Jan 12, 2023
With this episode, we kick-off season two of Trade Show Talk! We speak with two industry leaders on this one about the state of the exhibitions industry -- we talk about where we have been and we look at where we're headed.
"We just got the third quarter results. And what we have found is that about 14% of those shows that were held in the first - third quarters of this year (2022) have surpassed their pre-pandemic levels."
-Cathy Breden
The industry is recovering, but we do have a way to go.
IAEE and CEIR are two industry-leading associations, so who better to hear from than their leadership?
Our guests
Cathy Breden
- CEO of the
Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR)
Breden provides strategic direction and manages the day-to-day
activities and business operations of CEIR. CEIR conducts primary,
exhibition-related research studies to help exhibition stakeholders
with evolving norms, shifting marketing trends, and other issues
that can have an impact on the channel itself or how to use it
effectively in light of trends. Reports include digital/technology,
attendee/exhibitor engagement, attendee acquisition and retention,
generational workforce shifts, economic performance and impact, and
exhibitor studies evaluating motivations for use of the exhibition
marketing channel. She has been working with CEIR since
2006.
Cathy also serves in the capacity of Executive Vice President/COO of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events® (IAEE), a trade association representing the exhibitions and events industry. She began her association management career in 1984. She is the 2022 Chairperson of the Events Industry Council Board of Directors. She earned the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation in 1990, the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation in 1995, the Certified in Exhibition Management (CEM) designation in 2019 and was recognized as a CMP Fellow in 2022.
David DuBois
- President and CEO of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events®
(IAEE)
As IAEE’s president, DuBois
is responsible for the management of 25 full-time
professional staff, producing the
annual business operating plan and budget, overseeing the support of all
meetings of governance units, leading business development, directing
fundraising efforts, advocating for the industry and the
organization’s members, and providing organizational leadership and
strategic counsel to the board. Also, he serves as the association’s
representative with industry
coalitions, partner organizations and strategic alliances.
In 2019, DuBois was inducted
into the Events Industry Council’s "Hall of Leaders," one of the industry’s most
prestigious honors.
His storied career started with Sheraton Corporation in various sales positions including Regional Director of Sales and the Director of Marketing Programs, and has included senior leadership positions for other industry organizations, PCMA and MPI, and the Fort Worth CVB. Of course, he has also served on many boards of directors including ASAE, Dallas-Fort Worth Tourism Council, EIC, and Destinations International. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Meetings Mean Business Coalition and the U.S. Travel Association.
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The "Trade Show Talk" podcast is publishing two episodes per month, focusing on a different theme each month. If you'd like to be a sponsor or a guest or you have a topic to suggest we cover, please let us know by emailing podcast@tsnn.com. And we'd love it if you'd share, rate, and review episode 23 and the show also!