Commission approves 2025 trade-show partnerships after debate over Paris Airshow ROI and Commerce transparency

The Oklahoma Aerospace Aeronautics Commission approved Dec. 11 a package of 2025 conference and trade-show partnerships recommended by staff, but the vote followed significant debate about transparency and whether some events — most notably the Paris International Airshow — deliver measurable economic results.

Staff presented a list of partnerships coordinated with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce that included: Vertical Association International Heli-Expo ($5,000); Space Symposium ($5,000); MRO Americas ($5,000); AUVSI (AUVSI X) ($5,000); Paris International Airshow ($10,000); EAA AirVenture Oshkosh ($5,000); and NBAA (National Business Aviation Association) ($5,000). Staff said partnering with Commerce lowers the state agency’s cost for booths and access and helps coordinate meetings with prospective companies.

Commissioner Jerry Hunter sought quantitative follow-up: he pressed Commerce’s return-on-investment figures for prior airshows, particularly the Paris show, and asked how many companies relocated to Oklahoma after the most recent Paris trip. Staff and the director said they have repeatedly asked Commerce for detailed proprietary metrics and had not been provided the requested information. Director Ardies and others said the department believes Paris and MRO Americas have produced the best recruitment leads historically and that Commerce has used those shows to recruit firms to the state, but they did not produce a year-by-year ROI list during the meeting.

Several commissioners said they would approve the partnerships for 2025 but warned this would be the final approval unless Commerce supplies the requested outcome metrics. Commissioner Hunter said he would not support Paris in future years without the data. Other commissioners noted that partnership costs are reduced by Commerce’s participation and that agency staff and commissioners use these shows to set up high-volume meetings that would not be available otherwise.

The motion to approve the full package carried on a roll-call vote; Commissioner Hunter said he would approve this year’s package but warned it would be the last absent Commerce-provided impact data.

Why it matters: Trade-show participation supports the state’s aerospace recruitment and industry outreach. The debate highlighted tension between agency-level marketing priorities and the need for measurable economic-development outcomes from travel and partnership spending.

Clarifying details: Partnership costs presented: Paris International Airshow $10,000; most other partnerships $5,000. Staff conveyed they had requested ROI and post-event recruitment data from the Department of Commerce in prior years but that Commerce had not shared it, citing proprietary concerns.