How to Secure the Best Location for Your Exhibit Booth

August 26, 2019

Kyrah Howell

Kyrah Howell is the Marketing Coordinator at Events 720, innovative exhibition suppliers in Australia. She is a recent communications graduate navigating the exciting world of events and expos. Alongside full marketing duties, she is also studying a master of marketing communication at the University of Melbourne. You can follow her work on the Events 720 blog and her LinkedIn.

Aside from your exhibit design, the location of your trade show booth is one of the most important factors to consider when planning to exhibit. Each space within a venue will have its advantages and disadvantages; knowing how to identify these will help you secure the best space for your business. 

Make sure you’re in the know

The key to securing a great exhibit space is to be in the know about when the trade show organizers begin selling these spaces to ensure you receive first pick. You can keep up to date with any news about floor space by following website pages and social media accounts. 

You can also secure your place in line for space through building positive relationships with the event organizers. By keeping regular contact with the organizers, you can ensure that they keep your interests in mind and contact you with any news.

Attend the trade show 

To secure your ideal floor space early, identify the trade show that you are interested in exhibiting in up to a year in advance and aim to attend that event. Trade show organizers will often have an exhibition booth at their own trade show where they sell floor space for the following year. This is a great way to secure your space early, as other exhibitors and attendees are too busy at events and often overlook this opportunity. 

Attending the trade show will not only help you secure the best spot, but it can also reveal a lot about the atmosphere and practicality of the event. Explore the trade show to identify how efficient the floor plan is, whether exhibitors are satisfied with the event, if there are adequate entrances and exits, and which areas seem to be the busiest. This will help you decide which space is the most suitable for your booth. 

Understand foot traffic of a venue

Having a higher level of foot traffic through your exhibit will increase your chances of achieving your goals, but this will be dictated by where you’re positioned in the venue. Each area in a venue will have a different level of foot traffic depending on where entrances, exits, guest speakers, food and bathrooms are located. 

Don’t be fooled by busy entrances, as these can become congested. Visitors often enter the venue and naturally move away from crowded areas. Alternatively, leverage off the crowd by choosing a space close and directly in front of the entrance, but avoid becoming caught up in a traffic jam. 

A trade show venue is like a supermarket; the more impulsive and exciting items are placed closer to the entrance. This is because people grow tired and run out of time as they move through the aisles, therefore they become less interested in items. In other words, select a space that is closer to the entrance and at the beginning of the natural flow of foot traffic. When choosing which side of a venue to situate your exhibit, favor the same side that people in that country drive on, as this is often the side our instinct tells us to go to.  

These are just some of the ways to secure the best location for your booth. If you aim to create positive relationships with the trade show organizers, research the venue to identify busy areas and learn the ins and outs of foot traffic, you can ensure that the next time you’re presented with a floor plan you’ll know exactly which space will be the most beneficial for your business.

 

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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.