8 June, 2017

Industry celebrates Global Exhibitions Day

By Hannah Edensor

The Association of Australian Convention Bureaux (AACB) is just one of the businesses that’s expressed its support for Global Exhibitions Day, highlighting the role that convention bureaux play in attracting exhibitions to Australia.

The AACB’s latest market intelligence indicates that a total of 146 international business events with an exhibition component were secured on the Forward Calendar (at January 2017) by its members.

At which time, convention bureaux were working with an additional 69 confirmed international business events to determine their exhibition needs.

AACB CEO, Andrew Hiebl, highlighted, “Without the strategic bidding activities undertaken by convention bureaux for international business events, these exhibitions would simply not occur in Australia”.

“International exhibitions play a significant role in enabling global trade and stimulating Australia’s economy. They offer a platform for Australian small to medium enterprise to promote their goods and services to export markets on home soil.

“Business events are the ideal forums in which collaboration can take place. Exhibitions enable opportunities for commercialisation by bringing together scientists and researchers with private enterprise and investors. Resulting new products and services then increase national productivity.

“For many professions, exhibitions are a key sales tool. In many countries, they are a primary marketing tool, and as such, their value to cities that exert new technology cannot be underestimated. Exhibitions are now an integral part of successful major conventions.”

According to Ernst & Young’s report on the Value of Business Events to Australia, in 2013-14 there were 2,157 exhibitions staged in Australia, attracting 9.3 million visitors and over 65,000 exhibitors. The total direct expenditure was $3.1 billion and these events contributed direct value add of $1.5 billion, generating over 21,000 full-time jobs.

Meanwhile, Australia will be the first country to kick off celebrations for Global Exhibitions Day 2017 when the Exhibition and Event Association (EEAA) delivers its two-day program of activity, which culminates today, June 8.

An initiative of UFI, the Global Association for the Exhibition Industry, and the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), Global Exhibitions Day promotes the Power of Exhibitions in driving important economic, social and business outcomes all over the world.

EEAA Chief Executive, Joyce DiMascio, said that as the peak industry association for the exhibition and event industry, she was proud to have once again spearheaded Australia’s participation in Global Exhibitions Day.

“This year, EEAA will deliver a full program of advocacy targeting both the marketing industry and also the government sector. We have written to 75 local, state and federal politicians, business leaders and industry stakeholders around the country with the message about the importance of our sector,” DiMascio said.

“We are honoured to be joined by two government representatives – Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, the Hon. Keith Pitt MP will represent the Federal government at our Leaders Forum Dinner and Mr Jonathan O’Dea, NSW Parliamentary Secretary for the Premier and Treasurer will represent the Premier at our Global Exhibitions Day Reception and at our Leaders Forum.

“Other members of parliament are posting on social media to support Australia’s contribution to the global campaign.”

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AACB global exhibitions day