Dallas-based Freeman has acquired Encore Productions, a full-service creative production and audio visual equipment rental company based in Las Vegas. Encore has been in business for more than 20 years and has full-service satellite audio visual rental offices in 14 of the top Las Vegas properties. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

“Encore is privately owned. They are regarded as leaders in their field and also have a reputation for outstanding customer service,” said Joe Popolo, chief executive officer of Freeman. “Encore employees understand the value of partnering with customers, and we believe they will be a great fit for Freeman.”

He added, “Encore has demonstrated they are the technology and creative leader in their space. With the addition of their relationships to Freeman’s resources, we are positioning the combined Freeman organization for growth in an important segment of the face-to-face industry.”

Freeman will retain Encore’s name and brand identity, according to Freeman officials. Encore’s executive leadership team also will remain in place to manage (more…)

Exhibitors are taking trade show measurement back into their own hands, and new technology is enabling them to do it. Economic pressures may have something to do with it. The critical need to measure exhibit marketing success has pushed the “complexity of measuring ROI” argument out the window.

New technology in the booth and in the hands of exhibitors allows them to manage their own lead retrieval and data capture programs using consistent methodology across multiple events without using the lead retrieval systems offered by show registration contractors.

Bartizan Connects iLeads Mobile App

Kiosks
The desire for exhibitors to reduce costs, improve analytics and increase consistency from event to event has opened the door for solution providers to place more control and customization into the hands of exhibitors. Austin, Texas-based Sparksight, an interactive advertising, event management and production company, recently introduced the Leading Reach Kiosk Engine, an environmentally friendly alternative for distributing digital content and measuring exhibitor preferences.

The Leading Reach system delivers content, such as promotional videos, product demos and digital brochures, to booth visitors, and gives the exhibitor control over the type and amount of content to be delivered (and to whom), as well as the location (which screen) to deliver it on. The solution allows attendees to select the information they would like to consume and tracks the amount, type and frequency of the content selected. Lead data also is collected and matched to content delivery preferences, uploaded to a central website in real time and automatically loaded into the exhibitor’s CRM system for immediate follow-up. (more…)

Penton Media has selected CompuSystems to be its registration vendor and onPeak to be its housing partner as part of a multi-year contract.

“To leverage our best buying power and streamline our organization, it only made sense to have an exclusive partner for registration and another for housing to handle our entire portfolio,” said Alan Peterson, president of exhibitions of Penton Media. “The technology of both CSI and onPeak is clearly the best in the business for their respective specialties.”

Natural Products Expo West/Supply Expo

Penton has worked with both CompuSystems and onPeak for years, and the advantages were clear to make the decision to bring both companies on exclusively, according to OnPeak officials. The expanded integration of CSI’s registration software and onPeak’s Compass Reservation System enables data sharing between the event registration and housing processes so that users are only prompted to enter their information once. As a result, there is a singular, combined event confirmation and heightened convenience for show organizers and participants, according to onPeak officials.

“CSI and onPeak work exceptionally well together because of our common dedication to heightened customer service,” said Michael Howe, president and CFO of onPeak. “It’s a great foundation for the new and enticing ways we get delegates to fill the event hotel blocks.”

CSI and onPeak are currently slated to handle all Penton and New Hope Natural Media shows, including WasteExpo, Electric West, Club Industry, Club Industry East, Coal Prep, LDI and The Special Event. The new contract also includes Natural Products Expo West/Supply Expo, Natural Products Expo East/Organic Products Expo and Natural Market Place NutraCostmetics.

“CSI is excited to work with such a distinguished show organizer,” said Chris Williams, senior vice president of CSI. “We are committed to providing Penton with superior service and technological innovation and continuing our incredible partnership with onPeak.”

Global Experience Specialists also recently signed a three-year deal with Penton to be the general service contractor for trade shows Natural Products Expo West/Supply Expo, Natural Products Expo East/Organic Products Expo and Natural MarketPlace.

In addition, GES will continue to service 12 other shows under the Penton banner, such as WasteExpo, Club Industry National, International Wireless Communications Expo and LDI. The new agreement begins in 2011 and runs through 2013.

