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This Just In

Trade Show Executive Announces 2008 Exposition Forecasting Board

TSE STAFF

Carlsbad, CA – Trade Show Executive today announced its 2008Exposition Forecasting Board (EFB). “With the economy in a state of flux, it is critical for industry executives to be armed with solid data to help them plan for the short and long term, and reforecast when economic conditions take a turn,” said Darlene Gudea, VP/publisher & editor of Trade Show Executive.

Starting in December, and continuing each month, TSE will publish trade show growth projections as seen through the eyes of some of the most respected and connected senior-level executives in the industry. The EFB  will develop a running forecast of monthly, quarterly and annual metrics of trade show growth  including net square feet of paid exhibit space, number of exhibiting companies, professional attendance and revenue.  The EFB’s projections will be averaged and  published each month in Trade Show Executive’s Trending & Spending column, starting with the December issue.

EFB’s Predecessor

Trade Show Executive’s Trending & Spending column was launched in February 2003.  It was based on a monthly confidential poll of senior level executives of show firms and associations.  At that time,  CEOs forecasted an 8% decline in net square footage and a drop of  12% in attendance in March 2003 vs. March 2002 . They attributed weakness in the industry to “concerns over war, terrorism, rising oil prices and overextended consumers calling it quits to spending.” (See Trade Show Executive, February 2003).  Fast forward to 2007:  the very same concerns are plaguing show organizers. Yet this time, CEOs are projecting growth, specifically,  4% in net square feet and 3% in attendance for the month of December compared to last year.

A New Model Emerges

For 2008, Trade Show Executive decided to broaden the group of forecasters. Registration firms and CVBs have access to more data on attendance trends than anyone else.  Service contactors and convention centers live, breath and eat square footage stats.  And who knows more about which way the industry is headed  than the large diversified show organizations?  So  we tapped  some of the best minds in the business, from numerous sectors of  the industry,  to provide their forecasts and comments from their unique vantage points. Together, this group  is best positioned to provide an early warning of changes in the industry – positive or negative — to help you plan for the year ahead.

Trade Show Executive’s Exposition Forecasting Board includes:

Chairman

Darlene Gudea,  Publisher & Editor, Trade Show Executive;

Show Management

  • Nancy Walsh, Executive Vice President of Reed Exhibitions
  • Margaret Pederson, President, Penton Exhibitions
  • Tom Caridi, CFO, Questex Media Group
  • Brian Tully, Senior Vice President, Food Marketing Institute

Industry Associations

  • Doug Ducate, President & CEO, CEIR
  • Stephen Hacker, President & CEO,  IAEE

Research

  • Frank Chow, Senior Economist, Trade Show Executive
  • Robert Canton, Director, Convention & Tourism Service, PricewaterhouseCoopers
  • Skip Cox, President & CEO, Exhibit Surveys

Exhibitors

  • Harris Schanhaut, Events  Marketing Manager, American Express Global Forecasting Service

Service Contractors

  • Carrie Parsons-Freeman, Executive Vice President of Marketing, Freeman
  • Tim McGill, CEO, Hargrove

Registration

  • Clark Williams, President, Compusytems
  • Terence Donnelly, VP of Trade Show Markets, Experient

CVBs

  • James Rooney,  Executive  Director , Massachusetts Convention Center Authority
  • Chris Meyer, Vice President, Convention Center Sales, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
  • Steve Moore, President & CEO, Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau

Facilities

  • Gregg Caren, Senior Vice President of Strategic Business Development, SMG
  • Tom Mobley, Senior Vice President,  Convention Centers, Global Spectrum

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