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TSEA Announces 2009 Exhibit Management Survey Results

Posted on: Tuesday, 10 March 2009, 12:30 CDT

Spending on trade shows is down, but not drastically

CHICAGO, March 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Trade Show Exhibitors Association (TSEA) today announced results from its 2009 Exhibit Management Survey of nearly 300 professionals who use exhibits, events or face-to-face marketing to promote and sell their products. Overall, budgets for exhibiting and the number of trade shows that exhibitors plan to attend are set to decline in 2009 - but only by about 17% - most likely because trade shows are still a primary means for generating sales leads.

TSEA's Exhibit Management Survey was both anonymous and confidential, and it covered a wide range of topics, from event budget allocation to staff training and salaries. Following are several key findings from the survey. Full results are available online at www.TSEA.org:

• Exhibitors attended an average of 30 trade shows in 2008 and expect to attend 25 in 2009
• Trade shows will account for one third of an organization's overall marketing budget in 2009
• Budgets for exhibiting will decrease from an average $459,100 in 2008 to $381,000 in 2009
• Corporate private event spending will decrease 30% from 2008 to 2009
• Spending for medical/healthcare/pharmaceutical industry events will increase 5% in 2009, but spending for technology shows will decrease 46%
• Only half of exhibitors surveyed offer staff training programs
• The average industry salary was almost 25% higher for males than females

"The 2009 Exhibit Management Survey was a huge success because so many of you took the time to participate, and we really appreciate it," said TSEA President and CEO Margit Weisgal. "What we learned from this survey is that the trade show industry outlook is far from bleak. While spending is down, it is not drastic because the value of trade shows is indisputable -- they produce revenue."

About the Survey

Two hundred ninety-three small, mid-sized and large corporate exhibitors based in North America participated in TSEA's 2009 Exhibit Management Survey, which was comprised of 56 questions and available online at www.zoomerang.com from December 22, 2008, through January 31, 2009. Data tabulation and analyses were provided by Exhibit Surveys, Inc. (ESI).

About TSEA

Since 1966, TSEA has been providing knowledge to marketing and management professionals who use exhibits, events and face-to-face marketing to promote and sell their products, as well as to those who supply them with products and services. Members benefit from access to education, networking, resources, advocacy and member-only discounts on products and services that all exhibit and event professionals use. TSEA is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and regional chapters exist throughout the United States and Canada. For more information, please visit www.TSEA.org.

SOURCE Trade Show Exhibitors Association

Source: PR Newswire

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