International Association of Exhibitions and Events Chooses New Orleans

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Erica Papillion
New Orleans CVB
504-566-5019
epapillion@neworleanscvb.com

Sabrina Written
Morial Convention Center
504-582-3023
swritten@mccno.com

Mary Tucker
IAEE
 972-687-9226
mtucker@iaee.com

International Association of Exhibitions and Events Chooses New Orleans
Annual Meeting and Exhibition to take place 6-9 December 2010

NEW ORLEANS – March 20, 2007 – The International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE, formerly IAEM) has confirmed that it will hold its Expo! Expo! Annual Meeting & Exhibition in New Orleans 6-9 December 2010, with an attendance of 2,500.

IAEE’s Board of Directors announced its intention to return to New Orleans with its Annual Expo! Expo! shortly after Hurricane Katrina and was the first meetings and events industry organization to do so. IAEE last met in New Orleans in 1994.

The IAEE meeting and exhibition proves that convention business has returned to New Orleans and will continue to grow. The New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau (NOMCVB), along with the Morial Convention Center, is delighted to host this meeting and is confident that the city of New Orleans will provide the same “flawless” service noted by attendees of the Meeting Professionals International PEC-North America held here in January.

“The New Orleans CVB is thrilled that IAEE has chosen to hold their 2010 meeting in New Orleans,” said Nikki Nicholson, vice president of convention sales for the NOMCVB. “Their dedication to the city is a testament to the IAEE organization. Their attendees will enjoy all New Orleans has to offer—great food, exciting entertainment and world-class exhibition facilities, the last in which IAEE is the international expert.”

IAEE’s Expo! Expo! is the largest and most important face-to-face meeting in the exhibition industry that promotes new products, services, and options, as well as offering education sessions and networking opportunities.

“It's always an honor to host a conference of our industry peers,” said Jill Alexander, director of sales and marketing of the Morial Convention Center-New Orleans. “This is an outstanding opportunity for our entire hospitality industry, and we look forward to doing our part to make sure IAEE has an outstanding experience in our city.”

IAEE was founded in 1928 as the National Association of Exhibition Managers to represent the interests of trade show and exhibition managers. IAEE now represents show organizers who conduct the largest trade shows and exhibitions in the world, as well as managers of 71 percent of U.S. shows that consist of 30,000 square feet or more.

“New Orleans has always played a very important role in the exhibitions and events industry and IAEE is very pleased to have the opportunity to bring the key organizers of the industry back to the city,” comments IAEE President Steven Hacker. “As is always the case when we visit a venue, many of our members discover, and many rediscover, the new business opportunities that the site provides to them. We know this will especially be the case in New Orleans.”

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The New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau (www.neworleanscvb.com) is the driving force behind New Orleans' most important industry, tourism, which generates $5 billion in visitor spending and creates 85,000 jobs. Today the cultural riches, sensual indulgences and unparalleled service that define the New Orleans experience continue to flourish, as they have for centuries. The most celebrated and historic core of the city - including the French Quarter, Central Business District, Warehouse and Arts District, Magazine Street and Garden District - not only remains intact, both physically and spiritually, but is thriving. The New Orleans CVB is proudly welcoming visitors and business travelers every day.

About the Morial Convention Center-New Orleans (MCC)
With 1.1 million square feet of contiguous exhibit space, an award winning staff and first class amenities, the Morial Convention Center-New Orleans (MCC) is the sixth largest convention center in the nation and a consistent Top 10 host of the largest number of conventions and tradeshows annually. A leading rainmaker of the city's hospitality industry, MCC event activity has produced a statewide economic impact of $35.17 billion since its 1985 opening, including $2.03 billion in new tax revenues.

About IAEE
Since 1928, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (formerly the International Association for Exhibition Management, IAEM) continues to provide quality and value to its members through leadership, service, education and strong relationships. IAEE is the largest association of the exhibition and event industry in the world, with a membership of show organizers, exhibitors and exhibition suppliers. Organizers of more than 20,000 exhibitions and buyer-seller events around the world are members of IAEE. Through the 2006 consolidation with the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR), IAEE delivers valuable industry research reports. IAEE also supports IAEM Services, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary that partners with industry suppliers and service providers to offer high quality, low cost exhibition products and services to the industry. For more information, visit www.iaee.com.