Press Clippings

IBTM AMERICA UNVEILS NEW MEETING PODS FORMAT FOR 2015 EVENT
The new meeting pods are said to provide exhibitors with a hassle-free, turnkey solution to allow them the privacy to focus strictly on the business of meetings, with no booth, freight, set-up or tear down costs, and one price covers everything, .....

IBTM America Unveils New 'Meeting Pod'
ibtm america will provide a mutually match pre-scheduled appointment system between exhibitors and Hosted Buyers. Up to 250 exhibitors and meeting planners will be in attendance creating a 1:1 ratio......

IBTM America Unveils New 'Meeting Pod'
The pods themselves are designed to be a "hassle-free, turnkey" solution, according to RTE, which is offering the pods to exhibitors for a flat fee......

Hosted Buyer Registration Open for IBTM America 2015
Hosted buyer registration for next year's IBTM America trade show goes live this week, show organizer Reed Exhibitions .....

IBTM AMERICA 2015 HOSTED BUYER PROGRAMME OPENS AHEAD OF JUNE SHOW
The new invitation-only event will see 250 suppliers meet with the same number of planners from the global meetings industry on a 1:1 ration in the privacy of a meeting pod designed solely for the purpose of the diary of appointments each day.....

Hosted Buyer programme opens for IBTM America 2015
For the first time, the organisers Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) will be providing a mutual match appointment system based on the preferences of both buyers and suppliers resulting in up to 30 pre-scheduled appointments.......

IBTM America abre inscrições para hosted buyers
O novo formato do evento irá juntar 250 fornecedores com o mesmo número de profissionai da indústria global de reuniões, num encontro privado projectado exclusivamente para a finalidade do diário de compromissos de cada dia......

The Hosted-Buyer Format Is a Win-Win
At the close of the fourth annual Americas Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings (AIBTM) show this past June, organizers announced a re-imagined format. Beginning in 2015, IBTM America, as it's now called, will eschew the traditional trade-show floor to focus more exclusively on the one-on-one meetings of the show's hosted-buyer program......

The New Trade Show Booth & More Cool New Enchancements To AIBTM (NOW IBTM)
ORLANDO, Fla. When AIBTM (a hosted-buyer trade show/conference for meeting planners) blows through the Windy City next June, organizers are confident the new name and format will be met with red-hot reviews.....

Meet at Exhibition | AIBTM – Orlando
The AIBTM 2014 event—took place at the Orange County Convention Center, West Building in Orlando, Florida, from 10 – 12th June. AIBTM has encouraged all delegates to download the app in advance in order to enhance.....

Chicago tops among meeting destinations in new survey
Chicago may have its issues, including crime, high taxes and some really lousy weather months. Still, the city ranked as the top meetings destination in the nation in a new survey out this week from McLean, VA.-based Cvent (NYSE: CVT), a cloud-based event management company.This is the third year Cvent has conducted the survey, which is based on a variety of data, ......

Host a Disney Meetings Special Event at the GM Test Track Corporate Lounge at Epcot
During AIBTM 2014 held in Orlando, Anita Goodstory (receptionist) and the Disney Meetings team provided a brief overview of the meetings experience while the Disney's fab 5 — Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy and Pluto......

Meetings Mean Business Coalition Wants Help Spreading Its Message
Last week's panel reaffirmed the collective strength and purpose of the coalition. However, while it's important to keep promoting the MMBC to the industry as a whole, the panelists affirmed there needs to be more testimonials and empirical evidence supporting that mission from people not directly involved in the industry......

AIBTM to Shrink, Rebrand
The tradeshow, operated by Reed Travel Exhibitions, will limit attendance to 250 buyers and 250 exhibitors, and offer a standardized pod system for 8-by-8-foot exhibits, which will be uniformly priced at $9,500 and include electricity, furniture and Internet connection, among other features......

AIBTM Changes Name, Format
The new experience will be more intimate than the current traditional trade show model, which drew 1,200 buyers and 508 exhibitors to Orlando this year. Next year's IBTM America event, which will be held in Chicago, will host 250 buyers and make booths available to 250 exhibitors. The buyer breakdown will be 80 percent domestic and 20 percent international......

AIBTM Rebrands and Reinvents its Trade Show for 2015
Exhibitors had barely begun breaking down their booths at this year's AIBTM show in Orlando this week when news broke that Reed Exhibition's American hosted-buyer event would be reinventing itself for 2015. With a new moniker—IBTM America 2015—the next version of the four-year-old Americas Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exposition will be limited to just 250 senior corporate, association, government, and third-party decision-makers who do business in the U.S. as well as abroad. This will be a considerable downsizing: AIBTM drew approximately 1,200 buyers to this year's show.......

