Will the Meeting Industry be Affected by Economic Decline?

ConventionPlanit.com’s audience has recently expanded to include 4,000 planners from the United Kingdom, serving as just one example of their growing global presense in the industry. 

MPI’s annual FutureWatch study indicates demand and growth in Europe for the meetings and incentive business, but it is cetrainly reasonable to think the current struggles in the United States ecomomy will have a negative impact on this.

Paul Kennedy addressed this issue in a recent speech at the AIME Media Conference.  Do you agree with his thoughts?  Will the industry experience sustained growth during an economic slow?  How do you think this can or cannot occur?

 

Guest-Friendly Facility Innovations

As we discussed in our last posting, environmental conservation is becoming the trend among many of the hotels and facilities across the nation. 

Some properties, like the Marriott Orlando Airport, which recently received Green Lodging Certification from the state of Florida, are helping the environment while simultaneously adding convenient features for guests.  The hotel  implemented user-friendly and environmental-friendly practices such as sensor lighting systems and programmable thermostats. 

As hotels and facilities continue to incorporate simple ways to conserve energy into their businesses, it becomes easier for guests to follow suit. 

What green practices are part of your daily routine?  Do you think twice before printing an email on a piece of paper?  What changes would you like to see the facilities you visit implement for your next meeting?

How Green are Your Meetings?

As environmental concerns continue to heighten on a global level,  there is a growing trend among hotels and resorts to “go green.” 

One innovative property, Beaver Hollow, located between Rochester and Buffalo, New York, is literally going “miles” to improve its environmental profile. That’s because this resort is literally miles wide, with 300 acres of property.

From its inception, the resort has been dedicated to preserving the natural beauty of its surroundings. But now it is going a step further.

“We are going green,” declares Kathy Snyder Egan, Executive Vice President of Sales, “and we’re really excited about it!”

The resort is registered through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System.  Registered properties reduce operating costs and increase asset value,  are healthier and safer for occupants, and reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions and waste sent to landfills.

Egan says the resort is determined to take advantage of all the ways it can become more environmentally friendly.  Some examples, which many types of properties can easily implement, include:

• Provide guests with paper shredders free upon request .
• Give guests the option of not having sheets and towels washed every day or have toiletries replaced every day.
• Eliminate phosphates from detergents used for washing linens and dishes.
• Provide large coolers of water throughout the resort with glassware (except for outdoor locations) instead of providing bottled water, which generates plastic bottle waste.
• Recommend a local tour company with a commitment to being as green as possible, including offering hybrid vehicles.
• Provide meeting planners with tips for being green with their meetings.

Read more about Beaver Hollow’s innovative energy saving practices.

What is your property doing for the environment?  If you are planning a meeting, is finding a green location a priority? If so, what specifically, do you look for?

Experient Adds Four Strategic Sales Executives

Twinsburg, OH – Experient, the source for integrated meeting and event solutions, increases their sales power with the addition of strategic sales executives Joseph Ansay, Denise Marlow, Robin Murphy and Curt Zigler. “Strategic sales executives are a vital part of Experient. Through their knowledge and experience in the hospitality and events industries, they are able to attract valuable business and provide our clients with excellent, integrity-fueled service,” said Bill Reed, Experient senior vice president, strategic sales. “Joe, Denise, Robin and Curt each have a tremendous amount of skill, enthusiasm and commitment and I know their focus on helping our potential customers with solutions to their challenges will be a huge contribution to the Experient family.” Ansay brings almost 20 years of corporate travel industry involvement to Experient. His background includes business development, sales and marketing positions with Continental Airlines, Cornerstone Information Systems and Rosenbluth International. Based in Denver, Ansay is an active member of the Rocky Mountain Business Travel Association, the National Business Travel Association (NBTA) and Meeting Professionals International (MPI), Rocky Mountain Chapter. Marlow comes to Experient with experience in hotel management, travel counseling, meeting planning and sales. Prior to joining Experient she held corporate sales, meeting planning and travel consultant positions with American Express Travel. She has a marketing degree from Rutgers Business School and is a member of the American Marketing Association and MPI. Marlow is based in the New York metro area.Murphy is a veteran of the meetings and hospitality industry with experience in hotel management, housing, sales, information technology and meeting/convention planning with Hyatt Hotels and Wyndham Jade. She is a graduate of the University of Memphis and is a member of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). Murphy will be based in Dallas. Zigler has held multiple sales and customer service positions in the telecommunications, software and productions industries. He is a member of NBTA, Financial & Insurance Conference Planners and MPI. He serves on the Phoenix Awards Committee for the Georgia Chapter of MPI. Zigler is based in Atlanta. Experient is the source for integrated meeting and event solutions. With a vision to perfect the event experience and a mission to help bring people together to drive business, we have joined together the three leading event services companies (Conferon, ExpoExchange and ITS) into one centrally managed resource for full-service, customized registration, housing, event management and lead retrieval services. This year, Experient will create memorable event experiences at more than 3,300 events attended by more than 2.8 million people who will occupy more than 5.5 million room nights.

