New CHA 2010 Winter Show Video

This short video captured at the CHA 2011 Winter Conference & Trade Show in Los Angeles, California January 29 – February 1, 2011 highlights some interviews from exhibitors and attendees.

In a press release issued on February 22, 2011 CHA announced the verified 2011 Winter Show statistics.  The release reports triple digit growth in the new Conference (seminars, events & workshops);  5% larger show floor; 8% increase in new exhibitors to the show; and broader international participation over 2010.  To read the entire release go to http://tinyurl.com/CHA2011Winter.   

CHA Issues 2011 Winter Show Stats

In a press release issued on February 22, 2011 CHA announced the verified 2011 Winter Show statistics.  The release reports triple digit growth in the new Conference (seminars, events & workshops);  5% larger show floor; 8% increase in new exhibitors to the show; and broader international participation over 2010.  To read the entire release go to http://tinyurl.com/CHA2011Winter.   

“The CHA 2011 Winter Show hosted 5,245 verified trade show attendees. Buyers came from 47 states and Puerto Rico with international attendance from 56 countries including Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Australia, Brazil, Netherlands, and Japan. There were 12 more countries represented this year than in 2010. Almost 80% of all CHA member buying companies attended the Show and 90% of CHA member manufacturers exhibited at the Show.

Some 522 exhibitors filled 193,827 sq. ft. of exhibit space representing a 5% increase in show floor square footage, up from 185,250 sq. ft. in 2010.  Additionally, 110 companies or about 21% of the exhibitors were new to the CHA Winter Show which represents an 8% increase over the number of new exhibitors at the CHA 2010 Winter Show. As of February 17, 2011 93% of exhibitors are planning on exhibiting at the CHA 2012 Winter Conference & Trade Show held in Anaheim, California January 29 – February 1, 2012.”

“The CHA 2011 Summer Conference & Trade Show will return to the Donald E. Stephens Convention and Conference Center in Rosemont, Illinois on Tuesday, July 19 – Thursday, July 21, 2011 with the Conference starting on Monday, July 18, 2011.”

Show photos can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/cha_images/sets.

Getting Excited About The CHA Winter Show in Los Angeles?

 

Ok, the 70th Annual CHA Winter Conference & Trade Show is just a little over a week away and I’m honestly getting excited about heading to Los Angeles. Maybe it’s my recent kick on searching YouTube for LA-related songs & videos or maybe its the snow in New Jersey, but I can honestly say that I’ve been craving the unwrapped sushi dish from LA Market since I was last there last summer.  So imagine my delite when I found out that CHA Winter Show attendees will be able to take advantage of dineLA Restaurant Weeks January 24 – 28 and January 30 – February 4 AND that LA Market is on the LIST!!!  dineLA Restaurant week is hosted by some of LA’s hottest restaurants offering prefixed three-course lunch and dinner specials at discounted prices of ranging from $16-$44. These special restaurant promotions will give CHA Show attendees a chance to taste some great food at great prices. Please click here for list of participating restaurants and offerings.

Like Randy Newman, I LOVE LA!  20 years later the song is still catchy.

Approaching CHA Deadline for Early Bird Hotel Rates

CHA early bird hotel rates close October 22, 2010.  If you haven’t made your reservations yet you can still do so by going to CHA’s official travel partner Par Avion at http://tinyurl.com/CHATravel.

Get a look at the area around the LA Convention Center as CHA staffers take a tour and report on what they see…

CHA Loves LA!

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BIG CHANGES WITH CHA WINTER SHOW

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.

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.

ASAE & Los Angeles

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More good signs for a great Winter Show!

As of Augst 20th (the CHA 2011 Winter Show Priority Points deadline) booth sales are ahead of year-to-date comparisons with 2010. With months to go before the Show more than 50% of CHA 2010 Winter Show exhibitors have already reconfirmed for 2011 and 74% of returning companies have increased their booth size by a total of more than 27,000 sq. ft. over 2010. As of August 20, CHA Winter Show is at more than 130,000 sq. ft. sold up from 128,000 from the same time last year. With a recovering economy CHA is looking at a potential well-sold Winter Show in L.A.

Time to start thinking about Travel to the 2011 Winter Show in L.A.

