Blogs
Jun 10, 2021
The concept of the traditional trade show is changing. Although the pandemic has accelerated the movement away from large in-person gatherings – or at least events that are restricted only to that format – companies continue to grow more creative in building their digital presence and enhancing their engagement with prospects at trade shows.
Trade shows are a powerful place to show your company mission, messaging and branding to an oftentimes eager audience. According to CEIR: The Changing Environment of Exhibitions, 99% of marketers ѕаіd thеу found unique value from trаdе show еxhіbіtѕ that… more
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Jun 08, 2021
The pandemic has necessitated a number of fundamental lifestyle changes. For many, the last year has been an opportunity to take stock and re-evaluate how we spend our time. Reduced travel and virtual meetings have freed up hundreds of hours. The work/life balance has been recalibrated on a global scale, and as lockdown begins to ease, attitudes towards how we spend our time have undergone a paradigm shift.
In the events industry, it is key that event creators respond to the needs of their audience to stay ahead of the curve. A recognition of the behavioural shifts around how individuals… more
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Jun 03, 2021
As business event and trade show professionals grapple with the decisions surrounding virtual, in-person or hybrid, exhibitor dissatisfaction may tip the scales. That is problematic.
Exhibitor dissatisfaction cannot be assumed to be a byproduct of virtual in and of itself. Exhibitor dissatisfaction may in fact be the direct result of organizers who have not aligned the event experience with exhibitor needs and with exhibitors who have not calibrated their measurement to this new environment.
I’ve been an exhibitor and supported exhibitor service for 20 years. I know the push-pull inherent… more
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Jun 01, 2021
With things looking more optimistic for a return to in-person interactions in 2021, it’s natural to wonder what will happen with large gatherings and events. Companies were forced to move online in 2020, which disrupted their existing in-person event marketing strategies. It might be difficult to imagine “returning to normal” at this time, but plenty of people are ready to get out of their houses and do something different.
This summer, you should think outside of the box when it comes to experiential marketing. Brands are already designing live experiences that preserve contactless… more
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May 27, 2021
With a return to normalcy in sight, event organizers can finally look forward to reopening venue doors and welcoming delegates in-person, but even as restrictions ease, venues are unlikely to be able to safely cater for an audience at full capacity. This is why when planning upcoming events, it is crucial to include both physical and virtual elements in the form of a hybrid event.
Hybrid events — a mix of live and virtual — not only allow audiences to participate and engage no matter their geographical location, they also enable organizers to increase their reach, gain more attendees and… more
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May 25, 2021
The future of live events has been a hot topic throughout the past year. As we get closer to a return to live events, let’s explore how events are likely to evolve in the short term, but with potentially some long-lasting effects.
First of all, furniture is more important than ever in planning your return to in-person events, from both a seating and a safety standpoint. Discussions about furniture need to happen much earlier now as it factors into health, ensuring that participants can be appropriately distanced and that a planner and venue can accommodate participants while still adhering… more
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May 20, 2021
One of the biggest communication challenges for trade shows is training booth staff to drive potential leads to scan their badge. The team is often made up of technical people, salespeople and or part-time people unrelated to the company. Depending on the show, your booth may be in a high traffic area with lots of browsers or in the far corner with only the occasional lost attendee. The challenge remains the same. How do you capture as many leads as possible?
Not to fear, this simple approach will tame the trade show tangles.
To begin, it helps to look at a few of the roles in the sales… more
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May 18, 2021
Last year brought us the COVID Pandemic, but it was also the year that America confronted racism head-on. After the murder of George Floyd, I reached out to my colleague Derrick Johnson, director of diversity programs with Talley Management Group. We decided that event planners should be empowered to affect real change in the business of events, so we founded “Events: From Black to White,” a free weekly (now monthly) open online discussion on all things equity in the meetings industry.
We felt that by giving the events community a safe space to come together to talk, listen, learn, educate… more
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May 13, 2021
My 6-year-old daughter Jetty is many things—caring, precocious, faith-filled, and also already an intrepid, ambitious entrepreneur. I recently came home to discover she had gathered together family heirlooms, clothing, and pieces of furniture, then moved them to a central area and tagged everything with prices.
“Darling, whatever are you doing?” I asked, at a loss for what game she’d invented this time. She looked me straight in the eye and replied with inherent glee, “We’re going to have a sale so we can buy a puppy!”
What can I say? It should be no surprise that enterprising thought is in… more
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May 11, 2021
Most trade shows across the world have been canceled or converted to virtual events because of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, the worldwide exhibition industry contracted by 68% in 2020 and 2.4 million full-time jobs were affected. There is cause for concern that this trend will continue in 2021. However, with vaccinations slowing the tide of the pandemic, companies are beginning to wonder when in-person trade shows will begin again. And when they do return, will anyone attend?
Show organizers will need to ensure the safety of… more
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Partner Voices
Here at Mandalay Bay, venues are inviting and innovative. As one of the most iconic names on the Las Vegas Strip, the Mandalay Bay Convention Center has recently undergone an exciting upgrade. This renowned venue now offers everything your business needs, with a refreshed convention space designed to inspire productivity and creativity, as well as an impressive selection of world-class restaurants and amenities. If you're searching for a venue that is both inviting and innovative, Mandalay Bay is the place to be.
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Mandalay Bay is proud to offer an upgraded and enhanced experience for businesses seeking a venue that combines innovation, convenience, and sustainability. Whether you're hosting a conference, meeting, or other business event, Mandalay Bay's refreshed convention space, world-class service, and commitment to sustainability make it the ideal choice. Come and discover the new wave of experiences awaiting you at Mandalay Bay on the Las Vegas Strip. Wherever your organization is going, getting there starts with being here.