contents Convene® TheMagazine of the Professional ConventionManagementAssociation Cover Story

CMP SERIES Menu: Impossible 38 Seven talented chefs have two things in common: They work in the meetings industry, cooking for convention centers and hotels. And they agreed to participate in our “Menu: Impossible” challenge— whipping up creative, palate-teasing dishes for a (strictly hypothetical) international cocktail reception and sit-down dinner. Warning: Don’t read this while you’re hungry. Christopher Durso

6_11 Volume 25, Issue 6

49 Focus Group

Meditation can improve concentration. Everyone knows that —

but a new study from the Kyoto Convention Bureau has proved it. Here’s how to help attendees

get more out of your meetings by incorporating “mindfulness” practices into them. Barbara Palmer

EDUCATION CONFERENCE PREVIEW Gary Shapiro 55 The president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association thinks the United States has lost its economic mojo— and later this month, he’ll tell a general- session audience at the PCMA Education Conference what associations and meetings can do about it. Christopher Durso

2 pcmaconvene June 2011 www.pcma.org

Cover illustration by Bo Lundberg