APEX DAY: A GREAT SUCCESS

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 18, 2004

CONTACT: Mary Power, President
Convention Industry Council
(703) 610-9030

APEX DAY: A GREAT SUCCESS

McLean, VA – October 18, 2004 – On October 14, 2004 members of the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry throughout the United States and Canada celebrated the first annual APEX Day.

In recognition of APEX Day, professionals from all segments of the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry were encouraged to plan and participate in special APEX Day events. As a resource CIC offered recommendations for activities, including hosting, sponsoring or attending APEX City Discussion Groups (an event akin to a town hall meeting in which industry professionals meet to discuss and comment on the APEX panel preliminary reports), publishing articles on the APEX initiative in corporate publications, and putting the discussion of the APEX initiative on staff meeting agendas.

Among the many activities that took place on APEX Day was a special educational forum for independent meeting executives and human resources directors to learn the benefits of the APEX initiative as it relates to their businesses. The goal of the two-hour program was to present the strength of APEX as it relates directly to employee professionalism, staff and corporate development, and the communications process for every contractor that touches a meeting or event.

Held at Signatures Restaurant in Washington, D.C., the program was hosted by industry veterans, Shelley Harris, CMM, CMP of the Harris Group and Ellen Wilson, CMP of EWI Consulting.

“APEX content provides a framework that HR can use at every stage of the employment management cycle including job description design, staff recruitment, new employee assimilation, staff training, performance management, and, of course delivery of customer service,” explained Wilson.

“The content of this program also related directly to the business owner who hires contractors, manages projects and works specifically in the meetings industry,” cites Harris. “For the independent meeting executives that were present the focus was on how APEX can deepen their expertise in the industry, how they can incorporate APEX content into their marketing and communications message, in their business practices and ultimately, build a stronger business.”

In addition to this unique program, individuals, corporations, and industry organizations took part with some innovative activities, including:

The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) hosted an audio conference series entitled "Accepted Practices in Action: Tools You Should Be Using Today and Tomorrow." PCMA also included a short article on APEX in its September edition of Convene Magazine.

Georgette Smith, CMM hosted the first APEX City Discussion Group in the Norman/Oklahoma City Metro Area in celebration of APEX Day.

The University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management and Florida Gulf Coast University’s Resort and Hospitality Program staff and faculty promoted APEX in all of the program’s courses.

Claire Smith, CMP hosted the second APEX City Discussion Group in Vancouver, BC in celebration of APEX Day.

The Association for Convention Operations Management (ACOM) hosted a complimentary webinar entitled "APEX - Your Questions Answered."

International Association of Speakers Bureaus (IASB) included an article on APEX Day in the October edition of their printed newsletter.

In an attempt to engage members of the food & beverage sector of the industry, CIC also launched the APEX Food & Beverage Challenge in conjunction with APEX Day.

All entries to the challenge are currently featured on the CIC website. Industry professionals are encouraged to visit the APEX Challenge Food & Beverage Challenge webpage found at: http://www.conventionindustry.org/apex/apex_challenge.htm to vote for their favorite recipes. Voting will remain open until October 31, 2004. The entries with the most votes in each category will be the recipient of the “Planners Choice” Award.

APEX (Accepted Practices Exchange), an initiative of the Convention Industry Council, is developing and implementing industry-wide accepted practices which will create and enhance efficiencies throughout the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry. To subscribe to a monthly update on the initiative send an email with “ADD” in the subject line to ccote@conventionindustry.org. Please include your name, title, employer and mailing address.

The Convention Industry Council's 31 member organizations represent more than 98,000 individuals and 15,000 firms and properties involved in the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry. Formed in 1949 to provide a forum for member organizations seeking to enhance the industry, the CIC facilitates the exchange of information, develops programs to promote professionalism within the industry, and educates the public on its profound economic impact. In addition to the APEX initiative, the CIC is also responsible for the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) Program. Other programs include Project Attrition, the Hall of Leaders, the Prestigious CIC Cup, and the CIC Economic Impact Study.

