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Insurance Abstract
Disclosed is a method of providing insurance registration services
to the owner or management of a trade show. The method includes
receiving a list of exhibitors for the trade show from the owner
or management and offering to the exhibitors insurance coverage
for the trade show. The method may further include arranging for
an insurance policy for the trade show. The method may further include
approving the insurance status of exhibitors based on completion
of an insurance registration process.
Insurance Claims
1. A method of providing insurance registration services to the
owner or management of a trade show, comprising: receiving a list
of exhibitors for the trade show from the owner or management; and
offering to the exhibitors insurance coverage for the trade show.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising arranging for an insurance
policy for each exhibitor of the trade show.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the arranging for the insurance
policy includes contracting with an insurance agent or insurance
provider to issue the insurance policy.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising paying the owner or
management for the list of exhibitors.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the payment is based on the number
of exhibitors.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a request
for insurance from at least one of the exhibitors.
7. The method of claim 6, further comprising adding the exhibitor
that requested insurance to an insurance policy for the trade show.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein the request for insurance is
received via the Internet by interaction of the exhibitor with a
webpage.
9. The method of claim 6, further comprising approving an insurance
status of the exhibitor for participation in the trade show.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising offering to receive
proof of insurance from the exhibitors.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising approving an exhibitor
for participation in the trade show upon receipt of satisfactory
proof of insurance.
12. The method of claim 10, further comprising, for each exhibitor
from which no request for insurance or proof of insurance is received
by a predetermined deadline, adding the exhibitor to an insurance
policy.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the insurance policy names
each exhibitor as an insured party.
14. The method of claim 12, further comprising charging a fee to
exhibitors that at least one of request insurance or were added
to the insurance policy.
15. A method of providing insurance registration services to the
owner or management of a trade show at which exhibitors are scheduled
to participate, comprising: arranging for an insurance policy for
the trade show; and approving each exhibitor for participation in
the trade show following receipt of one of a request for insurance
or satisfactory proof of insurance from the exhibitor.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the insurance policy names
all exhibitors as insureds.
17. The method of claim 15, further comprising upon receipt of
a request for insurance, adding the corresponding exhibitor to the
insurance policy.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the request for insurance is
received via the Internet by interaction of the exhibitor with a
webpage.
19. The method of claim 15, further comprising, for each exhibitor
from which no request for insurance or proof of insurance is received
by a predetermined deadline, adding the exhibitor to the insurance
policy.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising invoicing each exhibitor
added to the insurance policy.
Insurance Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of
insurance and trade show management and, more particularly, to a
method of and system for offering insurance and providing insurance
registration to trade show owners, management and exhibitors.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Trade shows and similar events are typically owned and/or
managed by a company that invites exhibitors to be present at the
trade show to demonstrate goods and/or services offered by the exhibitors.
Various models for trade shows are known, but typically involve
providing a booth for each exhibitor from which the exhibitor demonstrates
and/or sells goods and/or services to attendees of the trade show.
A trade show is any event where exhibitors are invited to be present.
Exemplary trade shows include conventions, arts and crafts sales,
expositions, sporting events, and so forth.
[0003] Many trade shows require that each exhibitor have liability
insurance in addition to any general liability insurance that the
trade show owner and/or management carry. Some exhibitors may have
existing insurance that covers their involvement at trade shows,
while others do not. If the exhibitor does not have insurance, the
exhibitor must seek out insurance, which may be relatively expensive
and time consuming to acquire.
[0004] In addition, the owner and/or management of the trade show
must establish insurance requirements for the exhibitors and confirm
that each exhibitors has satisfied those insurance requirements.
As a result, the owner and/or management can spend a considerable
amount of time addressing insurance issues. For owners and/or management
without sufficient knowledge of the insurance industry, without
sufficient resources to verify that each exhibitor has the proper
insurance or without the ability to provide insurance for each exhibitor,
potentially problematic gaps in the insurance coverage for a trade
show could arise.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In view of the aforementioned shortcomings associated with
existing trade show insurance practices, there is a need in the
art for a method of and system for offering insurance and providing
insurance registration to trade show owners, management and exhibitors.
[0006] According to an aspect of the invention, a method of providing
insurance registration services to the owner or management of a
trade show includes receiving a list of exhibitors for the trade
show from the owner or management; and offering to the exhibitors
insurance coverage for the trade show.
[0007] According to another aspect, the method further includes
arranging for an insurance policy for the trade show.
[0008] According to another aspect, the arranging for the insurance
policy includes contracting with an insurance agent or insurance
provider to issue the insurance policy.
[0009] According to another aspect, the method further includes
paying the owner or management for the list of exhibitors.
[0010] According to another aspect, the payment is based on the
number of exhibitors.
[0011] According to another aspect, the method further includes
receiving a request for insurance from at least one of the exhibitors.
