Smart Meetings | Page 579 of 604 | Corporate Event Planning: Business Events, Meetings, Conferences

airbus-stacked-airline-seats In the endless quest for more, more, more—whether it’s more efficiency, more profit potential, more customer satisfaction or other factors—Airbus has come up with a creative way to squeeze even more people onto airplanes: stacked airline seats.

The aircraft manufacturer filed a patent application that outlines possible aircraft seating designs for taking advantage of all that extra overhead space, with seat rows staggered between floor seats and raised seats. Elevated rows are dubbed “mezzanine” seating in the patent—a fancy way of stating the goal of cramming more seats in metal tubes.

“In modern means of transport, in particular in aircraft, it is very important from an economic point of view to make optimum use of the available space in a passenger cabin,” the patent reads. “In order to still more-efficiently use the space in a passenger cabin of an aircraft [Airbus] proposes to position an elevated deck structure on a main deck floor in the passenger cabin of a wide-body aircraft for providing a mezzanine seating area in a substantially unused upper lobe of the aircraft fuselage.”

While the idea is stacked airline seats is likely to become fodder for jokes and knee-jerk fear of super-cramped quarters and even-more-awkward appearances of bare feet on planes, a close look at designs of the seating arrangements reveals some potential positives.

The language in the patent application gets very technical (talking about the longitudinal axis of a seat relative to another, supporting surfaces and such), but it explains that several of the possible designs for stacked seat layouts actually provide more room for passengers on the upper and lower levels, and seats can be reclined more than most current airline seats, up to a full 180 degrees (as shown in the illustration below). It also explains the possible inclusion of ottomans.

This patent application comes a little over a year after Airbus filed another one, for upright seating, that made waves. Nothing has come of that yet, so who knows when or if stacked airline seats will become a reality—or if it will just be material for comedians’ bits about air travel.

avoid-costly-airline-fees Airline fees are a harsh reality these days, as most carriers charge extra for everything from checking bags to in-flight Wi-Fi. With a little planning, online registration or good old-fashioned trickery, there are ways to kick many airline fees out the emergency exit so you save on extras while you fly.

No Baggage Fees

This one can feel a bit sneaky, but it works. Leave the big, bulky suitcase at home and pack into a moderately-sized suitcase or travel bag that can masquerade as a carry-on, even if it might be too big to fit in the ever-shrinking overhead bins. Check in for your flight online so you can skip the terminal agent and go right through security and to the gate. When you board, the gate agent will likely ask you to a gate check with your bag, which airlines don’t charge for (yet).

Avoiding baggage fees is easier when flying Southwest Airlines, as the low-fare airline allows up to two checked bags free of charge.

No Change Fees

Here’s another fee that can be easily managed when flying Southwest, since they don’t charge a fee for you to change your flight (but you’ll have to cover the difference if the new flight is more expensive). The even bigger big convenience is that you can change your flight at any point up to flight time—even while boarding.

For other airlines, the window is much tighter. The U.S. Department of Transportation requires airlines to honor requests for refunds or flight changes without penalty within 24 hours of booking. Most carriers give nothing beyond that time frame, but American Airlines offers a Choice Plus fare add-on that grants flight changes at no additional cost.

Free Wi-Fi

In-flight Wi-Fi is all the rage, but it’s also among the newest airline fees, usually accompanied by a $15 (or so) surcharge. While there are ways to get short periods of internet service for no charge, it’s a pain to interrupt your streaming movie every 20 minutes.

Virgin America is offering free Wi-Fi to passengers via Netflix through March 2016, and JetBlue just announced that they will have satellite Wi-Fi free of charge on all flights by fall 2016.

If all else fails, purchasing Wi-Fi in advance through Gogo Inflight Internet cuts the fee by up to 40 percent.

Free Drinks

A couple adult beverages might help ease the pain of airline fees you can’t avoid—even more so if those drinks are free. Being part of an airline’s loyalty program often includes complimentary alcoholic drinks, so check into the airline’s policies before you fly and you might be able to take advantage of that and other perks.

