WASHINGTON, DC MAYOR ANTHONY WILLIAMS JOINS INDUSTRY IN PRAISE OF APEX ACCOMPLISHMENTS

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 28, 2004

CONTACT: Juli Jones, Vice President
Convention Industry Council
(703) 610-0273

WASHINGTON, DC MAYOR ANTHONY WILLIAMS JOINS INDUSTRY IN PRAISE OF APEX ACCOMPLISHMENTS

McLean, Virginia – October 29, 2004 – Today, Mayor Anthony Williams of Washington, D.C. joined industry leaders in praise of the positive impact of the meetings, conventions, and exhibitions industry on the local and national economies, and the positive impact of the Convention Industry Council’s APEX (Accepted Practices Exchange) initiative on that industry.

Mayor’s Williams’ commented that the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry is an integral part of the fabric of the economic and social landscape. He encouraged citizens to reflect upon how much influence this industry has on the economic development of the city and the country.

Following the Mayor’s remarks, Mickey Schaefer, CAE, chair of the APEX Commission and vice president for the American Academy of Family Physicians, noted some of the highlights of APEX’s accomplishments to date, including:

The initiative is on target with its original timeline and will complete work in 2005.

Three major tools have been delivered to the industry for use. They are: the APEX Industry Glossary, PER (Post-Event Report), and ESG (Event Specifications Guide).

The Technology Advisory Council (TAC) is working to make sure that APEX accepted practices are relevant and useful to all members of the industry, regardless of degree of technological sophistication. APEX, via the TAC, is creating tools for both low-tech and high-tech users to use the industry’s best accepted practices to ensure seamless exchange of data. Tools will include user-friendly templates and checklists, a data dictionary defining fields, a comprehensive data map, and an XML (eXtensible Mark-up Language) schema – all without creating new software. APEX will ensure that technology is leveraged to is fullest potential.

By the end of 2004, more than 2500 industry members will have attended 87 City Discussion Groups (CDGs) in more than 40 cities throughout the U.S. & Canada. These meetings have been instrumental in ensuring that accepted practices are relevant to the industry and are fully and openly vetted.

More than 350 individuals have been involved hands-on with APEX as volunteers since May 2001.

The monthly APEX E-News is delivered to more than 5000 industry members directly each month. The pass-along-power of this resource is estimated to be over 10,000.

Since May 2001, more than 3000 industry members have attended one of 86 educational programs conducted throughout the U.S. and Canada in conjunction with meetings of CIC’s members.

Funding has been provided by 129 corporations, foundations, associations, and individuals. $1.3 million has been raised to date with a goal of reaching $1.9 million. Lead donors are the Meeting Professionals International (MPI) Foundation and the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Education Foundation. Other major supporters include the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation, the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Foundation, The Freeman Companies, Hilton Hotels Corporation, Marriott International, and Wyndham International.

The APEX Commission and the CIC Board of Directors are working hard to make sure that APEX is self-sustaining beginning in 2006. Modeling the success of other industries that have undertaken similar initiatives (such as the real estate industry, the banking industry and the property and casualty insurance industry), the Commission is ensuring that APEX forms and procedures are implemented in order to save the industry millions and millions of expense dollars, all this while creating revenue streams that will support the continued refinement and implementation of accepted practices.

While implementation of completed accepted practices is currently anecdotal, it is both encouraging and exciting:

A major hotel company has reported that its computer systems are currently able to capture and report approximately 80% of the content of the APEX Post-Event Report, and they are working toward 100%.

Use of the on-line APEX Industry Glossary is rising dramatically. In April 2004, the site experienced 6,438 hits. In September 2004, the number of hits was 17,994. This is an increase of almost 300% in 5 months and represents over 3,000 unique visitors monthly.

The APEX Post-Event Report was downloaded from the CIC website more than 430 times in September 2004.

Professors at several colleges and universities are working to incorporate all three existing APEX tools into their curricula and course materials.

APEX tools are being placed on corporate intranets for employees to have quick and easy access.

Event organizers are making the use of APEX tools standard operating procedures in their operations.

Mary E. Power, president and CEO of the Convention Industry Council said, “The industry has truly marshaled support for the concept of APEX with an incredible degree of enthusiasm. And, the grassroots support of the project is diverse and includes key leaders of virtually every segment of the CIC constituency. The participation of thousands of individuals in the many city discussions is a good illustration of the breadth and depth of support for what is really a very simple, yet powerful idea -- eliminate duplication and redundancy in systems and procedures thus saving millions of dollars that can be redirected more effectively.”

