July Marks Busy Month for Industry Meetings

July is a busy month in the tradeshow industry meeting calender, with Meeting Professionals Intl.’s and Exhibitor Appointed Contractor Assn.’s annual events on tap, as well as Natl. Trade Productions’ TS².

First up is MPI’s World Education Congress July 11-14 at the Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City.

Last year’s meeting in Las Vegas drew more than 3,000 attendees, which was a mix of meeting planners for associations and corporations, as well as a bevy of suppliers.

This year, taking a glance at the schedule of sessions lined up, there’s an overriding theme to several of them – the economy.

“Successful Partnerships in Uncertain Times” will include discussions on how to negotiate in today’s market and an in-depth look of bargaining from both perspectives.

Other sessions will focus on “How to Grow Your Business During a Recession,” “60 Cost Saving Tips for Meeting Professionals,” and “Managing Four Generations During Challenging Times.”

Ben Stein, a speechwriter for former President Richard Nixon, author, economist, civil rights lawyer, college professor and award-winning actor who voluntarily wrote the article “Don’t Blame the Business Meeting,” defending the purpose of meetings, will kick off the opening general session.

Other opening general session speakers include Betsy Myers, former senior adviser to President Obama’s campaign, and Gary Loveman, former associate professor at the Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration.

The next meeting on the calendar is the EACA Annual Conference, which runs July 20-21 at Chicago’s McCormick Place.

EACA’s keynote will be given by David Causton, McCormick’s general manager, who will discuss the development and implementation of the “Chicago Commitment” – McCormick Place’s brand of customer service.

He will review the challenges and successes of this program, as well as how the EACA community can support it.

EACA, too, has the economy on its mind, with a panel discussion led by exhibitor association leaders that will outline the challenges they face and how they plan to respond.

It’s not all serious, though: There’s a reception planned at which members of the “10 Year Club” will make special presentations.

EACA coincides with the opening of TS² July 20-23, also at Chicago’s McCormick Place and sponsored by the Trade Show Exhibitors Assn.

Omar Wasow, cyberspace pioneer and NBC Internet analyst, will give the opening keynote entitled, “Integration of Media and Face-to-Face in the Marketing Mix: A Morning with Omar Wasow.”

Educational session tracks include timely topics, such as successful exhibit marketing and sales; strategic budget planning and measurement; ultimate marketing communications; and objectives and strategies for the new economy.