Blogs

Aug 23, 2013
I had the chance to sit down with Bob Noble, president of Noble Environmental Technologies.  As a licensed architect, he knows a thing or two about materials and design.  And I was intrigued at the introduction of his new product.  What if, instead of having materials decide your trade show booth design, it was the other way around? And, what if you could impact the environment while doing so?  The product, called ECOR®, uses paper, agricultural and forest product waste and develops a ‘recycled stew’ to produce fiber building blocks that can then be used… more
Aug 18, 2013
Ah yes, an exciting career in tradeshow sales.  Selling the power of your attendees, the excitement and buzz of the show and the opportunity to participate in THE marketplace for the industry … you can smell the jet fuel already. … And then you get the client on the phone. Sometimes the clients are sophisticated marketers that know exactly what they want.  Sometimes they need a little guidance and hand-holding – perhaps a reminder that your show is the one in March in Orlando.  And then there are those that can’t tell a 10 x 10 from a roll of… more
Aug 17, 2013
TSNN decided to start off 2014 with one of the most popular blog posts from last year. Enjoy! We love Mike's work! Looking for statistical justification that trade shows are a great marketing medium?  Or numerical inspiration to guide your trade show program?  You’ve come to the right place. At EXHIBITOR 2013 this year, Skyline hosted a game show called “Staggering Trade Show Stats” in our trade show booth. These stats were shared with show attendees to help them justify and maximize their trade show marketing. You can use these 16 stats to help guide… more
Aug 10, 2013
Trade shows are the places for exhibitors to shine and present their products or services in the best possible light. Even if you have the most attractive trade show booth with banners and an awesome pop-up display, you can still make mistakes. 1. Annoying Barriers Trade show tables are a must, but did you know if you place them in front of your booth space and sit behind them it creates a barrier between you and the attendees? Place display tables at an angle in the corners of your space or off to one side so you're free to meet, greet, and get to know the attendees. 2. Nobody Knows… more
Aug 10, 2013
Planning for a trade show can be intense and overwhelming, even for seasoned exhibitors, so when you reach out to your exhibitors you want to quickly and easily explain to them why taking advantage of different eco-friendly sponsorships can help their business and the planet. Here are Three Strategies for Selling Trade Show Sponsorships with an Environmental Edge Branded Recycling Bins - Recycling bins should be located in a high-traffic area so people can easily dispose of their empty soda and water bottles and other recyclable materials right? Emblazoning a recycling bin with a company… more
Aug 01, 2013
How often have you sat in a presentation and said to yourself, “Wow, this is so boring … I can’t sit through another meeting like this”. Now on the opposite end of the spectrum, when was the last time you left a meeting inspired and confident about what you just heard? There’s no better way to influence customers (and even co-workers) than by delivering an effective and motivating presentation. Over the past 20 years, I’ve spent hundreds of hours working with GES’ sales teams presenting designs to our clients and prospects. The list below contains… more
Aug 01, 2013
In a recent blog post on btoboonline.com (“I just flew in from the trade show and boy are the booths tired“), Tom Nightingale laments the poor trade show habits of exhibitors at a show he just attended, and offered 7 concise, valuable tips on how exhibitors could do better. Tom was frustrated that, even with the wealth of best practices available with just a Google search, too many exhibitors were not searching for and implementing exhibiting best practices.  I know we’ve tried to help them, too – we’ve published about 200,000 words on this blog over the… more
Jul 26, 2013
I think we can all agree that trade show communication (pre, during and post) is vital to increase booth traffic and lead generation.  So, how do you work to get that necessary trade show communication just right (or write, as the case may be)?  This is important whether you are developing the copy yourself or using the services of the professional writer, as you can use these tips for your own work or to review someone else’s work.  Get your thoughts in order.  You need to work on getting your thoughts down and organized.  When you are doing this, think of… more
Jul 26, 2013
Planning and executing a successful trade show isn't smoke and mirrors. People love attending trade shows, and vendors are excited to show their stuff and make new leads and connections. So, the basis for your show already is in place. All you have to do is set it up and market it smartly. Choose a Convenient Venue Small cities and towns may offer only a single venue suitable for a trade show. But if you're in a larger city, you'll want to select a venue that's easy for non-locals to find, and convenient for everyone to get to. Make sure it's accessible by tractor-… more
Jul 20, 2013
There is a very interesting tidal shift in the U.S tradeshow industry. It’s a well sailed ocean in Europe, but a new current here.  What’s the big splash? Cities investing in tradeshows. I am not talking about wooing shows to the city. I am talking about money on the table types of partnerships.  As we all know, the German Messe’s have long owned and operated tradeshows on behalf their cities.  In addition, they have branched out all over the world with excellent results. Messe Deusseldorf alone has events in 13 OTHER countries (now including the U.S.) than… 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