BREAKING: Interview with Michael J. Lyons of AIBTM

AIBTM Announces Dramatic Change to Show Format for 2015
AIBTM, the Americas Incentive Business Travel and Meetings Expo, announced major changes to its format for the 2015 event, to be held in June in Chicago. The convention and trade show, which this year drew 1,200 buyers and 508 exhibitors to Orlando, will become an exclusive, invitation-only event limited to 250 suppliers and 250 hosted buyers. The show floor will feature a standardized, pre-set booth format, with an all-inclusive flat fee to exhibitors of $9,500, with no additional stand costs, drayage or freight. The reinvented show will be called IBTM America, announced Sallie Coventry, portfolio director of the IBTM Global Events Portfolio, at an AIBTM press conference this morning. Over the course of two days, participants will have 30 appointments (up from the current minimum requirement of eight), all based on mutual matches......

New Dynamic trade show format for Chicago 2015
Ibtm America 2015 is to be the new name for a transformation of the event that took place as Aibtm in Florida this week. The new concept is simple but dynamic. Ibtm America will remove the costs associated with exhibiting at a trade show by designing a unique turnkey solution where an innovative pod design, completely integrated.....

Reed goes one-on-one for IBTM America
The organiser says IBTM America will remove the costs associated with exhibiting at a trade show by designing a unique turnkey solution with a modular pod design and standard cost package. It will effectively be 'plug and play', Coventry told a press conference on the final day of the 2014 AIBTM show in Orange County Convention Center, 12 June.....

Reed to rebrand AIBTM as IBTM America
Following a consultation with the industry, Reed Exhibitions is to revamp its AIBTM trade show to prioritise time for meetings in a "cost-effective" way, featuring a one-to-one meetings format in modular pods.....

Reed reveals new look for IBTM America in 2015
Sallie Coventry, portfolio director for IBTM Global Events Portfolio, said the move is in response to customer demand and does not mark a retreat.....

IBTM America – New Dynamic Trade Show Format for Chicago 2015
In consultation with the industry, and members of the US Advisory Board, who identified the need for trade shows in this industry to prioritise the time given to meetings with premium buyers but in the most cost effective way, the new event will have now have a 1-1 ratio of buyers and suppliers.....

AIBTM to Shrink, Rebrand
"It will be simple, hassle-free and focus on the thing that counts—business," said Michael J. Lyons, exhibition director for AIBTM. "It's a plug-and-play solution with an all-inclusive package price, with no freight or drayage......

AIBTM Changes Name, Format
The new experience will be more intimate than the current traditional trade show model, which drew 1,200 buyers and 508 exhibitors to Orlando this year. Next year's IBTM America event, which will be held in Chicago, will host 250 buyers and make booths available to 250 exhibitors. The buyer breakdown will be 80 percent domestic and 20 percent international.......

AIBTM Announces Dramatic Change to Show Format for 2015
The convention and trade show, which this year drew 1,200 buyers and 508 exhibitors to Orlando, will become an exclusive, invitation-only event limited to 250 suppliers and 250 hosted buyers. The show floor will feature a standardized, pre-set booth format, with an all-inclusive flat fee to exhibitors of $9,500, with no additional stand costs, drayage or freight. The reinvented show will be called IBTM America, announced Sallie Coventry, portfolio director of the IBTM Global Events Portfolio, at an AIBTM press conference this morning......

AIBTM Opens in Orlando for the First Time
On Tuesday, the 1-hour session—Future of Meetings: Talking 'Bout Our Generations—should provide much needed insight about multi-generational Meeting Design based on the latest MPI research. Using a combination of storytelling, group discussion, research findings and creative thinking, participants will learn new ways to collaborate with attendees of all age demographics.....

AIBTM Opens Today in Orlando
"We are delighted to bring the fourth edition of AIBTM to Orlando for the first time," said Michael Lyons, exhibition director, AIBTM. "For buyers and suppliers alike, Orlando is one of the top destinations in the U.S. and provides a perfect environment for both business and networking. We are sure all the AIBTM attendees will enjoy their stay and walk away with solid business relationships and pleasant memories of their visit.....

AIBTM Kicks Off Next Week in Orlando For the First Time
We're especially looking forward to the Meetings Mean Business Coalition discussion Wednesday about all of the new initiatives the organization has rolled out this year. The Coalition is a broad industry-based collection of big name suppliers, buyers and vendors who are collectively working to prove and promote the ROI of face-toface meetings.....

Meetings Mean Business Coalition Session Set for AIBTM
The Meetings Mean Business Coalition has been instrumental in proving that business is still done best when people come together face-to-face.....

AIBTM and Education: Perfect Together
The Web-based RecertTrack platform allows planners and other industry professionals, such as destination management executives, to track, update and store ongoing education information, as.....

