Experts & Opinions
Nov 19, 2018
Trade shows are a fantastic way to establish yourself in your industry and collect tons of leads. However, the best ways to manage the leads and contacts you collect, as well as the visitor experience can be hard to manage. After all, you only have a small assigned area to effectively pitch yourself, engage your visitors and capture contact information!
Thank goodness for mobile apps. Now, countless apps have been developed to streamline trade show operations seamlessly - and most don’t even depend on wifi. (After all, wifi may be nonexistent or spotty at best in large convention centers… more
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Nov 15, 2018
Like all technology, helping staff learn how to use event technology and benefit from its performance features is essential to deriving a high return on that investment. Regardless of the fact that event technology is rented and used for a short term (the duration of the trade show or conference), it is still important to properly educate and train employees who will be at the event on the technology’s purpose and application.
While it is true that staff may require little if any explanation on some event technology (i.e., lighting, sound and projection equipment, computers, etc.), they… more
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Nov 08, 2018
For more than 25 years I have worked in the trade show sales and management industry. In that time, I have sold and managed well over 150 events in more than 20 countries on six continents and seen both incredible successes and epic failures by exhibitors.
I thought I would share some best practices that I have observed and heard over the years from exhibitors and industry colleagues.
If your company is deliberate in trade show planning, goal setting, execution and post-show lead follow-up, your exhibits program should be very successful. If you aren’t deliberate and proactive, then there… more
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Nov 06, 2018
We are certainly living in an interesting time, especially when it comes to connecting people to products on the trade show floor. By nature, human beings need to feel part of something bigger, engaged with our surroundings, communities, nature and products. This physical engagement enhanced by technology in the tradeshow environment can have an enormous impact on how attendees experience a brand. It can result in a lifelong relationship of loyalty, awareness and trust toward that brand.
A recent study from Bizzabo shows that most trade show marketers see ROI from events that utilize… more
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Nov 01, 2018
When exhibiting at trade shows, vendors take pride in their products and booth design. The same can be said of the venues in which vendors choose to exhibit. As an exhibitor, there are many costs associated with proudly displaying your items at a show, meaning that it’s important for the venues to also reflect that same pride in their facility. No matter how carefully a facility is set up, unattractive flooring, whether carpet or concrete, can send a subtle signal of “we don’t really care.”
Few floors endure the level of punishment of a trade show facility or convention center, yet often… more
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Oct 30, 2018
Attacks on soft targets such as nightclubs, shopping districts and sports stadiums have become an all-too-common occurrence around the world. The recent gaming tournament tragedy in Jacksonville, Florida has shed new light on event and trade show security, prompting facilities managers to reevaluate physical security processes, technology and implementation.
While most large venues have security procedures in place, these procedures typically encompass base-level protection through a combination of metal detectors, guards, manual bag checks and hand wands. To combat the new threat landscape… more
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Oct 25, 2018
Melissa Goodman, American Urological Association (AUA) Programs Manager and her team member, Erin Nichols, wanted a better way to track learner retention at their Annual Meeting. They wanted to set up benchmarks that determine learner knowledge before, during and after each session.
Why track learner knowledge, retention and outcomes?
Before we get to the details, let’s first tackle why Goodman and Nichols wanted to track learner knowledge and retention.
Needs Assessment
The first reason they want to track learner outcomes is to identify gaps in knowledge and retention. This allows AUA to… more
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Oct 23, 2018
The rule of seven is one of the founding concepts of marketing. The principle states that a message must be received at least seven times before it really sinks in and drives the recipient to take action.
In alignment with this rule, Out of Home advertising is designed to reach people in multiple, organic ways throughout their day. Similarly, trade shows implement the rule when delivering multiple messages to event audiences. When combining digital marketing tactics with Out of Home media for trade shows, the desired seven messages can be delivered in dynamic ways.
Successful trade show… more
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Oct 18, 2018
No. 6 “Good, Fast, Cheap. Pick any two.” vs. Value
In project management, there is a tool known as “the project management triangle.” This triangle is used to show the opposition encountered between a project’s quality, time and cost.
The project management triangle’s meaning is very easily understood when it occasionally shows up on a succinct office sign that says, “Good. Fast. Cheap. Pick any two.” I saw this sign the first time — almost 20 years ago — and will admit to having one permanently hanging in my office. It’s a great reminder of one of the inevitable glitches of managing… more
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Oct 16, 2018
One of the most important factors for success at a trade show is making sure you reach the right people in the room. Statistics show that upwards of 80 percent of trade show attendees have buying power– but not everyone will be in the market for your particular product or service. So, how do you make sure you’re attracting the right visitors to your booth?
There’s a lot you can do before a trade show to help ensure the buyers you want show up, but one of the best tactics is to target them in your pre-show marketing efforts. Here are five steps to help you get started:
Segment your guest… more
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Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact