Chapter+1

 Chapter One- The category the HCEA Annual Meeting is promoting itself as is an annual meeting. The meeting focuses on  industry enlightenment, establishing industry standards, expanding members’ professional development, further educating and training members, handling industry legal affairs, and introducing opportunities for entertainment, networking, and peer interaction.  The annual meeting is also promoting the HCEA Exhibition that will take place alongside the annual meeting. The exhibition will have 161 booths available for organizations that supply products and services to healthcare exhibitors and healthcare convention planners.  The title of the 2009 HCEA Annual Meeting is “Waves of Change.” This title proves to be effective because it metaphorically introduced the focus of the meeting. The meeting is concentrating on the changes occurring within the healthcare convention and exhibition industry as a result of the recent downfall of the economy. This title is also effective because the meeting is being held in Tampa Bay, Florida, a major city located on the central west coast of Florida. A nautical theme is appropriate and adds to the appeal of the meeting and further helps to grab attendee’s attention.  The 2009 HCEA Annual Meeting utilizes the three E’s of marketing; Entertainment, Excitement, and Enterprise. The Annual Meeting’s entertainment includes a golf outing at the TPC Tampa Bay Golf Course, which is ranked 18 of the top ** [|50 public facilities in the country by] [|//Golf World Magazine//] [| in their annual 'Reader's Choice: Best Places To Play' edition.]  **  There is also a Tampa Tour available for the attendees to attend on the same day if they are not interested in golfing. The meeting also has a **Serengeti Safari Tour and Lunch Cruise that is optional for attendees. The tour takes place at **Busch Gardens were guests will be immersed in the Serengeti experience as their tour guide shares stories of the exotic wildlife and then they get to enjoy a luxury luncheon on a cruise ship. The meeting also offers a **Tampa City Night ** where attendees can enjoy an evening of making new friends in Tampa’s Channelside Entertainment District. They get the chance to network with the HCEA crowd and build relationships in a fun setting with food, music, games and entertainment. The Annual Meetings entertainment gives the attendees a chance to experience something new, unique and compelling. The Annual Meeting uses excitement in various ways. The keynote speaker, Steve Donahue, will be giving his speech “Follow a Compass, Not a Map,” which offers excitement to attendees. An address from the president could be another exciting part of the meeting. An additional example of excitement at the Annual Meeting is the New Orleans Presentation on the last day, which is where the meeting will be held next year. Along with the presentation the meeting is giving out Treasure Hunt prizes to attendees. Lastly the Annual Meeting is ending with a Gala Party, which is an Annual event at the meeting and gives attendees the chance to relax and unwind in an elegant setting of food and fun. These events all demonstrate excitement at the HCEA Annual Meeting because they engage the attendee’s attention and emotions in a lively and stimulating way whether it is the keynote speakers lasting message or the pleasure of hearing about next year’s venue, these all engage excitement in the attendee. Finally, the 2009 HCEA Annual Meeting uses enterprise in its event by taking new risks and trying something new with the grand opening of the new HCEA Exhibition that has been revamped to better assist attendees. There are new workshop sessions the Annual Meeting is having for the attendees. The sessions will allow attendees to earn credits towards their Certified Manager of Exhibits (CME) and The Certified Manager of Exhibits-Healthcare (CME/H) and further educate them on the healthcare convention and exhibition industry changes. The meeting new location, Tampa Bay, also helps to emphasize change and reinvention of the HCEA Annual Meeting. All the events stated are great examples of the three E’s of marketing; entertainment, excitement, and enterprise. These elements all intertwine to make the event memorable and successful.  The five P’s of marketing; product, price, place, public relations, and positioning, play an essential role in the success of the 2009 HCEA Annual Meeting. Starting with product, the association will be celebrating the HCEA 7th Annual Meeting. Further history about the Annual Meeting is that it is the only association solely dedicated to improving the effectiveness of all conventions, meetings and exhibitions for the healthcare convention marketing and exhibition industry. The value and benefits of the Annual Meeting for the attendees is it features 58 total learning opportunities, 13 learning tracks targeting the most critical areas of the healthcare convention marketing and exhibitions industry, seven expert panel discussions and five groundbreaking market research studies, eleven official networking events and meals to network with hundreds of the industry’s most influential professionals, such as healthcare exhibit marketers, healthcare convention organizers, medical meeting planners and supporting industry companies, and over 100 exhibitors in the unique, newly refurbished HCEA Exhibition which will be highlighting contemporary companies with the most inventive and cost-effective products and services. The HCEA Annual Meeting is a unique meeting because it offers its attendees entertainment, education, networking, and industry enlightenment.  The price of the HCEA 2009 Annual Meeting is as follows in the chart below. Price  ** || <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Non-Member Price || <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Member Price  || <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Non-Member Price || <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> $915  || <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> $795  || <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> $1,015  || <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> $865  || <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> $745  || <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> $965  || <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> $1,315  || <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> $1,195  || <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> $1,415 || <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There was also a super saver discount if the attendees registered before April 10, 2009 they got $200 off the regular registration price ($795). The admission price for a spouse or guest is $175 since they aren’t from the industry. For the cost of the Annual Meeting it includes all the workshops and sessions, all the networking, meal, and social events described in the meetings program Appendix 1. