Issue link: https://tradeshowexecutive.epubxp.com/i/107551
M O NTH I N R E V I E W CSPI Creates 'Seal of Approval' for Teamwork by Destination Cities Princeton Junction, NJ – A new "seal of approval" has been finalized by Convention Sales Professionals International (CSPI), which recognizes destination cities that demonstrate a close cooperation between their convention centers and destination marketing organizations and an adherence to best practices. The CSPI Seal of Approval measures the effective integration of sales in the applicant cities, and how they excel in four key areas: Convention sales and operations Joint accountability, advocacy and funds and finance Technology deployment and training Conflict resolution. The goal is to provide meeting planners, convention managers and trade show organizers with a guide to cities that will provide them with an efficient and painless sales experience. "The Seal of Approval was created to honor the destinations whose partnership and commitment have led to a seamless customer experience," said CSPI President Cathy Keller. "CSPI members now have a valuable benchmarking tool that can lead to further customer confidence." The Seal of Approval program is open only to CSPI members. Evaluations will be conducted by a review committee and approved by the CSPI board of directors. Applications must be submitted jointly by a city's destination marketing organization and convention center management. Portland, OR, and Spokane, WA were the first two cities to begin the application process. Reach Cathy Keller at (609) 269-2461 or ckeller@cspionline.org 14 February 2013 | Trade Show Executive Nielsen Acquires Sports Licensing and Tailgate Show BY HIL ANDERSON, senior editor Las Vegas, NV – Nielsen Expositions added a fast-growing trade show dedicated to sports licensing and tailgate parties to its portfolio of sports-related events, which have been seeing an increase in licensing activity of their own. Nielsen Holdings N.V. announced in January it acquired Te Sports Licensing & Tailgating Show from ShowProCo, LLC and would add it to Nielsen's roster of established shows with synergism potential, including the Outdoor Retailer brand, Interbike, Health & Fitness Business Expo and Imprinted Sportswear Shows. Te transaction also gives Nielsen the ownership of the Tampa-based Tailgating Industry Association. ShowProCo is a Miami organizing company headed by Stanley Schwartz and Hardy Katz, best known for their leadership on Te Super Show, one of the 50 largest trade shows in the U.S. that ended its run in 2008. ShowProCo will manage the 2013 Tailgating Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center January 17-19 afer which Nielsen will fnalize a plan to incorporate the ShowProCo staf into the Nielsen fold, according to Nielsen Expositions President and CEO David Loechner. Nielsen expects the Tailgating Show to maintain the upward momentum it has experienced in its six years of existence. Te 2012 show reported 59,000 net square feet (nsf) of exhibit space, an 18.4% increase over 2011. Attendance was also up 6.3% to just under 8,000. Te 2013 edition is expected to cover 66,000 nsf. Te growth was cited by ShowProCo last year as part of the reason it was moving from Mandalay Bay to the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) and shifing its January show dates to afer the International Consumer Electronics Show. Te LVCC was also considered to be "more conducive to cooking demos," Show Director Hardy Katz said at the time. (See Trade Show Executive, March 2012 issue). Loechner said the double-digit growth was an established pattern for the Tailgating Show and was appealing to current Nielsen exhibitors that were also involved in the licensing of logos and trademarks. Darryl Denny, senior vice president for business development at Nielsen, said the show was becoming a must-attend for companies and manufacturers that sell a wide range of clothing and other products creatively decorated with emblems from professional and collegiate teams. "Te Sports Licensing and Tailgating Show is a premier trade event and we are very We have a significant amount of licensing activity already taking place at our shows and we are eager to present this opportunity to our clients. Darryl Denny, SENIOR VP FOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, NIELSEN excited to add it to our sports portfolio," he said. "We have a signifcant amount of licensing activity already taking place at our shows and we are eager to present this opportunity to our manufacturing, distribution and retail clients." ShowProCo said in its 2012 show report that 20% of the crowd was made up of distributors and sales rep groups and 19% represented pro and college teams plus their campus book stores and stadium concessionaires. Another 17% represented souvenir and gif shops and 14% were from sporting goods stores. Reach David Loechner at (949) 226-5700 or david.loechner@nielsen.com; Darrell Denny at (949) 226-5700 or darrell.denny@ nielsen.com; Hardy Katz at (305) 893-8771, x107, or hardy@csmipi.com