[0012] According to another aspect, the method further includes
adding the exhibitor that requested insurance to an insurance policy
for the trade show.
[0013] According to another aspect, the request for insurance is
received via the Internet by interaction of the exhibitor with a
webpage.
[0014] According to another aspect, the method further includes
approving an insurance status of the exhibitor for participation
in the trade show.
[0015] According to another aspect, the method further includes
offering to receive proof of insurance from the exhibitors.
[0016] According to another aspect, the method further includes
approving an exhibitor for participation in the trade show upon
receipt of satisfactory proof of insurance.
[0017] According to another aspect, the method further includes,
for each exhibitor from which no request for insurance or proof
of insurance is received by a predetermined deadline, adding the
exhibitor to an insurance policy.
[0018] According to another aspect, the insurance policy names
each exhibitor as an insured party.
[0019] According to another aspect, the method further includes
charging a fee to exhibitors that at least one of request insurance
or were added to the insurance policy.
[0020] According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method
of providing insurance registration services to the owner or management
of a trade show at which exhibitors are scheduled to participate
includes arranging for an insurance policy for the trade show; and
approving each exhibitor for participation in the trade show following
receipt of one of a request for insurance or satisfactory proof
of insurance from the exhibitor.
[0021] According to another aspect, the insurance policy names
all exhibitors as insureds.
[0022] According to another aspect, the method further includes
upon receipt of a request for insurance, adding the corresponding
exhibitor to the insurance policy.
[0023] According to another aspect, the request for insurance is
received via the Internet by interaction of the exhibitor with a
webpage.
[0024] According to another aspect, the method further includes,
for each exhibitor from which no request for insurance or proof
of insurance is received by a predetermined deadline, adding the
exhibitor to the insurance policy.
[0025] According to another aspect, the method further includes
invoicing each exhibitor added to the insurance policy.
[0026] These and further features of the present invention will
be apparent with reference to the following description and attached
drawings. In the description and drawings, particular embodiments
of the invention have been disclosed in detail as being indicative
of some of the ways in which the principles of the invention may
be employed, but it is understood that the invention is not limited
correspondingly in scope. Rather, the invention includes all changes,
modifications and equivalents coming within the spirit and terms
of the claims appended hereto.
[0027] Features that are described and/or illustrated with respect
to one embodiment may be used in the same way or in a similar way
in one or more other embodiments and/or in combination with or instead
of the features of the other embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0028] FIG. 1 is a flow chart depicting an exemplary method of
offering insurance and providing insurance registration to trade
show owners, management and exhibitors in accordance with the present
invention;
[0029] FIG. 2 is a time line depicting an exemplary series of events
relating to the method of FIG. 1; and
[0030] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a system for offering insurance
and providing insurance registration to trade show owners, management
and exhibitors in accordance with the present invention.
DESCRIPTION
[0031] The present invention will now be described with reference
to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer
to like elements throughout. To illustrate an embodiment(s) of the
present invention in a clear and concise manner, the drawings may
not necessarily be to scale and certain features may be shown in
somewhat schematic form.
[0032] Aspects of the invention relate to offering insurance and
providing insurance registration for persons and entities involved
with trade shows. As used herein, the term trade show is broadly
defined and includes any event for which there is an owner and/or
management that invites exhibitors to demonstrate goods and/or services,
sell goods and/or services, make informative and/or entertaining
presentations, and so forth. As such, trade shows include, but are
not limited to, conventions, arts and crafts sales, themed or unthemed
expositions, sporting events, and so forth. The owner of a trade
show also may manage the show (e.g., hire staff, coordinate involvement
of exhibitors, register exhibitors at the beginning of the trade
show, etc.) or may contract with another party to undertake all
or some of the management responsibilities of the trade show. While
the invention is described in the exemplary context of a trade show,
the invention has applicability to any situation where plural parties
need insurance for a specific event and/or length of time, and/or
there is a need to manage insurance related aspects of the relationship
among the parties. In addition, any of the parties may be referred
to by other names. For instance, the exhibitors may be referred
to as vendors.
[0033] Aspects of the invention involve offering insurance and
providing insurance registration services to parties involved with
the trade show including the owner, the management (if different
than the owner) and the exhibitors. In the exemplary embodiment
described herein, the offering of insurance and insurance registration
is carried out by another party, referred to herein as an intermediary.
It will be appreciated that the tasks described as being carried
out by the intermediary can be carried out by the owner, the management
or distributed among multiple parties, but still fall within the
scope of the present invention as defined by the claims appended
hereto. Therefore, in some instances, the owner and/or the management
can be the intermediary.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 1, shown is a flow chart depicting an
exemplary method 10 of offering insurance and providing insurance
registration services to trade show owners, management and exhibitors.
