ART CREDIT
special section
AIBTM Defining the future of meetings … together
Nearly 1,000 regional and international host- ed buyers, 707 exhibitors, and more than 3,000 industry professionals flooded McCor- mick Place in Chicago from June 11–13 for the largest AIBTM (The Americas Incentive, Busi- ness Travel & Meetings Exhibition) program to date. The aim for this year’s leading exhibition for the North American meetings and events industry was to help professionals plan ahead, equipping them with the necessary tools for conferences of the future. Event professionals could choose from
approximately 35 education sessions and workshops, all covering a wide breadth of topics, such as the importance of social networking, new advancements in indus- try technology, and even what nutrient-rich foods help the body and brain thrive. AIBTM also offers a convenient pre-scheduled appointment system, resulting in about
15,000 business meetings between hosted buyers and exhibitors at the 2013 show. In its third year, this one-of-a-kind exhibition
is already gaining steam, as AIBTM 2013 saw nearly a 30-percent increase in hosted buy- ers and more than 60 new exhibitors. Hosted buyers receive free airfare, accommodations, and airport transfers based on their commit- ment to meet with at least eight suppliers a day during the trade show. AIBTM also ensures the attendance of top-level decision makers. Designed with eficiency in mind, AIBTM
allows industry professionals to network, make crucial contacts from around the globe, keep up with bleeding-edge technol- ogy, and earn CEU clock hours. From this year’s luncheon keynote on the “kinship economy” and the importance of collabora- tion in today’s meetings world, by J. Walker Smith, an analyst on U.S. consumer trends, to
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Meetings that matter
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has a long history of social and environmental consciousness that extends behind the scenes and to every- day guest experiences. For more than two decades, the luxury hotel brand has worked with clients, colleagues, and community part- ners to ensure that every guest can have a pos- itive impact on the destination they’re visiting. Fairmont’s “Meetings That Matter” program is just one of the ways the brand brings cor- porate social responsibility into the meeting room, giving groups the opportunity to make a difference through charitable donations and group-volunteer activities. As a testament to the brand’s commitment
to the program, Fairmont’s annual General Managers meeting, held this past January in Dubai, made a $10,000 donation to Operation Smile. Operation Smile provides life-changing
98 PCMA CONVENE SEPTEMBER 2013
surgeries to children with facial deformities, and is the charity of choice for Fairmont Bab al Bahr and Fairmont The Palm, where the General Managers meeting was held. Through “Meetings That Matter,” planners
booking a new 2013 meeting with a minimum of 50 room nights may donate 10 percent of the room revenue generated by the event to a charity of their choice. For a more hands- on approach, planners can book innovative team-building activities that get their attend- ees involved in the local community. There is a long list of participating nonprofits world- wide, from DC Central Kitchen, where attend- ees can help the organization prepare more than 4,000 meals a day for those in need, to the Khayrazad Organization for Social Care in Egypt. Groups can volunteer to clean up waterways, lend a helping hand to local
Packing them in At AIBTM 2013, 30 percent more hosted buyers and 60 new exhibitors filled Chicago’s McCormick Place.
the constant buzz on the show floor, AIBTM always delivers exceptional content to excep- tional crowds. Next year’s exhibition will be held June 10–12 at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center.
For more information:
aibtm.com
Keep growing Fairmont partners with Grow Pittsburgh, so attendees can help further the organization’s mission of promoting responsible urban food production.
schoolchildren, support local craftspeople, and much more.
For more information:
fairmont.com/ promotions/meetingsthatmatter
PCMA.ORG
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