| NEWS 08.17.09 1:56 PM |
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| Super Bowl of Conventions Under Way in Toronto |
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More than 4,300 association executives have converged on Toronto this week for the American Society of Association Executives and the Center for Association Leadership's annual meeting and exposition—which has been dubbed the Super Bowl of conventions. Although the convention is primarily about education and networking, A.S.A.E. president and C.E.O. John H. Graham said, "Attendees are also scouting new meeting destinations for their organizations, and we estimate that about 20 per cent of our members will come back to Toronto for their own events."
The meeting, which began Saturday and continues until Tuesday at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, marks the organization's second visit to Toronto. "Toronto is a great destination, conveniently located in close proximity to major U.S. cities, and I know our members will be impressed with all that Toronto has to offer,” Graham said.
David Whitaker, president and C.E.O. of Tourism Toronto, said the convention is “essentially a live audition for Toronto. With so many key decision makers here experiencing everything that Toronto has to offer visitors and meeting delegates, this is our chance to shine." Tourism Toronto, which won the annual meeting in 2005, reported that the ongoing convention is expected to generate an estimated $7 million in revenue for the city.
In addition to the education and networking sessions at the M.T.C.C., the annual expo includes a number of social functions. Delegates will be in the Distillery District tonight for the Food and Wine Classic, planned by event management firm Solutions With Impact. The evening, a fund-raiser for A.S.A.E. and the center’s Annual Fund for Research and Innovation, includes a series of Ontario region wine tastings in venues like the Boiler House and Pure Spirits and musical performances by artists including Suzie McNeil and Ivana Santilli. A closing night concert with performances by Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings takes place Tuesday at Polson Pier.
The A.S.A.E. represents more than 22,000 association executives and industry partners from more than 11,000 organizations. Its members manage leading trade associations, individual membership societies, and voluntary organizations across the United States and in 50 countries around the world. The association's 2010 annual meeting will take place in Los Angeles.
—Susan O'Neill
RELATED TOPICS
American Society of Association Executives, The Center for Association Leadership
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