ESPA looks forward to seeing you in San Diego — Where We Will Set Sail with Convention Services!

A New Name – A New Brand – And Some Exciting New Additions to the Annual Conference!

As you have recently heard, ACOM is now ESPA, the Event Service Professionals Association. And this year’s conference program features a variety of new benefits to support your continued development and pursuit of service excellence.

We all know that “Great Meetings Don’t Just Happen” and the role of the event and convention services manager is an integral part of the meeting process. ESPA is committed to supporting event and convention service managers in their quest for excellence. The ESPA mission sums it up well -- Dedicated to elevating the event and convention service profession and to preparing members, through education and networking, for their pivotal role in innovative and successful event execution. One of the most important benefits ESPA offers is its Annual Conference – THE meeting of the services’ minds! And this year’s Annual Conference will be a bigger bang for your buck.

Join us for a dynamic conference agenda which incorporates several new dynamic features as well as a program full of educational topics geared specifically to the event and convention services industry.

Get the buzz going by using #ESPA2012 anytime you tweet about the Annual Conference!

Need tips on getting management approval? We’ve got ‘em!

Thank you to our sponsors!

Schedule of Events / Program

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012
	Arrivals
Optional activities: (fees additional)
1:00-5:30pm	Visit to La Jolla: The Jewel of San Diego, with a stop at the Birch Aquarium
1:30-5:30pm	Scenic San Diego by land and sea! Includes a harbor cruise
1:00-4:00pm	ESPA Beach Clean-Up
1:45pm	Tour of San Diego Convention Center
Visit the Optional activities section for more details.
4:00p-6:00pm	CMP Info Session Cary Bradley, CMP, CMM, Corporate Director, Events, Hilton Worldwide Christina Buck, CMP, CMP Program Director, Convention Industry Council If you have been pondering whether to take the CMP exam, but are hesitant or have questions, this is the session for you. We will review and answer questions about the program requirements and how to best prepare for the exam, as well as discuss new developments with the CMP Blueprint and future changes to the program. There will be plenty of time for Q&A. There is no charge for this session, but please be sure to sign up for it on the Registration form.
5:30-6:30pm	New Member Welcome All new ESPA members are encouraged to join the Board of Directors for an informal association introduction.
6:30-7:30pm	Welcome! Reception and Networking
Dinner on own / EXPLORE SAN DIEGO!
SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, 2012
7:30-8:30am	Networking Buffet Breakfast Review of member submissions for the inaugural Showcase: Sail the High C’s!
8:30-9:00am	Opening Session: Town Hall and ESPA Grand Kick-off!
9:00-10:00am	Keynote Speaker: Chef Jeff Henderson, New York Times best-selling author and award-winning chef From the Streets to the Stove: The Power of Potential Inspirational speaker Chef Jeff knows what it feels like to be hungry, and he knows what it is to struggle. After growing up in the "hood" of LA he spent nearly ten years in prison for a drug conviction. While there, Chef Jeff found his passion for cooking, which ultimately led him to the top of the restaurant industry and to the Food Network. Chef Jeff's story of redemption and perseverance not only motivates audience members to dream but encourages them to reach their full potential.
10:00-10:15am	Break (Review the Showcase and Meet the Committee Chairs!)
10:15-11:00am	Regional Networking/Icebreaker Session We want you to meet your neighbors! And have some fun too. During this session, we will split the group up into regions, and each will have a facilitator to get the discussions going. We won’t unveil the details just yet, but be ready for a fun, interactive game that will help you get to know your fellow members a little better and help you to expand your networking contacts.
11:00am-12:00pm	3 Concurrent Breakout Sessions – Your Choice Attendees will need to make a selection during the registration process
	Breakout 1: Hot Topics and Trends in Housing – a Discussion Group Tina Stark, Director of Housing & Registration Sales, The Housing Connection This will be a great session, lead by Tina Stark of the Housing Connection, offering valuable time for our housing specialists to review the latest trends, technologies and opportunities.
	Breakout 2: Hot Technologies for Meeting Professionals Stewart Young, Vice President, Strategic Accounts, PSAV Presentation Services This session reviews what’s new and cool in technology within the meetings industry during this fast paced look at what’s here for us to use now, and in the future. Topics will include Smart Phones and QR Codes.
