Designing Safe and Inventive Exhibition Spaces

October 19, 2020

Looking for way to keep your exhibit spaces inviting and warm, yet safely designed? With innovative designs, you can still create a beautiful space with safety and function top of mind. To successfully plan a safe environment, follow these tips:

Facilitate movement through design.

Promoting socialization while safely distancing will be an obstacle for planners, though not impossible. For good measure, limit the number of attendees on the floor with extended hours, timed entrances and personal appointments. Both physical and mental cues will help attendees flow through the trade booths and utilize designated seating. Incorporate dividers, planters and stanchions to enable social distancing and create semi-private spaces. Inside booths, be sure to designate one entry and one exit point to maximize flow. For a greater sense of safety, include plenty of hand sanitation stands and floor decals reminding attendees to practice social distancing.

Utilize technology.

The technological innovations and design adjustments we’ve seen over the last few months have been nothing short of amazing and have helped planners get back to business during COVID-19. The industry is temporarily focused on offering events with limited in-person attendees, in accordance with local guidelines, and more hybrid-style virtual attendees.

Therefore, it’s important to engage and interact with not only those in-person at the venue, but those joining virtually as well. To do so, integrate live chats and polls so those at home are able to actively participate. Pairing comfortable chairs with individual power will create a truly owned space for each attendee. Utilizing individual power hubs will ensure attendees remain in one seat for the entire event and reduce touches on multiple surfaces.

Prioritize comfort.

Every attendee will have a different comfort level, so it’s important to create a calming environment to ensure attendees feel safe and comfortable as we return to live events. Use greenery and airy drapes to enhance the look and create a warmer booth space.

“Entering an event space is very similar to entering a grocery store, except our industry has the benefit of being able to design every engagement as a controlled environment. We can control attendance, attendee flow and design for social distancing,” said Dan Steiner, vice president, Enterprise Risk Management, Freeman. “This may sound like a challenge, but our designers view it as an opportunity – both for creativity of design as well as integration of technology.”

When possible, provide seating arrangements, design layout and check-in policies well in advance of events to allow attendees to thoroughly review and prepare. With open and clear communication, attendees will feel your commitment to a safe environment.

Whether you’re looking for ways to create a warm environment, or embrace the hybrid-event trend, make your next event a unique and safe experience with these COVID-19 design tips. 

 

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NO WISH IS TOO BIG AT THE ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER
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
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