Katrina’s Impact on Tradeshows
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In September of 2005, shortly after Katrina struck, The Trade Show Exhibitors Association (TSEA) created the TSEA Foundation Katrina Relief Fund to help coordinate donations. While some shows were forced to reschedule or relocate early on, as time has passed many more shows have demonstrated their commitment to the region. For instance, The National Business Aviation Association had to relocate their planned November convention to Orlando, Florida due to Katrina. However, on a more positive note, The International Bottled Water Association donated more than 200 cases of bottled water to the Red Cross for distribution to victims of Hurricane Katrina during their September, 2005 trade show in Orlando, Florida. In October of 2005, Louisiana Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco signed an executive order which expedited the reopening of the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. The Center was able to reopen in February 2006 ahead of original expectations. The most impressive achievement however came from Ann Curtis, Exhibit and Events Manager for ProQuest, the library database provider. Curtis was assigned to construct a temporary library in New Orleans that refugees could use as a general resource center to access information about family members, housing, and jobs. Using skills honed on the exhibit floor, Curtis was able to coordinate labor and materiel in short order to both construct the library and keep it running for three weeks, providing help to hundreds of people. With computers donated from IBM, and student volunteer-librarians donated by Louisiana State University, the project was one of the bright spots of the storm’s aftermath. Curtis was specifically selected because of her experience setting up trade show exhibits. The library was eventually moved to a more permanent site and dubbed the IBM/ProQuest Internet & Homework Library. It was fitted with children’s computer workstations for use by local kids. Curtis told Library Journal “They’re kid magnets.” It just goes to show that skills leaned at trade shows can do a world of good. Mel White |
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The tragedy of Hurricane Katrina has wreaked havoc on the New Orleans economy. Businesses throughout the region were affected, including the tradeshow industry. In the immediate aftermath of the storm, all events in New Orleans were cancelled. Life is gradually returning to the city, and the tradeshow industry has committed itself to the rebuilding and revitalization of New Orleans.