IAEE Announces Virtual And In-Person Hybrid Format For Expo! Expo!
August 25, 2020
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events® (IAEE) has announced that Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition 2020 will be produced as a hybrid event to include a virtual online experience as well as a live, face-to-face experience. This year’s Expo! Expo! will be held on 8-10 December at the Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC) in Louisville, Ky. IAEE has selected Swapcard as its platform provider partner to power the virtual, online experience of the event.
“IAEE underwent an extensive RFP process to select the platform,” noted IAEE President and CEO David DuBois, CMP, CAE, FASAE, CTA. “The process began last April and yielded 21 proposals from virtual event platform solution providers. IAEE staff experienced demonstrations from 12 of these platforms, an invaluable learning opportunity for us all. The comprehensive RFP document was shared with the entire IAEE community, including with organizer members as a reference for their own pursuits of virtual event solutions. After much deliberation, we are eager to share with Expo! Expo! attendees the experience Swapcard offers.”
“As a decade long supporter of IAEE’s Expo! Expo!, it’s an honor to partner with the industry-leading association for exhibition and event organizers. We are proud to have been selected as their exclusive virtual conference and exhibition platform. It’s a testament to our product and support teams who have rapidly expanded our ability to power thousands of complex virtual meetings during this challenging time for our industry,” said Matthew Donegan-Ryan, General Manager of Swapcard. “IAEE shares our vision that communities create valuable and efficient bonds through events, whether hosted in-person, or virtually.”
Per the State of Kentucky Governor’s Office, the KICC is currently operating at 50 percent capacity, accounting for physical distancing of six feet. IAEE is working closely with Louisville Tourism, the KICC, and other show partners on the implementation of health and safety initiatives. Louisville Tourism, the host city for Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition 2020, recently announced its support of the GBAC STAR™ facility accreditation program, with assistance in funding select hospitality industry venues, including the KICC, for the first year. The Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, has been actively involved in the first release and continued development of IAEE’s Essential Considerations for Safely Reopening Exhibitions and Events.
The cost for virtual Expo! Expo! attendees to receive an all-access pass, including all live and on-demand content, will be $299 USD for IAEE members. There will also be options for member organizers to attend the marketplace portion of the platform at no charge.
In addition, IAEE recently launched a new marketplace within its online member communities – MemberLink, the Virtual Exhibitions and Events Marketplace. This new marketplace provides a platform for virtual event solution providers to connect with IAEE show organizers.