CTAM CONFERENCE NON-COMMERCIAL POLICY

CTAM conferences are considered to be high in value and important to the industry because they are an educational event. The NON-COMMERCIAL POLICY ensures that all of our conference attendees and YOU go back with a pleasant experience. The full policy is shown below. Key elements of the policy include:

  • Business meetings and private social events may not conflict with General Sessions and official conference social events. 

  • Meeting space in conference facilities and hotel suites may not be used during General Sessions and official conference social events.

  • NO unofficial promotional activities such as bill boards (stationary or mobile), balloons, banners, characters, live bands, displays, literature or premium distributions, etc. are allowed in the non-commercial zones, conference hotels or in the convention center.  NOTE:  The zones include both sides of the designated streets. (see map below)

  • Room drops, publication distribution and distributing any other literature must be approved in advance by CTAM.

To avoid any last minute hassles, please contact me with specific questions. I can be reached at seth@ctam.com or 703.837.6546.

On behalf of the Board of Directors and CTAM members, thank you for your support of CTAM’s non-commercial policy.

Non-Commercial Zone for CTAM Summit 04
 July 18 - 21, 2004

Click map for larger view.

CTAM’s Conference Non-Commercial Policy
Amended November 6, 2002

Since its founding in 1976, CTAM has been unique in the industry as a conference sponsor focusing totally on educational programs without the direct selling and circus-like atmosphere commonly found at trade shows. While CTAM conferences feature networking and social events, the organization manages the level of sponsorship to maintain a relatively non-commercial atmosphere. CTAM requests that all sponsors contact CTAM before contracting for promotions. 

POLICY
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The educational programs at all CTAM conferences will be non-commercial. Panels, programs, group events and activities associated with or during a CTAM conference shall be non-commercial; i.e. they will not be used for sales efforts. No premiums can be distributed during educational activities.

CTAM may offer sponsorship opportunities for specific CTAM functions, including the New Media Lab and Creative Showcase. CTAM may allow premiums to be distributed at social events. CTAM sponsors are accorded special benefits based on their level of sponsorship. However, CTAM does not endorse sponsors or their products.

CTAM may rent small meeting rooms or suites at the conference venue, which may not be used during general sessions. Non-CTAM functions (educational, social or meetings), which are intended to attract CTAM conference attendees may not be held at the conference venue or off-premise while a CTAM educational or social function is being held. CTAM does not allow promotion of other non-CTAM functions at CTAM’s venue(s). CTAM will designate the “Non-Commercial Zone” around conference venues to delineate the area covered by this policy.

Press conferences must be approved by CTAM and may be held only during time periods scheduled by CTAM.

News and information publications may be distributed to CTAM conference attendees’ hotel rooms, if required bin fees have been paid. Premiums and promotional literature may be distributed to attendees’ rooms. CTAM retains the right of approval over premiums and promotional literature; marketers must submit the proposed room drop to CTAM one week prior to the conference. CTAM controls the hotels’ dark television channels and will authorize their use during a conference, giving preference to legitimate video publications who must pay the publication bin distribution fee.

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Recent examples of proposed marketing ideas that were not allowed under CTAM’s Non-Commercial Policy include: have bartenders at the conference hotel wear a company’s tee-shirts; put a company logo on 1) hotel room keys, 2) hotel door knobs; 3) coffee cups in the hotel restaurants and 4) CTAM badges; have well-known cartoon character voices place guest wake-up calls; dress bus drivers as cartoon characters; have gobo lights outside the hotel feature a company logo; use pub bins for promotional materials; and place signs for “legal” off-premise events in conference hotels.

As a general policy, CTAM will not participate in industry functions intended to promote specific companies and their products and services.