BPA Worldwide-Led Working Group Assists UFI in Creating Audit Rules for Digital Events
August 25, 2021
A working group organized by BPA Worldwide has come up with a solution for a pressing need that surfaced after one of the biggest pandemic pivots. An industry standard for reporting metrics was sorely needed for BPA-audited in-person shows that switched to virtual or hybrid events, along with maintaining status as an event approved by UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry.
BPA iCompli Events provides verification of compliance with UFI industry standards for the measurement of trade show attendees and exhibitors.
“During the pandemic, priority one was to establish a digital presence for events that could no longer be held in-person, but with that done and digital events ended, the data had to be analyzed,” said Glenn J. Hansen, president and CEO of BPA Worldwide. “In that process, it was realized that vendors were not defining activity and metrics to a standard.”
He added that for those organizers wishing to maintain UFI-approved status for their events, there were logical questions as to how to count attendees and exhibitors, as there is no physical country within which a digital event is occurring, and digital exhibit space is not measured in square meters or feet.
To address the need, BPA Worldwide formed a digital event metrics working group earlier this year made up of UFI, International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) and the Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO), as well as show organizers, exhibitors and event tech platform partners.
Phase one of the working group’s mission was to recommend amendments to the UFI requirements for UFI-approved events. UFI has now released revised auditing rules that include the recommendations of the digital event metrics working group.
“Now having a standard in place, we have created the definitions and metrics that enable organizers to include audited counts of attendees and exhibitors classified as ‘national’ or ‘international’ for a digital or hybrid event, so they can apply for UFI-approved event status,” Hansen said.
For phase two of the initiative, the group’s intention was to suggest a common and universal interpretation of terms and definitions, and to serve as guidelines for industry players to be more discerning about statistical data released on exhibitions, whether for face-to-face, digital or hybrid models, according to Hansen.
“With hundreds of digital platforms and the reemergence of the industry in a new era, there is a tremendous need to develop industry standards for taxonomy and data formats for digital events similar to what exists for physical events,” he said. “We are following in the footsteps of the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB), which successfully set the standards for the digital advertising industry during its infancy, and, in doing so, helped stabilize and empower the media and marketing industries to thrive during a time of disruptive change.”
Phase two was recently completed, and the recommendations will be released within the next week, Hansen added.
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In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
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OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
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