Industry All-Stars to Speak on 'Meetings Mean Business' Panel at AIBTM
Re-launched earlier this year, the Meetings Mean Business Coalition originally was created in 2009 by top meetings and events executives who wanted to raise awareness about the value of face-to-face meetings.....

AIBTM Announces 'Meetings Mean Business Coalition' Update At Annual Show
The Meetings Mean Business Coalition has been instrumental in proving that business is still done best when people come together face-to-face," said Michael Lyons.....

AIBTM announces 'Meetings Mean Business Coalition' update at annual show
The Meetings Mean Business Coalition has been instrumental in proving that business is still done best when people come together face-to-face," said Michael Lyons, Exhibition Director of AIBTM. "Since its formation, the coalition has served as a significant source of insights on the meetings industry.....

AIBTM announces 'Meetings Mean Business Coalition' update at annual show
The Meetings Mean Business Coalition has been instrumental in proving that business is still done best when people come together face-to-face," said Michael Lyons, Exhibition Director of AIBTM. "Since its formation, the coalition has served as a significant source of insights on the meetings industry.....

AIBTM Announces 'Meetings Mean Business Coalition' Update At Annual Show
The Meetings Mean Business Coalition has been instrumental in proving that business is still done best when people come together face-to-face," said Michael Lyons, Exhibition Director of AIBTM. "Since its formation, the coalition has served as a significant source of insights on the meetings industry.....

AIBTM Announces 'Meetings Mean Business Coalition' Update At Annual Show
The "Meetings Mean Business @AIBTM" panel is comprised of high-level officials from many of the most prominent organizations in the meetings and events industry including.....

AIBTM Announces Meetings Mean Business Panel Discussion
The Meetings Mean Business Coalition has been instrumental in proving that business is still done best when people come together face-­‐to-­‐face," said Michael Lyons, Exhibition Director of AIBTM. "Since its formation, the coalition has served as a significant source of insights on the meetings industry.....

Be Inspired by knowledge sessions at Aibtm 2014
Innovative and experienced consultants, Carmen Effron and Andrea Simon, lead a workshop subject "Stop Talking About It and Start Doing It". In the session, both will demonstrate how to become innovative by using the power of Innovation Games®.....

Be Inspired by Knowledge Sessions at AIBTM 2014
"This year, we have created more than 50 dynamic and innovative sessions dedicated to three industry buyer categories including, association, corporate and agency meeting planners. The topics vary from Mobile Technology, Social Media Revolution and Innovation Games® to Global Healthcare Compliance.....

Education Meets Entertainment At Tech-Focused AIBTM 'Innovation Zone' In June
The Innovation Zone is divided into four areas with stylish high-quality furniture from So Cool Events. The four areas include: the Innovation Spotlight Stage, brought to you by etouches.....

Upfront Destination Watch
We had a 182 percent increase in corporate meeting planners that attended [over the previous year], which we're really thrilled about. I think the show itself is gaining momentum year after year.....

AIBTM Attendees Will Have Opportunity to Play in Innovation Zone
The zone, managed by The Meeting Pool, will be a place for attendees to learn about and gain experience about the latest technologies impacting the industry.....

Was My Event App Worth It?
You think you need a mobile app for your conference or trade show, but how do you decide whether it's worth the investment of time and money? We gathered input from planners who have been using apps for several years, as well as from some app developers. The consensus.....

REVISTA EVENTOS LATINOAMERICANOS
Revista Eventos Latinoamericanos - Edición Abril / Junio 2014 - Nro. 56 - Publicación Especializada en el Mercado de Reuniones e Incentivos de América Latina y el Caribe.....

AIBTM Coming Attractions with Reed Travel Expositions' Mike Lyons
In the last 2 to 3 years, we've already started to move away from using binders and toward iPads/other mobile devices for consolidating information. Cloud storage services have changed the way we exchange information and they allow us to easily access the information we need.....

AIBTM Reveals Details on Orlando Show
The 2014 event will be held at the Orange County Convention Center, and will feature plenty of new educational offerings, top speakers, top exhibitors and plenty more. Click here for full details on this year's offerings.

AIBTM 2014 rolls out welcome mat in Orlando
New destinations means new opportunities," said Michael Lyons, exhibition director of Reed Travel Exhibitions. "The move and rotation of AIBTM will offer all stakeholders access to new business opportunities in two gateway cities that are themselves major hubs of the meetings industry.".....

AIBTM Confirms Strong Line Up Of Exhibitors For 2014
Amongst the returning exhibitors attending AIBTM 2014 are: VisitEngland, Dominican Republic Tourism Board, Bloomington MN Convention & Visitors Bureau, Choose Chicago, Visit Florida, Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts, Peninsula Hotels.....

