The Association Partner (TAP)’s Post

A one-day conference, a side event, 2 dinners and 8 separate meetings. 🤯 As someone who doesn't get out much, it was an exciting, but overwhelming week in DC. I was in town for the Exhibition & Convention Executives Forum, as a sponsor. Before the main event, a session hosted by the amazing mdg team: How AI is Actually Changing Events. Vincent (Vinnie) Polito & Kimberly Hardcastle hosted Ken Holsinger, Laura Davidson, Michael J Weiss, & Sherrif Karamat. The most memorable elements of the talks for me included: private LLMs, ways to reduce the chaos that comes with AI experimentation, and practical recommendations. ECEF itself was jam-packed. Sam Lippman started with his top 5 points for the year ahead: - Exhibitors, more than ever, consider their own events. - Exhibitors want ALL IN packages - let’s stop making things so hard. - Attendees want to connect with others before the event. - Attendees want personalised/curated agendas and prefer content that helps them do their jobs better over celebrity speakers. - Ask attendees to share their event objectives in advance. My highlights from the rest of the day: Ken Holsinger’s findings from Q1 and Q2 research including: - Organisers continue to overschedule their in-person event content #ifitcanbedoneonzoomdontdoitintheroom. - There is still no one person on the organiser side who’s responsible for delivering “networking”.   - Attendees want to make career-enhancing connections.  - Organisers - stop selling booths, add-ons e.g. size, electrics, cupboards, etc. 😩 Instead, package them by how they help the exhibitor achieve their objectives. Then came the powerhouse Melissa Medina, CEO and co-founder of e-merge Americas. WHAT A WOMAN. Melissa shared her backstory on how her family left Cuba for Miami and the twists and turns that resulted in her and her dad launching this mega-event brand. The way they have established and immersed the brand deep into its community ALL YEAR ROUND is a masterclass. I can’t do it justice here, so I highly recommend you check out the event and listen to this session when it’s released on-demand in a week or so. Greg Topalian’s review of predictions he made for the industry 10 LONG years ago was self-deprecating, funny, and insightful. He gave himself a B- which I think was fair! He also made 10 solid predictions for the NEXT 10 years. For the record, I agree with them all - and so I’ll cover them in a future post or two. I’ve followed Bob Priest-Heck since 2020. His writing caught my attention during that time and was moving and inspirational. So it was an honour to be in the room to hear Bob share his deep love for this industry of ours as he steps forward to retirement. Not many senior people speak so authentically and show such humility, and for me, this shows why he has been such a great leader. I hope his legacy will include inspiring the next generation to keep it real and leave egos at the door. #eventprofs #ecef2024 #exhibitions #events

Starting an exhibition or event roadshow can seem like a massive undertaking, but with the right approach, you can ensure its success. From selecting the ideal venue to crafting engaging marketing strategies, there are key factors to consider for a roadshow that resonates with attendees and achieves your goals. Dive into our 7 essential tips to navigate the path to success, covering everything from pre-event planning to flawless on-site execution. Follow the link to read more. https://hubs.la/Q02vFpnn0... #CreativeHire #CHInsights #Roadshow #EventProfs

Starting an exhibition or event roadshow can seem like a massive undertaking, but with the right approach, you can ensure its success. From selecting the ideal venue to crafting engaging marketing strategies, there are key factors to consider for a roadshow that resonates with attendees and achieves your goals. Dive into our seven essential tips to navigate the path to success, covering everything from pre-event planning to flawless on-site execution. Follow the link to read more. https://hubs.la/Q02FbnSX0... #CreativeHire #CHInsights #roadshow #EventProfs

Location Strategies For First-Time Event Exhibitors • Secure Prime Spots Early: Register early to snag high-traffic locations like entrances and paths to key amenities. • Strategize Positioning Based on Goals: Choose locations that align with your goals. Primarily focused on visibility? Go high-traffic. Selling in the booth or prioritizing conversations? Find quiet corners for deeper engagement and use other tactics to drive traffic your way. • Analyze Floor Plan for Optimal Spot: Balance visibility with accessibility • Leverage Neighboring Booths: Position near popular brands. You can choose to avoid direct competitors, or if you’re up for it, set up right next to them and bet on your team. • Boost Visibility Creatively: Use vertical signage and interactive elements to draw attention from afar. Keep in mind the show floor rules for sign height. • Embrace Flexibility and Creativity: Innovate with booth design and promotions when ideal spots are unavailable. Ants follow the crumbs. Want traffic? Feed attendees with what they are looking for and can’t resist. • Learn and Improve Continuously: Use each event as a learning opportunity to refine future strategies. Your team is going to be exhausted after any event done well, but build into your process to have a recap and refinement session each evening or at minimum, after each event to document what your team learned and observed. Finally, don’t forget to share show ideas with the event organizers. You would be surprised how many Associations are desperate for fresh ideas for their events. If you can think of something that adds value for everyone, pass it along. The worst they can say is “No.”

Starting an exhibition or event roadshow can seem like a massive undertaking, but with the right approach, you can ensure its success. From selecting the ideal venue to crafting engaging marketing strategies, there are key factors to consider for a roadshow that resonates with attendees and achieves your goals. Dive into our seven essential tips to navigate the path to success, covering everything from pre-event planning to flawless on-site execution. Follow the link to read more. https://hubs.la/Q02zpKY90... #CreativeHire #CHInsights #roadshow #EventProfs

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You’ve got a virtual event coming up soon, but you haven’t started promoting it yet. Don’t panic, we’ve got some tips for you. We'll show you how to create a simple and smart event marketing plan in no time. #VirtualEvents #EventTips #EventProfs https://bit.ly/3QSusM0

Organizing an expo is both similar to and different from planning any other type of event. These vibrant events allow exhibitors to engage directly with potential customers and industry leaders, requiring detailed planning and unique logistical considerations. Mastering Expo Success: Your Guide to an Unforgettable Event - avad3 Event Production https://hubs.la/Q02ScXBB0

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