Lifestyles have changed since the “Great Pause,” and stamina is a big part of that. While event attendees used to be willing to be booked solid from sunup to sundown (and far beyond), that just doesn’t fly anymore. Savvy trade show organizers and exhibitors are learning to integrate wellness into all aspects of the event – from the overall schedule to meals to in-booth activities and more. In this episode, wellness consultant David Stevens goes beyond the buzzword of wellness and shares strategic ways to integrate well-being into events by: Becoming mindful of the attendee experience Incorporating wellness elements in

Certain topics are getting lots of buzz these days: staffing challenges, budgets, sustainability, AI. But too often that’s all they are – buzzwords. So for this episode of Trade Show Insights, I invited one of my trade show BFFs to join me for a conversation that goes beyond the surface of these topics to what should be on everyone’s radar. You see for several years, Rich Vallaster and I have scheduled frequent touch-base calls to analyze what’s happening in the trade show industry, what’s working, and what needs to change. Now you have the opportunity to listen in as we

When you hear the word “sponsorship,” what do you think of first? The welcome reception … or tote bags … or a gazillion banners hanging all around the convention center? Sure, that’s what most shows do. But you don’t want to be like most shows, right? Time to makeover the sponsorship menu with options that stand out and benefit everyone involved – attendees and exhibitors, as well as the show’s bottom line. In this episode, brand activation and sponsorship strategist MK Granados from Gen City Labs explains how to: Tap into unique opportunities hiding in plain sight Use sponsorships to

When I ask exhibitors about their goals for a particular show, the most common answer is either brand awareness/visibility or generating leads. While these are valid reasons for exhibiting, they’re what I call “squishy goals.” That’s because there’s nothing definitive or measurable about them. So how can you prove you were successful if you don’t have a way to measure your results – especially if someone in your company (sales manager, VP of Marketing, or whoever) must be convinced that trade shows are worth the investment? But that’s a topic for another episode or blog post. Today I want to

Ever faced an exhibiting challenge – like unreasonable costs – and didn’t know where to turn? That’s where The Exhibitor Advocate comes in! In this episode, Jessica Sibila shares what The Exhibitor Advocate is and how to access the resources provided to help exhibitors: Address rising costs and potential solutions Work with show management to set up an Exhibitor Advisory Council Know where to watch for unexpected or hidden fees Calculate return on their exhibiting investment (ROI) with established metrics Related links: Learn more about or join The Exhibitor Advocate Access the Maxbi tool to measure exhibit success Download the

At one point in my childhood, I wanted to be an architect. I loved the idea of creating a space that connected with people’s emotions and created a feeling of excitement, intrigue or peacefulness. While I didn’t pursue that career path, I’ve continued to be fascinated by architecture. Several years ago I discovered (and now follow) one of the most forward-thinking, award-winning architects focused on using smart building design to create experiential environments that inspire and delight. Her name is Maria Lorena Lehman, founder of Sensing Architecture, and while I don’t have her as a guest on the podcast today

Shipping – it’s often just one more item on the trade show to-do list, and not the focus of attention … until something goes sideways. But lately with all the talk about a potential strike at UPS and then the meltdown of Yellow Freight, the topic of shipping has become top-of-mind for a lot of companies. So I reached out to a few of my go-to industry experts for a few Shipping 101 (and beyond) tips to help you navigate the logistics and hopefully avoid a lot of the headaches. Thanks to Chuck Michel from ELITeXPO and Candy Adams, The

It’s a situation no event organizer wants to face. But the team at RISKWORLD 2023 was forced to deal with the reality of an active shooter in the city, which put their crisis management plans to the test. In this episode, Gary LaBranche, CEO of RIMS, the risk management society®, shares the story of what happened at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. Learn behind-the-scenes details of: How the situation rapidly unfolded and the team responded Which communication methods worked and the challenges they faced How event organizers need to think beyond the convention center itself (especially for a

Too many exhibitors think of lead gathering as simply a race to scan the most badges. Instead it should be the beginning of a system that guides a visitor in your booth along the path to becoming a valued client. In this episode, Janae Peel from Captello shares tips and best practices for: Staying focused on the conversation in your booth Transitioning leads into your follow-up system Personalizing follow-up to increase response Building a relationship with your new leads Related links: Trade Show ROI Calculator Request a personalized demo of the Captello lead capture software (Note: Some links on this

Why stop with a one-week experience? (Too many trade shows do.) Instead, think of your trade show as the centerpiece of an ongoing community for exhibitors, sponsors and attendees. In this episode, membership development consultant Joy Duling shares strategies, tips and tools to: Create Discovery Magnets for your show Onboard attendees with personalized communications (it might be easier than you think!) Craft audience journeys for first-timers and loyal fans of your event Study how universities nurture community Related links: Joy’s blog articles on Roadmap to Growth – Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 iExit app (helpful for road trips!)

Recently, I was invited to be one of the first contributors to the new Exhibitor News Network. This podcast episode is the audio version of that article. Here’s where you can read that blog post. (Thanks to the team at TSNN/ENN for permission to repurpose as an audio version.)