The exemplary method 10 illustrates steps carried out by the intermediary.
Complementary steps to be carried out by the trade show owner, the
trade show management, the exhibitors and an insurance agent, insurance
broker or insurance provider will be apparent to one of ordinary
skill in the art. As will further be understood by one of ordinary
skill in the art, the method 10 depicted in FIG. 1 can be implemented,
at least in part, in a computing device, such as a host computing
device that communicates with client computing devices via a network,
such as the Internet.
[0035] Although the description here refers to a single trade show,
it will be understood that the process can be applied to plural
trade shows.
[0036] Although the method 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 shows a specific
order of execution, it is understood that the order of execution
may differ from that depicted. For example, the order of execution
of two or more blocks may be changed relative to the order shown.
Also, two or more blocks shown in succession may be executed concurrently
or with partial concurrence. In addition, certain blocks may be
omitted and/or other blocks may be added. It is understood that
all such variations are within the scope of the present invention.
[0037] The method 10 can begin in block 12 where the intermediary
enters into an agreement (e.g., a contract) with the trade show
owner and/or management. The agreement can specify that the trade
show owner and/or management will supply a list of the exhibitors
or potential exhibitors that will have booths at the trade show
to the intermediary. The list can include exhibitor contact information,
including addresses, phone numbers, facsimile numbers, electronic
mail addresses and so forth. In one embodiment, the intermediary
agrees to pay a certain amount of money for the list. For example,
the compensation for the list may be specified as a certain dollar
amount per exhibitor.
[0038] The agreement can further specify that the intermediary
will furnish a general liability insurance policy for losses and/or
injuries resulting from the trade show. In one embodiment, all of
the exhibitors for the trade show are named as insureds under the
policy. Additional insureds may include the trade show owner and/or
management, the venue and/or the intermediary. In most cases, the
trade show owner and/or management, the venue and/or the intermediary
will have their own liability insurance policy for events stemming
from the trade show that is separate from the insurance policy identified
in the contract of block 12. The trade show owner and/or management
may agree to pay all or part of the premiums for the insurance policy,
but it is contemplated that the cost of the policy will be paid
by the intermediary. The specific coverage provided for in the policy
can be specified in the contract, but is generally not important
to the execution of the method 10 and will not be described in detail.
[0039] The agreement can further specify that the intermediary
has the exclusive right to conduct insurance registration for the
exhibitors of the trade show. In one embodiment, the contract can
recite that the intermediary is to serve as the exclusive insurance
registration provider for the trade show owner and/or management
for plural trade shows, which may be determined by a specified number
of trade shows, a specified series of trade shows, a specified duration
(e.g., two years), etc. As will be described in greater detail,
insurance registration can include confirming that each exhibitor
has adequate insurance coverage and offering insurance to those
exhibitors who do not have adequate insurance. Accordingly, the
agreement can specify that the intermediary has the exclusive right
to advertise and/or offer insurance for the trade show under the
sponsorship or approval of the trade show owner and/or management.
Other provisions of the agreement will be apparent to those familiar
with drafting agreements between various parties.
[0040] It is typical that each exhibitor will have a contract with
the trade show owner and/or management that sets forth the terms
of their relationship. To facilitate the insurance registration
process, the contract between each exhibitor and the trade show
owner and/or management may specify that the exhibitor must have
a certain type and/or minimum amount of insurance. The contract
may further specify that the trade show owner and/or management,
the venue and/or the intermediary are to be named in the exhibitor's
insurance policy as additional insureds, or pay a fee. The contract
may specify that proof of such insurance be provided to the intermediary,
who may be specifically identified by name, by a certain date. The
contract of block 12 between the trade show owner and/or management
and the intermediary may specify that these terms will be present
in the contracts between the trade show owner and/or management
and the exhibitors.
[0041] Next, in block 14, the intermediary can arrange for an insurance
policy from an insurance provider for the trade show that names
at least the exhibitors as the insured(s) and that satisfies the
agreed to level of coverage for the trade show. The policy will
reserve the right to add individual exhibitors to the policy as
additional insureds and, as indicated, may include the trade show
owner and/or management, venue and/or the intermediary as additional
insureds. The actual arranging for and/or purchase of the policy
may involve an agent or broker working on behalf of the intermediary
or the insurance provider.
[0042] With additional reference to FIG. 2, a time line of events
relating to the insurance registration process is shown. At a certain
commencement date 16, the trade show will begin. The commencement
date 16 of the trade show may be marked by the general registration
process for the trade show when exhibitors begin to arrive at the
trade show site and may be prior to the date and/or time when attendees
to the trade show are scheduled to arrive.
