By Hilarie Carpenter, CTA

ASM Global’s Kathy Bart, an IAVM member and Director of Sales & Event Services for DeVos Place Convention Center, has been named “Best Supplier” in Michigan Meetings + Events magazine’s 2020 Hall of Fame.

Michigan Meetings + Events’ Hall of Fame honors professionals who are making their mark in the meetings and events industry. In Kathy’s role at DeVos Place, she is responsible for growing and managing the business strategies at national, regional, and local levels. She works collectively with Experience Grand Rapids, the West Michigan Sports Commission and area hotels in filling the event calendar and oversees the coordinating team to execute events ranging from holiday parties to major corporate and large annual association events.

Bart has been active with Michigan Society of Association Executives (MSAE) through committee work, facilitating certification classes and leading sessions at annual conventions. Bart can also be seen at Grand Valley State University where she speaks to students in the Hospitality program as well as at DeVos Place where she assists professors with on-site learning opportunities. Bart has been a part of the ASM Global (formerly SMG) team for 22 years. Starting with the company in the Van Andel Arena and DeVos Performance Hall box office, she transitioned into the DeVos Place sales department in 2004. She was named Director of Sales in 2008, and her role expanded to include Event Services in 2018.

“I’m extremely honored to be a part of the Hall of Fame alongside many outstanding professionals in this industry,” Bart said. “We continue to work our hardest in Grand Rapids to showcase all that the city has to offer, and take pride in the way that our staff at DeVos Place and all of our partners work together to create the best possible experience for our clients.”

Michigan Meetings + Events’ magazine also recently released the winners of their Best of 2020 Awards. These annual awards provide an opportunity for industry professionals to vote on the best professionals and organizations within the meeting and events industry each year. DeVos Place’s hotel partner and exclusive food and beverage provider, Amway Grand Plaza, Curio Collection by Hilton, was voted “Best Hotel with Meeting/Event Space (200 or More Guest Rooms)” and Bluewater, DeVos Place’s preferred audio/visual provider, was named “Best A/V Provider.” DeVos Place was voted runner up for “Best Convention Center” this year, an honor awarded to the ASM Global-managed TCF Center in Detroit. DeVos Place was voted “Best Convention Center” in Michigan Meetings + Events’ Best of 2017 Awards. For a complete list of Michigan Meetings + Events’ 2020 Hall of Fame and Best of 2020 Awards winners, visit MI.MeetingsMags.com.

Hilarie Carpenter, CTA, is Director of Marketing for ASM Global – Van Andel Arena, DeVos Place & DeVos Performance Hall.

Voting is now open and will remain so through July 17, 2020 at midnight CST. The complete slate including biographical information and photos can be viewed on the IAVM web site.  Our voting process has changed with the introduction of a new nomination/application process for sector directors.  The ballot you will see this year will only include the Second Vice Chair election, and if you identified as one of the following sectors: Allied, Arenas, or Universities you will find the election for that Sector Director.  At most, you will be voting for two incoming positions on the 2020 – 2021 Board of Directors.

PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL:  All voting members should have already received an email titled “2020-2021 IAVM Board of Directors Election-login information below”. The email contains a generated user name and password to use when logging in to submit votes.  If you haven’t received the email, please contact Rosanne Duke via email or by calling 972.538.1025.

As in the past, the ballot is available through Survey & Ballot Systems allowing complete confidentiality and security to our members.  The results of the voting will be posted following the closing of the ballot on July 17. 

 

By Mary Tucker

The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) released the results of its latest poll tracking the impact COVID-19 is having on the U.S. business-to-business (B2B) exhibition industry during a recent free webinar.

“The persistence of COVID-19 and the uncertainty of whether events can take place in their scheduled destinations are forcing an increasing number of U.S. B2B exhibition organizers to either postpone their events to late 2020/early 2021 or cancel them entirely,” noted CEIR CEO Cathy Breden, CMP, CAE, CEM. “This trend is devastating to an industry that contributed over $101 billion to the U.S. GDP last year. CEIR provides valuable impact information to both Exhibitions Mean Business and the Go LIVE Together initiatives for use in advocating for the industry to Congress.”