	Breakout 3: The Art of Public Speaking Peter Kraatz, EMC Consulting Jill Kraatz, Experient Does the thought of public speaking make you want to run the other way? Or are you one of those rare individuals who love to speak? In this session, you’ll learn from a dynamic duo not only how to reduce the stress of public speaking but also how to enhance your public speaking skills.
12:15-1:30pm	ESPA Awards Luncheon and Annual Business Meeting
1:45-2:45pm	3 Concurrent Breakout Sessions – Your Choice, you are not required to stay within your own discipline Attendees will need to make a selection during the registration process.
	Hotel session: Understanding Cultures Colleen A. Rickenbacher, CMP, CSEP, CPC, Colleen Rickenbacher, Inc. Today, the world is so diverse; more and more we have clients and conference attendees from many different countries and cultures coming to our facilities. This session will shed light on requirements and sensitivities we should be aware of for cultures we are frequently exposed to, including etiquette, food, patterns to anticipate and more.
	CVB session: CVB Services Best Practices Revealed! We’ve always said that networking at our conference generates a lot of idea-sharing. And this session will be no different. As part of the preparation for this session, attendees will be asked to submit their CVB’s list of services. The session moderators will pick the most creative and unique. In this interactive session, the group will talk about these ideas including how they work and what the planners’ response has been.
	Center session: “RESET” Your Convention Center! Moderator: Ronnie Burt, Jr., Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Destination DC Panelists: Eric Blanc, CMP, Vice President of Sales and Services, Tampa Convention Charles Bierne, Regional General Manager, SMG/Atlantic City Convention Center What are Convention Centers doing to enhance service and spruce up their facilities to attract and maintain business? This will be a panel discussion with industry leaders sharing success stories you can learn from.
2:45-3:00pm	Break (Review the Showcase and Meet the Committee Chairs!)
3:00-3:45pm	2 Concurrent Breakout Sessions – Your Choice Attendees will need to make a selection during the registration process.
	Breakout 1: Bridging the gap between community partners, attractions and Destinations Moderator: DeeAnne Snyder, CMP, Director of Convention Services, San Diego Convention Center Panel: Angie Kemp, CPCE, Director of Event Sales, San Diego Zoo & Safari Park Jaleh Browder, Event Manager, San Diego Natural History Museum Joy Liu, National Sales Manager, Hornblower Cruises & Events Pat Pfohl, Director of Events, USS Midway Museum Patricia Capritta Payne, Capritta & Associates, Hospitality Consulting and Meeting Management Ron King, Director of Event Services, San Diego Convention Center Corporation Gail Eason, Senior Convention Services Manager, San Diego Convention Center Corporation Learn effective ways to bring all of the partners in your community together to gain a better understanding of the Destinations role, which will result in an enhanced meeting planner and attendee experience.
	Breakout 2: Where is AV technology going? Maximizing Audio Visual for impactful events Learn some of the latest AV technologies and capabilities that can truly create an amazing event. Think beyond an LCD projector and colored uplighting. AV can maximize the impact of an event if you think outside of the box, and as a services manager, your awareness of these capabilities will only enhance your value to your planners.
4:00-4:45pm	General Session Green Meetings – A CSM’s guide to solutions for environmentally responsible meetings Nancy J. Zavada CMP, Principal, MeetGreen® Lindsay Arell, LEED AP O+M, Sustainable Programs Manager, Colorado Convention Center /SMG The primary goal of this session is to prepare CSMs to be a resource for meeting planners wanting to be green. Explore how you can help them to incorporate green concepts into their meeting through your facility or city. The session also aims to heighten CSMs’ awareness of how their facilities can be more green day to day-- both to meet planners’ needs and also to be good to mother nature!
4:45-5:30pm	ESPA Committee Meetings
6:00-7:00pm	President's Reception (by invitation only)
7:00pm	All Around the Gaslamp Quarter - Dine Around! (Optional sign-up)
9:00pm	ESPA After-Hours! We will arrange for an informal gathering at a local nightlife venue – meet up and end the day mingling with fellow members.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 2012
6:30-7:30am	Exercise Program For those of you who want to start the day off right, we’ll have an organized exercise program for you this morning, lead by a certified fitness instructor.
7:30-9:00am	Past President Breakfast (Invitation Only)
8:00-9:00am	Continental Breakfast
