The Healthcare Convention and Exhibitors Association (HCEA) this year celebrates 80 years of leadership, advocacy and professionalism in the healthcare convention marketing and exhibitions industry.
HCEA, which was founded in June 1930 in Detroit as the Medical Exhibitors Association, has continually led the way in promoting healthcare convention marketing and exhibitions as critical components of the healthcare marketing mix.
HCEA’s achievements include the introduction of the “HCEA Directory of Healthcare Meetings and Conventions,” the longest-published and most comprehensive source of medical convention information in the world, and the “Guidelines for U.S. Healthcare Conventions,” developed to aid healthcare associations and other professionals in the planning of exhibits and conventions. In recent years, HCEA has spearheaded numerous new landmark projects, including a study on the future of the healthcare exhibit hall, its State of the Industry research and new e-learning tools.
Observances and other commemorative activities are planned during 2010 to honor the 80th anniversary, including special recognition at the 2010 HCEA Annual Meeting, to be held June 26-29 in New Orleans.
“Throughout its 80-year history, HCEA has helped pilot the healthcare convention marketing and exhibitions industry through innumerable changes,” said Eric Allen, HCEA executive vice president. “And HCEA continues to lead today and will in the future. HCEA’s high-level educational events, up-to-date information resources, cutting-edge market research, proactive advocacy initiatives, professional networking events and more all are designed to help ensure that this industry remains vital and valuable for many years to come.”
HCEA is the only association solely dedicated to improving the effectiveness of all conventions, meetings and exhibitions for the healthcare industry. HCEA represents organizations involved in healthcare exhibitions and conventions.
