ASCRS Priority Points System

Determining your exhibit location at the ASCRS•ASOA Symposium & Congress

ASCRS recognizes that the location of a booth at our annual meeting is of high strategic importance. ASCRS has a system in place that determines the order of space selection for each exhibitor. We recognize that the system has not been clear to many organizations. Therefore, we are pleased to answer these frequently asked questions regarding the ASCRS priority points system.

Frequently asked questions

1. How do I accrue priority points? Priority points are accrued in three general ways
   a) By exhibiting at the ASCRS•ASOA annual meeting in past consecutive years.
   b) By partnering with ASCRS via advertising in ASCRS publications, purchasing support items at the Annual Meeting (e.g. tote bags), or by contracting with ASCRS to host a corporate event.
   c) By participating in one of the bonus programs for priority points offered in a particular calendar year.
   
   
2. What is the accrual period to earn priority points?
   Priority points are accrued during a calendar year (January - December) for the meeting that takes place two years following the close of a particular calendar year. As an example, Joe's Ophthalmic Devices accrues 5,000 priority points during calendar year 2007. Those priority points will be used to determine booth position at the 2009 ASCRS•ASOA Annual Meeting.
   
   
3. How many priority points do I accrue for each of the general ways to earn priority points?
   Point totals are calculated as follows:
   a) Exhibiting at ASCRS: Ten (10) points are earned for each consecutive year an exhibitor has a booth at the ASCRS•ASOA Annual Symposium & Congress.
   b) Advertising in any ASCRS publication: 25% of the dollar total for advertising spent with ASCRS publications is earned as priority points.
   c) Marketing items: 25% of the dollar total spent on marketing items during a calendar year is earned as priority points.
   d) Corporate Events (e.g. Corporate Mornings): 25% of the dollar total spent on corporate events contracted with ASCRS/EyeWorld during a calendar year is earned as priority points.
   e) Exhibiting at other ASCRS meetings: 25% of dollar total spent on exhibits at ASCRS-sponsored meetings during a calendar year is earned as priority points. This includes ASCRS Winter Update, ASCRS Glaucoma Day, and Cornea Day.
   
   
4. Are priority points earned based on the size of my booth at any of the ASCRS meetings?
   Priority points are not earned based upon booth size or cost of exhibition space.
   
   
5. I contracted to support an item at the 2007 ASCRS•ASOA Annual Meeting. I signed the contract in August of 2006. When will my priority points be credited?
   Priority points are credited for the year that the supported item or event takes place. Priority points for advertising are credited during the year that the issue or book is published. Even though the contract was signed in 2006, the item is intended for release in 2007 and therefore will be deposited in your 2007 account for the 2009 Annual Meeting.
   
   
6. What are the bonus programs for priority points?
   This year, there are three bonus programs:
   Exhibitor Bonus:
   
   a) If your organization has exhibited
   – The previous 5-9 years consecutively, you will earn a 25% bonus of your total points earned for exhibiting in consecutive years. E.g. Company A has exhibited the past six years consecutively. Points earned equals 6 * 10 = 60*1.25 = 75.
   – The previous 10-14 years consecutively, you will earn a 50% bonus of your total points earned for exhibiting in consecutive years.
   – The previous 15-19 years consecutively, you will earn a 75% bonus of your total points earned for exhibiting in consecutive years.
   – 20 or more years consecutively, you will earn a 100% bonus of your total points earned for exhibiting in consecutive years.
   
   b) Housing bureau bonus
   Employ the ASCRS housing bureau (Ambassador's) for 100% of your hotel room needs for the 2010 Annual Meeting and receive bonus points worth 10 times the total square footage of your booth at the Annual Meeting. If your company does not use the housing bureau for 100% of its housing needs, your company will lose priority points equal to 50% of the total square footage of your booth. E.g. Company A and Company B each have 20' x 20' booths (400 square feet). Company A uses the ASCRS housing bureau for 100% of its housing needs. Company A gains 4,000 priority points. Company B made reservations for two of its attendees with the housing bureau but went outside the housing bureau for one of its hotel reservations. Company B will lose 200 priority points.