Why You Should Start New Year’s Resolution Early

January 4, 2015

Lisa Apolinski

Lisa Apolinski is a professional speaker, blogger, and digital strategist. With her company, 3DogWrite.com, she works with event managers to get their message to attendees, particularly through digital channels, on and off the show floor.

I always start my New Year’s resolutions early. I feel that getting a jump start on the New Year is a great way to, well, get a jump start on the New Year! Here is a list of things event managers can do now to prepare for 2015.

Check your inventory: The end of the year is a great time to review your inventory of both trade show graphics and items you have in your ‘must take to each show’ stash. Throw away graphics that are old, ratted, or no longer relevant (you are paying for storing those, so do you really need to keep them ‘just in case’?) For that ‘must take’ stash, remove and store any duplicates on cleaners, mints, and other items. Streamline your ‘must takes’ so you aren’t just moving items from your office to the show and back without using them (or even unpacking them).

Review your trade show list: This is an easy thing to be working on all year long. As you are exhibiting at your shows for the year, flag those shows you are not sure are working for you, and in the upcoming year, have a critical eye on them, both in terms of sales and reputation impact. On a side note, if you are flagging more than 30% of your yearly trade shows, you either having a misstep with your trade show strategy or execution, and a trade show consultant is probably a good investment to ensure you are on track (and not wasting valuable budget dollars and resources).

Update your technology and digital strategies: End of the year is also a great time to review how your technology is working in your trade shows and reviewing data to see how your digital strategies are working pre, during and post trade show. Do you need new monitors or laptops software to support your upcoming demonstrations? Are all of your digital marketing choices working? If not, take time now to see if anything is not up to snuff, and remove and/or replace it.

Don’t wait for the New Year to get jumping and update your 2015 trade show strategy!

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A New Convention Center/Entertainment District Is on the Way

Dallas already boasts 35,000 hotel rooms, award-winning global cuisine, and a walkable downtown. But we are just getting started. Visit Dallas is thrilled to announce that the city of Dallas is doubling down with a massive new convention center and entertainment district. Featuring 800,000 square feet of exhibit area, 260,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and 170,000 square feet of ballroom. The center will connect business travelers with dining and shopping options in the popular Cedars District means more places to get down to business, and even more ways to unwind. “Dallas is already a great meetings and conventions destination, with the accessibility of two major airports, affordable labor, and an outstanding hotel product,” said D. Bradley Kent, Visit Dallas senior vice president and chief sales officer. “The new center and Convention Center District will enhance Dallas’ competitive position and are exactly what our customers’ need and have been asking for." What’s New – AT&T Discovery District Located in the heart of Downtown Dallas, this new district on the AT&T corporate campus is tailor-made for groups of all sizes. It boasts a multi-sensory experience, including outdoor event space, the AT&T Theater, and multiple dining outlets including JAXON Beer Garden and The Exchange, a bustling food hall. Hotels Coming Soon Names like the JW Marriott (Downtown), lnterContinental Dallas (Uptown), and Hotel Swexan (Uptown) are adding luxury amenities and bountiful event spaces. The projects will debut in 2023 and beyond. JW Marriott This new, 15-story, 283-room hotel will open in the heart of the city’s downtown Arts District this year. The property features a 25,000-square-foot grand ballroom, as well as a spa, restaurant, lobby bar, fitness center, and a rooftop pool deck and bar. InterContinental Dallas Located in Cityplace Tower in Uptown, InterContinental Dallas will feature sweeping panoramic views of the Dallas skyline. Guests will enjoy spacious, high-end rooms and amenities, including more than 21,000 square feet of event space. Hotel Swexan Hotel Swexan, a new, 22-story luxury property, is rising in Uptown’s Harwood District and will make its mark on the Dallas skyline. Opening this year, it is a sculptural building with cantilevered upper floors, as well as a 75-foot rooftop infinity-edge swimming pool and a hidden underground lounge.

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