The International Association of Assembly Managers (IAAM), and its newly established research arm, Venue Research Institute (VRI), have entered into a partnership agreement with AMS Planning & Research Corp. of Fairfield, CT to provide benchmarking data for the Performing Arts sector.

''Data are very important to our industry and to effectively managing a public venue.  The VRI initiative will help provide the necessary information to assist performing arts managers in doing their jobs.'' VRI Chair, Steve Peters, CFE, said. ''Working with AMS, who understand how to collect information and apply data to strategic decision-making is an important opportunity for IAAM. The VRI identified AMS because they have already successfully deployed PAC Stats(sm) which provides benchmarking data for more than two dozen of North America's largest performing arts centers. Building on their proven tools, we can make more operating insight available to our members; which is one of our key strategic directions.'' Peters continued.

''A priority of our association is to provide exceptional data to the members of IAAM,'' Robyn Williams, CFE, IAAM President, said. ''Through partnerships like this one with AMS, IAAM will endeavor to become the acknowledged leader in industry research effort.''

IAAM has been working to develop a comprehensive research strategy for over a year now and will, with the creation of VRI, see an increase in its data gathering efforts. The project will involve a number of research partners that will be involved in a broad range of data gathering.  The goal is to provide on-line access to data to serve three objectives:

1. To provide IAAM members and our member's stakeholders with an on-going perspective of the breadth and depth of the public assembly facility sector
2. To monitor trends in each sector of the assembly business and share key observations with IAAM membership and the field
3. To offer useful benchmarking tools to IAAM members to enhance continuous improvement efforts and support best practices

Steven Wolff, CMC, Principal of AMS said, ''communities demand that their performing arts facilities be operated both efficiently and effectively. By launching the VRI effort, IAAM will help its members to have information at their disposal to monitor operational performance, track trends and support critical business decisions. Given our long association with IAAM, we are especially delighted to have been chosen as VRI's initial partner and to bring enhance PAC Stats(sm) to serve IAAM's membership.''

VRI benchmarking data collection efforts will involve exploration of data for all sectors of the IAAM membership, beginning with Performing Arts, followed by Convention and Exhibition Halls, and then with Arena/Stadia. Subsequent announcements of other research partners will be forthcoming.  

The International Association of Assembly Managers is the world's largest professional association dedicated to issues relevant to the management of public assembly facilities. Members of the association manage public assembly facilities such as amphitheaters, arenas, auditoriums, convention centers/exhibit halls, performing arts venues, stadiums and university complexes; or provide products, services or attractions to support the industry. IAAM has more than 3,200 members worldwide. More information is available at www.iaam.org.

AMS Planning & Research Corp. is national arts management consulting practice with offices in Connecticut, Missouri and California.  Founded in 1988, AMS is dedicated to working with arts and community leaders to develop ventures that are both effective and sustainable. In 2002, AMS launched PAC Stats(sm) to provide critical benchmarking and trend data for performing arts centers. More than two dozen North American, British and Australian arts centers participate in the annual study which gathers financial, attendance, facility utilization and other operating data. More information is available at www.ams-online.com.