Please reach us at info@pnwmcae.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
The 2023 focus is “Experiencing Mastery in Massage, and Strengthening You in the Massage CommUnity.”
The Showcase & Expo begins on Friday, October 13, 2023 at 4pm and runs through Sunday October 15, 2023 at 6:30pm. This event will be held at the Embassy Suites by Hilton - Portland Airport.
To come together as a massage community. To learn, experience and share our individual and collective knowledge that make this profession so amazing. We realize that there has never been a higher demand for massage therapists than there is today and yet this comes at a time when our clients and therapists are experiencing all time levels of stress, anxiety and burnout. At PNW Massage Showcase & Expo we strive to create the balance of information, resources, experience and education to help you navigate this interesting time in our profession, re-ignite your passion and increse your longevity.
At the PNW Massage Showcase & Expo you will experience:
Visit the Schedule of Events page for a list of classes and offerings.
Massage competitions provide a public setting in which skilled Massage Therapists can demonstrate their techniques, sustainable ergonomics, and innovative modalities. In preparation for participation, the majority of Massage Therapists state they became more mindful of their ergonomics, of their techniques, and their connection to the client on the table.
The registration fee is $295 to compete in the Pacific NW Massage Open and attend all events for the weekend!
Friday evening events: Meet and Greet, Building Bridges - Collaborative Conversations in the Massage Profession (2 Business CE), and the Tune-Up Sound Bath™
Saturday's "Experiencing Mastery in Massage - Open, Showcase and Expo!" and the Awards Dinner.
Sunday's "Strengthening YOU in the Massage CommUnity - Day of CE". This day is packed full of amazing Continuing Education classes for a whopping 9 CE.
There is an optional lunch on Saturday that can be purchased during your registraiton process. Please note: Transportation and hotel accommodations are the registrants responsiblity. Book your hotel through our discounted room block HERE or call the Embassy Suites by Hilton - Portland Airport at (503) 460-3000 and use the group code "NWM".
The registration fee is $195 to attend the Pacific NW Massage Showcase & Expo and includes all speakers, CE classes (11+ credits), events and experiences. The only additional cost would be the optional Networking Lunch on Saturday and any drinks you choose to purchase during the Social Hour. Please note: lunch must be purchased with your event registration or if seperate no later than October 6th.
Please note: Transportation and hotel accommodations are the registrants responsiblity. Book your hotel through our discounted room block HERE or call the Embassy Suites by Hilton - Portland Airport at (503) 460-3000 and use the group code "NWM".
In order to compete, an applicant must possess an active massage license in good standing. In addition, they must also provide proof of professional liabilty insurance coverage with applicable "Additional Insured". Finally they must posess a desire to challenge themselves and show up to showcase the work they are doing!
Observing judges will evaluate each participate and award points in the following areas:
● Techniques
● Sustainable Ergonomics
● Flow
● Innovation and Development of new methods/approaches
● Draping
● Recipient Communication/Rapport
Because the outcome is integral to massage provided, the recipient on the table will also award points in areas such as contact/flow, beginning/ending/transitional strokes, draping/safetly, and efficacy.
We acknowledge the outcome of any bodywork is subjective depending on the needs of the recipient: Everyone’s tastes are different. Therefore, the subjective outcome is weighted accordingly in the overall score. Our judging rubric is focused on the mastery of skills, sustainable ergonomics, flow, client connection, innovative techniques and efficacy of the work.
The top three contestants who receive the highest overall scores will receive the Pacific NW Massage Open Gold, Silver or Bronze Medals and a prize basket. All Contestants will receive a certificate of particpation for competing in the 1st Pacific NW Massage Open. In addition, the judges will award honorable mention certificates in a variety of categories at their discretion. Finally, we will also be awarding Gold, Silver and Bronze medals to the top three Washington contestants and the top three Oregon contestants. The Gold medal winners for Washington and Oregon will each receive complimentary registration fees for both the American Massage Championship and World Massage Festival in 2024.
