(Pictures from 2019 Global Exhibitions Day)
Each June, industry professionals come together to foster relationships and build awareness with federal legislators and other policy influencers on Capitol Hill. In 2019, more than 100 members of the tradeshow and event industry gathered in Washington, D.C., to advocate for exhibitions and events, which are a vital tool the success of a free enterprise economy.
The key message of GED 2020 is “exhibitions are key to rebuilding economies,” and has already spread to 109 countries/regions with a social reach of 5.3m people, and is supported by the major players in the exhibition industry, making this the largest and most important day of advocacy and awareness of the global exhibition industry to date.
From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, the exhibition industry is coming together through videos, webcast, pictures, media, social campaigns, government endorsements, and more, in a coordinated effort to focus on the critical role exhibitions play in getting business and economies back on track. See below for IAEE’s Virtual GED schedule.
Kai Hattendorf, CEO of UFI, the Global Association for the Exhibition Industry, says, “As the world readies itself to recover economically from the COVID-19 pandemic, market places and meeting places are key. These platforms are celebrated each year on Global Exhibitions Day. We are delighted to see the significant resonance of the message, inside and outside the industry, that we have a critical role to play in reconnecting and rebuilding communities and economies.”
GED, coordinated by UFI, is actively supported and promoted by 41 partner associations and their respective members. GED 2020 aims to unify the industry, share hope and optimism, and focus on the important role of exhibitions in reconnecting and rebuilding communities and economies.
One of those partner associations, IAEE, has four hours of virtual programming planned. Their website says that “Addressing the matters that impact our industry is crucial to allowing our industry to continue to do its part for our national economy. We want to incite change, and that change is only possible with you by our side,” adding that “due to COVID-19, we are taking Exhibitions Day virtual in 2020. We ask you to once again join us as we give a voice to the exhibitions and events industry to our nation’s political leaders (even if we can’t meet face to face this year).”
“More than 1,600 of your peers in the U.S. are participating in our first-ever virtual day of action. We have a lot to say—and on June 3, we’re going to mobilize and ask our elected officials to support our industry. We have reached capacity and registration is now closed.”
IAEE’s Exhibitions Day Schedule (in Pacific Time Zone) – June 3
8:15-8:45 a.m. Opening Plenary Session with Mark Bogdansky, Vice President, Meetings & Events, Auto Care Association; David DuBois, CMP, CAE, FASAE, CTA, IAEE President & CEO; and Carrie Ferenac, President, CNTV
8:45-9:30 a.m. Advocacy in Action Breakout Rooms. Collaborate with peers in smaller groups to take action and communicate with elected officials.
9:30-10:30 a.m. Take a Break in our Themed Rooms
Ask the Advocacy Expert with Roger Rickard, Voices in Advocacy
Angel’s Envy Virtual Bourbon Tasting brought to you by Angel’s Envy & Louisville Tourism
Good News Hour with Amy Durkin, CEM, CMP and Rachel Wimberly
Live Music brought to you by Visit Austin
Meditation Hour with Robyn Earley
Navigating Anxiety and Other Negative Emotions with Ray Ciafardini, Jr.
Sustainability in Events with Mariela McIlwraith, Events Industry Council
Yoga Hour with Hadley McClellan at EvConFITNESS
10:30-11 a.m. Return to Action Rooms. Rejoin your smaller groups to share your experience and talk through next steps.
11-11:15 a.m. Closing Session & Wrap Up: How did we do? What’s next? How can we best harness the power and passion we showed today?
Other ways to get involved after IAEE’s schedule has finished include:
- Share and engage with #GED2020 on social media
- Share photos of you and your colleagues with the GED logo
- Share stories from your exhibition, a lunch of a product, a notable person who attended your show, a quote from an exhibitor, some great ROI stat … (add to map)
- Create your own “voices of the exhibition industry” card and share your thoughts on the future of the industry (template)
- Organize or attend a GED event
- Ask your government officials for endorsement and recognition of exhibition industry
- Come up with your own idea and celebrate your day how you want!
Worldwide the key supporters of GED 2020 include AAXO (South Africa), AEFI (Italy), AEO (UK), AFE (Spain), AFECA (Singapore), AFIDA (Colombia), AMPROFEC (Mexico), AOCA (Argentina), AUMA (Germany), CAEM (Canada), CEFA (Austria), CENTREX (Hungary), CFI (Italy), EEAA (Australia), EEIA/EMECA (Belgium), EFU (Ukraine), EXSA (South Africa), FAIRLINK (Sweden), FAMAB (Germany), HKECIA (Hong-Kong), IAEE (USA), IDFA (Germany), IECA (Indonesia), IEIA (India), IELA (Switzerland), IFES (Belgium), LECA (Lebanon), MACEOS (Malaysia), MFTA (Macau), PCEI (Poland), RUEF (Russia), SACEOS (Singapore), SCEIA (China), SECB (Singapore), SISO (USA), TECA (Taiwan), TEA (Thailand), TFOA (Turkey), UBRAFE (Brazil) and UNIMEV (France)
For more info, visit https://www.iaee.com/exhibitions-mean-business/exhibitions-day or contact emb@iaee.com with questions. For everything needed to get involved with GED 2020, visit globalexhibitionsday.org.