Starwood on the Brink of its 900th Hotel as Growth Accelerates

With 500 Hotels and 120,000 New Rooms in the Pipeline, Starwood to Expand Around the Globe WHITE PLAINS, NY – January 30, 2008 – Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) anticipates another year of extraordinary growth in 2008, building on the company’s record-setting success in 2007. Early this year Starwood will mark a milestone with the opening of its 900th hotel, and expects to increase its portfolio by 50% over the next five years, driven by aggressive global expansion across all its brands and the unprecedented growth of its two new brands, Aloft and Element, which both expect to open their first hotels this year. Starwood’s active pipeline includes 500 hotels and 120,000 rooms. Approximately half of Starwood’s new hotels are expected to open outside of North America, reflecting the company’s impressive growth in dynamic international markets. The global hotel giant expects to add 80 – 100 hotels to its portfolio this year, up more than 50% from the number it opened in 2007. “Starwood continues to win more than our fair share of new hotel projects globally and when we open our 900th hotel that will certainly highlight the company’s terrific growth trajectory,” said Raymond “Rip” Gellein, President, Global Development Group. “Our lifestyle brands and noted innovations have struck a chord with the development community as they believe this leads to increased loyalty as well as robust returns. In 2008 we expect healthy expansion as our newest brands in the select service category continue to gain traction and our established upper upscale and luxury brands expand in markets where we are currently underpenetrated.” China, India and Middle East Experiencing Explosive Growth Starwood continues to grow at a breathtaking rate in Asia Pacific, with plans to increase its portfolio by more than 70% this year. Fueling this growth spurt is Starwood’s remarkable pace in China, driven by the surge in development of Starwood’s select service brands and the increased exposure of the company’s upper upscale and luxury brands in the region. Of Starwood’s 70 hotels under development in Asia Pacific, more than half are in China, where it’s expected to double its portfolio by 2011. The Sheraton and Four Points by Sheraton brands lead the growth in this region. In addition to the 36 hotels Starwood currently operates in China, Starwood has more than 40 new properties waiting to open. Starwood is also experiencing prolific growth in India. Building on its current portfolio of 20 properties, Starwood has 10 more waiting to open in vibrant technology hubs such as Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai and Bangalore. Westin and Aloft are particularly hot in India right now – in the past few months, Westin signed deals for five new properties, and Aloft executed deals for three new properties. Europe, the Middle East and Africa will continue to experience significant growth with over ten new hotels expected to open this year and close to 50 scheduled to open by 2012. More specifically, Starwood is expanding in key Middle Eastern markets such as UAE, Bahrain, and Qatar, where currently there are 20 operating hotels and another ten in the pipeline. Starwood expects steady growth in underpenetrated markets this year in North America, with over 50 new properties expected to open.Contributing to Starwood’s robust expansion in the United States and Canada is the upcoming opening of the first Aloft and Element hotels. Starwood, however, continues to enjoy strong growth in its existing core brands, with Westin, Sheraton and W making up over half of the North American pipeline. In Latin America, Starwood’s portfolio consists of 53 properties, and the company expects to add eight more this year in the region. Starwood Leads Luxury Brand Segment Boasting the world’s largest and fastest-growing portfolio of luxury hotels, Starwood leads the luxury brand segment with one of the hottest pipelines in the industry, including 50 properties awaiting opening. W hotels marks a growth milestone in 2008 with agreements in place to triple its portfolio to more than 60 exciting locations around the world. Beginning as a North American urban brand just ten years ago, W has transformed into a global lifestyle authority with hotels, residences and retreats in the world’s most exhilarating urban and resort destinations from Verbier to Vieques, South Beach to St. Petersburg, and Atlanta to Athens. Embraced by the development community, W Hotels represents the ultimate expression of contemporary luxury and is like no other product in the markets where it is now opening hotels. Recognized around the world for its emphasis on traditional luxury, the St. Regis brand starts the year with a record pipeline and plans to expand its footprint in both urban and emerging destinations with new properties expected to open in Mardavall, Bali, Mexico