An examination of the impact of sponsorship on attendees' recognition

Sponsorship is a critical component of the convention and exhibition industry. There are diverse forms of sponsorships in this industry and many sponsors expect more benefits derived from their contributions than those from typical marketing activities, such as advertising and public relations. However, there have been few attempts to examine the impact of sponsorships in the convention and exhibition area. This study evaluated the impact of sponsorship by assessing attendees' recognition of sponsors in relation to different types of sponsorships and number of days attending a show. Results indicated that attendees' recognition level of the sponsors varied depending on the type of sponsorships and the number of days attending a show. In addition, sponsoring companies achieved a much higher recognition level than non-sponsoring companies. Based on the findings of this study, business and marketing implications are also discussed.