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Association News
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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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Association News (May 2016)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 SchneiderTimothy 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.

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Publishing Dates: 05/03/16 – 07/03/16
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