[0043] In block 18, the intermediary establishes a standard insurance
registration deadline 20 for the exhibitors and a final insurance
registration deadline 22 for the exhibitors. The standard insurance
registration deadline 20 is a date by which each exhibitor must
either offer proof of insurance to the intermediary or request insurance
for the trade show from the intermediary. As will become more apparent
below, the standard insurance registration deadline 20 is an arbitrary
date used to inform the exhibitors of when they must complete the
insurance registration process. The standard insurance registration
deadline 20 is given to the exhibitors as an encouragement to take
action by that date. The final insurance registration deadline 22
is a date on which the intermediary will automatically enroll exhibitors
who have not either provided satisfactory proof of insurance or
requested insurance from the intermediary. Enrolling exhibitioners
may include adding exhibitors to the insurance policy as described
below in greater detail.
[0044] In the illustrated embodiment, the final insurance registration
deadline 22 is further identified by the notation t, which may be
a predetermined number of days (e.g., n days) before the commencement
date 16. Accordingly, the commencement date is further identified
by the notation t+n. Depending on the type of trade show and preferences
of the intermediary, trade show owner and/or management, the final
insurance registration deadline 22 may be about two to about thirty
days before the commencement date 16, although other durations are
contemplated.
[0045] In the illustrated embodiment, the standard insurance registration
deadline 20 is fourteen days prior to the final insurance registration
deadline 22. Hence, the standard insurance registration deadline
20 is further identified by the notation t-14 representing fourteen
days (e.g., two weeks) before the final insurance registration deadline
22. Depending on the type of trade show and preferences of the intermediary,
trade show owner and/or management, the standard insurance registration
deadline 20 can be more than or less than fourteen days before the
final insurance registration deadline 22.
[0046] In block 18, the intermediary also establishes a first contact
date 24, a second contact date 26 and a final contact date 28. As
will be described in greater detail below, the first contact date
24 is a date on which the intermediary will transmit information
about the insurance registration process to the exhibitors. The
second contact date 26 is a date on which the intermediary will
again transmit information about the insurance registration process
to the exhibitors. The final contact date 28 is a date on which
the intermediary will again transmit information about the insurance
registration process to the exhibitors. The information transmitted
on the final contact date 28 preferably includes a warning that
the exhibitor has until the final insurance registration deadline
22 (e.g., about a week in the illustrated example) to complete the
insurance registration process or be automatically enrolled. If
desired, additional contact dates can be added to the method 10
or one or more of the contact dates can be removed from the method.
[0047] In the illustrated embodiment, the first contact date 24
is forty-five days prior to the commencement date 16 of the trade
show. Hence, the first contact date 24 is further identified by
the notation t-45-n representing forty-five days (e.g., about one
and a half months) before the commencement date 16. Depending on
the type of trade show and preferences of the intermediary, trade
show owner and/or management, the first contact date 24 can be more
than or less than forty-five days before the commencement date 16.
[0048] In the illustrated embodiment, the second contact date 26
is three days prior to the standard insurance registration deadline
20. Hence, the second contact date 26 is further identified by the
notation t-17 representing seventeen days before the final insurance
registration deadline 22. Depending on the type of trade show and
preferences of the intermediary, trade show owner and/or management,
the second contact date 26 can be more than or less than three days
before the standard insurance registration deadline 20.
[0049] In the illustrated embodiment, the final contact date 28
is seven days (e.g., one week) before the final insurance registration
deadline 22. Hence, the final contact date 28 is further identified
by the notation t-7, representing seven days before the final registration
deadline 22. Depending on the type of trade show and preferences
of the intermediary, trade show owner and/or management, the final
contact date 28 can be more than or less than seven days before
the final insurance registration deadline 22.
[0050] With continued reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the method 10
can proceed to block 30 where it is determined whether the first
contact date 24 has been reached. If the first contact date 24 has
not been reached (a negative determination in block 30), the method
10 can wait until that date. Upon a positive determination in block
20, the method 10 can proceed to block 32.
[0051] In block 32, the exhibitors are contacted by the intermediary.
In one embodiment, the intermediary transmits a notice to the exhibitor
by one or more techniques, including, for example, electronic mail,
facsimile ("fax"), regular mail (e.g., via the U.S. Postal
Service), certified mail, independent courier (e.g., Federal Express
or United Parcel Service) or orally by telephone.
[0052] The notice can include information about the insurance registration
process that is relevant to the exhibitors. If transmitted by electronic
mail, the electronic mail can include links to an Internet website
of the intermediary through which the exhibitors can get information,
access forms, view or download example documentation, submit documents
and/or request insurance. For example, the electronic mail can be
a hypertext mark-up language (HTML) electronic mail to support such
functionality. Attached to the notice or included in the notice,
regardless of the format, can be a sample proof of insurance certificate
depicting the type of evidence that may be required to opt out of
obtaining insurance through the intermediary. Also attached or included
can be an insurance requirement form showing the insurance coverage
that the exhibitor will need. In addition, attached or included
can be a form that the exhibitor can use to request insurance through
the intermediary, such as by printing the form, completing the form,
and faxing or sending the form to the intermediary. In another embodiment,
the notice attachments and/or forms can be provided to the exhibitors
from the trade show owner and/or management, such as by inclusion
in a manual distributed to the exhibitors by the trade show owner
and/or management.
