Contact: Susan Brower +1 (972) 687-9207 sbrower@iaee.com Mary Tucker +1 (972) 687-9226 mtucker@iaee.com Industry’s First Web-Based ROI Tool Kit Unveiled at PCMA Annual Meeting Collaborative Effort Answers Need Expressed by Industry Professionals DALLAS, 30 January 2008 - Thanks to a generous grant from the PCMA Education Foundation to the Center for Exhibition Industry Research and through an intense collaborative effort between the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) and International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), and Exhibit Surveys, the completion of the first web-based, exhibition industry-specific Return on Investment Tool Kit was unveiled at the recent PCMA annual meeting. The toolkit was unveiled at an education session presented by Doug Ducate, CEM, CMP, president and CEO of CEIR, and Jonathan “Skip” Cox, president of Exhibit Surveys, Inc. This long-awaited industry tool will assist exhibiting companies in measuring performance and outcomes from participating in exhibitions and events, as well as providing an in-depth analysis of the notable growth in the industry during the past several years. The toolkit addresses the challenge the industry faces in developing a calculator to measure exhibit performance using techniques and measurement tools more familiar to senior “C-level” managers. This challenge was complicated by the results of recent CEIR research that reveals that the number one reason why companies exhibit today is to enhance their corporate image and the number one concern is the lack of ROI metrics. Organizers can make the link to the toolkit available to their exhibitors and is another way to demonstrate the value of exhibiting in their event. Now, the ROI Tool Kit is the culmination of an innovative and groundbreaking initiative led by IAEE, PCMA Education Foundation, CEIR and Exhibit Surveys who identified the unquestioned need for the tool, engaged in extensive research and prioritized its completion to make it available for public use. The ROI Tool Kit can be accessed through all four organizations’ Web sites and will not be password protected to allow for the widest use possible. PCMA President and CEO Deborah Sexton said, “We are very excited about the development of the ROI Tool Kit. It is very satisfying to see the result of this joint research initiative, which was made possible through a significant grant from the PCMA Education Foundation and that will now allow convention managers and exhibiting companies to measure their level of success.” “This is an unprecedented accomplishment,” said Sherman Wade, chairman of the IAEE ROI Task Force. “The collaboration between these industry organizations truly speaks to the common understanding each organization realizes as a top need from professionals in the exhibitions and events industry. The industry requested this tool, and this collaborative effort has allowed us to answer their request.” Ducate said, “Our very diverse industry will benefit tremendously from the development of this tool. CEIR, PCMA, and IAEE made it a priority, and now that the first phase has been completed, we will continue to fine-tune and build upon this foundation for the future.” Appreciation was expressed to Skip Cox, president and CEO of Exhibit Surveys, Inc., who with input and feedback from the IAEE ROI Task Force developed the toolkit. Cox said, “Our objective in developing these calculators for the industry is not simply to provide tools to measure exhibitor performance. They will also help exhibitors make better investment decisions, plan more effectively and identify strengths and weaknesses of their exhibits that will lead to improved performance in the future. Ultimately this will increase the perceived value of exhibitions.” The ROI Tool Kit can be found at http://roitoolkit.exhibitsurveys.net/Home/Welcome.aspx.
About CEIR
The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) serves to advance the growth, awareness and value of exhibitions and other face-to-face marketing events by producing and delivering research-based knowledge tools that enable stakeholder organizations to enhance their ability to meet current and emerging customer needs, improve their business performance and strengthen their competitive position. For additional information, go to www.ceir.org.
About PCMA and the PCMA Education Foundation
The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) is the professional resource and premier educator for the meetings and convention industry. Founded in 1957, PCMA represents the interests of meeting management executives from associations, non-profit organizations, corporations, independent meeting planning companies, and multi-management firms who recognize the importance of meetings to their organization. PCMA empowers members with the tools they need to succeed as meeting professionals and to promote the value of the industry to their organizations and the general public. Headquartered in Chicago, PCMA has 16 chapters throughout the United States and Canada. For additional information, please visit the PCMA Web site at www.pcma.org. The role of the PCMA Education Foundation is to support the mission of the PCMA through fundraising and grant giving focused on education and research that will benefit the meetings and conventions industry. Established in 1985, the Foundation supports educational programs to improve professionalism in the meetings industry and to provide a university-level meeting management curriculum. The Foundation funds educational programs for meeting managers, hotels, convention and visitors bureaus, and other members of the meetings industry. It also conducts ongoing research of industry issues and concerns. The Foundation continually funds new programs to encourage the highest levels of professionalism in the meetings industry.
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