TRAILBLAZING IN THE CITY OF ROSES
SOCIETY FOR IMAGING INFORMATICS IN MEDICINE
TRAILBLAZING IN THE CITY OF ROSES
Portland’s natural beauty and eclectic flair made it the perfect fit for gathering of leading-edge technology pioneers. BY WENDY HELFENBAUM
W
hen you’re planning a flagship event for an organization whose mission celebrates innovation and way-out-of-the-box thinking, your destination has to match the group vibe. For the 2016 annual meeting of the Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIM), Portland, Ore., was an ideal choice. Held June 29-July 1, SIIM’s event attracted 1,200 attendees and exhibitors from across North America and overseas. SIIM supports and promotes research and educational activities in healthcare; it represents professionals and academics that develop and use information systems for medical imaging. “Our group is unique because it’s multi-disciplinary—we have physicians, technicians, academia, scientists and C-level people within healthcare organizations,”
54 THE MEETING PROFESSIONAL MARCH 2017
says Andrea Saris, SIIM’s director of meetings. “They all come together because imaging informatics plays a role across all of those disciplines. “The synergy between our professional attendees and the exhibitors is very unique; they network and connect with each other not only in the exhibit hall but also in our educational sessions, which contributes to the discussion.” SIIM’s annual meeting criss-crosses the U.S., Saris notes. Recent destinations include Long Beach, Calif.; Grapevine, Texas; and Washington, D.C. “Our group had never been to Portland; cities that size work better for us, and they bring a different flavour,” Saris says. Portland’s culture is very cool, the restaurants are fabulous, and since a lot of our attendees stay later, being in an outdoor-focused city was key.”
SIIM’s meeting took place at the Oregon Convention Center (OCC), the largest convention facility in the Pacific Northwest and one of only two LEED Platinum-certified convention centers in the U.S. SIIM took full advantage of the 255,000 square feet of exhibit space, 50 meeting rooms and two grand ballrooms. The three-day schedule was packed with educational sessions, roundtables, industry insights, learning labs, town halls and scientific workshops focused on the event’s theme: Leading Change in Imaging Informatics. SIIM hosted 68 exhibitors who showcased new imaging informatics technology products and systems. “Inside the big exhibit hall, we created a Science and Innovation Pavilion, where our scientific posters and demonstrations were stationed,” Saris says. “We also set up a theater and a demonstration room for reading
“The synergy between our professional attendees and the exhibitors is very unique; they network and connect with each other not only in the exhibit hall but also in our educational sessions.” images.” SIIM’s pre-conference boot camp enabled attendees to learn the fundamentals of imaging informatics or take a refresher course in preparation for becoming a Certified Imaging Informatics Professional. The event also featured several fun, interactive sessions for attendees such as the Hackathon, where informaticists and developers gathered to build apps designed to improve workflow between healthcare information systems. Saris’ team used the CrowdCompass meeting app for the first time in Portland, to rave reviews. “It was fabulous; this is a very tech-savvy group, so it worked out very nicely for polling, networking and scheduling,” she says.
“We also used it to submit for continuing education credits.” Also new for 2016 was the Innovation Challenge, a Shark Tank-style competition where four medical residents worked with mentors from SIIM to prepare and present projects designed to streamline image management. “SIIM is all about promoting innovation, and the grand prize was US$10,000 to help foster the development of their idea,” Saris says. “A panel of judges voted for the winner, and there was also a People’s Choice Award. Through our meeting app, people voted on who they thought should be the winner.” Saris also organized an early-morning 5K Fun Run/Walk on June 30, where 75 attendees enjoyed Portland’s magnificent scenery
along the Willamette River, which bisects the city. Saris booked seven downtown hotels located on both sides of the river, including the Benson Hotel, Hilton Portland & Executive Tower and the Paramount Hotel Portland. Transportation woes were non-existent despite staff and attendees being spread out over several miles. “While working with the city to bring the SIIM meeting there, we were fortunate enough to be able to provide our attendees with a complimentary light rail pass. That was huge, and our staff used it as well,” Saris says. “It goes from the downtown area, across the river and to the convention center. It was a tremendous asset that the city offered for our attendees. Attendees also MPIWEB.ORG 55
used it during the evenings when they had downtime.” Portland’s restaurant scene was another memorable highlight. Vendors held customer events at various eateries, while SIIM hosted an appreciation dinner at BridgePort BrewPub on the final night to thank its 60 faculty attendees. “Portland is well-known for its breweries, and that’s the kind of thing we like to do with these dinners—give the flavor of the city and its culture,” Saris says. “We had a lovely din-
ner and those who wanted to did a tour of the brewery.” SIIM produced about 2,500 room nights, which delighted Travel Portland, says Steve Faulstick, executive vice president of convention and international tourism sales. “We were absolutely thrilled to win SIIM to Portland,” he says. “Their peak night in the city was about 600 rooms, which we were very happy to have for that time of year. It had exceptional economic impact for the city.”
