Recent Posts

Apr 19, 2017 by Michelle Bruno
Who doesn’t love a fast-moving onsite registration check-in line? For planners, it’s a badge of honor. For attendees, it’s a crucial time saver. At some large events, getting attendees through the line at the convention center quickly is nearly impossible. One way to speed up registration and check-in is to set up remote registration sites—in hotels, airports, mass transit stations, or anywhere. It requires some planning, but with the right equipment and process, it can transform the att...  

Apr 19, 2017 by SmartSource
The show floor at ExhibitorLive 2017 was buzzing with technologies that wowed even this hard to impress consumer of technology. Holding my attention for more than 10 seconds is a tough sell unless you deliver an experience I can’t resist.  Here are my top picks from the show floor this year. Virtual Showrooms Why: Virtual showrooms are an excellent way for manufacturers of large products, think industrial manufacturing equipment, to compete on a show floor without having the expense and ri...  

Mar 14, 2017 by Donna M. Autuori
Trade shows and conferences have come a long way from the fishbowl and printed pamphlet days. Today, exhibitors can choose from a wide range of leading-edge event technologies that foster lead capture, real-time engagement, data analytics, and branding with a capital “B”. The only problem is some marketers haven’t mastered the art of event technology and therefore are experiencing low returns on their trade show/conference investments. Why Event Technology Matters Most brands who parti...  

Mar 07, 2017 by Michelle Bruno
There are a number of considerations beyond room size and lumens that event planners and AV companies have to contemplate when selecting a projector for an event. Think about the end result first and work backwards from there. What You Need to Know First: Before you pick a projector, you’ll need to answer a few questions. Use this list to start a discussion with your supplier. What is the Audience Size? If you’re planning a presentation to a small group of ten to twenty people, a bas...  

Feb 07, 2017 by Donna M. Autuori
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 53 million adults in the U.S. have a disability. Many attend and participate in trade shows, conferences, and other events with the expectation of an ADA friendly event environment. Fortunately, there has been considerable progress on this front, such that accessible meetings are now a goal for meeting planners where once they weren’t. Through the efforts of such organizations as the ADA National Network Centers, there is more ...  

Jan 18, 2017 by Michelle Bruno
  While adoption of event mobile apps has grown at meetings and conferences, getting attendees to use the apps is still a challenge.  While a mobile-event app can't replace the most effective type of engagement at an event – face-to-face engagement – it can help to optimize it. Plus, apps typically monitor and measure the interaction, which can be a powerful benefit for annual events. Automate Classic Engagement Activities Q & A Sessions: Take, for example, the questio...  

Jan 18, 2017 by Michelle Bruno
Thanks to research that a number of leading groups conducted in 2016, exhibition organizers should feel pretty good about the coming year. As Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the U.S. rises, the trade show industry is expected to grow with it. Spending on event technology will increase as more technology companies enter the market to address organizers’ ongoing challenges. Here’s a look at the growth numbers, operational obstacles, and what types of apps, platforms, and devices show ...  

Jan 03, 2017 by Michelle Bruno
Beacon technology has become a solid performer for tracking the time, date, and location of an attendee. The information is used to understand attendee behaviors and preferences. In the next wave of event-beacon innovation, however, planners will use beacons to enhance the attendee experience. Journey tracking Even the most organized attendees can’t remember every place they visited during an event. But, beacons placed throughout a conference or trade show can help software do the rememberin...  

Jan 03, 2017 by Michelle Bruno
  Charging stations for smartphones and other devices now come in all shapes and sizes. Planners love them because they’re highly sought-after amenities for event attendees that often pay for themselves through sponsorship revenue. But, to find the best fit between sponsor and charging station opportunity (they can be wrapped, branded, and interactive, for example), event organizers have to ask some specific questions of sponsors. What’s your budget? Because the distance between...  

Dec 14, 2016 by Donna M. Autuori
The post-event review is always important. It typically, however, doesn’t include any assessment relating to the use of event technology by sponsors and exhibitors. It should. Event technology can be a significant revenue stream for event organizers. This, however, requires more insight into how sponsors and exhibitors perceive the value and ROI they are deriving from their use of event technology. The best way to gain their feedback is through a survey. There is a science to effective ...