LOUISVILLE, Kentucky – THE International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) held its annual Expo! Expo! at Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, Kentucky, December 14-15, bringing together a mix of leading trade show organizers, innovative technology exhibitors, destination organizations and other industry leaders. The “Show for Shows” attracted 233 exhibitors and more than 1,700 attendees for educational sessions, technology demonstrations, peer-to-peer panels, motivational speakers and a lively show floor filled with activities and face-to-face networking opportunities.
Trade Fair Manager was present at the show, including Education Day on December 13, which focused on timely topics ranging from advocacy to attendee engagement to labor market challenges. This year, Education Day was moved to a day before rather than after the official Expo! Expo! show in order to increase attendance. The strategy worked, as sessions such as “Reimagining the Attendee Experience in the Next Normal” drew a full house. The presentation focused on interaction and engagement, addressing issues such as how to “entertain” and how to better tailor a show to attendees by asking them questions about why they are at the show.
Key takeaways from the Mutually Beneficial: Organizer-Exhibitor Dynamics session included establishing an effective communication channel to voice concerns or questions to build trust and engage stakeholders. Cooperation between organizers and exhibitors, such as through the establishment of an exhibitor advisory board, can give exhibitors the confidence to return year after year and help them find solutions to the challenges they face.
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David DuBois, IAEE President and CEO, led the session “From Capitol Hill to the Exhibit Hall: How Advocacy Supports the Path to Recovery,” which focused on the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance’s (ECA) past successes in advocating for the exhibition industry on Capitol Hill, important issues for 2023, and how IAEE members can get involved. Visa wait times are a concern, as are ongoing supply chain challenges.
Emphasis was placed on the need to educate local legislative leaders on the importance that trade shows and events bring to the local economy, with a suggestion to invite them to shows in their area, or even to organize shows to see how many people are employed by a single show.
“Invite your local representative to the convention where your event is being held; they like to see what’s going on. They like to see the action in their districts,” said Julie Pazina, national sales manager atEdlen Electrical Exhibition Services and recent winner of the election for Nevada State Senate District 12 said.
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The session “Gentleness: How Gen Z is Changing Company Culture and How Succession Planning is More Important Than Ever” focused on the importance of asking your employees what their expectations are and learning about themselves, not just their job. When it comes to hiring advice, statistics revealed that 70% of college seniors said they strongly expect their employers to commit to DEI in the hiring process and 51% of Gen Z consider mental health a priority when looking for a job.
Other activities during Education Day included live podcasts and hackathon pitch sessions where participants were given tasks to complete, followed by collaborative conversations and the opportunity to see the results of their learning.
Let the show for shows begin
The official opening day of Expo! Expo! began with a welcome from Dubois and a celebration of the CEM Class of 2022. The keynote interview featured Lauren Holiday, an NCAA soccer player on the U.S. women’s soccer team and three-time Olympic medalist who has dealt with serious medical challenges, including being diagnosed with a brain tumor while pregnant with her husband, NBA All-Star and Milwaukee Bucks player Jrue Holiday.
Holiday emphasized that her positive attitude has guided her throughout her life as she shared her philosophy: “Focus on what you can control, because there are so many things you can’t control.” Her final words were, “Joy comes in the morning, but it may not be tomorrow.”
After the session, the lounge was officially opened for business and networking, including a wellness area with chair and foot massages; presentations from the tech startup “Shark Tank” with the winner ExpoFPoffering interactive floor plans for trade shows, awarded at the closing ceremony; special interviews with industry leaders led by Rich Vallaster, Director of Client Relations and Support, Personify A2Z Events, in the A2Z Events News and Views Theater; and a fun Kentucky Derby-style zone competition led by Global Experience Specialists (GES).
The two days also featured sessions including “Advancing the Adoption of Sustainable and Socially Impactful Practices in Your Events” hosted by speakers Glenn Hansen, President and CEO of BPA Worldwide, and Mariela McIlwraith, Executive Consultant to the Events Industry Council (EIC), which is releasing its updated version Sustainable Event Standards in 2022.
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The executive breakfast session, “Building an Effective Talent Strategy,” was moderated by presenter Alex Chausovsky, MBA, director of analytics and consulting for Miller Resource Group, who discussed staffing shortages, workforce retention and how to attract the next Generation Z to the workforce.
Expo! Expo! focused on networking, with half-hour breaks between sessions as well as activations, including Hatitude, where attendees helped create their own Kentucky Derby-style party hats and headbands in anticipation of the opening reception at Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby.
The IAEE Advocacy Program and GES collaborated on the 13th annual edition Humanity Rocks: A Celebration with a Cause, a ticketed event held at Tavern on Fourth in Louisville’s Fourth Street Live neighborhood, raised $10,000 for the Backside Learning Center.
For early risers, two busloads of participants braved the elements to walk/run across Louisville’s iconic Big Four Bridge and cross the Ohio River in the name of wellness on opening morning in memory of industry leader Terence Donnelly, who passed away unexpectedly in July 2019. In its third year, the event is designed to bring the IAEE community together to celebrate both Expo! Expo!’s host city and Donnelly, whose passion for the industry touched everyone.
Hosted byMaritz Global EventsParticipants were welcomed to the deck by a DJ playing lively music during a short warm-up/stretch, and the entire Maritz team for another highlight.
Final remarks
Expo! ended on a high note at the closing general session after three days of networking, education and exposure. “Yesterday and today gave us a lot of hope and optimism for the future. We made and strengthened relationships that will take us through 2023,” said DuBois.
Current President of IAEECarrie FerenacOwner ofCNTVinterviewed the new president of 2023Denis SmithVice President of Business Development at the Asian American Hotel Owners Association, in which he shared his plans and strategies for growing the IAEE and expressed his excitement for what lies ahead in 2023.
The 2022 IAEE Awards were presented to honorees and Derby Race winners were announced, honoring dedicated IAEE members and those who battled their way through the show.
Towards the end of the sessionMCI United StatesVice President, Convention Accommodation Operations and ContractsJason WareBroadway actor and singer interviewedLiz Mikel, about his Dallas roots and his favorite places in the city, which is hosting Expo 2023! Expo!, which runs December 5-7.
Contact David DuBois at ddubois@iaee.com