HOST AN UNFORGETTABLE EVENT AT TUKWILA’S MUSEUM OF FLIGHT.
Make your next meeting a great one, here in Seattle Southside. Just south of downtown Seattle, our area offers fantastic convenience and value. Your attendees will be close to the airport and an easy light rail ride to the city. Plus, you’ll find a wide range of facilities and all the amenities you want, for more affordable prices.
We provide complimentary, personalized, concierge-style service. Download our free Events Guide at MeetInSeattleSouthside.com
56 THE MEETING PROFESSIONAL MARCH 2017
The city’s current inventory of downtown rooms is 7,300, but that is about to change. “Portland is in the highest demand it’s ever been, both domestically and internationally,” Faulstick says. “Portland has grown extensively in its appeal, not just for the usual outdoor adventurer and the scenic beauty we’re surrounded by, but for its reputation for amazing food, beer and wine and tax-free shopping.” With a new, 600-room convention center hotel—the Hyatt Hotel Oregon Convention Center—breaking ground this summer and slated to open in fall 2019, Faulstick expects a big boost to the city’s overall convention package. Fifteen other new or expanded properties will add 3,000 hotel rooms in the downtown core, and the city expects to increase its capacity by five to 10 more midsized meetings in the coming years. “We’re going to be closer to 10,000 downtown hotel rooms, which puts us on par with cities like Denver, Salt Lake and Phoenix,” he says. The OCC was expanded in the early 2000s, partly because of existing demand but also in anticipation of added hotel inventory, Faulstick says. “While many destinations are talking about convention center expansions because of the need, we really have a right-sized convention center with room to grow,” he says. “Our convention center is an award-winning sustainable facility that is really cutting-edge, so it’s a wonderful asset for us to already have in place as we start looking at our ability to book some of these larger conventions.” Faulstick notes that groups often report getting their highest attendee numbers when they bring their meetings to Portland, much to the relief of both planners and CVB reps. “The attrition piece is a huge hurdle with conventions and planners; that’s something that we rarely run into, because once a meeting is booked in Portland, the response is overwhelming from people wanting to come here,” he says. In Saris’ case, attendee feedback was resoundingly positive following their 2016 event. “They want to go back to Portland, so I think it will be one of the cities that we’d definitely consider returning to,” she says. “Everyone liked it a lot.” n
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TRAILBLAZING IN THE CITY OF ROSES
Portland’s natural beauty and eclectic flair made it the perfect fit for gathering of leading-edge technology pioneers. BY WENDY HELFENBAUM
W
hen you’re planning a flagship event for an organization whose mission celebrates innovation and way-out-of-the-box thinking, your destination has to match the group vibe. For the 2016 annual meeting of the Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIM), Portland, Ore., was an ideal choice. Held June 29-July 1, SIIM’s event attracted 1,200 attendees and exhibitors from across North America and overseas. SIIM supports and promotes research and educational activities in healthcare; it represents professionals and academics that develop and use information systems for medical imaging. “Our group is unique because it’s multi-disciplinary—we have physicians, technicians, academia, scientists and C-level people within healthcare organizations,”
54 THE MEETING PROFESSIONAL MARCH 2017
says Andrea Saris, SIIM’s director of meetings. “They all come together because imaging informatics plays a role across all of those disciplines. “The synergy between our professional attendees and the exhibitors is very unique; they network and connect with each other not only in the exhibit hall but also in our educational sessions, which contributes to the discussion.” SIIM’s annual meeting criss-crosses the U.S., Saris notes. Recent destinations include Long Beach, Calif.; Grapevine, Texas; and Washington, D.C. “Our group had never been to Portland; cities that size work better for us, and they bring a different flavour,” Saris says. Portland’s culture is very cool, the restaurants are fabulous, and since a lot of our attendees stay later, being in an outdoor-focused city was key.”
SIIM’s meeting took place at the Oregon Convention Center (OCC), the largest convention facility in the Pacific Northwest and one of only two LEED Platinum-certified convention centers in the U.S. SIIM took full advantage of the 255,000 square feet of exhibit space, 50 meeting rooms and two grand ballrooms. The three-day schedule was packed with educational sessions, roundtables, industry insights, learning labs, town halls and scientific workshops focused on the event’s theme: Leading Change in Imaging Informatics. SIIM hosted 68 exhibitors who showcased new imaging informatics technology products and systems. “Inside the big exhibit hall, we created a Science and Innovation Pavilion, where our scientific posters and demonstrations were stationed,” Saris says. “We also set up a theater and a demonstration room for reading
“The synergy between our professional attendees and the exhibitors is very unique; they network and connect with each other not only in the exhibit hall but also in our educational sessions.” images.” SIIM’s pre-conference boot camp enabled attendees to learn the fundamentals of imaging informatics or take a refresher course in preparation for becoming a Certified Imaging Informatics Professional. The event also featured several fun, interactive sessions for attendees such as the Hackathon, where informaticists and developers gathered to build apps designed to improve workflow between healthcare information systems. Saris’ team used the CrowdCompass meeting app for the first time in Portland, to rave reviews. “It was fabulous; this is a very tech-savvy group, so it worked out very nicely for polling, networking and scheduling,” she says.
