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  • Posted by Michael Pinchera at
    12:00AM 01/25/2011 • 0 Comments

    140,000 Sweaty Nerds and More!

    A Wired look (with photos) at some intriguing additional stats from the Consumer Electronics Show (CES)...

    Highlights include:

    • 2,700 exhibitors
    • 140,000 sweaty nerds
    • 14,000 cups of coffee
    • 158,000 tweets
    • 80 tablet computers announced



  • Posted by Michael Pinchera at
    12:00AM 01/13/2011 • 0 Comments

    Trade Shows to See Strong 2011?

    This year's trade show industry bellwether CES (Consumer Electronics Show) closed Jan. 9 with encouraging stats: 140,000 attendees, 2,700 exhibitors and 1.6 million square feet of space.

    Those figures are a notable step up from last year's event which saw 126,000 attendees, 2,500 exhibitors and 1.4 million square feet of space.

    Trade Show News Network blogged: "According to Tara Dunion, CEA’s senior director of communications, this boost in participation was indeed a great sign for CES and the trade show industry, which has traditionally viewed CES as a barometer for what might be in store for the rest of the industry in the coming year."



  • Posted by Blair Potter at
    12:00AM 01/03/2011 • 0 Comments

    Growth and Green at CES

    If trade shows are on the way out, the massive consumer technology show CES has yet to receive the memo.

    Officials say this year's Las Vegas event (Jan. 6-9) will feature 1,200 technology companies from outside the U.S., a 25 percent increase over 2010, and a total 2,500 exhibitors, plus 120,000 attendees from more than 130 countries.

    The show's International Buyer Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce, features buyers from more than 25 countries.

    In addition to expecting robust trade show business, the organizers of CES are also touting its green attributes. Among them:


    • The Sustainable Planet TechZone will showcase the latest in eco-friendly products and energy-efficiency technologies, ranging from advances in green building to smart grid technologies to sustainable packaging.
    • The Electric Vehicle TechZone will showcase the full range of high- and low-speed electric solutions, energy storage devices and charging solutions.
    • Enhanced recycling and waste-reduction efforts (recycling bins, recyclable carpeting, bulk condiments, etc.) upgraded, and last year 68 percent of total solid waste generated by attendees was recycled.


    But not everyone is sold on the "greenness" of the event, of course. A company that plans virtual events, ON24, has issued a press release outlining why they believe CES shouldn't be touted as a green endeavor. Though their statistics were generated from their own research and the idea of an all-virtual events world is extremely unrealistic, the numbers are interesting nonetheless. 

    They say that if CES was an all-virtual affair, carbon emissions would be reduced by 179,000 tons (saving 940,000 trees), waste would be reduced by 1.4 million pounds, 136 million air miles would be saved and the average number of pieces of paper saved by the use of digital documents would be around 2 million.



  • Posted by Jessie States at
    12:00AM 12/09/2010 • 0 Comments

    Data Means Money

    I caught a session today at IAEE with Shawn Pierce of Experient on turning Data into Dollars, or how to use the data you collect on exhibitors and attendees to build better opportunities at your trade show. Here's an exclusive short with Shawn on the power of good data management:



  • Posted by Blair Potter at
    12:00AM 12/08/2010 • 0 Comments

    No Admittance

    The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) has released its new study, The Economic Impact of International Non-Participation in the Exhibition Industry Due to US Visa Issues. Key findings include the following.

    • Visa issues precluded 116,000 international participants from attending U.S. exhibitions. This includes 78,400 international attendees and 37,900 international exhibitors who were hindered from participating.
    • With no visa barriers in place, the U.S. economy would realize increases in business sales tallying $2.4 billion ($2.6 billion including sales to foreign exhibitors). These gains include $1.5 billion in business-to-business trade, $540 million in registration fees and exhibition space spending and a $295 million boost to visitor spending.
    • The new $2.4 billion in sales would be able to sustain more than 17,500 jobs directly, 43,000 jobs overall and generate three-quarters of a billion dollars in state and federal taxes.
    CEIR says current U.S. visa policy discourages and/or makes it impossible for many foreign nationals to obtain a visa to enter the country to conduct business at exhibitions. In many instances, the face-to-face interview currently required at consulate offices may last just two minutes, with no questions asked or paperwork reviewed that would validate the need for a visa.

    "This study quantifies the importance of U.S. exhibitions in generating export trade and stimulating job growth," said Steven Hacker, CAE, president of the International Association of Exhibition and Events (IAEE). "While we are mindful of the need for careful screening of international visitors entering the U.S., keeping our borders secure should not be at the expense of keeping our economy open for business. The U.S. will lose sales to other countries if we continue on this path. We intend to present these findings to several key federal agencies including the State, Homeland Security and Commerce departments and to work with officials to find an optimal solution."





