ASAE Great Ideas Conference Scores Highest Attendance in Orlando
March 17, 2015
The American Society of Association Executives’ Great Ideas Conference, held March 8-10 at the Hyatt Regency in Orlando, scored its highest attendance ever, with 806 coming to the meeting.
This represents the highest attendance in its 12 year history and 15-percent increase from last year’s record-breaking numbers.
During the Opening General Session, Alan Gregerman, author, president and Chief Innovation Officer of Venture Works Inc., walked attendees through how they can discover the power of strangers and the importance of being open to new possibilities because it can be the key to enhancing your organization.
He encouraged attendees to be curious and humble and asked them to think about how they can better invest and engage others.
Participants took part in a new learning format called discussion dens, which are 20-minute causal conversations between learning labs. They covered a variety of topics including sharing technology triumphs, productivity tips, and learning from failures.
“For the second year in a row, we have set attendance records for the conference, which highlights how the Great Ideas Conference continues to evolve through new content formats and great speakers,” said ASAE President & CEO John H. Graham IV, FASAE, CAE.
He added, “Participants gained insights, strategies, and ideas they can take back and implement into their organization.”
Attendees participated in a variety of sessions including: communication and marketing strategies, volunteer management, data-decision making, member engagement and navigating association careers. They also participated in 30-minute express learning sessions called Snap Learning Spot, which covered topics ranging from how to engage exhibitors in conference education to creating an open online course.
Wrapping up the innovative conference was founder and author, Todd Henry, of Accidental Creative. He encouraged attendees to create more white space in their lives because it will help breed creativity. He outlined the seven deadly sins that cause mediocrity and identified ways attendees can unleash their best work.
ASAE held a pre-conference Executive Leadership Program March 7-8 with Rafi Mohammed, author of “The 1% Windfall”. In its third year, 98 association executives and consultants participated in a discussion about key pricing concepts.
They obtained a blueprint-template on how to create a comprehensive pricing strategy, so they can develop and implement one inside their organization.
Next year’s conference will be March 13-15 at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo. For more information, about this year’s conference, visit Great Ideas website.
Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
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