Aspire to Greatness at Your Trade Show

October 25, 2015

Lisa Apolinski

Lisa Apolinski is a professional speaker, blogger, and digital strategist. With her company, 3DogWrite.com, she works with event managers to get their message to attendees, particularly through digital channels, on and off the show floor.

I recently was in Dubai and had afternoon tea at the Hotel Jumeirah. This was a great experience, including how the staff added to it.  It got me thinking about things you can do with your trade show to enhance the booth experience.

Every staff member counts:  Every staff member can either add or detract from an experience. If you don’t empower your staff, or train them effectively, you may have staff members who miss opportunities for great engagement. It is true that every staff member counts when it comes to providing a great booth experience. Empower every staff member to provide it.

Attendees rule:  At the Hotel Jumeirah, every guest was treated as important.  At your trade show, attendees should also be treated as important, and as individuals.  Giving your attendees the attention they deserve is a key component.  And what is more important is focusing on each individual attendee.  Focusing on each attendee as individuals keeps your staff focused on a genuine and unique engagement.

Redirection for better engagement:  We tried to go into the area for guests (unbeknownst to us), and the security guard, rather than just send us back, used the opportunity to chat with us and send us into an area we could explore, and one we didn’t know about. Redirection at a trade show booth is helpful when your booth is crowded and you need to buy time with your attendee until a demo is open.  Use the interaction as an opportunity to find out more about your attendee’s pain points, so you can hone your message to address them.

Aspiring to greatness takes focus and work, and every trade show engagement can be part of that aspiration.

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Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.    Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.    Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.   The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.    MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.     MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.