ATLANTA -- The Healthcare Convention & Exhibitors Association (HCEA) and the Trade Show Exhibitors Association (TSEA), working together with industry lead retrieval suppliers, have developed and published a format standard for electronic lead retrieval output files. The standard is intended to assist exhibitors in processing electronic lead retrieval files created at exhibitions.

The standard particularly takes into account the needs of healthcare exhibitors, who often need additional fields for capturing the business practice address information of physicians and other healthcare professionals who attend healthcare conventions and exhibitions.

"Having this standard format will be useful to exhibitors in all industries for capturing and pursuing leads," said Robert C. Gelardi, executive director, HCEA. "It’s versatile but consistent. Healthcare exhibitors, like exhibitors in many industries, will now have a tool that can go a long way to unleash the full potential of electronic lead retrieval."

Peter J. Mangelli, president, TSEA, said, "We now have a standard format for lead records captured and output electronically, providing exhibitors with the option to obtain electronic leads in a consistent format from show to show, and industry to industry. This will make it easier for exhibitors to quickly enter electronically collected leads into a database for follow-up."

The standard was developed by TSEA’s Industry Standards and Practices Subcommittee on Lead Retrieval Systems. This group consists of exhibitors, exposition managers and companies involved in the electronic lead retrieval industry, as well as representatives of HCEA and TSEA.

HCEA, serving healthcare convention education and marketing since 1930, is the only association solely dedicated to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of all healthcare conventions and exhibitions. HCEA represents over 600 member organizations involved in healthcare exhibitions and conventions.

TSEA/HCEA Standard on Electronic Output Files