AEO approves BPA Worldwide as UK exhibition and event audit body

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BPA Worldwide, the only global organization verifying event attendance and media reach, has been officially approved by the Association of Exhibition Organisers (AEO) to audit events and exhibitions in the UK.

The company, which last year became the first event audit organization to be certified by the US-based Exhibition and Event Industry Audit Commission (EEIAC), believes its international status will offer a distinct advantage for media owners and event organizers with international scope.

“We welcome the AEO’s decision to recognize BPA as an approved auditor as we believe that event producers, exhibitors and sponsors in the UK should expect more from audits,” explained Glenn Hansen, CEO and President of BPA Worldwide. “Not only do our audits and surveys for trade show and event attendance provide exhibition management with independent, third party certification of their registration data and verification process, they also provide in-depth information about the profiles and characteristics of attendees that goes beyond information that can be gathered through the normal registration process.”

AEO Director Hilary Lawson commented, "We welcome BPA Worldwide as an alternative provider of audit services for trade shows in the UK. AEO is committed to achieving transparency within the event and exhibition marketplace. In fact, it is part of our code of practice that members undertake to provide attendance figures audited by an AEO-recognized body for all UK shows over 2,000m2 net stand space. Including BPA as a recognized audit provider is part of our ongoing commitment to provide both event organizers and exhibitors with reliable data on which to base their marketing and purchasing decisions."

BPA event audits create an assurance and credibility factor with exhibitors by independently certifying the database and providing key demographic information about the buyers in attendance at an event. They provide key information to help exhibitors plan their participation and defend their event choices upward to management, and enable event organizers to upgrade their sales effort by being seen as proactive consultants to their exhibitors.