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E X H I B I T O R M A G A Z I N E ’ S
S E C O N D E D I T I O N
Convention Center Guide
for Meetings & Events
Welcome to the new normal, where
exhibit managers are tasked with
far more than just managing ex-
hibits. This is not an entirely brand new
phenomenon, as most face-to-face mar-
keting professionals have been assigned
to everything from advertising and
communications to public and media
relations for years. But today’s exhibit
professionals only spend an average of
55 percent of their time on trade show-
related tasks. So what’s consuming the
remainder of their 50-hour workweeks?
Increasingly, readers are being required
to oversee not only their companies’
exhibit-marketing programs, but also
their meeting and event-marketing efforts.
According to EXHIBITOR Magazine’s Meetings
and Events Survey, nine out of 10 exhibit managers
are currently responsible for an array of corporate
events, including product launches, media events,
private trade shows, multivenue events, sales meetings,
and everything in between. In fact, 28 percent host
ranging from less than 50 to more than 5,000.
Sure, some of those events are held in conjunction
with trade shows, and others fall within most face-
to-face marketers’ wheelhouses. However, planning
corporate events, meetings, incentive travel, awards
dinners, road shows, and user-group conferences can
pose unique challenges. For example, whereas most
exhibitors have little to no say regarding where show
management decides to host the exhibitions on their
annual calendars, 85 percent of them now have the
recommending or selecting venues for
their organizations’ meetings and events.
And their to-do lists aren’t going to get
shorter anytime soon, as 92 percent
anticipate the number of meetings and
events they host will remain the same or
increase in the next two years.
As a result, trade show pros began
asking EXHIBITOR for more information
on event management and venue selec-
tion. And because our mission statement
is to provide readers with the tools that
they need to succeed, we unveiled the
Convention Center Guide for Meetings
& Events in 2016. Due to the positive re-
sponse from exhibit and event pros alike, we are proud
to present the second edition of what we hope will
on seven of the country’s premier convention centers
and event venues, along with expert advice from Candy
Adams, CTSM, CEM, CMP, CMM, on how to make the
most of your next site inspection.
We’ve worked alongside past and present Editorial
Advisory Board members and loyal EXHIBITOR read-
ers in an attempt to put the information you need at
grow, it becomes an increasingly valuable tool in your
event-planning arsenal, helping you navigate the venue-
selection process and short list properties for site visits
and additional consideration. E
28%
Twenty-eight
percent of exhibit
managers host
more than 10
events per year,
with attendance
from 50 to more
than 5,000
VENUE GUIDE
2 V E N U E G U I D E 2 0 1 8 E X H I B I T O R M A G A Z I N E
A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O NA D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N
Dear Exhibitors,
Travis Stanton, editor; [email protected]
E X H I B I T O R M A G A Z I N E V E N U E G U I D E 2 0 1 8 3
Atlantic City, NJ, offers round-
the-clock fun and excitement
after the work and meetings
are through. Stroll along the city’s
historic boardwalk, bask in the
sun, or take a dip in the Atlantic
Ocean. You can unwind and dine
at any number of establishments,
including brand-name eateries
and celebrity-chef restaurants. The entertainment capital of the Jersey Shore will
have you laughing and dancing all night long. Shopaholics can take advantage
of Atlantic City’s tax-free Tanger Outlets The Walk, with more than 100 stores —
and incredible deals — just steps away from the convention center. Meanwhile,
with plenty of comfort and relaxation. The Atlantic City Convention Center is
located within a few hours’ drive of nearly one-third of the nation’s population
and 20 percent of the country’s business addresses. It is 60 miles from Philadel-
phia, 125 miles from New York, and 175 miles from Washington, DC.
ADDRESS:
1 CONVENTION BLVD.,
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ 08401
CONTACT:
JIM WOOD, PRESIDENT & CEO, MEET AC
PHONE:
1-844-855-6338
EMAIL:
WEBSITE:
WWW.MEETAC.COM
VENUE SIZE:
600,000 sq. ft.
MEETING ROOMS: 45
TOTAL EXHIBIT SPACE:
500,000 sq. ft.
TOTAL EVENT SPACE:
600,000 sq. ft.
LARGEST EVENT SPACES:
Atlantic City Convention Center600,000 sq. ft.
Boardwalk Hall141,000 sq. ft.
Harrah’s Waterfront Conference Center 125,000 sq. ft.
