APIC has been doing exhibitor-sponsored sessions for 20 years. Sponsorship Boost worked with APIC to bring their exhibitor-sponsored education online using the Conference Harvester and eventScribe Website.
APIC allows exhibitors to host educational sessions called Sponsored Symposia. Due to credentialing restrictions, these sessions need to be listed separately from their CME-approved sessions. Previously APIC listed these sessions in a separate printed program, but marketing potential was limited in this format.
Sponsorship Boost set up two Harvesters for APIC: one for CME-approved sessions and a second for Sponsored Symposia. This allowed APIC to collect the information they needed from presenting exhibitors and distribute it to attendees in a streamlined way, without having it interfere with their CME-approved sessions.
APIC was happy because these programs provide significant revenue for them. Since using eventScribe to promote the sessions, they’ve seen attendance increase, which gives their exhibitors the justification to spend more money to sponsor these types of sessions. Exhibitors benefit from the pre-show marketing of their sessions because attendees are made aware of the sessions they’ll be hosting. Exhibitors are also given access to the Harvester portal so they can conveniently upload their materials and keep track of their deliverables. This makes them feel that the host organization (APIC) gives them the same focus as other parts of the conference. Attendees also benefit from the awareness of these sessions, which aren’t just product pitches, but valuable supplementary educational content.