AIBTM Confirms Strong Line Up Of Exhibitors For 2014
Thorsten Kausch, CEO of Hamburg Convention Bureau and first time exhibitor states: "By participating in AIBTM for the first time, our objective is to familiarise ourselves more with the United States' meetings and events industry and also present Hamburg as a quality location for conventions and events within.....

AIBTM Confirms Strong Line Up Of Exhibitors For 2014
Exhibitors who have signed up to exhibit at the event for the first time this year include: Hamburg Convention Bureau, St. Kitts Tourism Authority, Busan Metropolitan City, Universal Orlando Resort, Canon USA, Boulder Convention & Visitors Bureau, Jackson.....

AIBTM Announces 2014 Exhibitors
Citing industry confidence and strong exhibitor feedback on its business value — both of which are prompting "fervent" participation — the Americas Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (AIBTM) today announced a "robust lineup" of exhibitors for its 2014 show.....

AIBTM partners with RecertTrack to bolster career development
Through its Association & Meeting Professional Advancement Portal, RecertTrack is the only provider globally to offer centralized tracking, storage and delivery of re-certification documents online. As a Web-based platform, the.....

Interview Zone with Mike Lyons
Mike Lyons, AIBTM Exhibition Director in a candid conversation with Travel And Tour World revealed the prospects of AIBTM 2014 and the reasons behind the success of this event for the last few years. Mike speaks about the future programmes, the growth of the business travel industry and the outlook of AIBTM in this exclusive interview. Travel And Tour World asks.....

AIBTM, RecertTrack Partner to bolster career development
Calhoun will head the "To Certify or Not to Certify" education session that will focus on the importance of continuing education and the career path structure that is provided by certification programs. It will also highlight recent research studies on the MICE industry and how it impacts the future progression of the individual meeting.....

AIBTM, RecertTrack Partner to bolster career development
As a Web-based platform, RecertTrack is able to track, update and hold education information, as well as remind users when recertification is due, effectively providing Certified Meeting Planners (CMPs), Certified Exhibition Managers (CEMs) and Certified Association Sales .....

How to Create a Successful Hosted Buyer Program
Is a hosted buyer program a more efficient way to connect buyers and sellers than a traditional trade show? We found three organizations that agreed the answer is yes. Their formats vary, but the concept is the same: require buyers.....

Michael Hoffman, President of Igniting Performance, has been chosen to keynote AIBTM's 2014 high-caliber Knowledge Program
Our success is built by the things we say and do to have an impact. Business is and will always be about 'people'. How we approach our.....

Does Orlando Need a Train to its Convention Center?
A recent editorial in the Orlando Business Journal looks at the need for a dedicated rail system serving the Orange County Convention Center. A train to the Center "isn't.....

AIBTM 2014 reveals networking events
"We are grateful that the city of Orlando has rolled out the welcome mat for our 2014 attendees to experience all the city has to offer," said Michael Lyons, exhibition director, AIBTM. "These.....

AIBTM Unveils Florida Welcome, GIBTM Opens Doors In Gulf
"The kickoff parties and networking events are just the way to launch another successful show and demonstrate our appreciation to new and returning exhibitors, Hosted Buyers and meetings.........

AIBTM 2014 Announces Networking Events and Partners
All guests will enjoy music and live entertainment at AIBTM's Welcome Party, brought to you by Visit Orlando, at Pointe Orlando's featured restaurants, bars and clubs including B.B. King's Blues Club, Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar, The Pub and Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar.........

"Taste of Florida" awaits attendees
"We are grateful that the city of Orlando has rolled out the welcome mat for our 2014 attendees to experience all that the city has to offer," said Michael Lyons, AIBTM Exhibition Director. "These networking events........

All guests will enjoy music and live entertainment at AIBTM's Welcome Party, brought to you by Visit Orlando, at Pointe Orlando's featured restaurants, bars and clubs including B.B. King's Blues Club, Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar, The Pub and Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar.........

AIBTM 2014 opens by empowering the mind
This day is dedicated to education offering many interactive experiences; these sessions are intended to encourage and inform meeting professionals about trends, best practices and issues that focus on giving them tools and techniques to generate..........

SeaWorld may wait until June to raise ticket prices
During a conference call last week to discuss SeaWorld Entertainment Inc.'s fourthquarter earnings, company executives twice suggested that they were likely to wait to raise prices at their flagship park until around June...........

AIBTM 2014 opens by empowering the mind
The opening educational sessions, "Strategic Meetings Management – Beyond the Basics", is an interactive workshop led by Betsy Bondurant, President of Bondurant Consulting, who will briefly review the key components of a Strategic Meetings Management Programme. The interactive portion will identify specific actions that can be initiated in...........

