Conference Facilities
Associations
- Convention Industry Council
The Convention Industry Councils' 30-member organizations represent more than 100,000 individuals as well as 15,000 firms and properties involved in the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industries. The CIC facilitates the exchange of information and develops programs to promote professionalism within the industry and educates the public on its profound economic impact. The CIC is responsible for the Accepted Practices Exchange [APEX] program.
- Accepted Practices Exchange [APEX] Program
- Preliminary Report of the APEX Meeting and Site Profiles Panel
- Resources for the Meetings, Conventions & Exhibitions Industry
APEX was created to unite the entire meeting, convention and exhibition industry in the development and eventual implementation of voluntary standards, which will be called, accepted practices.
The purpose of the APEX Meeting & Site Profiles Panel is to develop recommended industry accepted practices for consistent and thorough profile formats for sites, as well as meetings, conventions, and other events, that include both core and unique information.
Included in the preliminary report is the Convention Centre Site Profile [Appendix C]. This document provides a checklist that is suitable for use by individuals designing a convention centre.
Resources including the APEX Industry Glossary that assists industry professionals in their day-to-day and the long-term future of the industry.
- International Association for Conference Centers
- IACC Planner Express
- Universal Criteria
- Meeting Professionals International
- The Economic Impact of the Meeting and Convention Industry in the U.S.
- Current Canadian MPI News
- EITBM 2005 Industry Trends & Market Share Report
The International Association for Conference Centers [IACC] seeks to create positive interaction among its members to develop and improve the conference center industry. IACC encourages the sharing of ideas, knowledge and technical skills and provides education to its members with the belief that by working together they can provide the best possible service to all customers and be distinctively successful in delivering conference services to all customers.
The IACC has a search engine of their members allowing industry members to quickly find detailed information on the conference centers in North America.
The Universal Criteria contained on their website was created to reflect the current best practices of the conference center industry. Members of the IACC must meet these standards and are encouraged to meet an even higher level of standards, the Recommended Guidelines.
Meeting Professionals International [MPI] is the largest association for the meetings profession with more than 19,000 members in 66 chapters and clubs. As the global authority and resources for the $102.3 billion meetings and events industry, MPI empowers meeting professionals to increase their strategic value through education, clearly defined career pathways and business growth opportunities. Includes statistical documents related to the meetings and convention industry.
Contains information on the revenues of the meetings and convention industry in the U.S.
Contains information on the number of trips taken by Canadians for business and convention purposes.
EITBM is the annual leading exhibition for the incentive, business, travel and meetings industry. The EITBM 2003 Industry Trends & Market Share Report provides readers with an analysis of the industry, key trends and forecasts.
Insurance and Risk Management Information
- Insurance and Risk Management
Alberta Tourism, Parks, Recreation & Culture has compiled a list of publications providing information on insurance for the meeting and incentive tourism sector.
Other Resources
- The Meeting Professional
- Beyond the Space
- Future Watch 2006
A monthly magazine published by Meeting Professionals International. Each month The Meeting Professional provides the cover story, showcase destinations, columns and exclusive online features in a downloadable PDF format.
Describes the trends in the meetings and convention industry. Also describes details planners attend to when searching for the right meeting facility.
Future Watch 2006 reports year-over-year trends on key economic indicators such as spending, international travel and employment. It also looks at the pace of meetings management and other signs of commoditization and consolidation and continues a call to action for stronger buyer/seller relationships to ensure long-term success in an evolving industry. Future Watch 2006 also looks closely at attrition due to the level of concern planners and suppliers have expressed in the past when planning meetings.
