LEE’S SUMMIT, MO — The Aircraft Electronics Association is rolling out the red carpet for attendees of its 54th annual AEA International Convention & Trade Show in March, at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nev., with lower hotel room rates; a $175 discount for early bird convention registration; and by giving attendees and exhibitors the weekend off.

The AEA is giving attendees and exhibitors the weekend off by changing the format for this year’s show to take place from Tuesday to Friday, March 22-25, 2011. Typically, the AEA show runs from Wednesday to Saturday.

The AEA also recently announced there now is a special lower room rate at the Grand Sierra Resort for AEA convention attendees. The special rates are $79 per night for a newly remodeled guest room or $99 for a Summit suite-style room. The Grand Sierra Resort will serve as the headquarters hotel for the AEA Reno 2011 convention. All meetings, workshops, trade show and social functions will take place at the Grand Sierra Resort.

In addition to room discounts, the AEA is offering an early bird convention registration special. Members who register for the AEA convention before Dec. 31, 2010, will save $175 compared to a full on-site registration. The cost for a full registration before Dec. 31 is $500. After Dec. 31, the cost for a full registration is $560. A full registration on-site is $675.

To register online for the AEA Reno 2011 Convention & Trade Show, visit www.aea.net/convention. For more information, contact the AEA at 816-347-8400.

Members should make their hotel room reservations directly with the Grand Sierra Resort by calling 1-800-648-5080. The deadline for guaranteeing the special AEA room rates is Feb. 17, 2011, and the hotel is expecting the rooms to sell out during the convention.

The AEA International Convention & Trade Show is the preeminent venue dedicated solely to the general aviation avionics industry. Not open to the public, this event’s primary focus is providing avionics professionals with educational and marketing opportunities, as well as training and networking among equipment manufacturers, distributors and government-certified repair stations.

Some of the features during this four-day event are:

• The introduction of nearly 30 new avionics products and systems.
• More than 75 hours of technical and business management training sessions.
• An exhibit hall filled with the latest avionics technologies.
• The latest regulatory updates with agency personnel.
• More than $100,000 in scholarships for avionics and aviation maintenance students.
• Unique networking opportunities with industry colleagues.

In addition to registering for the AEA convention and a complete schedule of events, you also can sign up for convention updates on the AEA website. Visit www.aea.net/convention to sign up.

MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA ONLY:
For more information or to register for your complimentary press credentials for the AEA Convention, visit the AEA Convention Press Headquarters online at www.aea.net/convention.