The Association Forum of Chicagoland’s Forum magazine is now available in a “digital edition” format—akin to a PDF but enhanced, allowing readers…

Effective direct marketing campaigns can make all the difference in the success of your next meeting. A direct marketing guru who wowed his audience…

Don't sign that hotel or other venue contract until you're sure that the insurance language is correct. If you do sign, you might be agreeing…

Associations are increasingly turning to video analysis of their trade shows to determine how to improve the return on investment for everyone. Find…

The immense popularity of social media enabled by today's Web 2.0 has opened many promising new conference marketing opportunities, but how do you…

An environmental scan from ASAE & The Center identified the supertrends shaping non-profits today and in the future. How is the field reacting?…

Having members provide feedback for your conference might not be a new idea, but NTEN, the Nonprofit Technology Network, has taken things a step

“Pack up the Family Truckster, kids. We’re going to a conference!” While learning and networking are the top priorities for your conventioneers,

The largest trade show in the United States and Canada, according to Tradeshow Week magazine, is the 2004 International CES, hosted by the Consumer…

Texas' reputation as a big-time oil producer and gas guzzler doesn't apply to its meetings venues, which have gotten eco-savvy from the carpet on…

A meeting or event confers the power, prestige, and value your association represents. Discover how marketing professionals can work effectively

Your attendees' time is valuable, and one association helped members manage their time during the annual tradeshow with a customized smartphone applic…

These site selection criteria, developed by the Association for Conflict Resolution, cover logistical considerations such as meeting space, location…

APEX draft standards for green meetings are now available online.

This conference survey designed by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists solicits feedback from conference attendees on topics ranging…

By tailoring your programs to reflect the needs of international visitors, you can make their time more enjoyable while providing them with enriching…

This advertising/sponsorship request, submitted by the Marble Institute of America, is used to solicit advertising and sponsorship for their industry…

Trade shows need strategic reviews, too. Learn how a strategic review of your organization's show can shed light on what you're doing right and what…

Request for Proposal for an annual conference, outlining several points of historical data and anticipated needs for the meeting.

Learn the ins and outs of good insurance coverage for your meetings and events (and the revenue they generate).

Why exhibitors leave events and how to sell them on new ones.

Capitalizing on Your Organization's Learning Potential - An introduction by Barbara Byrd Keenan
In their seminal work, Leaders: The…

What does the Americans With Disabilities Act mean to you as a meeting planner?

Hosting an international show--one outside the United States--requires due diligence. Here, some tips for creating successful meetings abroad.

This second article in a two-part series provides audiovisual guidelines for screens and monitors.

What would you do if all of your big plans for your annual meeting were about to go out the window?

New data from an ASAE & The Center Benchmarking in an Instant study illustrates the compensation and expense reimbursement that associations offer…

Web-based technologies offer tangible ways to substantially boost your trade show revenue and increase exhibitor satisfaction. Find out the latest…

Advice on what to expect, how to create your own system, and when it's OK for volunteers to revert to a paper process. (Hint: Never.)

An association executive director offers his advice on how to boost attendance at your meetings by staying squarely focused on your customers.

A meeting or conference is a perfect opportunity to use social media in a way that both develops community engagement and builds excitement for the…

The economy is prompting more associations to consider globalizing their trade shows. An expert with extensive international exposition experience…

Launch an e-learning center in 120 days? With the right mix of determination and cooperation, one association finds it's no problem at all. (Titled…

The American Traffic Safety Services Association tried a 90-minute, invitation-only event at its annual meeting in February, assembling the major…

Associations need a fundamental shift in their orientation from programs, services, or advocacy positions to delivering value to their members.…

Convention pressrooms can be an association money maker, says the Travel Industry Association of America. It employs several money-making efforts,…

Data gathered during and after a meeting through observations and surveys provide valuable insights that can help associations market and plan future…

With the right partnership, strategic outsourcing can improve your organization's trade show or convention. An association executive describes his…

For all its promise, China is not an easy market to penetrate. Language and cultural barriers, government control and corruption, financial and…

Save money at your next reception by using these formulas to estimate more accurately.

If your client association is partnering or co-locating with an association operating outside an AMC model, will that association usurp the AMC's…

Position Description: Works as an assistant and/or in a clerical capacity supporting the meetings and/or exposition staff.

Extracted…

Does your association need to make a contract on the sharing of documents between two parties? Here is something that can help. This sample confidentiality…

Managing the call for abstracts before your annual meeting can drain staff time and association resources. Here's an online alternative.

