What Others Say
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What planners are saying
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“In the past 34 years of higher education, and attending many conferences and workshops, I felt Connect Marketplace 2010 was the best conference I have ever attended. It was exciting, educational and informative. The networking opportunities were off the chart. Your staff was professional and helpful from the first minute on Thursday morning until conclusion on Saturday evening. The boot camp was excellent, providing current information we need in our industry. The educational sessions were top notch, with quality speakers, while the keynote and general sessions had some of the best speakers I have heard. Each were on the cutting edge of their topic. The organization and hospitality was beyond compare. You all hit a grand slam on this one. Thank you again, and I am anxiously waiting for Chicago in 2011!”
— Bruce G. Boliver, Meeting Planner, Resort & Commercial Recreation Association; Assistant Professor Resort Recreation Management/Tourism, Slippery Rock University
“It was a wonderful conference. I’m already beginning to use information I learned at the conference in our marketing.”
— Tricia Dwyer-Morgan, National League of Cities
“The interaction at the Connecting Lounge was really great. It’s an opportunity to seek out cities you don’t have on your appointment schedule. I talked to at least four people who weren’t on my list and one I had not even considered, so it works both ways. I never even thought of Ogden, Utah, as a destination but it turns out it is a good location for our event.”
— Terry Tycholis, Can-Am Police-Fire Games
“The contacts you make, the massages you get, it’s an amazing event. You guys do a great job of putting [it] on. Every year I’m very excited to come. For a planner it’s great. You can’t imagine the contacts you get and I couldn’t be happier with the event.”
— Kevin Schneider, Big Shots
“It was our first year as an attendee and we were blown away! The seminar information was fantastic. We met with over 42 venues and CVBs, all now working on proposals for HAuNTcon to be in their location in the future. [There was] fantastic food and ideas we can use next year, and the opportunity to meet and network with other people that do what we do. Overall. it was a fantastic experience and one that HAuNTcon will attend every year from here on out!”
— Leonard Pickel, Hauntcon
“Boot camp was outstanding. I’m a baby boomer and everyone keeps telling me I need to get involved [in social media] but I’ve been a hold out. I realized that I have to do it. I don’t care if I learn another thing in the next couple days. It’s been worth it already.”
— Jim Olsen, President, Food Industry Association
“I really like the reverse trade show. When you go to a regular trade show, you find that often the people you want to talk to are busy with other people and you don’t have time to stand around on the sidelines. Here, even if you don’t have an appointment with someone you might want to talk with, you can meet at the Connecting Lounge. And you have all the gurus of the meeting industry here, so it’s great from an educational standpoint.”
— Amy Carnes Norris, CMP, ACN Meetings & Events
“That was such a great conference. I learned so much, met so many great people… I have a lot of follow-up to do and I look forward to a productive week in the office. I’m already looking forward to next year.”
— Cate Smith, Education Law Association
“What a great conference! I made so many connections and learned a ton in the sessions, not to mention all the fun there was to be had! Thanks Collinson team, see you in Chicago!”
— Lauren Lucas, International Society for Technology in Education
“What a great time! Wonderful way to meet new people and build partnerships that benefit everyone involved.”
— Michael Alderson, FSA Management Group
“Kudos to the Connect Marketplace staff … for putting on a great conference in Louisville. Superb educational content by the speakers. Everyone seemed to enjoy the quality time with each other at the reverse trade show concept. Fabulous food, especially the breaks, wonderful entertainment and just an overall good conference. Can’t wait attend the Connect 2011 in Chicago!”
— Stephanie Hudson, Providence Events
“I am so glad I [attended]. It was a wonderful event and experience. Connect is what I’ve been looking for and I will continue to support it as long as it is around. I hope others will look into joining.”
— Angela Carraway, TCMG Inc.
“Wow! Thoroughly impressed with Connect and all it offered meeting planners. Education, appointments, networking, good food, etc. See you in ’11!
