Priority Points System
Last Updated: February 29, 2024
PRIORITY POINTS POLICIES & PROCEDURES
IBIE priority points are an important factor in selecting your ideal exhibit space. These points are considered an asset that appreciates on a three-year cycle. The below policies and procedures outline how this asset is used, how it appreciates and how it can be split in instances of mergers, acquisitions and dissolving of partnerships, etc. between companies that historically have exhibited together.
For questions regarding points please contact Samantha Moore or feel free to schedule a meeting here.
ABOUT THE PRIORITY POINT PROCESS
IBIE 2025 will utilize an online exhibit space contract application process. After submitting a contract and deposit by the required deadline, the exhibiting company will be provided a date and time to call in and select its IBIE 2025 exhibit space based on the Priority Points Policy and Procedure below.
PRIORITY POINT ACCUMULATION
All current ABA, BEMA and RBA members have a special Priority Period to select space before non-member past exhibitors and prospects. Each member company will be assigned “Priority Points” based on several criteria:
LOyalty Program:
One point will be awarded for each show that a company participated in from 1977-2022.
NUMBER OF YEARS OF ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP:
Based on ABA, BEMA and RBA membership records, each member company will receive one priority point for every year that they were an active member for the period 1988-2024. (Membership is only tracked for one association, IBIE will not combine points if a company is a member of two or more associations.)
SQUARE FOOTAGE TOTALS IN PAST IBIE SHOWS
Points are totaled for the eight shows: (2001, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2022)
100 – 400 sq. ft. = 1 point
401 – 1,000 sq. ft. = 2 points
1,001 – 2,500 sq. ft. = 3 points
2,501 – 4,000 sq. ft. = 4 points
4,001+ = 5 points
IBIE HOTEL BLOCK UTILIZATION:
As of 2022, three (3) points will be awarded to the company should 75% or more of registered representatives for the IBIE show also book and stay in an official IBIE hotel with reservations booked through the official housing provider (onPeak). Housing lists and registration lists will be compared after IBIE 2025 and the awarded point will be added for the IBIE 2028 show priority point calculation.
NOTE: Each of these criteria points are also assigned on a “weighted” factor, determined and approved by the IBIE Committee. In the case of two or more companies having the same number of Priority Points, the amount of square footage in prior show will be used as the tie-breaker. Should the amount of square footage from the prior show be the same, the secondary tie-breaker will be the total number of years of active membership. Should a third tiebreaker be needed, a list randomizer will be used to determine list order between those companies. Proof of the List Randomizer “run” will be included with the priority points documentation for that cycle calculation.
BOOTH SELECTION PROCESS
Priority Space Selection
1 | Members of ABA, BEMA AND RBA
IBIE Show Management will compile data based on the space applications and deposits that are received or postmarked by 11:59 PM CT on the published deadline date. Show Management will strictly adhere to this deadline date, with no exceptions for late submission of applications. Companies will be notified by email of their Priority Points, instructions and call-in date for the booth selection time. Members must have ACTIVE membership status for 2023, 2024 & 2025 in order to receive the member booth rate.
2 | RETURNING EXHIBITORS FROM IBIE 2022 (NON-MEMBERS )
IBIE Show Management will compile data based on the non-member IBIE 2022 returning exhibitor space applications and deposits that are received or postmarked by 11:59 PM CT on January 16, 2024.
When possible, IBIE will take into consideration location preferences requested by an exhibitor on their Exhibit Space Application & Contract when making space assignments not selected by the exhibitors during the Priority Point call-in process. In all events, IBIE reserves the right to make the final determination of all space assignments in the overall best interests of the Exposition. Furthermore, IBIE cannot guarantee that a particular exhibit space will be available for a particular exhibitor and reserves the right to make changes to the space assignments as needed (e.g., in cases of force majeure).
GENERAL Space Selection
3 | OPEN TO ALL SUPPLIERS
General Space Selection is now open to all prospective exhibitors, including member companies or returning exhibitors who miss the application deadline of February 13, 2024, as well as new exhibitors. Space will be assigned by the order of application and deposits received by IBIE.
PRIORITY POINT OWNERSHIP/MERGERS, ACQUISITIONS AND SEPARATIONS OF COMPANIES
MERGERS AND CREATION OF A BRAND-NEW COMPANY
If companies merge and are past exhibiting companies, the newly merged company retains the priority points of the company with the highest total priority points. Points will not be combined.
IBIE 2025 Example:
Company A and Company B have both been exhibiting at IBIE for a number of years and each accrued points for their participation in IBIE. Company A has a total of 30 points and Company B has a total of 25 points. The newly formed company, Company AB, would retain the points of Company A, since it was the higher of the two total points and would accrue future points as Company AB going forward.
- Company A = 30 Points
- Company B = 25 Points
- New Company AB = Retains Highest Points (30)
ACQUISITIONS BUT ACQUIRED COMPANY CONTINUES TO ACCRUE POINTS SEPARATELY
(See Selecting space for others Option 1 Below)
If an existing IBIE exhibitor company acquires another IBIE exhibiting company(ies) and decides to continue to exhibit at IBIE and accrue points separately, this newly acquired company and its new owner would follow option 1 below of space selection. Points will not be combined.
IBIE 2025 Example:
Company A acquired Company B, and while they are under the same umbrella of companies, they will continue to exhibit at IBIE as separate companies with separate contracts (not additional listings) and accrue points separately based on their booth size/activity with IBIE. Points will not be combined.