“Penton Media has been impressed with the GES team, and we are pleased to expand our relationship to include our full portfolio of shows,” said Penton Media President of Trade Show and Conference Group Alan Peterson. “GES’ award-winning customer service, technology enhancements and continued investment in green options make GES the right partner for our shows.”

GES Executive Vice President of Global Accounts Sal Infurnari added, “GES is honored to partner with Penton Media and service the full portfolio of U.S. shows. GES and Penton share a commitment to provide exhibitors with hassle-free customer service and industry-leading technology, allowing them to focus on a successful show.”

The Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority has picked venue management company SMG to oversee the city’s Cobo Center.

The venue, which spans 700,000 square feet, will be the largest one signed by SMG, according to Gregg Caren, the company’s senior vice president of development. There are other venues on SMG’s roster that are larger, but they were expanded after SMG came on board, Caren said.

The DRCFA’s board of directors voted to approve SMG as the venue’s new manager Aug. 26, and the contract will go into effect in the fall, he added. The overall RFP process was much faster than usual, just 6 to 8 weeks, Caren said. “It’s literally been one of the faster processes we’ve had,” he added.

The RFP initially went out in July, there were two weeks to respond, four firms submitted bids, and two, including SMG, gave formal presentations, Caren said.

The Cobo Center has struggled during the years with a stalled plan to expand, and its biggest show, the North American International Auto Show, threatened to leave because of the lack of space at the center. Late last year, the DRFCA, an agency that includes the City of Detroit, State of Michigan and the three area counties, was appointed to oversee (more…)

Intermat – the International Exhibition for Machinery, Materials and Equipment for Construction and Infrastructure – already is a successful show in Paris, but now it will spread its wings and debut next year in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The new show will be held March 28-30 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre and will feature an estimated 180 exhibitors, according to show organizer Comexposium. Mecom Forums, which is partnered with U.K.-based Clarion Events, will work with Comexposium to produce the new U.A.E-based show.

Intermat Middle East will be held during the Arabian Construction Week and take advantage of that week’s track record of attracting high quality visitors and delegates from the Middle East, Africa, the Arabian Gulf region, Iran and the countries bordering the Black and Caspian Seas, according to show organizers.

They added that creating Intermat Middle East was a “next logical step” in view of the Middle Eastern countries’ development.

“A large number of Intermat exhibitors, with the support of their professional bodies, have already shown great interest in the event,” said Maryvonne Lanoë, Intermat’s exhibition manager. “In fact, the Intermat Middle East exhibition launch fits (more…)

Are you still producing a printed show daily? Why? Because it drives traffic to select booths? Because it’s in the black? Or because it cuts into networking and connecting time for the few that read it?

I attended a show last week in Los Angeles with about 5,000 other folks. At the end of the second day, I was one of the last people to leave the convention center. I walked by one of the distribution tables that had four big stacks of unread show dailies. I wondered, how many were left on the other tables scattered around the center? I also wondered how many attendees actually picked one of these up and read it? I then I wondered, if this publication is really adding to the attendees experience or just a product that throws off revenue with little, to no, value?

We’re all challenged to do more with less these days, but how do you make room to take on more without getting rid of the things that add little to no value to the attendee experience? In my opinion, show dailies are a great example of something that should be on your stop doing list.

Here are four reasons to kill print show dailies.

1. Share-ability
A printed publication is difficult to share with friends and engage attendees. Consider moving worthwhile content to electronic channels that can go beyond the four walls of your show and benefit from the long-tail of being online. This is especially true if you are providing event coverage and attendee photos. They’ll get more eyeballs if you put them on-line with proper tags.

2. Timely content
Most show dailies that I’ve seen include content that was written before the show and/or paid for by advertisers. If I’m at a show, I want the latest and greatest info … not filler. Yeah the people that paid for the ad or advertorial will read it, but who else really cares?

