The most essential piece of any planner's technology arsenal is a robust, integrated and versatile registration system. The proper registration tool will yield incredible cost-savings, efficiencies and include additional benefits and features to help manage your attendee profiles, preferences, correspondence, and even create revenue-generating opportunities. There are differences, however, in the ever-expanding list of attendee management systems available in the market today. This session will provide an overview of the role of registration systems in the meetings industry, the benefits, list must-have items, pitfalls to avoid, pricing structure samples, and resources when deciding on the best attendee management system for your organization.

Speaker: Bill Flagg, President, RegOnline

After this session you will be able to:

Determine how your current system compares with others in the marketplace.
Recognize the one must-have items when evaluating a registration system.
Avoid potential pitfalls.
Utilize the marketing and revenue-generating features of registration systems.

This session is applicable to the following attendee types:

Corporate
Association
Tradeshow
Technology Level- Beginner - Mid-level

Return to Listings

___________________________________________

Audience Polling/Response Tools

The technology and tools behind audience response are growing in capabilities beyond the basics of capturing attendee feedback during educational sessions. Today, these tools are also being used to track and measure various event metrics vital to your meeting including sponsorship ROI analysis, speaker evaluations, event logistics and more. Learn which tools are available in the marketplace, pricing structures and how you can incorporate audience response tools into your next meeting.

Speaker: Mark A. Fite, President/CEO, Option Technologies Interactive, LLC

This session will allow you to:

Learn how audience response tools work.
Learn about the benefits these tools can offer your future meetings.
Learn about the various pricing structures offered.

This session is applicable to the following attendee types:

Corporate
Association
Tradeshow
Technology Level- All

Return to Listings

___________________________________________

Online Travel Systems for Meetings

Integration with an online booking system is the next technology push in online meeting planning. Significant cost-savings have been realized by many companies that have learned to integrate their meetings travel with their registration process. In addition, your attendees will enjoy the benefits of a one-stop shop when signing up for your next meeting.

Speaker: Stephanie Weinberg, Sr. Product Marketing Manager, Travel Services, Concur Technologies

This session will allow you to:

Understand the benefits of the online travel integration.
How you can managing meeting travel on-line.
Create new business opportunities with online travel.

This session is applicable to the following attendee types:

Corporate
Association
Tradeshow
Technology Level- mid-upper

Return to Listings

___________________________________________

9:45 - 10:45 a.m. Sessions

___________________________________________

Meetings Spend Consolidation & Management Tools

This session will discuss the role that technology plays in each step of the Strategic Meetings Management Program (SMMP) initiative with an emphasis on capturing meeting spend and how to uncover rogue spend.

Speaker: Debi Scholar, CMP, CTE
Co-Chair of the National Business Travel Association (NBTA) Groups & Meetings Committee, Meeting & Event Services Director, PricewaterhouseCoopers L.L.P.

After this session you will be able to:

Formulate an action plan to initiate a meetings spend report to leadership
Identify eight key technology points to research and review before making final decisions
Understand at least 21 types of reports that technology tools can provide

This session is applicable to the following attendee types:

Corporate
Association
Tradeshow
Technology Level- Mid - Advanced

Return to Listings

___________________________________________

Networking/Matchmaking Systems

Online networking communities are popping up everywhere and matchmaking tools are catching on fast mostly because both of these tools are proving to be great enhancements to meetings—even changing the business model of revenue generating events. From profile matching to blogs, from private chat groups to attendee polling, from advertising opportunities to event ROI analysis… Learn how it all works in this session!

Speaker: Kate Swanson , Business Development Director, Leverage Software

After this session you will be able to:

How an online community is formed.
How matchmaking works with your event.
How both of these functions integrate into your meeting’s existing tech tools.

This session is applicable to the following attendee types:

Corporate
Association
Tradeshow
Technology Level-All

Return to Listings

___________________________________________

The APEX Toolbox: Bringing Standards to Event Management

Discover how to improve your communications with vendors while enhancing your overall professionalism by using the recently released APEX Meeting & Event Planning Toolbox, a project of the Convention Industry Council. Learn what is on the horizon that will allow the industry to electronically transfer event management files.

Speaker: E. J. Siwek, CMP

This session will allow you to:

Have an increased awareness of the content provided in the APEX Toolbox and APEX technology developments.
Have a list of the information that should always be present when preparing an RFP, rooming list or event specifications.
Develop your own RFP and event specifications.
Learn what application developers are current developing toward the APEX Standard
Discover the soon to be released APEX Power Shop for Event professionals

This session is applicable to the following attendee types:

Corporate
Association
Tradeshow
Technology Level-All

Return to Listings

___________________________________________

3:15 - 4:15 p.m. Sessions

___________________________________________

Meetings Spend Consolidation & Management Tools Part II

This session will expand upon the basics of meetings spend and address tangible and intangible returns of a Strategic Meetings Management Program (SMMP).

Speaker: Debi Scholar, CMP, CTE
Co-Chair of the National Business Travel Association (NBTA) Groups & Meetings Committee, Meeting & Event Services Director, PricewaterhouseCoopers L.L.P.

After this session you will be able to:

Identify formulas to use to document spend and savings
Learn what other companies are doing to show savings
Follow new procurement rules by selecting suppliers fairly

This session is applicable to the following attendee types:

Corporate
Association
Tradeshow
Technology Level- Mid - Advanced

Return to Listings

___________________________________________

Event Marketing Tech Tools

Effective communication and marketing tools are essential components for successful meeting and events. In today's business environment, integrated campaigns yield the most traction and response rates. This tutorial will explain the benefits event marketing systems and how to utilize their features to reach and exceed your marketing goals. Whether a planner is marketing a paid event or trying to organize internal events there are many systems that can be helpful.