- Company A = earning points separately
- Company B = earning points separately
ACQUISITIONS BUT ACQUIRED COMPANY DOES NOT ACCRUE POINTS SEPARATELY
(See Selecting space for others Option 1 or 2 Below)
An existing IBIE exhibitor company acquires another IBIE exhibiting company(ies). The new owner of the acquired company now becomes the owner of the acquired company’s priority points — however, the points will not be combined.
IBIE 2025 Example:
Company A has acquired Company B. Both have been exhibiting at IBIE for several years and each accrued points for their participation in IBIE. Company A has a total of 30 points and Company B has a total of 40 points. Company A, as the new owner of Company B assets, can now assume the 40 points instead of the 30 points as their new total points since it was the higher of the two point totals. Points will not be combined. Going forward, Company A will continue to accrue points while Company B will not.
- Company A (new owner) = now assumes 40 points
- Company B = no points earned moving forward
SEPARATIONS
If a company dissolves or splits into multiple companies, the companies in question would need to decide within internal legal and separation documentation who receives ownership of the points or perceived asset of points.
- One company can retain all of the points, or the companies in question may split the points in any fashion deemed acceptable by the companies up to the total points. IBIE will not award both companies the same amount of total points.
IBIE 2025 Example:
Company A and its sub-brand, Company B, have been exhibiting at IBIE for several years and has accrued 20 priority points. Company A and sub brand Company B have decided to split into two separate companies, and both intend on exhibiting at IBIE in the future. At the time of the split, both companies must decide to split the asset of priority points between the companies as they see fit.
- Options include total point allocation to one of the companies or a split percentage between the companies (i.e. 50/50, 60/40, 70/30, etc.) of the total priority points (20 points). IBIE will not award both companies 20 points each.
Should the separating companies not have a decision by the posted space contract submission deadline, IBIE will automatically award the total priority points to the company whose name is on the priority points historically.
SELECTING SPACE FOR OTHERS
Under the Membership Priority Selection process, exhibitors that are part of a larger subsidiary/parent company arrangement have two options to pick space. Once the option has been selected at space selection, the option cannot be modified.
OPTION 1: SEPARATE BOOTHS
An exhibitor may select space during the same space selection time for other profit centers, divisions, subsidiaries or companies but only if they are part of the same company or parent corporation. Each division/subsidiary must complete their own Space Application and will be considered as a separate exhibit booth, accruing priority points separately.
The space selected for the other wholly-owned profit centers, divisions, subsidiaries or companies that are part of the same company or parent corporation may be adjacent to each other or in separate locations throughout the exhibit hall.
While ABA, BEMA or RBA members may select space during the same space selection time for their subsidiaries or divisions under the guidelines noted above, the member rate of exhibit space will only apply to the portion of the booth occupied by current member(s). The profit centers, divisions, subsidiaries or companies that are wholly-owned parts of the same company or parent corporation must qualify for membership status on their own to obtain member discount on exhibit space. Each exhibiting company will indicate its ABA, BEMA and/or RBA membership status on the separate contract required for participation under the subsidiary’s/division’s name. Any of the companies who drop their membership after space has been confirmed will be re-invoiced at the non-member rate.
Procedures for – OPTION 1
- Complete a separate Application & Contract for each company, indicating square footage for each selection. Documentation must also be provided to IBIE at the time of exhibit contract submission, containing proof of wholly owned corporate status of affiliated companies in order to qualify for selecting space at the same selection time.
- After contracts are signed, the profit centers, divisions, subsidiaries or companies that are part of the same company or parent corporation will be official exhibitors and can be listed in the Official Show Directory.
OPTION 2: CONTIGUOUS
An exhibitor may select space during the same space selection time for other profit centers, divisions, subsidiaries or companies but only if they are part of the same company or parent corporation.
Each additional company added will be considered an additional listing and will NOT accrue or earn priority points for their participation at the IBIE 2025 Show. Priority Points will only be earned and accrued by the exhibitor who submits the application/deposit and selects the initial contiguous booth space.
The space selected for the other wholly owned profit centers, divisions, subsidiaries or companies that are part of the same company or parent corporation must be in ONE CONTIGUOUS BOOTH.
Procedures for – OPTION 2
- Complete ONE Application & Contract.
- The name on the contract name must match the name of the company’s whose points were used to select space. All other company names would be submitted as additional listings.
- Exhibitor to complete an “Additional Listing” application for each profit center, division, subsidiaries, or companies that are part of the same company or parent corporation. Additional Listings will incur a cost of $2,500 per application/listings and reminder will NOT earn any priority points.
- After contract and additional listing is signed/submitted and paid, the profit centers, divisions, subsidiaries, or companies that are part of the same company or parent corporation will be official exhibitors and can be listed in the Official Show Directory.
Contract Rules and Regulations
- The name on the contract must match the name of the company’s whose points were used to select space if only one contract is required (aka option two above). All other company names would be submitted as additional listings.
- Once an “option” above is selected, companies cannot switch options.
- Contracts can only have one company name in the company name field. No company names like “Machine Company / Machinery incorporated” will be accepted and IBIE will default the company name to the first name listed. All other companies that meet the criteria in the rules and regulations document would be listed as additional listings.
IBIE 2025 Priority POints Rankings
This IBIE 2025 Priority Points Policy and Procedure originates from the online IBIE 2025 Exhibit Space Contract. IBIE management reserves the right to make changes without notice, and its decision is final.
IBIE will post company names in order of Priority Points (actual point quantity will not be shared) on this page before space selection.
IBIE priority points are determined, assigned, and ranked according to the process above. Priority Points are calculated with a final weighted calculation for each priority point category, detailed here: square footage category is 46.57%, number of shows exhibited is 32.13%, and membership tenure is 21.30%. For questions regarding points please contact Samantha Moore or feel free to schedule a meeting here.