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Planner’s Perspective

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Cele Fogarty
Vice President
Convention and Trade Show Services
SmithBucklin
Chicago


Describe your event

.
The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) is a professional medical society established to bring together clinical and experimental scientists involved in the study of kidneys and kidney disease. The attendees at our 2007 Renal Week included physicians, researchers and clinical investigators. The exposition represented approximately 180 companies. The meeting was held in Moscone South and Moscone West and considered very successful. We had record-breaking attendance. We had nearly 14,000 in attendance with approximately 45 percent of these people traveling internationally from about 78 different countries.

Why did you decide to host the meeting in San Francisco?
The decision was made about 10 years prior to the meeting, based on a site review of possible cities and the council’s desire to meet in the city.

What surprised you the most about San Francisco?
The great weather.

What did your attendees seem to enjoy the most? That it is a cosmopolitan city, the ease of navigating the city and its restaurants.

Was anybody particularly helpful?
We had terrific bureau, center and hotel support throughout the city. A couple of hotels were not “on their game” but they were the exception.

Is there anything you wish you had known beforehand?
It was a bit tougher working with the unions than the last time I was there.

What would you have done differently in retrospect? I would have met with the unions directly before the meeting.

What other types of groups would fit well with the property? The perception of meeting in buildings not connected was a tough sell, but the space in Moscone West is incredibly flexible. Groups that are willing to be flexible and work on laying out their space could do well here.

Do you have any advice for other planners who might bring a meeting to San Francisco? Be prepared. Don’t try and plan your meeting on-site; have it planned and communicated well before the actual date. It is always a good idea to meet with reps from the unions and identify hot buttons and specific needs, review expectations and identify how issues will and should be mitigated.