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©2004 Convention Industry Council
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 18, 2004

CONTACT: Mary Power, President
Convention Industry Council
(703) 610-9030

APEX DAY: A GREAT SUCCESS

McLean, VA – October 18, 2004 – On October 14, 2004 members of the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry throughout the United States and Canada celebrated the first annual APEX Day.

In recognition of APEX Day, professionals from all segments of the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry were encouraged to plan and participate in special APEX Day events. As a resource CIC offered recommendations for activities, including hosting, sponsoring or attending APEX City Discussion Groups (an event akin to a town hall meeting in which industry professionals meet to discuss and comment on the APEX panel preliminary reports), publishing articles on the APEX initiative in corporate publications, and putting the discussion of the APEX initiative on staff meeting agendas.

Among the many activities that took place on APEX Day was a special educational forum for independent meeting executives and human resources directors to learn the benefits of the APEX initiative as it relates to their businesses. The goal of the two-hour program was to present the strength of APEX as it relates directly to employee professionalism, staff and corporate development, and the communications process for every contractor that touches a meeting or event.

Held at Signatures Restaurant in Washington, D.C., the program was hosted by industry veterans, Shelley Harris, CMM, CMP of the Harris Group and Ellen Wilson, CMP of EWI Consulting.

“APEX content provides a framework that HR can use at every stage of the employment management cycle including job description design, staff recruitment, new employee assimilation, staff training, performance management, and, of course delivery of customer service,” explained Wilson.

“The content of this program also related directly to the business owner who hires contractors, manages projects and works specifically in the meetings industry,” cites Harris. “For the independent meeting executives that were present the focus was on how APEX can deepen their expertise in the industry, how they can incorporate APEX content into their marketing and communications message, in their business practices and ultimately, build a stronger business.”

In addition to this unique program, individuals, corporations, and industry organizations took part with some innovative activities, including:

The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) hosted an audio conference series entitled "Accepted Practices in Action: Tools You Should Be Using Today and Tomorrow." PCMA also included a short article on APEX in its September edition of Convene Magazine.
Georgette Smith, CMM hosted the first APEX City Discussion Group in the Norman/Oklahoma City Metro Area in celebration of APEX Day.
The University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management and Florida Gulf Coast University’s Resort and Hospitality Program staff and faculty promoted APEX in all of the program’s courses.
Claire Smith, CMP hosted the second APEX City Discussion Group in Vancouver, BC in celebration of APEX Day.
The Association for Convention Operations Management (ACOM) hosted a complimentary webinar entitled "APEX - Your Questions Answered."
International Association of Speakers Bureaus (IASB) included an article on APEX Day in the October edition of their printed newsletter.

In an attempt to engage members of the food & beverage sector of the industry, CIC also launched the APEX Food & Beverage Challenge in conjunction with APEX Day.

All entries to the challenge are currently featured on the CIC website. Industry professionals are encouraged to visit the APEX Challenge Food & Beverage Challenge webpage found at: http://www.conventionindustry.org/apex/apex_challenge.htm to vote for their favorite recipes. Voting will remain open until October 31, 2004. The entries with the most votes in each category will be the recipient of the “Planners Choice” Award.

APEX (Accepted Practices Exchange), an initiative of the Convention Industry Council, is developing and implementing industry-wide accepted practices which will create and enhance efficiencies throughout the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry. To subscribe to a monthly update on the initiative send an email with “ADD” in the subject line to ccote@conventionindustry.org. Please include your name, title, employer and mailing address.

The Convention Industry Council's 31 member organizations represent more than 98,000 individuals and 15,000 firms and properties involved in the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry. Formed in 1949 to provide a forum for member organizations seeking to enhance the industry, the CIC facilitates the exchange of information, develops programs to promote professionalism within the industry, and educates the public on its profound economic impact. In addition to the APEX initiative, the CIC is also responsible for the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) Program. Other programs include Project Attrition, the Hall of Leaders, the Prestigious CIC Cup, and the CIC Economic Impact Study.

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