Travel trade shows are great places to meet new clients and collect leads to build a stronger client base. The proper travel trade show guide and assistance can help to put your name in front of corporate and leisure travelers, human resource professionals looking for new advisors and travel company executives. Using a travel trade show directory is good place to start, but you can also contact each trade show directly and use images from previous trade shows to help in your planning.
Mastering travel tradeshows takes time and effort and that can be in short supply. Therefore, it may be prudent to hire a travel trade show professional to help your company navigate the industry. If you offer exciting destination packages, make sure to display them in an innovative exhibit. Just be sure to utilize travel trade show services in a number of ways to get your company recognized at the travel tradeshow. However, before you start the planning, there are few items that you need to consider, such as:
1. Contact travel tradeshows for pertinent industry information.
2. Use images from past travel tradeshows as preparation guide.
3. Hire a travel trade show services consultant to help develop a strategy.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Speak directly to travel tradeshows for guidance
Contact travel tradeshows officials for the latest information on their trade shows. The regulations and pricing for travel trade shows can change from year to year. Therefore, even if your company attended the previous year's tradeshow, don't assume that all relevant information is static. Contacting the travel trade shows directly will also allow your company to choose the one that maximizes revenue and marketing opportunities.
I recommend: Contact officials at The Trade Show, one of the biggest travel trade shows in the country. Register early for a good spot on the floor. Consider a sponsorship or advertise with the travel trade show put on by the Travel Industry Association.
Look at images from previous travel trade shows for design and marketing ideas
Generally, the best ideas aren't ones that come from nowhere. They're ideas that improve on an already existing concept or design. That's why it's a great idea to look at images from past travel trade show for guidance and ideas that your company can improve upon. In addition, these images will give you a visual of what the travel trade show floor looks like, and you can plan accordingly.
I recommend: Examine the pictures from the Seattle Travel Show and the exhibits prospectus from the New York Times Travel Show for travel trade show information and ideas.
Utilize consultants for travel trade show advice
If you're new to travel trade show industry or just want to improve your marketing and design, hiring a travel trade show consultant may be the best course of action. These professionals can help guide you through each step of the travel trade show process.
I recommend: EyeforTravel is a trade show and conference company that puts on tradeshows that attract leaders and executives in the industry and offers a number of show sponsorships. Contact Heritage Destination Consulting for travel trade show marketing and design assistance.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- • One of the most valuable things you can get from a travel tradeshow is customer contact information. Offer a destination giveaway to entice people to sign up to receive your marketing information, and the giveaway should more than pay for itself.
Make people want to go "there" with your company's travel trade show exhibit. Exhibits come in all shapes and sizes, from large modular booths to portable pieces. Whatever type of travel trade show design your company selects, the goal is to catch the client's eye and imagination.
To determine what type of travel trade show exhibit your company will "present," analyze how you plan to exhibit and what you have to display. If your firm's travel trade show display will include hula dancers or an actor in a giant panda costume, you'll probably want a booth. If your have brochures, photographs and "artifacts" from around the world, a portable travel trade show setup should be just fine. As you decide on your travel trade show design, keep the following information in mind:
1. A travel portable trade show exhibit or a portable travel trade show display case offers convenience.
2. For larger booths, it's a good idea to hire experts at travel trade show setup.
3. Rent your equipment as your company learns the travel trade show ropes.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Find the portable travel tradeshow display that fits your exhibit plans
Portable displays and racks offer affordable options and are easy to transport and install. The interlocking pieces unfold and bolt together. All come in a carrying case and require no special tools, so you can have your company's exhibit up quickly. If your company is new to trade shows or an occasional exhibitor, a portable exhibit is probably the best investment.
I recommend: Absolutely Portable carries several types of booths and displays, all portable. You can find a size and style for your exhibit plan. The trade show staff at Camelback Displays provides full service, including several models of portable displays. Pick one that fits your company's needs and budget.
Choose a booth and hire a travel trade show services team
For a large display, consider an impressive booth that offers electronics, podiums, shelves and storage areas. Hire a professional trade show company to set up and break down the display. They also will handle all the shipping duties.
I recommend: The folks at Nomadic Display have worldwide experience in trade show displays. Choose one of the booths or have the company customize a display for your exhibit. First Trade Show offers modular booths. Select the pieces your company wants and First Trade will fit them all together as a booth. Trust companies such as Trade Show Setup Service to manage your booth, set it up, take it down and handle all the shipping.
Investigate travel trade show rentals for special purposes
First trade show? You can rent everything your company needs to exhibit at a travel trade show, from the travel trade show booth to the people who work in it to the on-site marketing. Check with the vendors about renting their products.
I recommend: You can find everything your company can use at a travel trade show at CDS. And everything is for rent! Rent your booth or display from Exhibit Options. See its inventory online. If your exhibit has technology needs, visit the experts at Rentsys. It rents computers, display screen, projectors and much more.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- • Many travel trade show services businesses will store your equipment. Inquire about their storage solutions.
- • Travel trade show exhibit displays with wheeled cases are much easier to transport.
- • Because of weight restrictions and charges for checked baggage on airlines, it is sometimes easier to ship your travel tradeshow display equipment rather than carry it with you.
