IAEE’s Expo! Expo! 2020 In Louisville Will Be a Hybrid Event
August 26, 2020
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events is moving forward with a different event model for this year’s Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition. Set for Dec. 8-10 at Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, the annual show for exhibition and event industry professionals will be produced as a hybrid event that will include a virtual and a live, face-to-face experience.
According to Scott Craighead, IAEE vice president of exhibitions and events, the virtual component will still allow attendees who are unable to participate in person the opportunity to access an interactive online experience and conduct business.
“The journeys for physical and virtual attendees will be considerably different for content delivery and, of course, networking,” Craighead said. “The offerings in both environments will be highly customized. It’s also important to note that the physical attendees and exhibitors will have access to the virtual platform and all of its capabilities.”
He added, “IAEE sees the opportunity that a hybrid event provides, by extending the reach and life of content and connections.”
The online portion of Expo! Expo! will be powered by virtual trade show provider Swapcard, which came out on top following a rigorous RFP process that began in April.
Powered by artificial intelligence, Swapcard works with exhibition and event organizers including Informa, Clarion, Emerald, Oracle and Samsung.
“We are proud to have been selected as [IAEE’s] exclusive virtual conference and exhibition platform,” said Matthew Donegan-Ryan, general manager of Swapcard. “It’s a testament to our product and support teams who have rapidly expanded our ability to power thousands of complex virtual meetings during this challenging time for our industry.”
For the in-person portion of the event, IAEE is working closely with Louisville Tourism, KICC and other show partners on implementing initiatives to keep participants safe and healthy. This collaboration comes as Louisville Tourism recently announced its support of the GBAC STAR facility accreditation program.
An all-access pass for virtual Expo! Expo!, including all live and on-demand content, is available to IAEE members for $299. The association will also offer options for member organizers to attend the marketplace portion of the platform at no charge. Registration for the in-person event will be announced soon.
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