[0053] The information contained in the notice can include reference
to the exhibitor's contract with the trade show owner and/or management;
a description of the insurance that the trade show owner and/or
management requires of the each exhibitor; a description of the
relationship of the trade show owner and/or management with the
intermediary; any parties to be listed as additional insureds; relevant
dates and deadlines; an explanation of the insurance registration
process; instructions concerning the submission of proof of insurance
if the exhibitor already has or would like to seek out insurance
from another party; instructions, cost and/or details relating to
an option for the exhibitor to request insurance through the intermediary;
and contact information of the intermediary. The notice can contain
any other relevant information.
[0054] Other relevant information may include a description of
the automatic enrollment process in the event that the exhibitor
does not contact the intermediary by the final insurance registration
deadline 22 as described below in greater detail. If present in
the first and/or second notices, the description of the automatic
enrollment process, however, may refer to the standard insurance
registration deadline 20 as an incentive for the exhibitor to act
quickly, even though automatic enrollment may not take place until
the final insurance registration deadline 22. In one embodiment,
in a first iteration of the method 10 (e.g., on the first contact
date 24), the notice will not include information related to the
automatic enrollment process or will include limited information
related to the automatic enrollment process.
[0055] In block 34, it is determined whether any exhibitors have
submitted proof of insurance. Any exhibitor that has insurance coverage
for the trade show may submit proof of insurance in the form of
a certificate from the exhibitor's insurance agent or provider.
An insurance certificate can be submitted electronically to the
intermediary (e.g., by electronic mail, file transfer, etc.), by
mail or courier, by facsimile or any other appropriate delivery
method. By submitting proof of insurance in block 34, the exhibitor
is considered to have opted out of insurance offered by the intermediary.
Accordingly, in block 34, if an insurance certificate is received
from an exhibitor, the process can proceed to block 36. In block
36, the intermediary may validate the insurance certificate by reviewing
the certificate and/or by contacting the exhibitor's insurance agent
or provider. If the insurance certificate is not valid or clarification
is needed, the intermediary can contact the exhibitor for a new
or clarified insurance certificate.
[0056] Once a satisfactory insurance certificate is received, the
method 10 can proceed to block 38, where the exhibitor is added
to the insurance policy purchased in block 14. Adding the exhibitor
to the insurance policy even if the exhibitor can show proof of
insurance coverage (blocks 34 and 36) provides a safeguard as to
the insurance coverage for the exhibitor. In another embodiment
(represented by the dashed line in FIG. 1), the exhibitor is not
added to the policy by skipping block 38 and proceeding directly
to block 40, which will be described in greater detail below.
[0057] If a negative determination is made in block 34, the method
10 can proceed to block 42. In block 42 a determination is made
as to whether the exhibitor has decided to request insurance through
the intermediary. Requesting insurance for the trade show through
the intermediary can include submitting a request form that includes
information about the exhibitor, such as company name, booth number
for the trade show assigned by the trade show management, address,
telephone and fax numbers, electronic mail address, etc. The request
can be submitted electronically (e.g., via electronic mail, file
transfer or completing a form on an Internet website of the intermediary),
by facsimile, by mail or courier, or any other appropriate delivery
method. In one embodiment, the exhibitor may be asked to submit
a payment in connection with the request for insurance. Payment
for the insurance through the intermediary can be made to the intermediary
in the form of a credit (or debit) card purchase, cash, wire transfer
or electronic payment, check or the like. In a preferred embodiment,
to obtain insurance through the intermediary, the exhibitor can
complete a form on a secure Internet website of the intermediary
to submit any appropriate information and credit (or debit) card
payment information. For many exhibitors, requesting insurance through
the intermediary using the preferred embodiment over the Internet
should take about five minutes or less.
[0058] The cost of insurance obtained through the intermediary
can vary based on the nature of the trade show, the insurance history
of the trade show owner and/or management, the insurance history
of the exhibitor and any other appropriate factor. For many trade
shows, it is contemplated that multiple exhibitors will request
insurance through the intermediary for addition to the policy purchased
in block 14. On an exhibitor by exhibitor basis, the cost of the
insurance policy purchased in block 14 may result in a cost reduction
compared to each exhibitor obtaining insurance on their own. Cost
savings can be passed to the exhibitors as an incentive to request
insurance through the intermediary. It is contemplated that by obtaining
insurance of this nature through the intermediary, the cost to the
exhibitor may be about half of the amount that an insurance agent
or provider would charge to an exhibitor seeking similar insurance
on their own.
