Successful Meetings - February 2008 - (Page 10)

Editor’s Note > By Vincent Alonzo vince.alonzo@nielsen.com Someone’s Watching I wasn’t a bad kid growing up. I was just, let’s say “enthusiastic.” And that enthusiasm often manifested itself in what could be politely described as mischievous behavior. That’s why on the first day of kindergarten as my mother said goodbye, she told me that even though she wouldn’t be with me at school, she had “arranged” for people to watch me and report any overly enthusiastic behavior to her. Of course there were no such people. But I was five, so the story worked. I was pretty well-behaved for quite a spell. I didn’t get wise to the deception until I entered the first grade, at which time my enthusiasm promptly returned. Turns out some of the attendees at the Consumer Electronics Show that was held in Las Vegas in January also had the feeling they were being watched. Only they were right. This year, the show’s host organization, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) implanted RFID chips into each badge to track which booths the attendees are visiting. According to published reports, some of the attendees expressed concerns that the badges would track too much of their behavior. Such as when they were in the bathroom. Or if they were really working the trade show floor at all. What ever happened to the promise, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas?” This year the CEA did give attendees the option at registration to check a box next to “I do not wish to have an RFID badge” on the online form at least. It should be interesting how they really use this data once the show comes around next year. And there are rumblings that the mega show might not be held in Las Vegas in 2009. That’s only fair if the venue does change. Perhaps to a destination not so chock full of attractions, diversions, and temptations to indulge in, let’s just say, “enthusiastic” behavior. Or they could scrap the RFID badges entirely and just hire my mother to greet everyone as they register and tell them that she’s arranged for people to watch them. It worked on me. EDITORIAL and EXECUTIVE OFFICES: 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003, (646) 654-7381; fax (646) 654-7367; www.mimegasite.com VINCENT ALONZO editor-in-chief, vince.alonzo@nielsen.com SUZIE AMER managing editor, suzie.amer@nielsen.com TERRI HARDIN destinations editor, terri.hardin@nielsen.com KINLEY LEVACK senior editor, kinley.levack@nielsen.com JENNIFER LEVEY online editor, jennifer.levey@nielsen.com NANCY LAZARUS research director, nancy.lazarus@nielsen.com CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: ROBERT CAREY, RAYNA KATZ, MARSHALL KRANTZ, WILLIAM NG, MICHAEL GOLDSTEIN, TOM MCDONALD CORRESPONDENTS: NEELAM MATHEWS (ASIA); ED SCHMIDT JR. (FLORIDA); HEIDI WALDROP BAY (WESTERN U.S.) ART (646) 654-7348 DON SALKALN art director, don.salkaln@nielsen.com PRODUCTION (646) 654-7293 GRACE CASEY production manager; PHYLLIS JEFFERSON production director special projects SPECIAL PROJECTS (646) 654-7360 BETH WEST editorial director; ALISON GOLUB executive editor; LORI MORRIS associate editor; AMY BOTHWELL creative director; DENNISTON BROWN art director; MICHELLE TROPIANO associate art director INFORMATION MARKETING (646) 654-7256 KWAFO group director, audience marketing, kwafo.anoff@nielsen.com SUBSCRIPTIONS: (847) 763-9050 MARKETING (703) 488-2739 JOHN TOLER marketing manager, travel & performance group, john.toler@nielsen.com ADVERTISING (646) 654-7327 FOR THE NEW YORK OFFICE REPRINTS For advertising/editorial: The YGS Group, Jenny Kintner, (800) 3242930, e-mail: successfulmeetings@theYGSgroup.com. For one-time use of our content, as a full article, excerpt, or chart: Barbara Grieninger, (646) 654-4675, email: barbara.grieninger@nielsen.com LIST RENTAL (646) 654-7220 MICHELLE WIESNER Vice President, Manufacturing and Distribution: Jennifer Grego Vice President, Audience Marketing: Joanne Wheatley ANOFF 10 mimegasite.com FEBRUARY 2008 SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS http://www.mimegasite.com http://mimegasite.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Successful Meetings - February 2008

Successful Meetings - February 2008
Contents
Editor's Note
Trade Shows
Events
Research
On the Record
Suppliers
Associations
Planner's Spotlight
Websites of the Month
Technology Talk
Personal Success
Food & Beverage
Pre-Event
On Site
Tools of the Trade
Pre-Event
The Rainbow Connection
The CVB in Your Backyard
Welcome to the Webolution
The Rail Deal
Spas with a Sense of Place
Places & Spaces
Mystic, CT.
Barcelona
Hong Kong
Florida’s East Coast
Atlantic City
Maui, Kauai, & Lanai
Aruba
Houston
Gurus

Successful Meetings - February 2008