Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International News
Meeting Planners Need Cost-Saving Options In 2008
MCLEAN, Va.,
Even though the slumping economy may not impact budgets, planners still feel a need for cost-saving options, according to the conference's pre-survey.
In their responses, planners cited that they have more meetings to plan, an increase in responsibility, an expansion of their roles, and a need to accomplish more with the same budget.
HSMAI's Affordable Meetings remains a top conference for meeting planners as they look for cost-saving advice as they go about their day-to-day responsibilities. 72.6 percent of attendees responded that they do not conduct business at any other industry show.
At the conference, a majority of planners will seek hotel and resort (75.3 percent) or venue (60 percent) options. Others are in need of promotional items (58.8 percent), audio-visual services (50 percent) and meeting technologies (35.3 percent).
"Affordable Meetings provides a one stop shop where planners can connect with vendors to do business for the coming year, while taking advantage of seminars and workshops designed to educate planners on making the most of their budgets," said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI. "The Affordable Meetings pre-survey provides us with current information on the status of the industry and the evolving needs of meeting planners."
More than 1,000 attendees, representing meeting and event planners from a variety of organizations and sectors are expected to visit HSMAI's Affordable Meetings Mid-America. Attendance at HSMAI's Affordable Meetings Mid-America is free-of-charge for qualified meeting planners.
Booth space is still available at the Mid-America Show and can be obtained by contacting
Other shows for 2008 include: HSMAI's Affordable Meetings(R) West, June 11-12, 2008, Long Beach Convention Center - Long Beach, CA, and HSMAI's Affordable Meetings(R) National and Event Technology Expo(TM), Sept. 10-11, 2008, Walter E. Washington Convention Center - Washington, D.C.
About HSMAI's Affordable Meetings(R) Mid-America
HSMAI's Affordable Meetings Mid-America offers attendees the opportunity to meet and do business with more than 300 exhibiting companies during a unique exposition that showcases venues, products and services to help produce various types of meetings and events. HSMAI's Affordable Meetings is owned and presented by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International Americas region and managed by GLM, a dmg world media business. http://www.affordablemeetings.com
About HSMAI
HSMAI is an organization of sales and marketing professionals representing all segments of the hospitality industry. With a strong focus on education, HSMAI is the industry champion in identifying and communicating trends in the hospitality industry, and bringing together customers and members at annual events. http://www.hsmai.org.
SOURCE Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International
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