[0059] If the exhibitor requests insurance in block 42, the method
10 can proceed to block 38 where the intermediary adds the exhibitor
to the policy purchased in block 14 as an additional insured. Thereafter,
the method can proceed to block 40, which will be described in greater
detail below.
[0060] If a negative determination is made in block 42, the method
10 can proceed to block 44 where a determination is made as to whether
the final insurance registration deadline 22 (FIG. 2) has been reached.
If the final insurance registration deadline 26 has been reached,
the method can proceed to block 46.
[0061] In block 46, each exhibitor that did not submit proof of
insurance (block 34) or request insurance (block 42) can be enrolled
in the insurance registration program. The enrollment in block 46
can be automatic (e.g., without action by the exhibitor). Enrollment
in the insurance registration program can include adding the exhibitor
to the insurance policy purchased in block 14 as an additional insured.
In addition, the exhibitor can be invoiced for the cost of being
added to the policy. The invoiced amount can be the same as that
charged to exhibitors who requested insurance in block 42 or a higher
amount. If higher, the higher amount can represent a surcharge for
not responding earlier. In addition, the higher amount can be used
to cover the risk and expense involved in collecting from those
automatically enrolled. In one embodiment, exhibitors cancelling
from the trade show before the final insurance registration deadline
22 is reached will not be enrolled in block 46. Once enrollment
in the insurance registration program is made in block 46, the method
10 can proceed to block 40, which will be described in greater detail
below.
[0062] If a negative determination is made in block 44, the method
10 can proceed to block 48 where a determination is made as to whether
the second contact date 26 (FIG. 2), final contact date 28 (FIG.
2), or any other appropriate contact date has arrived. If a negative
determination is made in block 48, the method 10 can return to block
34. Upon a positive determination in block 48, the method can return
to block 32. Similar to the first iteration of the method 10, in
block 32 the exhibitors who have not yet supplied proof of insurance
(block 34) or requested insurance (block 42) can be recontacted.
For instance, if the second contact date 26 has arrived, a second
notice can be transmitted to the appropriate exhibitors. The second
notice can be transmitted by a different method than the transmission
of the first notice, by the method with which the first notice was
transmitted or by multiple methods. The second notice can contain
the same information as the first notice, additional information
(e.g., explaining the automatic enrollment process if not previously
explained) and/or with a reminder of the urgency of taking action
to participate in the insurance registration program.
[0063] If, in block 48, the final contact date 28 has arrived,
a final notice can be transmitted to those exhibitors who have not
yet submitted satisfactory proof of insurance or requested insurance
through the intermediary. The final notice can be transmitted by
a different method than the transmission of the first and/or second
notices, by the method with which the first and or second notices
were transmitted or by multiple methods. The final notice can contain
the same information as the first and/or second notice, additional
information (e.g., explaining the automatic enrollment process if
not previously explained) and/or with an indication that the deadline
for insurance registration has passed. For example, the final notice
can explain that the exhibitor has an additional period of time
(e.g., a number of days equaling the number of days until the final
insurance registration deadline 22) to submit proof of insurance
or request insurance through the intermediary, or automatically
be enrolled as set forth in block 46.
[0064] As indicated, following blocks 38 and 46, the method 10
can proceed to block 40. In block 40, the intermediary transmits
an appropriate confirmation to the exhibitors. The confirmation
can contain an indication that the exhibitor has satisfied the requirements
of the insurance registration process, such as submitting satisfactory
proof of insurance, requesting insurance through the intermediary
or having been automatically enrolled. The confirmation may be used
as proof to the trade show owner and/or management that the exhibitor
has insurance coverage for the trade show. The confirmation may
be transmitted in any appropriate form, including, for example,
electronic mail, file transfer, facsimile, mail or courier, and
so forth.
[0065] In block 50, the intermediary transmits appropriate information
to the trade show owner and/or management. In one embodiment, a
list of those exhibitors that have satisfied the requirements of
the insurance registration process is transmitted in block 50. The
list, which may be in a database format, can distinguish between
those exhibitors that submitted satisfactory proof of insurance,
those exhibitors that requested insurance through the intermediary
and those exhibitors that were automatically enrolled. In one embodiment,
the list can identify any exhibitors that somehow did not fall into
one of these three categories and requires special handling. In
one embodiment, the list can identify any exhibitors who owe funds
to the intermediary for insurance that was either requested in block
42 or automatically enrolled in block 46. Collection of those funds
may be made at the commencement time 16 (FIG. 2) of the trade show,
such as during a registration process. If funds are not supplied,
in one embodiment, the exhibitor can be prevented from participating
in the trade show.
