It seems like one of the latest trends for the large meetings and events tradeshows is to segue off into "technology-focused" mini-tradeshows such as ASAE for associations, ASTD for training and HSMAI for corporate and independent meeting professionals. We saw this trending last year with MPI-WEC in Montreal when they grouped all of the technology providers for online registration such as Cvent, StarCite and Certain and other meeting and event software technologies in one exhibit area. It makes so much more sense when you think of the plight of the meeting professional who is inundated with the huge hotel venue exhibits, and trying to get through to the guy (or gal) in the back of the exhibit hall with the event management software demo. Let's face it would you rather drink a mai tai in the Hawaii booth, or ...well, you get my drift.
We just got back from the ASAE Technology Conference & Expo held in Washington DC last week. Once again, it was a technology focused show aimed at the association market. We were one of the only online registration providers to exhibit since most of the big players were the pure membership management providers like iMIS,Q, netFORUM (what is it with the CAPS?). We enjoy a very good relationship with associations, not only for their annual conference registration, but for their increased attendance through our email marketing and our ability to import a large amount of membership information.
Another team from Certain just got back from MPI-PEC in Houston last week where we participated in the technology playground and demonstrated Certain Registration. Stand by for more details on this blog from our soon-to-be-CMP Mariesa Ramos....All for now, Kimberly
