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At
Elite Meetings Alliance, Business Leaders Show Meetings Industry on the
Rebound
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Industry
leaders report upswing while buyers and suppliers do robust business during
one-on-one appointments.
Continuing
education and professional development round out agenda at invitation-only
event.
At
Elite Meetings Alliance, Business Leaders Show Meetings Industry on the
Rebound
Santa
Barbara, CA � August 2011 � Meeting and event business is solidly rebounding
according to attendees and speakers at the Summer 2011 Elite Meetings Alliance
(EMA), a signature event of Elite Meetings International. In the industry
keynote, Denise Coll, president, North America division, Starwood Hotels
& Resorts, said some chains are already at pre-recession business levels
with improvement continuing in average daily rate (ADR) and lead time.
Those figures were supported by a survey showing 73% of EMA attendees expecting
significant improvement to continue over the next six months. Representatives
from 60 top hotels and 67 meeting professionals from around the country
came together at the invitation-only event to make deals, attend CMP-credited
educational sessions, and network with industry peers. The event took place
August 13-15, 2011, at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel.
�The
quality of the attendees continues to be the hallmark of the Elite Meetings
Alliance,� says Elite Meetings CEO Kelly Foy, who notes the growing popularity
of appointment-based events. �More one-on-one events are popping up out
there, but we�re proud to say the buyers and suppliers at the EMA are the
best you�ll meet anywhere.�
Buyers
at the Boston EMA reported an average of 53 events to source for the next
30 months, with events averaging 143 rooms per night. Suppliers in attendance
independently met Elite Meetings� Platinum or Gold certification standards.
�This format really facilitates deal-making,� says Foy, noting that anonymous
surveys showed 95% of attending buyers intend to do business with at least
one of the attending suppliers.
Continuing
education is high on the agenda at the Elite Meetings Alliance events.
Joann Chmura, senior meeting planner for Gen Re, described the educational
program as both �current and relevant.� The line-up of presentations included
Joshua Grimes, Esq., who spoke on current developments in legal contracts
for meetings, and technology tracker Corbin Ball, who addressed the evolution
of meetings technology.
Sessions
were filled to capacity for presentations by Elite Meetings board facilitator
David Kliman, leadership and management expert Michelle Crosby, and Daren
Martin, who received attendee praise for his presentation on personal styles
and the power to influence. Martin also emceed the event. �I was extremely
impressed with all the events, the educational sessions, the speakers,�
said Susan Kemp of Booz Allen Hamilton. Presenter and industry audiovisual
expert Midori Connolly, in partnership with Elite Meetings and Sonic Foundry,
produced live broadcasts from the EMA, which are available to view at www.EliteMeetingsAlliance.com.
About
the Elite Meetings Alliance (EMA)
The
EMA is a three-day, invitation-only event that brings together prequalified
corporate and association planners with leaders in the luxury hotel industry
to cultivate relationships and build business. Features include private,
personalized business development meetings; continuing education breakout
sessions for CMP credit; and unique networking activities. The Summer 2011
EMA at The Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel marked the fourteenth Elite Meetings
Alliance since the event�s inception in 2006.
About
Elite Meetings International
Based
in Santa Barbara, California, Elite Meetings International (EMI) provides
integrated solutions to enhance the performance of meeting and hospitality
professionals. EMI supports this community through a combination of innovative
technology, direct sales support, customized marketing programs and face-to-face
business-building events. Additionally, www.EliteMeetings.com
serves as a commission-free RFP-generating tool and a comprehensive vehicle
for sourcing luxury, upper-upscale and upscale properties. EMI�s innovations
include FaceTime� Appointment Scheduler (www.FaceTimeScheduler.com)
a sought-after program for helping conference attendees identify synergies,
manage appointments and make direct connections with one another; and SpeedRFP�
(www.SpeedRFP.com), a new time-saving
product for creating, submitting, and managing RFPs online. For additional
information, please visit www.EliteMeetings.com
or call 805-730-1000.
For
more information on the EMA, contact EMATeam@EliteMeetings.com,
or call 805-879-3928.
Media
Contact:
Bryce
Johnson
Elite
Meetings International
805-879-4491
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