The results are in! SECO 2006 attendees were thrilled with the exciting new additions to the exhibit hall. In fact, there were more than 8,285 combined entries for the Grand Prize Giveaway at the four Destination Stations located and operated during the 11 hours that the exhibit hall was open. That means there were more than 750 swipes per hour. Given the popularity of the Grand Prize Giveaway in the exhibit hall, SECO plans to offer another, equally as impressive, giveaway at the 2007 Congress.

"It's early in the planning stages, but we definitely plan to offer a grand prize that is just as exciting as the brand new Chevrolet HHR 1LT we gave away earlier this year," said Elizabeth Taylor, Executive Director of SECO International.

In addition to the Grand Prize Giveaway, SECO also plans to provide the two free luncheons again in the exhibit hall at the 2007 meeting. During the 2006 Congress, more than 1,200 people attended the Friday luncheon and another 2,800 attended the Saturday luncheon and then waited to hear the announcement for the Grand Prize winner.

SECO 2006 sold out its exhibit hall floor and, for the first time, implemented a wait list for sales of exhibit hall space for the next tradeshow. "Based on this year's results, we anticipate even greater exhibit hall traffic next year," said Taylor. SECO 2006 experienced a 9.5 percent increase in overall attendance, representing the largest increase since the 2001 meeting and making SECO one of the largest optometry meetings in the world.

SECO 2007 will be February 21-25, 2007, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The Omni CNN Center hotel will again headquarter the congress. Set your sights ahead to participate in one of the world's largest optometric events. SECO 2007 features over 370 hours of continuing education, more than 240 exhibiting companies and social and networking events every night. The congress website, www.seco2007.com, will be available soon for provide valuable information and resources. SECO Registration opens November 1, 2007.

Nobody epitomizes sophistication and panache and action more than James Bond. SECO's theme this year is based around 007, for more reasons than just the year. With a new Bond film coming out in November, what makes "him" so enduring is that he is constantly reinvented on the big screen by different actors, both experienced and unknown alike, but all very talented. Herein lies the similarity to SECO 2007: a meeting that has constantly reinvented itself year after year, with high-tech and entertaining venues that all deliver education in a way that no other meeting can! We seek out the very best educators in eye care, both experienced and up-and-coming, to deliver the latest information on all aspects of disease, binocular and low vision, contact lenses and practice management. Just as Bond's mission is always to provide stability in the world by snuffing out the megalomaniacal villain, our goal at SECO is to provide you with the best CE anywhere: we are your Education Destination! Other meetings may attract folks because of the location that year, or the political functions, or the academic orientation. SECO attendees come to Atlanta for the best, most current education available to doctors and staff anywhere, with a lot of fellowship and social events to top it off! Just as over half the world's population has seen a Bond film, a growing population of optometry's brightest and best clinicians are turning to SECO for their yearly education.

Our program coming up in 2007 will have something for everyone! Here is a sneak preview. Dr. Know: Eye Care Today and Beyond, A Case to a Bill, The Status Quo is Not Enough, and You Only Bill Once, this years' general sessions are chalk full of action: no fast cars or vodka martinis but plenty of useful information presented like only SECO knows how.

Your future assignment: check your emails from SECO for coming attractions of our 2007 spectacular!