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> The place the HCEA Annual Meeting is being held is in Tampa, Florida at the Tampa Convention Center and at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel and Marina. The hotel is about twelve blocks adjacent to the convention center. There is transportation for attendees to and from the convention center and hotel. On the website they include information on transportation from the airport to the Tampa Marriott Waterside. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Swiss721BT-RomanCondensed; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Tampa Marriott Waterside is approximately eight miles from the Tampa International Airport. The taxi fare to the hotel from the airport is an estimated $22. If driving there are directions for them; take I-275 North for six miles to downtown, Exit-44, and follow signs to Convention <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Swiss721BT-RomanCondensed; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Center & Harbour Island and the hotel is twelve blocks ahead adjacent to the convention center. There are links on the website for the hotel registration and additional information. Also available on the website is the Tampa Convention and Visitor Bureau, “Visit Tampa,” link for attendees to view. This gives them all the attractions and anything they may want to know about the area. The Annual Meeting is also promotion some attractions in the Tampa area. They have a few optional ancillary events in the beginning of meeting that promotes Busch Gardens and the TCP Tampa Bay Golf Course. The program is the only piece that gives any information on these events, but after a attendees register they get to learn information on the events. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Swiss721BT-RomanCondensed; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> The HCEA Annual Meeting does not have a press release on their website about the HCEA Annual Meeting, but maybe when it gets closer to the event they will post one. The event website does not include a special link for media to contact the association, but there is a general “Contact Us” link the media could use to get in contact with the association about the Annual Meeting. Appendix 2 is an example of a press release that the 2009 HCEA Annual Meeting could have to publicize the event. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Swiss721BT-RomanCondensed; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Positioning of the 2009 HCEA Annual Meeting is pretty close to its competitor TSEA (The Association for Exhibit and Event Professionals). Their conference is taking place about a month after the HCEA meeting. It is being held on July 20-23, 2009 at the McCormick Place in Chicago. The prices to attend the meeting are as follows, $825 before May 15, $925 before June 15, and after June 16 it is $1,025. The prices compared the HCEA Annual Meeting are higher. What makes the HCEA Annual Meeting more unique and appealing to the attendees is that it is in a better location than the TSEA conference, which means it’s more appealing for a vacation. Both the conference and annual meeting have about the same amount of educational workshops and session available and are they very alike with how they separate the sessions into different learning tracks. The meetings both have keynote speakers, but the HCEA does offer more networking events for guests to enjoy. The HCEA meeting will cover a lot more industry issues concerning budgeting, the economy, laws, and new technologies, and these topics are important to consider when choosing which conference or meeting to attend. The HCEA is more unique in that the workshops sessions offer points towards CME (Certified manager of exhibits) and CME/H (Certified manager of healthcare exhibits) designations, which the TSEA does not offer. These are reasons the HCEA Annual Meeting would be more beneficial to attend than the TSEA. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> For a post survey for the 2009 HCEA Annual Meeting there are various quantitative questions that could be asked to collect data about the event with little interpretation needed. Some questions that I included in the survey that were quantitative are; Was this your first time attending the annual meeting, are you a member of HCEA, how far did you travel for the meeting, did you attend the keynote speaker, what level of experience in the healthcare exhibiting industry, are you satisfied with the time of year the meeting is being held, gender and age, did you stay at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel, and lastly, there are questions asking for attendees to rate various aspects of the annual meeting from poor to excellent. Some of the qualitative questions that are asked in the survey are; if you could change one thing about the HCEA Annual Meeting, what would it be, if you are not attending the even if your schedule allows you to, why not. These questions all help to make the following annual meeting better of the attendees. Appendix 3 is the example post-event survey I have made for the HCEA Annual Meeting.
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: white; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Early Registration Deadline – May 10  ** ||||
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: white; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Registration After May 10  ** ||
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Member
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Member
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Member
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> $695  ** ||
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> $695  ** ||
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> $645  ** ||
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> $645  ** ||
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> $1,095  ** ||
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> $1,095  ** ||