DALLAS – Sept. 19, 2012 – Freeman, the premier provider of integrated solutions for live engagements, today announced that it has been recognized as the winner of the 2012 Marketing Award from UFI, the global association of the exhibition industry. This annual competition honors the industry’s best marketing activity of the year.

Freeman’s entry, “YOUR Freeman,” was designed to create a holistic experience aimed at developing greater awareness of the company’s portfolio of services for exhibitions and events.

The winning Freeman concept established an exhibition booth with the customer at its core. The booth space showcased sound, color, lighting and projection options, providing each visitor a unique interaction opportunity based on their preferences. Touch screen displays and tablets allowed attendees to take self-guided tours through Freeman’s brand pillars: strategy, creative, innovation and logistics.

The experience continued beyond the show floor through a special video invitation featuring Freeman employees, which was sent via social media channels to target customers. A follow-up video was sent to customers who visited the exhibit, thanking them and inviting them to learn more at the Freeman website.

“Our exhibition industry should take a close look at Freeman’s program,” said UFI committee Chair Christian Glasmacher (Koelnmesse GmbH, Germany). “We are sometimes the worst exhibitors when it comes to showing off the clear benefits and value of our exciting face-to-face marketing medium. This winning program shows us how we should put our best foot forward when we participate as exhibitors ourselves.”

The UFI annual awards recognize creative, results-oriented initiatives relating to ICT, marketing, operations and sustainable development topics in the global exhibition community. Organizers, venues and service providers are invited to share their innovative programs covering a successful marketing activity or campaign with clearly proven quantitative and qualitative results.

“Winning the UFI Marketing Award is a great honor for our company,” said Molly Casey, vice president of brand marketing at Freeman. “The opportunity to share the marketing strategies we’ve employed, as well as the opportunity to learn from and network with other leaders in the global exhibition industry was a key driver behind our participation in the UFI competition and why we will do so again in the future.”

Freeman will receive its UFI Marketing Award trophy before a global audience of exhibition industry leaders at the 79th UFI Congress in Abu Dhabi in November 2012.

The winning 2012 UFI Marketing competition presentation may be seen on the UFI website at www.ufi.org under the activities menu. For additional information on UFI competition participation criteria, please contact [email protected].

About Freeman

Since 1927, Freeman has provided customers with comprehensive services for live engagements including expositions, conventions, corporate events and exhibits. Headquartered in Dallas, with 70 offices in North America, Freeman produces more than 15,000 events annually, including 54% of the 250 largest U.S. trade shows. Freeman has the ability to assist customers in all aspects of the trade show process, from set-up to take-down and everything in between. An employee-owned company, Freeman places an emphasis on respect for people and providing unparalleled customer service. Freeman has received numerous awards for excellence in the trade show industry. For more information, visit www.freeman.com.

About UFI

UFI is the global association of the world’s leading tradeshow organizers and exhibition centre operators, as well as the major national and international exhibition associations and selected partners of the exhibition industry. UFI’s main goal is to represent, promote and support the business interests of its members and the exhibition industry.

UFI represents over 600 member organizations in 86 countries around the world. Almost 900 international trade fairs proudly bear the UFI approved label, a quality guarantee for visitors and exhibitors alike. UFI members continue to provide the international business community with a unique marketing media aimed at developing outstanding face-to-face business opportunities.