Atlantic City Convention Center
The Orange County Con-
vention Center (OCCC),
located in the heart of
the Convention Center District
and only 15 minutes from the
Orlando International Airport,
provides a multitude of event
options in two beautiful venues
— the West and North/South
Buildings. Both leadership and
quality of service have made
Orange County one of the
most popular destinations in
the world, not only for tourism,
but also for meetings and conventions. Meeting planners, exhibitors, and attendees alike
praise the attention to detail provided by the OCCC, with a variety of facilities and services
including more than 7 million square feet of combined meeting space.
The OCCC has a long history of excellent partnerships with organizations such as Visit
Orlando, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando, the Orange County Government, and the
Orlando Economic Partnership, all of which contribute to the guest and attendee experience.
ADDRESS:
9800 INTERNATIONAL DR.,ORLANDO, FL 32819
CONTACT:
RODNEY GUTIERREZ, CMP,DIRECTOR OF SALES
PHONE:
407-685-9800800-345-9845
EMAIL:
WEBSITE:
WWW.OCCC.NET
VENUE SIZE:
7.1 million sq. ft.
MEETING ROOMS: 74
BREAKOUT ROOMS: 235
TOTAL EXHIBIT SPACE:
2.1 million sq. ft.
TOTAL EVENT SPACE:
502,849 sq. ft.
LARGEST EVENT SPACES:
Valencia Ballroom62,182 sq. ft.
Tangerine Ballroom48,600 sq. ft.
Chapin Theater2,643 seats
VENUE GUIDE
4 V E N U E G U I D E 2 0 1 8 E X H I B I T O R M A G A Z I N E
Orange County Convention Center
critical facility informa-
tion. The site has been
updated to include an
that allows meeting
planners to virtu-
ally explore the
OCCC facility.
DESTINATION
LOUNGE
The 7,000-square-foot
Destination Lounge
is a multipurpose
meeting space featur-
ing state-of-the-art
LED display systems
and high-tech light-
ing schematics. For
presentations, the
wall allows for branding
opportunities and is a
versatile way to display
important client infor-
mation. Comfortable,
updated seating delivers
an air of sophistication
to the space.
EXPANSIONS/
RENOVATIONS
The OCCC currently
links to all of its neigh-
pedestrian bridges. The
which was completed
last year, spans Inter-
national Drive between
the West Concourse’s
Central Lobby Level
3 and the sidewalk
in front of the Hyatt
Regency Orlando.
NEW OCCC WEBSITE
The all-new OCCC
website delivers a
one-two punch, with
an easy-to-navigate
interface that can be
used across all devices.
The site’s clean design
allows for easy viewing,
Destination Lounge
Pedestrian
Bridge
A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O NA D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N
KEY FEATURES AT A GLANCE
E X H I B I T O R M A G A Z I N E J U N E 2 0 1 6 5
Orlando
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) located in the heart of the Convention District
and only fifteen minutes from the Orlando International Airport provides a multitude of event options in two beautiful
buildings – the West and North/South. The OCCC is consistently rated a top tier convention center with incredible spaces,
including the multipurpose Tangerine Ballroom, the Valencia Ballroom, Sunburst signature meeting room with outdoor
terrace, along with the all-new Destination Lounge. To learn more, visit www.occc.net.
EXPERIENCE THE NEW ORANGE!
1-800-345-9845
SUNBURST ROOM & TERRACE
DESTINATION LOUNGE
TANGERINE BALLROOM
VALENCIA BALLROOM
Cobo Center offers every-
thing an event needs to
be a great success. After
a recent $279 million renova-
tion, the newly transformed
venue is the cornerstone for the
Detroit comeback, putting the
city back on the map as one
of the country’s most exciting
destinations for trade shows,
conventions, and meetings.
The suite of technology ser-
vices that are available in the
new Cobo Center is second
to none, thanks to recent upgrades including a broadcast studio and digital signage system
featuring a 4,800-square-foot marquee and 3,000-square-foot sign on the venue’s exterior.
An additional entrance through a three-story glass atrium adds 30,000 square feet of
Cobo Center renovation is 200,000 square feet.
ADDRESS:
1 WASHINGTON BLVD., DETROIT, MI 48080
CONTACT:
GREG DESANDY, DIRECTOR OF SALES AND EVENT SERVICES
PHONE:
313-877-8777
EMAIL:
WEBSITE:
WWW.COBOCENTER.COM
VENUE SIZE:
2.4 million sq. ft.
MEETING ROOMS: 100
TOTAL EXHIBIT SPACE:
723,000 sq. ft.
TOTAL EVENT SPACE:
1 million sq. ft.