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.

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, and the CIC Economic Impact Study.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 28, 2004

CONTACT: Juli Jones, Vice President
Convention Industry Council
(703) 610-0273

WASHINGTON, DC MAYOR ANTHONY WILLIAMS JOINS INDUSTRY IN PRAISE OF APEX ACCOMPLISHMENTS

McLean, Virginia – October 29, 2004 – Today, Mayor Anthony Williams of Washington, D.C. joined industry leaders in praise of the positive impact of the meetings, conventions, and exhibitions industry on the local and national economies, and the positive impact of the Convention Industry Council’s APEX (Accepted Practices Exchange) initiative on that industry.

Mayor’s Williams’ commented that the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry is an integral part of the fabric of the economic and social landscape. He encouraged citizens to reflect upon how much influence this industry has on the economic development of the city and the country.

Following the Mayor’s remarks, Mickey Schaefer, CAE, chair of the APEX Commission and vice president for the American Academy of Family Physicians, noted some of the highlights of APEX’s accomplishments to date, including:

The initiative is on target with its original timeline and will complete work in 2005.
Three major tools have been delivered to the industry for use. They are: the APEX Industry Glossary, PER (Post-Event Report), and ESG (Event Specifications Guide).
The Technology Advisory Council (TAC) is working to make sure that APEX accepted practices are relevant and useful to all members of the industry, regardless of degree of technological sophistication. APEX, via the TAC, is creating tools for both low-tech and high-tech users to use the industry’s best accepted practices to ensure seamless exchange of data. Tools will include user-friendly templates and checklists, a data dictionary defining fields, a comprehensive data map, and an XML (eXtensible Mark-up Language) schema – all without creating new software. APEX will ensure that technology is leveraged to is fullest potential.
By the end of 2004, more than 2500 industry members will have attended 87 City Discussion Groups (CDGs) in more than 40 cities throughout the U.S. & Canada. These meetings have been instrumental in ensuring that accepted practices are relevant to the industry and are fully and openly vetted.
More than 350 individuals have been involved hands-on with APEX as volunteers since May 2001.
The monthly APEX E-News is delivered to more than 5000 industry members directly each month. The pass-along-power of this resource is estimated to be over 10,000.
Since May 2001, more than 3000 industry members have attended one of 86 educational programs conducted throughout the U.S. and Canada in conjunction with meetings of CIC’s members.
Funding has been provided by 129 corporations, foundations, associations, and individuals. $1.3 million has been raised to date with a goal of reaching $1.9 million. Lead donors are the Meeting Professionals International (MPI) Foundation and the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Education Foundation. Other major supporters include the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation, the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Foundation, The Freeman Companies, Hilton Hotels Corporation, Marriott International, and Wyndham International.
The APEX Commission and the CIC Board of Directors are working hard to make sure that APEX is self-sustaining beginning in 2006. Modeling the success of other industries that have undertaken similar initiatives (such as the real estate industry, the banking industry and the property and casualty insurance industry), the Commission is ensuring that APEX forms and procedures are implemented in order to save the industry millions and millions of expense dollars, all this while creating revenue streams that will support the continued refinement and implementation of accepted practices.
While implementation of completed accepted practices is currently anecdotal, it is both encouraging and exciting:
- A major hotel company has reported that its computer systems are currently able to capture and report approximately 80% of the content of the APEX Post-Event Report, and they are working toward 100%.
- Use of the on-line APEX Industry Glossary is rising dramatically. In April 2004, the site experienced 6,438 hits. In September 2004, the number of hits was 17,994. This is an increase of almost 300% in 5 months and represents over 3,000 unique visitors monthly.
- The APEX Post-Event Report was downloaded from the CIC website more than 430 times in September 2004.
- Professors at several colleges and universities are working to incorporate all three existing APEX tools into their curricula and course materials.
- APEX tools are being placed on corporate intranets for employees to have quick and easy access.
- Event organizers are making the use of APEX tools standard operating procedures in their operations.

Mary E. Power, president and CEO of the Convention Industry Council said, “The industry has truly marshaled support for the concept of APEX with an incredible degree of enthusiasm. And, the grassroots support of the project is diverse and includes key leaders of virtually every segment of the CIC constituency. The participation of thousands of individuals in the many city discussions is a good illustration of the breadth and depth of support for what is really a very simple, yet powerful idea -- eliminate duplication and redundancy in systems and procedures thus saving millions of dollars that can be redirected more effectively.”

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.

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, and the CIC Economic Impact Study.

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