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Positive Attitude Permeates 2010 ASAE Springtime: Planners More Optimistic Than Last Year

At ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership's Springtime 2010, Virginia Beach encouraged meeting planners to “Bring it to the Beach.” From left to right: Cliff Myers, Convention Sales Manager, Virginia Beach Convention Center, Justin Beale, Corporate Sales Manager, Virginia Beach Resort Hotel & Conference Center, Elizabeth Parker, Director of Sales & Marketing, Sheraton Virginia Beach Oceanfront Hotel, Daniel J. Palaschak, Director of Sales & Marketing, Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront, Al Hutchinson, Vice President of Convention Sales & Marketing, Virginia Beach Convention Center and Paul A. Thompson Jr., Assistant Director of Sales, Virginia Beach Resort Hotel & Conference Center.

By Timothy Herrick

Editorial Director

Washington D.C. – Nearly 4,000 meeting industry members attended the ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership’s 2010 Springtime Expo, a day-long convention held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington D.C. on May 27. The attendance figures may not have dramatically increased compared to 2009, and meeting budgets remain austere, but exhibitors and attendees alike noted the atmosphere was palatably optimistic for this annual, mid-year event.

“I think there is some pent-up demand from last year,” said Jennifer L. Lucio, President & CEO, 305 Communications and Events, a Washington D.C.-based management, marketing and public relations firm. Lucio is also the current Chair of the Network of Latino Meeting Professionals, who also had a booth on the trade-show floor. “I think there’s a feeling the worst is over, the budgets are as

Many exhibitors were impressed with the caliber of the 2010 Springtime attendee. Planner attendance may have dipped but Springtime lived up to its reputation for attracting a quality core of Meeting Planners

lean as they can get. But people are ready to do business.”

“I’ve talked with a lot of meeting planners,” said Kim Rogers, Sales Department Head, the Georgia Center, The University of Georgia’s Conference Center and Hotel in Athens, Georgia. “The people who attended Springtime are the planners, the people I will be dealing with. Other industry events, you get a lot of other staff from associations, but not always the planner. There are a lot of planners here. That’s what makes Springtime unique.”

“I would use the phrase cautiously optimistic,” said Justin Markle, National Sales Manager, Duke Energy Convention Center, in Cincinnati, Ohio. “But last year, there was very little optimism so I’ll take cautiously optimistic any day over that.”

In addition to the extensive trade-show floor featuring destinations and meeting venues as well as meeting planner product and service providers, Springtime incorporates a range of seminars, networking opportunities and other events. "Springtime is the biggest one-day show in the meetings industry and a great opportunity for exhibitors and members of the association community to connect, develop new contacts and learn about new association services,” said John H. Graham IV, CAE, President and CEO, ASAE & The Center.

A sign of the times: Meeting Planners and Venues have entered into more intensive price negotiations. “We’re looking at price, we’re looking to negotiate for the best prices. Cancellation is not an option, but I think the feeling is better than last year,” said Jennifer J. McVeigh, CMP, Conference Program Manager, National Association for the Education of Young Children. “Prices have become more negotiable.”

According to the ASAE & The Center, the total number of 3,908 participants included 2,030 attendees and 1,878 exhibitors who represented 538 exhibiting companies. The ratio at the expo hall was a solid 52 percent of ‘buyers (i.e. meeting planners) to 48 percent sellers (industry ‘partners’). Although many of the booths experienced high-traffic and many times during the course of the afternoon, some aisles where blocked by large clusters of attendees, attendance actually was slightly off: ASAE reports indicate that 98 less people attended the 2010 event compared to 2009, the bulk of them Meeting Planners (as opposed to exhibitors).

Christine Nord, Director of National Accounts of Hershey Meetings explaining to a Springtime Attendee the advantages of holding his meeting in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Her enthusiasm is warranted – Hershey Meetings includes Hotel Hershey, which features 278 rooms, including 48 Premium Cottage rooms and the 665-room Hershey Lodge – together they provide more than 125,000 square feet of meeting space

Many exhibitors were impressed with the caliber of the 2010 Springtime attendee. Planner attendance may have dipped but Springtime lived up to its reputation for attracting a quality core of Meeting Planners. “I’ve talked with a lot of meeting planners,” said Kim Rogers, Sales Department Head, the Georgia Center, The University of Georgia’s Conference Center and Hotel in Athens, Georgia. “The people who attended Springtime are the planners, the people I will be dealing with. Other industry events, you get a lot of other staff from associations, but not always the planner. There are a lot of planners here. That’s what makes Springtime unique.”

