incentives, strategic meetings management, and managing organizational change. Attendees praised the cafes for the opportunity to build relationships around mutual interests, but some discus- Tech Confer ence Focuses on Needs Of Associations Washington, DC—Nearly 1,200 association professionals gathered to hear the latest technological strategies and solutions at the Association Technology Conference, hosted by the American Society of Association Executives & The Center for Association Leadership, on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. Attendance at the event was 30 percent higher than in 2007. Many of the 50 educational sessions focused on the electronic coordination, execution, and follow-up communication surrounding association meetings. Session included “Creating Web-based Communities That Work,” “Developing Security Policies and Procedures to Protect Member Data,” and “Communicating Above the Noise: Creating a Better Web Site User Experience.” The general session “The State of Technology in Associations” featured electronic, real-time voting tools to help attendees benchmark their associations versus others, and to allow speakers to adapt presentations to match the audience’s needs. The show’s Technology Solutions Marketplace had more than 100 exhibitors demonstrating products —Robert Carey and services. MPI President and CEO Bruce MacMillan kicked the PEC - NA general session into high gear. sion tables lacked expertise on the given topic that could’ve pushed educational value beyond basic recommendations. An on-stage, post-discussion roundup, designed to let attendees share results from the cafes, fell flat—perhaps because it didn’t take into account that online content sharing provides a certain amount of anonymity and, as a result, frank discussions. The more traditional education sessions seemed better attended, with enthusiastic comments regarding educational value among attendees. MPI succeeded on several counts, incorporating new technology and innovation into its education event. “We are pushing the edge,” said Bruce MacMillan, MPI’s president and CEO, on content co-creation with attendees and the use of open formats. “Someone in our profession needs to lead the way.” —Elizabeth West Thr e e E v e n t s M a r k Gr een Lodging Week St. Charles, MO—With three hotelindustry conferences taking place in one week—and all of them having some emphasis on environmental practices—Pineapple Hospitality, a provider of green products, marketing programs, and consulting services, has persuaded the organizers of the conferences to join together and declare the week of March 9-15 “Green 6 MeetingNews February 25, 2008 Lodging Education Week.” The Hotel Investment Conference takes place March 9-11 at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis Hotel; the UNLVJMBM Hotel Developers Conference runs from March 11-13 at the Green Valley Ranch Resort, Spa, and Casino in Las Vegas; and the Green Hospitality Conference runs from March 1214 at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. At least part of each conference will focus on green lodging opportunities, as well as the challenges facing hotel owners and operators seeking to become more involved in sustainability. There will be discussions on green building design, energy efficiency, water conservation, earth-friendly cleaning products, indoor air quality, waste reduction, and effective recycling methods. Talks will also focus on customer perceptions and desires in green hospitality, as well as successful green programs and their cost-versus-benefit ratios. r —Robert Carey Early Springtime SAE’s Springtime Expo in Washington, DC, takes place 10 weeks earlier than usual this year, on April 3. Planners can download a toolbox with sample RFPs and tips for working the show floor at www.asaecenter.org/ SpringtimeExpo. A www.meetingnews.com http://www.asaecenter.org/SpringtimeExpo http://www.asaecenter.org/SpringtimeExpo http://www.meetingnews.com

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