In less than two months, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) has raised more than $1 million in support of its new public relations campaign, which seeks to promote the positive impact of face-to-face exhibitions and events on business and commerce, it announced last week.
Announced in October and officially launched on Dec. 8 at IAEE's Expo! Expo! annual meeting, the campaign — the largest PR campaign in IAEE's history — will be a three-year effort executed by IAEE's agency of record, Edelman Public Relations, which will seek to "strengthen and enhance the exhibitions and events industry's reputation as a preeminent medium for conducting business and bringing buyers and sellers together around the world." According to IAEE, it will focus on "communicating the strengths and relevance of face-to-face opportunities, increasing the favorable impression of events, compiling real stories about the power and uniqueness of trade shows, differentiating trade shows from other forms of engagement and leveraging new media and digital opportunities to expand reach and build an online presence."
"I am thrilled by the support from hundreds of our colleagues and their organizations," said IAEE Chairman Vinnie Polito. "Never before, in IAEE's 83-year history, has there been such a collaborative effort to achieve one goal. As a result, we are now well-positioned to launch and support a vital campaign that will benefit our own industry and the customers we serve."
Early supporters — who supported the campaign financially and submitted stories of their exhibitors' successes — include the Consumer Electronics Association, SEMA, INFOCOMM, Monster Cable, the National Association of Broadcasters and the National Restaurant Association, among others.
For a complete list of supporting organizations, visit www.iaee.com.