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.