This generic copyright transfer agreement provides recommended language for transferring full copyright rights to an association for an article or…

For those of us who have been around for a while, we have seen the signs of challenging times before. Since the first quarter of 2008, corporate

Not long ago, association conventions had a reputation for being a money pit—a huge black hole in your annual expenses through which money

If you're creative with your food and beverage budget, you can save money and let your attendees taste everything Florida has to offer.

An expert in taking association meetings overseas shares her insight into negotiating the monetary issues that arise when dealing with different

Destination Marketing Organizations or Convention and Visitors Bureaus solicit and service all types of travel and tourism business and deliver economic…

With travel dollars the first to be cut during a recession, the meetings industry has taken some serious knocks in the past year. But some associations…

Learn how the creative director of the 1988 Olympic Games closing ceremonies and other high-profile events designs a program to evoke an "a-ha" experience,…

Etiquette advice to help you provide excellent service for members and attendees with disabilities.

As tough times continue for association meetings, not surprisingly, speaker bureaus are experiencing a significant reduction in business. The silver…

Just how do you keep attendance strong in this economy? An industry veteran offers his perspective.

The shifting association environment means many staff members are tasked to take over jobs not in their area of expertise. Three association executives…

It's costing you time and money, and it's invisible unless you know how to look for it. "It" is your association's business processes and practices.…

Associations and nonprofits may be at higher risk for embezzlement than for-profits. A legal expert shares his advice on steps you can take protect…

The latest trends in the exhibit market have more to do with the target audience than with materials, components, or techniques. Find out how today's…

Building community can sound esoteric, maybe even daunting. But the fact is, when it's done, right, it's all about having fun.

The forces of nature and some interesting creatures are helping to green up destinations and meeting venues.

We all like to believe we can see our own events through the eyes of our participants, but that's easier said than done. An association senior executive…

Position Description: Sells booth space at the organization's conventions, tradeshows, and/or expositions.

Extracted from the Association…

The head of a convention and visitors bureau explains how they can help associations and their meeting planners find hidden resources during the

Despite the economy, some associations say their tradeshow sales continue to boom. How can you join them?

What if attendees manned their own booths in the exhibit hall? What if vendors came to you? One tradeshow did just that.

If you're planning a meeting in Florida, don't stay inside—hit the beach. Or the swamp. Hop on a sailboat or a Segway. Whatever you choose, Florida's…

In this month's selection of blog posts that pertain to you, you can join the debate about social media certification, get tips on virtual meetings,…

Participants on the International Section e-mail list offer advice for handling visa requests for conference attendees.

Associations that have launched their own online abstract management system have been able to take a giant step forward in the streamlining of operations…

Many associations are “Going Digital” with their meetings materials as a way to cut costs, increase efficiency, and reduce their environmental impact.…

Just as international attendance to U.S. meetings was making a comeback in 2004, the federal government implemented new measures to improve border…

With the trade embargo lifted, plans are under way for the first-ever U.S. Trade and Industrial Exhibition and Conference in Libya.

Council members share how the September 11 terrorist attacks affected their international meetings.

What are the benefits of a study mission to South America? An Argentina-based professional shares a few.

Was $49.95, Now $24.95

This compilation of articles examines the variables involved in evaluating, planning, and managing an association…

A section council member offers advice on how to get started going green at your meetings.

This checklist, submitted by the American Society of Travel Agents, can be used to evaluate a hotel's social responsibility standards. The checklist…

In a tightening economy where for-profit and not-for-profit companies alike are cutting back on resources and programming, associations are seeing…

An M&E Section Council member recalls what it was like growing up in the meetings industry—ASAE conferences, lobbying trips, and a toy chest full…

If your exhibitors aren't getting the business they want at your tradeshow, these six tips can help. Plus: A new white paper from the Trade Show

Developing an open and honest relationship between a hotel and a meeting planner is crucial to creating a successful and profitable meeting for both…

Associations aren't the only ones who fear low meeting attendance and attrition penalties; your hotel partners want to avoid them, too. Western hoteliers…

A tweetup is simple: it's a meeting organized through Twitter. Their value lies in the combination of social media and traditional events that engage…

Feeling overwhelmed by your out-of-town meeting to-do list? Outsourcing some responsibilities to a DMC may take some of the burden off your plate…

Holding meetings abroad offers cultural paybacks, but also opens the door to potential pitfalls. Association executives share advice about how to…

Two associations offer their take on the technological challenges of their virtual conferences, plus a detailed list of technology considerations…

Hybrid meetings aim to integrate live and virtual events into one successful conference. The American Institute of Architects and the American Society…

Keeping your virtual events out of the jaws of UBIT is a tricky endeavor. Here's what you need to look out for if you want to keep such events tax-exe…

Association executives give their rationales for why they do or don't seek outside assistance with meetings management.

