Bob’s Buzz 2/1/10
Reflections from 2009 and Projections for 2010 – I’ve tapped into valuable survey responses from friends at sister organizations and found the following …
Consider this:
* American Business Media reports: In a recent survey conducted by BtoB magazine, almost 40% of 376 business-to-business marketers surveyed said they planned to increase their b-to-b media spending this year. 73% of them indicated an online marketing budget increase; 35% said they’d increase spending on events; and 20% planned to increase their print budgets. (ABM’s Business Media Matters 1/10)
which is promising, however, TSEA has released it’s findings from a recent survey:
* TSEA reports: A recent Trade Show Exhibitors Association survey found that 97% of the 188 exhibitors polled don’t believe they receive the best rate possible when booking rooms for a convention in the housing block. The survey also found that 89% of exhibitors feel that current deposits aren’t fair for all their shows; 83% don’t feel they have sufficient time to submit names of their company’s attendees for convention housing blocks; and only 8% of exhibitors believe that all their shows have fair convention housing practices. As a former TSEA chairman and life member, I was curious about this “new low” in exhibitor morale, so I went to the survey and checked it out. The first question set the tone: “Do you feel that current deposits you pay are fair in the shows you exhibit in?” The possible answers were limited to: a) yes, always; b) sometimes; c) never; d) not sure; and e) other. Since only 11% answered “yes, always,” it was concluded that “89% of the exhibitors feel that their show deposits are not fair.” What about all the exhibitors who answered “not sure,” “sometimes,” or “other?”
Perhaps things are not as dire as they have been represented.
* Green thought: “Going green is going to be a much bigger challenge long-term to the exhibition industry than people realize. The issues of travel and the impact of our carbon imprint are something that people will start measuring. We will have to be very careful how we present ourselves as an industry in the future.” Sandy Angus, chairman of Montgomery Worldwide and past chairman of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events and UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry. (Trade Show Executive Magazine, 1/10)
* Fun news: Air New Zealand is introducing a welcome option to long-haul economy section: the “Skycouch.” Some seats at the back of the new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft will feature a footrest of sorts that can be raised like a recliner to create a platform for sleeping. Of course, this assumes your traveling companion is someone you actually care to sleep next to. (Los Angeles Times, 1/30/10)
* Parting thought: “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” U.S. President John F. Kennedy
Bob Dallmeyer CEM is Past Chairman of both the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) and the Trade Show Exhibitors Association (TSEA), as well as a former Director of the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR). He was also inducted into the Convention Industry Council’s “Hall of Leaders.” He is a columnist for Trade Show Executive Magazine. Contact: bob@bobdallmeyer.com
