FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 11, 2004

CONTACT: Jennifer Palcher - HCEA (404) 252-3663

ATLANTA - The Healthcare Convention & Exhibitors Association (HCEA) has approved a new addition to its "Guidelines for U. S. Healthcare Conventions" on accommodating healthcare company joint ventures and other co-marketing arrangements in healthcare exhibit halls.

The new guideline reads as follows: "This guideline pertains specifically to companies that may have entered into joint ventures or co-marketing agreements, and that wish to exhibit in a manner best describing their joint agreement.

"Definition -- The definition of a joint venture/co-marketing agreement is that in which two or more companies are developing, manufacturing, producing, or distributing the same product. "Companies having such a business agreement may choose to:

• (1) Be aligned on the exhibit floor adjacent to each other in order to jointly promote the specific product; or,
• (2) Be represented by only one of the companies in the agreement utilizing exhibit space, but displaying through signage that the product is a joint venture/co-marketed product.
• (3) Exhibit in one booth under the joint venture name with one exhibit manager contact coordinating all joint venture booth staff and activities (housing, badges, show guide listings, etc., which are subject to association policies).

"If the companies having the agreement wish to have their space located adjacent to each other, both companies should submit in writing, with their applications, a cover letter initiating the request. A copy of the letter should also go to each of the companies in the agreement.

"Space allocation should be based on the present points average of the companies in the agreement.

"If only one company is exhibiting the co-marketed product, the association should deal only with that exhibiting company. Subletting of space for the purpose of allowing another company to exhibit within the principal exhibit should not be permitted. If the non-exhibiting company needs housing or registration badges, they should work directly with the association and according to the association's policies.

"Associations should make every effort to be inclusive of all joint marketing partners. If possible and upon request, the names of both joint partners should be included in separate listings in the Exhibit Guide. The association may charge an administrative fee for the additional listing. If two listings cannot be provided, the exhibiting company should list the non-exhibiting partner within its listing."

"Joint ventures and other co-marketing arrangements are becoming more and more prevalent in healthcare convention exhibit halls," said Eric Allen, Executive Vice President of HCEA. "HCEA chose to provide guidance on this issue to offer a fair and efficient method for both exhibitors and associations trying to accommodate such agreements."

For a copy of HCEA's "Guidelines for U. S. Healthcare Conventions," visit www.hcea.org. HCEA is the only association solely dedicated to improving the effectiveness of all conventions, meetings and exhibitions for the healthcare industry. HCEA represents more than 700 member organizations involved in healthcare exhibitions and conventions.

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