Europe currently plays host to EIBTM, the annual global meetings and incentive exhibition. According to a report in Successful Meetings magazine, Reed Travel Exhibitions is planning to introduce a companion event, Americas IBTM, in the Summer of 2009. Like EIBTM, the event would rely heavily on “hosted buyers” from around the world.

A four-day 2005 conference of 1,500 people in Los Angeles cost the Justice Department $394,000. “The conference’s daily food expense,” noted an Inspector General’s audit, “averaged $64 per registrant, which exceeded the approved Federal per diem (at the time) of $51 for meals.” The report highlighted Swedish meatballs costing $5 apiece. Seriously, folks; you can’t make this stuff up.

Meetpete was one of thousands to experience Sunday’s brilliant opening session of the Annual Convention of ASAE & the Center for Association Leadership. The program was highlighted by the world premiere of “The Association,” an original musical featuring Broadway quality script, score and performances. But the brilliance of the concept was that Sunday’s kickoff presented only the first of three acts, creating an arc to Acts II and III, which will be staged at subsequent general sessions of the three-day event. Event planners are constantly challenged by the inevitable decline in general session attendance as a meeting wears on; with “The Association,” ASAE pioneers a creative solution to manage attrition in general session attendance. Kudos, too, to PGI Communications, which produced the event to rave reviews.