Massage therapists and the general public can purchase tickets for admission to access the exhibition hall on Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm depending on space availability. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased HERE! You may also choose to include the Social Hour and Awards Dinner for an additional $60 should you desire to stay for the festivities. Combined tickets can be purchased HERE.
Please note; The Saturday day passes do not include CE credits or certificates.
Actually, Healthcare, like many other sectors, experiences various types of competition. Not only does this event not invalidate our work but it provides a platform to show the medical profession and public the depth and breadth of work being done within the massage profession.
Here are a few examples of competition in healthcare:
1. Quality of Care Competitions: Hospitals and clinics compete on the quality of care they provide. This can be measured by patient outcomes, patient satisfaction, and other metrics. Institutions may also compete on the basis of the services they offer, such as specialized treatments or unique technologies.
2. Innovation Competitions: This typically involves the development of new treatments, drugs, medical devices, or health IT solutions. Pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, and health tech companies often compete in this area.
3. Price Competitions: In the US, and in other countries with private healthcare systems, Healthcare providers also compete on price. This could involve competing to offer the most affordable services, or it might involve offering the best value for the money in terms of the quality and range of services provided.
4. Talent Competitions: Hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare providers often compete to attract the best healthcare professionals. This could involve offering competitive salaries, good working conditions, professional development opportunities, or other benefits.
5. Health Insurance Competitions: Health insurance companies compete on price, coverage, customer service, and other factors. They may also compete on the basis of the network of healthcare providers they have agreements with.
6. Research Competitions: Universities, research institutions, and pharmaceutical companies compete to make new discoveries and to publish in high-impact journals. They might also compete for grants and other sources of funding.
7. Healthcare Management Competitions: These are organized competitions where teams of healthcare professionals, students, or managers compete to solve healthcare problems or to develop new healthcare management strategies.
8. Hackathons and Innovation Challenges: These are events where teams compete to develop innovative solutions to healthcare problems within a limited time frame. These are often focused on health tech, but they can also involve other aspects of healthcare.
In many cases, the competition drives innovation, improves quality, and reduces costs.
We strive to create the safest, most effective environment possible. As it pertains to masking, we are following the current recommendations from the W.H.O., C.D.C., and our local state governments. As of this time, masks will not be required, However, we reserve the right to amend this information at anytime based on the current recommendations and best practices. Of couse we absolutly support your right to mask at any time regardless of the current recommendations and masks will be available at the event.
Yes! There will be free parking for both the guests and those staying at the hotel. That was part of our contract negotiations. In addition, if you wish to use public transportation, the Mount Hood Avenue MAX stop is also conveniently located 675 yards away from the Embassy Suites.
Yes, we have a limited room block of discounted rooms for the event and championship participants. Rooms are available on a first come first serve basis. Once the room block is full, rooms will be based on availability at the standard rate. Deadline for booking your room is September 25th. You may use this link to secure your room today.
There is no requirement to stay at the hotel during the event but discounted room rates are available for added convenience and we are pretty sure that once you are here you will not want to leave!
We welcome any businesses, organizations, or individuals who promote health and wellness or who have services that may benefit massage therapists in their life and business to sponsor this event. Sponsorships can be monitary, material donations and in-kind. Please complete the Sponsor Form or contact us at info@pnwmcae.com or by phone at (425) 298-7749.
We welcome businesses, organizations, and individuals who have products or information that promotes health, wellness, innovative bodywork, and evidence informed practices to apply to become a vendor. We encourage BIPOC businesses, non profits, and individuals to apply. To apply please complete the Vendor Form or contact us directly at info@pnwmcae.com or by phone at (425) 298-7749.
We love volunteers and invite interested parties to submit a Volunteer Interest Form to apply for a limited number of volunteer positions. We will then contact you to identify how your talents and interests can best be put to use!