Photo Courtesy of American Association of Orthodontists.
Seamless setup? Check. Flawless shuttle service and security? Check. Zero complaints from attendees? Check. All provided with plenty of aloha? Absolutely.
The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) drew nearly 14,000 attendees from around the world during its 112th Annual Session, held at the Center from May 4-8, 2012, which was followed by sold-out post-conference meetings on Oahu, Maui, and Kauai. The AAO last held its annual conference in Hawai`i in 2003.
“This is one of the smoothest meetings we have ever hosted,” said Michael Rogers, DDS, AAO president. “We received zero complaints during the meeting, which is remarkable, and had stellar service on all levels, ranging from food and beverage, to security, to early meeting room and exhibit set up.”
Nearly 3,800 attendees – representing a third of the meeting’s total attendance – traveled from more than 70 countries, topping initial estimates, as well as international turnout at last year’s annual conference in Chicago. Delegates traveled from around the Pacific Rim, including China, Chile, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, and Taiwan.
The meeting featured more than 160 lectures from world-class experts, who addressed research and clinical topics related to today’s top orthodontic treatment trends, dilemmas, technologies, and scientific advances.
In addition to the meeting at the Center, the AAO hosted four post-conference sessions on Oahu’s North Shore, and on the islands of Maui and Kauai. All sessions sold out, drawing nearly 600 attendees total for classes focusing on orthodontic specialty topics, and exceeding room blocks at every host hotel.
Half a million pounds of exhibit freight was shipped to the Center from the mainland for state-of-the-art displays by more than 300 companies offering orthodontic products and services at the Annual Session Exhibit Hall.
Founded in 1900, the AAO is the world’s oldest and largest dental specialty organization. Visit www.aaomembers.org or www.MyLifeMySmile.org for more information.