AIBTM 2014 Opens by Empowering the Mind
Switching the focus of the show, AIBTM will also run a dedicated education stream examining the relationship between catering menus and participants' health and safety. Tracy Stuckrath President and Chief Connecting Officer at of Thrive! Meetings and Events, will lead...........

AIBTM: 10-12 June 2014, Orlando
The rigorous vetting resulted in AIBTM 2013 buyers placing $250 million in business worldwide. The show also saw a 182% increase in the number of corporate buyers and a 24% increase...........

Exhibition director, AIBTM, Michael Lyons
The show will take on a different feel this year as a result of the rotation of AIBTM between Chicago and Orlando. New destinations means new opportunities and we are delighted to be providing all of our stakeholders with access to new business prospects in two key gateway cities that are themselves major hubs of the meeting industry............

Orlando Gears Up for AIBTM in June
AIBTM plans to accommodate 18,000 pre-scheduled appointments, a 20 percent increase over 2013, a result of adding more than 30,000 new association planners, corporate planners, and other meeting planners to AIBTM's database, says Michael Lyons, exhibition director...........

AIBTM: Orlando as a Medical Events City
The data, published by the Convention Industry Council, comes at the same time as AIBTM added 4,000 new association planners, corporate planners and other meeting planners to its database, which is a contributor to the anticipated 18,000 pre-scheduled appointments. According to Exhibition Director Michael Lyons, AIBTM is also predicting more than 200 Associated Buyers for this year..........

Orlando Hosts AIBTM For First Time
Orlando will host the Americas Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (AIBTM) for the first time this year. A leading global exhibition for the U.S. meetings and events industry, AIBTM delivers the highest concentration of North American Hosted Buyers of any MICE exhibition..........

Early data, meetings growth point to hosted buyer increase for AIBTM 2014
The data, published by the Convention Industry Council, comes at the same time as AIBTM added 4,000 new association planners, corporate planners and other meeting planners to its database, which is a contributor to the anticipated 18,000 pre-scheduled appointments. According to Exhibition Director Michael Lyons, AIBTM is also predicting more than 200 Associated Buyers for this year..........

Early data, meetings growth point to hosted buyer increase for AIBTM 2014
Nearly 18,000 pre-scheduled appointments are expected to take place at AIBTM 2014—a rise of 20% from last year. Meanwhile, a recently published study charting meetings in America revealed the industry is a major contributor to the U.S. economy, adding $115 billion to the GDP and emerging as a leading source of job growth..........

Orlando sets the stage for AIBTM 2014
The city has undergone a number of new initiatives and improvements over the past year and the award-winning facility, Orange County Convention Centre (OCCC), (host to AIBTM 2014), was nominated in 2013 as a top convention centre in the U.S. by Business Review USA.........

Orlando sets the stage for AIBTM 2014
Orlando (recently voted as one of the top three cities for meetings and events in the U.S., according to the Cvent Supplier Network) is setting the stage for this year's AIBTM (www.aibtm.com), the Americas Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition, taking place 10th – 12th June at the Orange County Convention Centre in Orlando..........

Orlando sets the stage for AIBTM 2014
Orlando is setting the stage for this year's AIBTM, the Americas Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition, taking place 10th – 12th June at the Orange County Convention Centre in Orlando........

Hosted Buyer Programs – The New Model for Trade Shows?
The notion of "hosted buyer" is steadily building buzz in the U.S. Imported from Europe, a hosted buyer program in a nutshell, is a business vehicle that brings qualified meeting buyers and sellers together with a high likelihood to book real business with each other through pre-arranged face-to-face meetings at the show........

Orlando Gears Up for AIBTM in June
The Americas Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (AIBTM) is heading to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando June 10–12. Now into its fourth year, AIBTM will alternate between Orlando and Chicago (where the 2013 event was held) as Reed Exhibitions' American showcase for the hosted-buyer trade show. That model invites qualified meeting professionals to attend the show for free in exchange for meeting with 16 suppliers on the expo floor over the course of.......

AIBTM and IAEE Renew Strategic Partnership to Offer Hosted Buyer Program and Education
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events™ (IAEE) and the Americas Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (AIBTM) announced a renewed partnership to offer a Hosted Buyer program for IAEE members to attend the event as well as.......

AIBTM Expects 'Significant' Growth in Pre Scheduled Hosted Buyer Appointments
Based on pre show data, there will likely be a "significant increase" in pre scheduled appointments between exhibit ors and hosted buyers at this year's Americas Incentive, Business.......

AIBTM to Offer Medical Meeting Planner Certificate
Thanks to a new partnership with the International Medical Meeting Professionals Association (IMMPA), the next edition of the Americas Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (AIBTM) will offer show attendees the option to enroll in.......

