It’s no secret. The exhibit industry, including the many trade show booth design companies, has been devasted. But that doesn’t mean we are down-and-out for good. Certain businesses in our industry, including Exhibitus, have used every means possible to keep their core team together, knowing that face-to-face marketing is a vital component of successful company’s go-to-market strategy, and it will come back.
March a year ago, Exhibitus quickly learned how to help clients shift from events on a trade show floor to virtual engagements, as well as secured PPP and EIDL loans, unemployment for furloughed employees and found opportunities to deploy our skilled craftsmen to the benefit of other markets outside live events.
It has been a difficult 12 months. But now we can look to the future with signs of awakening in the industry, as vaccinations and safety protocols are providing confidence of the return to live events.
Shared below are articles that foster our hope for better days ahead:
From NBC News: With vaccination rates rising by the day and summer on the way, a lot of people are anxious to plan their next getaways. NBC national correspondent Miguel Almaguer has more on what the travel industry hopes is a much needed resurgence. https://youtu.be/G1LHoxdUzmo
From TSSN: With myriad U.S. convention centers launching health and safety programs as COVID vaccination rollouts pick up steam across the country, venues are starting to welcome scaled-back trade shows and events. The Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta is such a host venue. Buoyed by its extensive Galleria Safety First Reopening Guidelines, it recently hosted a trio of successful in-person trade shows that enabled buyers and exhibitors to get back to business. https://www.tsnn.com/news/industry-news
From Exhibitor Magazine: Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak recently announced he is further loosening restrictions on large gatherings, including meetings and conventions, entertainment venues and large group gatherings by increasing capacity to 50 percent today, March 15. The state also will streamline the process for submission and approval of large gatherings. The new directive is another step toward re-igniting the meetings and events industry. The announcement comes on the heels of the governor expanding vaccine eligibility to hospitality and food service workers yesterday.
“Las Vegas has been the top convention and meetings destination for many years. We pride ourselves on providing the best facilities, the best service and now, the safest,” said Governor Sisolak. https://www.exhibitoronline.com/news/article.asp?ID=21392
Don’t be caught without a plan for exhibiting as your industry’s live events return. However, given that resources are more limited than prior to the pandemic, planning and execution of exhibits will take additional time. Contact Exhibitus to ensure your brand is big and bold when your customers return to the trade show floor.