Outboard Policy

Outboarding

Outboarding is defined by the International Association of Exhibitions and Events™ (IAEE) as the creation of a concurrent event related to an existing exhibition or conference. This event is not sanctioned by the organizer but seeks to benefit from the audience the organizer attracts.

Outboarding occurs when work comp industry professionals host, sponsor, or promote any unauthorized event, social event, content session, meeting, demonstration, presentation, or gathering in connection with National Comp. This includes activities conducted during the week of National Comp at other hotels, restaurants, nearby properties, within the convention center, or through any offsite or virtual platform, without prior written consent.

As a premier event serving the workers’ compensation industry, National Comp—organized by The Institutes, a non-profit organization—invests significant financial and operational resources into delivering a high-quality conference and expo. Our sponsors and exhibitors play a major role in this success. They showcase their latest products and services, engage with existing clients, and generate new business opportunities.

National Comp, in alignment with IAEE, considers outboarding to be unethical business conduct.

The Impact of Outboarding

Outboarding during show hours undermines the value and integrity of National Comp. It:

• Diminishes the size and quality of the event audience.
• Reduces the return on investment for official exhibitors and sponsors.
• Devalues the overall experience for attendees and industry stakeholders.

While National Comp supports networking and business development, these activities must align with official event guidelines. Companies that try to leverage National Comp’s audience without exhibiting or sponsoring are unfairly benefitting from the investments of legitimate event partners.

Outboard Policy Guidelines

• Prohibited Activities: During show hours, it is strictly prohibited to promote or conduct any activity that competes with National Comp’s official conference program or networking events. Exhibitors are strongly advised not to co-host activities with companies that are not official exhibitors or sponsors.
• Hosting Events: Official exhibitors are welcome to host parties and special events outside of show hours. These gatherings offer additional opportunities for engagement. Exhibitors are encouraged to proudly feature the “National Comp Supporter” badge on marketing materials, invitations, and signage.
• Reporting Violations: We ask exhibitors, sponsors, and attendees to decline invitations to unsanctioned events hosted by non-exhibitors. If an event conflicts with National Comp activities, we ask that it be reported to National Comp staff.

Enforcement & Consequences

We are committed to working with industry partners to support their strategic goals within the workers’ compensation sector. A variety of sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities are available to ensure companies can participate in an official and ethical capacity.

National Comp reserves the right to protect the integrity of the event and may impose penalties on companies or individuals found violating this policy.

Thank you for supporting National Comp and helping to uphold the integrity of our industry’s premier event.