Brad Wayland
Bio: Brad Wayland is chief strategy officer at BlueCotton, a site with high-quality, easy-to-design custom T-shirts.
3 Cutting-Edge Technologies to Leverage At Your Next Trade Show
November 21, 2019
As an event manager, your job is to ensure that the conferences and trade shows you run are as memorable as possible for attendees. What better way to achieve that than by leveraging some of the most advanced, cutting-edge event technologies on the market? Here are just a few to start.
An executive dials into the office from his or her hotel room halfway around the world, inhabiting a remote-controlled device that allows them to move and interact as if they were there. An advisor on his or her way to an important meeting displays directions right in front of his eyes using a pair of augmented reality glasses.
In many ways, it feels as though we’re living in a science fiction novel. The examples above all exist — they are technologies that see widespread use across multiple industries today. And they all have a great deal of potential from an event management perspective.
Artificial Intelligence and Automation
There’s a lot of busywork that goes into running a successful conference: Managing registrations and ticket sales, sourcing venues, maintaining a social feed and setting up an event app, measuring your return on investment, controlling the flow of people and crowds, and collecting feedback.
Traditionally, that was the sole domain of the event professional, and the source of endless stress. However, with advances in artificial intelligence come event management platforms that deal with logistics on your behalf. These tools provide a cost-effective means of saving time and energy, allowing you to redirect your focus to more important matters.
Augmented Reality
Everyone’s buzzing about the potential of virtual reality as it pertains to event planning. I won’t say it isn’t promising, but a lot of people ignore the fact that augmented reality has just as much potential — possibly even more.
Imagine a show floor where attendees, equipped with AR glasses, could engage with fully interactive digital displays; a venue that blends virtual and physical, with everything from AR games to enhanced product demonstrations; and the ability to provide on-demand information during keynotes, enable instant social sharing and a great deal more.
Telepresence
Not everyone has the time — or budget — to fly out to a trade show. Traditionally, that meant their attendance was restricted. They’d have to experience your events through live streams, or not at all. That’s no longer the case.
Telepresence robots allow anyone to attend a show directly from the comfort of their home or office. Equipped with microphones, cameras, crash avoidance sensors and internal motors, these devices can be beamed into from anywhere in the world. They allow for easy, comfortable navigation of the show floor, and can even be used to attend and participate in keynotes.
It doesn’t stop there. If you want to get really creative, you can hook your telepresence bots into a VR system for even greater immersion. There’s also the potential to combine telepresence with AR, allowing attendees to remotely and digitally interact with a wide variety of things on your show floor.
One thing that’s worth mentioning is that these devices carry pretty hefty price tags. They also require a significant investment in Wi-Fi infrastructure to ensure reliable connectivity. As such, for the near future, they’re probably best used for VIPs.
There are many more innovative tools and technologies out there that you can use to enrich your trade shows. This is just a springboard for your future efforts.
Partner Voices
One of the most iconic names on the Las Vegas Strip just got an upgrade. Mandalay Bay has everything that your business needs from a refreshed convention space designed to inspire productivity and creativity, to an impressive selection of world-class restaurants and amenities. If you're looking for a venue that's both inviting and innovative, you have to be here.
New Wave Experiences
Mandalay Bay continues to invest in a new wave of enhancements both in the convention space and within the resort as a whole. New restaurant openings including Orla by Michael Mina, drawing inspiration from the award-winning chef’s childhood in Egypt and with flavors and décor inspired by the spices found in markets common to coastal Mediterranean towns, as well as Caramá by Wolfgang Puck, bringing the essence of Italy and spirit of Wolfgang into one concept, are recent additions. The Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas also experienced a recent remodel of all 424 rooms. Swingers, a high-end, adults-only golf and entertainment concept will debut in Fall 2024.
Enhanced Technology
Creating a truly effective conference venue requires careful thought into what a business needs: the right technology, capacity, and inspiration to bring ideas to the next level. As part of the resort’s refresh, Mandalay Bay implemented state-of-the-art technology upgrades, installing cutting-edge Cat6A Ethernet cabling throughout the convention center. This advancement doubles the frequency of data transmission, enabling lightning-fast speeds up to 9400% faster. The convention center now boasts 11 dynamic digital walls, spanning up to 24' x 13', strategically positioned for brand placements, sponsorships and targeted event messaging. Additionally, attendees can benefit from 20 double-sided 55" mobile flexible display units, facilitating effortless navigation to meeting rooms and events. RFID locks were installed on all meeting room doors, and over 200 motion detection cameras have been placed throughout the space.
Refreshing New Design & Fine Art
The newly remodeled convention space provides a bright and vibrant atmosphere that complements Mandalay Bay's tropical-inspired brand. Featuring white-washed walls and ceilings adorned with bold floral patterns in cerulean and coral tones, the space is complemented by warm walnut accent walls. In addition to the redesign of all pre-function spaces, meeting rooms and ballrooms, Mandalay Bay's 1 million square feet of exhibit space has undergone a rejuvenation, including new paint, covered pillars and relocated strobe lights.
Sustainable Spectacles
Mandalay Bay is committed to Focused on What Matters and creating more responsible meetings. Refillable water stations all available around the resort, cutting unnecessary plastic usage from single-use bottles.
The Mandalay Bay campus’ recent upgrades represent a bold step forward in redefining the Las Vegas experience. With a focus on innovation, sustainability, and unparalleled service, Mandalay Bay sets a new standard for excellence in business hospitality. Whether you're seeking cutting-edge conference facilities, world-class dining options, or simply a luxurious retreat, an unparalleled meeting experience awaits.
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