Another way is to purchase a minor upgrade, such as Delta’s Comfort+ option. The fee is usually around $20-$30 (sometimes much lower), but it gets you more leg room (in an exit or bulkhead row), priority boarding, dedicated space in the overhead bin, premium snacks and alcoholic drinks at no additional charge.

When IMEX Frankfurt 2015 opens on Tuesday, the international exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events will be the biggest ever since launching in 2003. More than 150 countries and 3,500 exhibitors will be participating in the three-day show taking place at Kap Europa, Meese Frankfurt.

London & Partners, the official convention bureau for London, reports that it has secured a record number of appointments for this year’s show, with 650 meetings pre-booked among stand partners and convention bureau representatives. Not only is London & Partners the most popular city stand at IMEX this year, but the number of appointments mark a 32 percent increase since 2011. The London stand features 27 partners from hotels and venues across the city.

“London is booming and it’s a real honor to be able to share a selection of the city’s best venues, hotels and incentive travel options with event professionals from around the world at this year’s exhibition,” says Barbara Jamison, head of business development Europe for London & Partners. “Though we are the busiest city stand at the show, we are very much open for business and have many more appointments available for buyers keen to discuss bringing their event to London.”

Destination Liverpool will unveil a new initiative aimed at international conference organizers. Plus Liverpool is an all-encompassing program that provides support for meeting professionals bringing global events to the city and ACC Liverpool, which includes BT Convention Centre, Echo Arena and Exhibition Centre Liverpool.

Bill McDermott, Member of the Executive Board of SAP AG, President and CEO Global Field Operations, July 31 2008, Walldorf, Germany — Bill McDermott, SAP President and CEO Global

“While the destination has always provided support to our international conference organizers, Plus Liverpool packages our partnership approach to working with organizers and making their event as seamless as possible,” says Kerrin MacPhie, director of sales at ACC Liverpool. “Some aspects of organizing a global conference can be challenging, particularly with clients and delegates based overseas, but through this program we are able to share the combined experience of our destination partners to invest in the event by providing support in a variety of ways.”

The opening keynote will be delivered by Bill McDermott, CEO of SAP, the world’s largest business software company with more than 282,000 customers and 74,400 employees in 190 countries. A personal champion of customer centricity, McDermott is passionate about using meetings and events to engage and motivate employees to build companies.

As a warm-up for IMEX’s official opening, a special education session was held for corporate executives to expand their knowledge of organizing meetings and events on Monday. The session was facilitated by motivational speaker Kevin Kelly, who spoke on “How exceptional execution redefines innovation and enhances engagement.”

There will be 130 educational sessions. New this year will be session formats geared toward young professionals with up to three years of industry experience, and senior professionals with eight or more years of experience.

IMEX/GMIC Green Supplier Award winners; IMEX Group

The IMEX Academy Awards 2015 took place last night at the 13th annual IMEX Gala Dinner in Frankfurt. IMEX Group Chairman Ray Bloom and Managing Director Paul Flackett presented the awards to five people from around the globe for their outstanding service to the meetings and incentive travel industry. IMEX also presented its Green Supplier Award.

Other awards were presented leading trade associations at the gala event, part of the three-day IMEX convention in Frankfurt.

IMEX winners included:

Glen Byrom, founder of Twiice DMC Victoria Falls & Chobe dmc, representing the Africa Middle East region; he has more than 25 years experience delivering conferences and incentives.

Henrik von Arnold, adviser and consultant to the meeting industry who runs his own company in Vienna, representing Europe; he is former director of Goteborg Convention Bureau, former chair of the Scandinavian Chapter of ICCA and former board member of the European Federation of Conference Towns.

Rajeev Kohli, chairman and managing director of Creative Travel, representing the Asia Pacific region; he has served on numerous industry boards, is the founder of the Indian Association of Tour Operators and is currently president elect for SITE.

Judy Henrich, director of recruitment and industry relations for Global Cynergies, representing the Americas; she works with suppliers around the globe to develop programs that increase awareness, new business and market opportunities.

