On Meetings & Technology * "Technology will take the place of some meetings, but paradoxically it will increase face-to-face meetings because we need to play up the networking aspect, making [meetings] as high-touch as possible. Or, people will need a vacation from technology." -- John Naisbitt,futurist and author

* "In five years, business travel as we know it will plummet, as meetings and conventions become the only interchange that ever takes place. I believe meetings and conventions will come out from under the 'travel' umbrella and become an industry unto itself."

--Darryl Hartley-Leonard, head of PGI, an event and communications agency

On Meetings & Politics * "The impact of the $83 billion meetings and conventions industry on Congress? Zero."

--George Stephanopoulos, political analyst

* "What we should be telling Congress is that $83 billion is really $830 billion because of the ten-fold ripple effect [the industry] has on our society and because it creates 12 million jobs."

--Charles W. de Seve, PhD, American Economists Group

* "To quote Tip O'Neill, all politics is local. Marching on Capitol Hill is wasted. Use your money and voices locally."

--Darryl Hartley-Leonard