by  Douglas Ducate, CEM, CMP
President and CEO
CEIR

The third edition of the CEIR Predict conference saw more than 150 industry executives spend a day at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City focusing on the outlook for the exhibition industry over the next three years. Discussions were held among some of the largest stakeholders in the industry leading sectors as reported by the CEIR Index Report. The general conclusion was 2013 will not be a very exciting year with just over one percent growth projected for the year. The outlook for 2014 and 2015 is much brighter if some of the more onerous political differences can be resolved on a timely basis without negatively impacting the economy.

The stage was set by Austin Kim, Senior Economist of Bain & Company’s Macro Trend Group . The sector discussions followed throughout the day. His session can be viewed by clicking here.

Two new features were added this year. City Talk was a featured session with the mayors of four major destinations, Baltimore, Dallas, Houston and Orlando. All four demonstrated a remarkable knowledge of our industry and recognized the importance of the economic impact our events have on each destination. In the end they made it very clear we are extremely important to their communities … but we aren’t the only important customers.

A second feature was a luncheon program provided by noted author and lecturer Clay Shirky. Copies of his book Here Comes Everybody were distributed to the audience. Following his presentation, a scintillating conversation between Mr. Shirky and John Graham, President and CEO of ASAE took place. To view Mr. Shirky and John Graham session please click here.  For all other session videos, including M&A session and City Talk, please click here.

Predict Conference is made possible by our sponsors:

Title Sponsors:

• Global Experience Specialists (GES)
• Visit Houston

Platinum Sponsors:

• Freeman
• McCormick Place/SMG
• Orange County Convention Center
• Visit Orlando

Gold Sponsors:

• New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Reed Exhibitions

Event Sponsors:

• 4imprint
• Access Intelligence
• Ascend Integrated Media
• a2z, Inc.
• bXb Online
• Convention News Television (CNTV)
• Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau
• DoubleDutch
• Experient
• Georgia World Congress Center
• Hargrove
• International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE)
• TVS Design