— Beth Hecquet, CMP, National Association of Sports Commissions
“Best educational content of any other show we’ve attended this year, which we pay a lot of money to attend.”
— Karen Brown, Conferences by Design
“Honestly, this is the best event I’ve ever attended.”
— Amira Akram, Third Eye Group
“My favorite part is the reverse trade show. I got to meet a lot of people in the industry. Business opportunities have been almost overwhelming. In addition to meeting a lot of suppliers, I’ve met a lot of great meeting planners. The networking opportunities with those people have allowed me to add a lot of great tips to my own repertoire.”
— Ben Auman, Indoor Air Quality Association
“I’m just absorbing everything and learning so much because of the foundation I got here [at 2009 Connect Marketplace] last year. “
— George F. Hoffman, Virginia Blackboard Users Group
“It’s balanced. It’s good that both suppliers and planners get to identify who they want to talk to. I want to talk to someone who wants to talk to me. I could have left after the technology boot camp and said it was worth spending the $200 and that was without knowing about the rest of the conference!”
— Carolyn White, C & W Business & Travel Service
“The conference was phenomenal and the staff of Collinson Media & Event was outstanding. This was my first time attending Connect Marketplace and WOW what an experience. I met so many wonderful people who have accomplished extraordinary educational and professional goals … Connect Marketplace was amazing. I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the top-notch educational sessions, appointment setting and especially the overall networking. KUDOS to each of you on a spectacular job. I look forward to seeing each of you next year in Chicago!
— Debbie Autman, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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What suppliers are saying
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“Innovative, effective and fun! Those are the three KEY words that come to my mind when speaking about Connect Marketplace. Every supplier I spoke with, no matter where they were from, walked away with solid leads. The appointments were amazing and I really felt that all planners and associations really appreciated us. There is always value in the face-to-face connection.”
— Victoria TenBroeck, Savannah International Trade & Convention Center
“What I like about Connect is not only the camaraderie, but the marketplace appointments and all the fun events that they host.”
— Cathy Countiss, El Paso CVB
“I have always been able to book business from this show and the Rejuvenate show. They are awesome.”
— Kay Summerville, Plano CVB
“My first trip to Connect Marketplace was an outstanding success. ROI all the way. This event actually exceeded my expectations, and that doesn’t happen often! I made great contacts, great new friends, learned a lot and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I’m already looking forward to next year.”
— Billy Kirsch, Kidbilly Music
“The conference was really well thought out. It was needed and filled a void, but it didn’t just fill it, it did it in a thoughtful way. It is a well-managed conference and the staff of Connect and the publication are first class.”
— Dan Doyle, National Sales Manager, Detroit CVB
“I absolutely loved it. Everything is so efficient; you get so much done. I think it’s the way of the future.”
— Lisa Perez, Branson Lakes Area CVB
“Connect Marketplace is the place to be. I’m looking forward to working with new clients and am thankful for the colleague connections fostered during the events.”
— Gina Mintzer, Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau
“What a terrific conference and trade show! Thank you to all of the Collinson family and staff for treating us so well and providing this outstanding networking opportunity.”
— Amy Beadle, Springfield (Ill.) Convention & Visitors Bureau
“We had a wonderful experience with Connect and as a result, I’m going to be a very busy guy for quite some time. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I received this number of qualified leads from one particular trade show.”
— Paul R. Moore, Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau
“I’ve attended numerous tradeshows over the last ten years and I must admit Connect Marketplace was one of the most productive shows I’ve participated in. The planners seemed genuinely excited to learn about my properties and the overall program was a great experience …We will most definitely be in attendance at Rejuvenate!
— Brooke Meyer, Royal American Hospitality
“It’s the best conference I’ve attended in years! Looking forward to Connect in 2011!”
— Mai Hogan, Green Valley Ranch
“This is the first time I’ve attended and I’m so impressed with how organized the conference is. You all have done a terrific job.