Amy Spatrisano received the award for Special Services, for her services to the “greening” of the meetings industry; she is former principal with MeetGreen, co-founder of the Green Meeting Industry Council, and chair of the APEX Green Meeting Practice Panel.

Marina Bay Sands in Singapore was awarded the IMEX/GMIC (Green Meeting Industry Council) Green Supplier Award. The award recognizes a meeting supplier that has made real advancements in reducing environmental impact. Marina Bay’s sustainability efforts have thus far resulted in a 9 percent reduction in energy consumption and an increased waste diversion rate to 28 percent from 7 percent in three years.

Industry awards went to:

Anzelle Vorstmann from North West University in South Africa, MPI Foundation Student Scholarship Award;

David Peckinpaugh, president of Maritz Travel and Experient, JMIC Unity Award 2014;

Andrew Dergousoffn, director of virtual conferences at International Conference Services Ltd., IAPCO Innovation Award;

Pieter Barend Francois Swart, managing director and founder of Conference Consultancy South Africa, PCMA Global Meetings Executive of the Year award;

Edward Liu, managing director of Conference & Exhibition Management Services, IAEE International Organiser Award;

Joost de Mayer, chairman and CEO of First Incentive Travel, Site Master Motivator Award;

Nabintu Petsana, head of tourism at Johannesburg Tourism, DMAI Destination Marketing Humanitarian Award

From waste reduction to educational sessions, a slew of sustainable initiatives are coming to IMEX America 2015. This year’s conference, which takes place October 13-15 in Las Vegas, implements results from the MeetGreen Sustainability Report. Last year, IMEX America reduced total waste by 31 percent, food waste by 56 percent and increased use of locally sourced foods by more than 150 percent compared to the previous year.

As one of the largest annual trade shows for international meetings, incentive travel and events, IMEX America 2015 aims to raise the bar for sustainable meetings. CEO of IMEX Group Carina Bauer states, “IMEX America is committed to encouraging the meetings and incentive travel industry to address sustainability issues and to tackle these issues in a proactive, practical way. The intention is to raise the green bar across the board and strengthen our sustainability efforts.”

Attendees can expect to see the following green displays at IMEX America 2015:

-Inspiration Hub will offer various sessions exploring different sustainability measures. Educational seminars will include: “Guiding You to (and Through) Greener Events” with Aaron Elliott and Nancy Zavada, both of Meet Green, and “Planning for a Revolution: the Rise of People, Planet and Profit. Are You Losing Out by Ignoring CSR?” by Lizzy Paulson, events director at Time Warner Cable.

-Shade Tree is a new program supporting homeless and abused women and children. The display at IMEX America 2015 will feature recycling initiatives, a healing garden and a song division that works with children living in shelters to write and produce music.

-Green Team invites all buyers and exhibitors to complete tasks that reduce waste and increase corporate social responsibility awareness. Those who participate will be given a green ribbon to wear during the event.

-Recycled badges will benefit local charity, the Shade Tree and Opportunity Village, which provides vocational training, employment and arts-based programs for Nevada citizens with mental disabilities. Donations will be made for every badge recycled.

-Clean the World will provide a hands-on experience of building hygiene kits from recycled toiletries gathered at participating hotels. The kits will be donated to Shade Tree Shelter.

IMEX America 2015 adds more of what makes the industry’s biggest event GREAT

IMEX America celebrates its fifth anniversary with the 2015 show (Oct. 13–15 at Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas). As has been the case with each successive show, this year’s event is poised to be bigger and better than ever, with more exhibitors, an expanded education program and engaging keynote speakers. This growth is exactly as had been planned from the first IMEX America show in 2011, according to IMEX Group CEO
Carina Bauer.

“It is always our goal to deliver increasing value and ROI to our exhibitors, hosted buyers and attendees,” Bauer says. “Adding more new exhibitors, new buyer groups and providing new education ideas each year is our way of achieving this objective.”

Guaranteed Growth

Anticipation for IMEX America 2015 builds with the announcement of every new or expanded exhibitor—as does the potential for return on investment for exhibitors and attendees from every point on the industry’s spectrum.