Associations are increasingly providing opportunities for their members to make a positive contribution to their meeting's host city. Learn how you…

Jeff Senior, executive vice president of marketing and sales for Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, provides insight on why hotel rates are rising and offers…

A Meetings & Expositions Section Council member recaps ASAE & The Center’s recent International Conference.

Five tips to help you meet global expectations for conference sustainability.

A TV appearance can give your association instant visibility. But if the show doesn't appeal to the kind of viewers you actually want to attract,…

A section council member quizzes a leading advocate on making meetings more environmentally friendly. Part I of this informative interview appeared…

A section council member quizzes a leading advocate on making meetings more environmentally friendly. Part two of his interview will appear in the…

There are more options than ever for grabbing hold of your conference's content. Deciding what to save, how to save it, and how to use it later means…

Your colleagues discuss the wisdom of scheduling early-morning, meet-greet-and-eat sessions at international conferences. Association executives

"The concept of green conferences really needs legs," one association pro points out. "Too may companies are claiming green processes that are motivated…

Your colleagues offer insights on the positive and negative aspects of offering discounted pricing for conference fees to members and nonmembers

Your colleagues debate the issues surrounding charging registration fees in international host countries' currencies. Points considered include opening…

Your colleagues discuss foreign nationals as paid speakers at events in the United States.

Are you attracting enough new registrants or repeat attendees to your conferences? How do you use conference attendance to judge member engagement?…

Your seminar is over, and it's time to provide feedback to your speakers. What (and how much) do you tell them? Your colleagues share their thoughts.…

Your colleagues discuss how to attract more participation in your meetings from international groups and how fellowships can be used to benefit both…

Your association is reaching a milestone—25, 50, 75 years—and you want to let people know. How can you share your anniversary with members? Your

Members share their ideas on how to deal with the problems associated with people who reserve hotel rooms in the designated room block without a

Your colleagues discuss recommendations for online meeting registration systems.

How do you decide which speakers to invite back? Listserver participants debate this question and others related to effective conference evaluation.…

To translate, or not to translate? Your colleagues explore the pros and cons associated with translation (written) and interpretation (spoken) at…

What does it take to be a great webinar speaker? Where do you look for fresh session topics and themes? Listserver participants tell all.

Members discuss the best ways to recognize members and other participants at meetings.

This article reviews the process ASAE & The Center went through when implementing 3 paperless conferences including lessons learned in the form of…

Engaging our peers is critical now more than ever in the current economic climate. Economic challenges test us all daily as we lead our organizations…

Surveys and focus groups will only get you so far; there’s no better data for making strategic meetings decisions than videotape. Learn how an eye…

Meetings can easily fall prey to external factors. One association learned that by listening carefully to what its attendees said they wanted, it…

The American Association of Neurological Surgeons gave each of their 3,500 meeting attendees iPod Touch devices loaded with meeting content and give…

Learn how to take a methodical, step-by-step approach to ensuring your meeting achieves the return on investment you intended.

As market clout shifts back to hotels, your meeting budget could live or die by how skillfully you negotiate the attrition clause in your next hotel…

Participation in face-to-face meetings with legislators may be the most effective and satisfying way to advocate for your association. Be sure you…

An experienced presenter reveals what he wishes all meeting planners would keep in their problem-solving toolbelts.

Keeping your association's mission in mind as you market your meetings can provide a creative and fruitful perspective. View your meetings as opportunities…

Here are economical ideas for using the Internet to promote your events.

Head back to college for your meeting, where updated venues with state-of-the-art technology and renowned instructors await your group. Choosing

Get more value out of your next meeting's evaluation forms.

Position Description: Administers and coordinates annual meetings, seminars, and/or board meetings for the organization. May be involved

The first part of this four-part article leads you to meeting success with the first 25 of 101 time- and money-saving tips.

The final installment of this four-part series leads you to meeting success with useful time- and money-saving tips.

The final article in a series on determining a meeting's return on investment looks at how suppliers add value to meeting content and delivery and…

When associations and other organizations try new meeting formats, it's not just for novelty-it's a step toward better content delivery. What's more,…

In this post-September 11 environment, take stock of what you have learned, consider new opportunities, and review key aspects of planning and preparation…

Meeting planners are discovering how personal digital assistants can be used to enhance traditional meeting brochures.

