DALLAS — The International Association of Exhibitions and Events is teaming with BPA Worldwide to offer a free Webinar on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009 at 1 p.m. EST. IAEE President Steven Hacker, CAE and Gary Shapiro, president/CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association, will share their insights on how event audits can help shows weather a stormy economy.

In today's challenging economic climate, it has never been more important to prove a show's Return on Investment (ROI) to exhibitors. Exhibitors are being more selective than ever regarding the shows at which they exhibit. Event organizers must prove to exhibitors that their show is one the exhibitors cannot afford to miss.

Event audits provide valuable benefits such as:

• Help organizers address any drop in attendance due to a weaker economy.
• Guide organizers in acting as better consultants to their exhibitors by identifying key target markets at their show.
• Demonstrate to exhibitors that the organizer is taking proactive steps - even in these challenging economic times.
• Elevate the show to a level of transparency and accuracy that is above and beyond competitors.
• Set exhibitors' ROI expectations to act as the incentive they will need to re-sign for the next year's event.

In preparation for the Webinar, Jamie Alexander, manager of the Exhibits and Events Group for Texas Instruments, Education Technology said, "As budgets tighten and trade show managers are challenged by their management to prove the value of each trade show, an independent audit of a show's attendance number and demographic make up could prove very valuable. Exhibitors would love an independent confirmation of attendee numbers as well as detailed demographics of the attendees (exact role, if teacher - what subjects taught, what grade level, if administrator — exact role, purchasing decision making level, amount of annual budget, etc.).

"Telling me that 24 percent of attendees are classroom teachers, or 13 percent have a math curricular focus does not really tell me how many math teachers are in attendance — a key metric we need to know to determine the proper investment to reach our key audience. This could really help us justify to our management why we need to stay in your show!"

Nearly 200 participants have signed up for this FREE Webinar! All BPA Webinars are archived indefinitely, therefore those cannot participate in the live session may go back and listen at their convenience. This archive is only available to people who register in advance. To register, visit www.bpaww.com.

A not-for-profit organization since 1931, BPA Worldwide is governed by a tripartite board comprised of media owners, advertising agencies and advertisers. Headquartered in Shelton, Connecticut, USA, BPA has the largest membership of any media-auditing organization in the world, spanning more than 30 countries. Worldwide, BPA serves more than 2,500 media properties--including over 1,900 B-to-B publications, more than 400 consumer magazines and newspapers, 100+ Web sites, and events, email newsletters, databases, wireless and other advertiser-supported media--as well as more than 2,600 advertiser and agency members.

NEW YORK, N.Y. — As part of its recently launched Jamaican Winter Rescue Program, the Jamaica Tourist Board unveiled this week special Jamaican taxicab toppers that will be featured throughout the month in New York, Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia. To build excitement in these cities for a “winter rescue” from the cold and snow, Jamaica teamed up with local radio stations to kickoff Jamaican Taxicab Promotions, and also created special events in each city. When listeners spot one of the Jamaican cabs, they can enter to win a trip to Jamaica via their local participating radio station now through the end of January.

“Many consumers are looking for relief during our current challenging economic situation, along with an escape from the blistering cold winter weather. We want to inform and excite consumers about Jamaica’s accessibility and value for a tropical winter getaway,” said John Lynch, Jamaica’s Director of Tourism. “We hope to remind residents in these cities of the warm, sunny Jamaican weather every time a special Jamaican cab drives by, and spark excitement by offering them a chance to win a Jamaican getaway.”

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VENUE NEWS

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino stars as Las Vegas’ premier meetings, convention destination

$750 million expansion will provide additional 75,000 square feet of meeting space

LAS VEGAS — This year, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas will take business travel to a higher ground with the addition of 75,000 square feet of full-service meetings and convention space, including simulcast capabilities in The Joint, catapulting the resort to a world-class destination of choice for the meetings and convention industry. The blend of Hard Rock’s cutting-edge lifestyle with a four-star meetings experience will appeal to the savvy event planner, while impressing the most discriminating business traveler.

“The expansion of the Hard Rock‘s meetings and convention space allows us to satisfy the demand of our diversified customers who have had to look elsewhere in the past for groups larger than 600 people,” said Yale Rowe, Senior Vice President & General Manager Operations. “In town, you won’t find a casino hotel that offers the extensive services and amenities of a successful meetings and convention destination, while still providing guests with the high-energy and entertaining environment they have come to know and love at the Hard Rock.”

As part of Hard Rock’s $750 million expansion and renovation, the 40-total meeting rooms will offer first-class amenities only found at Las Vegas’ original boutique-style hotel.  The meeting spaces will feature spectacular modern, rock glamour décor and include up-to-date technology, such as built in flat screens with projection capability, wireless Internet and CAT5 cabling.

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McCormick Place’s Chicago restaurant partners takes big steps for sustainability

CHICAGO — With the number of people and events served at McCormick Place each year there’s no doubt that even small ecological steps can have an enormous impact.

That’s why Chicago Restaurant Partners is taking big steps to promote and implement ecologically efficient practices and sustainable efforts in the foodservice operations as part of the nation’s largest convention center.

From improving recycling rates to eliminating polystyrene plates and adding new biodegradable silverware, Chicago Restaurant Partners is fully engaged and helping to lead the way with the MPEA’s green initiatives.

There’s even a two-acre rooftop garden that next spring will help to grow herbs and fresh foods to be used in Chicago Restaurant Partners’ event tastings for meeting planners.

“This is truly a win-win situation,” said Shaun Beard, Chicago Restaurant Partners’ general manager. “People are concerned about their environmental impact and we are actively seeking out ways to create sustainable practices throughout our operations. As a company and as individuals, we are truly passionate about reducing our carbon footprint. It’s just the right thing to do and it is something we are really committed to as part of our day-to-day operations.” McCormick Place’s West Building attained LEED Certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) from the U.S. Green Build Council, the organization that sets the standards for what is officially considered environmentally friendly. The West Building is the largest new-construction facility in the country to be certified. The building’s roof is home to one of the Chicago’s largest rooftop gardens and come spring 2009, the garden will help to grow some of the many herbs and other fresh foods used in menu tastings by Chicago Restaurant Partners.

The rooftop garden helps to significantly reduce the building’s heat island effect, reducing heating and cooling requirements while also helping to improve air quality. The convention center’s Starbucks’ locations, participating in the coffee giant’s “Grounds for your Garden” program already provide coffee grounds for composting the rooftop garden.