Based on tremendous success in past incarnations of the meetings and events industry’s biggest trade show, more than 50 exhibitors are increasing their IMEX footprint—and dozens of new suppliers are joining the game (there are 60 rookies joining the trade show as of press time, but that number may well climb as the show nears).

New faces will appear from across the globe, including Montage Hotels & Resorts, Cincinnati USA, Oklahoma City CVB, Detroit Metro CVB, SMG Convention & Exhibition Centers U.S., Cuba Travel Services, Hungary, Paraguay CVB and Taiwan.

IMEX America 2015’s flair doesn’t stop there, though. Exhibitors such as Visit Orlando, Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB, Visit Savannah, Cirque du Soleil, Carnival Cruise Lines, Mexico, Bahamas and Thailand are among those returning to the trade show with expanded booths. Hotels are upping their presence as well, with Hilton, Hyatt Hotel & Resorts, Omni Hotels & Resorts and more set to bring more to IMEX than ever before.

Leading by Inspiration

imex-2015 In partnership with Meeting Professionals International (MPI), the speakers set to deliver keynote speeches promise to ensure attendees come away with a transformational experience.

“The education that MPI provides at IMEX America through their morning keynotes…is second to none,” Bauer says, “and provides both buyers and exhibitors alike a true added value benefit to attending IMEX America.”

Filmmaker Josh Tickell, whose environmental messages resonate with millennials, will speak to “future-focused” values of sustainability and communication that already drive the next generation of the industry. Tim David, former illusionist, will share his vast experience with developing connections and intensifying the sense of purpose in the workplace. Nashville songwriter Patrick Henry will bring real-world stories from his book, The Pancake Principle: Seventeen STICKY Ways to Make Your Customers FLIP For You, for expert advice on how to make yourself more memorable.

In addition, industry leaders such as Paul Salinger, vice president of marketing at Oracle; Marsha Flanagan, vice president of learning experience with the International Association of Exhibitions and Events; Annamaria Riffini from the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence’s board of directors; and Dane Risely, Cvent’s vice president of enterprise event marketing will share their insights throughout the event.

Exceptional Education

The speakers won’t be the only source for inspiration at IMEX America 2015. The trade show’s world-class education features—collectively dubbed the “inspiration hub”—are expanding as well.

Eclipsing all previous years, the 2015 event will hold 180 educational sessions over the course of three days. Making it easy for attendees to select which ones will benefit them best, the sessions are divided into 10 tracks, including business skills, marketing and communications, technology and social media, trends and research, creative learning and sustainability.

Attendees with fewer than four years of experience in the industry might target sessions designed for young professionals, and veterans of eight years or more will find advanced sessions for senior professionals.

A downloadable CMP tracking sheet is available on the IMEX America website as well as at the show in the Inspiration Hub.

Get It While You Can

With the most opportunities for education, inspiration and return on investment ever for attendees, IMEX America 2015 promises to be an enriching experience for all involved.

Get Social

IMEX America is always looking to create more opportunities to connect and experience the show before, during and after Las Vegas. Social media and technology are a big part of this, and the 2015 show has more mediums than ever.

The IMEX show app provides a view of the show and its features. It allows buyers and exhibitors to manage their schedules from a smartphone or tablet. The IMEX America 2015 edition will be available in mid-September.

@IMEX_Group on Twitter (with nearly 17,900 followers) and #IMEX15 make up the social media epicenter for all that’s happening. IMEX uses Storify to capture some of the best tweets made throughout the show, then will share them on the IMEX America 2015 blog.

What’s On is a real-time education session listing displayed at the Inspiration Hub and key locations throughout the show floor. This system updates automatically so the screens are always up to date in case of any changes.

iBeacons and Geofencing will be employed at IMEX America to send important messages to attendees and monitor traffic flows on the show floor and at key service points.

IMEX America draws the world’s biggest (and smallest) exhibitors to the show floor

Anyone who has been to one of the previous IMEX America trade shows knows that this is where the biggest names on the supplier side of the industry come out in force. The opportunity for direct business with the array of buyers at the show brings so much potential for return on investment that they roll out with not just property managers and general managers, but often people with titles like chief marketing officer, vice president, president and CEO.

