Association News

NTP pledges $150,000 to the Exhibition Industry Foundation

DALLAS — The Exhibition Industry Foundation announced a donation of $150,000 from National Trade Productions for the purpose of supporting the recently launched International Center for Exhibitor and Event Marketing.

As announced earlier this year, NTP, owner and producer of TS2, and the International Association of Exhibitions and Events entered a cooperative agreement to collaborate and provide programming at both organizations' annual meetings to meet the full, wide-ranging programming needs of exhibitors, event marketers and show organizers.

An important component of this collaboration is the creation of The International Center for Exhibitor and Event Marketing (The Center) which launched July 21 at TS2 in Chicago and now includes more than 9,000 members who have either joined directly or through their association with IAEE, the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) and/or the Exhibitor Service Contractors Association (ESCA).

"On behalf of the entire EIF Board of Trustees, I want to express my gratitude, and thank Bob Harar and TS2 for the extraordinary support that they have provided to EIF,” said EIF Chair Michael Cooke. By supporting the work of The Center, this is yet another way that The Foundation continues to add value to the exhibitions and events industry. This very generous donation from NTP allows for more positive, industry-wide change driven by collaboration and support of the important work EIF is doing. The creation of The Center will offer long-term value at a time when greater resources are a necessity and the constraints of the economy are a reality."

NTP Chairman Bob Harar's vision for The Center is to create the principal, internationally recognized organization representing exhibitors and event marketers. It provides education, networking, data, research and an international platform for the exhibitor and event marketing professional community, primarily through a state-of-the-art Web site.

"My vision in creating The Center is to develop the definitive industry-wide resource for the exhibitor and event marketing community in order to provide these professionals with broad support and a solid foundation," Harar said. “I hope to build a bridge joining the exhibitors, event marketers, show organizers and suppliers to provide a forum for open discussions and idea sharing that has not been available until now."

The Center is a Council of IAEE operated by its own Board of Directors. The Center’s mission is to serve as a resource for all who are engaged in exhibit and event marketing. It will provide IAEE and TS2 with rich program content that benefits attendees at their respective annual events. Additionally, TS2 has committed to donating 15 percent of its annual gross revenue toward funding The Center and its activities.

Organizations directly related to the exhibition and event industry will be invited to have representation on The Center's board of directors, including exhibitors, event marketers, show organizers and individuals representing industry organizations. Supporting organizations and events of The Center include: IAEE, TS2, Expo! Expo! the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR), the Exhibition Services & Contractors Association (ESCA) and The Exhibition and Event Industry Audit Commission (EEIAC). More information about The Center can be found on its Web site powered by ASP, www.iceem.net.

About EIF The Exhibition Industry Foundation (EIF) is a non-profit organization exempt from Federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The principal purpose of the Foundation is to ensure the success of the exhibition industry as the premiere marketing medium by supporting research and education. More information is available at www.exhibitionfoundation.org.