USA –The organiser of the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC) 2011, running 20 to 23 June at the Austin Convention Center in Austin Texas, has introduced new preventative measures to discourage pirate exhibitors.
Also known as outboarders or suitcases, pirate exhibitors set up stands or kiosks at exhibitions without buying space. Non-affiliated or non-exhibiting vendors may take advantage of a show’s popularity to promote their own wares near the venue or unofficially on the show floor.
“Pirate vendors ultimately damage the overall success of the show for all involved,” said Lucinda Hart, COO of show organiser Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP). “The official exhibitors and service providers spend thousands of dollars to be part of HITEC, and it is our responsibility that they get the best experience possible at the show. Companies that attempt to circumvent the system should be on notice that HFTP will do everything it can to protect the integrity of HITEC.”
Preventative measures include increased security, intensified promotion of the official HITEC exhibitor list, visitor and exhibitor awareness, and aggressive defense of HITEC and HFTP service marks.
“We have found that in most cases, this type of behavior is a simple misunderstanding and is rectified immediately,” said HFTP CEO Frank Wolfe. “At a past HITEC, one particular non-exhibiting vendor was so appalled that his event had impacted the paying vendors in a negative way that he mad a donation to HFTP immediately following the event. He wanted his clients to understand that his organisation did not want to build their business under a cloud of possible unethical behaviours.”
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