Convention Insider (Conventions.net)

I was just thinking that I am getting into the busy part of my “season” with the trade shows and conventions I attend, and then I realized that I have been busy since this time last year.  That mens that I really did not have a down time or a slow time.  It began with a trip to Las Vegas last year in November, and now I am planning the same trip in October and not a month went by that I didn’t attend an event or convention, conference or trade show.

Is your industry seasonal?  I have friends that have a convention they work on that is scheduled every other year.  They work 18 months for one show and then the net show is not for another 2 years.  That is a long a drawn out process for a convention, but when it is as big as these are it makes sense.  I on the other hand am covering more than one industry and my industry is multiple industry events.  I will be in Los Angeles coming up shortly to speak at an event, followed quickly by Houston, and then back to Las Vegas. The good part is I get to see a number of facilities.  The bad news is, I get to see a number of facilities. Let me know about your industry.  Does it have a season?

[photo via peasap]

I have been following along with a large amount of buzz about the CEA show in Las Vegas in 2010.  It seems that everyone is clamoring to be the main source of breaking news as to whether Apple will have a presence and whether Steve Jobs will be speaking at the event.  I spoke about MacWorld back in December and its own woes.  First it was reported that Steve Jobs would be involved which then was rebuffed and now a correction has been issued by the Wall Street Journal:

Correction: It is not clear whether Apple will attend the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show. This post previously stated that Apple would attend.

I am not much concerned with the reporter getting the conversation at dinner wrong as much as how crazy it was when people thought Apple was going to be a part of CEA.  For one company to make that much of a splash in the headlines, you would think they would have more of presence at trade shows or conventions than they do at present.  I find it interesting that their statement has always been, that trade shows don’t help them marketing.  I will be at CES in January most likely and I suppose I might even take my Mac laptop. Nope, that is not even going to make the 11 o’clock news.

Tags: Apple, CES 2010, CEA, Las Vegas, Conventions, Trade Shows

I was reading a short report put together by Trade Show Week about the state of the visitors to Las Vegas in the month of May:

According to the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority Executive Summary, convention attendance continued to decline in May in Las Vegas, with 341,846 attendees, compared with 509,482 attendees in the same time period last year, a 32.9-percent decrease. The number of conventions and meetings held in May also fell again to 1,643 from 2,208 last May, a 25.6-percent decrease.

I know that Las Vegas will weather the storm but I was just thinking about all of us having 25% less.  I can say that I would be feeling the decrease pretty hard.  The slide is continuing, but I am also hearing about people that are using some of the conventions and trade shows as networking events to find more jobs, to find more customers. They are going back to the basics and what has worked for them in the past.  They are planning on attending events that are upcoming to see if they can change their luck.  Something I am sure Las Vegas has heard before.

Tags: Trade Show Week, Las Vegas, Nevada, Conventions, Trade Shows, Meeting, Industry Events

Apparently in some cases size does matter.  Sorry, I couldn’t resist that opening line.  Now to deal with all the crazy searches that will produce–but I digress.  I was actually reading a piece put together in the Las Vegas Business Press written by Ben Spillman, called "Small, nimble conventions thrive as behemoths struggle."  The idea is that the bigger conventions being held in Las Vegas are hurting as much as anyone else in the business, and smaller conventions and trade shows are seeing some benefits that the big guys are not.  The article talks about some of the larger shows, like the National Association of Broadcasters and the Consumer Electronics Show which were held this last year in Vegas.

"[NAB]…one of the largest and longest-running in town, saw its attendance fall more than 19 percent from 2008 to 2009, falling from 103,938 to 83,842.

Attendance in 2009 was the lowest in at least 13 years and down more than 27 percent from a peak of 115,293 in 2000.

The Consumer Electronics Show, the largest annual convention in Las Vegas, was down 22 percent in 2009 to about 110,000."