LARGEST EVENT SPACES:
Main Concourse100,000 sq. ft.
Grand Riverview Ballroom40,000 sq. ft.
Three-Story Glass Atrium30,000 sq. ft.
VENUE GUIDE
6 V E N U E G U I D E 2 0 1 8 E X H I B I T O R M A G A Z I N E
Cobo Center
the largest ballroom in
the state of Michigan.
Floor-to-ceiling windows
offer panoramic views
of the downtown Detroit
skyline and the Detroit
River, as well as Windsor,
Ontario, Canada.
TECHNOLOGY
SERVICES
The Cobo Center
features two massive
digital signs on the
venue’s exterior and
100 digital meeting-
room signs, along
-
rations of additional
digital signage in
the food court and
business center. A
20,000-square-foot
broadcast studio boasts
a satellite uplink, green
room, and sound stage,
as well as an extensive
-
out the facility, allowing
planners to broadcast
events. Cobo Center
also offers free, robust,
facilitywide Wi-Fi, with
a 10G broadband up-
grade coming soon.
CONTIGUOUS
EXHIBIT HALL
Of the 723,000 square
feet of exhibit-hall
space in Cobo Center,
623,000 are contiguous
and dividable among
four halls, making Cobo
Center ideal for large
international events
such as the North
American International
Auto Show, hosted each
year in January.
GRAND RIVERVIEW
BALLROOM
Cobo Center’s Grand
Riverview Ballroom offers
40,000 square feet of
event space, making it
Grand Riverview Ballroom
Detroit
Skyline
A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O NA D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N
KEY FEATURES AT A GLANCE
E X H I B I T O R M A G A Z I N E J U N E 2 0 1 6 7
MEET IN APLACE WHERE YOU MATTER.COBO CENTER | CENTERED AROUND YOU
Welcome to a place where you can be part of something. Where a city and center are humming with energy. A place where you can actually feel good about a meeting. Where people go out of their way for you because that’s what we do. Because here, you matter.
What matters to you? Value? Service? Sustainability? A positive voice guiding you, every step of the way? We get it. We have reinvented this city and center for you.
COBOCENTER.COM 313.877.8214 DOWNTOWN DETROIT
an managed facility
GINA GALLICOBO CENTER EVENT MANAGER
Amazing and so gracious, happy and positive. She never said no but always off ered a work around if needed. The guest/client service experience was unlike any other center I have been at.
LADONNA PETTITDIRECTOR OF CONFERENCESSTONE FORT GROUP (NACE CARS)
VENUE GUIDE
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A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O NA D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N
W just know it. That’s what
it’s like in Beaumont, TX,
What’s more, Beaumont offers all
the comforts of a big city, but with
the added coziness and conve-
nience of a small town. Ford Park
Entertainment Complex (FPEC) is conveniently located in Beaumont, on Interstate
Highway 10 between Houston and Lake Charles, LA. The 221-acre venue fea-
and sizes — and proving that everything really is bigger in Texas. Those venues
include Ford Arena, Ford Exhibit Hall, Ford Pavilion, Ford Ball Fields, and the
Ford Midway. With all of its space and versatility, it’s no surprise that the FPEC
is the premier sports, entertainment, and convention destination of Southeast
Texas. Recently under new management (Spectra Venue Management), the
ADDRESS:
5115 I-10 SOUTH, BEAUMONT, TX 77705
CONTACT:
CHESNEY BECHTEL, SALES AND MARKETING
PHONE:
409-951-5428
EMAIL:
CHESNEY_BECHTEL@COMCAST
SPECTACOR.COM
WEBSITE:
WWW.FORDPARK.COM
VENUE SIZE:
221 acres (5 venues)
MEETING ROOMS: 9
TOTAL EXHIBIT SPACE:
48,600 sq. ft.
TOTAL EVENT SPACE:
83,000 sq. ft. of
indoor event space
LARGEST EVENT SPACES:
Ford Midway83,000 sq. ft.
Ford Exhibit Hall & Arena (combined)83,000 sq. ft.
Ford Exhibit Hall 48,600 sq. ft.
Ford Park Entertainment Complex
The Suburban Collection
Showplace’s location in Oak-
land County, MI, is within a
90-minute drive for 70 percent
of Michigan’s population, which
totals more than 7 million. The
Showplace is 30 minutes from
downtown Detroit and just 20 min-
utes from the Detroit Metro Airport.
