Annual event serves as reunion, steering meeting for industry
May 14, 2002
WASHINGTON, DC - The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) made available today attendance numbers from
its 2002 convention "Exhibition 2002: Beyond Boundaries," held in Las Vegas April 12-16.
Turnout, both for key events and for the convention overall, exceeded expectations and suggest the industry's stakeholders
continue to value the ARDA Convention and Exposition as the most important gathering each year.
The convention boasted 3446 attendees in 2002, down 2% from the 2001 convention in Orlando, FL. In an economically
challenging year that saw most industry companies meticulously scrutinize their budgets, ARDA calls the nearly
identical 2001 and 2002 attendance numbers "a testimony to the event's significance."
According to the association's meeting professionals, at least two major events saw record-breaking attendance
at this year's convention. The general session, a meeting that sets the tone for the industry's key issues each
year, drew an audience of 1600, breaking the previous record by 200 attendees. The Gallup Organization's Marcus
Buckingham was the general session's featured presenter. And, at the 2002 Crystal Ball luncheon, 700 industry
players bought tickets to hear keynoter Tom Peters, management guru and best-selling author. This exceeded the
previous high by 50 attendees.
The record numbers may indicate a renewed industry emphasis on education and networking.
"The convention has always been a place where people in our vacation ownership community can connect to information
and to other players," said ARDA President Howard Nusbaum. "I believe that opportunity is becoming more
and more attractive as relationship-oriented marketing and business grow in importance."
Industry partners appear to recognize the opportunity, too. Measured by sales volume, this year's 158 exhibitors
represented the largest group ever.
"This is the most important gathering of the year for the business side of vacation ownership, and thanks
to the foresight of our meetings committee, it will be into the future," said Nusbaum.
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Contact:
Jason Tostevin (202) 371-6700 x123
SOURCE: ARDA