8:00-9:00am	ESPA Book Club (Optional sign-up) Facilitator: Sissy Lawty, Travel Portland Love reading and idea-sharing? Conference attendees will have an opportunity to read a thought- provoking book then discuss it book club style with fellow members, including walking through recommended exercises from the book. This is a fun new interactive type of session for those who sign up. Book Description: If you're stuck at the starting line, you don't need more time or permission. You don’t need to wait for a boss’s okay or to be told to push the button; you just need to poke. Poke the Box is a manifesto by bestselling author Seth Godin that just might make you uncomfortable. It’s a call to action about the initiative you’re taking-– in your job or in your life. Godin knows that one of our scarcest resources is the spark of initiative in most organizations (and most careers)-– the person with the guts to say, “I want to start stuff.” Poke the Box just may be the kick in the pants you need to shake up your life or career. Join us!
9:00-9:15am	Opening Session, Day two: Preview Orlando!
9:15-10:00am	General Session: Positive Productivity: 10 Systems to Help You Do More and Stress Less Chrissy Scivicque, EatYourCareer.com We have all been there – too many hats to wear or feeling like you are being spread too thin, yet you still want to do the best job you can…and keep your sanity! Sound familiar? Playing too many roles can lead to feeling worn out and...well… having the workplace blues! But never fear! There are ways to be more productive and to beat those blues. And this session will help us see those solutions and learn how to manage changing up all of those hats!
10:15-11:15am	General Session: Sales to Service – Tips for a smooth collaboration and transition Terry Devitt, Director of Event Management, Orange County Convention Center Kathy Hogan, Director of Sales, Orange County Convention Center Tammi Runzler, Sr. VP Sales and Services, Visit Orlando Alan Enns, Director of Sales, Peabody Orlando Keith Backsen, Vice President and Director of Convention Sales, Visit Spokane Amy Cabe, Convention Service Manager, Spokane Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau Kelsey Soukup, Sales Manager, Spokane Convention Center Teams made up of Hotel, Center and DMO Sales Managers, and their Event Manager and CSM partners will dynamically demonstrate how they have worked together in effectively implementing some of the recommendations of the “best practices” for Centers/Hotels and DMOs to “hand off” customers and experience a seamless flow from the sales cycle through move out. Motivated by the set of guidelines intended to facilitate partnership, provide joint advocacy, and identify common objectives for DMOs and Convention facilities published in August 2007 by IAVM and DMAI, the teams will illustrate their successes in an interactive setting exploring definite scenarios by sharing examples of communication, checklist, agenda’s, site visits, planning meetings, event planning, entertainment, pre-cons, manager on duty, post cons and more. This session is being presented by CSPI, Convention Sales Professionals International.
11:15-11:30am	Break
11:30am-12:30pm	General Session: The Top Threes! Top three things keeping planners awake at night and the top meeting trends for 2012 and beyond We are thrilled to welcome Nancy DeBrosse, Vice President, Association Strategic Account Management, Experient to the conference program this year. What trends are their planners experiencing? We’ll find out.
12:45-1:45pm	Networking Luncheon with Meeting Planners and CSMs from across North America This year we are encouraging greater meeting planner participation, especially for the second half of Sunday, kicking off with a networking luncheon and followed by two planner / services –centric sessions. Read below to learn how you can take advantage of the opportunity to invite your best planner client to join us for lunch and a day of sessions.
2:00-3:00pm	Lively and Fun General Session: Planner & CSM Best Practices – It’s all About the Teamwork! Hosted by Eric Blanc, CMP, Tampa Convention Center This session will rock! We have a fun surprise – but it will get planners and service managers interacting and sharing their views. Just how well do we know what planners want? We’ll learn it here!
3:00-3:15pm	Break
3:15-4:30pm	Interactive Forum: Services & Planners Unite! Ideas in Motion Invite your planner! Space is limited so don’t delay. As you can see, conference content on Sunday afternoon has been specially created with the Planner / Service Manager relationship in mind. For this Ideas in Motion session, ESPA members will interact with a variety of planners for a speed networking interactive learning session. Invited Planners who participate will enjoy an afternoon of education and a luncheon on us! Your invited planners must be comfortable with being discussion leaders with groups of service managers, on pre-established hot topics. We are limited to the number of planners who can participate on a complimentary basis and it is first come, first served by signing them up through this Client Sign up Form. Meeting planners not participating as discussion leaders in the Ideas in Motion session can still register for the One-Day registration.
4:30pm	Closing Remarks

