Despite having worked in associations for more than 20 years I
finally attended my first ASAE Annual Meeting that took place in Atlanta in August 2013. I’ve
attended many ASAE conferences and classes but never this major event. I admit
I found myself comparing it to my former association’s annual show and
conference that took place in Atlanta in 2009.
The opening ceremony was well attended with informative speakers
and served as a very good kick-off to the opening of the show floor. Over the
next two days I would walk the floor and meet with exhibitors and attended
several of the many learning labs. Some conferences
would call these classes or workshops but ASAE calls them learning labs. I met
some very nice attendees in each session and heard some very informative
presentations.
On the first day I managed to attend two sessions including a
presentation by the co-authors of Road to Relevance, Harrison Coerver
and Mary Byers, CAE. Following the session I went to the book store and
purchased their book.
On the second day I again attended two sessions. One was called
“Hotel Contracts Boot Camp for the Experienced Meeting Planner.” The speaker was well qualified, an attorney
with extensive hotel experience. I
thought he provided the group with many good suggestions on key items in your
hotel contract to avoid or to include. Again, all were very good
recommendations. He was very knowledgeable and I thought if I ever found myself
in litigation over a hotel contract I would want him on my side. However, if
you use a professional and competent housing services vendor you will not need
to know what loopholes to look for or what omissions may be troublesome down
the road.
Like you, I always had an attorney, such as this session’s
speaker; review my hotel contracts during my 20 plus years organizing events
for my associations. That is until I
found there is a better way to plan my meetings. If you want to learn more send
me a note and I’ll share this best practice with you. I can be reached at desciolaro@gmail.com.
By the end of the second day I was ready to head home with
blisters on my feet and a lot of good information to digest from the many
speakers, exhibitors and new friends I made in Atlanta. If you work in an
association and have never attended an ASAE annual meeting, I strongly suggest
you remedy that in 2014.
