These Two New Technologies Could Vastly Improve the Exhibiting Experience

March 1, 2019

With sharing economies transforming how people travel, commute, work, read and listen, it makes sense that this trend is spilling over into trade show exhibiting. Enter Exhibitshub, an exhibit sharing marketplace launched earlier this week at ExhibitorLive.

Inspired by companies like Airbnb, Uber and Lyft, Exhibitshub has aggregated an extensive collection of custom exhibits in key convention cities that can be reserved, booked and rebranded online.

Using this new platform, exhibitors simply search exhibits by city, type, size, design and budget; select booth options that meet their criteria; and then reserve a high-quality custom exhibit not being used by its owner in its respective U.S. convention city.

Once booked, exhibits are rebranded and delivered show-ready by a network of top exhibit firms for an all-inclusive budget.

“Our model is simple: Borrow a trade show exhibit…save money; share a trade show exhibit…make money,” said Christopher Kappes, founder of Exhibitshub.

Exhibitshub

Since exhibits ship locally and are serviced by an in-city team, time and expenses are significantly reduced. Meanwhile, custom exhibit owners can monetize their exhibits when not in use, thus helping to offset exhibit ownership expense, Kappes added.

“Forty-nine percent of businesses don’t exhibit due to expense,” said Don Schmid, global congresses lead for Pfizer Corp. “Exhibitshub makes it easier and more affordable for new exhibitors.”

Exhibitshub also opens the door to a lower cost sales strategy for exhibit builders that can help them appeal to the new generation of exhibit managers and planners, Kappes said.

To celebrate its introduction and promote the regeneration of trade show exhibits, Exhibitshub is funding a new tree planted for every exhibit booked on Exhibitshub through the global reforestation projects of non-profit OneTreePlanted.

On a similar note, marketing, trade show and event services provider Fern has released OneView, a team-based and to-do list-oriented exhibitor platform designed to help exhibiting teams navigate and streamline the labor-intensive process of preparing to exhibit at a trade show.

“Until now, there hasn’t been a product in the industry that acknowledges how many people at an exhibiting company are involved in preparing for a successful exhibiting experience,” said Jeff Mason, Fern’s director of customer technology innovation.

He continued, “With OneView, it’s simple to add your transportation person, your on-site director, your marketing manager and anyone else you choose. They all get visibility into the show information and orders so that there are no surprises when show time comes.”

OneView

OneView houses all the necessities exhibiting teams need to ace the trade show preparation process, including:

·     Full team involvement; exhibitors can easily invite colleagues to help complete preparation tasks or place orders

·     A to-do list driven format that is easy for first-timers and quick for veterans

·     Live chat with Fern at any time

·     An aesthetically pleasing and modernized ordering process

·     Important documentation and information in the form of a quick reference guide that is available any time

·     Transportation, labor and material handling planning

·     Notifications and reminders about show changes

·     Full exhibit history from past shows, all in one location

 

OneView will be available at select Fern and NexxtShow trade shows in a progressive rollout plan.

 

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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