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Tag: meetings

Semicon West 2019 Returns to San Francisco’s Moscone Center

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SemiCon West 2019 will be held in San Francisco beginning July 9th at the Moscone Center on Howard Street. With over 550 exhibitors and 80+ hours of business and technical programming, the 3-day convention promises a glimpse of what’s next in a field that is rapidly moving BEYOND SMART.

SMART Pavilions

On the expo floor attendees will find pavilions where the latest in transportation, design, workforce, medical technology, and manufacturing are showcased. Attendees will also have the opportunity to “meet the experts” and watch informational presentations.

TechTALKS

Hear about everything from “Reducing Risks for Customers” in materials manufacturing to “New Architectures” to “Enable the Intelligent Future.” Several keynote speakers, including Jeffrey Welser, PhD. with IBM Research, are also on the agenda to speak and share.

Wearable Technologies Conference Series

On July 9th and 10th, attendees can learn about the current status of the wearable market through an extensive conference exhibition. This is a great opportunity to network with the “Who’s Who” of the entire WT ecosystem.

AMA San Francisco Executive Conference Center

Located only minutes away from the Moscone Center and a mere 15 minutes from the airport is AMA’s San Francisco Executive Conference Center. Based on location and value, AMA San Francisco is the perfect venue to host your SemiCon West 2019-related event.  Hold your breakfast meetings, product demonstrations, or networking receptions during the convention for up to 100 guests in one of 13 well-appointed meeting rooms or reception spaces.  Each room includes audio-visual equipment, adjustable lighting, complimentary WIFI, executive seating, complimentary beverage service, and professional service staff.  A variety of floor plan options ensure the most comfortable arrangement for any need. On-site catering is easily available for breakfasts, luncheons, meeting breaks or any service need during rental.

Click here to contact the AMA team  today to discuss your tailored convention meeting package.  Our experienced event managers will make planning your company activity simple and successful – while keeping it productive and enjoyable!

Tips for Building Better Relationships With Your Co-Workers

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In business as in life, it’s impossible to make it alone. This is even truer if you frequently work on team projects or team coordinated meetings and events. Having good relationships with others ultimately makes you happier, more productive, and can help you get ahead in your career. Use these simple (yet effective) tips below to improve your interpersonal relationships and get along better with your coworkers!

Be Friendly and Courteous

When trying to improve your office relationships, start with the simple steps. Say hello or smile at others when you walk down the hallway. Simple exchanges like these can show your coworkers that you are a warm and kind person, which is the ideal foundation to build a friendship on.

Learn to Communicate Effectively

There are two parts to effective communication: sharing your thoughts clearly and respectfully and listening actively. When talking to someone else, try to be polite, get your point across succinctly, and, most importantly, think about what you’re going to say before you open your mouth. Practice active listening techniques like being attentive, asking open-ended questions, and staying engaged in the conversation.

Show Gratitude

Another way to strengthen your relationships with your other coworkers is by showing your gratitude. If someone helps you, no matter how large or small the task, show your appreciation for them and their work. Say ‘thank you’ and compliment the people you work with when they do a good job.

Stay Away From Gossip

Though gossiping about other coworkers can be a fast way to connect with others, it will only hurt your relationships in the long term. Instead of gossiping about someone in the group, speak to them directly about the problem you are experiencing. Talking about the issue behind their back will only make the problem worse and will make you look less trustworthy. Confront your issues kindly and openly so you and your coworkers can all move forward and improve.

AMA Executive Conference Centers are experts at planning professional meetings and gatherings. Visit an AMA Center in one of four convenient locations: Atlanta, New York City, Washington DC and San Francisco. For more great resources and ideas for your upcoming meetings contact us at AMA Executive Conference Centers!

Three Fun Ways to Recognize & Reward Your Team

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If you’re a manager or team leader, then you need to know how important it is to recognize your team’s efforts. If you make it clear that sweat equity gets noticed and appreciated, then everyone is more likely to go that extra mile. However, while it’s important to get into the habit of seeing and pointing out when people are doing something right, it’s equally important to offer some kind of tangible reward.

