Santa Monica, CA – Following last week’s announcement that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo would give preferred dates to the New York Boat Show beginning in January 2015, the Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO) responded Monday by sending a letter supporting the efforts of the Friends of Javits to Gov. Cuomo. Lew Shomer, executive director, SISO, asked Gov. Cuomo to reconsider his decision that will bump six trade shows at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City from January 2015 through January 2019.
MATSO, the Major American Trade Show Organizers, also announced its support of the Friends of Javits by calling on the Javits Center and the New York Governor’s office to reverse its decision. “MATSO agrees that this decision violates the longstanding policy of the Javits Center to schedule exhibitions that maximize their economic impact on the city and the state of New York,” according to a statement from MATSO.
Friends of Javits, a group of 50 trade show organizers, is scheduled to meet with the administration at the governor’s midtown Manhattan office later today, according to a spokesman for Friends of Javits.
Below is a copy of the SISO and MATSO letter.
Reach Lew at (310) 450-8831, ext. 106, or lshomer@shomex.com; Meg Ellacott, executive director, MATSO, at (302) 260-9487 or meg@matso.org
The Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO) Weighs in on Governor Cuomo; Warns Governor He is Sinking the Exhibition Industry in New York City
August 12, 2013
Dear Governor Cuomo:
This past week, you and your administration announced actions that contravene the trust the exhibition industry has had in New York for decades and, as Executive Director for the 165 members of the Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO), I must voice the disappointment of my members for a decision that will have far reaching impact on the future revenues from exhibitions at the Javits Center in New York City.
SISO members organize over 3,500 shows a year, many of which are at the Javits, and in the past have trusted Javits to be fair and consistent with their policies of holding dates and issuing licenses for their shows. For a government official to interfere with such policies is unconventional and sets a terrible precedent that effectively prohibits organizers from establishing consistency regarding their future events at Javits. The shows that you have harmed with your decision have been productive revenue producers for the City and State of New York for decades and it is unconscionable to understand how you can proceed with a decision to dismiss this history and potential revenue without understanding the consequences of your uninformed decision to move the Boat Show dates.
SISO supports the efforts of the Friends of Javits in asking you to reconsider this decision and better prepare yourself as to the consequences of such a self-defeating act of undue authority with a meeting that will surely advise you that this decision is not in the best interests of the economy of the State or City of New York, nor in the best interests of considering Javits as a destination for show organizers.
Thank you for your consideration in this matter and I hope that you and the Friends of Javits can come to a more balanced and fair resolution that reflects the past history of judicious management at the Javits.
Respectfully yours,
Lewis R. Shomer
Executive Director
Society of Independent Show Organizers
P: 877-YES-SISO
Statement of Support
The Major American Trade Show Organizers (MATSO)
“MATSO, The Major American Trade Show Organizers is in support of the Friends of Javits in calling on the Javits Center and the Governor’s office to reverse its decision that will displace six major trade shows at the Jacob Javits Convention Center starting this winter. MATSO agrees that this decision violates the longstanding policy of the Javits Center to schedule exhibitions that maximize their economic impact on the City and the State of New York.
“The Friends of Javits stated, ‘Over the coming days and weeks, we intend to work cooperatively with the Javits Center and the Governor’s office to address this matter. We remain confident that we will be able to reach a solution that benefits all involved, and we urge the Javits Center to reconsider this unprecedented decision that violates years of policy.’ MATSO is concerned that this could set a precedent for other first-tier cities and convention centers as well and joins the Friends of Javits in its effort to have this decision reversed.
“MATSO, www.matso.org, is comprised of some of the largest trade show organizers in America. Because larger trade shows have separate sets of challenges and issues that are inherent in larger events, MATSO was formed in 1985 to address those issues. The association plays an active industry role in representing the unique interests and viewpoints of larger events.”
Chairman of the Board, Chris Nemchek, Specialty Food Association, and
The Board of Directors of the Major American Trade Show Organizers
Prepared and disseminated on behalf of the MATSO Board of Directors by Meg Ellacott, Executive Director
