Exhibitor Perspectives: The Value of HSMAI's MEET - Hotel and destination professionals discuss the value of exhbiting at HSMAI's MEET, and what to look for in a show.
“This year’s HSMAI’s MEET Mid-America saw a 20 percent increase in pre-registered planners over last year’s event…The fundamental changes we added beginning with our National event, including TEEM Up, MEET On, MEET University and more, are all imperative to ensure we are offering the most informative, worthwhile trade show in the business. We look forward to bringing the success we’ve seen at HSMAI’s MEET National and HSMAI’s MEET Mid-America to California for our West conference.”-
Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHBA, President and CEO, HSMAI.
What Planners are saying…
"When I received the program this year I saw that I needed to come for the educational content. I have been really, really happy with the sessions I attended. It's new. It's innovative. It's fresh information. It is not just how- to book meeting basics. It's much more in-depth, detailed information for seasoned planners. I really liked all the changes. I have learned a lot, and after 20 years in the industry, that's saying something." - Cara Tharp, Federation of Animal Science Societies, Champaign, Ill.
MaxVantage Planners on the Value of HSMAI's MEET
"As a planner, being able to see and experience the different learning environments was very valuable. I hope to be able to implement some of them in my own events. I was very impressed with all the new components of HSMAI's MEET." - D'Wayne Leatherland, CMP, owner/principal, Leatherland Consulting & Management Services.
“I have really, really enjoyed the conference this year. I started out with the boot camp led by Vicky and learned a lot that I can bring back to the office. I also enjoyed the peer roundtables, flash talks, the exhibit hall and everyone I have met. I am going to come back next year. It was definitely worth the drive from North Carolina. I really had a great time!” – Amelia Hodges, Meeting Planner, North Carolina Association of CPA’s
“I really enjoyed the sessions, especially the hybrid sessions. It sort of gives you a taste of everything in a short span of time especially for those meeting planners like me who don’t have much time to travel outside the office on a regular basis. So this keeps you current on the information available and again very informative. Thank you.” – Gail Pinder, Meetings Coordinator, ASBMB
“I was at MEET and one of the industry panelists for the CIC session “Is It for Me?” workshop. Basically the workshop gave potential CMP candidates an opportunity to ask questions and get more information on becoming a certified meeting professional. I have also been able to go to quite a few educational sessions during HSMAI’s MEET”. – Marla Burke, Director of Conferences, Family Career and Community Leaders of America
“HSMAI’s MEET is a valuable resource for meeting planners! I highly recommend planners incorporate it into their busy schedules!! The hybrid sessions were informative, engaging and provided attendees with useful information. HSMAI’s dedication to providing attendees with knowledgeable and resourceful speakers is invaluable!!” - Rebecca Murphy, Meeting Coordinator, NACUBO
What Exhibitors and Media are saying…
Tampa Bay and Co. on the Increased Value of HSMAI's MEET
Benefits of HSMAI’s MEET Hybrid Components - Robin Friday, Director of Sales at Lisle CVB, talks about the benefits of HSMAI's MEET being a hybrid show, providing appointments, trade show and education.Benefits of HSMAI's MEET Hybrid Components
Tucson Reports on Traffic and RFPs at HSMAI's MEET - Ellen Jiminez of the Radisson Tuscon and Joy Johnson of the Tuscon CVB give insights on RFPs they received, appointments, and booth traffic at HSMAI's MEET National.
Meeting the Right Customers at the Right Time at HSMAI's MEET - Shannon Derrick, CMP, Senior Director, Global Sales at Wyndham Hotel Group details how the appointment systems at HSMAI's MEET National added gret value to the show.
Albuquerque CVB Establishes Relationships at HSMAI's MEET - Larry Atchison of the Albuquerque CVB discusses how he was able to meet with many new planners at HSMAI's MEET National 2012.
San Francisco Travel Assoc. on the Changes in HSMAI's MEET - Beth Melanson of the San Francisco Travel Association discusses changes she has seen in HSMAI's MEET the last two years, and the success they have found at the show.
Hyatt On Leads at HSMAI's MEET - Chris Keane, Director, Worldwide Accounts at Hyatt Hotels Corporation, talks about the generating leads at HSMAI's MEET National 2012.
Colorado Springs on Leads and New Relationships Generated at HSMAI's MEET - Pam Sherfesee, CDME, Vice President of Sales at Colorado Springs CVB says HSMAI's MEET was very valuable for generating leads and making relationships.
“HSMAI’s MEET is really working hard to enhance the value of the show to both meeting planners and suppliers through things like the one-to-one appointments.” - Kimberly Wright, Director of Sales, CMP, Chicago’s Northshore CVB view video testimonial
“People are here ready to do business.” - Linda McNeill, Warwick Denver, Denver CVB view video testimonial
“The quality of the attendees I’ve seen this year is great, far exceeding the level I’ve seen in the past. We have an RFP in hand, and any time you can do that at a show you’re doing well.” - Steve Mallory, Hilton Carlsbad Oceanfront Resort & Spa view video testimonial
"HSMAI's MEET has done a great job of attracting highly qualified meeting planners. It makes the show a worthwhile investment." - Chuck Salem, Unique Venues
Hershey Meets Fortune 500 Planners at HSMAI's MEET - Doug Barger, Hershey Meetings and Resorts, discusses meeting Fortune 500 company meeting planners at HSMAI's MEET Mid-America.
The Mix: Reno/Tahoe on the Diversity of Planners at HSMAI's MEET - Reno/Tahoe representative discusses her experience at HSMAI's MEET Mid-America, meeting association, corporate, and independent planners.
STR on HSMAI's MEET - Vale Brown, Vice President Global Sales, STR, talks about her experience as a first-time exhibitor at HSMAI's MEET Mid-America 2012.
