By all accounts, the Music City hit a high note in the annals of the ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition. At an onsite press conference in Nashville, ASAE President and CEO John H. Graham IV, FASAE, CAE, announced that 5,975 attendees made the trip to the city for the event. That included 3,159 association executives—the largest Annual executive crowd since ASAE visited Chicago in 2007.

During the three days at the Music City Center, the conference brought an estimated $16 million in revenue to the Nashville community. And, based on the performance of previous host cities, Nashville could see as much as $500 million in future business over the next 10 years.

“This is an economic benefit that really accrues over the years. I think Nashville is going to hit it out of the park and maybe even exceed that total,” Graham says. “This city has really gone through a transformation. … It’s a pretty exciting place to be.”

Giving Back: More than 1,200 attendees took their Annual experience to the next level by contributing to the Nashville community. Through volunteer efforts, city tours, 5K walk/run fees, and individual donations, ASAE raised $23,554 for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, which serves the hungry in 46 counties. The hands-on activities and money raised during the conference resulted in 103,780 meals for the community.

Finding Solutions: Attendees networked and learned about tech tools, business solutions, and meeting destinations from industry partners in the expo hall.

Celebrating Diversity: Attendees enjoyed community, music, and line dancing at the Diversity & Inclusion Reception at the Whiskey Bent Saloon.

 

(Photos by Khaaliq Thomas Photography)