DALLAS, 23 August 2012 – Today, the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) announces an additional session that will be presented at its Predict Conference on 13 September in New York City. Real-time, expert views and predictions for 2013 on exhibitions in the Communications and IT (IT) and Consumer Goods and Retail Trade (CG) sectors will be presented to exhibition industry executives, debt providers, private equity firms, investment firms, merger and acquisition firms and the general financial community. Predict is the single, essential event for executives in the exhibition industry and financial community for effective and strategic planning in regard to exhibitions in the coming year.

With an uptick in consumer confidence during the past year, there has been a slow but positive economic change in retail trade and consumer goods. This trend is underlined by consumers’ cravings for the latest technologies and communications products and services, and it is predicted to continue. Session moderator and Principal, Uphoff Management Advisory, LLC Tony Uphoff, with panelists Vice President/General Manager, RSA Conferences Sandra Toms LaPedis and President and CEO, Advanstar Communications Joe Loggia, will discuss their views as to what factors may stall this recovery and what exhibition organizers anticipate in the short to mid-term.

"The exhibition industry is at an inflection point. The economy is showing signs of improvement and live events have, for the most part, been able to weather the digital disruption. The impact of new event models and new digital technologies, however, represent both risk and opportunity for exhibition businesses," said Principal of Uphoff Management Advisory, LLC and former CEO of UBM TechWeb Tony Uphoff. "The IT, Communications and Consumer Goods markets serve as key indicators for the overall exhibition industry, and we are very lucky to have three executives from leading organizations and brands on our panel, who will share their perspective on these key industry categories. These experts will provide insights into how they see the trends in their industry sectors and how they are innovating in today's exhibition industry and setting their businesses up for future growth and success."

The expert analysis and industry predictions will underscore how important it is for exhibition organizers to continually keep their exhibitions fresh and appealing to their audience. The rich content shared at Predict will allow organizers to strategically look at their event(s) and learn how new and different models can be applied. Likewise, association show organizers, who are successful partly due to the community they bring together as well as certification, credentialing, and continued education; will find significant value from the real-world examples shared at Predict since association shows are typically slow to change. Knowing how essential change and adaptation is today, Predict will provide the resources and means through goal mapping and competitive threat analysis to bring about these changes.

About Predict
CEIR Predict, which will be held on Thursday, 13 September 2012 at 10 on the Park at the Time Warner Center in New York City. Predict uses the CEIR Index as the foundation for the event and for providing an objective measure of the annual performance of the exhibition industry, measuring year-over-year changes and predictions through 2014. Attendees will interact with presenters and colleagues throughout the day to share best practices, ideas and future strategies including projected event growth, merger and acquisition strategies and planned launches. Attendance is limited to exhibition organizer executives, merger and acquisition firms, private equity firms, debt providers, investment firms and the financial press to allow for an intimate, high-level idea exchange about the future of the exhibition industry and implications for specific business sectors and their supporting exhibitions. To apply for Predict, visit www.ceir.org/predict. Join the conversation on CEIR Predict’s LinkedIn Group: http://www.linkedin.com/groups/CEIR-Predict-3972209?trk=myg_ugrp_ovr and follow CEIR on Twitter at #CEIR.

CEIR sincerely appreciates the support it has received from sponsors of this year’s Predict.

Title Sponsors
•    Global Experience Specialists (GES)
•    Visit Houston

Platinum Sponsors
•    Freeman
•    Orange County Convention Center
•    Visit Orlando

Gold Sponsors
•    Jordan Edmiston Group, Inc.
•    Metro Toronto Convention Centre
•    New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau
•    Reed Exhibitions

Event Sponsors
•    Access Intelligence
•    a2z, Inc.
•    bXb Online
•    Convention News Television (CNTV)
•    Experient
•    Georgia World Congress Center
•    Global Spectrum
•    Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
•    McCormick Place/SMG
•    Trade Show Executive
•    Wyndham Jade

For more information about CEIR Predict visit www.ceir.org/predict or contact Executive Director Cathy Breden, CAE, CMP at cbreden@ceir.org or +1 (972) 687-9201.
 


About CEIR
CEIR serves to advance the growth, awareness and value of exhibitions and other face-to-face marketing events by producing and delivering knowledge-based research tools that enable stakeholder organizations to enhance their ability to meet current and emerging customer needs, improve their business performance and strengthen their competitive position. For additional information, visit www.ceir.org.
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