Prevue July/August 2014 - (Page 56)

Orlando AIBTM host city shows why it's a top draw for meetings N BY KATE M C CLARE New meeting spaces, upgraded conference facilities and expanded logistics are on the horizon in Orlando, where business groups ﬂock like school kids headed to the Magic Kingdom. Come to think of it, business groups are right there with the kids at attractions like the Magic Kingdom, which have helped make Orlando a top meeting destination as well as a favorite vacation spot. It was all business in June at the 2014 Americas Incentives, Business Travel & Meetings (AIBTM) exhibition. Held at the Orange County Convention Center, AIBTM brought meeting buyers and suppliers together to do some business, catch up on meeting and destination trends and sample the vibrant shopping, nightlife and dining scene in the city nestled in the heart of the Sunshine State. Between face-to-face meetings with suppliers on the show ﬂoor, buyers attended educational workshops, investigated the latest technology at the Innovation Zone and relaxed (when they could) at the Refresh Zone. They were entertained and energized by keynote speaker Michael Hoffman, who advised them on how to handle "The Tornado of Business." They got a call to action from the Meetings Mean Business Coalition, to help spread the message that meetings and incentives are proﬁt-driving economic engines. AIBTM ofﬁcials ended the week by announcing that the 2015 show in Chicago will be a much different affair: an invitation-only event that will more closely match buyers and suppliers, to create more efﬁcient interactions that pay off in actual business for each other. The 2015 edition is also being rebranded as IBTM America. Organizers said some participants felt they weren't paired quite as compatibly as they would have liked; otherwise, they said, the show was a success. "We are very pleased with the feedback we have received," Exhibition Director Michael Lyons said at a press conference. "We got high, high marks on the Knowledge Program." The goal of the 2015 revamping is simple: to eliminate anything that distracts from the purpose of the show. "It's about business," Lyons said. BIG NEWS FOR BIG VENUES In Orlando, of course, business is about fun. The region's tourism industry is pouring $5 billion into attractions, accommodations and infrastructure to better serve both markets. That includes $1.1 billion at Orlando International Airport, which will nearly double its passenger capacity from 24 million to 45 million passengers per year. Areas targeted for improvement include baggage and ground transportation. Separately, the convention center will spend $187 million on a ﬁve-year improvement project that began in 2013; upgrades 56 | prevue magazine 56-58_Orlando.indd 56 7/2/14 9:23 PM

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue July/August 2014

Planner’s Pick: The Franklin Institute
Fresh Meets: Marriott Hotels
Bureau Buzz: Bermuda Tourism Authority
Good Business: Anaheim/Orange County CVB
Sea Shores: Table for 2 (Hundred)
Table Talk Creativity and engagement add flavor to culinary events
SPECIAL SECTION: THE CARIBBEAN More than a vacation spot, paradise for meetings
IRF INVITATIONAL Secrets Puerto Los Cabos hosts the biggest incentive forum yet
On Location: Dominican Republic
On Location: Westin Hilton Head
On Location: Vancouver
LOUISIANA Culture, dramatic venues and immersive tours surround the Big Easy
ORLANDO AIBTM host city is a top draw for meetings
On Location: Auckland
SUSTAINABLE MEETINGS GMIC helps planners minimize their footprint
Checkout: Thompson Chicago

Prevue July/August 2014