 Networking opportunities, healthy attendance and a positive meetings outlook highlighted the national Affordable Meetings event held by Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International at the Washington D.C. Convention Center in September. According to reports, 1,622 meeting and event professionals attended the 18th Annual HSMAI Affordable Meetings® National Show, which featured 429 exhibitors filling 508 booths.
The impressive attendance figures indicate a healthy market for meetings in spite of what some see as a softening economic climate. However, the numbers were only a part of the story. Exhibitors noticed that caliber of the  planners was high. "When you come to the registration area you already know you get quality attendees," said David M. Jackson, CMP, Regional Sales Manager for the Pocono Mountains Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Jackson has been going to the Affordable National event since 1998 and praised its position as one of the most crucial industry events of the year. "It’s the Super Bowl of tradeshows," he added.
 "It is a show we actually get the most response from," agreed Ray Shepard, Director of Field Marketing with Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts who has attended all three Affordable Meetings annual shows for the past four years. "It gives us a cross section of planners including corporate meetings, associations, as well as government organizers. The planners take the time to share their RFPs with us and we at the Crowne Plaza group have a lot of new facilities for them"
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The Affordable Meetings National Show showcased an enhanced agenda this year with the addition of two dynamic  general sessions and two networking luncheons designed to further enrich the experience for show attendees. Planning professionals at all levels experienced expert insight, fresh ideas and inspirational advice in the interest of producing more successful, cost-effective meetings. The educational program catered to a wide range of expertise, from beginner and part-time planners, to experienced professionals with over 10 years of industry practice.
"We especially like the new format of the lunch because it added another networking segment to the event," said Nancy Bass, Sales Manager for the Richmond Virginia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau. "We make a lot of friends and get to expose the benefits of Richmond."
"The tradeshow is great and strong and it’s nice to make the connections to the key cities," said Kelly Landis meeting planner for Merck & Company. 
"Designed for meeting planners looking to increase resources for organizing high-caliber events, as well as for exhibitors seeking to target quality planners, the National show attracts a wide selection of individuals from across  the meeting planning spectrum and throughout the country," said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, President and CEO of HSMAI. "We are proud of the exceptional educational, networking, and business-generating opportunities, that allow them to remain on the cutting-edge of essential industry information in the ever-changing society."
"The seminars are phenomenal with great information even for exhibitors," said Bradley Bosfield, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, who has attended Affordable Meetings shows for the past five years. However, the real opportunity was the quality and quantity of attendees. Bosfield added, "I like the ratio of planners to exhibitors."
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