AIFD Considers Accreditation The American Institute of Floral Designers' national board of directors is studying the concept of converting AIFD membership so that the name would stand for "accredited in floral design," according to executive director Thomas Shaner, CAE, AIFD.
He says, "Right now the AIFD symbol has little meaning outside of the floral industry. To say 'I'm accredited in floral design' gives us a stronger credibility with the public."
Accreditation would give AIFD members a great marketing tool, according to Shaner. Becoming accredited would mean that members would be in step with changing floral design trends and techniques through continuing education components.
"Currently, there are no education requirements beyond demonstrating your event floral design skills," he says. "However, AIFD is a very difficult designation to achieve."
Shaner says the study will encompass input from members. "We want our members to be able to express their thoughts and concerns. Even if the word 'accreditation' doesn't come out of this study, I think some form of re-affirmation of skills will."
Contact: AIFD, 720 Light St., Baltimore, MD 21230; 410/752-3318; Web site: www.aifd.org
SITE Conference Breaks Attendance Record The Society of Incentive & Travel Executives International Conference, held Dec. 5-9 at Las Vegas' Bellagio Hotel, drew a record 500 guests from three dozen countries. A 1991 conference in Dublin, Ireland, held the previous record with 450 attendees.
1999 SITE president Wendy Moffatt says Las Vegas was a major draw because it has developed incentive quality hotels that give the city a more sophisticated image. "The evening events were all held at Las Vegas properties that didn't exist a year ago," adds Maureen Mangan, SITE's director of communications.
During the conference, Tasso Pappas of CIB Performance in Brussels was installed as president for the year 2000.
SITE's 2000 International Conference is scheduled for Dec. 2-6 at the Regent Hotel in Hong Kong.
Contact: SITE, 21 W. 38th St., 10th Floor, New York, NY 10018-5584; 212/575-0910; Web site: www.site-intl.org
