Priority Points

Booth space selection for PCA members is based on a Priority Point system, in which booth selection order is determined by each company’s point total. The priority point system ensures a fair process, through which any given company has the opportunity to increase their point total in order to select earlier in the booth selection process.

Priority points reward your company for supporting the Premium Cigar Association. The more you support the PCA, the more points you earn. Points are accumulated and applied to your booth selection order for the following year’s trade show.

PCA considers the company that contracts and pays PCA for the exhibit space to be the “Exhibitor” who receives the points.

How Are Priority Points Used?

Booth selection for the upcoming trade show is conducted in priority points order. Exhibitors with the most priority points are offered first selection on the exhibit floor for the upcoming year.

Definitions & Eligibility: An exhibitor is any company that occupies an exhibit space at the PCA Annual Convention and International Trade Show.

Exhibitor: PCA considers the company that contracts and pays PCA for the exhibit space to be the “Exhibitor”.

Priority Points: The sum of all earned points including Room Block, History, Donation, Product HUB, Square Footage and Advertising/Sponsorship Points.

NOTE: Priority points that accumulate year after year are contingent on the exhibitor participating for consecutive years. If an exhibitor opts to not participate during a given year, all accumulated priority points will be forfeited. Download the complete guide to priority points.

How Priority Points Are Reduced

While there are several ways to earn priority points, they can also be reduced. Priority points will be subtracted for the following reasons.

• Any company that does not exhibit for a consecutive year will lose all of its history points.

• Any company that violates PCA’s policy on “Suitcasing” will lose all accrued points. 

• Exhibitors engaging in disruptive or harassing behavior is a violation of PCA’s code of conduct and can result in loss of priority points, termination of exhibit privileges and barring from future trade shows.

Note: If an existing exhibitor departs with a product line or brand, both organizations (the original, existing & the “new” product line/brand) receive the same history points. Aside from history points, each exhibitor must accrue their own square footage points and other priority point opportunities (advertising, sponsorship, etc.) When two companies merge (or one is acquired), the “new” or combined exhibitor retains the higher of the two companies Priority Points, not a combination of both. 

Other Important Information

If an existing exhibitor departs with a product line or brand, both organizations (the original, existing exhibitor and the “new” product line/brand) receive the same history points. Aside from history points, each exhibitor must accrue their own square footage points and other priority point opportunities (advertising, sponsorship, etc.) When two companies merge (or one gets acquired), the “new” or combined exhibitor retains the higher of the two companies Priority Points, not a combination of both.