Acknowledging the Significance of the Association Sector
With his appointment as Exhibition Director for hte Americas Meetngs and Events Exhibition (AIBTM) 2013 we talk to the well-known and respected meetings and events figure, Mike Lyons, about his desire to work with Reed Travel Exhibitions to enchance the show.......

AIBTM Attendee Feedback Confirms Value of Face-to-face Meetings
Eighty-five percent of those surveyed reported that F2F meetings with suppliers were important prior to doing business, furthering the keynote address‟ message (given by J. Walker Smith) that in-person connections still are ruling, even in a digital age.......

AIBTM Attendee Feedback Confirms Value of Face-to-face Meetings
At this year's AIBTM, Americas Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition, held in June at Chicago's McCormick Place, event organizers stood by their theme "Define the Future of Meetings Together" and collected feedback during the "Education Day" sessions from attendees about the value of face-to-face meetings......

AIBTM 2013 Attendee Feedback Confirms Value of F2F Events
In accordance with its 2013 show theme, "Defining the Future of Meetings… Together," the Americas Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition (AIBTM 2013) released feedback from attendees collected during the June 11 "Education Day" sessions in Chicago......

AIBTM asks Smart Meetings readers about the state of the industry
It seems like third-party planners are perceived as a necessary evil by hotels—I'm always told how valuable I am to them, but I find that if I'm not careful, they can undermine me," said one planner in a recent AIBTM survey. The survey, which went out to Smart Meetings readers in February, focused on the state of the industry and the hardships facing planners. The results covered a broad spectrum and were full of insights useful to meetings professionals.....

AIBTM Attendance Jumps
Lyons added that 51 percent of the hosted buyers are first-time attendees, and organizers expect to pass 15,000 pre-scheduled appointments—a more than 20% increase over 2012—by the time the final tally is calculated.....

Top Tech Tips for Meetings and Events
First, ditch the computer. "We are officially in a post-PC era," Spellos said. "Laptops are old-school." Portability is key, and all businesses need to be ready to take advantage of tablets and smartphones. Likewise, cloud services like Google Docs/Drive, Dropbox and Evernote make computers with hard drives largely unnecessary.....

AIBTM defines the future of meetings
AIBTM 2013 took place in Chicago as part of Americas Meetings Week with the theme this year of "defining the future of meetings together". It kicked off with a record attendance at Education Day with a keynote from J. Walker Smith one of the leading U.S. analysts on consumer trends, addressing nearly 1,000 attendees in a packed auditorium on the value of face-to-face meetings in the kinship economy. Just one of 35 sessions, and workshops over the day on trends and topics for industry education that ranged from the art of social networking for your career to the role that colorful nutrient-dense food plays in helping the body and brain thrive and from technology to ways to set up successful partnerships.....

Second Edition of IBTM Industry Research Released
The second edition of the IBTM Global Meetings Industry Research for the Americas was released this week at the ABITM Education Day, held at Chicago's McCormick Place. Key findings from the research included....

Second Edition of IBTM Industry Research Launched at AIBTM
Key findings from the research highlighted that the average number of events organized by buyer/planner respondents increased to 25, compared to 20 last year. In addition to this, 44% of American buyers confirmed that they expect their volume of events to increase in the next 12 months and over 50% predict an increase in their attendance.....

AIBTM Attendance Jumps
Hosted buyer attendance at the Americas Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (AIBTM), held June 11-13 at McCormick Place in Chicago, increased 33 percent over figures posted at its 2012 event in Baltimore. Lyons added that 51 percent of the hosted buyers are first-time attendees, and organizers expect to pass 15,000 pre-scheduled appointments....

EDUCATION SETS THE TONE FOR AIBTM 2013 IN CHICAGO
AMERICAS - Reed Travel Exhibitions' 2013 edition of its Americas incentives, business travel and meetings tradeshow (AIBTM) opened at McCormick Place in Chicago, 11 June, with a day devoted to education. Show Director Mike Lyons said Hosted Buyer acceptances were up a third this year, following the move from Baltimore for the show's third edition.....

AIBTM takes the "Meetings of the Minds" to Chicago
While in Chicago one expects fog and strong winds, but this week new airs are blowing in the vibrant American city. AIBTM opened yesterday, the meeting point of the leaders and key players, buyers and sellers of meeting & events industry who have gathered once again for the latest trends and new market offerings at McCormick Place West of Chicago.....

The Best Brain Foods for Meeting Attendees
Focusing on brain food for meeting attendees, Katz will deliver tips on catering that fuels creative and strategic thinking. In advance of her speech—and for those not at the Chicago conference— Katz spoke with BizBash about better menus for meetings, the downside of fried foods, and the future of event menus.....

