Chicago continues to be a preferred meetings destination for many industries, but recent research reveals the medical industry is particularly interested in Chicago.
During the last two years, the number of medical meetings ranging from nursing to surgical to the nation's largest biotechnology show, increased 39%. Chicago's central location, pro-business environment and access to one of the largest contingent of medical professionals within a 300-mile radius of Chicago most certainly contributed to this growth.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) took advantage of these strengths when it was forced to relocate its show from New Orleans. The meeting was held March 22 -26 and drew approximately 29,000 participants.
According to Karen Hackett, CEO for AAOS, "Everyone - including the AAOS leadership and staff, CCTB, McCormick Place and all the AAOS meeting partners - worked very hard to make the meeting a huge success. Chicago rolled out the red carpet for us and we really appreciate all the support we received in relocating our meeting. The feedback from our members has been very positive. They were extremely impressed with McCormick Place and gave the city high marks for its hotels and restaurants."
Attendance-Building Programs in Demand
The Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau (CCTB) continues to introduce industry-leading destination marketing programs and attendance-building services to help all meetings and conventions increase their bottom line.
Chicago has a distinct advantage given its heavy regional concentration of industry and professional service providers. Event managers are encouraged to tap into the strong, drive-in audience located within a 300-mile radius of Chicago.
The CCTB offers a comprehensive package of services to assist these efforts. For example, DataChicago, an exclusive list generation service, can be used to identify new, prospective attendees and/or exhibitors. These individuals can be targeted in direct marketing campaigns, via mail, fax or phone, to help generate interest in an event. DataChicago II, an enhanced version of DataChicago, can be used to analyze a show's existing prospect database and produce a listing of potential newcomers that exhibit similar characteristics.
The TeleChicago telemarketing service offers several options, including registrations and housing reminders. TeleBlasts -- pre-recorded messages delivered to attendees' voicemails to help generate and maintain interest in an event are also available. These messages often feature a key industry spokesman, such as an association president or corporate leader, and can be used to highlight special show features.
Customers are increasingly requesting the CCTB's attendance-building services to help increase the number of attendees and/or exhibitors, and the trend continues with the medical industry.
In the first quarter alone, the CCTB's attendance-building manager completed five projects for three different medical customers utilizing email and direct mail services to help increase regional attendance.
For example, AAOS issued an email blast to nearly 3,000 physician assistants and physical therapists throughout the Midwest region. The goal was to encourage them to attend the meeting this past March that was originally scheduled for New Orleans, but had to relocate to Chicago in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
BIO 2006, the country's largest biotechnology show, experienced record attendance with more than 19,000 attendees in mid-April. BIO utilized the email blast service to reach nearly 13,000 physicians in Illinois and the eight surrounding Midwestern states to announce its Plenary Speakers. BIO also took advantage of the Telemarketing service with two programs - one to promote its Transnational Research Forum and the other to reach out to past attendees who had not yet registered for the 2006 Convention.