Rush of Bookings for Chicago 2013

AIBTM 2012 The Americas Meetings Week Closes With a Rush of Bookings for Chicago 2013
Exhibitors from around the world and across the United States reported that business was brisk with Hosted Buyer appointments, group presentations and drop-in traffic at this week’s AIBTM 2012 in Baltimore.

The structure of this year’s AIBTM Americas Meetings Week kicked off with a day of education and more than 2,250 people in attendance, over 50% up on the previous year. The number of exhibiting companies on the show floor also increased, up from 183 to 194 including 55 new to the event this year, and all resulting in a 5% increase in overall growth of the event.

Education was a highlight with a variety of speakers, sessions and keynotes. Supported by all of the major industry associations including PCMA, ICCA, Site, ACTE, MPI. Taking place pre-show enabled both exhibitors and Hosted Buyers to attend sessions that included PCMA Executive Edge, Site Young Leaders Program, MPI’s Practitioner Series and many others. Research also formed part of the continuing program including the delivery of MPI’s updated BVOM and Eric Rozenberg, non-exec Chair of RTE’s global meetings and events portfolio presented the first US regional version of the AIBTM Global Meetings Research findings (www.aibtm.com). New this year was a number of keynote sessions which kicked off each day with innovation, motivation and inspiration as the lead topics. Speakers included Roger Rickard, Partner and Chief Advocate of Revent LLC, Peggy Duncan, Personal Productivity Expert and Alfredo Quinones aka Dr Q among the many.

Commenting on one of the live panel discussions on public policy and the meetings and travel industry, Lindsey Lassiter, Navy League of the United States said “I work for a military meeting association, so most of our events include active-duty personnel. It is helpful to know if we are going in the right direction or need to go in another direction. We work closely with a lot of legislative folks, so it is good to know we are doing the right thing”.

The second CEO Summit welcomed some 30 industry leaders from the US and around the world who had anticipated the stream of knowledge and opportunities the private event would offer. “For me, I look forward to the opportunity to hear trends and projections on the future of the meetings industry and business in general”, said attendee Michael Owen, CEO and managing partner of EventGenuity LLC in Nashville. “But as important as anything else is the peer connection and in my view after attending maybe half a dozen EIBTM CEO Summits this was the best ever. It was provocative and it gave me inspired thought that I can apply directly and immediately to my business”. He added.

The first “Market Focus SPOTLIGHT on Europe” debuted on the final morning with a turnout of approximately 162 Hosted Buyers and some 15 European exhibitors conducting open-market style appointments and mixing with each other to discuss business in Europe. The one hour session had been organised as a direct response to the AIBTM 2011 post-show research, which confirmed that 60% of US Hosted Buyers have a direct interest in placing business internationally.

This year’s Hosted Buyer programme had representatives from 29 countries. “First, I really like AIBTM because I can meet with so many different vendors in one place,” said Samantha Friedman of Resort Meetings Consortium in Chicago. “I also like booking my appointments so I get a mix of what I want. I have been to other Hosted Buyer programmes where there are too many appointments in a day, so you are exhausted at the end. I have seven today and I can spread things out so I can attend some education sessions and look around the exhibits that are interesting”.

Packing in even more appointments into her day was Maggie Johnston, with Assurex Global in Dublin, Ohio who attended AIBTM last year. “When I come to a show like this, I like the Hosted Buyer programme” she said. “I have 15 appointments today, more than scheduled last year, so I can meet with the people I need to talk to. I like getting into a routine and I get a lot of business done as well as connecting names to faces.”

Donna Hunt from HelmsBriscoe summed up her experience simply. “I am very much impressed with the exhibits. I have been to other shows where you walk around and you can’t always get the information you want, so I like this format”.

By the close of play the show floor had already booked over 50 exhibitors for Choose Chicago which will be the next host city for AIBTM from June 11th – 13th 2013. Those already signed include; Las Vegas Meetings by Caesars Entertainment, Event Ready, Greater Raleigh CVB, Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, Long Beach CVB, Philadelphia CVB, PSAV Presentation Services, Star Travel DMC, Visit Charlotte, IHG, Hyatt Hotels, Dominican Republic, Canada, Greater Miami, Marriott, Melia Hotels, Moscow Exhibition & Convention Agency, Nassau, Napa Valley, NYC & Company, Philadelphia Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, MGM Resorts, Myrtle Beach, Vienna, Vancouver Hotel Destination Association, The Peabody Orlando, San Francisco Travel Association, Rosen Hotels & Resorts and Hello USA.

“Two years on and it’s great to see that AIBTM has established itself in the US. The quality of education, business concluded and networking achieved gives us a positive close to this event and a great launch pad for our move to Chicago.” said Craig Moyes, Portfolio Director, IBTM Global Events Portfolio, Reed Travel Exhibitions.

