Plans are shaping up that promise to deliver a knockout experience for the brand new and innovative National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) OneShow to be held next April. From world class speakers — including Ted Koppel, Terry Bradshaw and Herman Cain — to a new “iSpot” innovation awards program and surprise celebrities on the show floor, the event promises to be more powerful, fun and impressive than any NAMA Expo you’ve ever experienced.
The OneShow will premier April 28 to 30, 2010 in Chicago at McCormick Place West Hall, the newest and most inviting facility in the city, and will be followed in 2011 April 27 to 29. In 2012 and 2013, the event will move to Las Vegas.
Beginning with the moment you arrive, absolutely everything is original and innovative at the OneShow. We’ve created new “main streets” on the show floor leading to top pavilions to enhance traffic on the show floor, and a center stage which will feature ongoing entertainment and interactive activities such as celebrity signings or local cultural entertainment.
SHOW FOCUS: TECHNOLOGY
Throughout the show floor we’ll be introducing touchscreen technology and the use of cell phones and PDAs for electronic promotions and announcements.
Technology and innovation will be on display everywhere throughout the show and is such an important theme that we will be unveiling our new “iSpot” innovation awards program which will be presented annually. The award winners will be selected by a council of experts appointed by the NAMA board, and will be recognized for innovative equipment, products, companies, inventors and young persons. The criteria are designed to recognize innovation and showcase true originality in our industry.
WORLD CLASS SPEAKERS
In addition to surprise celebrities on the show floor, The OneShow also features a host of world class speakers who will deliver daily keynote addresses. Ted Koppel, for example, will deliver “A Brave New World,” and Terry Bradshaw will present “Why Not Your Best.” Herman Cain, popular radio talk show host, former CEO of Godfathers Pizza and past chairman of the National Restaurant Association, will speak about leadership, sharing strategies for everyone who is or wants to be a leader.
We’ve also redesigned our industry awards program, moving away from the traditional banquet and instead beginning at 4:30 on Thursday with a high energy program that features ESPN’s Erin Andrews who will MC the event on Center State — right on the show floor. After the awards, the event will conclude with a champagne toast and jazz band, and the opportunity to personally meet Erin.
COFFEE CERTIFICATION EXPANDS
The OneShow will feature powerful new programs for coffee service, too. Our Quality Coffee Certification Program (QCCP) is being expanded into two parts: “Coffee Fundamentals” and “Brewing Fundamentals.” The first part will be further expanded into a 6-hour session, complete with tasting exercises and all the information necessary to enhance members’ expertise.
Brewing Fundamentals, the second part of the expanded QCCP, will debut at the OneShow, and attendees will be taught how to prepare a perfect cup of coffee, from using the correct coffee-to-water ratio, to matching the particle size of the coffee, to brewing method and type of equipment used. After completing this session, attendees will be able to intelligently assess and solve frequent problems relating to the final product: the taste of coffee.
We’re all very excited about the plans for the OneShow and know you will be too, but this is really just a glimpse of what we have in store for you in Chicago this spring, and we’ll be in touch with more details as the specifics unfold.
You’ll also be hearing more about the OneShow at this year’s National Expo, and you can also learn more about all the exciting developments at www.namaoneshow.org.
