What Has the “Exhibitions Mean Business” Advocacy Effort Accomplished? A lot!

October 24, 2015

This year was a busy one so far for the Exhibitions Mean Business advocacy effort aimed at spreading awareness about the tremendous value of face-to-face events.

“The Exhibitions Mean Business Campaign is a key component in promoting the value of face-to-face events as the primary marketing medium for business growth and development,” said IAEE’s President and CEO David DuBois, CMP, CAE, FASAE, CTA.

He added, “When you consider the more than $70 billion that attendee and exhibitor direct and indirect spending contributed to the US GDP in 2014, along with the millions of jobs created by this industry, the campaign is a vital component in raising awareness to federal and local lawmakers, media and the general public on the great value that we as an industry contribute to society.”

The focus starting in the beginning of 2015 was to create new assets and content needed to ensure this year’s campaign efforts are as fruitful as possible, according to EMB officials.

These efforts included: the launch of a new EMB website, the creation of new Exhibitions Day rallying materials, the re-introduction of EMB’s presence on LinkedIn and Facebook, and a continued focus on media relations.

Exhibitions Day, a one-day event in June that brought more than 100 trade show professionals to Capitol Hill to meet with their state representatives on issues impacting the industry, was a success.

EMB supported this special day by creating a special visual campaign that blended the existing EMB look/feel with the idea of advocacy to strike a chord on Capitol Hill.

EMB also created several other assets to support Exhibitions Day efforts:

• A marketing campaign series aimed at promoting attendance and rallying

2015 Exhibitions Day attendees

• Educational materials and overview documents to be uploaded on the Exhibitions Day website

• Videos that can be shared and reposted by supporters

• A digital toolkit containing shareable visual assets, social media content and posting tips, template media materials and a “social directory” of other individuals and organizations supporting the campaign and Exhibitions Day

Another key focus of EMB is to garner as much positive press about the events industry as possible. To date, they have secured more than 400 million impressions, with a publicity value of close to $44 million in publications such as the Los Angeles Times and Forbes.  

Other efforts to continue to spread the good word about the events industry include utilizing social media to build an audience and buzz, engage industry professionals to write blogs and to also keep the momentum going surrounding the industry and the issues discussed on Capitol Hill.

All of these efforts, though, do not happen in a vacuum. Exhibitions Mean Business is in the middle of a fundraising campaign and needs YOUR help. Please pledge HERE.

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Partner Voices
Dallas already boasts 35,000 hotel rooms, award-winning global cuisine, and a walkable downtown. But we are just getting started. Visit Dallas is thrilled to announce that the city of Dallas is doubling down with a massive new convention center and entertainment district. Featuring 800,000 square feet of exhibit area, 260,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and 170,000 square feet of ballroom. The center will connect business travelers with dining and shopping options in the popular Cedars District means more places to get down to business, and even more ways to unwind. “Dallas is already a great meetings and conventions destination, with the accessibility of two major airports, affordable labor, and an outstanding hotel product,” said D. Bradley Kent, Visit Dallas senior vice president and chief sales officer. “The new center and Convention Center District will enhance Dallas’ competitive position and are exactly what our customers’ need and have been asking for." What’s New – AT&T Discovery District Located in the heart of Downtown Dallas, this new district on the AT&T corporate campus is tailor-made for groups of all sizes. It boasts a multi-sensory experience, including outdoor event space, the AT&T Theater, and multiple dining outlets including JAXON Beer Garden and The Exchange, a bustling food hall. Hotels Coming Soon Names like the JW Marriott (Downtown), lnterContinental Dallas (Uptown), and Hotel Swexan (Uptown) are adding luxury amenities and bountiful event spaces. The projects will debut in 2023 and beyond. JW Marriott This new, 15-story, 283-room hotel will open in the heart of the city’s downtown Arts District this year. The property features a 25,000-square-foot grand ballroom, as well as a spa, restaurant, lobby bar, fitness center, and a rooftop pool deck and bar. InterContinental Dallas  Located in Cityplace Tower in Uptown, InterContinental Dallas will feature sweeping panoramic views of the Dallas skyline. Guests will enjoy spacious, high-end rooms and amenities, including more than 21,000 square feet of event space.   Hotel Swexan Hotel Swexan, a new, 22-story luxury property, is rising in Uptown’s Harwood District and will make its mark on the Dallas skyline. Opening this year, it is a sculptural building with cantilevered upper floors, as well as a 75-foot rooftop infinity-edge swimming pool and a hidden underground lounge.