A new expansion will add a total of 188,000 square feet, including roughly
89,000 square feet of exposition space (67,000 of which are column free and
boast 40-foot ceiling heights), all connected with the existing 215,000 square
feet of exposition space. The expansion will also add 14 meeting and banquet
rooms, including a 23,000-square-foot second-story ballroom overlooking the
new exposition space and 16,000 square feet of upper- and lower-level pre-
function space. Once the expansion is completed in mid 2018, the venue will
be capable of hosting trade shows, exhibitions, entertainment events, athletic
events, and corporate events with up to 8,000 attendees all under one roof.
ADDRESS:
46100 GRAND RIVER AVE., NOVI, MI 48374
CONTACT:
MARY JANE SCOTT,
VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES AND MARKETING
PHONE:
248-348-5600 EXT. 204
EMAIL:
WEBSITE:
WWW.SUBURBANCOLLECTIONSHOWPLACE.COM
VENUE SIZE:
500,000 sq. ft.
MEETING ROOMS: 44
TOTAL EXHIBIT SPACE:
304,000 sq. ft.
TOTAL EVENT SPACE:
422,000 sq. ft.
LARGEST EVENT SPACES:
Mezzanine Ballroom 24,000 sq. ft.
Atrium Ballroom23,000 sq. ft.
Diamond Ballroom20,000 sq. ft.
Suburban Collection Showplace
E X H I B I T O R M A G A Z I N E V E N U E G U I D E 2 0 1 8 9
I llinois’ Schaumburg Conven-
tion Center is a sophisticated
100,000-square-foot, state-of-
the-art facility featuring pillar-
free space, 30-foot ceilings,
and wireless internet access
throughout. Adjacent is an ad-
ditional 48,000 square feet of
meeting space, including a
27,500-square-foot ballroom.
Furthermore, grants and in-
centives make the venue an
attractive host for any event, as
trade shows and conventions
The Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel is seamlessly adjacent. Each of
the 474 guest rooms and 26 suites features contemporary décor, high-speed internet
access, and plush accommodations for the perfect blend of comfort and convenience.
With one call to a member of its sales team, Meet Chicago Northwest can put planners
in touch with hundreds of resources and services to help make any event a success.
ADDRESS:
1551 N. THOREAU DR.,
SCHAUMBURG, IL 60173
CONTACT:
HEATHER LARSON,
DIRECTOR OF SALES
PHONE:
847-278-3446
EMAIL:
HLARSON@CHICAGO
NORTHWEST.COM
WEBSITE:
WWW.CHICAGONORTH
WEST.COM/SB508
VENUE SIZE:
150,000 sq. ft.
MEETING ROOMS: 17
TOTAL EXHIBIT SPACE:
97,200 sq. ft.
TOTAL EVENT SPACE:
150,000 sq. ft.
LARGEST EVENT SPACES:
Schaumburg Ballroom27,502 sq. ft.
Utopia Ballroom7,021 sq. ft.
Nirvana Ballroom5,310 sq. ft.
VENUE GUIDE
10 V E N U E G U I D E 2 0 1 8 E X H I B I T O R M A G A Z I N E
Schaumburg Convention Center
TECHNOLOGY
THAT MOVES YOU
It’s what surrounds
this Chicago-area
meeting space that
makes all the differ-
ence, such as wireless
internet throughout all
meeting rooms. The
Schaumburg Conven-
tion Center also has
the ability to make
presentations come to
life through high-tech
audiovisual options.
THE SCHAUMBURG
COLLECTION
The Schaumburg Conv-
ention Center’s location
makes planning a
large event easier than
ever before, with 700
guest rooms nearby
and options to accom-
modate groups of up to
6,000 people. Conve-
nient, walkable access
between the hotels and
shuttle transportation
helps groups experi-
ence the best of what
greater Chicagoland
has to offer.
AN UNEXPECTED
LOCATION
Located just minutes
from Chicago O’Hare
International Airport
and the crossroads of
major highways, and
featuring free parking Exhibit Hall Minutes from
O’Hare Airport
A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O NA D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N
KEY FEATURES AT A GLANCE
throughout Chicago
Northwest, the Scha-
umburg Convention
Center makes travel
easy on event attendees
from near and far.
INCENTIVES AVAILABLE—
BRING YOUR CONVENTION INTO ILLINOIS AT
THE SCHAUMBURG CONVENTION CENTER—
CONTACT US FOR DETAILS.
The 100,000 square foot state-of-the-art
Schaumburg Convention Center features pillar-
free space, 30 foot ceilings, 120 feet of covered
dock space and free parking. Just 15 minutes away
from O’Hare International Airport. It’s affordable
sophistication that’s easily accessible to the world.
