As I write this, I’m on the road in Chicago, soaking in the education, trade show experience and networking functions of AIBTM, which inaugurated the first of its Chicago meetings–it’s rotating between the Windy City and Orlando for the next four years–with an increased buyer attendance of some 33 percent and approximately 15,000 scheduled appointments.
Not too long ago, the typical trade show/exhibition was an incredibly inefficient activity, with potential buyers wandering aisles relatively aimlessly and suppliers fighting for their attention. Shows Iike AIBTM, and IMEX, coming up in November in Las Vegas, represent the new normal for these types of events, which now pair hosted buyers with potential suppliers in pre-scheduled appointments, using technology to make the match.
Indeed, this seems to be the future of meetings; engagement is king, and data collection and attendee analysis is the engine that ultimately drives the ROI.
On a much smaller scale, Meetings Focus is using this matchmaking recipe for success to power its Meetings Focus Live! programs, which are traveling to Branson, Mo.; Portland, Ore.; Miramar Beach, Fla.; Hershey, Pa.; and the Island of Hawaii through the end of the year. We’ve had some great programs so far in 2012, featuring CEU-worthy educational programming, inspiring CSR activities and first-hand site inspections of top meetings properties in each area we visit.
Check out the rest of the schedule at www.meetingstoday.com/LiveEvents, and check out page 40 of the print edition for even more information and photos of this year’s programming.
Getting back to the “future of meetings” and AIBTM theme of this month’s Key Notes, make sure to check out our broadcast from the event, which featured PCMA’s Sherrif Karamat, meetings industry educator Carol Krugman and AIBTM exhibition chief Michael Lyons sharing their insights on how we will convene both face-to-face and digitally in the coming years.
To view the free broadcast, visit the Video section on www.meetingstoday.com to gaze into the crystal ball with these industry thinkers.
But enough of this. I need to close the laptop and see what’s cooking on the trade show floor.
