Thousands of Meeting Planners to Check Out Washington Convention Center at Major Industry Trade Show 6/4/2003
From: Al Rickard, 703-402-9713 or arickard@assocvision.com, for the Greater Washington Society of Association Executives News Advisory: Thousands of association CEOs and meeting planners - the leading customers of the Washington Convention Center - will visit the new facility for the association industry's largest one-day trade show on June 12. The full-day show, called "Springtime 2003," is run by the Greater Washington Society of Association Executives (GWSAE), which represents professionals from more than 3,500 national and international associations in this region. Nearly 4,000 people will attend. Many meeting planners will see the Washington Convention Center for the first time and decide whether it meets their needs for future conventions and trade shows. Associations now spend more than $3 billion each year on conventions and meetings in the Washington, DC region, according to GWSAE research. Local officials are already seeing increased business through the new Center. PRESS CONFERENCE: June 12, 9:30 a.m. Washington Convention Center Room 208AB Speakers: -- William E. Kelley, GWSAE Chairman of the Board -- Susan Sarfati, President & CEO, GWSAE and Center for Association Leadership -- Bill Hanbury, President & CEO, Washington, DC Convention & Tourism Corporation -- Lewis Dawley, General Manager & CEO, Washington Convention Center SPECIAL HOSPITALITY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT BRIEFING June 12, 12:15 p.m. Washington Convention Center Room 208AB Stephen Marriott will lead a panel of top hospitality industry executives at a special industry briefing for students from Hospitality High School, a Washington, DC public charter school. Bill Hanbury of WCTC and Lewis Dawley of the Washington Convention Center will also participate. Students will then tour the Springtime trade show floor and see the industry in action. GWSAE is sponsoring this event to give students a firsthand look at the profession they are pursuing. The demand for hospitality industry employees in our region will increase dramatically in coming years. MEDIA CONTACT: Al Rickard, 703-402-9713 or arickard@assocvision.com |