TSEA ANNOUNCES FORMATION OF EXHIBITOR ADVOCACY COMMITTEE

Polling Results From TS2 Attendees on Issues Effecting Exhibitors at Trade Shows

Chicago, IL – September 9, 2009 – After polling members of the association and attendees at TS2, the Trade Show Exhibitors Association (TSEA) confirmed the need to officially form an Exhibitor Advocacy Committee. People were asked to choose up to three (3) answers from a wide variety of topics that members of TSEA had voiced distress about this year. The polling showed:

34% felt lack of choices for exhibitor appointed contractors were a top concern.

32% want independent 3rd party audits of convention attendees to help them make informed decisions about what shows will provide the best returns on their investment.

26% felt unfair convention housing policies caused the most problems for exhibit managers.

Almost 50% of healthcare industry exhibitors believe show hours opposed by education, entertainment, meals, etc is a policy of many trade shows that needs to be changed.

One TSEA member was not surprised that only 15% of participants responded that encryption of attendee’s badges was an issue. "Most exhibitors do not even know they can own lead retrieval equipment and customize it to feed directly into their internal sales and customer databases. Show management has done such a good job of ‘training’ exhibitors to rent their official show equipment that they do not even investigate the possibility or understand that some shows block the ability by encrypting their badge. Capturing leads is a key objective of exhibiting at tradeshows. By blocking the ability to use your own personal lead retrieval system they (show management) are impeding exhibitors’ ability to harness the potential business from attendees who visit their booth. It is critical that event badges be legible by all lead management scanners."

Equally unsurprising, the second highest response was that exhibitors want independent 3rd party audits. "The tradeshow industry is under pressure, as are all forms of media," stated Glenn Hansen, President and CEO of BPA Worldwide. "Exhibit departments struggle to document their relevancy and keep their share of budget. In this economic climate, more appreciate the value of having third-party verified data. "While 32% were counted at TS2 as wanting independent verified data, we would like to see this percentage triple. The goal is to share information such that exhibitors use independently certified data as a tool to help plan, budget, validate and market more effectively. Audited data helps shows stay relevant to exhibitor management. Organizers are waiting to hear from exhibitors that audited data is essential to marketing."

One item all exhibitors agree on is the need for all shows to have exhibitor advisory councils and listen to what they have to say.

As the only association in the world dedicated solely to exhibitors’ needs and rights across all industries, TSEA acts as their voice. The only way to accomplish this goal is to create a forum where exhibitors feel safe sharing what affects their ability to maximize their returns at trade shows and events. Exhibitors have long felt that if they voice their complaints and concerns to show management that they will be labeled as "troublemakers."

A new member of TSEA said: "I never knew anyone could or would ever try to change the rules show management sets for exhibitors. I felt I just had to live with it. I am so happy to become part of an organization that cares about me and will stand up for my rights."

Association members have asked for someone else to speak on their behalf; therefore, TSEA has formed the Advocacy Committee to act as the exhibitor advisory committee to the industry. Its goal is to actively assist the association and its membership in determining what issues and, specifically, which shows are affecting face-to-face marketing professionals. The committee members’ identities and companies will not be disclosed by TSEA to ensure they can provide necessary input to change the status quo. Individual members of the committee cross all industry sectors and their mandate is to speak with exhibitors of shows in which they participate to garner support and build a united voice of exhibitors everywhere. They have all signed non-disclosure agreements so everyone can freely discuss what shows are causing our members the most difficulty.

TSEA is currently in contact with management from shows that members have brought to the attention of the committee and staff. The committee and TSEA are asking all exhibitors to support their efforts by submitting the shows and issues that have detrimental policies to advocacy@tsea.org All submissions will be kept confidential; names and personal information will be not disclosed without permission.