In a press release issued today, CHA announced several big changes that will enhance the upcoming Winter Show and help the industry focus on the growing need for business education. Some of those changes include:
- Name change: The Winter Show is now officially called the CHA Winter CONFERENCE & Trade Show
- New one-price structure for education – $25 per person pre-reg for members ($50 on site) provides access to workshops, business seminars, the Show Event/Party, the Keynote presentation, the International Reception, Welcome Reception and the Show Floor (a $250 value)
– New Show Floor Hours will be from 10 am – 6 pm to encourage participation in CHA Education
More information including a Frequently Asked Question Document about the Conference can be found under the CONFERENCE PROGRAM tab at www.CHAShow.org.
The complete press release is listed below.
CHA BROADENS ACCESS TO EDUCATION & EVENTS
Focus on Education Spurs Renaming of the CHA Winter Show
The Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) is pleased to announce an official name change of the Craft & Hobby Association Convention & Trade Show. The new name effective immediately is the Craft & Hobby Association Conference & Trade Show. This change reflects the growing importance of education in helping craft and hobby professionals cope and succeed in today’s challenging marketplace by providing greater number of industry professionals with access to CHA’s Trade Show, educational sessions, networking opportunities and special events.
Specific craft and hobby industry education is vital to the health of the industry and respective businesses. According to the 2010 CHA Member Satisfaction Survey providing educational programs pertinent to the craft industry was in the top two requested member benefits. While the majority of respondents reported providing educational programs as an important Association function, 42% have never participated in CHA education. Previous surveys report the two main reasons for not taking classes as schedule conflicts and price.
CHA will implement an exciting new Conference model for its 2011 Winter Show in Los Angeles that will provide all attendees with greater value, more convenient hours, greater networking opportunities, and unlimited access to the CHA Trade Show floor, Conference programs, networking opportunities and special events. This new CHA Conference model mirrors other successful programs currently being used by many leading trade show organizations.
The CHA 2011 Winter Conference will feature educational sessions customized for member types, hands-on craft technique training, a variety of networking opportunities, and provide attendees with unlimited access to all seminars, workshops, and special events for only $25 (an approximate $250 value). This fee is waived for all CHA Trade Show exhibitors. Now all attendees and exhibitors will have access to the CHA Conference including business sessions, networking events, and special events that include the Keynote presentation, Show Event/Party, International Reception and the Welcome Reception for one low price.
To help accommodate this focus on education and to eliminate conflicts, the Trade Show floor hours have been moved an hour later and will run from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. during the first three days of the Show. The new show floor hours will provide attendees and exhibitors a full eight hours of Show floor access along with greater flexibility to participate in education and networking opportunities only offered at CHA Shows.
“We believe the new Conference model and Trade Show enhancements are very valuable new benefits to our members,” said Steve Berger, President and CEO of CHA. “They were designed to help all attendees and exhibitors take advantage of as many educational and networking opportunities as possible without the burden of additional costs.”
“Having unlimited access to valuable business education and networking opportunities will provide CHA members with the information and insights they need to successfully navigate challenges and grow their businesses during challenging economic times,” explained Michael McCooey, CHA Board Chair.
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CHA Winter Show Update
As most of you have heard CHA sales for the 2011 Winter Convention & Trade Show are going extremely well. CHA anticipates selling out the South Hall of the LA Convention Center over the next few days but don’t worry there is still space in Kentia Hall.
Additionally, CHA hotels are also filling-up and we are at 51% capacity of the CHA room block. Current CHA 2011 Winter Show hotel nights (as of Sept 8th) are at 4,058 room nights, that’s 2,521 room nights ahead of the same time period a year ago in Anaheim. CHA urges all exhibitors and attendees to make hotel arrangements NOW while the lowest rates, and rooms in CHA hotel blocks are still available.
Next week several CHA staff members including myself will be going to Los Angeles for a site visit. We will be meeting with LA Inc., (the LA Convention & Visitors Bureau), the LA Convention Center Team, the L.A. Live team, members of the LA Fashion District, and other key players during a very quick trip. We want to witness first-hand all the exciting improvements made over the past 10 years. So be sure to check back for video clips of our LA experience.
In a letter dated 8/24/2010 Steve Berger, President & CEO, CHA wrote the following:
Dear CHA Exhibiting Member,
I just returned from attending a very successful conference and exposition at the L.A. Convention Center for the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). The attendees are the CEOs and top management of associations around the world who hold many trade and consumer shows at convention centers worldwide.
Many of these people had not been to the L.A. Convention Center in many years and like some of you, had concerns about hosting an event in downtown L.A. I’m very pleased to report that all of us came away from our meeting extremely impressed with our experience in L.A. and with the brand new L.A. Live Campus where the convention center is located.
During the last two years, the area surrounding the convention center has been transformed into a lively entertainment district featuring great restaurants, nightclubs, movie theaters and a variety of other attractions. The L.A. Live Campus is home to an exciting array of entertainment options, ranging from the Staples Center and Nokia Theater where major concerts and the L.A. Lakers games take place, to Lucky Strike bowling and billiards, ESPN Zone, and much more. There are also a variety of good restaurants, bars, movie theaters, hotels and other attractions just a short, safe walk from the convention center.
For our exhibitor members, this means there is a wealth of customer entertainment options. However, exhibit space in the South Hall is going very fast, with over 50% of 2010 exhibitors already confirmed for 2011 and 74% of these exhibitors have increased their booth space over the 2010 show. Please send in your exhibit space contract as soon as possible if you want to be part of what is shaping up to become a great Show and your best selling opportunity in 2011.
Sincerely,
Steven Z. Berger
President and CEO, CHA
Don’t take Steve’s word for it, here is a video from the recent ASAE Conference. While it’s not OUR show it does give you a sneak peek at the venue, the local restaurants, the community and provides some interesting insight about what professional trade show and meeting planners had to say about the NEW Los Angeles venue.
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