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CONFERENCES, CONVENTIONS, EVENTS & TRADE SHOWS:  GENERAL RESOURCES

This guide discusses sites for the following industry sectors: Conferences, conventions, events, exhibitions, meetings, trade shows. The primary emphases are on the practical aspects of organizing/planning various types of industry events and on conducting research utilizing professional associations/organizations, publications, academic resources. For additional information regarding other aspects of the industry, please refer to JWU Library’s webguide, Conferences, Conventions, Events & Trade Shows: Directories.


APEX Industry Glossary

• Sponsored by the Convention Industry Council (CIC)
• “The glossary of the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry”
• Over 3,800 terms/definitions
• Browsable alphabetically or by industry; also searchable
• Cross-referenced
• Feedback welcomed
• Last updated August 2005
• Outstanding; the best glossary for the convention industry


Conference Planning Guidelines

• Compiled by Read Gilgen for the International Association of Language Learning Technology (IALLT)
• Guide discusses the necessary preparation and procedures for planning conferences; includes the following: program/promotions, housing, travel, food, “money matters,” conference materials, computers/equipment, entertainment
• Links to a companion document, “Conference Planning Table,” a checklist
• Excellent; this is a very useful resource for conference planning; very straightforward and
practical


Event Management

• Maintained by Shmuel Ben-Gad for the Gelman Library, George Washington University
• Pathfinder to locating the following resources: articles, books/videos, venues/bureaus, “portfolios and other research material”
• Print resources may be found in many academic libraries or large public libraries
• Databases are restricted to the George Washington University community; they may be found in many academic libraries or large public libraries
• Includes tips on constructing the most productive subject searches in online library catalogs
• Last updated July 2005
• Not extensive, but an excellent place to begin research


ExpoMuseum

• Created and maintained by Urso S.A. Chappell, graphic designer
• Dedicated to an historical overview of over 50 international exhibitions and world’s fairs, beginning with the London Great Exhibition of 1851 through 2005, with initial planning information for future endeavors
• Each exposition/fair entry includes the following information: dates (opening/closing), attendance (where available), site (size/location); links to additional resources (photographs, historical information, articles)
• Also links to discussion groups, memorabilia, limited architectural information
• Outstanding; visually appealing as well as informative; although there are many sites devoted to individual expositions/world’s fairs, but this does the best job of covering the entire spectrum of this popular phenomenon


Guide to Planning Safe Events

• Sponsored by KayDeeElle
• “A step by step guide to safety and related issues at events, fetes, fairs, car boot sales, indoor and outdoor fundraisers, craft shows, etc.”
• This guide concentrates on the following safety policies procedures: risk assessment, staffing concerns, pre-event contacts (police, fire, first aid), insurance considerations, site/facilities preparation, entry/exit, vehicles, parking, signage, services for the disabled, sanitary facilities, additional concerns (lost/found, rubbish disposal)
• Links to other KayDeeElle guides for corporate event planning, exhibition planning
• Includes some commercial content
• Excellent; very straightforward and practical


Hospitality Links: Meetings, Incentives, Conventions & Exhibitions (MICE)

• Maintained by the School of Hotel Administration, Cornell University
• This directory links to over 130 sites for 10 sectors of the MICE industry, including the following: professional associations/organizations (national and international), meeting planning resources, publications, trade shows (national and international) • Links to national/inter-regional/international professional associations/organizations are especially useful
• Links are accompanied by excellent annotations
• Outstanding; one of the best directories for resources for the industry


Meeting Planner’s Checklist

• Sponsored by the Eagle Talent Connection, Inc.
• Provides checklists for the following event functions: budget planning, facility layout, convention packets, promotional mailings, registration, recreation, daily schedule
• Also includes “tips” on selecting speakers, program planning, fee negotiations, topic selection
• Outstanding; this is a very comprehensive checklist for almost every conceivable aspect of planning any sort of conference or event


Meetings, Incentives, Conventions & Exhibitions (MICE)

• Maintained by Mihoko Hosoi for the Nestle Library (NL), Cornell School of Hotel Administration
• Part of the “Industry – Related Subject Guides” series
• Discusses print, database and Internet resources for this sector of the hospitality industry
• Print resources include almanacs/handbooks, dictionaries/encyclopedias, directories, industry overview, journals/periodicals, statistical reports; many of these may be found in academic libraries or large public libraries
• Databases are restricted to the Cornell University community; these may be found in academic libraries or large public libraries
• Internet resources are limited to professional associations/organizations
• Excellent annotations accompany print source citations, databases
• Excellent; not extensive, but one of the best introductory sites currently available


Resource Guide to Events Management

• Compiled by Glen A.J. Bowdin, UK Center for Events Management, Leeds Metropolitan University (UK)
• Published in the August 2003 of the Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism (Learning and Teaching Support Network – LTSN)
• This extensive guide (29pp.) discusses and examines a variety of professional and industry resources for the events management field: bibliographies, books, market sector reports, journals, periodicals, media, discussion lists, conferences, online resources (includes directories), “associations/industry bodies”
• Links to resources are well-annotated and primarily of interest to the academic community, industry practitioners and other interested researchers
• Section on books (approximately one-half of the site) contains extensive contents notes; also links to publishers’ “support sites” (when available)
• Scope is international, but the vast majority of resources are UK or US-based
• Most resources are free-of-charge (with the notable exceptions of market-sector reports)
• Outstanding; extensive and very well-organized; this is one of the best resources of its kind currently available online


Resource Links: Meetings, Tradeshows and Special Events

• Sponsored by the Center for Association Leadership
• This brief directory of sites to industry professional associations/organizations and publications strives to “… find content, information and tools describing how to effectively execute and manage meetings, tradeshows and other special and/or social events”
• Excellent annotations accompany each link
• Not extensive, but a great resource for accessing some of the best professional sites for the industry


Space Available: The Realities of Convention Centers as Economic Development Strategy

• Authored by Heywood Sanders, Department of Public Information, University of Texas at San Antonio
• “A Brookings Institution Research Brief” (January 2005)
• The basic premise of this report (36pp.) suggests that many major cities are expanding their convention-related facilities, while the basic industry trend seems to be a significant decline in convention bookings in most areas
• Provides a basic analysis of this phenomenon, including the impact of 9-11); provides case studies for specific cities (Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, New York, Las Vegas, New Orleans)
• Outstanding; this is a worthy analysis in support of the viewpoint which it espouses


WorldofEvents.net

• Sponsored by Glen A.J. Bowdin, UK Center for Events Management, Leeds Metropolitan University (UK)
• “Launched in 1997 to support events education, research and the dissemination of information for industry professionals, educators, researchers and students”
• This site is a directory of resources for the event planning industry (including conferences, conventions, exhibitions, incentive travel)
• Includes industry news, book information, educational opportunities, career opportunities
• “Web Resources” links to event listings, media, “industry resources,” industry-related products/services
• Links to companion “World of…” sites for hospitality, retailing and tourism
• Includes significant commercial content
• Outstanding; one of the best sites for practical resources useful to the industry; links to checklists and event planning guides (under “industry resources”) are especially useful


Websites discussed on this page are for informational purposes only. Johnson & Wales University Library is not responsible for the accuracy, content or stability of any websites linked to this page.

Compiled by Rick Keogh, 1/06; links last checked 11/07

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