800.847.4849
ChicagoNorthwest.com
CONVENTIONS ARE BETTER IN SCHAUMBURG
SchaumburgConvention Center
15 MINUTEDRIVE
30 MINUTEDRIVE
O’HARE
Located in the heart of
downtown Wichita, KS,
Century II Performing Arts
& Convention Center offers
more than 200,000 square
feet of meeting and exhibi-
tion space connected directly
to the 303-room Hyatt Re-
gency Wichita. The facility’s
fully equipped meeting rooms
range in size from 900 to 7,750
square feet to accommodate a
variety of events.
Concert Hall features state-
of-the-art lighting and sound equipment and seats 2,195. Meanwhile, the Carl A. Bell, Jr.
during presentations or productions on a 60-by-33-foot stage. Remove the tiered seating for
32,000 gross square feet of exhibit space, or open the 60-foot retractable wall to expand
into Exhibition Hall, which provides 45,000 more square feet with an additional 17,500
square feet on the mezzanine.
ADDRESS:
225 W. DOUGLAS AVE.,
WICHITA, KS 67202
CONTACT:
MOJI ROSSON,
VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES
PHONE:
316-265-2800
EMAIL:
MROSSON@VISIT
WICHITA.COM
WEBSITE:
WWW.VISITWICHITA.COM
VENUE SIZE:
200,000 sq. ft.
MEETING ROOMS: 22
TOTAL EXHIBIT SPACE:
200,000 sq. ft.
TOTAL EVENT SPACE:
200,000 sq. ft.
LARGEST EVENT SPACES:
Convention Hall, Exhibition Hall & Expo Hall (combined)195,500 sq. ft.
Convention Hall & Exhibition Hall (combined)94,500 sq. ft.
Bob Brown Expo Hall:93,000 sq. ft.
VENUE GUIDE
12 V E N U E G U I D E 2 0 1 8 E X H I B I T O R M A G A Z I N E
Century II Convention Center
EXPO HALL
Bob Brown Expo Hall
offers 93,000 square
feet and can house up
to 450 10-by-10-foot
booths. A retractable
access between Expo
Hall, Convention Hall,
and Exhibition Hall,
providing 195,500
square feet of total
exhibit space, a seven-
bay loading dock, and
two overhead doors.
DOWNTOWN
LOCATION
Century II’s location is
ideal, sitting along the
banks of the Arkansas
River in downtown
Wichita, KS. A wide
variety of restaurants,
shops, breweries, and
outdoor spaces are all
within walking distance
or accessible via the
city’s free and conve-
nient Q-Line Trolley.
ICT Pop-Up Urban Park
is a regular gathering
spot for food trucks,
and Gallery Alley is a
vibrant public space
with a concert stage,
plenty of seating, and a
screen for outdoor mov-
ies. Those looking to
unwind will enjoy Old
Town, a neighborhood
full of eateries, retail
shops, and live shows.
Bob Brown Expo Hall
Q-lineTrolley
A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O NA D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N
KEY FEATURES AT A GLANCE
MARY JANE
TEALL THEATER
The intimate Mary Jane
Teall Theater seats 652
people and is perfect
for live presentations,
seminars, and smaller-
scale performances.
E X H I B I T O R M A G A Z I N E J U N E 2 0 1 6 13
Authentic and unique off-site venues for event attendees
Brick-lined Old Town entertainmentdistrict
Headquarter hotel attached to convention center
800.288.9424 VisitWichita.com
7:30 pm | Off-Site Reception at Central Standard Brewing
THe moment You Crafted the perfect event
An event planner dies and goes
to heaven. At the pearly gates,
St. Peter invites her to take
a look at hell as well, just so she
understands her options. Hell looks
good — better than heaven, in fact.
stone. She looks up to the heavens
and cries, “This is not the hell I
saw before!” “Sorry,” says St. Peter,
“that was just the site inspection.”
Joking aside, choosing a venue
is one of the most important and
But follow these six tips, and you’re
venue without landing yourself
in the seventh circle of corporate
event-planning hell.
1T I P Request the Right Guide
tour, ask if the person you’d
actually be working with (i.e., the
convention services manager or fa-
cilities manager) is able to conduct
your tour, instead of a salesperson.
The person you negotiate your
contract with isn’t the person who’ll
Six Tips for Effective Site Inspections
VENUE GUIDE A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O NA D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N
follow you through the planning
that person is someone with whom you
would be comfortable working.