CHA recently reported an incredible 80% percent of returning exhibitors to date increased their exhibit space over the Winter 2010 Show by a total of more than 5,700 sq. ft.  With contracts still being sent out CHA is anticipating a successful debut in LA.

To help you maximize the available early discounts we strongly encourage all exhibitors and attendees to start booking hotel and travel accommodations now while the lowest rates are still available.  CHA hotel blocks are  available for rooms starting as low as $99 a night.  We urge all attendees and exhibitors to contact Par Avion to make Winter 2011 Show travel arrangements today.   

Additionally, CHA provided a response to some frequently asked questions about food, lodging and travel in Los Angeles relative to the CHA Winter Show.  This documents can be viewed, downloaded and printed by clicking on the link CHA 2011 Winter Show – Los Angeles FAQs. It can also be read in its entirety below.       

 

CRAFT & HOBBY ASSOCIATION

2011 WINTER CONVENTION & TRADE SHOW

JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 2, 2011

Frequently Asked Lodging, Travel & Dining Questions

 

HOTEL LOCATION & RATES

 

How far are CHA hotels from the Convention Center?

The bulk of CHA convention hotels are conveniently located just a few blocks from the Los Angeles Convention Center, with the most outlying hotel property at just 1.3 miles away. Most hotels are within walking distance and easily located along or adjacent to Figueroa Street.

 

How far are the CHA hotels from one another?

You will not be far from colleagues and friends! All CHA convention hotels are all within an easy walking distance of one another. On average, walking distance between hotels is less than 10 minutes. Click to view or download an area Map of CHA Hotel Locations.

 

I hear that the CHA convention hotel rates are so much more in Los Angeles?

This could not be farther from the truth. In fact, 2011 CHA Winter Show hotel rates in Los Angeles average 10% less than hotel rates at previous CHA Winter Shows. Additionally, over half of the CHA hotel rooms in Los Angeles are under $150.00 per night, whereas in previous years, only 23% of the hotel block fell in this rate category.

 

What are the CHA convention hotel rates for the 2011 Winter Show?

CHA has negotiated special discounted hotel rates for CHA Winter Show attendees and exhibitors.  To secure these rates reservations MUST be made through Par Avion CHA’s official travel partner.  There is limited room availability so please book now to secure the best rates.  Below is a list of hotels in the CHA hotel block, the starting price of rooms and a website to find out more about the hotel.    

Miyako Hotel (pre‐paid) $99.00 www.miyakoinn.com

Figueroa Hotel $99.00 www.figueroahotel.com

The Los Angeles Athletic Club $112.00 www.laac.com

Miyako Hotel (standard) $119.00 www.miyakoinn.com

Kyoto Grand Hotel and Gardens $125.00 www.kyotograndhotel.com

Millennium Biltmore Hotel $129.00 www.millenniumhotels.com/millenniumlosangeles

Wilshire Grand (Superior Room) $135.00 www.wilshiregrand.com

Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites $145.00 www.thebonaventure.com

Wilshire Grand (Junior Room) $149.00 www.wilshiregrand.com

Marriott Downtown Los Angeles $151.00 www.losangelesmarriottdowntown.com

Sheraton Los Angeles Downtown $151.00 www.Sheraton.com/LosAngele s

Hilton Checkers Los Angeles $189.00 www.hiltoncheckers.com

JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE $189.00 www.lalivemarriott.com

 

DINING

 

Are there restaurants or coffee shops available in CHA convention hotels?

Absolutely! Whether you are looking for a quick cup of coffee, a light lunch or an upscale dinner with friends, all CHA hotels offer a variety of choices for dining options. Many of the hotels offer incredible all – you‐can‐eat breakfast buffet at around $18.00 per person. Standard hotel restaurant menu averages $12.00 for breakfast, $17.00 for lunch and $25.00 for dinner.

In addition, some CHA convention hotels are attached to, across the street from, or adjacent to retail shopping centers. These shopping centers also provide a variety of different and affordable dining options to CHA attendees.

 

What is L.A. LIVE? Are there places to eat there?

L.A. LIVE is a 4‐million‐square‐foot development in Downtown Los Angeles adjacent to STAPLES Center and the Los Angeles Convention Center. The multifaceted entertainment destination features an exciting mix of entertainment venues, restaurants, clubs, residences, television and radio broadcast studios, and meeting spaces, including the home of the J.W. Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE. L.A. LIVE is the heart of the new, vibrant downtown Los Angeles and is in short walking distance from many of the CHA convention hotels.

