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.

Travel businesses can seize the opportunity to generate sales at trade shows by creating a buzz early on with extensive travel trade show marketing. Unlike email, print advertising and Internet marketing, a travel trade show exhibit allows business owners to use their booth displays to visually take attendees to exciting places.

Participating in a trade show can help travel agencies increase sales and profits. However, participation isn't enough. To achieve a return on your trade show investment, it's important to plan early and create a reasonable budget and travel trade show marketing plan. Consider the following tips to help you take full advantage of the benefits of a business trade show promotions.

1. Start your travel trade show promotions well in advance.

2. Use a travel tradeshow marketing plan to spread the word about your business.

3. Increase travel trade show traffic with a breathtaking display that offers attendees a visual getaway.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Plan your travel trade show promotions plan early

Proper planning and budgeting is a must when participating in trade shows. It's quite easy to overspend on travel trade show advertising, giveaways and display items. Be sure to identify your target audience, create a show theme or message and stick to it to avoid going over budget.

I recommend: You may consider partnering with ISM, a marketing firm that specializes in the travel and leisure industry, to help promote your upcoming tradeshow. RMR & Associates is another firm that provides travel trade show marketing advice.

Spread the word with travel trade show promotions

Once you decide to participate in a trade show, it's important that you get the word out by inviting clients, business associates, colleagues and vendors. You can also promote your participation on your company website and inquire about the cost of advertising with the trade show host. At the event, generate travel trade show traffic with travel tradeshow promotions like vacation giveaways and colorful postcards or display screens showcasing how you can help attendees plan the perfect getaway.

I recommend: Consider renting plasma displays and other audio / visual equipment from Kiosks4Rent, which also has tradeshow kiosks to promote your event. You can also check out unique travel trade show giveaways offered by Motivators.

Generate travel trade show sales

Travel tradeshow follow-up is an important step you can't overlook, because it could result in you missing out on prospective travel trade show sales. Be sure to immediately make phone calls and send out emails and information to interested guests about travel trade show promotions and how your business can plan their next leisure or corporate trip.

I recommend: You can obtain extensive trade show lead qualification services from Lead Generation Solutions. If you prefer to make the follow-up calls yourself, consider using Radical Vouchers from Liquid Mirror Enterprises as travel tradeshow giveaways items to initiate phone calls with trade show attendees who expressed an interest in your travel services.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Joining travel industry organizations like the National Association of Career Travel Agents will keep you informed on upcoming travel trade shows and help you implement your travel tradeshows advertising plan early.