In the twelve chapter of the text, titled Meetings, Conventions, and Expositions, the author details the ins and outs of organization and service in the convention industry. The chapter begins by stating that meetings, conventions and expositions always have a specific intended focus in mind. This focus can be social, religious, sporting or political in nature. In addition, the text notes that that associations behind these events tend to provide the benefits of increased political visibility, education, specialize member services, and marketing opportunities. From here, the author turns their attention to meetings, and discusses how they are meant to bring people together to exchange ideas and information. Meeting can take the form of workshops, forums, conferences or symposiums. Afterwards, the goes on to discuss expositions and conventions. Expositions are places where purveyors can demonstrate their products to potential clients. On the other hand, a convention is a meeting with an exposition component. The chapter the delves into the job of the meeting planner. A meeting planner is a contracted service provider, typically enlisted by corporations and associations, that assist in organizing and managing meeting events. Their task usually include premeeting, on-site and post- meeting activities. In addition, the author the informs the reader about visitors and convention bureaus. According to text, these are non-profit organizations that fulfill the logistical responsibilities traditionally preformed by market supplied event planners. They determine what specific clientele may require and respond by organizing the appropriate hotel accommodations, dining services, attractions and transportation. The chapter comes to a close by outlining the facilities that make these endeavors possible, these are known as convention centers, and they are massive municipally owned facilities, where expositions and other large meetings are held. The author leaves the reader by stressing how much prior planning and meticulous management these complex convention center events require.
Key Terms
1.Associations- Any labor union is by definition an association.
2.Convention- San Diego Conic-Con is a convention that brings together some of the most important professionals in the comic book industry so that can share their latest projects.
3.Convention and visitor’s bureaus (CVBs)- Convention and visitor’s bureaus allocate local resources to attract visitors to their city or region.
4.Convention center- The Javits Center in New York City is the convention center that holds New York Comic-Con every year.
5.Exposition- Trade fairs are the most common form of exposition.
6.Familiarization (FAM) trip- Any reputable meeting planner will make a thorough inspection of a venue during there familiarization trip, so they can best determine if it will suit the needs of their client.
7.Incentive market- The incentive market is built on the idea of rewarding employees for good work.
8.Meeting- To be part of any successful corporate enterprise, one must get use to attending a lot of meetings.
9.Meeting planner- The execution of a large corporate event always falls on the shoulders of the respective meeting planner.
10.Meetings, incentive travel, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE)- MICE travel is a rapidly growing and lucrative segment of the tourism industry.
11.Social, military,, educational, religious , and fraternal groups (SMERF)- A SMERF related event always has a very specific group of people in mind, who also share a common bond and interests.
