AUSTRALIAN EXHIBITION INDUSTRY SUCCESS STORY:
INFO SALONS CELEBRATES TURNING 21
They've provided services for more than 3,500 events in more than 10 countries, have six overseas offices, employ 150 permanent staff and this year celebrate 21 years as one of Australia's longest-running, privately-owned companies in the exhibition sector.
Event technology company, The Info Salons Group - headed by Jo-Anne Kelleway and Andrew Holland - has built its success on being at the leading edge of technology and developing cutting-edge tools to help exhibitors and visitors gain maximum advantage for their exhibition investment. Amongst other innovations, they launched the first tracker tool and registration entry barcode for mobile phones, and more recently have created phone apps.
Info Salons develops all its software in-house, including mobile platforms, and offers registration facilities in almost every language.
"When we started the company there was no internet, no email and no mobile phones. When I look back, we've come a long way from being the first company to launch magstrip plastic badges in Australia," said Kelleway, who gained international recognition as winner of a 2004 Global Mobile Award for being the first company to send a barcode to a mobile phone to scan entry into an event.
"In the past twenty-one years, we've seen huge changes in the exhibition industry in Australia. Many of my clients who started out as local businesses are now are part of multi-national groups and this has offered us opportunities to extend our services beyond Australia.
"In particular, we have focused our efforts on positioning Info Salons to take advantage of the rapid growth of the exhibition industry in China with the opening of three offices, led by managing director and shareholder, Mr. Gu Xuebin."
Info Salons now has overseas offices in Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Macau and Dubai and opens its doors in London in July 2011.
A passionate advocate of industry education, Kelleway gives much of her time to working with the industry both in Australia and overseas. She was recently re-elected to the board of IAEE (International Association of Exhibitions and Events) and is currently enjoying her third term as a board member of Exhibition & Event Association of Australasia.
Info Salons' official 21st party will take place at Australian Business Events Expo, Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre on 11 August 2011, hosted by the exhibition organisers, ETF. All visitors to the Expo are invited to join the celebrations.
For more information: www.infosalonsgroup.com