For those looking for ideas, you might want to try these:

Reward #1: Points

While it might seem like something out of Harry Potter, rewarding points to teams and individuals who do good work provides a tangible number to represent how well they did. However, as Snack Nation points out, these points should also be used as a kind of reward currency that can be redeemed for actual items (gift cards, prizes, gadgets, etc.). This makes them functional rewards, instead of just a numerical mood booster.

Reward #2: Company Apparel

There’s a reason promotional items tend to be clothing; it’s useful, it’s comfortable, and when you get something for free you make a connection between the brand on your shirt or ball cap with that nice feeling. Insperity suggests that when someone is doing a notable job, you should give them a reward. A free tee shirt, a hat, a sling bag; something that’s useful, that shows your appreciation, and that reminds the employee that their company and team appreciates all their hard work.

Reward #3: Something Small, But Unique

If you want your employee recognition to be really unusual, then make sure it’s something unique. Whether it’s a commemorative coin, a custom action figure, a small print or painting…the sky is the limit. But if you want your recognition to feel really unique, make the reward an “experience!” Maybe “hard to get tickets to” a concert or special event. Experiences over items really helps to set your reward and recognition of your team apart!

AMA Executive Conference Centers offer some of the industry’s best executive meeting and conference venues. We work to help companies and corporate planners across the U.S. facilitate meetings with the best possible outcomes. Click here to contact us today to see how we can help in planning your next meeting in Atlanta, New York, Washington DC or San Francisco.

Choose New York City For Your Next Corporate Meeting

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With all the arrangements you have to make, details can make up the majority of your worries. However, at AMA Executive Conference Centers you’ll find that having a meeting, seminar, or conference can be functional, catered to, and productive. In a word, exceptional (without all the worry).

With the largest conference center in New York City’s Times Square, clients receive the best value and unparalleled service. Our staff is trained and prepared to accommodate the needs of meeting planners and visiting attendees. In addition to offering exceptional meeting space, our team offers light administrative including copying, email and general concierge.

While at the center our clients and their guests are assisted to completely. Located in the hub of the city, it’s easy for attendees to take outdoor breaks and have easy access to casual and fine dining restaurants, as well as Broadway theaters that are located just moments of exiting the building.

Our AMA New York Center has over 90,000 square feet of meeting space that is divided into 43 meeting rooms. This gives meeting planners the flexibility to host activities in spaces that are 168 sq. ft. up to 3000 sq. ft. – accommodating over 200 participants. The New York Center has available spaces with both indirect and natural lighting. High-speed internet and WIFI access is available, and as with all AMA Executive Conference Center locations the rental includes complimentary use of projectors and PCs for meeting use. All this and more without service charges or hidden fees.

Most meetings and events have a food and beverage component. The New York Center provides complimentary beverages, continuously, including coffees, gourmet teas, sodas, juices, and water. Additionally, there are a wide variety of catering options offered, and customization can almost always be accommodated. Find our menus and catering packages available for review online here.

Whether you’re driving, hailing a taxi or taking an Uber, finding AMA’s New York Executive Conference Center at 1601 Broadway is a breeze. For more information or questions you might have about rental or your visit simply contact us today!

Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International: Facts About The World’s Busiest Airport

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The Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta (ATL) is the busiest airport in the world, serving as a portal to hundreds of destinations, domestic and international, for over 100 million passengers annually. But the airport isn’t as chaotic and stressful as it could be: Hartsfield-Jackson holds the title as the World’s Most Efficient Airport as well, and has held the name for a whopping 14 years in a row. Enjoy a few more fun facts, that we bet you didn’t know about this busy airport!

Photo: Atlanta Airport, Facebook

• Atlanta is within a two-hour flight of 80 percent of the entire United States population.

• The airport was named the nation’s busiest as early as 1942, and has been considered the world’s busiest since 1998.

