FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT:
Charlotte Arnemann - HCEA
Jana Boyle - HCEA
(404) 252-3663

ATLANTA - The Healthcare Convention & Exhibitors Association (HCEA) has recently established a Research Grant Program that will enable qualified individuals to conduct research on the Return On Investment of healthcare exhibit and convention marketing. The amount of each grant is flexible, but will be no less than $2,000.

The grant will provide data to further demonstrate the effectiveness of healthcare exhibit marketing in the marketing mix, while simultaneously giving recipients the opportunity to learn more about the healthcare convention industry firsthand, ideally while receiving credit hours through their college or university. Applicants will be asked to demonstrate that they intend to study a quantitative, or possibly a qualitative, measure of healthcare exhibit marketing's effectiveness.

"Generating data that quantifies the value of healthcare exhibiting has always been a complicated endeavor, especially in the pharmaceutical arena," said Frank Corcoran, Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories, HCEA President. "This program will not only generate research to further that pursuit, but will help carry the banner of exhibit marketing to the halls of academia to gain the emphasis it deserves."

The ideal recipient will be a college student working towards an undergraduate or graduate degree, preferably in marketing, possibly with a desire to pursue a career in healthcare marketing or the tradeshow industry.

For more information on either version of the HCEA Directory, or about HCEA, visit the HCEA website at www.hcea.org, call HCEA Headquarters at 404-252-3663, fax: 404-252-0774, or email: hcea@kellencompany.com

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.