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PRIORITY
POINTS
Booth space selection for PCA members is based on a Priority Point system, in which booth selection order is determined by each company’s point total. The priority point system ensures a fair process, through which any given company has the opportunity to increase their point total in order to select earlier in the booth selection process.
Priority points reward your company for supporting the Premium Cigar Association. The more you support the PCA, the more points you earn. Points are accumulated and applied to your booth selection order for the following year’s trade show.
PCA considers the company that contracts and pays PCA for the exhibit space to be the “Exhibitor” who receives the points.
*In order to qualify as a member for priority selection, a company membership must be valid through date of exhibition (March 2024).
HOW ARE
PRIORITY POINTS USED?
Booth selection for the upcoming trade show is conducted in priority points order. Exhibitors with the most priority points are offered first selection on the exhibit floor for the upcoming year.
Definitions & Eligibility: An exhibitor is any company that occupies an exhibit space at the PCA Annual Convention and International Trade Show.
Exhibitor: PCA considers the company that contracts and pays PCA for the exhibit space to be the “Exhibitor”.
Priority Points: The sum of all earned points including Room Block, History, Donations, Product HUB, Square Footage, Advertising, and Sponsorship Points.
NOTE: Priority points that accumulate year after year are contingent on the exhibitor participating for consecutive years. If an exhibitor opts to not participate during a given year, exhibitor will forfeit 30% of accumulated priority points.
HOW TO EARN
PRIORITY POINTS
Sponsorship Points are awarded based on the amount of non-exhibit space spending at the PCA Trade Show. Exhibitors will get 1 extra sponsorship point for every $25 spent on PCA sponsorship.
When you advertise with the PCA anytime throughout the year, you earn priority points! For every $25 spent on advertising, you will receive 1 priority point to use towards your booth selection. The PCA currently offers the following advertising opportunities:
- Trade Show APP
- PCA The Magazine (4 issues per year)
- PCA Website
- PCA e-newsletters
- Email blasts
Get great discounts when you advertise in multiple publications! Contact Lisa Sigler to get your advertising and priority points today.
Square Footage Points are awarded to exhibitors based on the amount of square feet contracted. An exhibitor will receive 5 additional square footage points for every 100 sq. feet of space purchased. These points reset every year.
Room Block Points are awarded based on the amount of room nights booked at the PCA host hotel (Venetian/Palazzo). 25 bonus points are awarded simply for booking at least one (1) room within the PCA room block. Exhibitors will receive 1 additional Room Block point for every 25 nights spent at the Venetian/Palazzo. Reservations must be made through the PCA housing link to receive points. To ensure companies are awarded points for nights actually realized and paid for, room points will be awarded post show for the next booth selection year. Points will be calculated based on audited room blockreports provided by hotel(s).
History points are awarded to companies based on their years of participation in the PCA Annual Convention & Trade Show. Exhibitors accrue 15 History points per year.
Product Hub Points are awarded based on the amount of product sold and contributed toward the PCA. Exhibitors will receive 1 additional Product HUB point for every $25 contributed from their Product HUB offerings.
Donation Points are awarded based on the amount contributed toward the PCA. Exhibitors will receive 1 additional Donation point for every $25 contributed from their donation to the PCA.
HOW PRIORITY POINTS
ARE REDUCED
While there are several ways to earn priority points, they can also be reduced. Priority points will be subtracted for the following reasons.
- Any company that does not exhibit for a consecutive year will lose one-third of each year’s historical points for each year it does not exhibit. Each consecutive year’s loss of one-third of the points is based on that year. Being said, after three years of consecutive non-attendance, priority points will not be at zero.
- Any company that violates PCA’s policy on “Suitcasing” will lose all accrued points.
- Exhibitors engaging in disruptive or harassing behavior is a violation of PCA’s code of conduct and can result in loss of priority points, termination of exhibit privileges and barring from future trade shows.
- Early tear down penalty: Any exhibitor that dismantles their booth before the official close of the trade show.
- PENALTY: full deduction of all points earned for the event and suspension of exhibiting for the following year’s show.
- Show Rules Violations Penalty: Failure to comply with booth display guidelines (i.e. excessive display height, space restrictions, line of sight issues, etc.), and failure to adhere to exhibitor conduct policies (i.e. marketing outside of booth, excessive noise, inappropriate conduct).
- Penalty: at least 1 point or up to 20% total possible points for each violation accompanied by a written citation.
- Penalty: at least 1 point or up to 20% total possible points for each violation accompanied by a written citation.
- Default of Occupancy (No Show): Exhibitors that fail to occupy their rented space without prior notification to PCA management. Penalty: Full deduction of all points earned for the event (maximum 10 points deducted).
OTHER
IMPORTANT INFO
If an existing exhibitor departs with a product line or brand, both organizations (the original, existing exhibitor and the “new” product line/brand) receive the same history points. Aside from history points, each exhibitor must accrue their own square footage points and other priority point opportunities (advertising, sponsorship, etc.) When two companies merge (or one gets acquired), the “new” or combined exhibitor retains the higher of the two companies Priority Points, not a combination of both.