Finally, it was announced during the show that AIBTM will rotate starting with 2013 in Choose Chicago at McCormick Place and in 2014 at Orlando Florida and the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC). The dates will be:

Choose Chicago: June 11th – 13th 2013

Orlando, Florida: June 10th – 12th 2014

AIBTM Hosted Buyer Applications Up 36% from 2011

AIBTM Hosted Buyer Applications Up 36% from 2011
(The Americas Meetings & Events Exhibition) June 19-21st 2012

The Americas Meetings & Events Exhibition (www.aibtm.com) announced today that Hosted Buyer application submissions for the 2012 exhibition are soaring – up 36% from 2011, with 12 weeks of open enrollment still to go. The Hosted Buyer programme is a highlight of AIBTM 2012, which takes place June 19th-21st 2012 at the Baltimore Convention Centre. Bringing together the world’s leading buyers and suppliers in the incentive, business and corporate travel and meetings industry, AIBTM 2012’s three-day business networking event includes one full day of education and two days of exhibition.

“AIBTM offers an unparalleled opportunity for Hosted Buyers and we are thrilled that there has been so much interest in our 2012 event, which will be bigger, better and more engaging than ever,” said Craig Moyes, Portfolio Director, IBTM Global Events Portfolio, Reed Travel Exhibitions. “We’re tracking ahead of schedule on applications for AIBTM 2012. We expect to have 20,000 pre-scheduled, on-site appointments, with a mix of new and returning buyers. In fact, 85% of exhibitors are returning from last year with 39 new exhibitors for 2012 including: Carlson Hotels, LA Inc – The Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau, The CVBs of New York State, Pacific World, Visit Pittsburgh, Meet Washington State, Rosen Hotel Group, Cayman Islands Travel & Tourism, Moroccan National Tourism Office, Long Beach CVB, Palm Springs Desert Resorts CVA, Yosemite Mariposa Tourism Bureau, Salt Lake CVB and more.”

Qualified AIBTM Hosted Buyers will have the opportunity to pre-schedule appointments with exhibitors of their choice, receive complimentary travel and accommodation, attend exclusive Hosted Buyer networking events, participate in pre-show and post-show city tours and enjoy other VIP benefits. AIBTM Hosted Buyer applications are reviewed and accepted based on the number and size of meetings, events, incentives and annual conferences, individual purchasing authority, annual budgets for meetings, amount of business conducted, responsibility for company’s business travel decisions and potential for future business in the meetings and business travel industries.

“Our Hosted Buyers will have the option of participating for either two or three days, depending on their location,” said Hosted Buyer Account Manager, Christine Knox. “We received feedback that our Hosted Buyers would like the opportunity to participate fully in AIBTM Education Day. Therefore, we adjusted our schedule to allow for the most flexibility.”

AIBTM’s close relationships with the industry’s major associations, which have inspired AIBTM Education Day, will also boost Hosted Buyer attendance for AIBTM 2012. This year’s Education Day will kick-off AIBTM 2012 with dynamic conferences, panels, round-table discussions, workshops and education dedicated for Hosted Buyers provided by industry partners like the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), the Society of Incentive Travel Executives (SITE), the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE), Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA).

“The Education Day offered by our industry partners is an added-value for our Hosted Buyers and in turn, some of our partners have committed to bringing in their own Hosted Buyer Groups,” said Moyes. “For example, SITE has agreed to bring 100 Hosted Buyers, while PCMA is on target to deliver 500 Hosted Buyers.”

Multiple concurrent educational sessions during AIBTM’s Americas Meetings Week ensures there are relevant tracks for all AIBTM 2012 Hosted Buyers and all attendees from each sector of the industry with the opportunity to earn CEU credits. PCMA will deliver Education Powered by PCMA, Executive Edge and the State of the Industry discussion and six bite-sized learning sessions at PCMA’s booth. ACTE will present an education track on the importance of face-to-face meetings in the context of business travel while utilizing new technology to best enhance the business experience. ICCA will present the ICCA Global Meetings track, consisting of roundtable sessions and clinical topics on how global destinations can penetrate the U.S. market. SITE will deliver stimulating education tailored to the incentive market as well as host the SITE Young Leaders Program, focusing on the next generation of motivational leaders. MPI will deliver a series of education tracks, which will include the final installment of BVOM (Business Value of Meetings) study, which was launched in 2011 and supported by AIBTM.

Hosted Buyers at AIBTM 2012 will also enjoy an exclusive networking reception on Monday, June 18 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. This invitation-only event will be held at the new Four Seasons hotel in Baltimore.

To apply for the AIBTM Hosted Buyer program, visit: http://www.reedexpovip.com/profile/web/index.cfm?PKWebId=0x381a09c.

AIBTM takes place from 19th June – 21st June, 2012.