City and Punta Mita. Bringing guests the best in indigenous luxury, The Luxury Collection brand offers the second largest collection of luxury hotels in the world. Aligning its one-of-a-kind properties with the power of the Starwood system, The Luxury Collection offers unique, authentic experiences tailor-made for the global explorer in the world’s best hotels, palaces and castles. The prestigious brand expects to open new properties this year in markets including Washington, D.C., Mauritius, Beverly Hills and Portugal. Developers in HOT Pursuit of Starwood’s Upper Upscale Brands Sought after by the industry’s top developers, Starwood’s upper upscale brands continue to be the ones to beat. A perpetual leader in its category in Asia, Europe and the Middle East, Sheraton has launched a bold new plan to reposition itself in North America, with planned renovations and upgrades to existing hotels resulting in 50,000 new or renovated rooms by 2009 in North America alone. Enhancing the guest experience with a new energetic lobby design, stylish new guest room design and a host of innovative products, the revitalized brand expects to add 60 new hotels in the next 2-1/2 years in high-profile U.S. cities including Dallas, Phoenix and Baltimore. Now one of one the fastest growing brands in China, Sheraton is adding new hotels in Guangdong Province and Zhejiang Province, while expanding presence throughout Asia Pacific in markets including Taiwan and Macao – the Las Vegas of Asia. With its history of innovative products and services, Westin continues to be a leader in the upper upscale category, increasing its pipeline of new hotels by 54% in the past three years. Having recently reached a milestone by opening its 150th hotel, Westin expects to have 210 hotels by 2010, including in Beijing, New Delhi, Dubai and Munich. Targeted to the “creative guest,” Le Méridien brand has continued to experience strong RevPar gains following its highly successful integration into the Starwood network. With significant room to grow particularly in Asia Pacific and North America, Le Meridien’s active pipeline consists of 25 hotels internationally including 15 in North America. There is strong opportunity to expand this European brand in North America. Select-service Brands Propel Starwood’s Pipeline With two new brands, Aloft and Element, and a revitalized Four Points by Sheraton brand, Starwood’s select service portfolio is a key driver of the company’s future growth. Select Service was a new opportunity for Starwood vis a vis its competitors, but today with three distinct brands and open markets worldwide, Starwood offers developers a host of fresh options. Boasting the healthiest pipeline in its history, Four Points by Sheraton is rapidly expanding in key international markets including China. Aloft and Element, Starwood’s newest brands, are experiencing unprecedented growth, due to intense developer demand. With well over 100 hotels in their combined pipeline, Aloft and Element are expected to each open their first 20 hotels by the end of 2008. The majority of both brands are new build properties. A vision of W, Aloft has earned the distinction as the fastest-growing select service brand in its launch year. Developers have eagerly embraced Aloft, confident that its design, services and pricing will appeal to youthful-minded travelers across the globe. Aloft is targeting proven markets throughout North America and dynamic international cities such as Bangalore, Bangkok and Brussels. Inspired by Westin, Element establishes Starwood in the previously untapped extended stay category. Emphasizing smart design, clever use of space and natural touches, Element is focusing its early development efforts on proven markets in North America including urban centers, corporate business parks, airports, resorts and lifestyle centers, with an international rollout to follow. About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 900 properties in more than 100 countries and 155,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, Aloft(SM), and Element(SM). Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.”

Making Name Badges Cool

At many meetings, name badges may seem like a necessary annoyance – people are not always thrilled about sticking them on.  But with a little creativity, name badges can easily become a focal point of the meeting and a great way to promote lively and fun interaction among attendees.

Sue Tinnish of SEAL Inc., who is a popular facilitator, speaker, teambuilder, and trainer, offers these ideas for sprucing up name badges:

Add information to nametags and name tents, such as a favorite childhood game, three numbers that are significant to you, a significant accomplishment during the past year, something positive about you that is not apparent by looking at you, something you could use help with (such as accounting or job leads), and/or something you know quite a bit about.

