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 experienceIncorporating wellness elements in your boothDesigning after-hours events that won't burn people outUnderstanding what "wellness washing" is & how to avoid itPacing yourself and your team to make it through the entire show

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 discuss: How staffing shortages at all levels can affect exhibitorsWhat show managers can do to make things easier for new exhibitorsWhy shows need to reward loyalty for both exhibitors and attendeesHow there’s a big disconnect around the topic of sustainabilityWhen and how to put AI tools to use

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 sightUse sponsorships to solve problems for attendeesShow exhibitors you care about their needs tooMake the arrival experience memorable

What's your goal for your next trade show? No matter how you answer that ... learn how to use your goal as a North Star to guide all your trade show decisions: what your exhibit should look like (what it should or shouldn’t include), how to promote it, what to give away, and even how to craft your follow-up strategy.

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 solutionsWork with show management to set up an Exhibitor Advisory CouncilKnow where to watch for unexpected or hidden feesCalculate return on their exhibiting investment (ROI) with established metrics

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 (maybe someday!) … I did want to share some inspiration from one of her latest newsletters with you. The topic is the principle of transition. Of course she’s talking about intentionally designing how a person moves from space to space or room to room within a building. But the same holds true around the trade show floor or inside a booth space.

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 Booth Mom® for sharing their insights, including: What details you should provide to your shipping companyWhy there are three parts to your shipment costsHow to label all pieces in your shipmentWhat to do to keep small items togetherHow to know you’re adequately covered if something goes wrong

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 respondedWhich communication methods worked and the challenges they facedHow event organizers need to think beyond the convention center itself (especially for a city-wide event)Why a written crisis plan alone isn't enough

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 boothTransitioning leads into your follow-up systemPersonalizing follow-up to increase responseBuilding a relationship with your new leads

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. Membership development consultant Joy Duling shares strategies, tips and tools to: Create Discovery Magnets for your showOnboard attendees with personalized communications (it might be easier than you think!)Craft audience journeys for first-timers and loyal fans of your eventStudy how universities nurture community

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.)

Anyone who’s ever walked a trade show knows how easy it is to hit stimulus overload. And that becomes even more of a challenge for neurodiverse or introverted attendees. So how can we make our conferences and trade shows more sensory-friendly? Professional Event Host and former BBC broadcaster Clare Forestier shares tips on how to: Create breathing space for attendees to rechargeConsider sensory needs like you do accessibility issuesProvide a better AX (Attendee-first eXperience)Include sponsors in the conversation

Everybody’s talking about ChatGPT and other hot AI tools these days. But how do you sort through the hype and learn how to incorporate them into your event planning tool kit? Tech expert Michelle Bruno provides insights on: What options are currently trendingWays to use them for trade shows and eventsHow to verify the information is accurateDangers and landmines to watch out for

Trade shows are not a stand-alone marketing tool. Instead they should be integrated into all your other marketing efforts as part of a comprehensive strategy. The team at Canon Medical Systems is a great example of that, so I featured their story in the updated edition of Build a Better Trade Show Image. Listen in as Debbi Kemp shares behind-the-scenes details (beyond what’s in the book) on how they: Designed an exhibit to engage and draw attendees deeper into the boothIncorporated virtual elements to reduce expensesTook the show on the road to reach those who couldn’t make it to RSNASet (and exceeded) measurable goals

It’s that time when everyone begins to reflect back on the year winding down, while also eagerly awaiting the new one that’s just ahead. So in that vein, I wanted to share some perspective on what you can expect from me in 2023.

We all want our trade shows and events to be memorable. Instead they often wind up mostly forgotten by the audience. But Phil Mershon doesn't believe it has to be that way. Listen in as he shares strategies for how to: Lean into your audience's interests to create "magical moments" Pay attention to the audience journey (especially for first-timers) Create a culture for serendipity Craft ways to avoid overwhelm

Our economy – and climate – is changing and trade shows need to adapt along with it. In this rebroadcast of Virtual Lunch, Rhiannon Andersen joins us to discuss the Sharing Economy: What is it and how does it fit in with exhibit marketing?What are the benefits for exhibitors and the environment?How can you get buy-in from executives at your company?How can virtual experiences be better integrated into events?

Working a trade show booth requires you to think on your feet and adapt with each visitor who enters your booth. You’ve got to be prepared for almost anything – kind of like taking a turn on an improv stage. So in this rebroadcast of Virtual Lunch, edutainer Rebecca P. Murray provides expert tips for how to: Develop a hook that will engage attendeesUse three key transition phrasesGet beyond “stage fright” in the boothPlus … a sprinkle of advice from Mary Poppins and Mr. Rogers

There has never been a more important time for exhibitors to have a voice in the trade show industry. In this rebroadcast of Virtual Lunch, Jessica Sibila introduces us to a brand new group that's been formed to help address exhibitor challenges and ensure the success of our industry. You'll discover: What The Exhibitor Advocate is and how it came to beWho it's created for and what it providesWho had the vision and passion to create itHow you can get involved

These days, it’s a full-time job to keep up with what’s happening in event tech. Ideas and tools are changing fast and it’s hard to know which ones you should be incorporating into your trade shows and events. So in this episode, we’re getting some straight-up perspective from Josh Hotsenpiller on what you should be paying attention to, including: How you’re serving those who aren’t showing up for your in-person eventsHow AI (artificial intelligence) can help bring people togetherWhat role digital tools play alongside physical eventsWhat to consider for the metaverse and other emerging trends