L.A. LIVE boasts (14) dining establishments to enjoy offering a choice of cuisine, ambiance and menu options. Average lunch menu prices are $8.99 ‐ $12.00 and average dinner menu prices are $17.00 ‐ $28.00. 

To find out about the incredible dining choices and to access an updated schedule of events at L.A. LIVE, please visit www.lalive.com.

 

Where else is there to eat besides the hotels and L.A. LIVE?

Los Angeles has over 200 hundred restaurants, coffee shops, diners and fast food establishments offering choices in dining experience as diverse as the City. Looking for a celebrity chef to make your lunch….LA’s got it! How about your favorite national chain, family restaurant….LA’s got it! Considering something exotic and unique with friends….LA’s got it! You’ve got it all within a short walk of your hotel or the Convention Center. Planning an evening with friends is just a click away. Please visit www.discoverlosangeles.com and click on “dining” to search by cuisine, location, atmosphere, and menu price point to plan a perfect evening with the city lights as the backdrop.  

Click to view or download a  Map of Dining in Downtown LA.

 

I am not really sure what my dining plans will be with friends and colleagues. Will there be information at the convention center on dining?

Yes. There will be a visitor information desk at the convention staffed with attendants familiar with the amazing dining options available throughout downtown Los Angeles. The visitor information desk will be open and available to assist CHA attendees during show hours and will be stocked with maps, guides, visitors’ information on not only on places to eat, but things to do after the show. These desks will be your one‐stop‐shop for discovering all Los Angeles has to offer.

 

TRANSPORTATION

 

Will there be shuttle service between hotels and the Los Angeles Convention Center during the CHA 2011 Winter Show?

Yes. Shuttles will run from the Los Angeles Convention Center to all CHA hotels during all CHA events. Shuttles start approximately 30 minutes prior to first CHA event and stop approximately 1 hour after last event ends. Final schedule will be based on education, show and event schedule and will be available on CHA website ‐ www.chashow.org –   closer to show.

 

What transportation options are there going to and from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)?

Arriving and departing through LAX is just as convenient on the ground as it is for air travel. CHA has partnered with SuperShuttle to offer a great deal for CHA attendees. Book with SuperShutte and save 15% on SuperShuttle shared ride; save 15% ExecuCar sedan service; save 10% on Xpress by ExecuCar Business Class. Book online at www.supershuttle.com and enter the CHA Group Discount code: 3WV6C. Discount is valid on transportation to/from LAX, Long Beach, Ontario and Orange County (John Wayne) airports. 

For example, a SuperShuttle shared van ride from LAX to Convention Center is normally $16.00; with 15% discount it becomes $13.60. An ExecuCar Sedan ride from LAX to Convention Center is normally $74.00, with 15% discount it becomes $62.90.

Taxi cabs are readily available outside baggage claim or in the downtown area. A flat rate of $42.00 each way applies to taxi service between LAX and downtown Los Angeles, with a $2.50 surcharge for fares originating from LAX.

The FlyAway Bus service runs non‐stop, regularly scheduled service between Union Station in downtown and LAX seven days a week. The fare is only $7.00 each way. For additional information, please go to www.lawa.org/welcomeLAX  or by calling ‐866‐iFLYLAX (1‐866‐435‐9529).

Los Angeles’ Metro Rail service also services LAX. Simply take the Green Line to the Blue Line for a quick ride into downtown Los Angeles. The fare is only $1.50 per boarding.

 

What other transportation options are available to navigate downtown Los Angeles?

The availability of several transportation choices makes it effortless to navigate downtown Los Angeles. LA is home to one of the country’s best public transportation networks, including subways, light‐rail, buses and shuttles to just about every corner of the Greater Los Angeles area.

In the downtown area, all CHA hotels are located near a DASH (Downtown Area Short Hop) bus stop. The DASH bus service operates five routes which continuously loop throughout the downtown area’s different districts, including the fashion and arts/crafts districts. For just $0.35 each way, CHA attendees can visit museums, shopping areas, arts/cultural centers and iconic downtown LA attractions like Olvera Street or Angels Flight.