[0066] It will be appreciated that some exhibitors may have circumstances
that do not lend to interaction with the method 10. In those situations,
the insurance needs of the exhibitor can be handled on a case by
case basis to resolve any outstanding issues and complete the registration
process. One special situation falling outside the above-described
method 10 is for exhibitors for which the trade show owner and/or
management has waived any insurance requirements that would normally
be placed on exhibitors at the trade show. Waiving insurance requirements
may be reserved for special exhibitors or important clients of the
trade owner and/or management. When waiving the insurance requirements
for an exhibitor, the trade show owner and /or management may request
that the intermediary add the waived exhibitor to the insurance
policy purchased in block 14. The cost of adding such an exhibitor
can be borne by the trade show owner and/or management, and/or the
intermediary.
[0067] As will be appreciated, disclosed is a method for offering
insurance and providing insurance registration to trade show owners,
management and exhibitors. In that method, the responsibility and
effort involved with the insurance process for the trade show (or
plural shows) is transferred from the trade show owner and/or management
to the intermediary. As a result, resources of the trade show owner
and/or management can be applied to other tasks instead of verifying
that the exhibitors have the correct insurance coverage and answering
insurance related questions of the exhibitors. In addition, it is
contemplated that the intermediary will have some level of expertise
with insurance matters. Accordingly, the intermediary can assist
in arranging a suitable amount of insurance coverage for each of
the parties based on the type of trade show. Also, if a claim should
occur, the intermediary can assist the trade show owner and/or management,
the exhibitors and, in some situations, the venue in addressing
the claim. For example, many claims may be defended or paid by the
insurance provider that sold the policy purchased in block 14 rather
than other insurance policies that insure the various parties. Finding
exhibitors after a claim has been filed has been an issue in the
past, particularly for out-of-state exhibitors, out-of-country exhibitors
or small exhibitors. The information collected by the intermediary
during the insurance registration process may be beneficial for
locating exhibitors in the event of claim.
[0068] The method not only has benefits to the trade show owner
and/or management, the insurance validation and/or acquisition process
for the exhibitors is simplified relative to convention approaches.
As indicated, in some cases, acts to request insurance through the
intermediary may be completed by the exhibitors in five minutes
or less and may cost less than obtaining an individual policy. In
addition, the exhibitors can get answers to insurance related questions
from a single, typically knowledgeable, source.
[0069] Should a claim arise and plural exhibitors and, if appropriate,
the trade show owner and/or management are named on the policy,
the number of coverage issues can be reduced compared to a situation
where some exhibitors do not have insurance or there are plural
insurance providers involved. In addition, the venue can be given
an assurance by the trade show owner and/or management that each
exhibitor has at least a specified amount of insurance coverage
in place.
[0070] With additional reference to FIG. 3, an exemplary embodiment
of a system 52 for offering insurance and providing insurance registration
to trade show owners, management and exhibitors is illustrated.
The system 52 can include a host computing device 54. The host 54
can be a general purpose computing device, such as a network or
"web" server, a desktop computer, a work-station, a portable
computer (also referred to as a laptop computer), a personal digital
assistant (PDA), and the like. Accordingly, the host can include
a processor (or processors) 56 for executing instructions, usually
in the form of computer code, to carry out a specified logic routine.
[0071] The host 54 can also have a memory (or multiple memory components)
58 for storing data, software, logic routine instructions, computer
programs, files, operating system instructions, and the like. The
memory 58 can comprise several devices and includes, for example,
volatile and non-volatile memory components (e.g., random access
memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), hard disks, floppy disks,
compact disks (including, but not limited to, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, CD-RW
and DVD-RW), tapes, and/or other memory components, plus associated
drives and players for these memory types).
[0072] The processor 56 and the memory 58 can be coupled via a
local interface 60, such as a data bus with accompanying control
bus, or a network between the processor(s) 56 and memory(ies) 58.
In addition, the host 54 can have a number of external interfaces,
each coupled to the local interface 60. The external interfaces,
illustrated as video and I/O interfaces 62 can include, for example,
a video interface, input interfaces and output interfaces. In addition,
the host 54 can include one or more communications interfaces 64.
[0073] A display 66 can be coupled to the host 54 via an appropriate
interface 70. Input devices (e.g., a keyboard 68, a mouse 70, a
microphone, etc.) can be coupled to the host 54 via appropriate
interfaces 62. Output devices (e.g., a printer 72, a speaker, etc.)
can be coupled to the host 54 via appropriate interfaces 62.
[0074] The communications interface(s) 64 can include, for example,
a modem, a network card and/or other type of transceiver. In the
illustrated embodiment, the communications interface 64 is coupled
to an external network 74 to enable the host 54 to send and receive
data signals, voice signals, video signals, and the like via the
external network 74, as is well known in the art. The external network
74 can include one or more networks, such as the Internet, a wide
area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), a direct data link,
a telephone network or other similar network or communications link,
including wired and wireless network arrangements.