Keynote by Speaker Chef Jeff Henderson

Chef Jeff Henderson, New York Times best-selling author and award-winning chef presents:
From the Streets to the Stove: The Power of Potential

Inspirational speaker Chef Jeff knows what it feels like to be hungry, and he knows what it is to struggle. After growing up in the "hood" of LA he spent nearly ten years in prison for a drug conviction. While there, Chef Jeff found his passion for cooking, which ultimately led him to the top of the restaurant industry and to the Food Network. Chef Jeff's story of redemption and perseverance not only motivates audience members to dream but encourages them to reach their full potential.

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ESPA Showcase: Sail the High C’s!

Collaboration, Creativity, Communications — Enter now!

ESPA members are always eager to share their thoughts and participate in idea exchange throughout the Annual Conference. This year marks a first for the ESPA Showcase. Share and receive accolades for your creative and innovative service tools and programs in the categories of Welcome Programs, Creative Site Visits and Pre-Promotional Items / Service Kits. ESPA attendees will have a chance to view all of the entries and vote for the top submissions. The top three winning entries will receive three (3) complimentary passes to an ESPA Webinar throughout 2012. Winning entries will also be showcased in the Cool Tools section of the ESPA website.

Categories:
Participate in one…or even all three categories at this year’s Annual Conference.

1. Welcome Programs – Welcoming a group to your city or venue is one of the most important parts of their event. For many attendees, this may be their first impression of you. So what do you do to stand out from the crowd?

Please register your submission by filling out this Entry form, and bring your physical submission to the Registration Desk when you check-in at the Annual Conference.

As the inaugural year for the showcase, there is no submission fee to participate. Space is limited so register early.

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Optional Tours and Community Activity

- Friday afternoon
- Saturday evening Dine-around

This year, most arrivals to San Diego will be Thursday and Friday morning, leaving Friday afternoon as the perfect opportunity to do some local San Diego activities, before our Welcome Reception on Friday evening. We have two tours and one community activity to choose from. Each requires a separate registration. It is important to note that we anticipate these tours to be in high-demand; space is limited so if you want to participate in any of these activities, you must sign up early.

Scenic San Diego by land and sea! Includes a harbor cruise

Friday, January 6
1:00-5:00pm
Fee: $55.00

San Diego is a vast city with many popular attractions which this guided tour will cover. The group will see areas such as: Old Town, the site of the city's original settlement where many of the old adobes and frame houses are still standing and have been completely restored. Mexican culture is plentiful here with quaint shops selling bright and colorful artwork and souvenirs.

Another popular stop is Balboa Park which is considered one of the most beautiful, diversified and culturally enriching parks in North America. The park is filled with beautiful Spanish style architecture which was built for the very first World Fair in 1915. Balboa Park is also home to 14 museums including the Aerospace Museum, the San Diego Museum of Art, the Natural History Museum and the Photographic Museum. Botanical gardens and gourmet restaurants can also be found throughout the park.

Other areas of interest along the way are San Diego's downtown areas such as the historical Gaslamp Quarter and Seaport Village where souvenirs can be purchased at one of the many tourist shops and the view of the sparkling Pacific Ocean is unbeatable.

