Blogs

May 18, 2013
I have probably interviewed well over 200 salespeople in the last 20 years when I was seeking to fill various positions. One question I always ask every candidate is: “On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being ‘not at all’ and 10 being ‘obsessed’, how motivated are you by money?” If you want to work for me, the answer needs to be a 9 or a 10.  Mostly, the response I get is “well … a 5 … because family and other things are more important …”   This is a great response also and family is, unequivocally, more… more
May 12, 2013
Finding the right speaker for an event is paramount to the success of the conference.  Speakers do more than just share content, they set the tone for the whole meeting.  But finding speakers who can have the right impact is getting more difficult, as more people are calling themselves speakers. As a speaker I know that I am not the right fit for every event, yet I also am an attendee at many events.  I am perplexed sometimes as to how a speaker ever ended up on the stage.  Matching up topics and experience to the goals of the conference are paramount to the success,… more
May 12, 2013
Trade show attendees have more and more options available to them every day. New, competing events are popping up everywhere vying for their attention. Education, networking opportunities and vendor research is now available for free online. Trade Shows have a unique opportunity provide enhanced education, networking and exposure to industry suppliers that attendees can’t get elsewhere. That enhancement was the topic of discussion on May 8 during the weekly gathering of show organizers, exhibitors and suppliers in the Twitter chat #ExpoChat. Chat participants first talked about what… more
May 04, 2013
The EMS team traveled to Orlando, Fla., for the Southeast Acquirers Association’s Annual Conference this past March. While there, we organized a 6-second Vine Video Contest. My apologies for the redundant structure of that last sentence to those already familiar with Vine. For those who are not, however, @VineApp is precisely that - a 6-second video application streamlined through Twitter, playing on loop upon publication. We raffled off an iPad Mini at random with the Vine contest we ran at SEAA 2013. Conference attendees could enter our contest by recording a video… more
May 04, 2013
As many of you know, I write about travel and hotel experiences.  Hotels have to work on the user experience as much as we trade show managers do, since that experience can affect your trip, regardless of business or travel.  I also write about online reputation management and how important that is.  Let’s discuss what happens when those items intersect. I was traveling to Santa Fe, New Mexico, a trip I have done several times, and I booked my normal hotel, La Posada de Santa Fe, in my usual way – via phone to get a special rate I cannot get booking online.  I… more
Apr 28, 2013
While wrapping up the panel discussion she led at the 7th annual MOD Awards in Las Vegas, Liz Miller, vice president of the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Council explained, “The role of marketing is to convert brands into business.” Brilliant in its simplicity. Powerful in its implications. Most marketing and sales leaders – be it the Chief Sales Officer (CSO) or a manager – are  in one way or another measured on their contribution to the bottom line. In most companies, marketing or sales (or both) provide funding for shows and events. Both groups have options… more
Apr 28, 2013
“80 percent of success is showing up.” I recently attended a breakfast meeting. I sat at a table with a group of friends, “friends” as defined by Will Rogers: “A stranger is just a friend I haven’t met yet”. Richard, my new friend to my immediate right, asked what I did for a living. When I described what “trade show lead retrieval” is, he nodded, then offered an observation. “Ah, the mystery device”, he said. “Mystery?”, I replied. “Yes, it’s a mystery to me. Information is collected, but the mystery… more
Apr 21, 2013
Zombies are having a renaissance lately, what with the popular “The Walking Dead” T.V. show on cable, and now the romantic comedy “Warm Bodies” in the theaters.  But unfortunately, zombies have always been all-too popular at trade shows. Trade show zombies are those slow-moving, nearly brain-dead attendees stumbling down the aisle.  After a few hours wandering a trade show floor, their brains are on overload from the visual and sensory torrent.  They’ve lost the mental ability to recognize why they should stop in your trade show booth and… more
Apr 19, 2013
I love working on a given trade show, whether it is to improve pre-show communication, assess the booth and attendee experience on-site, or give a lecture on post-show lead follow up.  As a consultant, I have been asked several times how to make the best of a consultant’s expertise.  The fact that I have been asked about it gave me pause since it is a great question.  How should a consultant and a trade show manager work together to have the best possible relationship? Your consultant is one point of view.  Yes, I am starting out with this disclaimer.  Your… more
Apr 09, 2013
Huge news today out of New York City about American Business Media (ABM) merging with the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA).  I mean HUGE news. ABM is the venerable 107 year-old b-to-b media association, which states, in their own words, that their “… 200-plus member companies reach an audience of more than 100 million professionals and represent nearly 4,000 print and online titles and over 1,000 trade shows, with more than $20 billion in annual revenues.”  By comparison SIIA has 750 member companies. ABM was ‘the bomb.… 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