Independent Show Organizers Join Forces with New Agreement
May 17, 2017
The Association of Event Organisers (AEO) and The Society of Independent Show Organisers (SISO) have entered into a reciprocity agreement following a meeting among several of their independent trade and consumer organiser members in Miami last month.
The agreement sees both organisations supporting each other with information exchange, research insight and mutual discounts for members to attend each associations’ events.
In addition, it sees the formation of a new special interest group the ‘Independent Organiser Network’ (ION).
The ION is a group formed of AEO and SISO commercial event organiser members who operate on a global basis. It will see the pure play ‘for profit’ organisations coming together to share experiences, opportunities and challenges for the benefit of all parties and the industry at large.
“SISO is a much respected organisation with similar objectives to AEO, and we share many members who have common interests and challenges,” said Chris Skeith, CEO of AEO.
He added, “The partnership with SISO will see us further extend collaborations with other associations throughout the world to help us deliver more value to our members.”
David Audrain, executive director of SISO, adds: “A third of SISO members operate outside the US on a global scale alongside half of the AEO’s membership that organise events outside of the UK. This partnership will see the very best organisers in the world sharing experiences to help shape best practice and improve exhibitor experiences which will help grow the industry overall.”
Audrain said the ION will formally meet twice a year with the first meeting taking place at SISO’s CEO Summit, which several of the members already attend.
He added that he second meeting will be standalone during the second half of the year although there will be continued virtual support provided by both SISO and AEO to enable ION members to communicate throughout the year.
“Associations can support commercial, for profit, organisers through representation by providing a common voice to benefit from international opportunities and overcome challenges. In addition, working as one should provide confidence and is particularly significant in the current climate of political and economic uncertainty, the mantra of ‘together we are stronger’ has never been more important,” Skeith said.
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