After seeing the lovely city by land, you will be welcomed aboard a public harbor tour boat. The group will cruise the calm waters of the San Diego Bay to see the city and bustling harbor from a completely different perspective. Professional guides will narrate points of interest that may include the Coronado Bay Bridge, the Navy shipyards and aircraft carriers. Along the way, you might even see a seal or two cruising through the water. You haven’t see San Diego until you have seen it from the water. It’s an entirely different way to see the city.

Visit to La Jolla: The Jewel of San Diego, with a stop at the Birch Aquarium
Friday, January 6
1:00-5:00pm
Fee: $50.00

La Jolla, with the tantalizing charm of a Mediterranean Isle, unique shops and breathtaking views of the Pacific, is a refreshing change of pace sure to delight even the most discriminating shopper! Upon arrival into the heart of the shopping district in La Jolla, guests will have free time to explore, shop, and relax on their own! Often referred to as the Jewel of the Pacific Coast, downtown La Jolla boasts dozens of shops, art galleries, and specialty boutiques. You will surely find designer names you’ll recognize and make wonderful discoveries in the many extraordinary owner-operated establishments. After some time spent shopping, the group will head to the wonderful Birch Aquarium at Scripps. It is situated on a spectacular site overlooking the Pacific Ocean. This unique facility presents undersea creatures in realistic habitats, and allows visitors to experience the frontiers of marine science through hands-on museum exhibits. La Jolla is an exquisite combination of a southern European resort atmosphere and Southern California fun! It is truly the “jewel” of America’s Finest City!

ESPA Beach Clean-Up
Friday, January 6
1:00pm
Fee: $10.00
If a voluntourism activity is more your speed, here is your opportunity. We have partnered with a local Parks department to offer an organized beach clean-up. This is an opportunity to be outside and enjoy the scenery while helping to keep the beaches clean for the safety and enjoyment of wildlife and the local community. Materials will be provided. A small fee is required to help cover transportation for the group to our designated beach location. More details will be provided, including signing a waiver form.

Tour of San Diego Convention Center
Friday, January 6
2:00pm
For all of you convention center members, this is your opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look and walk through of the Center. The San Diego Convention Center is located on sparkling San Diego Bay in the heart of a vibrant downtown. The Convention Center has generated over $18 billion in economic impact since opening in 1989 and continues to support about 12,500 jobs county-wide. In FY10, the Center hosted 165 events that generated $1.27 billion in regional economic impact and $20.2 million in hotel room and sales tax revenues. The Convention Center opened in November 1989 and an expansion, which doubled the size of the original building, opened in September 2001. The SDCCC manages an annual budget of $32.5 million and employs a staff of over 560 people including 242 full-time and 320 part-time employees at the Convention Center.

All Around the Gaslamp Quarter - Dine Around!
Saturday, January 7
7:00pm
Fee: $80.00
This evening we will have an opportunity to visit different restaurants in the Gaslamp Quarter, while enjoying the company of fellow members. Closer to conference time, we will survey you to determine which cuisine is your choice as we will split up for the main entrée portion of the evening.

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Sponsorship Opportunities – Get your company in front of these meeting leaders!

The Event Service Professionals Association (ESPA) Annual Conference is attended by leading event and convention service managers in the meeting industry – including forward-thinking Event Managers and CSMs from convention centers, CVBs and hotels from across the US and Canada. These EMs/CSMs make their own purchasing decisions and have great collaborative influence on the purchasing decisions of their meeting planner clients.

Sponsorship is one way to get your name out to these individuals. Creating name recognition and showing your commitment to supporting their event, sponsorship is a great investment. Rates range to fit all budgets.

If you are interested in getting your name out there to this target market, please take a moment to look over the Sponsorship Opportunities prospectus. If you have any questions, please contact Lynn McCullough at lmccullough@espaonline.org or call 609-799-3712.

Sponsors as of October 6:

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Reserve your room now at the US Grant

Due to a delayed renovation schedule at the Westin Gaslamp Quarter, ESPA will be moving its Conference to the adjacent US Grant Hotel, located directly across from the Westin. While the US Grant is a luxury property, because it is also a Starwood property, they will be offering ESPA the same low sleeping rate of $169/night that we had contracted with the Westin. If you have already made a reservation at the Westin Gaslamp Quarter, your reservation will be automatically transferred to the US Grant, and a representative from the Westin will be in touch regarding your confirmation number by early next week.