“From the keynote speaker, to the one-on-one appointments with the hosted buyers, to the show itself, HSMAI’s MEET West blew my expectations out of the water. We received RFPs and have confirmed site visits as a result of exhibiting at the show. We will definitely be back next year.” - Mario Reveles, Executive Meeting Sales Manager, MGM Grand and The Signature
“MEET West was a great experience for us on a couple of levels. We were able to complete arranged appointments and walkups in addition to generating solid leads and RFP’s. We have proposals out on two of those RFP’s already. As you can see, we’ve already seen a great return on the time invested in this event, and we appreciate all of HSMAI’s work in helping us make that happen.” - Ryan Paterson, Sales Manager, Hilton Anaheim
“HSMAI’s West 2012 was a great show for us. We will be back. I can’t wait for the next one.” - Steve Caloca, General Manager, UCLA Lake Arrowhead Conference Center
“We’ve put HSMAI’s MEET in our budget for 2102 because we met many new customers at MEET National 2011. We saw the needed change in the show and it validated our continued participation.”
-- Barb Bowden, General Manager, The Peabody Orlando
“This was my first time attending in three years, and the changes resulted in an awesome show. It was a great show for face-to-face selling, and the educational sessions were full of valuable information.” – Loretta Howard, National/State Association Sales Manager, Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“This was my first year at HSMAI and I loved it! First, even before arriving in DC everyone was so helpful and really tried to help me be successful. They took the time to answer all my questions, even as silly as they may have been at times. The show itself was wonderful, I met so many people from various markets. There was definitely something for everyone - I actually brought back info and a few RFP’s not only for myself but everyone else in the office as well. HSMAI is definitely on my list for next year and now that I know what to expect, I know next year will be even better! Thanks to everyone for all your help and hard work!” – Karen Hodges, Sales Manager, Four Points by Sheraton Orlando Studio City
“We had a great experience at the 2012 MEET National. While my company produces hundreds of events similar to MEET every year, this was our first time to actually be an exhibitor. I must say that we had a very positive experience. We made some valuable contacts, had some great conversations at the networking events, and found the sessions to be interesting and informative. We received an RFP for a fairly large project less than a week after the conference, and I have no doubt there are more to come! We will definitely be returning to the 2012 MEET National, and have already made plans for exhibiting at a couple of the regional events as well.” – Jay Ward, Technical Resource Director, Stage Right Inc.
“I attended the keynote speaker and lunch at HSMAI 2012 MEET in Chicago, and was incredibly impressed with the selection of Janine Driver as HSMAI’s keynote speaker (Janine will be the keynote at the other regional and national MEET events).
Janine (that’s what she asks the audience to call her) is a nationally recognized, body language expert who shared her years of insights with the meeting and event professionals who attended. Janine was inspirational and insightful, and she was extremely well-received by the attendees. From my perspective and the planners who shared lunch at my table, Janine was certainly a nice addition to the HSMAI annual program.
The planners also indicated they were impressed with the educational content at HSMAI’s MEET in Chicago”. - Rob Hard, Publisher and Editor, BusinessTravelDestinations.com
With 20 years of success connecting planners and suppliers at its HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings annual events in Washington, Chicago and California, Hospitality Sales and Marketing International renewed its commitment to growing business for hotels and their partners with an event format designed to serve planners and suppliers at all levels of industry experience, and a new logo and refurbished session lineup that reflect an organizational re-engineering. –Meetings Focus on HSMAI’s MEET National
What Planners and Exhibitors are saying about HSMAI’s TEEM Up and One-to-One Appointments…
"The TEEM Up appointments gave me a great opportunity to connect with planners one-on -ne. I wouldn't have had the opportunity to introduce our property to these planners if it wasn't for this show. We had a lot of booth traffic, and along with the appointments, I'm excited about the opportunities we have. The show isn't over and I already have 5 or 6 RFP opportunities I can take back to my office. HSMAI's MEET is a great opportunity to make a one-to-one connection with planners and build long-lasting relationships. - Calvin Wilson, Sales Manager, The Peabody Orlando view video testimonial
"After my first two TEEM Up meetings I had 12 RFPs. I couldn't be more thrilled. Every meeting I had was relevant because planners selected to meet with us and had a level of knowledge of who we are, so I could spend more time discussing what we could do for them...I think TEEM Up is the ingredient that took this show from being a good show to a great show. The ROI is greater when you have the face-to-face meetings. I also walked away from the show floor with RFPs." - Chuck Salem, Unique Venues view video testimonial
"You can avoid interruptions and see just who you want to see…TEEM Up gave me a dedicated time to ask the questions I wanted to ask in a controlled time frame." – Mandy Davis, Assistant Director, Annual Meeting, American Society of Clinical Oncology.
“TEEM Up was great for Rock Resorts. We secured one site visit and two RFPs. Overall it was a very good and new way to host meetings with planners.” – Margaret Victor, Director of National Accounts, Rock Resorts
“HSMAI’s TEEM Up gave me valuable meetings with individuals with a specific interest in bringing events to the Broadmoor. It was a huge plus that we received two opportunities from TEEM Up that will hopefully lead to business." - Laurie Meachem, Director of National Sales, The Broadmoor
"I think TEEM Up provided a wonderful added value to HSMAI’s MEET. I really benefitted from the one-on-one interactions and actually preferred them to the booth appointments." - Antoinett Proal, Corporate Event Planner, ENAP, Inc.
“I loved TEEM Up. It gave me an opportunity to talk to the people we were most interested in meeting with in a one-to-one setting.” - D'Wayne Leatherland, CMP, owner/principal, Leatherland Consulting & Management Services.
"We received promising leads during both days at HSMAI’s MEET from individual appointments and booth stop bys. ROI is definitely looking good for our group." - Virginia Tourism