Those are some pretty scary numbers.  I am sure that we can all run and hide and say the sky is falling with thoughts of these shows beginning to decline but the interesting part of the piece I found most interesting is the facts that come out about smaller shows:

"Some small shows, like the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association, are doing just fine. The cemetery show, held during the same time as the broadcasters’ event, enjoyed record attendance of about 1,400.

Small show operators who might have been overlooked during the boom time are now benefiting from the lower costs of space, hotel rooms and airfare that make Las Vegas a great venue.

Exhibitors are also enjoying that lighter attendance means a higher percentage of attendees are dedicated buyers, not sightseers. That means small exhibitors and small shows don’t have to dedicate personnel to accommodate attendees who aren’t serious about making deals."

It goes to show that the bad news is not bad for everyone.

Tags: Las Vegas, Ben Spillman, Conventions, Trade Shows, Consumer Electronics Show, National Association of Broadcasters, NAB, CES

I have been meaning to talk about this since January.  I travel to Las Vegas on a number of occasions throughout the year.  Las Vegas if you have been there can be a dry climate area.  Same with Arizona’s climate and I was there this last weekend. I always have need for lip balm in these areas.  Where do I always get my lip balm?  I get it from events I attend.

This is just a small example of how a promotional product can play into your marketing plan when setting out a strategy to get the most bang for your buck when talking to attendees at your event.  I have been carrying around a lip balm cartridge for a month or more from when I was at a Las Vegas event in January.  It just ran out and I am at another event right now in San Francisco and I can’t seem to fin anther exhibitor that has this as a give away marketing product.  I think I should talk to one of our sponsors to talk to some of these exhibitors.  What do you give away at your trade show booth.  Does it have your logo on it and is it something I carry around in my pocket a month or two?  That is a great branding tool and should be considered when you decide to give away a cool product that others can use.  Now where is that letter opener I need?

Tags: Promotional Products, Exhibitors, Trade Show Booths

I had an opportunity to come to Reno this weekend and as it was my second chance at coming to this city to speak at an event I thought I would do a post today with some info on the city.  I will let you know more about my travel here and where I stayed since I just recently did a review of that location.

Reno is called the Biggest Little City in the World. I found it to be a nice alternative to my own town in Denver.  I felt right at home with the mountains nearby and the weather was nearly identical to what I had left behind.  They describe the city in their site as:

With a population of over 211,000*, Reno is the largest city in Northern Nevada. It is located in the southern part of Washoe County, nestled on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in an area called the Truckee Meadows.

It is a great alternative to the more well known city of Las Vegas.  They have some great amenities and much to do as a part of their city and it should be added to your short list for places to stay and play.

I continue to hear more and more doom and gloom from the trade show and convention people.  Exhibit space is not being bought, companies are pulling back their participation and it doesn’t stop there.  Attendance is continuing to slide.  Trade Show Week provides a few numbers from Las Vegas:

Convention attendance in Las Vegas dove 35 percent in February, compared with the same month a year ago. Figures released by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority indicate about 300,000 fewer people attended tradeshows, conventions and business meetings in February, compared with a year ago. For the month, total visitor volume to Las Vegas was down 8 percent and the average room rate was down 23 percent, to $99.25.

Ouch.  The numbers continue to drop, but the good news is, at some point it has to go back up.  We continue to hear about the bad news on the traditional and mainstream media, but I am also hearing that numbers are not quite as bad as people think.  Companies are continuing to drop their budgets, but the economy is staying mostly flat.  I think once we begin to find out that it is not quite as bad as it seemed, we will see people gearing up again for the next season.  Unfortunately for some it may be already too late.  We here are keeping fingers crossed and we are continuing to keep our eye on the prize.

I first approached this interview with a preconceived notion of a restaurant review.  I think Peppermill and I think food.  Maybe its just me, but after a  conversation with Pat Flynn (pictured left) the Executive Director of Hotel Operations and Sales, I left with a completely different notion of what the Peppermill was and what it represents.  I don’t have to say I think they are doing it right when it comes to their web site and online experience, as I think you can judge for yourself.  The picture on the landing page not only transforms you into a look and feel of old Italy, you get a good indication of the luxury that they are trying to provide.

