MARIETTA, Georgia — The Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO) has taken a strong stance against the Russian invasion of Ukraine, not only condemning Russia’s actions but also taking action. As Hervé Sedky, SISO Board Chair and Emerald CEO, said, “We cannot stand by and watch this conflict unfold without taking action.” These actions include suspending Russian SISO members from participating in SISO events and launching a fundraising campaign to contribute to ongoing humanitarian efforts.
The move is not without controversy. Several meetings and events industry organizations, including the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and the Events Industry Council (EIC), have issued strong statements condemning Russia’s actions and expressing support for the Ukrainian people, but have stopped short of banning their Russian members from participating in activities or taking other actions. Others, including SISO and Meeting Professionals International, have backed up their statements by taking steps to sanction their members in Russia.
Trade Fair Manager I recently sat down with Sedky and David Audrain, CEO of SISO, to learn more about why SISO is taking action against Russia, in addition to expressing support for Ukraine.
TSE: What prompted SISO to take these measures at this stage?
Seats: Due to the humanitarian crisis that continues to develop following Russia’s unprovoked attack and invasion of Ukraine, SISO has been compelled to take immediate action in accordance with the sweeping economic sanctions that have been imposed on Russia. We hope that our actions will contribute, at least in part, to the overall effort to compel the Russian government to change course and withdraw its military forces from Ukraine. We also feel compelled to provide significant support to help raise funds for humanitarian relief efforts to alleviate the suffering of the Ukrainian people during this time of incredible hardship.
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TSE: How could these actions affect SISO events and activities?
Audrain:Since the Russian economy is relatively small in global terms, ranked 11th overall, the participation of Russian companies in SISO is at a similar level and represents a minor percentage of our membership. Therefore, we do not expect the suspension of Russian members’ access to have a significant effect on SISO events.
TSE: What feedback have you received from members so far?
Audrain: So far, we have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from our members regarding SISO’s response to what is happening in Ukraine and the decision that they have taken. The consensus among our members from virtually every region of the world is that we must collectively do everything in our power and use every resource at our disposal to put pressure on Russia to try to end this crisis as quickly as possible.
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TSE: Are members asking SISO for advice on similar measures they should take for their own emissions? If so, what types of questions and concerns are you hearing at this point?
Audrain: In addition to providing many benefits to our members, SISO’s mission is to provide leadership on all matters affecting the trade show, consumer show, exhibition, conference and event industry. We encourage all our members to consider suspending the participation of all Russian exhibitors and participants at their individual shows in order to collectively maximize impact. As always, SISO is here to provide guidance and support to all our members in this process.
TSE: Do you have any other information about the fundraising campaign that you can share?
Seats: We have chosen to participate in fundraising for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) because its aid programs are among the largest and most reputable in the world. And, more importantly, its teams are currently on the ground helping to resolve the refugee crisis in Ukraine and neighboring countries. As reported in national and international media, this is the largest refugee crisis to hit Europe since World War II and we strongly encourage SISO members, their exhibitors and participants at their individual events to contribute to this urgent need.
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TSE: Do you have any further thoughts to share on how the evolving situation in Ukraine might affect trade shows in the future?
Audrain: Like our government and business leaders in the United States, we are deeply concerned about Russia’s actions in Ukraine, both because of the humanitarian crisis it has caused and the negative impact it could have on the global economy. Although it is still too early to know to what extent this will impact our industry as well. What we do know for sure is that the sooner this crisis is resolved, the better it will be for our industry and, most importantly, the better it will alleviate the suffering of the Ukrainian people.
Contact David Audrain at (404) 334-4585; contact Hervé Sedky at [email protected]