From self-guided audio tours at the National Association of Broadcasters show to custom artwork at the SEMA Show, here are ways to make a large trade show more user-friendly.
International C.E.S.
A roving team of helpers known as MyCES assisted the more than 150,000 attendees and exhibitors at the International C.E.S. at the Las Vegas Convention Center in January. Team members, identified by the tall, colorful flags on their backs, carried Sony tablets with custom software created by Map Your Show that included information about exhibitors, booth numbers, conference sessions, awards, events, and social media. All of the data was accessible offline so team members did not have to rely on an Internet connection as they fielded questions in the center’s main hall. Organizers said they received good feedback on the service and plan to expand it next year.
Photo: Courtesy of CES
H.I.M.S.S. Conference & Exhibition
The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society provides trolley service—in the form of an extra-long golf cart—to transport attendees from one end to another down the main aisle of its show floor. For this year’s event at the Orange County Convention Center in February, organizers estimated the one-way distance was nearly a mile, with six trolley stops along the way. In addition to providing a service for attendees, the concept also was a sponsorship opportunity: organizers sold signage space on both the trollies and at the stops. The 2014 conference was the association’s largest to date with nearly 39,000 attendees.
Photo: Kayla Hernandez for BizBash
SEMA Show
The SEMA Show—short for Specialty Equipment Market Association—positions its more than 2,300 exhibitors on the show floor based on 11 categories, such as tires or racing and performance, so buyers can easily find products that match their interests. New last year, the association worked with a graphic artist to create icons and other custom artwork for each section that was used in signage, collateral materials, advertising, apparel, and more. “We wanted each section to have its unique look and feel, and we wanted it to resonate with our attendees on a visual level. We got a lot of positive feedback that demonstrated to us that they got it,” said Peter MacGillivray, the association’s vice president of events and communications.
Photo: Peter Rogers
I.A.A.P.A. Attractions Expo
The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Expo offered several guided, two-hour tours at its show last fall at the Orange County Convention Center, which was its largest in 10 years with nearly 1,100 exhibitors. One tour was targeted to first-time attendees while the rest were grouped by theme, for example for buyers looking for inflatable products or those focused on water parks. Buyers paid a fee—$20 for association members and $30 for non-members—to participate. The expo is the largest trade event in the world for the $24 billion attractions industry, attracting 27,000 attendees from more than 100 countries.
Photo: IAAPA/Funworld
By Mitra Sorrells for BizBash
International C.E.S.
A roving team of helpers known as MyCES assisted the more than 150,000 attendees and exhibitors at the International C.E.S. at the Las Vegas Convention Center in January. Team members, identified by the tall, colorful flags on their backs, carried Sony tablets with custom software created by Map Your Show that included information about exhibitors, booth numbers, conference sessions, awards, events, and social media. All of the data was accessible offline so team members did not have to rely on an Internet connection as they fielded questions in the center’s main hall. Organizers said they received good feedback on the service and plan to expand it next year.
Photo: Courtesy of CES
H.I.M.S.S. Conference & Exhibition
The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society provides trolley service—in the form of an extra-long golf cart—to transport attendees from one end to another down the main aisle of its show floor. For this year’s event at the Orange County Convention Center in February, organizers estimated the one-way distance was nearly a mile, with six trolley stops along the way. In addition to providing a service for attendees, the concept also was a sponsorship opportunity: organizers sold signage space on both the trollies and at the stops. The 2014 conference was the association’s largest to date with nearly 39,000 attendees.
Photo: Kayla Hernandez for BizBash
SEMA Show
The SEMA Show—short for Specialty Equipment Market Association—positions its more than 2,300 exhibitors on the show floor based on 11 categories, such as tires or racing and performance, so buyers can easily find products that match their interests. New last year, the association worked with a graphic artist to create icons and other custom artwork for each section that was used in signage, collateral materials, advertising, apparel, and more. “We wanted each section to have its unique look and feel, and we wanted it to resonate with our attendees on a visual level. We got a lot of positive feedback that demonstrated to us that they got it,” said Peter MacGillivray, the association’s vice president of events and communications.
Photo: Peter Rogers
I.A.A.P.A. Attractions Expo
The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Expo offered several guided, two-hour tours at its show last fall at the Orange County Convention Center, which was its largest in 10 years with nearly 1,100 exhibitors. One tour was targeted to first-time attendees while the rest were grouped by theme, for example for buyers looking for inflatable products or those focused on water parks. Buyers paid a fee—$20 for association members and $30 for non-members—to participate. The expo is the largest trade event in the world for the $24 billion attractions industry, attracting 27,000 attendees from more than 100 countries.
Photo: IAAPA/Funworld
By Mitra Sorrells for BizBash
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