Christine Cullity and Ken Ferreira
Christine Cullity, Director of Marketing and Ken Ferreira, National Sales Application Manager, at Convention Data Services. Collectively, Christine and Ken have 36 years of experience in the tradeshow industry.
5 Easy Ways to Attract Attendees to Your Event
November 8, 2015
It’s the age-old question that all show managers ask, “How do I attract more attendees to my event?” The goal is to not only attract attendees to your current event, but to turn them into repeat attendees for years to come. A comprehensive and targeted marketing approach that encourages conversation and interaction will help you reach the greatest number of potential attendees who will in turn share the experience with their colleagues.
#1. Analyze, personalize and segment your data:
Begin your campaign strategy by leveraging your event’s existing data. Slice and dice your data into historical and current registration information categories. In the historical category include first-time attendees from your last event, attendees by region, and attendees by buying power. In the second category include all of your current data from your social media efforts, invite-a-colleague, exhibitor invites and registration abandonment. Use this data to create and target specific markets.
#2. Engage your attendees:
The invite-a-colleague program uses the influence of your current attendees to reach their contacts and engage potential new attendees who are not currently in the event database. Email recipients are more likely to open and act on an email from a trusted source and colleague.
Proven to cut through pre-show marketing emails, this program has consistently shown the highest registration conversion rate.
#3. Engage your exhibitors:
When your exhibitors promote your event it is a win-win situation. The exhibitor invite program gives your exhibitors a tool to reach their existing list of customers and referrals. By helping to increase the attendance, they give themselves the opportunity to expose their brand to a wider audience of potential customers and increase their lead generation. Offer and encourage your exhibitors to use marketing tools to drive attendees to your event and their booth.
#4. Social media makes the difference:
A great deal has been written about using social media, but it truly is the key to reaching a larger and wider audience for your event. Think of it as an enhanced version of the invite-a-colleague campaign. Get your exhibitors and attendees to embrace the use of social media to leverage their existing contacts and create new ones.
#5. Don’t forget about your speakers:
Your speakers are a valuable asset and can help promote your event to additional audiences. View your speakers as your social media evangelists and offer them promo event codes to share via social media.
Marketing your event begins with your data. Capturing, analyzing and leveraging your data from your past events is the key. Use that data to implement these five strategies and attract enthusiastic attendees and exhibitors to your next event.
Partner Voices
Just when it seems like Las Vegas can’t get any bigger, brighter or more exciting for groups, MGM Resorts raises the bar again. The company continues to invest and innovate across its portfolio of Las Vegas resorts, with new attractions and upgraded experiences for attendees of all interests.
Remodeled Guest Rooms
MGM Grand is the largest single hotel in the world with over 5,000 guest rooms and an 850,000-square-foot conference center. It is home to the newly remodeled MGM Grand Studio Tower—700 reimagined guest rooms with a fun mid-century vibe. Nearby, the iconic New York-New York Las Vegas Hotel & Casino recently completed a $63M redesign and remodel of its 1,830 guest rooms and 155 suites.
Down the street, Bellagio Las Vegas is sporting renovated rooms in the Spa Tower with sunrise-inspired decor and luxurious soaking tubs in Premier King rooms after a $110-million transformation.
Reinvented Luxury Experiences
The Luxury Meetings District, made up of Bellagio Las Vegas, ARIA Resort & Casino, Vdara Hotel & Spa, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Park MGM and NoMad Las Vegas, is now more connected than ever before. A new interior walkway opened this October for a seamless attendee experience – connecting Vdara, Bellagio, and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, guests can now walk from Park MGM to Bellagio in around 15 minutes.
New on the scene in the Luxury Meetings District is Cathedrale at ARIA, TAO Group’s upscale establishment specializing in exquisite French-Mediterranean cuisine offering elevated private dining experiences that opened in May.
Heralded by World’s Best 50 Restaurants, GQ and VOGUE, LPM at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is opening this fall and will deliver its signature spontaneity and imaginative celebration of France’s Mediterranean cuisine, art, and culture to the unique luxury resort in impeccable fashion.
A “New Wave for Mandalay Bay
A new wave of enhancements and experiences has arrived at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, including Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar, an 8,445-square-foot restaurant that opened this June, perfect for pre- and post-game eats and drinks. Event planner’s favorite, Chef Michael Mina’s StripSteak, received a full renovation and now includes one of the largest private dining rooms on The Strip. Retro by Voltaggio debuts a one-year residency with a fun take on pop culture of the 80s and 90s with classic American dishes. An exciting addition planned for 2024 is Swingers, a 40,000-square-foot oasis of street food, miniature golf and art at Mandalay Bay.
Most exciting for meeting planners, the 2.1 million-square-foot Mandalay Bay Convention Center is undergoing a complete refresh, with lightened space, added eye-catching art, and improved technology infrastructure for even more flexible space. Energy-efficient digital signage now leads the way with faster internet speeds and new AV options.
From renovated guest rooms and meeting spaces to celebrated dining options and dedicated teams, MGM Resorts is dedicated to delivering exceptional and innovative meeting experiences.
Add new comment