You’ll also want to request
the credentials and experience
levels of the person or people
who would be assigned to your
event. I’ve had bad experiences
managers, during which I spent all
my time teaching them about the
hospitality industry.
2T I P Do a Background Check
When you begin your tour,
ask when the last renovations
of the public/function areas were
completed and, if applicable, the
date of the most recent upgrades
to the sleeping-room furnishings
and linens. My colleague Margaret
Kennedy, CMP, says that bedding
and mattresses should be changed
cosmetic updates should be done
every eight to 10 years, minimum.
Ask about any future plans for
construction or refurbishment and if
those plans might impact the dates
How do you cut through the marketing
hype and choose the right venue for
your next corporate event? Here are six
tips to help you conduct a successful site
inspection. By Candy Adams
14 V E N U E G U I D E 2 0 1 8 E X H I B I T O R M A G A Z I N E
E X H I B I T O R M A G A Z I N E V E N U E G U I D E 2 0 1 8 15
which may require other arrange-
ments with the kitchen.
Consider setting up a tasting of
the items you’d likely be serving to
check food quality and presentation.
Also obtain a list of any additional
fees that will be charged, such as
bartenders or baristas, buyout fees
for using your own providers, and
standard percentages for tips,
out the ratio of servers to guests to
5T I P Meet the Staff
Hotels and other venues
are squeezing budgets to
improve revenue after some lean
years, and many have cut back
of staffers to guest rooms and the
average length of employment of
the staff. Compare those numbers
to other properties you’re consider-
ing. Longevity is a good indicator
that the staff is treated well and will
treat your guests well in turn. It is
long the facility’s general manager
and department heads have worked
there, as they will play crucial roles
in your event’s success.
Ask if the employees are part of
a collective-bargaining agreement
(members of a union) and if so,
when their current contract is expir-
ing. If their contract expires right
before or during your event, there
may be an increased likelihood of
a labor strike, which could end up
disrupting your plans.
are in place under the venue’s union
contracts that may impact your abil-
ity to complete basic tasks on your
own, such as running video cables
from your laptop to a projector or set-
ting up your own projection screens.
Those may seem like tiny details, but
they count up quickly when it comes
6T I P Take Good Notes
Make sure you use the same
matrix to gather and record
information at each venue. I like to
make a spreadsheet to compare the
different aspects of the venues I’m
considering, with plenty of room for
jotting down quick notes as I tour.
I also analyze the strengths, weak-
nesses, opportunities, and threats
(SWOT) of each venue. And I take
loads of photos to help refresh my
memory as I move through the
decision-making process.
As you can see, site inspections
aren’t easy. But these tips should
help you complete a detailed analy-
sis that will enable you to detect any
exteriors of your potential venues. E
Candy Adams, CTSM, CEM,
CMP, CMM, “The Booth Mom,”
is an independent exhibit
project manager, trainer,
speaker, blogger, consultant,
and an EXHIBITOR Conference faculty
member. [email protected]
of your event. Also ask your sales rep
for the contact information of three
event planners who have recently
held events at the venue. And if the
opportunity arises during your site
inspection, introduce yourself to
other meeting planners on site and
ask about their experiences.
3T I P Go Behind the Scenes
Don’t restrict your visit to the
areas that the venue wants to
show you; ask for an impromptu
tour of the “back of house”
and look for cleanliness and
organization. Depending on
the type of meeting, check the
access to the property’s ship-
ping docks, the proximity and
capacity of freight elevators, the
freight-receiving and material-han-
dling capabilities, and the location
and security of storage.
Additionally, event managers play
a major role in ensuring the venues
they select are safe for attendees. So
ask about local crime rates, get a
copy of the venue’s safety and
security policies, inquire about its
discuss the venue’s emergency
evacuation procedures.
4T I P Chow Down
Food quality matters to
your attendees, and
you don’t want bone-dry salmon
to be the most memorable part of
your event. Consider the venue’s
standard menus and ask if you can
work with the chef or other caterers
on custom menus for themed events
and for guests with special dietary
requirements. With so many differ-
ent food requirements these days
(e.g., vegan, gluten free, lactose
intolerant, nuts or seafood allergies,
accommodations are standard and
For more EXHIBITOR magazine coverage of Convention Centers
around the United States, check out the Conventional Wisdom articles at:
www.ExhibitorOnline.com/Venues
For more EXHIBITOR Magazine coverage of Convention Centers
around the United States, check out the Conventional Wisdom articles at:
www.ExhibitorOnline.com/Venues