Reverse the traditional nametag by writing “My Name is NOT. . .”

Add three things about yourself, two of which are true.

Write the nametag in the form of a headline, such as “Sue Tinnish Lands Big Account with XYZ Association.”

Make a fingerprint and decorate it.

Rename your job in layman’s language. For example, an informational system specialist wrote, “Help. Help. Help.”

Set up a “Decorate Your Badge” table with stickers, pins, and other decorations for attendees to personalize their name badges.

Use new technology for name badges such as ntag, SpotMe, or SmartBadge. These name badges can communicate with each other and identify specific people for you using Radio Frequency Identification based on information such as name, company, or even your hobby.

“I can’t tell you the number of times I have seen meetings totally energized by using some of these name badge innovations,” Tinnish says. “People get totally into it and before you know it they are learning things about their colleagues that they never would have known otherwise. It’s just great!”

For more great meeting ideas, visit www.conventionplanit.com and click on the “For Planners Only” section and go to the “Stellar Tips” link. There is no registration required and you can even enter your own Stellar Tip for a chance to win a valuable prize.

Sue Tinnish publishes a monthly newsletter, “Tips for Innovative Meetings and Events.” You are invited to subscribe or find past issues at www.suetinnish.com.

ALHI Adds Five New Stars & Diamonds To Portfolio With The Addition Of The Peninsula Chicago

Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI) has expanded its luxury portfolio in Chicago with the addition of The Peninsula Chicago as its newest member. A recipient of the prestigious Mobil Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond awards for six consecutive years, the hotel was recently named the #1 Hotel in North America by Condé Nast Traveler, and the #2 Hotel in the World by Zagat Survey. Associated Luxury Hotels will provide national sales services for The Peninsula Chicago to the meetings and incentive markets across America, according to David Gabri, president and CEO of ALHI. Associated Luxury Hotels serves the meetings and incentive industries with its national sales responsibilities for its membership of over 100 premier Four- and Five-Diamond/ Star quality hotels and resorts worldwide. The Peninsula Chicago becomes ALHI’s third member hotel in Chicago, joining the elegant InterContinental Chicago on Michigan Avenue, and the luxurious Four-Diamond Sofitel Chicago Water Tower on East Chestnut Street just one block from the Magnificent Mile. “These three luxury-level hotels now provide planners distinctive opportunities and availability in the most sought-after venues in the city,” said Gabri. “Planners now have reliable one-call access to the three hotels’ 1,546 beautiful guestrooms and suites, and more than 61,000 square feet of meeting space in Chicago, by simply calling their nearest ALHI National Sales Office.” Set in the heart of Chicago’s famous “Magnificent Mile,” The Peninsula Chicago is ideally located for groups to experience all the city has to offer. On the doorstep of Chicago’s premier business and shopping district, the hotel is in the midst of the city’s most exclusive shops and is just steps from the historic Water Tower. Hotel offerings include 339 luxurious guest rooms and suites that are furnished in a magnificent classical style, and which are equipped with a state-of-the-art electronic system that allows guests to control guestroom features with the touch of a button. The hotel features 9,500 square feet of meeting space that can accommodate up to 550 people, and which includes the impressive Grand Ballroom with floor-to-ceiling windows, as well as a scenic Outdoor Terrace, Chicago’s best-kept secret for planners who desire an outdoor venue along Michigan Avenue. Additional offerings include: a 15,000-square-foot spa, which was named America’s Number 12 urban spa; a half-Olympic size indoor pool; fitness center; wireless Internet access throughout; and four restaurants including the prestigious Five-Diamond Restaurant Avenues. “The Peninsula Chicago is an exceptional Five-Star, Five-Diamond addition to our membership,” said Gabri. “Chicago continues to be such a popular destination for groups, especially in the luxury upper-tier sectors, so we’re very pleased to add this truly outstanding — and much needed — hotel as another option for us to serve companies and associations with their programs seeking a truly Chicago luxury-level experience.” Gabri added, “Each of our hotels in Chicago is truly special and unique. Planners can find the optimal solution for their specific needs and programs at varying distinguished downtown venues, with one call to ALHI.” With a diverse luxury portfolio of more than 80,000 rooms and suites and over 9 million square feet of meeting space, Associated Luxury Hotels enables planners to gain easy one-call access to its outstanding member hotels and resorts which specialize in meetings and incentive programs requiring from 10 to more than 5,000 rooms. Member properties include extraordinary meeting resorts, incomparable city hotels, exclusive smaller hotels, golf resorts, historic and landmark properties, island destinations, resorts with spas, properties in international destinations, and hotels with gaming or entertainment. Associated Luxury Hotels has 12 professionally staffed National Sales Offices, with locations in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Boston, Northern California, Southern California, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Kansas City (MO), New York City, Orlando, and Philadelphia. For more information about Associated Luxury Hotels, or to inquire about a potential meeting at any of the Associated Luxury Hotels member properties, contact your nearest Associated Luxury Hotels National Sales Office, or call the “ALHI Luxury Group Desk” toll-free at 866-303-ALHI (2544). Planners also may call to acquire a copy of Associated Luxury Hotels’ new “2007-2008 Guide to Meeting Destinations and Facilities.” Information about Associated Luxury Hotels and its member properties also may be obtained by visiting the new www.alhi.com .

