Issued by: The Exhibitions and Events Association


EXSA Chief Executive Sharon Peetz says: “As South Africa has become part of the world stage for exhibitions and events, membership of a professional Association is imperative. We have become the formal point of reference for new organisers and suppliers - also accommodating enquiries from world markets through international Associations. It is everyone's right to be a member, and will therefore receive the relevant recognition and benefits, including opportunities to access business leads from both the public and private sectors that may be placed with the Association. Compliance is a critical issue for membership of the Association, including for matters such as safety and security which could impact on the liability of the organiser with consequences between them and their exhibitors. In the interest of our industry we advise all organisers and contractors to permanently uphold the basic rules and regulations of compliance in word and deed.”

A more assertive marketing campaign will further protect and promote member interest, extending to the exhibitions industry, exhibitors and the public at large. Peetz says: “We are tackling member interest with renewed energy, which will increase the significance of the exhibitions and events industry in the marketing communications mix. As a consequence, we will also promote and grow the exhibitions industry. We will alert senior executives in commerce and industry about their responsibility to engage services from member companies, as they receive the support from an association equivalent to associations that represent their own core competences - may that be in engineering, finances, hospitality, retail - to mention a few. The power of one-on-one communication is most evident in our industry.”

EXSA recognises member excellence in their respective fields of competence and supports them in their quest for continued quality and creativity in an exciting industry. The Association also encourages collaboration between members to strengthen their collective brand, and ultimately that of the Association. Peetz says that an Association priority is to showcase world class standards and services through the performance of its members and, in so doing, protect the interests of exhibitors and visitors.

“Skills development is strategic to our member performance,” says Peetz. “Exhibitor training has since long been intrinsic to our educational programme, and we benchmark on the Services SETA for guidance. Assessor training is compulsory with a three day workshop and examination which is not accessible to non-members.”

EXSA also hosts annual awards at which member companies receive accolades for outstanding delivery. Exhibitions and stands are judged by professionals in the marketing communications industry which encourages member companies towards healthy competition. Categories include organisers, employees, venues and suppliers as well as special awards for outstanding performance.

“Ongoing research, both formal and informal, provides for greater transparency of the value of the industry as part of business tourism,” says Peetz. “As we move towards large scale events such as the World Cup 2010, we will be able to share important new statistics with our members as research is not a once-off activity for our Association. We have excellent sources of information, including tourism, the DTI and various Chambers of Commerce. Our collective basket of information, including insights to the Export Marketing and Investment Assistance Scheme is shared with our members, which places them a few steps ahead of non-members."

EXSA is also an active publisher of information, with more than 30,000 copies of its diary, newsletter and directives for organisers and exhibitors and thousands of impressions on its website - also by marketers in search of accredited exhibitions and event organisers and suppliers.

Peetz says that it urges members to use the EXSA brand on their own marketing collateral. “We represent a symbol of quality and integrity and the market wants to support proven brands thus reducing their risk profile. The benefits of membership are also obvious in our facilitation initiatives. For example, if necessary we mediate on behalf of members to resolve disputes, thus introducing synergies and positive effects on the industry. We also facilitate networking opportunities, where members are informed of industry developments and arrange for rebates of up to 20% on specific travel and tourism initiatives, including special rates with British Airways as our official travel partner.”

To further grow the industry EXSA also encourages the introduction of new exhibitions, and has facilitated a 20% discount for organisers on all exhibitions and events to be held at the Expo Centre (Nasrec). Complimentary booth space has also been offered by Contact Publications at leading business tourism trade shows, thus raising the profile of EXSA members through the distribution of the member diary to international markets.

“Our cooperation with marketing-related associations provides for a collective opportunity for members to secure new business from the market place,” concludes Peetz.

Visit our PRESS OFFICE: EXSA - The Exhibitions and Events Association of Southern Africa - was established in 1980 as a non-profit organisation. EXSA is the official and recognised Association of the exhibition industry in Southern Africa, providing credibility and status for its members. EXSA aims to both protect and promote the exhibition industry.- more....

[5 Sep 2008 10:42]

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