HBA Global Expo Launches New Social Networking App

NEW YORK, June 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- HBA Global Expo announced today a Social Networking App that empowers visitors to easily find and connect with the attendees and companies that matter most to them.  The HBA Global Expo and Conference, taking place June 19-21, 2012 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York, is the largest gathering of ingredient suppliers, packagers and retails to the global beauty and wellness industries.

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Utilizing the complimentary Social Networking App, users can register their interest in a wide range of topics ranging from Anti-Aging to Wellness and everything in between.  Within each selected topic, they can then indicate whether they are interested in learning more about the topic or if they can provide help.  The app uses this data along with profile information garnered from tight social media integration to determine points of commonality and then builds for each user a personalized, top 50 list of "Who To Know™" at the show.  As usage increases, the app gets smarter and dynamically updates these lists to hone in on the people and companies that matter most.

"The HBA Social Networking App has evolved out of customer feedback requesting that attendees, exhibitors, and speakers have the ability to find the perfect matches for their needs in an environment with so many potential leads," said Jill Birkett, Director of UBM Live's Beauty & Wellness Portfolio.  "With this social application, we are putting a powerful tool into hands of our visitors to help them easily find and connect with others that will help them achieve their objectives."

"We constantly strive to give visitors the best, most productive event experience," said Howard Zonder, SVP of Market and Audience Development, UBM Live.  "UBM Live events like HBA Global Expo draw thousands and sometimes tens of thousands of visitors which can make it challenging for even the most seasoned attendees to meet all of the right people and visit all of the most relevant exhibitors.  Tools like the HBA Social Networking App empower our visitors to maximize their time and efforts at the show."

Powered by Vivastream, the app is designed to increase the volume and effectiveness of networking for visitors and exhibitors at HBA Global.  

To build your HBA Global "Who To Know™" list, visit www.vivastream.com/events/hba-global-expo.  For more information on the HBA Global Expo 2012 please visit www.hbaexpo.com. 

Media contact: Annie Scully, 845-369-6382, [email protected] or Caitlin Read, 609-759-4735, [email protected].

About HBA Global Expo & Conference www.hbaexpo.com produced by UBM Live, is the premiere product development source–from concept to market–for the cosmetics, personal care, skin care, fragrance and wellness industries and features a comprehensive educational program and exhibits floor.  HBA visitors comprise the top prestige, mass and emerging beauty and personal care brands worldwide. The HBA Global Expo & Conference will take place June 19-21, 2012 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York.  Connect with the HBA Global communities on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter.

About Vivastream
Vivastream (Vivastream.com) is a social platform designed to help business professionals make the most of their time at conferences and events. It helps connect them with other attendees based on the topics they are interested in. Vivastream has been named one of four "Cool Vendors in Social CRM, 2012" by Gartner. According to the report, "The big difference between Vivastream and many similar social software technologies is that it isn't built on the social graph, but on the topic graph -- connecting people by what they show an interest in, versus who they might know." 

About UBM Live
UBM Live connects people and creates opportunities for companies across five continents to develop new business, meet customers, launch new products, promote their brands and expand their markets.   Through premiere brands such as MD&M, CPhI, IFSEC, TFM&A, Cruise Shipping Miami, the Concrete Show and many others, UBM Live exhibitions, conferences, awards programs, publications, websites and training and certification programs are an integral part of the marketing plans of companies across more than 20 industry sectors.

SOURCE HBA Global