Walking into the Magnolia Room, gone are the dinner tables and food stations, and in their place are rows of Associate Members waiting for their first appointments with Active Members. 

This year, Marketplace adopted a new format that involved scheduling appointments prior to the convention, facilitated by TravMedia.  Many Associate Members remarked on the ease and effectiveness of the method used to register and schedule appointments under this year's format.  Another popular feature was the option to upload photos, press releases, and information about Associate Members' organizations for Active Members to review.

Unlike the social events of the convention, the structure of Marketplace's appointment slots gave Associate and Active Members the opportunity to make a game plan before the meeting and also afforded situations that might not have occurred in the more social settings of the convention.

Active Members seemed to appreciate the ease of registration and scheduling for this year's Marketplace.  Richard Nowitz remarked on the organization of this Marketplace.  Nowitz said, “The map is a winner!  Big plus over previous years.”  Other Active Members mentioned the benefit of having a mixture of scheduled appointments and free time to mingle around.  This opinion was echoed by several Associate Members who were either late registering or had not quite filled up their appointment blocks.  Active Members without scheduled appointments had the flexibility to sit down with associate members during open Marketplace. 

One improvement mentioned by several participants was the importance of an updated profile.  In a concentrated meeting time, members with updated profiles were able to find suitable matches quickly.

Overall, Marketplace was a success at this year's convention.  TravMedia reported 80 Associate Members filled every appointment slot, and 115 Associate Members filled at least seven appointment slots.

SATW Marketplace by Ashley Wigley Smith