The Americas Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (AIBTM) has organised its upcoming 2014 show on 10 – 12th June with the goal of creating a networking-rich environment where meeting professionals can expand their professional education, earn CEU clock hours, mingle, discuss industry issues and trends, and forge crucial relationships face to face.
Networking will kick off Monday 9th June, with the Hosted Buyer Reception from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Mall at Millenia. Hosted Buyers can connect under a stunning glass atrium while soaking in the fashion forward spirit of a world-famous shopping destination.
AIBTM’s Knowledge Programme, brought to you by the Mexico Tourism Board, is an integral part of the show, kicking off the morning of 10th June. The invitation-only Meetings Leadership Summit, from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. that afternoon, will give senior executives and industry leaders the opportunity to learn how to make their respective organizations more agile and competitive. Jim Austin, principal of consultancy Decision Strategies International, will lead the Summit.
The AIBTM Welcome Party at Pointe Orlando, hosted by Visit Orlando, will take place Tuesday night and feature a delicious range of casual food as well as haute cuisine from The Pub, Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar, B.B. King’s Orlando, and The Tommy Bahama Bar & Grill. Live music and entertainment will be provided for party-goers, and is open to all AIBTM buyers, visitors, exhibitors and press.
Wednesday 11th June will start with Meetings Mean Business @ AIBTM bringing together the heads of the meetings industry organizations for a panel discussion following an update presentation from the Meetings Mean Business Coalition at the Chapin Theater from 8:45 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. The presentation will be moderated by Larry Luteran, Senior VP Group Sales & Industry Relations, Hilton Worldwide and co-chair of the Meetings Mean Business Coalition. Panelists include President & CEO, U.S. Travel Association Roger Dow; President & CEO, IAEE, David DuBois; President & CEO, ASAE John Graham; Chief Staff Officer, SITE Global Kevin Hinton; President & CEO, PCMA Deborah Sexton; and President & CEO, MPI Paul Van Deventer.
That afternoon, from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Hosted Buyers, exhibitors and visitors will have the chance to sample foods from the best restaurants and hotels in Central Florida at the Executive Chef Tasting. Participating restaurants include Cuba Libre, Tommy Bahama, the Hard Rock Café, Roy’s, and Fleming’s Prime Stakehouse & Wine Bar.
AIBTM 2014 has also brought back the Refresh Zone as well as the Innovation Zone. Both the Refresh Zone and “I-Zone” are great for networking and are open to all show attendees from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday 11th June, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday 12th June.
The Refresh Zone is a specialty entertainment and refreshment area sponsored by AlliedPRA. Participating vendors include: Blue Martini, Bose, Christie’s Photographic Solutions, Hard Rock, Seasons 52, The Event Source, TOTALLY MOD, Vines Grille & Wine Bar, Wildly Different, LTG (Luxury Transportation Group) and World Chocolate Museum & Café. The Innovation Zone, meanwhile, is a new and emerging technology area managed by The Meeting Pool in which show-goers can learn more about how technology is transforming the meetings industry.
To create an optimal networking experience for attendees, AIBTM has worked in tandem with Visit Orlando to offer visitors the best of the Orlando area.
“Orlando is a premier meetings and convention destination, and in the Orange County Convention Center, we have a state-of-the-art convention site,” said George Aguel, President and CEO of Visit Orlando. “Our team at Visit Orlando is pleased to work with AIBTM to ensure 2014 is a successful show.”
“Coupled with our Education Series, the opportunities we present for networking are instrumental in helping our attendees leave AIBTM with a renewed insight to plan effective and productive meetings,” said Michael Lyons.
AIBTM 2014 is being held at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC), West Building in Orlando. For the full schedule as well as a detailed map of AIBTM 2014, download the mobile IBTM Global Events app from iTunes or Android Market. The AIBTM event is located within the IBTM app.
To apply as a Trade Visitor go to: http://www.aibtm.com/Visiting/.
