More than 5,500 association professionals and industry partners walked the red carpet in Los Angeles at ASAE’s 2010 Annual Meeting & Exposition, Aug. 21-24. These industry professionals came from around the United States and even internationally to network with their industry colleagues, while participating in a series of educational programs and visiting trade show booths at the expo hall.
Of the 5,522 delegates in attendance—a 13 percent increase over last year’s numbers—nearly 60 percent of the attendees were qualified buyers. The meeting professionals in attendance, who collectively book $60 billion of dollars of meetings business annually, were able to experience LA’s meeting infrastructure first-hand.
Association professionals booking Los Angeles mean new business for the entire region. While citywide conventions take place in Downtown LA, the group will utilize hotels and venues throughout the city and region.
ASAE was held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, with many delegates staying at the new L.A. LIVE hotels. The conference, however, extended throughout the city, with delegates staying throughout Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and even the San Fernando Valley.“Wow…..LA did such a fabulous job with ASAE,” said delegrate Theresea DeConinck, Director, Association Services E-learning and Technology at Fusion Productions. "They really have changed so much of Downtown LA that I hardly recognized it. I loved the Convention Center, just really well laid out for ASAE. That new NOKIA Theatre/ESPN Zone outdoor plaza area is outstanding. ASAE had the opening night party there, including a mini concert by Melissa Etheridge."
The four-day event was filled with educational opportunities as well as entertainment and social engagements. Delegates attended a food and wine festival featuring many of LA’s celebrity chefs and restaurateurs at the California Science Center; enjoyed live performances by Melissa Etheridge and Cyndi Lauper; participated in charitable causes including preparing meals and assembling toiletry kits at The Midnight Mission; and embarked on guided tours of Los Angeles and its many attractions and cultural venues, all while learning about Los Angeles’ meetings infrastructure. Nearly 100 participants attended a guided tour of Universal Studios Hollywood, learning about the attractions numerous meetings facilities.
Typically the host city of an ASAE annual meeting can expect 20 percent of the ASAE delegates to book a meeting within the next five years following the convention. It’s been estimated that Los Angeles has the potential to generate more than $500 million in post-convention revenue as a result of hosting the annual ASAE Meeting & Exposition.
-To view images from ASAE’s 2010 Annual Meeting & Exposition, CLICK HERE
-To view the list of sponsors, CLICK HERE
