Blogs

Mar 28, 2019
Events play a fundamental role in a sales team’s ability to provide prospects with the best customer journey. Why? As a customer gets deeper into their journey, strategic face-to-face meetings must take place to close deals and ensure success. Strategic meetings, such as product demos, partner meetings, customer meetings, etc., are business-to-business meetings that can generate real outcomes. In fact, a recent Harvard Business Review study showed that 52 percent of respondents credit event marketing with driving more business value than other marketing channels. However, only 23 percent… more
Mar 26, 2019
Do you produce events? Trade shows? Conferences? Are you maximizing your revenue? If you think you are, maybe you should still read on because I think you will find a few nuggets below. Having spent the vast majority of my career in the events and show management industry and in talking to other show management professionals, keeping up with and coming up with innovative sponsorships can be a challenge.  In my last role, I had a great vendor with whom, when he was in town, I would go to dinner and “talk shop,” specifically about what creative things he was seeing in the industry. We would… more
Mar 21, 2019
Gone are the days when attendees expected to be confronted with stacks of products literature. Whether you have a limited design budget or if you’re just trying to set your booth apart in a crowded exhibit hall, minimalist designs can offer a fresh, inviting and modern alternative to busier layouts.  Here are some helpful design tips to make sure your booth doesn’t cause attendee overload: Declutter your graphics. Think about the overly busy billboards you sometimes see along a highway – you often can’t tell who the advertiser is, let alone what value proposition is being communicated. Does… more
Mar 19, 2019
In the trade show industry, the mantra of “if you build it, they will come” is not one to live by. With so much time and effort spent on the planning and execution of the show, shouldn’t an equal amount of time be dedicated to developing a communications campaign that ensures that all of the key audiences – exhibitors, attendees and yes, media – are aware of your show, what it is and why they should be there? When it comes to promoting a trade show, one of the tools that are often overlooked but could have the biggest impact and best return on investment, is public relations. Public… more
Mar 14, 2019
With March Madness right around the corner, I couldn’t help but think about how the teams that get to The Big Dance have just the right mix of game-winning strategies – sort of like the components that go into creating and managing a successful event app!  To make your event app a slam dunk, you need to consider some key factors that can make it a winning success. Here are the top tips event organizers should consider as they put together a game plan for winning over their attendees, sponsors and exhibitors!  The Coach Make sure the right person on your team is leading the event app effort… more
Mar 12, 2019
As conference organizers, we are always looking for ways to create new experiences that capture attendees’ attention, fuel their participation and keep them talking about the event long after they’ve returned home.  Aside from the draw of a keynote speaker, a trendy networking dinner or even volunteer opportunity, what other kinds of memorable and meaningful WOW is out there? Here’s a hint: It begins with some workout clothes.                                                                                                            Stretch Your Event Potential As a yoga teacher,… more
Mar 07, 2019
Events are one of the best ways for businesses to showcase products, promote services and increase brand awareness, and one of the key advantages of event marketing is the ability to provide attendees with something memorable to link back to you. However, organizing events can be extremely complicated and time-consuming. For example, a typical business or event company might need to research potential venues, enlist the help of expert speakers, organize catering, transport equipment, process payments and build an event team. This can be a lot to take on, especially if you are simultaneously… more
Mar 05, 2019
Trade show organizers have a new problem. Rogue list brokers are targeting their exhibitors, claiming to have access to the official attendee list. We began seeing this more widely in 2017 and by the end of 2018, exhibitors at every show we work were receiving daily emails from these solicitors. Show organizers are seemingly helpless to stop this and as a result, many of our clients have approached us asking if there is anything we can do to help them stop this.     In response to these requests, Event Technologies undertook an effort to look into these list brokers to see if we could gain… more
Feb 28, 2019
If you’ve been a trade show organizer even for a short period of time, you know that event sponsorships can be crucial to the financial health and wellbeing of your event. Unlike other forms of advertising, sponsorship opportunities allow exhibiting companies to reach a highly qualified and captivated audience. But is the traditional model of “give us your money and we’ll put your company’s name on X, Y or Z item at the trade show” really keeping up with today’s rapidly changing brand marketing landscape?  Recently, our team worked with the National Automatic Merchandising Association to… more
Feb 26, 2019
When considering whether or not to shell out for a sponsorship at such-and-such trade show, companies are calculating what their ROI will be. Attracting sponsors for your trade shows can be a challenging task but the more value you can deliver to sponsors, the easier it becomes to sell sponsorship slots.  If you’re hosting a trade show, chances are you’re already planning to use audio-visual at the show. With the right AV partner, you can leverage the event’s AV to drive sponsorship. When potential sponsors see how your show can boost their profile at the event, sponsorship slots will… more
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