CEIR Vice President of Research Nancy Drapeau, PRC added, “The top two reasons speak to the chaos of the current situation, as 74% of those forced to cancel say the lack of clarity in knowing whether large group meetings will be allowed to take place at the scheduled time due to state and local lockdown orders prompted them to this decision. IMTS scheduled to take place in Chicago is a prime example. In addition, many organizers (69%) attribute the persistence of corporate ‘no travel’ policies and the impact they might have on participation levels as a reason for foregoing a 2020 in-person event.”

Exhibition organizers are doing all that they can to defend the health of their organizations and serve the needs of their communities in the midst of this crisis. A new question CEIR’s June survey posed to organizers that have postponed an event is whether they have added a hybrid or virtual component to these events. Responses reflect that 63% have, with 44% giving attendees the option to attend in-person or virtually and the same percentage (44%) having a virtual event backup plan in the event they are forced to cancel at the last minute.

Among organizers forced to cancel 2020 events, the shift to digital has grown to 81%, compared to 69% in the April survey. What is most notable is the increase in full virtual trade shows, 41% compared to 15% in the April survey.

The June survey also profiles data on gross revenues retained and gained from efforts to move participants of canceled events to digital options or other face-to-face (F2F) events offered by an organizer. It also explores the revenue outlook for virtual events, whether there was a fee to attend, and whether these organizers sought revenues via sponsorship and virtual booth sales. Lastly, it quantifies which tactics and strategies executives plan to undertake moving forward, in a post-COVID world.

This webinar also provides commentary and case study sharing by two event organizers who participated in the event: Brian Cuthbert, Group Vice President of Diversified Communications and Rochelle Richardson, CEM, Senior Vice President, Exposition and Event Services at AVIXA InfoComm USA. Richardson shared lessons learned from the recent launch of AVIXA’s virtual event, InfoComm 2020 Connected, that took place two weeks ago.

CEIR’s most recent survey was fielded on 9-21 June 2020, inviting executives with oversight of U.S. B2B exhibitions run or managed by their organizations to respond. A total of 169 executives participated, similar to the level of participation generated in the April survey, which includes a sample of 164 executives. The June sample was generated from qualified members from the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), the Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO), and Trade Show News Network (TSNN) subscribers.

A full report of survey results is available in the webinar deck downloadable at no cost on the CEIR online store. Click here to download the full webinar presentation.

Be sure to save the date for CEIR’s next webinar on 15 July 2020, which is also free to attend. During this webinar – moderated by CEIR CEO Cathy Breden, CMP, CAE, CEM – CEIR Economist Dr. Allen Shaw will update his perspective on COVID-19’s impact on the U.S. economy and B2B exhibition industry. Click here to register.

The annual CEIR Predict Conference will be held 22 September 2020 at the MGM National Harbor, just outside Washington, D.C. Predict will provide insights into the performance of the exhibitions industry and a forecast through year-end, along with an economic presentation by Alex Chausovsky of ITR Economics discussing how world events are expected to impact the global economy. Registration for the CEIR Predict Conference is now open, and complete details are available here.

Mary Tucker is Sr. PR/Communications Manager for CEIR.

Today, we are announcing that we are back, we are stronger than ever, and we are COMMITTED to getting and giving to the POWERFUL WOMEN in the industry. Starting today…right now… we are getting back together to continue what we started – 100+ WOMEN of IAVM | DONATE 100+.

Launched four years ago by your IAVM Foundation, the 100 + WOMEN of IAVM Campaign 2020 is committed to generating funds for five (5) women, one from each sector, to attend VenueConnect conference and two (2) women to attend AVSS (one woman for each year). The idea is simple – 100+ Women (or Men) each giving $100 (or any other amount), which means $10,000+ each year! 

Together we will bring $10,000+ annually to this amazing initiative, and change six women’s lives.  So commit right now and be the catalyst to change the future of women in our industry!

There is a new generation of female students, young professionals, and future female leaders, and this is OUR chance to help these women in our industry further develop their career and skill set. Support your IAVM Foundation and your industry by making a donation today. The process is fast, easy, and secure… and you can be sure that it will benefit a great cause.  CLICK HERE to donate!

Thank you to Kerry Painter, CVE, CEM, CMP, for announcing our 2020 launch with THIS VIDEO!

Here is a list of the 2019 100+ Women of IAVM investors!

