Washington, DC – Roughly 135 of the leading trade show and meeting destinations in the U.S. will be meeting with representatives of the exhibitions industry during Destinations Showcase on March 25 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.
An estimated 1,100 to 1,200 show organizers, meeting planners and other key executives will be scouting out potential venues for their events and taking advantage of the speakers and educational sessions planned by Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI).
“The event is free to qualified meeting professionals and is dedicated to supporting continuing education in the industry by awarding Certified Meeting Planner credits for attending scheduled sessions,” said Nancy Elder, executive vice president, professional development and meetings.
Elder and her team were finalizing the speaker roster in late February. The lineup will be led by keynoter Marshawn Evans Daniels, a Georgetown law school graduate and author who was recently a contestant on Donald Trump’s “Apprentice” television series. Her address will focus on how having a clear purpose gives a boost to strategies for growth and innovation.
Other sessions of particular interest to show organizers cover creating effective RFPs, making the best use of the trusty Excel spreadsheet and the latest strategies in countering hotel room block poachers and pirates.
Show organizers and planners will also have an opportunity to discuss their ideas and concerns in the Meeting Planner Forum. The session is a first for Destination Showcase and is certain to raise timely issues that can be tackled by planners and their destination partners.
“Most of the sessions will be conducted twice so that attendees can be certain they will have a chance to access the information,” said Elder.
Attendees will also be able to ensure they don’t miss anything by taking advantage of the new appointment-setting feature. The event software from Map Your Show includes a scheduling feature that can arrange meetings in advance of the conference.
The scheduling feature and registration details are available at www.destinationmarketing.org
Reach Nancy Elder at (202) 835-4208 or nelder@destinationmarketing.org
