FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 17, 2008

CONTACT: Frank Skinner Jennifer Palcher-Silliman (404) 252-3663

ATLANTA — From 2002 to 2006, average reported professional attendance at international medical meetings increased 22.9 percent, according to findings from a new global industry research report conducted by the Healthcare Convention and Exhibitors Association (HCEA).  This report, as well as six other groundbreaking industry research studies, will be presented at HCEA’s 2008 Annual Meeting, June 21 – 24, in Salt Lake City.

Globalization impacts both U.S. and non-U.S. medical meetings in many different ways, and to account for multiple perspectives, the new HCEA globalization report was actually conducted in three parts from three perspectives.  In addition to analyzing ten years of international medical meeting trend data, HCEA also surveyed the industry’s leading healthcare convention organizers and exhibitors, providing more perspectives on how globalization impacts the industry.

Education on global healthcare convention marketing topics such as these is but one focus of HCEA’s 2008 Annual Meeting.  Other tracks include:

• Legal & Regulatory Compliance
• Medical Device
• Pharma
• Results Measurement/ROI
• Case Studies
• Advanced Seminars
• Association-Specific
• Exhibit Essentials
• Medical Event Planning
• Personal Development

The HCEA Annual Meeting will feature expert panel discussions, industry-specific case studies, sessions on the new green meetings movement and many more training opportunities for healthcare convention marketing professionals, including exhibitors, organizers and organizations that provide products or services to them.

The HCEA Annual Meeting also provides attendees the opportunity to earn continuing education units that apply toward the Certified Manager of Exhibits – Healthcare (CME/H) and Certified Manager of Exhibits (CME) professional designations.  These programs are managed by the Trade Show Exhibitors Association and endorsed by HCEA.

The HCEA Annual Meeting is open to both HCEA members and non-members.  Super Saver registration before April 23, 2008, is at greatly discounted rates.  The headquarters hotel for the 2008 HCEA Annual Meeting is The Grand America Hotel.  For more information or to register, visit the HCEA website at www.hcea.org or call (404) 252-3663.

HCEA is the only association solely dedicated to improving the effectiveness of all conventions, meetings and exhibitions for the healthcare industry.  For more information visit www.hcea.org.