IMR On Location: What to Expect at AIBTM 2013
International Meetings Review is on location in Chicago, ready to kick off AIBTM in style tomorrow. We will be attending sessions and talking to attendees on the trade show floor to find out the latest trends in the meetings and events industry. The event brings together qualified hosted buyers, trade buyers, exhibitors and industry professionals from around the world. Through 2016, it will rotate annually between Chicago....

America discusses future of face-to-face meetings in June 11 – 13
The panel will feature a heavy-weight line up of association leaders including: host/moderator Christine Duffy, President and CEO of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA); Paul Van Deventer, President and CEO of Meeting Professionals International (MPI); David DuBois, CEO of International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE); Martin Sirk, CEO of International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA); Deborah Sexton, President and CEO of Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA); John Graham, CEO of American Society of Association Executives (ASAE); Allison Summers, Chief Staff Officer and Managing Director of Society for Incentive and Travel Executives (SITE).....

AIBTM Hosts The 'Great Association Debate'
Major topics of discussion will include insights into the future of face-to-face meetings, the impact of technology in meeting planning, the current evolution and innovation for tradeshows, the increasing need to tie meeting outcomes and content to business goals and the continued importance of education and sharing best practices and value drivers.....

Meetings Industry Leaders to Debate Industry Issues During AIBTM
Seven high-profile executives from meetings industry associations will debate future trends and challenges during a special panel discussion at the Americas Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (AIBTM), taking place June 11-13 in Chicago, organizer Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) announced yesterday.....

AIBTM Plans Interactive Show
As The Americas Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition show (AIBTM) prepares for its Chicago debut, the travel and meetings industry trade show is looking forward to a strong reception in its new home. .....

AIBTM Plans an Interactive Show
As The Americas Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition show (AIBTM) prepares for its Chicago debut, the travel and meetings industry trade show is looking forward to a strong reception in its new home.....

AIBTM links with Pool
The Americas Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings (AIBTM) exhibition and The Meeting Pool are to join to provide meetings and events industry professionals with insights on the best and most efficient use of technology via a TECHbar at the Future Events Experience located on the AIBTM show floor at McCormick Place in Chicago, USA, 12-13 June.....

TECHbar to Enhance AIBTM's 2013 Future Events Experience
The TECHbar concept was created by The Meeting Pool, a new events industry technology "decision engine" and information portal, and is designed to work in conjunction with the components of the Future Events Experience area to function as a learning center for AIBTM. Whether a novice, or a tech-savvy planner leveraging interactive audience response systems, the TECHbar will serve as a magnet for every attendee's tech curiosities....

TECHbar TO ENHANCE AIBTM's 2013 FUTURE EVENTS EXPERIENCE
"There is so much technology available to us today and of course, more innovations on the horizon… that is why it is important for AIBTM to provide a platform to share ideas and evaluate how they will impact us in our day-to-day jobs," said Michael Lyons, Reed Travel Exhibitions, AIBTM Exhibition Director......

TECHbar TO ENHANCE AIBTM's 2013 FUTURE EVENTS EXPERIENCE
Demos, Education and Discussion with Tech Experts Address Event Industry Questions The Americas Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition (www.aibtm.com), in partnership with The Meeting Pool (www.meetingpool.net), have announced that they will join together to provide meetings and...

TECHbar to enhance AIBTM's 2013 future events experience
The Americas Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition, in partnership with The Meeting Pool, have announced that they will join together to provide meetings and events industry professionals insights on the best and most efficient use of technology via a TECHbar at the Future Events Experience located on the AIBTM show floor at McCormick Place in Chicago June 12 – 13. .....

AIBTM Adds aTECHbar
The Americas Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition, which will enjoy its Chicago debut June 11-­‐13, will throw in a TECHbar to complement its Future Events Experience. The meetings-­‐technology helpdesk/genius bar, an all-­‐purpose Q&A for the curious planner, is a similar take on what the exhibition has provided in past years. This bar will be tended by representatives of The Meeting Pool, a new tech-­‐ focused consultancy and portal founded by planner/consultant Dahlia El Gazzar. According to El Gazzar, the TECHbar will....

TECHbar to Enhance AIBTM's 2013 Future Events Experience
The Americas Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition (www.aibtm.com), in partnership with The Meeting Pool (www.meetingpool.net), have announced that they will join together to provide meetings and events industry professionals insights on the best and most efficient use of technology via a TECHbar at the Future Events Experience located on the AIBTM show floor at McCormick Place in Chicago June 12 – 13.....

What's Happening at AIBTM Education and Networking Collide for Enhanced Experience
CHICAGO – The Americas Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition (AIBTM), happening at McCormick Place June 11-13 in Chicago, will offer attendees a number of enrichment events and activities to complement the scheduled educational opportunities.....

