Vacation and the Trade Show Manager
June 7, 2012
I want you to think about your last vacation – and I mean a true vacation. One where you weren’t working on electrical and air orders for your show or approving proofs for your promotional materials.
Can you even remember the last vacation you took where you completely unplugged and went off the grid?
I am there with you – I still worked and blogged while I was on vacation last month in Oahu. Of course, I used that time to get inspired for new blog ideas and tips my readers want to know, and I was having a great time doing it.
But, having a true vacation is probably a very hard thing for trade show managers to do.
Our first issue is the idea of span of control – how many of us have to do the job of three people, and simply do not have the luxury of disengaging from work?
We have quite a few details that still need to be covered, and in order to keep things on track, we end up ‘checking in’ and never really feel that we had time to let go and relax.
But, if we can somehow get coverage and maybe even do some preplanning and take vacation in a slower month where work will keep, we will see an increase in our productivity and attention to detail.
Stress can cause our brain to feel overloaded, which affects attention to detail and that is highly critical for our success.
Another reason for our working vacations has to do with the boundaries we set as trade show managers. We are the ‘can do’ crew, and that means going above and beyond our job descriptions to get the job done.
I know I have vacuumed, taken out trash and other various odds and ends assignments because someone had to do them. When we continue to step over our own boundaries, we invite people to take advantage of our work ethic.
I am not saying we should not work hard, but other people also need to tow the line. And ask yourself this – are the things you stop to do on vacation so critical that someone else cannot handle them or they cannot wait until you come back?
I also use my secret weapon – my manager! Yes, I ask my manager to step in and be the ‘bad cop’ saying that something can keep until I get back.
The third issue we face is that we want to control what is happening and rightly so. Sometimes having to fix things that were done incorrectly is worse than working on them on our vacation.
However, I am working on letting my staff handle things and see how they do – we learn by doing, after all. If I don’t give them a chance to try, they cannot learn.
My staff will be my replacements someday, so I need to give them as much experience as possible, even if it means fixing something when I get back.
My advice to my readers – take all of your vacation days! Use the time to recharge and relax. After all, you have certainly earned it!
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
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