CIC Joins IAVM's Wi-Fi Coalition: What It Means For You

This month, the Convention Industry Council (CIC) announced it is officially joining the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM)’s Wi-Fi Coalition. The announcement, made at CIC’s recent Board and Council Meeting, comes with the promise of full Council support and is a natural extension of CIC’s ongoing work around pressing industry issues.

Wi-Fi, while a key commodity that many meeting attendees and consumers feel the need to access, is not free. The cost of bandwidth, and other related factors, affects its efficiency, making it even more imperative to deliver a successful connection for a meeting or event. The coalition was initially formed to address the backlash against venues blocking personal Wi-Fi devices and the subsequent involvement of the FCC. Led by IAVM, the coalition is comprised of a cross section of the overall industry.

"We believe that delivering an exceptional technology experience at meetings and events requires a new level of collaboration and dialogue between venue managers, service providers, show organizers, meeting planners, exhibitors, and guests. We are thrilled to see the coalition bringing these groups together, and we are confident that this new effort will lead to meaningful results," said Vicki Hawarden, CMP, president and CEO of IAVM.

The coalition’s main goal is to establish standard operating principles and rules that ensure a reliable Wi-Fi environment for all users. Coalition members are currently working on a draft of "common sense standards," outlining the technical challenges and associated issues with high-density Wi-Fi environments.

The multifaceted issues affect all key segments and stakeholders in the meetings, incentive, exhibitions and convention industry that utilize wireless systems including venues, event organizers, meeting professionals and third-party providers. When multiple devices are utilized in a space, like a tradeshow floor, problems arise around interference based on the increased density of users. Some devices also consume more bandwidth based on their model. Educating consumers and attendees on the types of devices, activities and/or systems that utilize bandwidth also will be a part of the coalition’s charge to communicate acceptable broadcasting parameters, once the standards are decided. The final task of the coalition is to develop standard contract and license terms to be used and enforced in the industry.

Individual Wi-Fi Coalition Members are:

Vicki Hawarden, CMP, CAE, IAVM
Fred Peterson, Massachusetts Convention Center Authority
Ryan Thorpe, McCormick Place/SMG
Mark Haley, Smart City Networks
Mark Sims, Javits Center
John Rissi, PSAV, CIC APEX Chair
David DuBois, CAE, FASAE, CTA, CMP, IAEE
Cathy Breden, CMP, IAEE
Chris Brown
Ryan Stowger, IAAPA
Barney Lavengood, Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium
Michael Owen, EventGenuity
Brett Mitchell, Overland Park Kansas Convention Center
Glenda Brungardt, HP Marketing
Jim Wurm, Exhibit & Event Marketers Association
Stacey Knoppell, Baltimore Convention Center
Russell Rice, Pennsylvania Convention Center

For additional information and articles from the commission:

The Wi-Fi Dilemma: Part 1
The Wi-Fi Dilemma: Part 2

The Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) is a
program of the Convention Industry Council

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