Welcome to the KCA blog. This is a new endeavor for me and my creative team. I will post as I am out and about or back at the office so you can walk with me through my association adventures. I promise never to be boring and always to bring you interesting news about something, someone or somewhere. So, let’s get started!
I belong to several associations, am on several boards of directors, participate in various capacities with others and am just an interested member in yet others. Time drives our lives so intensely these days that I understand you have to pick and choose your involvement. As an association management company, we also have to value our precious association member volunteers.
I just returned from an annual association meeting in Aruba of all places, it is great when really exciting destinations are selected as it most certainly gets the members motors running and seeking approvals to attend early on. It did for me, it was my first time in Aruba and the education and networking were terrific and so was exploring the local culture. I had a half day on the front and back end of the trips due to the airline schedule so I took advantage and enjoyed two dives, one of a German ship (nearly 60 feet) and another of more coral and gorgeous tropical fish (about 45 feet). On the last morning of the trip, I donned my swimsuit again and tried my feet, balance and strength at windsurfing. I won’t go into that story as it wasn’t pretty.
While there at the Society of Incentive Travel Executives annual meeting, I had lunch with Ray Bloom, CEO of IMEX Group based in London. I have known Ray for years and he had some exciting news that I read about a few days previous. Here is goes.
I had read last week, end of October about IMEX America. Many of you may now about IMEX and what an incredible International exhibition they put on in Frankfurt, Germany each May. Well, they have announced plans to host IMEX America. The new show will take place in Las Vegas from 11-13 October and will continue the IMEX commitment to delivering business opportunities, international hosted buyer programs and industry-wide collaboration. Just think, we will have an incredible influx of international buyers and what a great place to host such and event. If that wasn't enough, the way that Ray Bloom and his group have orchestrated this is absolutely strategic and brilliant.
The new show will take place at the Sands Expo Convention Center at the Venetian/Palazzo from 11 – 13 October 2011. This is the way to bring people within the industry together, just look at this impressive list of the industry's biggest and most powerful associations: SITE (the leading association worldwide for incentive travel and motivational events and the meeting I was at in Aruba) will hold their 2011 Annual Conference immediately following the first show from 13 – 15 October, while ICCA (International Congress & Convention Association), DMAI (Destination Marketing Association International), AIPC (International Association of Congress Centers) and ECM (European Cities Marketing) will all add their support through a number of marketing and educational initiatives. In addition, ASAE (American Society of Association Executives) will organize dedicated association-led education on the day before the show. This it the best part...you association execs and planners out there listen here ....IMEX America will deliver the largest-scale hosted buyer program in North America, where top meetings and incentive buyers from across the US and the world will travel and stay free as IMEX America's guests. For the inaugural show in 2011, we are forecasting 1,500 hosted buyers, of whom 80% will originate from within North America - the balance arriving from across the world. So plan ahead if your budgets don’t allow travel.
I have participated as a hosted buyer in the past and there is a commitment you must meet as far as making a certain number of appointments with the exhibitors, but heck, you get much more accomplished at a show like this that you do in two dozen site visits and the time is much more agreeable with the busy schedules of planners today. Wait and watch the industry trade publications for more information and sign up early for a hosted buyer slot. You will meet with people from all over the world; this is a show not to be missed. I hope to see you there - mark your calendars 11-13 November 2011! For more information see: www.imex-frankfurt.com/imexamerica.html
I belong to several associations, am on several boards of directors, participate in various capacities with others and am just an interested member in yet others. Time drives our lives so intensely these days that I understand you have to pick and choose your involvement. As an association management company, we also have to value our precious association member volunteers.
I just returned from an annual association meeting in Aruba of all places, it is great when really exciting destinations are selected as it most certainly gets the members motors running and seeking approvals to attend early on. It did for me, it was my first time in Aruba and the education and networking were terrific and so was exploring the local culture. I had a half day on the front and back end of the trips due to the airline schedule so I took advantage and enjoyed two dives, one of a German ship (nearly 60 feet) and another of more coral and gorgeous tropical fish (about 45 feet). On the last morning of the trip, I donned my swimsuit again and tried my feet, balance and strength at windsurfing. I won’t go into that story as it wasn’t pretty.
While there at the Society of Incentive Travel Executives annual meeting, I had lunch with Ray Bloom, CEO of IMEX Group based in London. I have known Ray for years and he had some exciting news that I read about a few days previous. Here is goes.
I had read last week, end of October about IMEX America. Many of you may now about IMEX and what an incredible International exhibition they put on in Frankfurt, Germany each May. Well, they have announced plans to host IMEX America. The new show will take place in Las Vegas from 11-13 October and will continue the IMEX commitment to delivering business opportunities, international hosted buyer programs and industry-wide collaboration. Just think, we will have an incredible influx of international buyers and what a great place to host such and event. If that wasn't enough, the way that Ray Bloom and his group have orchestrated this is absolutely strategic and brilliant.
The new show will take place at the Sands Expo Convention Center at the Venetian/Palazzo from 11 – 13 October 2011. This is the way to bring people within the industry together, just look at this impressive list of the industry's biggest and most powerful associations: SITE (the leading association worldwide for incentive travel and motivational events and the meeting I was at in Aruba) will hold their 2011 Annual Conference immediately following the first show from 13 – 15 October, while ICCA (International Congress & Convention Association), DMAI (Destination Marketing Association International), AIPC (International Association of Congress Centers) and ECM (European Cities Marketing) will all add their support through a number of marketing and educational initiatives. In addition, ASAE (American Society of Association Executives) will organize dedicated association-led education on the day before the show. This it the best part...you association execs and planners out there listen here ....IMEX America will deliver the largest-scale hosted buyer program in North America, where top meetings and incentive buyers from across the US and the world will travel and stay free as IMEX America's guests. For the inaugural show in 2011, we are forecasting 1,500 hosted buyers, of whom 80% will originate from within North America - the balance arriving from across the world. So plan ahead if your budgets don’t allow travel.
I have participated as a hosted buyer in the past and there is a commitment you must meet as far as making a certain number of appointments with the exhibitors, but heck, you get much more accomplished at a show like this that you do in two dozen site visits and the time is much more agreeable with the busy schedules of planners today. Wait and watch the industry trade publications for more information and sign up early for a hosted buyer slot. You will meet with people from all over the world; this is a show not to be missed. I hope to see you there - mark your calendars 11-13 November 2011! For more information see: www.imex-frankfurt.com/imexamerica.html
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