Speaker: Jill Birkett, Vice President, Unicomm LLC

After this session you will be able to:

Utilize various marketing technology tools to achieve your marketing goals.
Learn effective methods to increase attendance at your next event.
Select the appropriate technology/vendor or use existing marketing technology to accomplish your event goals.
Extend your event year round with new marketing technology solutions

This session is applicable to the following attendee types:

Corporate
Association
Tradeshow
Technology Level- Beginner - Mid-level

Return to Listings

___________________________________________

Housing/Room Block Management

Housing is still one of the most challenging aspects of meeting planning. In this tutorial we will discuss the different tools available to meeting planners today. This will include the tools that planners can purchase and also tools that hotels are offering. These tools provide more control over your housing process and can offer extensive reporting of critical information. We will explore how these tools can integrate to your registration process and enhance you ability to maximize your contracted room blocks.

Speaker: Doug Melinn, CMP, Director of Customer Loyalty, Passkey

After this session you will be able to:

Understand the different tools available to meeting planners
Learn housing Best Practices using technology
Know the advantages of integrating your registration tools with housing
tools

This session is applicable to the following attendee types:

Corporate
Association
Tradeshow
Technology Level- Beginner - Mid-level

Return to Listings

___________________________________________

4:15 - 5:15 p.m. Sessions

___________________________________________

Webcasting /VideoConferencing

There are several technologies which meeting planners can use to extend the reach of their events, create entirely new events aimed at Internet audiences as well as adding value to on-site attendees. This session will discuss the technologies behind webcasting, video conferencing and the creation of digital archives of meetings for multiple formats; including web, DVD, Apple iPod® and other emerging media -- and how they may be applied to physical and virtual meetings. In addition, for those holding multiple meetings, these technologies offer the opportunity to create ‘channels’—transforming events into on-going experiences and additional subscription/sponsorship opportunities.

Speaker: Jonathan Merril, MD, CEO, Astute Technology

After this session you will be able to:

Leverage your content using webcasting and videoconferencing - what is technically possible and what has proven successful for other meetings
Know how a webcast and video conference works
When to use webcasting versus video conferencing
Know how to merge video conferencing with webcasting
Measuring success- learning what to look for and what you can expect -- Internet broadcast statistics for events
Financial implications: Costs and Impact: Opportunities for building sponsorships and subscriptions and pay per view models -- measuring return on investment (ROI)
Integration of webcasting with other meeting activities- including registration, exhibits, kiosks, on-site sales, enduring materials, promotions and fulfillment and distribution of media
Uses of archived meetings- building 'channels' and partnering opportunities with publishers, web-based companies, media and other organizations
Developing requirements and questions for webcasting / video conferencing vendors to determine which solution is right for you

This session is applicable to the following attendee types:

Corporate
Association
Tradeshow
Technology Level- Beginner - Mid-level

Return to Listings

___________________________________________

eRFPs/Site Selection Tools

Online site-selection/request for proposal systems can digitize highly paper-intensive tasks with substantial savings in time and efficiency. Find the right property for your next meeting and send specs based on your needs! Learn how these systems work, discover the benefits, features and options available with the eRFPs/Site Selection Tools available in today’s meetings tech marketplace.

Speaker: Linda McNairy, Vice President, Global Account Management, StarCite, Inc.

After this session you will be able to:

Identify the top must-have capabilities
Avoid potential pitfalls
Know who the current players are in the marketplace.
Select the appropriate vendor based on your needs.

This session is applicable to the following attendee types:

Corporate
Association
Tradeshow
Technology Level- Mid-Level

Return to Listings

___________________________________________

Lead Retrieval/ Attendance Verification Tools

Lead retrieval and attendance verification tools are two measurement solutions which are playing a large role in many tradeshow and conferences. Lead retrieval is more than just swiping a badge and transferring static information these days! Come see the latest advances in Lead Management. Additionally, learn how attendance tracking tools have advanced to help you pinpoint more dynamic information about how your attendee’s participate in meeting –related activities, sessions, meal functions and more. We will explore how measuring this information adds value to your events by allowing the event planner to quickly understand attendee behavior. Accurate and relevant information is key when evaluating the success of an event, so do not miss this session! Learn how to capture all pertinent information easily and cost-effectively, as well as how measuring and analyzing this data is an integral part of managing effective events.

Speaker: Roger Lewis, Senior Vice President , Alliance Tech, Inc.

After this session you will be able to:

Evaluate important features when choosing an effective lead retrieval solution.
Know the benefits associated with attendee tracking and analytics.
Understand important metrics to capture and analyze, in order to truly understand your attendee’s behavior at sessions, activities and on the exhibit floor.
Learn what the buzz is all about with RFID including evaluating RFID attendee reporting and real-time technologies.

This session is applicable to the following attendee types:

Corporate
Association
Tradeshow
Technology Level-All

Registration Includes:

All Educational Sessions
All Meal Functions
1-on-1 Appointments
Vendor Presentations
Tutorial Guidebook
$199 all-inclusive rate

Return to Listings

Back to Homepage

Meetings Technology Expo Chicago Session Descriptions

Educational Session Listings & Agenda

8:30 - 9:30 a.m. Sessions

Attendee Management–Registration

Audience Polling/Response Tools

Online Travel Systems for Meetings

9:45 - 10:45 a.m. Sessions

Meetings Spend Consolidation & Management Tools

Networking/Matchmaking Systems

The APEX Toolbox: Bringing Standards to Event Management

3:15 - 4:15 p.m. Sessions

Meetings Spend Consolidation & Management Tools Part II

Event Marketing Tech Tools

Housing/Room Block Management

4:15 - 5:15 p.m. Sessions

Webcasting /VideoConferencing

eRFPs/Site Selection Tools

Lead Retrieval/ Attendance Verification Tools