How Much Does Your Attendees’ Happiness Mean to You?

May 3, 2019

Dan Donati

Dan Donati is Director of Sales – Western Region for The Deondo Company, home of the Nook Event Pod. For the past 24 years, Dan has been involved in events and conference production for industries including automotive, telecom, home entertainment, direct marketing and recreational vehicles. 

How much does your audience’s happiness mean to you? It turns out that attendee satisfaction is an important factor that is too often overlooked by measuring only exhibitor feedback or not asking the right questions on attendee satisfaction surveys. 

Events are at least a grueling 2-3 days with constant mental stimulation, lively conversations that cause voices to crack and literally miles of walking. And while attendees are tasked with the sales, promotional or operational goals they have for attending the event, they still need to check in to the day-to-day work and put out the fires that are happening back at the office. 

So where do your attendees go to recharge or catch up on work? A park bench in the exhibit hall or the edge of a planter in the lobby? Maybe the food area tables that are littered with poacher’s brochures or leftover lunch trash? Or how many times have you seen attendees sitting on the floor against a wall when that is the only plug they could find? The worst case scenario…they go off-site completely, back to their room or a coffee shop or bar to simply sit down and recharge or grab a drink with someone since they can’t find a quick and easy place to sit at the convention venue. 

It’s clear that attendees need places that are comfortable and convenient to catch up, recharge and reconnect. Many organizers have found that creating lounge areas with some chairs and maybe a table nearby with charging stations for phones help meet this need. 

Instead of filling in unsold space with standard tables and chairs and calling it a lounge, consider planning for this space in advance. Find some interesting ways to make it interactive, inviting and fun. Make it comfortable and inviting and offer easy access to power for charging phones and laptops. Look for ways to provide a sense of privacy for both attendees and exhibitors to take that call from the doctor or spouse or have a separate conversation outside the booth without having to leave the show floor. 

Look for solutions that are fun, visually appealing and brandable. Add some features to keep people around like a sponsored coffee bar or grab-and-go snacks and a comfortable place to sit and enjoy them. Give sponsors an opportunity to speak to the attendees while they are using the lounge through video content or branded seating. What better space to promote an industry agnostic company like a financial, insurance or technology company while attendees and other exhibitors are taking a break? 

While some of the standard sponsorship options such as charging stations never seem to get sold due to being tired or frankly cheap-looking with a table, power strip and sign nearby for the sponsor, there are other relaxation solutions that can provide a much more enjoyable experience. 

Look for portable, sound-dampening and comfortable solutions that will not only get used but also speak to the emotional needs of attendees. Go deeper in looking at solutions that will enhance the attendee experience and get them to appreciate and remember your event for caring enough to provide thoughtful, productive and fun places to relax, recharge and meet.

 

Don’t miss any event-related news: Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter HERE and engage with us on TwitterFacebookLinkedIn and Instagram!

Add new comment

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