Experts & Opinions
Jun 28, 2014
You don’t need a law degree to grasp the simple rules of trade show success. To ensure you don’t get jailed by poor trade show performance, or judged guilty of wasting your company’s scarce marketing resources, don’t break these 10 laws:
1. Know why you exhibit before you do anything else
Just as intent is an important factor in the law, it’s essential in exhibiting. Too often exhibitors reserve a booth at a show without knowing why they are going in the first place. Without the guiding light of an overriding goal, they can’t shape their exhibit to… more
Comments (0)
Jun 21, 2014
Why do B2B buyers continue to attend trade shows by the tens of millions, rather than make all their purchases online? Because they want to meet you face to face, to see for themselves what the people who work for your company are really like, and if your company is trustworthy enough to do business with.6-reasons
Well, attendees won’t trust your company if your booth staffers do these 6 things:
1. Your staffers ignore attendees
It’s hard to believe, but far too often attendees walk into a booth and are ignored by booth staffers – maybe even your booth staffers. … more
Comments (0)
Jun 13, 2014
It’s time to think outside of the box when it comes to your next tradeshow because our industry is in need of a green makeover. There have been countless innovations in green that have led to a better, more sustainable way of life and we can take those innovations and creatively utilize them to create greener events.
Here are a few examples, but I know there are more out there and I want you to get outside the box with me and share them with us in the comments.
1. Bike Sharing -.Bike sharing has taken off in cities like Miami Beach, Boston,… more
Comments (0)
Jun 13, 2014
2010 was one of the best years of my life. Why? I graduated from college and was selected to work at one of the world’s largest sporting events, the FIFA World Cup. Many Americans don’t understand the magnitude of this event and quite frankly, I don’t blame them. The NBA,NFL, MLB and NHL are powerhouses. We look forward to the Super Bowl, the Finals, the World Series and the Stanley Cup (amongst others, I know, but these are the most talked about, in my opinion).
Americans tend to forget the global reach of soccer.… more
Comments (0)
Jun 07, 2014
Trade shows are a valuable marketing medium. But they are harder than they look. Exhibit marketers with good intentions still can make preventable mistakes. Your marketing dollars can generate profitable sales leads at trade shows, but not if you trip into these 5 common pitfalls:
1. Focusing On Logistics But Ignoring Marketing
Trade shows require an attention to detail and awesome organization skills. But if marketing is ignored, you may get a dull display delivered on-time to an empty booth at the wrong show. The pitfall here is that because the logistic needs must be attended to, the… more
Comments (0)
Jun 06, 2014
In my last blog about Near Field Communications(NFC) I mentioned that the industry is watching to see if Apple will throw its weight behind NFC or Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) technology.
Bluetooth Smart, and iBeacon™ all refer to Bluetooth low energy wireless technology. It consumes only a fraction of the power of classic Bluetooth radios, expanding wireless to devices like watches, toys, gaming devices, and more. Plus, they could go as long as a year on one charge!
Of course, for event marketers, the goal is to increase engagement and drive ROI. Sensor… more
Comments (0)
May 31, 2014
Knowing where to direct your efforts will help you get more customers who actually want to buy your products. This often leads to a big question. Should you focus on trade shows or cold calling? Here are 4 reasons that trade shows almost always come out on top.
Cold Calling Annoys People
Consider the mindset of people who get unexpected phone calls. They're either working, eating dinner, spending time with family, or engaged in other activities. They aren't sitting there waiting for you to give them a sales pitch.
When you cold call someone, you… more
Comments (0)
May 31, 2014
To tweet or not to tweet, that is the question! Tweeting, for the sake of tweeting, at a show is fine, but you can add a lot more value if you tweet about relevant things. Most people come to a trade show to find new products, services, and/or ideas, and now that we are in the digital age, people are looking more and more to social networks like Twitter to find news from other people.
It is time to step-up and be the one to tweet something that is interesting. If you have something to share, use the conference hashtag (#), so others can find it easily.
Shows have so much news and information… more
Comments (0)
May 25, 2014
Did your mother ever tell you that you need to hang out with the right crowd, and more importantly, you need to avoid hanging out with the wrong crowd? Not only was your mother right, but her sound advice applies to trade show exhibiting as well … there is the right crowd, and there is the wrong crowd. Not all trade show crowds are created equal!
One of the biggest mistakes trade show exhibiting novices can make is thinking “the more the merrier” and believing that the key to having a successful trade show booth is just attracting the biggest crowd you possibly can in your booth.… more
Comments (0)
May 24, 2014
You have probably heard that it is important in the event industry to be genuine. And while that makes sense, many sales people hold back a bit.
When it comes to your staff at your trade show booth, the need for a genuine interaction is vital.
Attendees are purchasing from you as well as the company. This key point is oftentimes missed. When an attendee comes into your booth, the staff on the show floor become the embodiment of the company. So, the attendee is deciding to purchase based on the interaction of an individual sales person as a representative of the… more
Comments (0)
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