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Creating a Unique Experience,
by Timothy Schneider,
Publisher, Association News
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Los
Angeles, CA – May 2016 / Newsmaker Alert / In a crowded marketplace,
it is imperative for associations to stand out. One way to do that is to
plan events that will surprise and delight your attendees. Knowing that
meeting-goers have an ever-increasing number of events vying for their
attention, association meeting planners should attempt to imbue their programs
with distinctive elements that will really impress attendees. This month,
our “Association Doctor” column provides insights regarding how to create
events that leave a lasting impression. For more details, please see the
story, which
begins on page 22.
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As
organizers of Meetings Quest—the
nation’s longest-running series of educational and networking events for
meeting planners—we are always looking for ways to create experiences that
are unique to the destinations that host the event. This July, when Meetings
Quest is hosted by the Bloomington (Minnesota) Convention & Visitors
Bureau, attendees will be welcomed with just such an experience. The Meetings
Quest Opening Celebration will occur on the banks of the Mississippi River,
with a dinner reception hosted by the Pool & Yacht Club.
Following
dinner, attendees will board the Betsey Northrup for a chartered cruise
and dessert courtesy of Padelford Riverboats. While aboard, guests can
explore the main deck or step out onto the second, open-air deck to enjoy
skyline views. Thanks to our sponsors at the Bloomington CVB and Visit
St. Paul, the Meetings Quest Opening Celebration will allow attendees a
real and memorable taste of the local scene.
In
addition to the welcome event, Meetings Quest in Bloomington will include
a half-day of hot-topic educational programming featuring expert presenters,
a keynote address and an afternoon appointment-based expo. Our “Association
Doctor” columnist, Steven Hacker, will facilitate a Learning Lab on crisis
management and event security. The session will provide an overview of
the steps to take when organizing your events and will detail available
resources for appropriately planning for the safety and security of your
events. Information on how to respond should your event be affected by
a crisis will also be discussed. In a second Learning Lab, Jennifer Hoff
of Taffy Event Strategies will lead a session on how drones are redefining
the future of events. Hoff will explore how to manage drone use at your
events in ways that enhance the attendee and exhibitor experience.
The
keynote address will feature IndyCar racing legend Lyn St. James, who will
share insights on how to develop a viable action plan that can help meeting
planners accelerate their success. St. James made history as the first
woman to win the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year award and was named
by Sports Illustrated as one of the top women athletes of the century.
Meetings Quest will conclude with an afternoon appointment-based trade
show.
In
addition to Meetings Quest in Bloomington, upcoming Meetings Quest events
will be held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and on Mississippi’s Gulf Coast.
For more information or to register to attend, please
see the ad on page 25, call 877-577-3700 or visit MeetingsQuest.com.
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Timothy
Schneider is the publisher of Association
News and SportsTravel
magazines, which serve group travel planners responsible for generating
106 million hotel room nights annually. Schneider
Publishing also organizes Meetings
Quest, America's longest-running series of trade shows for meeting
planners, and the TEAMS Conference
& Expo, the world’s largest gathering of sports-event organizers.
TEAMS ’16 will be held September 26–29, 2016, in Atlantic City. For further
information on advertising or sponsorship opportunities, please call toll-free
877-577-3700 or 310-577-3700 if calling from outside the United States.
The
current issue of Association
News can be viewed in digital format online by clicking
here.
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Media
Contact:
Timothy
Schneider
310-577-3700
Schneider
Publishing Company, Inc. |