• The airport is built on land that was the former Atlanta Speedway, an abandoned racetrack purchased by Asa Candler, founder of Coca-Cola.

• Hartsfield-Jackson is Georgia’s biggest employer. More than 60,000 people, from concession operators to air traffic controllers, call the airport their workplace.

• After Atlanta hosted the 1996 Olympic Summer Games, the airport created a quirky mural called the “Spirit of Atlanta,” a painting of children greeting passengers from Centennial Olympic Park. The beloved mural was removed in 2016 and replaced with large digital screens providing tourist information.

• Atlanta boasts North America’s tallest air traffic control tower, and it’s the third tallest in the world.

• After September 11, 2001, members of the Georgia National Guard began assisting with airport security at Harsfield-Jackson.

• The airport’s first international flights were offered in 1971 with service to Mexico and Montego Bay.

• The airport features a 1,000-square foot dog park, accommodating passenger pets and service animals alike.

You’ll travel through Atlanta’s convenient Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport when you attend your next meeting at AMA’s Atlanta Executive Conference Center. Contact us to book a conference at our premiere executive meeting center, conveniently located in downtown Atlanta, 15 miles from the airport and close to beautiful hotels and some of the best restaurants the Southeast has to offer!

The Benefits Of A Digital Detox For Meeting Professionals

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Considering the benefits of a digital detox?
Phones, tablets, computers, television…there’s no denying these screens play a big part of our daily lives. We check our smart devices when we’re killing time, texting with friends, even ordering food. While these tools can be useful for socializing and networking, is there such a thing as “too much” screen time? It can be a struggle to cut ourselves off completely, especially those like meeting professionals with jobs in the business world. The good news is that you don’t have to quit cold turkey: taking even a small digital detox can have great benefits for your health!

A Fresh Perspective

A digital detox allows us to stop worrying about keeping up our online persona and to focus on how we come across offline. It’s a good time to examine your priorities without being distracted by a screen. You may set a new fitness goal for yourself, or finally get around to cleaning your house. You may find that your mood will improve as well: some research shows that prolonged time on social media can increase the odds of depression.

Improved Focus

You’re a very busy person, and you’ve learned that multitasking is the best way to get things done. With the constant stream of information coming in from emails, social media, and other digital distractions, we can find ourselves a bit bogged down and our productivity suffers as a result. Cutting yourself off from the screen will help you be able to do your job more efficiently.

Improved Sleep

If you’re responding to business emails late into the night, your sleep is probably suffering as a result. Continuous exposure to blue light can lead to insomnia or waking up groggy and irritable. For a better night’s sleep, it is recommended to avoid all screens at least two hours before you go to sleep. You can’t work well without proper rest!

A digital detox is a great way to relieve stress and give your brain a rest in a hectic, digital world. Click here to contact our AMA Conference Center team today for more tips about improving success through meetings, conferences, retreats, focus groups and more.

The Best Ways to Give and Receive Feedback

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Communication is a key component of teamwork. In order to get tasks completed, team members need to be able to communicate clearly and effectively. An important aspect of communication is giving and receiving feedback. When someone on your team could improve or change the way they are doing something, how can you share that in a helpful and positive way? If someone on the team gives you feedback about your performance, how should you respond? Both of these are significant components of effective communication and teamwork.

Giving Feedback

1. Stay Focused
Provide feedback that is directly focused on the issue or the situation at hand. Do not discuss side issues or aspects of the receiver’s personality.

2. Be Clear and Specific
Be clear about the issue and what could be done differently. Do not talk around the issue, but get right to the point and be specific so that the receiver is not confused.

3. Timely Delivery
It is best to provide feedback as quickly as possible. If the feedback is delayed for too long, the receiver may have trouble recalling the details of the situation. Immediate feedback will generally be most effective.

4. Best Timing
Although immediate feedback is important, there are times when the moment is not the best. If emotions are high and the receiver is angry and upset, it may be best to defer the discussion but make sure to have the conversation soon.

