Double Decks Unlimited to Close after 14 Years in Business

This is a surprising item posted on the Exhibitor Web site…


Double Decks Unlimited, Inc. has decided to close their doors after 14 years in business. "Our rental inventory has kept us afloat for the last few years but without the balance of rentals and purchased decks we're forced to make this very difficult decision" said Lisa Campbell, President.

As a result, their entire rental inventory is now available for sale. This includes columns, beams, struts, joists, stairs, landings, guardrail, handrail and skids with castors.

"I want to thank all my friends and colleagues who have supported us over the years. Ellie and I will miss working with everyone, especially on the complicated projects we've been involved in. Creative designers have always kept us developing new construction solutions."

Double Decks Unlimited, Inc. will officially close on April 15, 2010. Future builds will be considered on a per project basis. The above e-mail address will be way to contact them after that date.

E-mail Lisa at  lisa@doubledecks.com  for details and a complete component list


Best of luck Lisa!

Exhibitors misled at Expo! Expo!

IAEE and The International Center for Exhibitor and Event Marketing admonish construct Data Publishers a.s. for improperly soliciting, misleading exhibitors

 

DALLAS, 24 March 2010 - The International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) and The International Center for Exhibitor and Event Marketing (The Center) have issued a warning to all members and exhibitors of Expo! Expo! IAEE's Annual Meeting & Exhibition after confirming indisputable evidence from several sources that Construct Data Publishers a.s. from Slovakia is actively and improperly soliciting exhibitors to participate in its fair guide "free listing."

The advertising solicitation is very cleverly composed and misleading. The offer is not a free listing at all but is an advertising order that if completed and signed, imposes a three-year-long advertising obligation costing the exhibitor several thousands of dollars.

IAEE President Steven Hacker, CAE, said, "IAEE vigorously condemns the activities of Construct Data Publishers a.s., and believes it constitutes an unfair infringement and improper intrusion into the business affairs of the IAEE. These illicit practices are confusing and detrimental to the business of IAEE and its members."

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The Wienermobile

Have not seen this in years.

Travel Promotion Act is Now Law

Travel Promotion Act is Now Law

 

DALLAS - 4 March 2010 - President Obama signed the Travel Promotion Act today which represents an enormous victory for the exhibitions, meetings and travel industries. The legislation, led by the lobbying efforts of the U.S. Travel Association and dozens of supporting organizations, including IAEE, took almost three years to pass through Congress.

 

"All IAEE members who visited Washington D.C., who talked with, wrote and called their Congressional representatives and senators share in this important victory," says IAEE President Steven Hacker, CAE. "Working in tandem with our partners across the industry ensured that our messages were both heard and acted upon. It is now time to go about the work of recapturing international market share for the business travelers who are so important to our domestic trade shows and events."

 

In the last decade, the U.S. lost substantial ground in the global travel market to other nations. The economic loss to the nation is estimated to be in excess of billions. Now that the Travel Promotion Act is law, the U.S. will have a source of travel promotion support for the first time.

 

The Act creates a public-private Corporation for Travel Promotion that will be supervised by the U.S. Department of Commerce and will also interact with the Departments of State and Homeland Security. An 11-member board will be created representing a broad cross-section of interests that depend upon international travelers. An executive director will run the day-to-day operations of the corporation that will create marketing and communications programs designed to attract more international visitors.

 

No taxpayer dollars will be used to support the corporation. Funding will be provided by both a new fee that will be paid by foreign travelers who are exempt from paying U.S. visa fees and annual private sector contributions.

 

In a related matter, the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) is currently conducting research with Oxford Economics to determine the extent of economic losses to U.S.-based exhibitions arising from the tardy processing or denial of U.S. visas to foreign nationals. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the impact has been substantial. Results of the ground-breaking research will provide additional tools with which to modify U.S. visa and entry policies, thus enabling more business travelers to attend exhibitions and similar events in the United States.

 

For more information about the Travel Promotion Act, visit www.ustravel.org.

Jastrem retires from post as GES President

Jastrem retires from post as GES President
Dykstra to lead GES while search is conducted

PHOENIX — Viad Corp announced that John Jastrem, president of Global Experience Specialists’ business unit, has stepped down from his post and will retire. Paul Dykstra, president, chairman and CEO of GES' parent company Viad will assume the role while a search for his replacement is conducted. The announcement was made on March 22.

Jastrem has led the company since July when he replaced former GES President and CEO Kevin Rabbitt.

"I would like to thank John for his years of service at Viad, first in leading a turnaround at Exhibitgroup/Giltspur and more recently in consolidating and rebranding GES and EG," Dykstra said. “We thank him for his leadership in this role and wish him all the best.”

Dykstra served as president and chief executive office of GES from 2000 to 2006 before being named presidend and chief executive office of parent company, Viad in 2006. Jastrem will be available to the company on a consulting basis to ensure a smooth leadership transition.

“It has been a great experience for me to lead the team in revitalizing the Exhibitgroup/Giltspur organization by installing a client-centric and winning culture,” Jastrem said. “I want to thank all of the employees across Viad who have worked so tirelessly over the past several months to create the combined GES organization and I wish them great success.”