ATTEND YOUR CHOICE OF TWO EDUCATION SESSIONS

Note: Advance session selection is not required.
Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Convention Sales & Operations: Best Practices in Customer Service - NEW FOR 2008

Although communities will continue to experiment with various structural models, the bottom line is customer service for you, the planner ... A seamless experience from the onset of the sales process through move-out. Join representatives from Destination Marketing Association International, International Association of Assembly Managers, and the hotel community to learn how they are addressing the complex relationship between DMOs and convention center management. Learn how these best practices for planners will affect you and can improve the overall quality of your event experience at the destination level.

Presenters: Dexter King, Steve Moore, and Dave Radcliffe

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Green Meetings: Cost-Effective Ways to Reduce Your Footprint - SERIES CONTINUATION

Sponsored by MeetingsNet
Going for greener meetings is a hot topic, but there are still only a handful of meeting professionals who are actually taking cost-effective steps to make their events environmentally friendly. Whether you're a government employee, an association executive, or an independent planner,everyone in the meetings industry can learn from the green initiatives of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, which has been greening its meeting for many years; and the organizer of The Green Exposition, who worked with the city of Chicago and a number of associations to produce a green procurement exposition and conference in early June in Chicago.

Attendees will:

• Hear creative and cost-effective ideas for greening their meeting
• Better understand the impact their meetings have on the environment
• Learn how to partner with vendors and others to make your meetings greener

Moderator: Betsy Bair; Presenters: Buz Buzogany and Mary Beth Nowak

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Innovative Meeting Solutions: Uncovering the Power of Wow!

This how-to workshop is designed to help bring innovation to your organization's meetings through creativity. Learn how to add a "wow" factor that will elevate the overall quality of your meetings and increase attendee satisfaction. Discover how to create experiences based on the principals of The Experience Economy by Pine and Gilmore, and discuss the benefits of Open Space Technology by Harrison Owen.

Presenter: Sandy Reynolds, CMP

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Lights, Cameras, Action! Getting the Most Out of Your A/V Presentation - NEW FOR 2008

Sponsored by Freeman Audio Visual Solutions
Whether you're a meeting planner or corporate event specialist, if you have ever been responsible for putting on a production and hiring audio/visual services, you know just how daunting it can be. Your A/V presentation often represents the biggest part of your budget and can make or break your show—yet the terminology often sounds like a foreign language.

Learn how presentation technologies are changing and how they affect your events, budgets, and audience. During this seminar, you will look into the technology crystal ball to see how you can benefit as planners and how you can make smarter A/V decisions in a challenging economic environment.

During this seminar, you will:

• Learn the important A/V terminology every planner should know.
• Compare various types of video, sound, and lighting equipment, and discuss the situations and uses appropriate to each.
• Review the labor charges for various types of programs for a better understanding of your overall A/V budget.
• Learn how to submit A/V specifications in a Request For Proposal to insure your bids are comprehensive and competitive.
• Take away creative ideas for maximizing the use of A/V equipment to get the largest bang for your buck.

Presenter: Gary Clark

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Meetings and the Law: Liability Issues for Meeting Professionals - SERIES CONTINUATION

Everywhere you turn in today's litigious society, there is a real or threatened liability issue. Part of being a meeting or event professional is knowing what the liability risks are and what you can do to minimize the risk of liability. In this interactive session, participants will discuss the most common liability risks at meetings and conventions, including alcohol liability, injury to attendees, and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These areas of liability will be analyzed in the context of different types of events and facilities. Participants will also address less obvious, but just as important, legal risks related to intellectual property infringement—including music licensing, speaker copyrights, and more. The proper use of proactive tools like contracts, license agreements, and waivers of liability will be discussed.

Presenter: Tyra W. Hilliard, J.D., CMP

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Professional Certification: Obtaining CMP Status - ENCORE PRESENTATION

Sponsored by CIC
Interested in taking the next step in your career? The Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation recognizes those who have achieved the industry’s highest standard of professionalism. Join us to discuss the benefits of being a CMP. Learn the origin of the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation, its structure and organization, and how the test is drafted. Apply now to CIC for your application and bring it along to the session which will guide you step-by-step through the application and examination process.

Presenter: TBA

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South of the Border: Meeting with Success in Latin America - NEW INTERNATIONAL SERIES

Sponsored by Mexico Tourism Board
This special session provides expert advice for anyone planning or considering a meeting in Latin America.

Presenters: Agnès Canonica, CMP, CMM and Jeffrey M. Weinman

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