Alexandria, VA – February 2, 2009 – The Club Managers Association of America (CMAA) will host its 82nd World Conference on Club Management, February 5 – 10 in New Orleans, LA. The event, a joint endeavor with the Golf Industry Show (GIS), will take place at the New Orleans Marriott and New Orleans Morial Convention Center. The Conference offers club managers from around the world an opportunity to take part in educational sessions and peer networking events. The 2009 educational sessions focus on club marketing and finances, retirement planning, food and beverage profits, strategic planning and the current economy’s effect on the club industry.
CMAA’s World Conference on Club Management and Golf Industry Show is the Association’s most visible event of the year. During the past several years, audiences of nearly 5,000 have attended the event, which is held annually in major cities throughout the United States. While most attendees represent clubs in the United States, the number of attendees from abroad has significantly increased in recent years. The Golf Industry Show is designed to benefit every member of the club, golf course and facility management team. With more than 800 exhibitors covering in excess of 260,000 square feet of exhibit space, the Show will be held February 5 – 7.
To shed light on the current economic challenges facing club managers, CMAA developed the Clubs and the Economy Town Hall/Round-table session, which will be held in the New Orleans Marriott Grand Ballroom Acadia on February 9, 2:30 – 5:30 p.m. Industry experts will discuss topics including strategic leadership, membership recruitment and retention efforts, maximizing food and beverage revenues and cost controls.
In addition to various educational opportunities, the Conference includes the Silent and Live Wine Auctions, The Club Foundation’s online GIS Silent Auction and Live Auction and The Club Foundation’s annual Run with the Presidents. The International Wine Auction puts hundreds of bottles of wine and wine-related items up for bid. The Club Foundation partners with the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) to bring bidders a wide array of items. The Club Foundation Live Auction matches delicious food and drinks, musical entertainment and dancing with exciting items, from autographed memorabilia to event tickets. The run is a 5K (or 1.5 mile walk) held on February 6 at 6:30 a.m. and benefits The Club Foundation and St. Bernard Project. The St. Bernard Project helps families rebuild their lives after surviving Hurricane Katrina. Adding to the mix, the famed New Orleans Country Club, along with the Pelican Chapter, will host the Conference golf tournament on February 9.
Named the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Coach of the Year in 1999, bestselling author Chris Carmichael will open the Conference at 8:00 a.m. on February 7. John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, will speak at the closing session on February 10.
For a complete schedule of Conference programs and events, go to http://www.cmaa.org/uploadedFiles/Events/Conference_Education_Brochure/ConferenceSchedule.pdf.
About CMAA – The Club Managers Association of America is the professional Association for managers of membership clubs. CMAA has close to 7,000 members across all classifications. Manager members run more than 3,000 country, golf, city, athletic, faculty, yacht, town and military clubs. The objectives of the Association are to promote and advance friendly relations among persons connected with the management of clubs and other associations of similar character; to encourage the education and advancement of members; and to assist club officers and members, through their managers, to secure the utmost in efficient and successful operations.
About The Club Foundation – The Club Foundation supports the advancement of club management professionals, funding industry education programs through scholarships and grants.
Contact:
Gerry Romano
(703) 739-9500
gerry.romano@cmaa.org
www.cmaa.org
