Research

Industry research is one of the cornerstones of the industry’s advancement and sustainability.  EIF has focused much of its attention towards funding  of research projects that help achieve the EIF mission of ensuring the success of the industry as a premier marketing medium.

The Economic Impact of International Non- Participation in the Exhibition Industry Due to US Visa Issues - CEIR commissioned Oxford Economics to conduct the assessment during the summer of 2010 based on a nationwide survey and the CEIR Exhibition Industry Census. Visitor visa issues impede participation in trade shows, acting as a barrier to foreign trade as U.S. companies fail to meet with current or potential prospects. Key findings include:

  • Visa issues precluded 116,000 international participants from attending US exhibitions. This includes 78,400 international attendees and 37,900 international exhibitors who were hindered from participating
  • With no visa barriers in place, the U.S. economy would realize increases in business sales tallying $2.4 billion ($2.6 billion including sales to foreign exhibitors). These gains include $1.5 billion in business-to-business trade, $540 million in registration fees and exhibition space spending, and a $295 million boost to visitor spending
  • The new $2.4 billion in sales would be able to sustain over 17,500 jobs directly, 43,000 jobs overall, and generate three-quarters of a billion dollars in state and federal taxes

Study supported by:

AEM

AMT

CEA

CMR

messe

US travel

Association of Public-Safety Communication 
Officials - International, Inc. (APCO)

 Kuehne and Nagel, Inc. Radiological Society of America

 

The Economic Significance of Meetings to the U.S. Economy – The Convention Industry Council released a new study revealing that the U.S. meetings industry directly supports 1.7 million jobs, a $106 billion contribution to GDP, $263 billion in spending, $60 billion in labor revenue, $14.3 billion in federal tax revenue and $11.3 billion in state and local tax revenue. The study, conducted by PwC US! , assisted by a team of industry researchers, spanned more than a year in research and analysis and is the first‐ever study of the size and scope of its kind. The research quantifies the economic contributions made by the 1.8 million meetings, trade shows, conventions, congresses, incentive events and other meetings that take place across the country.

Power of Exhibitions in the 21st Century  - CEIR completed this study in two phases that was designed to “Identify, Discover and Embrace Change from the Point of View of Young Professionals” and with the goal of identifying how to better attract young professionals to industry exhibitions and events.  The purpose of this generationally-designed research program is to help the exhibition industry to:

  • Get into the heads” of each generation they wish to target to understand its values, attitudes, and motivations, especially regarding exhibitions
  • Incorporate generational strategy into the planning and production of their events
  • Effectively market their exhibitions in a manner that will effectively excite and lure all targeted generations

Study supported by:

champion freeman NAB

 

An Analysis of Changes in the Key Factors Affecting Exhibit Recall in the Last Decade  - CEIR contracted with Exhibit Surveys to develop the study to analyze insights into the recall factors of attendees being able to remember a particular exhibit on the show floor. The study finds exhibit retention is important to an exhibitor because it can influence purchasing decisions that are initiated at a later time, and it builds long-term brand awareness equities as well.  Booth size continues to be an automatic recall factor for several reasons:

  • Larger booths are typically well-known companies
  • Larger physical dominance and visibility is memorable
  • Repeated exposure that results from their anchor positions in the highest floor-traffic streams reinforces recall.

Other projects funded by EIF