MIC forms a new department, MIC Events, to manage its new property, the American International Motorcycle Expo (AIMExpo).
In only its third year of existence, the American International Motorcycle Expo (AIMExpo) has changed hands.
The Motorcycle Industry Council announced today that it has acquired the Motorcycle Group business segment from Marketplace Events, LLC, the founders of the American International Motorcycle Expo (AIMExpo), the motorcycle and powersports show that caters to trade, media and consumers all under one roof. The AIMExpo, which is timed to showcase the powersports industry’s new model year product unveilings, has been held annually in Orlando, Florida, since 2013.
The goal of the AIMExpo, according to Marketplace Events CEO Tom Baugh, has been to change and re-energize the powersports business, and now with the show achieving a satisfactory level of success, the timing was right to transition it to the MIC.
“In less than three years, the AIMExpo platform has become the most important annual gathering for the industry,” Baugh said. “We’re very proud MPE successfully incubated AIMExpo, but we recognize the event will reach its full potential and greatest benefit to the industry under MIC ownership.”
But while the ownership of the show has changed, AIMExpo’s show personnel, sales staff and management, including AIMExpo Show Director Cinnamon Kernes, and AIMExpo show creators Mike Webster and Larry Little, will form a new department within MIC titled “MIC Events.”
“AIMExpo’s early success has been the ability to prove an innovative concept that has delivered for exhibitors and attendees beyond what was envisioned when we conceived the concept just three years ago,” said AIMExpo co-creators Webster and Little. “We recognized the opportunity to take it to another level of industry value and excellence with the blue-ribbon reputation and capabilities of the MIC, and the power of its membership, management, and services to get us there. We presented our recommendation to Marketplace Events LLC management and they agreed.”
Dennis McNeal, MIC chair, and Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.’s Vice President of Motorcycle Operations, said that MIC’s primary goal is to ensure the show’s ongoing growth and success.
“That requires not only a depth of trade-show experience, but broad experience in our industry,” McNeal said. “Mike Webster, Larry Little, Cinnamon Kernes and the entire AIMExpo team have that kind of experience, and the MIC board of directors, by unanimous vote, is excited to have them join the staff of the MIC.”
Little added that the concept of MIC owning AIMExpo is actually quite common in the association world where many trade shows are owned or operated by their industry trade associations. In the automotive world, the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show immediately comes to mind.
“This strategic configuration makes it much easier to build on existing industry synergies, align the industry’s key stakeholders, and connect manufacturers and distributors of products and services in a valued face-to-face environment with retailers and consumers who have the greatest interest in their offerings,” Little said.
As far as the show itself goes, Kernes said that the 2015 show will be “business as usual.”
“For exhibitors, dealers, media, and consumers it’s absolutely business as usual and no additional actions on their part are required,” Kernes said. “Our focus is sharper than ever, and the team is committed to producing the industry’s best show experience once again this year. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to Orlando in October.”
AIMExpo 2015 will take place October 15 through 18 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The show is open to credentialed trade and media professionals October 15-16, and then it opens to the general public October 17-18.
This year’s AIMExpo is ramping up to be the largest and most impactful event to date with more manufacturers, vendors, dealers and media outlets scheduled to attend.
The Motorcycle Industry Council exists to preserve, protect and promote motorcycling through government relations, communications and media relations, statistics and research, aftermarket programs, development of data communications standards, activities surrounding technical and regulatory issues, and the American International Motorcycle Expo. As a not-for-profit, national industry association, the MIC seeks to support motorcyclists by representing manufacturers, distributors, dealers and retailers of motorcycles, scooters, ATVs, ROVs, motorcycle/ATV/ROV parts, accessories and related goods and services, and members of allied trades such as insurance, finance and investment companies, media companies and consultants. The MIC is headquartered in Irvine, California, with a government relations office in metropolitan Washington, D.C. First called the MIC in 1970, the organization has been in operation since 1914.
For more information, visit mic.org/AIMExpo.aspx.
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