Successful Meetings - April 2008 - (Page 118)

Meeting Sites SHOW SPECIAL: ASAE Springtime Expo-Washington DC & IMEX-Frankfurt H O M E - S W E E T- H O M E : Each year, industry shows ASAE Springtime and IMEX meet in Washington DC and Frankfurt, Germany, respectively. What do exhibitors and attendees who return each year look forward to? Successful Meetings asked them. By Terri Hardin ASAE SPRINGTIME EXPO-WASHINGTON DC, the one-day meetings expo (right), draws 700 exhibitors and thousands of attendees. According to David J. Lutz, of Aurora, OH-based Velvet Chainsaw Consulting, “The original host, Greater Washington Society of Association Executives (GWSAE), is, I think, the Center, looks forward to awesome mar- largest ASAE chapter and definitely has more associations within a 50-mile radius than anywhere else in the country.” While many recommend the PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association) dinner, Greg Ruby, event management specialist at the Baltimore Convention garitas at the GES Exposition Services Happy Hour at Rosa Americana. Gretchen Kihm Stegall, a Chicago-based consultant who will be representing exhibitor Ambassadors LLC, looks forward to BLT Steak (“fantastic people watching, and unbelievable menu—all about steak”). For Tampa-based DMC Dan Gennari, exhibiting as Venuequest, “We will hold client events at McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant at midday, but I hear their bar is good for power networking after-hours.” And Timothy Arnold, national sales manager with Hilton Resorts, says, “I will be meeting clients at Brasserie Beck (one of my favorite new restaurants; the food is awesome, and the location is great) and at Georgia Brown’s.” IMEX-Frankfurt Last year, IMEX (top), the international exhibition for meetings and incentive travel, had its most successful year—attracting 3,400 exhibitors from 150 countries and 8,300 visitors from 57 countries. U.S.-based planner Loretta Lowe, who is attending for the first time this year, finds direct service to Frankfurt a draw, to which Nigel Brown, a Netherlandsbased project manager for events for ICCA, the International Congress and Convention Association, agrees; “Because Frankfurt Airport is a wellknown hub, IMEX is the perfect place to catch up and set up meetings with various partners from all over the globe.” Brown looks forward to clubbing night, “which is usually a good party.” This year, clubbing night is at the Cocoon Club. “I hear that it’s hot,” says Ruth Moyte, vice president of production for L.A.-based Extraordinary Events—although she will probably go out to dinner in Old Town (“Always nice; walking along the mall is great, too”). James Adam, partner at U.K.-based Adam Baker Event Logistics, says, “Germany is perhaps perceived unfairly as a rather dull destination. Personally, I believe it has a lot to offer for the meeting and events industry. Within Europe it offers exceptionally good value, good service levels, and high-quality infrastructure. Frankfurt is a very good business destination with a good collection of hotels with a broad offering. Not as unique as Paris or Rome, but it does offer a more contemporary/business feel with its bars and restaurants.” —TH mimegasite.com APRIL 2008 SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS 118 http://mimegasite.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Successful Meetings - April 2008

Successful Meetings - April 2008
Contents
Editor's Note
Industry Trends
Suppliers
Events
On the Record
Suppliers
Planner's Spotlight
Technology Talk
Personal Success
Websites of the Month
Food & Beverage
On Site
Professional Development
On Site
Pre-Event
Professional Development
Miforum Q&A
Beyond the Flames
Reservation for—21,000
Casino Riches
Entertainment Jackpot
Who Needs a Passport?
The International Swing
Around the World in 18 Holes
Places & Spaces
Denver
Orlando
Missouri
Puerto Rico
Show Special: Washington DC / Frankfurt, Germany
Gurus

Successful Meetings - April 2008