After a $500 Million expansion and renewal, the resort has been transformed into an all-inclusive first class destination in Northern Nevada.  We always think Vegas when we think Nevada but I think that the Peppermill in Reno is out to change that idea.  Like other destinations we have discussed here, many properties are now wanting to allow convention and trade show attendees have no need to go anywhere else to get all the things they need.  The Peppermill has plenty of the things you need in nightclubs, theme bars, restaurants, spa, pools, garden areas, and even a state of the art arcade for the kids.  All of that is put together in what Flynn called "affordable luxury".

The property now has newly renovated meeting space which includes the all new 62,000 square feet free span Tuscan Ballroom, for a total convention space of 106, 000 square feet. There are 1635 rooms that includes 775 suites and 28,000 square feet of pre-function space and the best of registration areas.  This equates to one of the best properties not only in Northern Nevada but across the country for event planners, meeting planners and for even the bigger shows.  I think they can accommodate any size event and they have a very flexible property and staff.

One of the things that I think sold me on the idea of their space was not all the above amenities, but the lay of the land so to speak.  One of the things that turns me off about casino properties in some instances is that they make the gambling and casino part of their property the main focus.  The way that the Peppermill is set up in Reno you can have your event or trade show and not have to deal with winding your way through blackjack tables and slot machines and the fervor we have come to expect from a casino.  Their floor plan allows for you to have your event and have it be the main focus. This is a big selling point for people planning for their event to be the focus.  Great job!

I may not be getting over to a Tuscan village any time in the near future but obviously I can get to something close in Reno.  I can be swept away to Italy in Northern Nevada.  I hope the next time I am there I can also drink in the atmosphere of a great location perhaps while sitting at the pool.

Don’t get me wrong when it is time to play the tables or watch sports and enjoy a one arm bandit, Reno comes with all the same experience of full on gaming and casino experience.

I want to thank Pat Flynn and all the rest of the people at the Peppermill for leading the charge to a great property for our industry.  Keep up the good work and give them a chance to impress you just as much as they did me.

Tags: Peppermill, Reno, Nevada, Casino, Convention, Trade Show, Meeting Planners, Event Planners, Spa, Resorts

I just read on ENN the following statement which somewhat caught me off guard:

More than 13,000 trade shows and conventions are held in America each year. They range from the huge, glitzy Las Vegas events that draw tens of thousands and cost the exhibiting companies millions of dollars, to smaller regional affairs that cost thousands.

I guess what I am curious about is what constitutes a trade show or convention.  Does three people getting together for coffee a trade show make?  That is more than 35 trade shows or conventions a day in America.  All of the meeting facilities and planners out there should have more than enough customers to go around.  The opposite seems to be the case.  I just recently discussed the idea of Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority canceling 340 meetings and conventions. Perhaps we are in for a little correction as it relates to the number of meetings, conventions and trade shows.  I’m still trying to wrap my head around how that number fits into the overall picture.  Either way you look at it, that number is about to get smaller and we probably have seen the saturation point.  I hope it is over soon and we get back to the regular scheduled convention and trade sow programming.

Tags: Conventions, Trade Shows, Las Vegas, Meetings

I have been wondering recently about public perception about trade shows and conventions being a perk or a "bonus."  We see the public calling for the heads of companies that are giving huge bonuses to their employees, and watching as they go to lavish resorts, etc.

I like the take that Will Ng has at MISoapbox about the recent breaking news of meeting and events being a perk.  He discusses the fact that even a gossip site like TMZ has jumped in with their pitchforks and torches.  This is obviously what is on the mind of everyone these days.  What do yo think?  Is a convention in Miami or Las Vegas or some great destination a perk?  Would it make a difference if the destination was not like a resort?  Chicago in winter, or some other non-getaway destination?  Perceptions are that its a party and even gossip sites are in on the fun.

Tags: Trade Shows, Conventions, Economy