HCEA Annual Meeting

Strategic and creative uses for new healthcare meeting technologies and tools for complying with federal and state laws and regulations are just a few examples of key educational takeaways from the 2010 Healthcare Convention & Exhibitors Association (HCEA) Annual Meeting, held June 26-29 in New Orleans. The soul and tenacity of New Orleans was felt throughout the event, which integrated community outreach activities to give back to this one-of-a-kind city. Held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, the meeting was also a celebration of HCEA’s 80th anniversary.

Standout features of the meeting included 60 highly-rated workshops featuring topics such as enhancing relationships between healthcare exhibitors and associations, insight into the best ways to use social media in the convention marketing context, the latest industry compliance news, innovative ideas for using new technology to measure effectiveness, refining global exhibiting programs, cost-effective exhibiting tips, new industry research and much more. In addition, Louisiana favorite son James Carville gave the keynote address, during which he offered his spirited views on how the Gulf Coast will survive and thrive in spite of the recent oil spill.

The community outreach opportunities included a hands-on activity that allowed attendees to help Beacon of Hope, an organization that assists homeowners in post-Katrina New Orleans rebuild their communities. Approximately 80 volunteers helped clear six lots to make way for neighborhood improvements. “It was heartwarming to watch over 80 of our HCEA attendees participate in the Beacon of Hope Saturday event. What a wonderful way to give back to the New Orleans community, meet a fantastic group of people and kick off the Annual Meeting!” said event organizer Becca Baileys, Convention Manager, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.

Additional outreach options included the chance to donate items to The University of New Orleans Children’s Center, and many of the meeting’s 109 exhibitors incorporated charitable causes into their booth activities, as well. Other meeting highlights included uniquely successful ─ and delicious ─ New Orleans networking events, and new meeting features such as a smart phone application that helped attendees navigate the meeting. (This new application was sponsored by Ascend Media.)

In addition, HCEA’s 2010-2011 Board of Directors was announced, with Karen Kingston, CME/H, CMP, B. Braun Medical, Inc., installed as HCEA President. Joyce Banister, Associate Director, Advertising Resources, Bristol-Myers Squibb, was honored with the HCEA Distinguished Service Award to acknowledge her decades of service in the healthcare convention marketing industry and her dedication to HCEA.

Also announced at the meeting was a new strategic vision for the future of HCEA. The new vision is the result of a strategic planning evaluation conducted by the HCEA Board of Directors in March 2010 “to ensure that HCEA is structured and working on the things that matter most to the future of this industry,” said Eric Allen, HCEA Executive Vice President, during a speech at the meeting. HCEA also introduced a newly revitalized committee structure to carry out the new strategic vision.

The next HCEA Annual Meeting will be held June 25-28, 2011, in Las Vegas. For more information on the 2011 Annual Meeting, please continue to visit the HCEA website at www.hcea.org for the most current information, or contact HCEA headquarters at (404) 252-3663; fax (404) 252-0774; or e-mail at hcea@kellencompany.com.

HCEA is the only association solely dedicated to improving the effectiveness of all conventions, meetings and exhibitions for the healthcare industry. HCEA represents organizations involved in healthcare exhibitions and conventions.