Aaron Biggs

Abbie Lady

Adina Erwin

Alexis Berggren

Amanda Horning

Amy Rahja

Andriana Magness

Andryn Arithson

Anne Wheat Castro

Annie Wilson

Ashley Schneider

Barbara Hubbard

Barry Strafacci

Beth Wade

Bob Hotaling

Brad Mayne

Brent Hodson

Caitlin Sevener

Carisa Norton

Carol Moore

Carol Wallace

Carrie Reynolds

Chris Hunjas

Chris Whitney

Chrissie Bertsch

Christy Castillo Butcher

Cindy Harper

Courtney Holcomb

Cyndee Pennington

Cynthia Mellow

Dan Concepcion

Daniel Huerta

Danielle Hernandez

Donna Dowless

Donna Julian

Donna Miller-Brown

Eades Kathryn

Ebony Hattix

Elisa Putman

Elizabeth Ishihara

Emma Schenkenberger

Erin Jepson

Evelyn Ingram

Greg Wolfe

Heather Lightsey

Heather McAvoy

Jacque Holowaty

Jana Brooks

Jason Blackwell

Jennifer Norris

Joan LeMahieu

JoAnn Armstrong

Jodi Cobalt

Jody Ulich

Joe Levy

John Bolton

John Rhamstine

John Siehl

Joyce Leveston

Julia Slocombe

Julie Johnson

Julie Pazina

Justin Aquino

Karen Hoffman

Karen Totaro

Katie Rodrigues

Kelly Biscopink

Kelly Hadsall

Kerry Painter

Kevin & Shannon Duvall

Khori Girard Currie

Kim Bedier

Kimberly Mahoney

Kristie Haney

Lara Verdone

Laura Lenhart

Laura Womack

Lauren Dugan

Leslee Stewart

Linda Deckard

Lisa Elliott

Lisa Thomason

Lori Garza

Lorraine Dimun

Lucy Hoffman

Lynda Reinhart

Lynn Cannon

Lynne Smith

Mark Eddy

Martha Henderson

Mary Lewis

Matt Balk

Maura Gast

Michael Marion

Michele Powell

Michele Swann

Michelle Bradley

Michelle Menningmann

Michelle Puckett

Monica Vera

Nancy Steele

Pam DeVille

Pam Matthews

Pam Plageman

Peggy Daidakis

Robyn Williams

Rosanne Duke

Sarah Kate Rogers

Shannon Terrill

Shura Garnett

Soraida Cross

Stacey Church

Stephen Battaglio

Suzanne Goodman

Tammy Koolbeck

Tammy Turnipseed

Terry Genovese

Tiffany Vickaryous-Hubbard

Tom and Betsy Cornwall

Troy Thorn

By R.V. Baugus

When the Monster Energy AMA Supercross was shut down after completing 10 of its scheduled 17 races this past March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no finish line in sight for the conclusion of the FIM World Championship event.

So, when Feld Entertainment announced that the racing would resume on May 31 at Rice-Eccles Stadium on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, not only was there a huge exhaled sigh of relief from those involved, but for the industry as a whole and for Aaron White and his team in particular.

“We have a great relationship with Feld,” said White, who serves as director of Rice-Eccles Stadium/Jon M. Huntsman Center. “I’ve been here 26 years and have spent time over those years playing in the mud and digging bikes out of the mud. My relationship with Dave Prater (executive director of Supercross) goes back to 2001 and a number of groups made it possible that we would resume Supercross.”

The seven races concluded on June 21 and took place on Sunday and Wednesday beginning on May 31. The final seven made-for-tv races were broadcast on NBC networks without fans in attendance. The Utah Sports Commission, a longtime partner of Supercross, coordinated the race’s return to Utah, where finals were scheduled to be held.

“Then the COVID hit and everything got canceled,” White said. “That was on May 2 for us. Then I got a call the second week of May from Sue Quinlan, Feld’s booking director, asking if we would be interested in hosting the seven televised races with no fans.”

White noted the Utah Sports Commission’s partnership as well and that after visiting with Jeff Robbins, the commission’s president and CEO, things got closer to the event taking place.

