What If… You Can at ACME

What if… you could ask questions of your convention bureau or convention center colleagues and get real honest answers? And what if you could spend a day with your colleagues sharing experiences and learning best practices? Over 100 marketing and sales executives from convention centers and bureaus across the country had that opportunity at the recently concluded ACME conference, held February 5-6 at the Washington , D.C. Convention Center.

Highlights included a presentation from David Radcliffe on Best Practices in Convention Center Sales and Convention Center Operations. David discussed the joint study group that was developed by DMAI and IAAM to publish the white paper on the Center/CVB relationship. Click here to view the white paper: Best Practices - Convention Center Sales and Convention Center Operations, a Report from the Joint Study Committee

A panel of meeting planners shared their views on what CVBs and Centers can do to market their destinations. The planners including Joyce Crider , Associate Director for the National Conference of Catechetical Leadership; Kirsten Olean , Assistant Vice President Meeting and Conference Management, Association of Medical Colleges and Robert Emmet McLean , CAE, President, REM Association Services, emphasized the importance of a good website that is easy to navigate and doing research about the organization before making contact.

General Session III featured survey results on Tradeshow Strategy and Performance from Michael Hughes , Publisher of Tradeshow Week . Tradeshow Week conducted a survey of ACME members and non members regarding incentive funds and the most valuable event bookings. Click here to view the survey results: ACME - Tradeshow Weeek Incentive Fund Survey

A panel of tradeshow organizers and convention bureau executives discussed Tradeshow Strategy and Performance. The panel, moderated by Lisa Furfine , Associate publisher of Schneider Publishing included Ann McLeod , CEM, Director of Exhibitions and Registration, ASAE and the Center for Association Leadership; Lauren Kramer Whelan, Principal, Meeting Priorities; Krista Flanagan , Vice President Sales & Marketing, Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau and Doug Bennett , Vice President Sales, Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association. During the lively discussion, the panel talked about the growth in specific shows and how this affects the traditional industry shows. They also talked about why it's important to know your show manager and managing expectations prior to the show. All agreed to that pre-show questionnaires and qualifying attendees prior to the show are important components to their success.

A candid panel discussed Working with Third Party Firms and National Sales Offices.

Several of the panelists were put on the spot regarding how their firm's operate – where their funding comes from, disclosure of commissions, and how they work with convention bureaus and the industry as a whole. Panelists included: David Giger , Senior Director, Sales & Industry Relations, Hilton Hotels Corporation, Craig Davis , Vice President Sales & Marketing, Visit Pittsburgh, Andi Emrick , Regional Vice President Helms Briscoe and Peter Green , CMP, Regional Vice President, ConferenceDirect.

The conference ended with the traditional “General Store”, an open forum where attendees are invited to discuss any top of mind issues, Topics ranged from a discussion about Tradeshows and where members are getting their best ROI to opportunity funds – how they are used, who has them and how they are distributed.

Linda Addaman , ACME membership chair was the recipient of the Shawn Myland Corwin award, presented to a volunteer in the organization in memory of past president Shawn Myland Corwin who succumbed to Cancer in October of 2006.

ACME is an association that provides a cooperative liaison between convention center and bureau marketing executives who share mutual interests in advancing and benefiting the convention industry -- and their own destinations.