ASAE’s Springtime Expo to be Replaced in 2017 with Xperience Design Project

April 28, 2016

After more than 40 years as an event for association professionals and industry suppliers, the ASAE Springtime Expo will no longer be held, replaced instead with what is being called the Xperience Design Project

The Xperience Design Project is a two-day, business-focused experience for associations and industry partners at which participants will co-create solutions to shared challenges, as well as build meaningful, mutually beneficial relationships.

There won’t be a traditional showfloor, with attendees and industry suppliers having the opportunity to meet one-on-one in a Business Exchange environment.

“Why is ASAE launching a new event?” asked ASAE President and CEO John H. Graham, IV, FASAE, CAE. “The meeting planning industry has changed dramatically since Springtime started. Relationships are still key, but how they are created and maintained has shifted.”

He added that Springtime has served the community well, but now it was “time to move on.”

“Xperience Design Project will transform the meetings industry,” Graham said.

The new event, which was developed in partnership with 360 Live Media, will be held May 23-24 next year at the Gaylord Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Md.

On day one of the new event, in a room set up that will reflect a hub and spoke concept, there will be six key topics around meeting trends: Location: Technology: Experience Strategy, Design & Production; Performance Metrics & ROI; Marketing; and Curriculum.

On day two, there will be a kick-off breakfast, followed by findings from day two Day 1 are unveiled through a “TED-style” recap.

In addition, attendees will participate in the Business Exchange, which will be one-on-one conversations with businesses in dedicated meeting space for association professionals and businesses to discuss upcoming events.

Don Neal, founder and CEO of 360 Live Media, said there are three main trends in the meetings industry impacting the way events are being held.

“Audience expectations are very different today than they were even 3-5 years ago,” he added.

For example, at any given meeting, there might be five generations in the room who all learn in unique ways.

Neal also said that new event models, such as SXSW, are constantly challenging the traditional event model, and events also are becoming more of an ‘experience’ that attendees actually have a hand in co-creating.

He described the experience of walking up to a Coca-Cola machine at which a consumer can make their own flavored drink with a myriad of choices.

“It gives a sense of ownership in the product we are creating,” he added, which can be parlayed into attendees helping to co-create an event they are taking part in as well. “There is a higher collaboration rate when collaboration occurs,” Neal said.

To develop the concept of the new event. ASAE and 360 Live Media went through a three-part development process that included: research, experience strategy and design, industry co-curation and branding of XDP.

For information and to pre-register for XDP, visit www.xdpbyasae.org

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Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? 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Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.