Society of Independent Show Organizers’ CEO Summit Puts Spotlight on Trends in Market

February 24, 2016

In just more than a month, top-level executives from trade show organizing companies worldwide will converge at the Society of Independent Show Organizer’s CEO Summit to hear about the latest trends in the market, whether it be why so many overseas companies are buying up U.S.-based shows or how every event should be considering its content marketing program.

“Ranked as one of the best networking events of the year in the trade and consumer show industry, the SISO CEO Summit gathers together CEOs and executives from more than 100 small and large global show organizing companies for not only high-level education, but also important business interactions,” said Tony Calanca, SISO CEO Summit program chair and executive vice president of Exhibitions, UBM Advanstar.

He added, “We are proud of this reputation and expect this year’s event will be just as rewarding for all participants.”

David Audrain, SISO’s executive director, added, “I’m very excited about this year’s SISO CEO Summit, our program committee has developed an outstanding lineup of topics and presenters, and, as usual, we will have the very best gathering of our industry’s leaders from around the world."

The event, scheduled April 3-6 at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar in San Diego, begins with a board meeting, followed by a special program during the day – Small Business Roundtable – before officially kicking off with an opening reception and dinner that evening.

The next morning begins with what has been a longstanding tradition at the event, all of the attendees stand up and one-by-one personally introduce themselves before the education program will open with Roger Dow, president of the U.S. Travel Association, discussing "How Travel Impacts the Exhibition Industry Today.”

The first day of sessions continues with Scott Diament, president and CEO of the Palm Beach Show Group, talking about how his company evolved from a “rough idea to polished execution of nationwide ultra- luxury events.”

Jochen Witt, CEO - jwc GmbH, will lead a presentation, "Pricing strategies in the trade fair industry - How good pricing can increase customer satisfaction and organizers’ revenues and profits,” that will take a look at how ‘intelligent pricing’ can help invigorate how teams look at their event, starting with layout planning, and all the way to upselling of added services and profitable premium offerings.

After lunch, at which Calanca will present the SISO annual report and the Robert L. Krakoff award honoree will be named, the afternoon sessions with begin with Brian Casey, president and CEO of the Center for Exhibition Industry Research, presenting the latest CEIR Index numbers.

Up next will be a panel of international trade show company leaders talking about "Why are all these International Companies Suddenly Buying Up the USA Market?!" With companies such as Informa Exhibitions, Clarion Events, Tarsus Group and several of the German messes either buying or launching in the U.S., it continues to be a stable market that companies worldwide are focusing on.

The first day of sessions will end with Joe Pulizzi, who runs the Content Marketing Institute and Content Marketing World events, discussing “Epic Content Marketing” and why every event should be utilizing it to grow attendance and drive engagement.

After a night of networking at a reception, dinner and afterglow party, it’s back to business the next morning and more sessions, beginning with the “Current State of the M&A Market”, during which private equity panelists will talk about multiples, risk reward and how they look at the industry today.

Another session that morning, aptly titled “What Went Wrong?”, will involve a panel of executives from major companies candidly discussing launches and acquisitions that didn’t quite go as planned.

The afternoon will consist of attendees taking part in a round of golf, bocce and croquet, sailing or tennis, before the event closes that evening with an awards reception and dinner.

To register for the SISO CEO Summit please visit HERE. Early-bird registration ends March 1. 

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Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact