Experts & Opinions
Dec 13, 2014
When I stumbled into the exhibition industry, I didn’t have a mentor to steer me through the inevitable career potholes. After learning from various mistakes and wins, I figured my wealth of knowledge would help steer the next generation of industry leaders.
Here are the eight lessons I learned along the way that are still applicable:
1) Become a Student of Office Politics - No matter how large or small your employer is, there are always internal dynamics that aren’t reflected on an org chart. When you join a new organization, remember to spend some time just observing…. Influencers,… more
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Dec 07, 2014
The prospect of planning for a trade show can seem like a daunting task. After all, overlooking the smallest thing may result in a day-of calamity that affects the viability of your lead generation efforts and compromises the impact you intend to have on the audience – not exactly the impression you're aiming to make.
When sitting down to write an event checklist, you'll likely find you have a lot of ideas at first. Holding a brainstorming session is a great approach if you're just looking to get everything down on paper, but you'll need to come up with a more structured list down the road.… more
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Nov 30, 2014
At my high school, we were ranked against classmates each year. When I was starting my senior year, my father gave me some great advice. He told me many of my classmates would slack off in the final year, so if I kept my momentum, I could move up in my ranking.
Now we are entering the Thanksgiving/Christmas season, and I am sure many of us want to go on auto pilot. My advice to you is don’t! Use the few weeks left of 2014 to engage your clients, with a few tips to help you.
If your budget is long gone: Just because your marketing budget is depleted does not mean… more
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Nov 30, 2014
Instead of saving the business cards from every lead received at the trade show, where the likelihood of misplacing one before leaving the show floor is high, simplify your lead retrieval strategy through the use of technology. Especially if you are going to a large event and plan on speaking with hundreds or thousands of people, collecting and safely storing their contact information can seem like a daunting task, which is where the use of having time-saving tools and gadgets will come in handy. These ideas will make it much easier on you when it is time to contact these potential clients.… more
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Nov 23, 2014
It’s Human Nature … we ignore the familiar. After a while, the pile of messy papers doesn't exist, and the big coffee stain is invisible. Then, someone comments on it, and we can't not look at it. Until it disappears - again.
Trade show exhibits are no different and maybe even worse. Do you remember your first show with a brand new display? Everything was packed neatly. You took your time to install the graphics perfectly with clean hands. You wiped down every surface and vacuumed the carpet, not once but three times. The brochures were neatly arranged. The promotional products organized. If… more
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Nov 23, 2014
The trade show industry has a rich history of celebrating new ideas that are on the bleeding edge of innovation. It has grown into a multibillion-dollar behemoth, yet it’s stagnated with the rules and regulations put in place to help big companies get ahead.
Trade shows are by far one of the most effective channels for marketing and networking, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement or that exhibitors aren’t still underserved.
It’s time for trade associations and vendors to start thinking about the next phase of development with these long-overdue changes:
1. Lower Costs for… more
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Nov 16, 2014
Do you want to stand out in your trade show exhibit? Then don’t just stand there, do something!
Gone are the days when you could just stand in your booth and enough people would walk in. Now, while a few will, it won’t be enough to make your trade shows profitable.
To get more people into your booth, you’ve got to do something. You need to do something that catches their eye, stops them in their tracks, and draws them in. Here are 4 suggestions:
1. Get on Your Feet and Talk to Attendees
For most booth staffers this is a big challenge. Talking to strangers as they pass by their booth is simply… more
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Nov 09, 2014
Music festivals are an interesting niche of the event world … They don’t quite fit into the mold of how we traditionally plan events. From the rigging and audio visual that goes into the multiple stages to the food and beverage components; each festival is unique and has its own style when it comes to engaging their attendees. Life is Beautiful is an inspirational social platform dedicated to helping people conquer their fears and chase their dreams; it doesn’t scream music festival to you, does it?
That’s the BEST and my favorite part of the event, it doesn’t fit the mold of a… more
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Nov 09, 2014
Are you looking for ways to improve your on-site strategy at your next trade show? Even if you have an outstanding trade show exhibit, with innovative displays that make your product almost jump off the shelf, compelling literature, and giveaways that everyone wants, your company will not get the most out of the show unless booth staffers are prepared to do a good job of selling for your company.
Preparing Your Booth Staffers
After all, that’s why you have people in your booth – to sell. Even if you take no orders on the show floor, there are many sales functions that take place as staffers… more
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Nov 02, 2014
I was having a great conversation this week on Rite Aid’s decision to disable the ability to use Apply Pay and Google Wallet because of their contractual obligations with CurrentC. After doing some digging and reading up, this seems to be a case of corporations and big data gone bad.
So, when does getting your hands on that data become an issue, and how do you balance data capture with great user experience? Let’s examine the Rite Aid story and see what went wrong.
The act of the capture: Many of the complaints about CurrentC are around asking for sensitive data up front (like… 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