Chapter  Summary

In this chapter we learn about the development of the meetings, conventions, and expositions industry. It talks about how people have gathered to attend them since ancient times, mainly for social, sporting, political, or religious purposes. It lists the major players in the convention industry and the various venues for meetings, conventions, and expositions.  Additionally, it describes the different aspects of being a meeting planner and explains what are associations and what is their purpose.  It also describes what SMERF and MICE stand for. Finally, it lists the primary sources of revenue and expenses involved in holding a meeting, a convention, and an exposition.

Key Words and Concepts

1. Associations. My example: The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) is the sole national association representing all segments of the 1.9 million-employee in the U.S. lodging industry.
2. Convention. My example: The New York Times Travel Show 2016 will take place at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on 34th Street from 01/08/206 – 01/10/2016.
3. Convention and Visitors Bureaus (CVBs). My example: Convention and Visitors Bureaus are each designed to offer location information that is key to planning your next event or trip. Sometimes they also offer special packages that include venues, activities and transportation for your event.
4. Convention Center. My example: The New York Convention Center also known as the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center is located in downtown New York and on the west side of Manhattan bordering the Hudson River.
5. Exposition. My example: Everybody was going to the famous Paris Exposition.
6. Familiarization (FAM) Trip. My example: The new resort in Aruba is going to team up with an airline to offer discount familiarization trips to the resort.
7. Incentive Market. My example: The Dunkin Donuts VIP card is probably the best incentive market tool use every year to promote new coffee flavors for Dunkin Donuts.
8. Meeting. My example: Every Monday my director holds a staff meeting to discuss the workflow for the week.
9. Meeting Planner. My example: As a meeting planner person, I need to specialize in the planning and organization of conventions and other business meetings.
10. Meeting, Incentive Travel, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE). My example: MICE tourism is known for its extensive planning and demanding clientele.
11. Social, Military, Educational, Religious, and Fraternal Groups (SMERF). My example: SMERF meetings continue to be a group revenue backbone for the numerous destinations that have been courting them for decades.