[0075] The memory 58 can store an operating system 76 that is executed
by the processor 56 to control the allocation and usage of resources
in the host 54. Specifically, the operating system 76 controls the
allocation and usage of the memory 58, the processing time of the
processor 56 that is dedicated to various applications 78 being
executed by the processor 56 and to the peripheral devices, as well
as performing other functionality. In this manner, the operating
system 76 serves as the foundation on which the applications 78
depend, as is generally known by those with ordinary skill in the
art. The applications 78 can include a variety of "programs"
that carry out a wide range of functionality, such as, a word processing
program, a spreadsheet program, a personal organizer program, a
graphical arts program, an image or photograph manipulation program,
an Internet browser, an Internet webpage hosting program, a database
management program, and so on.
[0076] The memory 58 can store and the processor 56 can execute,
as part of one or more applications 78, a trade show insurance management
function 80. For instance, the trade show insurance management function
80 can include an interactive webpage or set webpages that allow
the trade show owner and/or management and the exhibitors to interact
with the intermediary using a client computing device 82. The client
computing device 82 can be any appropriate general purpose computing
device, such as those described above for the host computing device
54. For example, the webpage(s) can allow the intermediary to submit
questions or proof of insurance to the intermediary, or request
insurance through the intermediary. The client computing device
82 can assist in generating and sending electronic mail messages
and/or files to the trade show owner and/or management and the exhibitors,
including the above-described notices to the exhibitioners, the
list(s) transmitted in block 50 and so forth.
[0077] A database management component of the trade show insurance
management function 80 can organize data relating to the exhibitors
and prompt the user of the host 54 to carry out certain tasks. The
database management component can automatically generate notices
and lists upon the occurrence of a certain event or upon the reaching
of a certain time and/or date. In addition, the database management
component can generate an output to add or assist in adding exhibitioners
to the insurance policy purchased in block 14. An insurance request
component can take in exhibitioner data and handle credit (or debit)
card transactions (e.g., interface with credit agencies appropriate
for credit/debit card information submitted by the exhibitors).
The insurance request component can interact with the database management
component to automatically add and/or revised exhibitioner data.
Other features, components and functions of the trade show insurance
management function 80 to carry out all or portions of the method
10 will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.
[0078] It will be apparent to a person having ordinary skill in
the art of computer programming, and specifically in webpage hosting
and database management, how to program the host 54 to operate and
carry out the functions described herein. Accordingly, details as
to the specific programming code have been left out for sake of
brevity. Also, while the trade show insurance management function
80 is executed as part of one or more applications 78 by the processor
56 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, such functionality
could also be carried out via dedicated hardware, firmware, software,
or combinations thereof, without departing from the scope of the
invention. In addition, corresponding functions of a server and/or
client computing devices 82 that interact with the host 54 can be
embodied in any suitable form including executable logic that is
stored by a memory of those devices and/or executed by a processor
of those devices.
[0079] The figures show the architecture, functionality, and operation
of an implementation of the method 10 and the trade show insurance
management function 80. If embodied in software, each illustrated
block may represent a module, segment, or portion of code that comprises
program instructions to implement the specified logical function(s).
The program instructions may be embodied in the form of source code
that comprises human readable statements written in a programming
language or machine code that comprises numerical instructions recognizable
by a suitable execution system such as a processor in a computer
system or other system. The machine code may be converted from the
source code. If embodied in hardware, each block may represent a
circuit or a number of interconnected circuits to implement the
specified logical function(s).
[0080] Also, where the trade show insurance management function
80 comprises software or code, the trade show insurance management
function 80 can be embodied in any computer useable or readable
medium for use by or in connection with an instruction execution
system such as, for example, a processor in a computer system or
other system. In this sense, the logic may comprise, for example,
statements including instructions or declarations that can be fetched
from the computer-readable medium and executed by the instruction
logic system. In the context of the present invention, a "computer-readable
medium" can be any medium that can contain, store or maintain
the logic described herein for use by or in connection with the
instruction execution system. A computer-readable medium can comprise
any one of many physical media such as, for example, electronic,
magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, or semiconductor media. More
specific examples of suitable computer-readable medium will include,
but are not limited to, tapes, floppy disks, hard drives, or compact
disks. Also, the computer-readable medium can be random access memory
(RAM) including, for example, static random access memory (SRAM),
dynamic random access memory (DRAM), and/or magnetic random access
memory (MRAM). In addition, the computer-readable medium can be
a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM),
an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electronically
erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and/or other type
of memory device, including flash memory devices.
[0081] Although the invention has been shown and described with
respect to certain preferred embodiments, it is understood that
equivalents and modifications will occur to others skilled in the
art upon the reading and understanding of the specification. The
present invention includes all such equivalents and modifications,
and is limited only by the scope of the following claims. |