Experts & Opinions
Jun 04, 2016
I recently attended the IAEE Women’s Leadership Forum (WLF) with two of my colleagues. We had the opportunity to network with several successful women who are truly change makers in the trade show and events industry, willing to serve as mentors and coaches to young professional women.
The sessions we attended were centered on 5 standards women should consider when evaluating our professional and personal development.
When the forum ended, we left feeling inspired to share our experiences and key takeaways from our 2-day think tank, so we compiled our notes and “aha” moments.
Here are 5… more
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May 21, 2016
Tracking the Online ROI of Your Offline Trade Show Efforts
For many companies, trade shows are an important part of their revenue stream. They spend thousands of dollars on booth design, demonstration materials, and promotional items to distribute at various shows. And at the end of each event, the hope is for these companies to gain enough new business to make their efforts and expenditures worthwhile. Yet for a lot of businesses, tracking a lead’s progression from initial contact to further steps in the sales funnel remains a challenge, especially when the desired next step involves… more
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May 21, 2016
"I know a baseball star who wouldn't report the theft of his wife's credit cards because the thief spends less than she does." - Joe Garagiola
Of all the people I have had to deal with regarding trade shows, the lowest forms of life are suitcasers and outboarders. I hold them with more contempt than lawyers, hotel revenue managers and hotel poachers.
An outboarder is a company that should be exhibiting who decides to sponsor their own event during the show without the consent of the organizer. A suitcaser can be defined as a non-exhibiting supplier who attends the show and tries to conduct… more
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May 14, 2016
Yes, I am throwing down the gauntlet! Ditch your paper event guide, maps, and programs. You are wasting your money, your sponsors’ money, and the time it takes to put all that printed material together. You are also killing the environment. Do I have your blood boiling yet? Let me see if I can make the case for you to switch.
The digital technology for all of your needs is reliable, is available, costs less than printed paper, and is being used daily by your constituents’ 100% of the time. That is right - 100%. How many people do not have a cell phone… more
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May 14, 2016
When it comes to summer events, radio-frequency technology - whether it’s RFID or NFC - is the new black (or tie dye). Whether you’re planning a music festival, a maker faire, or a lawn and garden show, wearables with embedded RF chips or tags open up a world of possibilities for organizers and attendees.
The Basics: RFID vs. NFC
Radio-frequency identification (RFID) and near-field communication (NFC) work similarly:
When Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology is used, information (usually a unique number) is transmitted from an encoded memory chip (known as a “smart tag”) via an… more
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May 07, 2016
Forty-six percent of decision-makers attending trade shows determine what to purchase during the course of the event. If you can deliver a strong impression during your next trade show, you stand a better chance of selling your products to those in attendance - making the trade show well worth your investment of time and money. To stand out from the rest, use our 8 foolproof ways to make a great impression.
1. Invest in displays and custom tents.
If you have a colorful, branded trade show booth, visitors will be drawn to your display. Investing in custom tents, banners, flags, and custom… more
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May 07, 2016
"Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future. " - John F. Kennedy
Many of us have as much joyful anticipation of going to a business retreat or planning meeting as having a root canal. However, as I look back on my career, one particular meeting stands out in a very positive way.
The focus of the meeting was to take a look at ourselves and business model and relate it to change. We were shown a video by Joel Barker on paradigms and how they structure our behavior. A paradigm centers on a theory or a group of ideas about how… more
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May 01, 2016
Fact: There are dozens of mobile event app companies. However, having more options doesn’t make your job any easier.
Fact: Most apps have the basic features that you want. From Alerts, Schedules, Exhibitor Listings, and Social Engagement … name it and most apps have it.
Fact: Not all mobile app providers are created equal.
I recently attended AENC’s Technology Conference and one of the sessions really resonated with me. It was called Questions I Wish People Would Ask. Being in a sales position, I love it when prospective clients ask questions but I appreciate it… more
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May 01, 2016
If you’ve got a product or concept to sell, a trade show can be a great venue to demonstrate your solution for a receptive audience. But before you can make a sale or find an investor or development partner, you’ll have to capture the attention of trade show attendees. And remember — you’ll have a lot of competition since fellow exhibitors will also be pulling out all the stops to make sure potential buyers focus on their products instead.
What you’ll need for a successful trade show experience is a way to cut through the sensory overload and get your message across to the people who… more
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Apr 23, 2016
There are great technology advances to monitor where your attendees go on the show floor and in your booth. But, what data pieces are key to track and apply to your trade show marketing strategy?
Where does your attendee go, and linger? One key element to track with your booth, or conference, to determine how your traffic is faring is actual traffic patterns. Where do your attendees go, and how do they get there? Where do they congregate, and what areas are they skipping entirely?
How they move within your booth can show you dead space, or space where you could add… 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