USPOULTRY Awarded $750,000 In Damages Against Convention Hotel Poacher

March 1, 2018

Hotel room poachers may think again before ruffling the feathers of the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) and its annual trade show and conference, the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE).

On Jan. 22, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia ordered Tarzango, an unaffiliated travel agency, to pay USPOULTRY $749,797.50 in damages and attorney’s fees for infringing upon the association’s valid and subsisting IPPE U.S. trademark registrations in the agency’s “deceptive advertising practices,” according to USPOULTRY.

In 2017, Tarzango sent unsolicited emails to IPPE exhibitors and attendees under the guise of representing the show, offering accommodations at both room block and non-room block hotels, even though the travel agency is unaffiliated with IPPE or its authorized housing partner, Experient.

“We, with the full support of our partners AFIA and NAMI, asserted our rights and have protected attendees and exhibitors from Tarzango’s unfair and deceptive practices,” said John Starkey, president of USPOULTRY.

He continued, “This decision should serve as a strong warning to those service providers who seek to trade off of the strong goodwill developed in IPPE.”

USPOULTRY and IPPE were represented by international law firm Eversheds Sutherland (US) in the matter.

According to the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), each year, exhibitors and attendees are flooded with solicitations from unaffiliated travel agencies, housing agents and other service providers claiming to be endorsed by or affiliated with trade shows like IPPE.

It is estimated that room pirating and poaching scams impact upwards of 15 million bookings per year, resulting in more than $1.3 billion in lost revenue for hotels and money from unwitting consumers, as cited in the Exhibitions Mean Business campaign’s Issues Brief, created by IAEE for last year’s Exhibitions Day in Washington D.C.

As the popularity of mobile booking continues to increase, it’s become more difficult for consumers to distinguish between a hotel’s website and a scam website, putting them at risk of ending up with invalid hotel reservations.

Recognizing the growing threat from this type of marketing, the U.S. House and Senate have introduced H.R. 2495 and S. 1164 – Stop Online Booking Scams Act, which would prohibit websites from pretending to be the hotel and allow state attorneys general to pursue restitution and refunds on behalf of victims.

“We at IAEE are pleased to see this judgement brought forth for U.S. Poultry Association,” said IAEE President and CEO David DuBois. “This is an ongoing and prolific issue that affects event organizers and consumers in every state.”

He added, “During IAEE’s annual Exhibitions Day in Washington, D.C. we advocate for federal legislation that would give state attorney generals more power to prosecute online piracy scammers.”

Going forward, Starkey said USPOULTRY will be doing whatever it can to prevent IPPE exhibitors and attendees from being scammed by fraudulent travel agencies in the future.

“We’ve put up alerts on our website and in our newsletters,” Starkey said. “Many long-time attendees and exhibitors now forward these emails to us asking if they are legit, and it was from those emails we were able to demonstrate (that Tarzango was) claiming to represent IPPE.”

IPPE also is supported by the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) and North American Meat Institute (NAMI). 

 

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Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.