Association Insight International & European Association Insights Winter 2015 | Page 20

Association Insights | Article Expert Briefing xhibitors, sponsors, who needs them? E John Blaskey You are a trade or professional association – and you’ll be organising conferences and congresses which bring your members together. And of course you will need to attract sponsors and exhibitors not only to underwrite the costs your other activities – but to add texture and interest for your attendees. To maximise the opportunity for both exhibitors and delegates, you may wish to consider a new USA model which more clearly and deliberately segments what people do with their time. Registration – which is generally earlier in the States – is followed by the content stream, lectures, seminars etc., from say 9am to around 11.30am. The exhibition opens at that time allowing many exhibitors to set up beforehand on the same day, and have exclusive access to the delegates between say 11.30am and 3.00pm when the lectures recommence. 20 | Winter 2015 www.associationsnetwork.org