5. Mind Your Tone
When providing negative feedback, avoid accusing the receiver. The basis for negative feedback should be how it impacted you and your point of view. This feedback is not attacking the receiver or blaming them, but shares your own feelings.

6. Positivity
As you provide feedback, come from the place of wanting what is best for the receiver. The goal is to help them succeed and even if the feedback is negative, encourage the receiver that you are looking for ways to help them improve.

7. Practice, Practice, Practice
As a leader or team contributor it is important to continue to give feedback, even if it is not always well received. It is a method to help others grow and to help the team succeed – so it is important to continue giving it.

Receiving Feedback

1. Be Open
Recognize that feedback is for your benefit and will only help you grow. Be a person who is open to the ideas of others, recognizing that you don’t have all the answers. Recognize that others on your team have a lot to offer and be a person who is open to feedback.

2. Listen
Instead of jumping to conclusions or immediately forming your response in your mind, stop yourself and really listen to the feedback.

3. Ask
Ask questions if you do not understand the feedback or if you need clarification. This will also help the giver know that you are listening and are trying to understand.

4. Control
When someone has negative feedback, it is easy to get defensive and feel attacked. Control those feelings and consider their point of view. Let their feedback be something that inspires you to improve and change. If you control your defensiveness, they will probably be more willing to provide feedback in the future.

5. Verify
If you have received feedback and are not sure if it is accurate, take the time to ask questions and do the research to see if that approach is best. Be willing to consider the feedback but also double-check its validity if necessary.

AMA Executive Conference Centers offer some of the industry’s best executive meeting and conference venues. We work to help companies and corporate planners across the U.S. facilitate meetings with the best possible outcomes. Contact us today to see how we can help in planning your next meeting in Atlanta, New York, Washington DC or San Francisco.

Everything You Need To Know When Visiting Hudson Yards

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Hudson Yards is the newest neighborhood in New York City. Featuring more than 100 shops, restaurants, art venues, and attractions, Hudson Yards is now the nation’s largest private development and one of most complex construction projects in New York history. We’re taking a closer look at what makes this destination unique and why it is a great fit for leisure during your next AMA Center meeting in New York City.

Location and Transportation

Hudson Yards is located between 10th and 12th Avenues, from West 30th to West 34th St. There is easy access to commuter rail service, the subway, the West Side Highway, the Lincoln Tunnel, and ferries along the Hudson River.

This new complex was built on 28 acres over a working rail yard. That not only explains why the construction project was so complex but also helps one to understand why Hudson Yards is so unique.

Shop, Dine, and Explore

Apparel, jewelry, and beauty items are just a few of the types of shops in Hudson Yards. Everything from shoe stores to brand name eyewear awaits your browsing.

Dining options range from simple coffee shops to finer dining for your evening enjoyment. A wine bar and ice cream shop are just two other options to discover while visiting Hudson Yards.

Visitors can enjoy a great view of the New York skyline from the Edge. Located 100 stories high, it is the highest man-made outdoor viewing area in the western hemisphere.

Public gardens, art, and cultural institutions and more provide visitors with a variety of choices in this special and unique place. We think that Hudson Yards is a must-see while visiting New York City.

AMA Executive Conference Centers

The AMA New York Conference Center is the largest conference center in New York City’s Time’s Square district. Featuring 90,000 square feet and 43 rooms, this center can accommodate up to 200 participants. Located in the heart of Times Square, the conference center is within blocks to many restaurants, shopping, and attractions, including those in Hudson Yards.

A favorite feature of meeting planners is the 6th-floor meeting space at the AMA New York Conference Center. A spacious lounge also overlooks Broadway, making it a perfect space for receptions and conference activities.

AMA Executive Conference Centers are also available in Atlanta, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. Each of our centers provides the essentials you need for a successful meeting or event. The centers are conveniently located close to transportation, lodging, dining, shopping, and attractions. Learn more about our centers and our services by clicking here to contact us today.