“When the University closed we did not want to be seen as taking the front seat in this,” White explained. “The sports commission stepped up and they became the primary sponsor for the event. Between Jeff working the political side and my working with Supercross, we put together the start plan and how we would manage riders. Basically, it was estimated 900 people would be here for each event. Getting them all tested (for COVID), getting them all in and out would go into the plan. We did that and started moving in on May 15.”

There were still hurdles to clear including selling the event to the University’s administration and working with various health department agencies.

“We had to get everybody to sign off on it,” White said. “The state health department had to say yay or nay. It fell to Jefferson Burton, who is now the director of our state department and was appointed at the time of the outbreak. It was basically the governor (Gary Herbert) and General Burton saying we are doing it.”

White said the logistics of getting dirt on the field and what the tracks would look like took care of itself. The more intense issues would be getting people into the venue, “so we required everybody be tested before they came onsite. People were flying in to the state and all had to be tested and have a negative test before they were allowed in.”

On the opening race day, all who entered filled out a questionnaire that asked about COVID symptoms. Any positive answers resulted in individuals meeting with an onsite medical group that would do a follow-up and determine whether admittance would be allowed. From there, it was on to will call, where individuals provided their names that would show up on a database.

“We knew every single person on site,” White said. “They got a wrist band and were allowed to go to the gates where they would have their temperature taken and depending on that allowed in or not.”

The next morning, attendees cut off their wristbands and completed the paperwork once more in order to get banded for the second race. Testing was not required again. White estimated that some 1,300 people in total were tested, including riders, their families, and other essential workers.

White said that one immediate necessity was the creation of a safety committee that consisted of White, his operations manager, Feld’s safety officer and legal counsel, health department, and emergency response team.

“We realized right away it was taking too long to communicate changes in the plan and things that were happening,” White said. “So, we initiated the safety committee and met on Monday and Friday each week. We discussed what had happened at the previous event and what things we were doing to prepare for the upcoming event. That committee became invaluable because we were able to share information among all the power people that was delivered directly. We had the COVID thing we were dealing with and had a positive test come back and had to isolate and do some different things, but the plan worked exactly the way it was designed.”

As any venue manager worth his building’s keys will tell you, it is a life of preparing for the unexpected. Turns out this event was no different.

“We dealt with the positive test, we had a lightning storm come through and had to do a lightning delay,” White said. “The delay passed and we thought we were good but then lightning hit a sub-station about five miles away and knocked our power out. It fried a bunch of stuff so we had to react to that.

“Then we had the protests the day before a race. It got intense and then there were protests the day of the race. We had about 2,500 protestors right below our paddock. We had one other race where the skies just opened up and ended up with mud and water everywhere.

“Dave was like, ‘you’re sitting in a table top exercise and going, OK, let’s just make a list of things that can go wrong at the event and discuss how we would deal with them.’ I think we put a check in every box.”

Still, White said it was a great event that brought $13 million to the Salt Lake area.

“As a University, you look at seven events like that and think, oh, we’re going to make a ton of money. Well, a lot of that money comes from concessions and ticket sales. It wasn’t so much about us making money as it was about us being able to pull people back off of furlough and put them to work and do what we do. That’s what it was about.”

SX 2020 Quick Facts

Event Timeline:
 Friday May 15th to Wednesday June 24th (35 days)
 Seven Televised Events
– Sunday May 31st
– Wednesday June 3rd
– Sunday June 7th
– Wednesday June 10th
– Sunday June 14th
– Wednesday June 17th
– Sunday June 21st
Events Facts:
 546 Dump Truckloads of dirt
 62 Semi trucks race teams and event
 3000 linear feet of fence
 250 bike barricade
 62 hand sanitization stations
 Tested 1376 individuals for Covid 19
 Follow up tested 19
 Managed one Positive
 Denied access to 26 individuals per an answer on the questionnaire
 Denied access to 13 individuals per symptom check at the gate
 Average 846 staff and teams on site throughout the event
 Concessions staff provided an estimated 5500 meals for staff, promoter, and Broadcast
 Generated an estimated $13 million for the Utah economy
Issues Encountered and Managed during the Event:
 Covid 19 Pandemic
– Implementation of Prevention Plan
– Testing Coordination State, County, National Guard, four locations
– Employees not wanting to come back to work
 Set up and management of an RV park in the guardsman lot
 Protests and Riots
 Power outage
 Weather
– Lightning Delay
– Rain for two races storm water and mud