New York, NY – The International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) added its voice to the chorus of industry objections to the unilateral granting of January show dates at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center to the New York Boat Show at the expense of trade shows that had already been penciled in.
The IAEE issued a statement August 16 that echoed the assertions of other industry associations, led by the Friends of Javits, that Gov. Andrew Cuomo disregarded the established Javits booking policy and harmed show organizers.
The IAEE, which represents organizers of b-to-b trade shows and consumer shows, said its objections were not intended to pit trade shows against consumer events, but was rather “an issue of trust as well as the need for fair and open reservation policies.” IAEE members include trade shows, consumer shows and venues.
The entire IAEE statement:
IAEE Issues New Policy Statement for Venues Holding Dates, Issuing Licenses for Access and Space
“In recent days, there has been considerable industry news coverage about New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s decision to move the dates of the New York Boat Show produced by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) at Javits Convention Center causing other shows to be displaced. As a result, IAEE’s Board of Directors has issued a policy statement and letter to the governor on behalf of its members. In effect, IAEE confirmed its support of the position of the Friends of Javits with regard to their position on the New York Boat Show and noted that this is not an issue of trade events versus public events but rather, it is an issue of trust, as well as the need for fair and open reservation policies for holding dates and issuing licenses for facility access and space.
“The governor’s decision was made without any advance notice or opportunity for discussions by all the impacted parties, which was especially onerous given that Javits has a clear policy for evaluating shows at the Javits Center. Additionally, it was noted that exhibitions and events have a tremendous impact on cities, and when dates that are selected to best serve specific industries’ buying cycles, this jeopardizes the future for exhibition organizers to consider New York as a viable destination. Probably more important is that the governor’s decision will impact jobs that support the shows.
“IAEE supports local venue policies that determine dates and licenses based on due process, fairness and without bias or favoritism, with consideration of the economic impact of an event, including stimulating the growth of the local economy. When Governor Cuomo responds, IAEE members will be updated.”
Reach IAEE President David DuBois at (972) 687-9204 or ddubois@iaee.com