— Stephanie Johnson, Riverside Courtyard by Marriott
“Anything that Collinson Media does, I’ll be there, for the trade show to the networking. And the people are awesome.”
— Stephen Jackson, Greater Raleigh Convention & Visitors Bureau
“I loved the conference and I met many nice people. The whole set up was great. The lunch speaker, Jason Dorsey, was incredible and very informative. I only had one appointment that cancelled and all others were great … I like how all the Connect people are available throughout the show, walking around for help.
— Connie Cossar, Mississippi Development Authority
“Marketplace is a good mixture of different markets from meetings to sports, so it’s good for me to get a variety of possibilities. The reverse trade show gives the event host the opportunity to move around and see different people rather than staying in a booth. It gives you a different perspective.”
— Jeremy Montoya, Bryan/College Station CVB
“This is the best trade show I’ve attended in 30 years. Great job.”
— Jim Straus, Westin Chicago North Shore
“Connect Marketplace delivered far above what I had expected! The flow of the conference was simple, informative and fun. Every appointment I had scheduled with planners will be a potential client. I have it on my schedule for a must attend show next year!”
— Travis B. O’Donnell, Peppermill Resort Spa and Casino
“The Dallas CVB was eager to once again participate in Connect Marketplace 2010! From my personal perspective, I have not attended a better trade show in several years. I walked away with multiple RFPs for our city and actually had meeting planners searching me out! I thought the entire format of the program was unique and well executed. We look forward to participating next year!”
— Deborah Burleson, Dallas CVB
“Coming here I was a little hesitant. It sounded too great to be real. It has probably been one of the best decisions I’ve made. I think this process, where you have the planners sitting and the suppliers do the running around, has been awesome, as well as the exposure I’ve gotten.”
— Toni Middleton Lewis, City of Houston
“OMG! What a great event. You probably didn’t see me because I was so busy working. Even during the networking hours, I was still getting inquiries from planners about our properties. I’ve been singing the praises of Marketplace for more than a year and this year, guess what happened? Someone from our sales team was trying to schedule sales calls in her territory and —count ’em — four of the people she tried to schedule were at Connect Marketplace! I had 32 appointments and all of them were excellent. Being able to do homework prior to the event is priceless.”
— Susan Davis-Barnes, Director, Special Interest Accounts, Gaylord Hotels
“Since this was my first experience with Connect Marketplace, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Now, I can confidently say that this was one of the most beneficial events I have participated in during my hospitality career. It was a great platform to meet with planners, suppliers and industry colleagues to share information and establish professional working relationships. Additionally, to be able to leave this event with tangible leads speaks volumes to the immediate ROI.”
— Sean M. O’Key,
Director of Event Sales & Services, Oncenter Complex
“I had a wonderful time at Connect Marketplace. The show was a great success; I received nine RFPs.”
— Collette Johnson, Account Executive, Creative Destination Specialist, Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau
“The opening reception at Churchill Downs was completely amazing! I was very happy with my [planner appointments]. There was a lot of interest in Atlantic City, so that was a plus — so much so that I think the ACCVA may participate in the event next year. Quite impressive since I only had signed up two weeks prior to the conference. The hosted-buyer program is the way to go — it really substantiates the ROI for participating. I am recommending that we attend again next year.”
— Julie Rice, Sales Manager, Harrah’s Entertainment, Atlantic City, N.J.
“Congratulations on an amazing event! I have been talking it up to all of my hotelier friends, telling them that Connect was the best show I have ever been to. I think the appointment format is the only way to go, and I love how the time limit forces you to really get down to a ‘can we do business together’ conversation. I have been to appointment shows before but think yours are by far the best. I will be back for Rejuvenate, and Collaborate in the spring and, hopefully, will bring many more based on my recommendation.”
— Kathy Masterson, Director of Sales, The Plaza Resort & Spa, Daytona Beach, Fla.
