SmartSource Expands to Houston

SmartSource adds another Texas location to its nationwide network of Computer and AV Rental branch locations as it announces the opening of a new office in Houston, TX (full press release)! In addition to existing offices in Dallas and College Station, the new Houston location will provide added service to existing customers as well as attract new business.

The new PC and AV Rental branch location is located at 5833B Westview Drive – only a few minutes from Houston’s major highways, airport and downtown area. Equally important, Houston is a city that is home base for a large amount of the world’s top companies, second only to New York in its number of Fortune 500 companies.

SmartSource Vice President Chad Frank states, “In addition to being home to many Fortune 500 companies, which are a key segment of our customer base, Houston has become a leading destination for trade shows and conferences – another strong suit for SmartSource.”  He noted that SmartSource is also looking to expand its client base within Houston’s booming energy, financial, legal, and legal services markets.

SmartSource President and CEO Michael McClernon added, “Establishing a branch office in Houston, a major business hub with a high concentration of national, multi-national and international businesses, was a strategic decision. It was driven by our commitment to providing the highest level of service to our existing clients, many of whom have regular needs in this area. The fact that Houston hosts numerous trade shows and conventions was a further incentive for establishing a presence in this city.” Earlier this year the company announced the opening of a PC and AV Rental branch in New Orleans, LA.

SmartSource’s Houston office will be headed by David Kirtley, a 12-year computer and AV rental industry veteran and experienced operations manager. He will follow the company’s proven customer service policies in providing SmartSource’s full array of brand name products and related services.

General Info on Houston TX:

Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau

Houston Airport Info

Reliant Park - a 350+ acre convention, trade show and sports complex.

George R. Brown Convention Center

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Tradeshows, Conventions & Corporate Events

Having the right technology partner at your tradeshow, convention or corporate event is what makes the difference between an event becoming another passive so-so experience and an event that generates some excitement and leaves people wanting more. At SmartSource we understand these events are more than just going through the motions - they are critical investments that impact the success of your business. Successful events are a hallmark of successful companies and strategic partnerships. Let SmartSource Rentals be that partner for your next tradeshow, convention or corporate event. Here a few reasons why companies choose to partner with SmartSource Rentals:

• The largest Event Technology Rental Provider in the U.S.
• Full service Audio-Visual and Digital  Technology Partner
• Over 24 company owned branch locations in the U.S.
• The official in well over 300 tradeshow every year
• Over 25+ years experience

SmartSource can help you plan, organize and execute solutions for your next tradeshow or event anywhere in the U.S. We have professionals with years of experience in a variety of industries that can lend specific knowledge to help with your situation including:

–Show Management
“How do I make this Trade Show attractive to Exhibitors & Attendees..Who can help…”

–Association Director
What technology will provide the ‘wow’ factor for my members? What should I use in the general session, breakout rooms and panel discussions? Will my exhibitors have what they need to succeed…?

–I & D / Exhibit House
How can I deliver the right solution and the right value on a tight time frame and budget anywhere in the country…

–Exhibitor
What can I do differently than other exhibitors to maximize my ROI for a certain show. .How do I make my booth stand out and become memorable…

Through planning, ordering, delivery, setup, onsite support and teardown - SmartSource has got you covered. We can work with you to be a ‘go to’ technology solutions partner for any upcoming tradeshow, convention or corporate event you have planned. At SmartSource we recognize that technology is integral to the success of any event, and we are continually working with new technologies to give our clients and edge - it’s what we do! When the pressure is on you can take comfort in having a technology partner with 25+ years experience that can act as a single source full service event solution provider. Talk with one of our team members today about your specific needs at 800.888.8686 or fill out a technology rental request online and let us get back to you. The success of your event might just depend on it!

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SmartSource Official Service Provider for Expo! Expo! 2010

SmartSource Rentals has been named the official service provider for Computer Rentals this year at Expo! Expo! This year’s event will be held December 7-9 in New Orleans, LA. According to the International Association of Exhibitions and Events™ website,  Expo! Expo! is the single face-to-face meeting in the exhibition and events industry that offers a wealth of education sessions and networking opportunities. SmartSource is excited to be the official service provider at this year’s event and is looking forward to seeing so many of our friends and business partners in New Orleans at this year’s event.