The meetings industry has been a buyer’s market for the last few years and that remained evident at the 2010 Springtime expo. Even

Nearly 4,000 meeting industry members attended the ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership’s 2010 Springtime Expo, a day-long convention held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington D.C. on May 27. The attendance figures may not have dramatically increased compared to 2009, and meeting budgets remain austere, but exhibitors and attendees alike noted the atmosphere was palatably optimistic for this annual, mid-year event.

with limited budgets, Planners are more securely in the driver’s seat than in recent times, as venues and CVBs, faced with a soft economy, meeting attendance declines and event cancellations, are going the extra mile to secure bookings. “Venues are working with the planners on budget like never before,” said Cheri Gainor, a freelance Meeting Planner and Consultant based in Maryland. “Whatever savings they can give, planners are getting.”

“I run the education part of an association, and continuing education is a requirement,” said Jennifer J. McVeigh, CMP, Conference

The Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau seemed busy throughout day enticing planners with freshly made, authentic “Philly Cheese Steaks,” as well as the latest on the Pennsylvania Convention Center expansion, which will enlarge that venue to an estimated 1 million square feet by March 2011.

Program Manager, National Association for the Education of Young Children. “We’re looking at price, we’re looking to negotiate for the best prices. Cancellation is not an option, but I think the feeling is better than last year. Prices have become more negotiable.”

For an in-depth spotlight on the state of the partnership between Meeting Planners and venues/destinations

“I think there some pent-up demand,” said Jennifer L. Lucio, President & CEO, 305 Communications and Events, a Washington D.C.-based management, marketing and public relations firm. “I think there’s a feeling the worst is over, the budgets are as lean as they can get. But people are ready to do business."

click here.

For an exclusive Facilitiesonline Springtime PhotoGallery click here.

Economic troubles, a soft-economy and overall uncertainty not only dominated the news, but seemed to stall the industry and many projects were put on hold. That malaise seemed mostly dissipated at this year’s

Meeting Planners attending the 2010 ASAE Springtime crowded the San Diego booth for the latest news on the San Diego Convention Center expansion. In April, an agreement finally reached enabling the acquisition of land supporting the addition of 200,000 square feet of exhibit space, 100,000 square feet of meeting rooms and 80,000 square feet of multi-purpose ballrooms to this California venue

event with several booths publicizing new and/or expanded meeting facilities due to go online in the near future. Marriot International new meeting hotel developments featured at the ASAE event include the newly opened JW Marriott Indianapolis, which anchors the Marriott Place Indianapolis, a Meeting Hotel Complex with 104,000 square feet of meeting space and JW Marriott Chicago, due to open September 2010, which features 37 meeting rooms and 44,000 square feet of total meeting space. The Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureauhosted what seemed to be a busy booth throughout day enticing planners with freshly made, authentic “Philly Cheese Steaks,” as well as the latest on the Pennsylvania Convention Center expansion, which will enlarge that venue to an estimated 1 million square feet by March 2011. Other Convention Centers due to go online by 2011 include Canada’s new Ottawa Convention Centre, featuring 192,000 square feet of flexible meeting/exhibition space, including 28 meeting

In 2009, the city broke ground on the Las Cruces Convention Center, due to be completed by the end of 2010 (or early 2011), one of a handful of new convention centers announced at the 2010 ASAE Springtime. “The attitude among the planners is better this year,” said Rochelle Miller-Hernandez, Convention Sales Manager, Las Cruces Convention & Visitors Bureau. “They’re looking ahead. It’s more positive

rooms and the 55,000-square-foot Las Cruces Convention Center in Las Cruces, New Mexico, which features 30,000 square feet of meeting space, a 14,500-square-foot-Exhibition Hall, 9,000-square-foot ballroom and six break-out rooms.

“The attitude among the planners is better this year,” said Rochelle Miller-Hernandez, Convention Sales

“Venues are working with the planners on budget like never before,” said Cheri Gainor, a freelance Meeting Planner and Consultant based in Maryland. “Whatever savings they can give, planners are getting.”

Manager, Las Cruces Convention & Visitors Bureau. “They’re looking ahead. It’s more positive.”

"There is nothing better than networking at face-to-face events like Springtime," said Graham. “With lots of great energy throughout the day, this year's event was clearly a success.”

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