Exhibit and Event Marketers Association (E2MA) has sent a letter of protest, along with a copy of its White Paper on Exhibitor Appointed Contractor (EAC) Fees, to Hanley Wood, show management for the Construct show to be held Sept. 9-12 at Baltimore Convention Center.
In dispute is a $200 fee that Hanley Wood is charging EACs for each exhibitor they are servicing at the tradeshow.
E2MA stated that its complete position on EAC fees is included in its White Paper. In addition, the organization believes Hanley Wood’s policy should be reconsidered for several reasons:
- The policy ultimately penalizes exhibitors who, by selecting their own contractors, are making an effort to gain greater budgetary control and efficiency over their exhibiting process. EACs, who work on very small profit margins, will be forced to pass this additional fee along to the exhibitor.
- Ninety-eight percent of all show managers have effectively managed their events that contain similar numbers of EACs without charging fees. We would assert that there is a much more efficient way to resolve this issue without penalizing your customers, and ours. Alternatives to the EAC Fee are offered in the White Paper.
- If you have any issues with EACs, fees don’t solve the problem. The E2MA represents companies whose very presence helps to [ensure] a higher quality result for your show than otherwise would be possible. We would prefer that you present your concerns to us directly. As reasonable, well-intentioned business people, we are certain that we can assist you to create the results that you desire, again without unnecessarily penalizing your customers and our members, the exhibitors and the EACs.