“Combining a strong business environment, top-notch education and a powerful lineup of networking events, IMEX delivers business, connections, opportunities and knowledge sharing that last long after the show closes each year,” Bauer says.

Hot Hotels

The list of hotel brands that exhibit reads like a worldwide who’s who of the hospitality industry. AM Resorts, Melia, Loews, Ritz-Carlton, Hyatt, Marriott, Omni, Sheraton, Caesars Entertainment and Disney Destinations doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface.

“We show planners how they can show off their capabilities,” says John Washko, vice president of group marketing and sales at Atlantis Paradise Island, which will be represented for the third year running. “So we make sure to not just meet, but exceed expectations.”

Smart Destinations

top-meeting-destinations-imex-america The world’s top meeting destinations are plentifully represented at IMEX America. Visit Orlando, boasting the most popular meeting city in the United States, is expanding its presence for 2015. Visit Mexico highlights the country’s all-inclusive resorts, such as Nizuc Resort & Spa, and Visit Scotland showcases the best Scottish hotels and convention centers. Visit Tucson will bring a taste of desert meetings to the show.

The industry’s biggest trade show isn’t just for the biggest destinations. The Greater Palm Springs Conventions and Visitor’s Bureau represents nine resort cities in Southern California, including La Quinta, home to the posh La Quinta Resort & Club. Realize Colorado will be representing properties such as The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, in addition to the state’s array of convention centers and attractions, and South Carolina’s Hilton Head Island Visitor and Conventions Bureau is bringing Director of Sales Jack Reed to tout the area’s beachfront meeting properties.

Venues of All Sizes

Because you can never give enough touches—or pitches from great venues—convention centers and other venues get in on the IMEX America game as well. Venue representatives from Pennsylvania Convention Center (with the most contiguous exhibit space in the Northeast United States) to London’s 11,000-square-foot Barbican arts and events space make the trip.

Naturally, city organizations also chip in on behalf of their venues. Quebec City Business Destination has an easy sell on its hands with the 294,000-square-foot Quebec City Convention Centre located in the heart of the historic city’s downtown district, and Visit Sacramento will likely be touting its state-of the-art convention center complex and the citywide farm-to-fork initiatives—including the variety of restaurant venues available for buyouts in the Northern California city.

A database of IMEX America 2015 exhibitors can be found at portal.imeamerica.com/vex/vexsearch.php.

Networking and business opportunities run deep at IMEX America

Being the biggest meetings industry trade show in the United States, IMEX America sets the stage for near-limitless opportunities for meetings and events professionals to expand their connections and business potential in just three days of jam-packed opportunities.

The show floor—where planners and suppliers can’t walk two steps without rubbing shoulders with someone who would be a valuable contact—is just the tip of the iceberg. Thousands of hosted buyers show up at IMEX America each year to meet with suppliers from around the world. Powerful networking events pepper the schedule each day. Everywhere you look, there’s the opportunity to meet, greet and get down to business with the best in the industry.

Hosted Buyers

Why take the cold-call approach when personalized, prearranged appointments are available for qualified buyers? One of the many highlights for those looking to get some business done at IMEX America is the hosted buyer program. Demand with this program is at an all-time high, and the number of hosted buyers at the 2015 trade show is set to be greater than ever. imex-networking-opportunities

The Numbers Game

More than 2,900 high-level decision makers from the United States, Europe, Latin America, China and other parts of Asia attend with business on their brains—and attract the executive suite from the world’s top suppliers with hopes of sealing as many deals as possible.

IMEX organizers listened to feedback from previous years and have all-new improvements, including restricting appointments between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., giving buyers more time to explore the show floor and attend educational sessions. There will also be expanded food options to ensure healthy eaters have a great selection.

All-Inclusive

Hosted buyers have the power to customize more than 90 percent of their appointments so they can target destinations and individual sellers that fit their needs. Group appointments also expose buyers to destinations and hotel groups they’re not as familiar with, giving buyers and sellers the opportunity to expand their reach and forge new partnerships—all in one place, without the need to make dozens of phone calls and exchange even more emails.