Two experts on utilizing technology to build a better meetings model discuss the future of meetings and what it means to associations.

Position Description: Acts as the overall planner and manager of the organization’s conventions and other meetings. In some organizations,…

This agreement is signed each year by CFA Institute's member societies details the terms and conditions for utilizing the resources available from…

This chapter affiliation agreement is used by the American College of Healthcare Executives to establish the terms of responsibility for organizations…

Is your association looking to do a workshop as a cosponsor with another association? Then, this sample may be able to help. This comprehensive and…

Whether you're looking for a creative way to make your mission statement come alive or just want to get away from the standard-issue hotel ballroom,…

Results of ASAE & The Center's new instant benchmarking surveys on meeting evaluations show that evaluations are most often conducted by in-house…

Meeting growth can be a blessing and a curse. Higher attendance leads to greater networking, more buyers for your exhibitors, and thus more exhibitors…

This comprehensive sample consulting services agreement, provided by the Newspaper Association of America, is a great tool for associations looking…

This comprehensive sample contractual agreement, provided by the Newspaper Association of America, is a great tool for associations looking to update…

This sample liability release template was submitted by the National Athletic Trainers Association. The sample template is designed for NATA to be…

With tighter budgets and lower attendance typical in the current economy, negotiating with your conference speakers is more important than ever.

This acclaimed conference planning expert examines all aspects of conference planning. He explains how you can make your meetings active learning…

Consider these statements to determine whether an in-person or remote gathering will work best for your next meeting.

A comprehensive study by the Convention Industry Council

The mission of the Black Women's Health Imperative, Washington, D.C., is clear: "to promote optimum health for black women across the life span -physically,…

Creative use of technology and willingness to develop niche events for your members just might increase attendance at your "big event."

The duties of your board and committees necessitate that they meet several times per year, but the cost of bringing their members together for face-to-face…

Summits can be powerful events, but bringing all the right people together, in the right place and in the right way, sure isn't easy. These successful…

When to consider hybrid conference technology.

Find out how personalized URLs are being used by savvy marketers and what they might bring to your next conference marketing campaign.

Creating a theme for your annual conference may be the best and easiest way to breathe new life into the biggest event for your organization while…

Every time a member interacts with your association, it's a chance to collect data on his or her payment methods, meeting attendance frequency, and…

Find out how to make the most of your site visits with these tips from your meeting planning colleagues.

How well do meeting planners and suppliers know each other and how each group likes to do business? The moderator of a lively interchange between…

In addition to a summary of major findings, this useful benchmarking tool contains over 50 tables of data covering the areas of public relations,…

This valuable benchmarking tool contains over 65 tables of data on conventions, meeting logistics, education programs, certification, and accreditation.…

How do partnerships fit into your business model? How can partnerships support achievement of your organization’s goals? What are the characteristics…

Learn how to use focus groups and a needs assessment to quickly revitalize an annual seminar.

Your conference attendees could be booking in another organization's room block right now—leaving your official block undersold and your association…

You don't have to reinvent the wheel every time you begin your annual conference marketing campaign. Follow these tried and true meetings marketing…

A number of North American corporations and industries are leveraging the benefits of working within a diversified global marketplace. What can a…

Can you adapt your meetings and conferences in order to deliver new relevance and value to your target markets?

Turn to these guidelines when you're organizing your association's next general assembly abroad. Lessons learned from experiences in Italy and Kenya…

This sample document, submitted by Lisa Hix of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP as a handout for the 2007 Annual Association Law Symposium, contains…

The American Society for Surgery of the Hand’s cost-cutting effort didn’t just save money. It also built a more cohesive staff culture.

Can something as simple as assigned seating add energy to your next PAC event? Staff in the GR department at the American Bakers Association learned…

Among all the aspects of an event that must be carefully planned, security is an absolute must. An expert on security at association conferences

Meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions-Shanghai is on its way to achieving true global status as a MICE meeting place. Robin Lokerman,…

Before you agree to publish a newspaper at your annual meeting, here's what you need to know about setting goals, anticipating expenses, and managing…

Appraising Your Records Management Program; Sharing Solutions; Selecting New Board Members.

