FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 12, 2008

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

ATLANTA — Topics such as a look at the potential future of healthcare exhibit halls, market research on industry trends and upcoming changes to the AdvaMed Code will be on the menu at the 2009 Healthcare Convention and Exhibitors Association (HCEA) Healthcare Convention Marketing Summit.

The HCEA 2009 Summit, to be held January 22, 2009, at the Hyatt Harborside at Boston’s Logan International Airport, will bring together healthcare convention marketers, healthcare convention organizers, medical meeting planners and supporting industry companies to participate in one day of intense peer-to-peer and expert-based learning.
Following are some of the featured workshops:

• The Future of the Healthcare Exhibit Hall, an update from the HCEA special industry task force exploring the future of the healthcare exhibit hall as a marketing and educational medium
• The 2009 HCEA State of the Industry Report and Market Trend Watch, Frank Skinner, Director of Marketing and Information Systems, HCEA
• What’s Next for the AdvaMed Code?, Andy van Haute, Associate General Counsel, AdvaMed
• Emerging Issues in CME, Robert F. Orsetti, MA, FACME
• How Younger Generations View Healthcare Exhibitions and Events, Randy Bauler, CEM, Corporate Relations and Exhibits Director, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
• Marketing Healthcare Products Abroad: Understanding Your Culturally Different Customers, Gary Ferraro, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
• Critical Issues Discourse: Association/Industry Exchange, moderated by Karen Kingston, CMP, B. Braun Medical, Inc. and Michelle Turenne, Director, Corporate Alliances and Development, American Thoracic Society
  

The HCEA Summit 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.

Registration costs before December 9, 2008, are $295 for HCEA Regular/Associate Members, $395 for HCEA Supporting Members and non-member Regular/Associate organizations and $495 for non-member Supporting organizations. More information.

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.