3. Repetitive content
Some show dailies include the day’s schedule, maps of the show floor and exhibit directories. All of this made sense back “in the day,” but today, if you are not offering show directory information on kiosks and mobile devices, you’re missing a bigger opportunity. Why create a publication that slows down adoption to shifting attendees to on-line solutions? You’re probably trying to monetize those too. You still need to print a final program and exhibit map, but don’t (more…)

After nearly a decade at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Global Gaming Expo, also known as G2E, will be moving to the Sands Expo & Convention Center next year.

The news was announced at an Aug. 31 press conference at the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino in Las Vegas attended by officials from the American Gaming Association, Reed Exhibitions and Las Vegas Sands.

G2E, which is organized by the AGA and Reed and was launched in 2001, also will move its dates in 2011 from the November time frame to Oct. 4-6, according to Frank J. Fahrenkopf Jr., president and CEO of AGA.

“The (changes) allow gaming operators to plan for the coming year with greater ease,” Fahrenkopf said.

The new dates also allow for more space between G2E and another gaming show held in London in January, he added. In addition, date changes were announced for the association’s Asian show in 2012, from a June to May time frame, and its South American show that now will be held in November.

“These changes accommodate the needs of members around the globe,” Fahrenkopf said. (more…)

To go along with its new Music City Center convention center that’s on tap to open in 2013, Nashville, Tenn., signed a predevelopment agreement with Omni Hotels & Resorts to build an anchor hotel.

The $250 million Omni Nashville Hotel will feature approximately 800 guest rooms and suites and more than 80,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including two ballrooms. The hotel also is estimated to open later that same year.

“By itself, the convention center is a homerun for downtown and our tourism industry,” said Nashville Mayor Karl Dean. “The addition of an adjacent headquarters hotel takes the convention center project from a homerun to a championship win in terms of attendance and the number of events it’s expected to host every year.”

The project will be privately financed by Omni Hotels & Resorts. The predevelopment agreement outlines an incentive package, which includes an economic development enhancement grant valued at $103 million to be paid during a 20-year time period by tourism taxes generated by the hotel’s operation and $25 million in tax increment financing.

“Many cities have had to publicly finance convention center hotels, and the general thought last year was that Nashville would have to do the same,” Dean said. “But Nashville’s not those other cities. We’re a special place. We have a unique appeal as a convention destination, and this project confirms that.” (more…)

There aren’t many sectors of the trade show industry right now that seem to be recessionary-proof, but there’s at least one in particular – discount clothing – that has beat the odds during the past few years.

The Tarsus Group’s August OffPrice Show not only drew more exhibitors to its Aug. 15-18 event at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas, but also it did something most shows just dream of in these more stringent times – maintained attendance of more than 10,000.

At this year’s show, there were 1,228 booths, compared with 1,100 at least year’s event, 46 of which were new exhibitors, according to Don Browne, OffPrice marketing director and group publisher.

“For our August show, these numbers are terrific,” Browne said.

One of the many highlights of this year’s show was its move into the main halls at the Sands. OffPrice was held in the lower-level halls of the venue, but Project, another show that runs during Las Vegas Fashion Week, moved to the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, which opened the upper-level space at the Sands.

“High ceilings, fabulous lights, all the vendors were happy, and the buyers couldn’t be happier!” said OffPrice Executive Vice President David Lapidos. “It was very gratifying to receive feedback from everyone on how much they love our new home.” (more…)

It’s surprising to learn that many event organizers shopping for mobile apps for their trade shows, conferences and corporate events go into the process unprepared.

App developers tell me that organizations often come to them wanting an app only because other shows are getting apps or they want to stop printing show directories – both valid reasons. However, those reasons don’t even begin to scratch the surface of the utility provided by mobile apps.

As more and more mobile options come online, event organizers have to be prepared to approach the selection process with forethought and an organized selection methodology. A Request for Proposal (RFP) document is a great way to do it. Here are some of the main sections to include in an RFP for a mobile app and why.

Event Background: Developers need to know the number of attendees, the smart phone and smart device usage demographics and the intended venue. The number of attendees and their use of mobile devices (a statistic that can be obtained by polling) help developers (especially those whose business model depends on revenue sharing) (more…)