  • Posted by Jessie States at
    12:00AM 12/07/2010 • 0 Comments

    Have Visa, Will Travel

    The U.S. welcomed 2.4 million fewer overseas visitors in 2009 than in 2000, and the failure to keep pace with the growth in international long-haul travel since 2000 left an estimated US$509 billion in spending and $32 billion in tax receipts on the table, according to a U.S. Travel Association analysis done in conjunction with Oxford Economics. Roger Dow of the USTA explains what needs to change.

    Dow isn't exaggerating the impact that U.S. visa policy has on international visitors. Without visa barriers, total business sales at these exhibitions would increase by $2.6 billion, according to a just-released research study by the Center for Exhibition Industry Research and Oxford Economics. Other findings: 

    • Business sales to U.S. companies would increase $2.4 billion from the incremental attendance of international exhibitors and attendees 

    • The $2.4 billion sales increase to U.S. companies includes $1.5 billion in increased business-to-business trade, $540 million in registration fees and exhibition space spending and a $295 million boost to visitor spending 

    • The new $2.4 billion in sales would sustain more than 17,500 jobs directly and 43,000 jobs overall and generate three-quarters of a billion dollars in state and federal taxes



  • Posted by Theresa Davis at
    12:00AM 11/11/2010 • 0 Comments

    How does hosted buyer measure up?

    I promise this post won’t be riddled with official mumbo jumbo.

    ::insert  grin here::

    That being said I do want to talk with one of my MPI colleagues who manages our expanding hosted buyer program, and our efforts to make sure that it measures up to our member standards and to the expected ROI of participants.  And when it comes to hosted buyer the official party line here at MPI is:

    “MPI encourages members and industry professionals evaluating their 2011 live events opportunities, and whether to participate in hosted buyer programs, to take a strategic approach to what's best for their business and suits their needs now and in the future. “

    And we really do.  Business is picking up and budgets are tight.  At the same time we hope that all the hard work going into planning for our hosted buyer program with our World Education Congress (WEC) really pays off and we impress our members.

    I think I’ve lost count of the planning meetings, versions of package plans, room layouts, budget reviews and drafts of communications pieces, brochures and just general “stuff” you need to get a program like this off the ground.  But I think we all can feel that way some times. Right?

    Veleisa (Leisa) Patton on our team here at HQ in Dallas, recently sat down with Meaghan Ferrazza, events manager for the WEC Hosted Buyer Program.  Meaghan (pronounce mee-ann), explains what makes the MPI program unique in the industry and a leader in developing business strategies for our members.

    ____________________________________________________

    Leisa:  Most people know by now that the traditional WEC tradeshow is gone, and is being replaced in part by the Hosted Buyer Program. What are the advantages of the Hosted Buyer Program?
    Meaghan: Our Hosted Buyer Program has the specialized attention needed for those who focus on North American business and beyond.

    Leisa: And by specialized attention, what do you mean?
    Meaghan: I mean you get my undivided attention and all the support of the MPI events team.  In this program, buyers are pre-qualified to bring business from various markets directly to eager suppliers who are ready to discuss business. The Program also speaks to individual ROI.

    Leisa:  ROI is a popular buzz word nowadays.  How is this program delivering greater ROI than before?
    Meaghan: For suppliers, primarily because there is no longer a tradeshow tethered to the HB Program. So we’re delivering qualified planner/buyers who we know need your services without all the costs that go into designing, building and staffing a tradeshow booth.

    Leisa:  Okay, so what sets the MPI program apart from other association programs?
    Meaghan:  The main thing is that you don’t have the expense of a tradeshow in order to participate in our hosted buyer program.  That frees up supplier participants to invest in other networking areas of WEC to expand their presence and brand recognition.
    Now the difference for planners is that buyers are pre-qualified, and must bring at least two (2) pieces of business to discuss during their appointments. Pre-show communication allows both planners and suppliers to view profiles and create a schedule of appointments based on mutual business needs.

    Leisa:  So what if someone is hesitant about going the hosted buyer route? I’m talking about the skeptics. Are there other opportunities to meet qualified planners?
    Meaghan:  When a participant looks at their overall WEC experience, they should see that participating in any of the 12 other networking opportunities being hosted by MPI, the MPI Foundation or event sponsors allows them to meet talented professionals.  The Hosted Buyer program goes the extra step by creating a space in which one-on-one conversations happen that lead to real business with someone you know is already matched to your business objectives.

     



  • Posted by Jason Hensel at
    12:00AM 11/04/2010 • 0 Comments

    Attendees Love Tchotchkes

    I'll admit that one of my favorite parts of a trade show are the tchotchkes. And because I'm a collector (some may say hoarder), I have tons of items gathered from show booths over the years. 

    In the following video, Jessie States talks about her recent article, "Really?," which addresses how promotional products providers are adapting to new market conditions and trade show philosophies.