Seven Rules for Laptop Security

Laptop computers are the “mobile office” of meeting planners and other professionals and are the most vulnerable target for information theft today. Every month, thousands of laptops are lost and stolen at airports, taxis and hotels.

Many people believe “It won’t happen to me” and take no protective measures. Before you ignore this problem yourself, consider the case of Qualcomm CEO Irwin Jacobs, who interrupted his presentation to step into the audience to take questions. Upon returning to the podium, his laptop was gone. Several witnesses reported that Irwin stated his laptop had data that could be of great value to foreign governments.

What should you do? Your best solution is to prepare now for theft or loss of your laptop. Sam Carter, CISSP, of the eLearning Corner (www.elearningcorner.com), Gaithersburg, Maryland, who is the information technology consultant to ConventionPlanit.com, offers these seven simple rules to follow:

1.  Back up your data. If you lose your laptop to theft, loss or a malfunctioning hard drive, how long would it take you to recover? Discuss backup options with someone knowledgeable to determine a strategy that is right for you. Remember: Backup data is vulnerable to data theft. Secure your backups appropriately.

2.  Keep unneeded critical data off your laptop. If confidential or sensitive information isn’t necessary on your laptop, then don’t expose yourself or your company to a possible information breach.

3.  Do you have PII (Personally Identifiable Information) on your laptop? Several states require public disclosure if PII information such as Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, or drivers license numbers is lost or stolen. Laws can require notifying every individual who may be affected, as well as informing certain government agencies. Estimates for legal, protective, and security expenses range from $100 to $200 per record. If you do have PII on your laptop, you have sensitive data and should take appropriate steps. Check your state regulations and prepare accordingly.

4.  Password protect your laptop. This will prevent theft of opportunity when your laptop was unattended. Anyone who might benefit from your laptop information can easily copy 60 Gigabytes to an iPod while your laptop is unattended.

5.  Encrypt your laptop hard drive. Password protection of your login will not prevent information loss to a determined thief. Encrypting your hard drive is the only failsafe solution available. Complexity and performance concerns make laptop encryption a last-resort technology but these concerns are of no consequence if your laptop must contain confidential or sensitive information.

6.  Exercise care when using public wireless networks. Public wireless networks carry your information in plain unencrypted form visible to other wireless laptops like a postcard in transit. It is generally safe to browse the internet or check your e-mail on public wireless networks, but user names and passwords sent in clear text are prime targets for wireless thieves.

7.  Never leave your password unattended and unsecured. An unattended laptop is an invitation for theft. Common mistakes include leaving your laptop unattended in a conference room during a break, leaving your laptop easily visible inside a locked car, or leaving your laptop on an airport seat to run for refreshment. When out of your office, never let your laptop leave your sight without proper security measures.