“We are delighted to be working with these distinguished service providers as we plan Expo! Expo! this year,” comments IAEE President Steven Hacker, CAE.

This event is open to both members and non members with attendees gathering from around the world network with peers, increase their knowledge in the industry, and check out new products and services that are available. Event professionals of all levels are encouraged to attend and there are various educational sessions that have been planned accordingly.

If you are planning on attending Expo! Expo! this December in New Orleans and looking to rent computers for the event, give us a call or complete a rental quote online. SmartSource coincidentally opened a new Computer & AV rental branch in New Orleans earlier this year, and we and can’t wait for the upcoming event.

For more detailed information regarding the event please visit The International Association of Exhibitions and Events™ (IAEE) website to register, learn more and get all the details. There is a full schedule of events, information for first timers, hotel and travel info as well as fee information.

If you know you are going need computer or laptop rentals, give SmartSource Rentals a call at 800.888.8686 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              800.888.8686      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or visit our website and complete a computer rental quote online. Keep in mind that SmartSource Rentals rents computer and audio visual technology nationwide to more than 300 trade shows a year if you plan on attending any other events as well!

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PITTCON Conference & Expo

PITTCON 2010 was held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando this year and thousands of scientists attended the show to take a look at the latest lab instruments, learn about new equipment and network face to face with vendors and other colleagues.

PITTCON is the world’s annual premier Conference and Exposition on laboratory science and is one of the industry’s top 200 trade shows. This Conference is intended to serve as a strategic showcase for the world-wide scientific community. The PITTCON 2010 trade show was organized by The Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy.

SmartSource Rentals was recognized at this year’s event for outstanding service. In addition, Senior Account Manager Bill Deutsch was honored as the 2010 Rookie Contractor of the year for his involvement in the technology rental solutions and logistics. This was SmartSource’s first year of involvement with this trade show and we were very happy to work with show management to keep the conference fresh, inviting and successful.

Some of the technology rental equipment and solutions provided by SmartSource included:

Nearly 200 Computers - installed & networked
Over 50 large format Monitors
Digital Signage
Digital Document Library
High Speed Copy Machines
Multiple Projectors flown from a Truss
Plasma Displays & Computer work station (exhibitor)
Interactive Touch Screen Kiosk with Flight Departure Info

Some of the areas served at the conference included computer labs, exhibit floor technology parks, digital signage for technical sessions including an overall meeting room agenda reader board, product locators and cyber cafes. Additionally the SmartSource team provided exhibit support to numerous exhibits.

From the exhibit component, SmartSource provided technology for one of the more high profile exhibits, the Waters Corporation. This exhibit incorporated multiple projectors flown from truss projecting images on a double-sided 25’ kiosk. Additionally, the booth had individual demo areas which utilized 10 plasmas and 14 computer work stations.

A high profile and complex event such as PITTCON exemplifies the range and depth of technology solutions and services that SmartSource can offer.  works with show management, exhibitors and other stake holders to make sure any event turns out successful. The 2010 PITTCON Conference was held March 1-4, 2010 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, attracting nearly 17,000 attendees and 1200 exhibits.

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IAEE Offers Live Virtual Event Component

Live & recorded video was provided online through a partnership with SmartSource Rentals and ON24 for a Mid-Year Meeting held in Boston, MA, by the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE). The web cast component was made available exclusively to IAEE executive level members as well as some members of the press.

Virtual Events are becoming more popular as the technology and infrastructure to offer video content online has developed into a viable possibility for many conference organizers, event planners and producers. Many face-to-face event producers have mixed feelings about virtual events, viewing them as a threat to the attendance and success at the physical event. While this is a valid point, many event producers are now discovering ways that virtual events can actually elevate the status of physical events by increasing attendance, expanding reach, extending the event duration and driving new revenue streams. A session at the IAEE Mid-Year Meeting entitled ‘Virtual Events - Friend or Foe?’ addressed this topic and some of the best practices when combing virtual and physical events.