“IMEX America offers me the whole package and helps me to maximize my time out of the office,” says Cathy Berg, director of event sourcing for ACA International.

The opportunities for hosted buyers can get overwhelming, but IMEX America has that covered. The team runs training webinars in advance of the show to help buyers navigate the appointment-making process and share tips to help buyers target their optimal suppliers so buyers and sellers alike come away with RFPs in the offing.

Networking Events

networking-and-business-at-IMEX-America For all attendees, the plethora of networking events at IMEX America 2015 are the places to be after the show floor closes down for the evening (and before the infamous late-night
after-parties begin). Buyers and sellers make it a point to attend as many of these evening events as possible, further facilitating the opportunities to make powerful connections that bring attendees back year after year.

Incentive to Network

SITE Nite, hosted by the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence, is one of the most anticipated networking events each year at IMEX America. More than 1,000 attendees, including SITE members, will fill up Omnia Nightclub at Caesars Palace—along with a cast of costumed Vegas characters—on Monday, Oct. 12 from 7 to 9 p.m.

Also joining the party will be members of CMI 25, Corporate Meetings & Incentive’s exclusive list of the largest and most influential North American meeting and incentive companies focused on the corporate marketplace.

IMEX Idol

Find the meetings and events professionals with hidden artistic skills at DMC Network and Ovation Talent Search. In an industry filled with charisma, it’s no shock to see big personalities take the stage to belt out a few tunes (though it tends to be hilarious). Last year’s winner was Paul Miller from Spectra DMC. Can he repeat as this year’s top vocalist? Join the fun on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at The Bank Nightclub at the Bellagio to enjoy the show find out who the winner will be.

MICE Hall of Fame

It’s the 20th anniversary for the Convention Industry Council’s (CIC) Hall of Leaders and Pacesetter Awards celebration, and they’re shaking things up this year. What was previously an exclusive black-tie event is opening its doors for a more casual cocktail reception at Mandalay Bay’s Light Nightclub on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 6 p.m.

The Hall of Leaders has inducted 114 pioneers in the meetings and events industry over the years, and high-level networking opportunities abound as this year’s group of influencers who have helped shape the future of the industry are honored.

Successful by Association

The unofficial opening party, Association Evening, gets underway Monday, Oct. 12 at 5:30 p.m. at SLS Las Vegas’ Foxtail Nightclub. This event is part of Smart Monday—all attendees registered for the day’s Attention Focus event are automatically registered for the evening party, as are IMEX America’s hosted buyers.

Enjoy cocktails and canapes while mingling with some of the industry’s top sellers—who are attracted to the party by the plethora of buyers looking to pair up with sellers for their upcoming events. Needless to say, this is one of IMEX America’s most popular networking parties, and space quickly gets limited. “I was able to attend the Association Evening and really enjoyed the great food and networking most of all,” says Monique Thompkins of mPaisley’s Event Planning.

Just how big is IMEX America? How many people really show up? How is it growing year after year? How much business really goes on there? Where are the exhibitors and attendees from?

With an event this monumental comes a lot of study and statistics. To help wrap our collective brains around the industry’s biggest trade show, here’s a compilation of facts and figures from 2014. Growth similar to what’s shown here is expected for the 2015 event. Source: IMEX Group

IMEX-by-the-numbers

imex-2015

Everything you need to know about #IMEX15

IMEX America is celebrating its 5^th anniversary as the largest meetings-industry trade show in the U.S., and they’re doing it in electrifying Las Vegas. Hosted by The Sands Expo and Convention Center, IMEX 15 is expected to bring more than 10,000 participants from 150 countries. The 3-day event focuses on delivering exceptional business opportunities to buyers and exhibitors across North America ―and the world.

Participants can expect an unforgettable welcome as the Sands Expo is home to 12,000,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, newly remodeled lobbies and a central atrium which stands an astounding 60-ft tall. To kick things off, IMEX America will be co-hosting their inaugural golf classic with the Center for Exhibition Industry Research. Participants can network and rub elbows with valuable contacts while enjoying a day on the putting green.

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