AIBTM Debuts in Chicago, June 11-13
The Americas Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (AIBTM) is taking place for the first time in Chicago this year, running from June 11-13 at McCormick Place. This year's overarching theme is: "Defining the Future of Meetings… Together." Sharing in that discussion, there are 50+ new exhibitors scheduled to attend, ranging from the Monaco Government Tourist & Convention Authority to Visit Savannah.....

AIBTM offers 30 hours of CEU-Accredited education
AIBTM, The Americas Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (www.aibtm.com), has released full details of their Education Day program, which will include 30 hours of CEU-accredited sessions. The program offers over 30 different sessions that are designed to support meetings industry professionals in "defining the future of meetings… together....

AIBTM Conference is 'Defining the Future of Meetings...Together'
The Americas Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (AIBTM) heads to Chicago's McCormick place June 11-13, with three days of activities proving its place as the leading global exhibition for U.S. meetings and events....

Global Meetings, Technology, and Brain Food Highlight AIBTM's Education
TAIBTM 2013, The Americas Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition, takes place June 11–13 at McCormick Place in Chicago, with the theme "Defining the Future of Meetings…Together" as the centerpiece of its educational offerings. The trade show is open June 12 and 13, and participation from both exhibitors and group coordinators, who arrange the lion's share of hosted buyers who attend the show, is way up over last year, according to Michael Lyons, AIBTM exhibition director, Reed Travel Exhibitions....

AIBTM in Chicago Announces Speakers, New Exhibitors
The Americas Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (AIBTM) will showcase over 50 new exhibitors at the 2013 show, June 11-13, which includes a broad range of global participants from the travel, hospitality, destinations, incentives and meetings industry....

PCMA To Deliver Tailored Education Stream At AIBTM
The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) are set to deliver a series of seminars at AIBTM, which are dedicated to supporting the corporate meeting planners of the future. The seminar program will build on the strategic partnership, which was formed between the IBTM Global Events Portfolio and PCMA in 2010. PCMA is responsible for delivering a corporate education stream at each of the IBTM Events, which are held annually across the globe (www.ibtmevents.com)......

PCMA To Deliver Tailored Education Stream At AIBTM
The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) are set to deliver a series of seminars at AIBTM, which are dedicated to supporting the corporate meeting planners of the future.....

PCMA Unveils Educational Slate for AIBTM
The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) is set to deliver a series of seminars at AIBTM (www.aibtm.com), which are dedicated to supporting the corporate meeting planners of the future. AIBTM is slated to kick off on June 11 at Chicago's McCormick Place.....

Rock the Workplace
Renowned international speaker Seth Mattison has been slected to lunch day two of AIBTM, the Americas Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition....

Q&A with Mike Lyons, AIBTM exhibitions director
There is a feeling in Asia that the road to economic recovery is still a long one for North America. Therefore, buyers in the US may shy from longer-haul travel options to Asia. What has been the feedback AIBTM has been receiving?....

AIBTM and ICCA Deliver Insight into North American Meeting
The Association education stream delivered at AIBTM will kick off on June 11 (AIBTM's official Education Day) at 9:30am with a session dedicated to helping attendees understand the North American Meeting Buyer which will take place in room W194 at McCormick Place....

AIBTM: it's all a matter of brain
One of the educational sessions AIBTM will examine the relationship between productivity a meeting / conference and the food. The aim is to help the event planner to realize the importance of a healthy brain and its role in productivity....

AIBTM and ICCA Deliver Insight Into North American Meetings Buyers
The Association education stream delivered at AIBTM will kick off on June 11 (AIBTM's official Education Day) at 9:30am with a session dedicated to helping attendees understand the North American meetings buyers, which will take place in room W194 at McCormick Place.....

AIBTM ATTRACTS TOP ASSOCIATION LEADERS FOR EDUCATION DAY ROUNDTABLE
Other topics for discussion during the panel session on Education Day, 11 June, include the current evolution and innovation for trade shows, the increasing need to tie meeting outcomes and content to business goals and the continued importance of education and sharing best practices and value drivers.....

Meetings Industry is Thriving in Asia
2013 is considered as a strong year for the exhibition industry. Research carried out by Reed Travel Exhibitions found that 91% of global buyers anticipated that thier volume of events would either increase or stay the same in 2013....

Sky's the Limit
Chicago is set to welcome meetings buyers from around the world at trade show AIBTM next month (11-13 June). Allan Norbury surveys the events landscape in the 'birthplace of the skyscraper'....

Show Highlight AIBTM
The leading global exhibition for the U.S. meetings and events industry, AIBTM will make it's Chicago debut June 11-13. The exhibition will rotate annually between Chicago and Orlando through 2016 and brings....