“We also used it to submit for continuing education credits.” Also new for 2016 was the Innovation Challenge, a Shark Tank-style competition where four medical residents worked with mentors from SIIM to prepare and present projects designed to streamline image management. “SIIM is all about promoting innovation, and the grand prize was US$10,000 to help foster the development of their idea,” Saris says. “A panel of judges voted for the winner, and there was also a People’s Choice Award. Through our meeting app, people voted on who they thought should be the winner.” Saris also organized an early-morning 5K Fun Run/Walk on June 30, where 75 attendees enjoyed Portland’s magnificent scenery
along the Willamette River, which bisects the city. Saris booked seven downtown hotels located on both sides of the river, including the Benson Hotel, Hilton Portland & Executive Tower and the Paramount Hotel Portland. Transportation woes were non-existent despite staff and attendees being spread out over several miles. “While working with the city to bring the SIIM meeting there, we were fortunate enough to be able to provide our attendees with a complimentary light rail pass. That was huge, and our staff used it as well,” Saris says. “It goes from the downtown area, across the river and to the convention center. It was a tremendous asset that the city offered for our attendees. Attendees also MPIWEB.ORG 55
used it during the evenings when they had downtime.” Portland’s restaurant scene was another memorable highlight. Vendors held customer events at various eateries, while SIIM hosted an appreciation dinner at BridgePort BrewPub on the final night to thank its 60 faculty attendees. “Portland is well-known for its breweries, and that’s the kind of thing we like to do with these dinners—give the flavor of the city and its culture,” Saris says. “We had a lovely din-
ner and those who wanted to did a tour of the brewery.” SIIM produced about 2,500 room nights, which delighted Travel Portland, says Steve Faulstick, executive vice president of convention and international tourism sales. “We were absolutely thrilled to win SIIM to Portland,” he says. “Their peak night in the city was about 600 rooms, which we were very happy to have for that time of year. It had exceptional economic impact for the city.”
HOST AN UNFORGETTABLE EVENT AT TUKWILA’S MUSEUM OF FLIGHT.
Make your next meeting a great one, here in Seattle Southside. Just south of downtown Seattle, our area offers fantastic convenience and value. Your attendees will be close to the airport and an easy light rail ride to the city. Plus, you’ll find a wide range of facilities and all the amenities you want, for more affordable prices.
We provide complimentary, personalized, concierge-style service. Download our free Events Guide at MeetInSeattleSouthside.com
56 THE MEETING PROFESSIONAL MARCH 2017
The city’s current inventory of downtown rooms is 7,300, but that is about to change. “Portland is in the highest demand it’s ever been, both domestically and internationally,” Faulstick says. “Portland has grown extensively in its appeal, not just for the usual outdoor adventurer and the scenic beauty we’re surrounded by, but for its reputation for amazing food, beer and wine and tax-free shopping.” With a new, 600-room convention center hotel—the Hyatt Hotel Oregon Convention Center—breaking ground this summer and slated to open in fall 2019, Faulstick expects a big boost to the city’s overall convention package. Fifteen other new or expanded properties will add 3,000 hotel rooms in the downtown core, and the city expects to increase its capacity by five to 10 more midsized meetings in the coming years. “We’re going to be closer to 10,000 downtown hotel rooms, which puts us on par with cities like Denver, Salt Lake and Phoenix,” he says. The OCC was expanded in the early 2000s, partly because of existing demand but also in anticipation of added hotel inventory, Faulstick says. “While many destinations are talking about convention center expansions because of the need, we really have a right-sized convention center with room to grow,” he says. “Our convention center is an award-winning sustainable facility that is really cutting-edge, so it’s a wonderful asset for us to already have in place as we start looking at our ability to book some of these larger conventions.” Faulstick notes that groups often report getting their highest attendee numbers when they bring their meetings to Portland, much to the relief of both planners and CVB reps. “The attrition piece is a huge hurdle with conventions and planners; that’s something that we rarely run into, because once a meeting is booked in Portland, the response is overwhelming from people wanting to come here,” he says. In Saris’ case, attendee feedback was resoundingly positive following their 2016 event. “They want to go back to Portland, so I think it will be one of the cities that we’d definitely consider returning to,” she says. “Everyone liked it a lot.” n
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