‘VIP Quest’ Coming to Dover For Meeting and Event Planner Showcase

350 Regional Meeting Planners Expected to Attend DOVER, DE – For the first time in its 25-year history, Meetings Quest will locate one of its trade shows for meeting and event planners in Delaware. The event, set for Dover Downs Hotel and Casino March 13-14, is expected to rally approximately 350 industry professionals from the Mid-Atlantic Region. “When the flag drops, the race for business will begin,” said Kimberly Bailey-Thomas, Director of Convention Sales and Marketing for Kent County Delaware Convention and Visitors Bureau (KCDCVB), also known locally as Kent County Tourism. “This is perhaps the best opportunity that Delaware has ever had to showcase the state as a good value and a great venue for meetings and conventions,” she added. “Meeting facilities, our three convention and visitors bureaus, restaurants and attractions statewide will participate as vendors at the event in an effort to attract more meeting and event business to Delaware.” One of the highlights of the event will be a special guest appearance by “The Love Chef?,” Francis Anthony, whose appearance is being sponsored by Kent County Tourism, is a favorite in the world of television cooking. Chef Anthony is known as the grandfather of foodie shows and a pioneer who married cooking and entertainment. He is the author of four cookbooks and writes a weekly newspaper column titled “Cooking With Love.” He has been a regular on “Live with Regis and Kelly” for more than 20 years. Planning for the event began two years ago, and will culminate in a two-day event with a racing theme. The event will kick off with the “Victory Lane” reception, which is being sponsored by the Delaware Tourism Office. Day two of the event will include educational seminars sponsored by George Washington University, a racing theme tradeshow, and wrapping with a presentation by The Love Chef. Attendees can earn credits toward their certifications with three potential seminars: Risk Management, Green Meetings and Successful Events through Technology. The seminars will be taught by staff members from George Washington University. VIP Meetings Quest is a production of JTDunn Enterprise. In addition to the new show in Delaware, others are held in Washington D.C., Chicago, Atlanta, Boston, Minneapolis, Dallas, Austin, St. Louis, Kansas City, Charlotte, Raleigh, Tampa, San Mateo and Anaheim. The shows are considered by most in the industry as the number one regional tradeshows in the country. JTDunn Enterprises and Meeting Quest is a driving force in the hospitality tradeshow industry. For more information about the show, visit the show’s website, www.vip-quest.net, or Kimberly Bailey-Thomas at 302-734-8309.

The Springtime™ Expo Comes Early This Year!

The Premier Meetings and Association Industry Event to Take Place April 3 WASHINGTON, DC – Along with the cherry blossoms and baseball’s Opening Day, the signs of Springtime™ are everywhere in the Nation’s Capital this year! Springtime™, the premier one-day meetings expo in Greater Washington, is a full 10 weeks early this year, taking place April 3, 2008 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in downtown Washington.Meeting professionals and other decision-makers are descending on Springtime™ to connect with more than 700 top providers of meetings, business and technology solutions in our Expo Hall, and learn something new in our morning education sessions. “While the show continues to grow and we continue to make enhancements based on participant feedback, the overall goal of Springtime™ has stayed the same: to help meeting and association professionals make their organizations more successful while advancing their own careers,” said Susan Sarfati, CAE, president and CEO of The Center for Association Leadership and executive vice president of ASAE. “Springtime™ is also a great place to reconnect with friends and peers, and form new relationships.” Enhancements to this year’s Expo include a re-drawn trade show floor, more Expo seating and a Connection Central area equipped with staff, resources and products. Registrants can also download a new online meeting planner toolbox with sample RFPs and tips for working the trade show floor. The Springtime™ Expo is one-stop shopping for meeting professionals. Exhibitors include airlines, convention & visitor bureaus, hotels and resorts, speaker bureaus and more. For a list of exhibitors and a virtual map of the Expo floor, visit http://www.asaecenter.org/SpringtimeExpo. Before the Expo, participants can attend a wide variety of education sessions on topics such as planning “green” meetings, exceeding customer’s expectations, and negotiating with hotels. Springtime™ offers sessions for professionals of every experience level, from those just starting out to the seasoned, senior planner. Springtime™ this year also includes a general session on how to Transform Yourself for Success with Jack Canfield, “America’s Success Coach” and founder and CEO of Chicken Soup for the Soul Enterprises, Inc. Canfield’s book The Success Principles teaches the skills people need to realize their dreams. The full day’s registration for Springtime™ is only $95 for members of ASAE & The Center, or $110 for non-members if you register before March 21, 2008. Register online at http://www.asaecenter.org/SpringtimeExpo or 888.950.2723. Registration is complimentary for working press. To obtain a press badge for Springtime™, please contact Chris Vest at 202.626.2798 or email cvest@asaenet.org.