During the 2012 PCMA Annual Meeting held on January 9, 2012, the three associations and the Virtual Edge Institute (VEI) announced collaboration with bXb Online toward building a model for one online destination (Network) of aggregated live and on-demand content for the business-to-business marketplace. The introduction of the Network model included an open call for feedback from the events industry. While a variety of mechanisms were utilized to collect feedback from stakeholders, the primary means for bXb�s feedback since January�s announcement have included two Feedback Forums initiated jointly by ASAE, IAEE and PCMA. More information relative to the Forums and the respective findings are furnished in a white paper at bxbOnline.com.

Early indications from collective research suggest that bXb is on the right path in its vision and development of the Network.

Select findings include:

• The Network is driving alignment amongst our industry organizations today, and that reality alone is viewed as a needed and productive outcome. Further, associations working within respective channels will be motivated to offer the very best content available within their respective industries.
• Obstacles toward creation of association content development strategy thus far:
# Lack of resources, time and budget
# No clear ownership within the organization for content strategy and management
• The Network will motivate association executives to create a structure for ownership of content strategy and management within their respective organizations.
• The Network offers associations a means to extend their brand and content to those members who do not attend their meetings in person reaching beyond membership to the extensive non-member community in their industry sector. The Network can potentially create new markets and a wider audience for associations with an increased subscriber base and respective revenues that will follow.
• Content owners/associations continue to own their content. Data generated as a result of that content on the Network can drive new value to those same associations, and the Network. The Network offers a whole new level of distribution. Aggregated content from other associations, media companies, etc. will create an environment for stronger content given proximity.

Further, while it was recognized that larger organizations with more robust budgets have in general been early adopters for hosting hybrid events and furnishing online content, feedback from association executives within every stage of adoption of hybrid events was taken into consideration.

Steven Lieber, CAE, President & CEO, Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) stated, �HIMSS embraced hybrid events early on and has a dedicated team in place to manage online extensions of educational offerings and community experience. As one of the trailblazers, we learned from the experience and we see the industry going in this direction as a very positive step.�

Paul Markowski, CAE, EVP, CEO, American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) stated, �ACCP is in the midst of evaluation of its online events strategy. After the discussion around the Network, I realized that we need to get all of our internal stakeholders together to deconstruct our online events strategy in order to move forward effectively.�

More stakeholder statements are furnished in the Feedback White Paper at bXbOnline.com.

Dave Olender, COO of bXb Online is heading up the feedback initiative for the Network. A veteran executive in the hospitality and events community, Olender stated, �Candidly, we�re thrilled to see this kind of interaction and feedback from every aspect of the events community. We are highly encouraged and energized by the constructive and positive direction across the board, along with the spirit of improving the industry as we know it today.�

Feedback will continue to be gathered from the industry via additional forums. The next Face-to-Face Feedback Forum will be held during the IAEE Mid-Year Meeting May 30-June 1, 2012 in Washington, DC. Details will be available as the event draws closer.

Feedback can be shared at www.bXbOnline.com/blog, while conversation is encouraged within Twitter @bXbOnline, and groups on LinkedIn, including Virtual Edge, ASAE, IAEE, PCMA and TSNN. Interested participants who prefer one-to-one communications can contact thenetwork@bXbOnline.com to establish a dialogue.

For more information on the bXb Network or its feedback initiative, visit www.bXbOnline.com or call Gretchen Kihm-Stegall at 847-681-0506.

About bXb Online
bXb Online accelerates the power of face-to-face marketing through online business stories and experiences. Founded by industry leader Tony Lorenz, bXb Online delivers online event strategy, creative, content development, and management solutions that brands rely on to activate their business events to the next level. In concert with leading industry organizations, bXb is developing an industry platform for event marketing professionals and the communities they serve. Headquartered in Chicago, IL, bXb Online partners with world-class leaders in their respective categories, including Freeman, INXPO, American Society of Association Executives, Professional Convention Management Association, International Association of Exhibitions and Events, and the Virtual Edge Institute. Learn how bXb Online can accelerate your event marketing strategy today: www.bXbOnline.com.

About ASAE
ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership is a membership organization of more than 21,000 association executives and industry partners representing 10,000 organizations. Its members manage leading trade associations, individual membership societies and voluntary organizations across the United States and in nearly 50 countries around the world. With support of the ASAE Foundation, a separate nonprofit entity, ASAE is the premier source of learning, knowledge and future-oriented research for the association and nonprofit profession, and provides resources, education, ideas and advocacy to enhance the power and performance of the association and nonprofit community. For more information about ASAE, visit www.asaecenter.org.

About IAEE
Since 1928, IAEE continues to provide quality and value to its members through leadership, service, education and strong relationships. IAEE is the largest association of the exhibitions and events industry in the world, with a membership of show organizers, exhibitors and exhibition suppliers. Organizers of more than 20,000 exhibitions and buyer-seller events around the world are members of IAEE. Through the 2006 consolidation with the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR), IAEE delivers valuable industry research reports. IAEE also supports the IAEE Public Events Council, The International Center for Exhibitor and Event Marketing, and the Exhibition and Event Industry Audit Commission, which are IAEE councils that provide products, programs and information to members. IAEE recognizes its strategic partners: American Airlines, ASP, Inc., Bearcom, Mexico Tourism Board, New Orleans Morial Convention Center, New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau, Orange County Convention Center and Visit Orlando, Vertical Nerve, Inc. and VoiceLogic. Visit www.iaee.com for more information.

About Professional Convention Management Association
PCMA is the multi-channel professional resource and premier educator for leaders in the meetings, conventions, events and trade show industries. PCMA provides their 6,300 members with a community of like-minded colleagues, innovative education and creative global solutions to enhance both their professional development and their organization�s face-to-face and virtual connections. Headquartered in Chicago, PCMA has 17 chapters throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico with members in more than 35 countries. For additional information, please visit the PCMA Web site at www.pcma.org.

bXb Online Media Contact | Gretchen Kihm-Stegall | 847-681-0506

ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership Media Contact | Sabrina A. Kidwai | 202-326-9505

IAEE Media Contact | Susan Brower, CMM, CCP | 972-687-9207

PCMA Media Contact | Carolyn Clark | 312-423-7271
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