From the Colorado Rockies to the Aloha State, the Western United States is big, bold, and spacious. And despite its grandeur, it's perfect for your…

Two attorneys offer advice on avoiding potential problems associated with hotel contracts, based on their highly successful seminar at last month's…

An economic downturn separates the great shows from the merely good ones—and only the great shows are sure to survive. Make sure yours is one of

Where do most convention dailies end up? They usually can be found in the trash or stuffed at the bottom of tote bags. Your colleagues suggest strategies…

Learn how PlanSoft's two-part solution to more efficient meeting planning may benefit your assciation.

A meetings-technology specialist gives an executive's-eye-view of the most important new meeting-technology tools--and what they mean for your members,…

In a tight economy, why pay to fly a speaker in to your conference in Texas? The state is home to hundreds of skilled and engaging speakers to meet…

More and more associations are embracing the concepts contained in 7 Measures of Success: What Remarkable Associations Do That Others Don't.…

Three strategies, echoing the philosophies from Sun-Tzu’s "The Art of War," enabled this writer to execute a global event that synthesized East with…

Your Southeast event already features plenty of the locale's sights, smells, and tastes. The speakers you invite can add regional flavor to what

Compared to the corporate market, associations traditionally experience a delayed financial impact in a slower economy. Even so, now is not the time…

There's no one-size-fits-all approach to expanding association membership and services into the international arena. An organization must find its…

Members had a creative solution to the cancellation of the 2010 Technology Conference.

Having to print out your own schedules and handouts does not make a conference paperless. Shouldn't there be a better way? Marshall Lipson shares…

A working plan will help you place, promote, and price your regional seminar. HereÆs how.

Trade shows are nothing to play around with — unless you're in the toy business. Find out how the toy industry's oldest trade show celebrates its…

What do Harry Truman and walking a conference floor have to do with each other? More than you might think, as Thomas M. Bohn, CAE, explains.

When conference planning deadlines mean that “late-breaking,” timely session topics are chosen six months before the event, you—and your attendees—can…

An executive director believes that her association has outgrown the election process that served it so well in the early days. But what process…

Looking for the next big thing in tradeshows? It may be closer than you think. Associations that have found success with new and different tradeshow…

Trade show giveaways can create valuable buzz in your booth. The results of a recent survey provide insight into what's hot and what's not in this…

This sample contact can be used if you intend to have your copyrighted material translated into another language and distributed by a third party.…

It isn't always easy to journey from one country to another. In this piece, the author takes us back 40 years to traveling between the Netherlands…

A recent conference in Italy showed one association professional the pros and cons of hosting a conference in a historic European city.

Learn the answers to timely questions, from "How does a Latin American setting enhance the event atmosphere?" to "What exactly is the crime/security…

A meeting without community is just a bunch of people breathing the same air. Here are some proven ways to create genuine community at your gatherings…

Get a glimpse of how to produce memorable general sessions. Find out when to start planning, how to incorporate the latest technology, and cutting…

When you are the head of a firm that produces some of the highest profile mega tradeshows in the world, you naturally learn a lot about what it takes…

Many associations find benefits in exhibiting at tradeshows (not just hosting their own). Learn some tips about effectively conveying the value of…

Your association meetings generate a wealth of intellectual capital that often disappears after the event. Using the Internet to leverage information…

Watch social media consultant Maddie Grant, CAE, interview ASAE & The Center’s Chief Technology Officer Reggie Henry, CAE, about the technology tools…

An unexpected change in plans leads Educause conference planners to discover the benefits of teleconferencing.

Ten tips for building member community via Second Life. Plus: Close-Up: How One Association Uses Second Life

You can learn a lot about the right way to manage volunteers by walking a mile (or 10) in their shoes.

Your conference attendees are deeply affected by the finer points of a meeting, such as registration lines, room sizes, signage, and refreshments.…

Is your convention generating the return on investment that you and your participants expect? Seven ROI tools can help you measure your results and…

You've heard about it, read about it, and perhaps talked about it. Now it's time to learn about it: Webcasting.

The second part of this article explains why associations should Webcast and provides a checklist for selecting a Webcasting provider.

Your association is one of a kind. Your events can be, too, with the right location and the right planning.

In the case of special events, Murphy's law usually applies—whatever can go wrong, will go wrong. To protect your upcoming special event from an

Inspired by the work of business researchers Jim Collins and Jerry Porras, a group of association executives set out to discover what separates…

Meeting planners: Answer these questions for a more successful event—and happier speakers.

Executive Update recently commissioned VERIS Consulting to perform a study on the meetings and conventions conducted by Washington, DC-area…

Event sponsorships can enhance your budget but they often come with strings attached. An M&E Section Council member provides a checklist of ways…