How and When to Reserve Your Room

For new ESPA conference hotel reservations, please contact the US Grant directly through the Stargroups reservations website or call 1-866-837-4270 to make your reservations by Friday, December 9.

A San Diego icon since 1910, the palatial US Grant Hotel is situated in the city's lively and historic downtown Gaslamp Quarter, just steps from top shopping, dining and entertainment, and a short drive from the destination's world-renowned beaches, museums and family attractions. Click here to read the celebrated history of this grand hotel. It truly will be a treat, at no additional cost to ESPA attendees.

The hotel's Grand Lobby, adorned with sparkling crystal chandeliers, hand-loomed silk carpets and artwork, gives guests a preview of their modern and elegant guest rooms and distinctive meeting rooms.

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San Diego, California – Home of the 2012 ESPA Annual Conference

San Diego is renowned for its idyllic climate, 70 miles of pristine beaches and a dazzling array of world-class family attractions. Popular attractions include the world-famous San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, SeaWorld San Diego and LEGOLAND California. San Diego offers an expansive variety of things to see and do, appealing to guests of all ages from around the world. San Diego County encompasses 18 incorporated cities and numerous other charming neighborhoods and communities, including downtown's historic Gaslamp Quarter, Little Italy, Coronado, La Jolla, Del Mar, Carlsbad, Escondido, La Mesa, Hillcrest, Barrio Logan and Chula Vista just to name a few.

If you want to search events taking place over our conference dates, visit www.sandiego.org. There is also information on golf courses, restaurants, shops and other activities.

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Registration

Online registration is the most efficient and convenient method to register - but a fax option is available as well.

Click here for Online Registration. Once you get to the My ESPA Portal, log into your account, then register. All members or non members who have participated in our activities in the past already have an account. Retrieving your password is easy through the "Forgot your password?" feature. New visitors simply need to set up a visitor account, then register.

Click here if you prefer to print and fax or mail your Registration Form.

The following are the ESPA Conference Individual registration fees: (Note: Members whose companies are Organizational members of ESPA, see below for group registration fees.)

Organization and Corporate Members group registrations fees are listed below. In order to register at the group registration fees, your company must be an Organization or Corporate Member of ESPA and you must register everyone in the group at the same time.
Note: If your organization wants to register additional contacts that are not on the member roster, please use the PDF Registration Form or contact info@espaonline.org.

ESPA Organization Member registration fees:

ACOM Registration Policies

Additional excursions and Day of PCMA are non-refundable.

Cancellations received by November 25, 2011 are eligible for a 50% refund on the ACOM Registration fee only. There are no refunds for cancellations received after this date.

Day of PCMA Registration

PCMA - One Day Registration – In partnership with PCMA, ESPA attendees have the opportunity to participate in the 56th PCMA Convening Leaders conference at the discounted registration rate of $125. Register for the PCMA One Day offer when you register for ESPA’s Conference – just check the box on the ESPA registration form.  Your one day registration includes attendance to the Sunday, January 8th Welcome Reception; Monday education programming with continental breakfast, refreshment breaks and the PCMA Awards luncheon.  All educational programming will be held at the San Diego Convention Center.  For the complete schedule of events, please visit www.pcma.org.

PCMA  - Full Conference Registration - As a special offer, ESPA members who are not PCMA members can attend the PCMA Convening Leaders at the PCMA member registration fee.  Visit www.pcma.org to register and enter the registration access code: AC36533 to receive your discount. 

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Contact us

Lynn McCullough, Executive Director – If you have questions regarding the conference program or sponsorships, please contact Lynn.

Diane Galante, Manager, Member Services / Meeting Planner – If you have questions regarding hotel or travel, please contact Diane.

Elizabeth Roe, Association Coordinator – If you have questions regarding registration, please contact Elizabeth.

Meghan Higgins, Public Relations Manager – Trade press inquiries, please contact Meghan.

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