Making The Most Of Your Visit To San Francisco’s Chinatown

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Centered on Stockton Street and Grant Avenue, San Francisco’s Chinatown is not only the oldest Chinatown in North America but it’s a protected historic district. A major cultural center, it covers 24 city blocks. There’s a reason this beautiful and culturally-rich neighborhood is host to over 2,000,000 tourists per year. A must-see, when visiting our AMA Executive Conference Center in San Francisco take some time and visit these Chinatown destinations:

China Live

China Live is a two-story emporium in the heart of Chinatown featuring a tea café, retail marketplace, and market-style restaurant and bar. For the perfect experience, browse the retail space for everything from produce and cookware to Chinese spices and condiments before stopping by the Oolong Café for any of the rotating selection of teas while admiring the gorgeous mural inspired by the Ming Dynasty. Lastly, head to the Bar Central for one of their specialty cocktails such as the French Concession.

Chinese Culture Center

The Chinese Culture Center (CCC), founded in 1965, has spent five decades in the community as a leading promoter of public art projects and events. In addition to running two galleries and three music festivals a year, the center also organizes walking tours through Chinatown featuring visits to an herbal pharmacy, a dim sum restaurant, and the oldest Taoist temple in the United States. From April 27, 2019 to December 21, 2019, the Chinese Culture Center is presenting their current group art exhibition Present Tense that reflects the complex responsibility of remembrance following struggles for freedom.

Portsmouth Square

Portsmouth Square has long been recognized as not only the “Heart of Chinatown” but as a crucial landmark in the history of California. Home to a number of historical statues and markers, it is the site of the first raising of the American flag in San Francisco in 1846 and the announcement of gold discovery in 1848. Additionally, there is a memorial dedicated to Robert Louis Stevenson, author of Treasure Island, who frequented the square in his pastime. Presently, the park serves not only as a historical site but a favorite spot by the locals to enjoy Chinese chess games, tai chi, and more.

AMA’s San Francisco Executive Conference Center is conveniently located mere minutes from Chinatown, various shopping areas and museums, and only 15 miles from the San Francisco International Airport. A perfect location to hold your meeting and enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime cultural experience that is Chinatown, San Francisco. For more information, click here to contact us.

The Top Benefits of Hosting a Retreat for Your Team

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Your team works together every day. They have a number of responsibilities and projects that cause them to need to interact and work together. Sometimes, you need to get away from the office for a while with one another. AMA believes it’s time for your team to experience the key benefits of a retreat. Here’s why!

1. Your Team Gets a Chance to Build Relationships

During the work day, relationships may be difficult to build. Some team members may prefer to focus on work during the work day, while others never really have a chance to interact with one another. During a retreat, however, you get a chance to build relationships and bond with one another in a way that often doesn’t happen during the typical business day.

2. You Have a More Constructive Environment to Talk

Often, your team members have great ideas, but they’re never sure it’s exactly the right time to share them. During a retreat, on the other hand, they have the perfect chance to chat with other members of the team, including management, and suggest those great ideas. It could be the next great idea that improves your office!

3. You Can Take a Focused Look at the Big Picture

During a retreat, you’re away from the day-to-day grind of the office: the paperwork; the repetitive tasks that have to be completed every week; the software that refuses to work the way you want it to. Often, this is a great chance to take a more focused look at the big picture that drives your company: the company’s values, its plans, and its goals for the future.

4. You Give Team Members a Chance to Decompress

During a retreat, many team members have a chance to unwind in a way that they simply don’t during any other work activity. Hosting a retreat immediately after your busy season or a high-stress project is a great way to help decrease stress levels and help get your team ready to come back and start working on their next project.

Does your team need a chance to get away together: to enjoy some bonding and experience the other key benefits of a retreat? Click here to contact us today to learn how AMA Executive Conference Centers can offer the perfect retreat and recharge meeting support in Atlanta, New York City, Washington DC and San Francisco!