INSPIRE EX 2014 a success for EEAA

Stormy weather didn’t impede the success of the Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia’s (EEAA) presence at last week's Inspire EX 2014 at Sydney Exhibition Centre @ Glebe Island.

EEAA Chief Executive Joyce DiMascio said it was the first event at Sydney Exhibition Centre @ Glebe Island that EEAA had participated in as an exhibitor and the experience lived up to the feedback the Association has received on the benefits of exhibiting at this venue.

DiMascio stated “we had a series of goals for our participation in the event and we were very pleased with the outcomes – strong leads for membership growth, face-to-face meetings with our members, delivery of a successful professional development program and supporting Inspire EX through the seminar program.

“The venue produces a vast amount of natural light that really shows off your stand and your products.

“Many EEAA Members were exhibiting and the quality of stands was outstanding. While there are challenges associated with the temporary site, with good planning and adaptation these can be accommodated.”

Part of the EEAA Inspire EX program included a professional development seminar for the industry’s Young Stars. EEAA secured a top line-up of experts in the fields of sales, marketing and business development.

Seminar panellists included Malu Barrios, General Manager, Sydney Exhibition Centre @ Glebe Island; Ruby Chronis, Director - Sales & Marketing, Australian Technology Park; Ian Ferguson, Business Development Manager – Exhibitions, Harry the Hirer; Rebecca Hughes, Strategic Business Development Manager, Sydney Showground; and James Laing, Head of Sponsorship & Insights, Diversified Communications Australia.

DiMascio said the seminar touched on the challenges faced in the sales and business development role post GFC, the strategies involved in developing sales leads, pitching for business and closing the deal, and the importance of networking with industry peers.

She added “the seminar was highly interactive and we have had positive feedback from attendees who left with an enhanced skill set and a renewed approach to their work.

“Our younger employees are the future of our industry and it is important to invest time in their development through programs such as the EEAA Young Stars initiative.”

DiMascio also participated as a panellist in The Future of Events seminar on day two of Inspire EX alongside David Grant, Stuart Gregor, Daniel Cookson, Elsita Meyer-Brandt and Roslyn McLeod.

She concluded “the session was facilitated by Matt Jones and it identified a wide-range of trends and issues affecting the Australian events industry.

“We received a lot of positive participant feedback – the content was challenging, fresh and with an eye to the future.”

With all events there are always lessons for organisers – EEAA will be advocating that Inspire EX organisers revisit their floor plan in 2015 to find a better solution and build for the seminar spaces which were compromised by noise travelling between the two concurrent seminars.

The temporary exhibition centre is not a conference centre so it is important to factor this into the design of spaces especially for the seminars that are held within the exhibition.

EEAA Members were also recognised in the Inspire EX Spice Stand Awards.

Doltone House received the Best Large Stand award while Members Australian Technology Park and Decorative Events & Exhibitions were recognised as finalists in this category – all these stands were designed by EEAA Member, Decorative Events & Exhibitions. EEAA Member Van Den Berg Design Team was also recognised for their creativity as a finalist in the Best Small Stand category (exhibiting as Engagency).

Inspire EX Spice Stand Awards winners and finalists:

Best Small Stand
• AV1 – winner
• Engagency
• Pop up studio
• Verve creative
• Merlin Events
• Bells at Killcare

Best Large Stand:
• Doltone House – winner
• Sydney Prop Specialists
• ExhibitionCo
• Angelic Events & Design
• Decorative Events & Exhibitions
• Australian Technology Park

Image shows EEAA Young Stars and Committee Members at Inspire Ex.

8th August 2014 - INSPIRE EX SECURES STARS FROM THE VOICE TO SHOWCASE TOP CORPORATE ENTERTAINMENT