Live web casting and on-demand/archived content will always have value. Making resources available online gives access to all people who may not have been able to physically attend an event in person. Additionally, attendees who did participate at an event can use these resources to refresh or review things they may have touched on face-to-face at the event itself. This technology is here to stay and the real question some event producers face is not “if” it should be used, but “how” it should best be used. Every event is different and will have different measures of success. Finding the right way to combine physical events with virtual event components can be a win-win if used the right way.

At the Mid-Year IAEE event in Boston, ON24 provided the virtual platform for live and recorded video and audio content highlighting portions of select programs, and SmartSource provided on-site audio-visual production, capturing the live feed and feeding it into ON24’s virtual platform.

SmartSource Computer & Audio Visual Rentals President and CEO Michael McClernon said, “We are very pleased to be a supporting sponsor of IAEE’s first ever live webcast at their Mid-Year Meeting in Boston. We are very proud that a standard-setting organization like IAEE has reached out to us for help on this very important event.”

IAEE President Steven Hacker, CAE, said, “Supporting our mission of bringing buyers and sellers together to conduct business, we believe that the virtual element supports the face-to-face event adding a new option for attendees to engage not only with the association but with other live and virtual attendees as well. We are pleased to work with these partners’ new and dynamic technologies to provide attendees with a new option for professional learning.”

“At ON24 we recognize the importance of event producers, so we are pleased that we can partner with the IAEE to bring the many benefits of virtual events to its members,” said ON24 CMO Denise Persson. “The rich ON24 virtual experience is a perfect companion to the IAEE’s in-person meeting and provides a cost-effective, efficient way to take marketing and communication programs to the next level.”

About IAEE
Since 1928, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events™ (IAEE) continues to provide quality and value to its members through leadership, service, education and strong relationships. IAEE is the largest association of the exhibitions and events industry in the world, with a membership of show organizers, exhibitors and exhibition suppliers. Organizers of more than 20,000 exhibitions and buyer-seller events around the world are members of IAEE. Through the 2006 consolidation with the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR), IAEE delivers valuable industry research reports. IAEE also supports IAEE Services, the IAEE Public Events Council, The International Center for Exhibitor and Event Marketing, and the Exhibition and Event Industry Audit Commission, which are IAEE councils that provide products, programs and information to members. IAEE recognizes its strategic partners: American Airlines, ASP, Inc., Bearcom, Mexico Tourism Board, Orange County Convention Center and Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau and VoiceLogic. Visit www.iaee.com for more information.

About ON24
The recognized global virtual events market share leader, ON24 provides webcasting and virtual environments for corporate communications and demand generation. The ON24 platform is a complete Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) cloud offering; no deployment resources are required. ON24 offers fully integrated, enterprise-wide solutions for applications ranging from training, user conferences and company meetings to partner expos and trade shows. More than 750 organizations, including IBM, Cisco, CA Technologies, Merck, AstraZeneca, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Fiserv, Credit Suisse, GE and Oracle, rely on ON24. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices throughout the world. For more information, visit www.ON24.com.
About SmartSource Rentals

SmartSource Computer & Audio Visual Rentals (Hauppauge, NY), one of the nation’s leading providers of computer, audio visual (AV) and trade show technology rentals and services Founded in 1984 and formerly known as Rent-a-PC, Inc., SmartSource Computer & Audio Visual Rentals serves broad-based corporate IT, association, professional AV and tradeshow technology rental needs. The company is widely recognized for its outstanding customer service, technical expertise, geographic reach, breadth of product, and end-to-end solution. Its extensive line features brand name products from Apple, Dell, HP/Compaq, IBM, NEC, Eiki, Meyer, Stumpfl, and others. Among its products are computers, servers, copiers, professional AV equipment, LCD and plasma monitors, kiosks, digital signage and video walls. SmartSource employs over 250 including over 100 field technicians. For more information, visit: www.smartsourcerentals.com

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