Catch the Metro, Los Angeles’ light rail/subway system, at the 7th Street Metro Station, which is only 5 blocks from the Los Angeles Convention Center. From the heart of downtown, CHA attendees can use the Metro to visit attractions in many regions of Los Angeles.

Not sure which public transportation system to use? No problem. The Los Angeles Visitors Information Centers located at the Los Angeles Convention Center and at 7th Street and Figueroa Street (outside the Wilshire Grand Hotel) will offer easy‐to‐use maps and service routes brochures to help you reference the best option to get where you need to go.

 

I prefer to take a taxi cab. Are taxi cabs readily available and how much is the fare?

You would be hard‐pressed not to able to find a taxi cab in downtown Los Angeles. With over 2,000 licensed taxi cabs in the City of Los Angeles and an estimated additional 4,000 cabs operated throughout LA streets, availability of finding a taxi cab will not be an issue. 

Taxi fares to/from CHA convention hotels will start at approximately a base of $3.00 through approximately $10.00 one‐way.

 

 

Please contact Par Avion directly with any questions regarding travel, lodging or restaurants in the Los Angeles area.  Par Avion can be reached at  (800)826-8241 or rescenter@paravion-inc.com.  Check back often for the latest news and updates on the 2011 Winter Show in Los Angeles.

CHA Issues Call for Presentations for 2011 Winter Show

Craft & Hobby Association Winter Convention & Trade Show January 29 – February 1, 2011 Los Angeles Convention Center Los Angeles, CA

Call for Presentations Deadline September 6, 2010

Are you an expert in your field? Do you have skills or topical expertise to share with other CHA members?Apply to present a CHA business Seminar or Demo-nar SM ! Seminars are classes covering business-building skills geared to all skill levels and all member types, or targeted to individual member types and skill levels. Demo-nars SM combine both the business education of a Seminar, with the hands-on project technique training of a Workshop. Topics include: Marketing, Finance, Sales, Customer Service, Advertising/PR, Inventory and Cost Control, Legal, Web Design, Licensing, Social Media…and more! This Winter’s Education program will also highlight topics on the show theme, Innovation. Members are encouraged to apply with topics within the realm of their professional expertise. Click here to apply online. For more information please contact Amie Lee Kolodziej, CMP, Education Manager akolodziej@craftandhobby.org or call (201) 835-1202 *Please note: Submission does not guarantee placement in the program.

New York Times Reports on Safe Los Angeles

On March 3, 2010, the New York Times ran an online op/ed piece in the Opinionator section of its blog entitled “L.A. Consequential,” by Tim Egan, that highlights how safe Los Angeles has become and the reasons behind a lingering perception problem that aren’t consistent with the reality of the dramatically reduced crime rates in the City of Angels. 

The entire article can be found at  LA Consequential article on the safe streets of Los Angeles 

Here are a few excerpts…

LOS ANGELES — Not since the Beach Boys were in peach fuzz and crew cuts has it been so safe to live and play in the City of Angels. Believe it: you are more likely to be murdered in Columbus, Ohio, or Tulsa, Okla., than in the nation’s second most populous city…

…“You have to go back to 1957 — when I was four years old! — to find a similar period,” Charlie Beck, the Los Angeles police chief, was telling me. “How crazy is that?”…

…homicide is down nearly 80 percent through this year, and overall violent crime has taken a similar plunge. In 2008, the last year for full F.B.I. statistics, even Omaha, Neb., had a slightly higher murder rate than L.A.

And the trend continues: murder in L.A. is now down 50 percent from the relatively placid levels of two years ago. At this rate, blood-chasing local television news stations will have to import footage from other cities to uphold their reputation for practicing the nation’s worst and silliest local reporting…

…Nationwide, the story of crime falling to half-century lows is an ongoing miracle. How New York went from the crack-addled days to tourist theme park is well known. But it’s a pattern that’s been repeated all over the United States, with the exception of a few hard patches — cities like New Orleans, Detroit and Baltimore…

…He says these are among the best years ever. Los Angeles is on a pace for about 230 murders this year, in a city of nearly 4 million people. And the department clears — solves and prosecutes — more than 80 percent of the homicides, well above the national average for big cities…

http://tinyurl.com/yc2u5ud