ESPA to Host 28th Annual Conference in Vancouver for Convention Service Managers

The Event Service Professionals Association (ESPA) has announced its 28th annual conference will take place January 8-10 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.

"We’re all about service in our profession, so the Nature of Outstanding Service theme this year is a testament to our association’s core values," says Denise Suttle, president of ESPA. "Vancouver is known to be a city tied to nature, so the theme also reflects the values of our host city."

ESPA serves convention services managers (CSM) with educational and networking opportunities.

The conference will feature educational workshops catered to the unique and challenging role that event service managers play every day, as well as offer attendees continuing education credits toward CMP requirements. Additionally this year’s event will include engaging and fun networking environments.

"Each and every year, ESPA attendees report back on the amazing and long-lasting networking connections they have made," says Suttle. "Attendees create life-long professional relationships with other CSMs who teach and inspire them, becoming a resource in their day-to-day professional careers."

Participants will have the opportunity to learn from leading meeting planners and industry veterans while earning seven continuing education hours.

Andy Masters is this year’s opening keynote speaker on January 9 addressing how sales and service are just like dating and relationships. Masters’ flagship keynote program is based on his award-winning book, Kiss Your Customer: 77 Reasons Why Sales & Service Are Just Like Dating & Relationships. Participants will learn specific creative strategies to make memorable impressions with current and future customers, which will improve loyalty, and improve reputation by word-of-mouth as well as on social media.

Leadership and personal branding guru Michele Wierzgac will deliver a keynote address — titled "Are You on Fire? Reflecting On Your Brand Champions" – on Sunday, January 10.

Why do some leaders and convention service managers stand out in a crowd when you deliver the same exact set of skills to meeting professionals? More than likely, they have created an authentic personal brand supported by core values that differentiate themselves from others.

Breakout sessions will focus on:

Latest trends in services convention and visitors bureaus are providing
Hotel CSMs bringing in new revenue streams
Inclusive hospitality to make events more accessible to those with disabilities.

During the conference, attendees will be donating to the residents of Vancouver through a meal drive in partnership with the Salvation Army Belkin House. "ESPA not only assists the convention industry, we serve our communities whenever possible," said Suttle. "It’s only natural our members include community service in our host city into our conference agenda while we are all together, in addition to a dedicated volunteerism week in August."

Annual Awards will also be presented at the conference.

Elite sponsors include Meetingmax, PSAV Presentation Services and Lanyon. Freeman and Meet AC are the conference’s premier sponsors.

For more information on ESPA, visit www.espaonline.org.

The Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) is a
program of the Convention Industry Council

Convention Industry Council
700 N. Fairfax Street, Suite 510
Alexandria, VA, USA, 22314
Tel: 571-527-3116