December 3rd, 2008
The 2009 SHOT Show in Orlando, Florida, was going to be split between two halls at the Orange County Convention Center. Overflow has been common for the past several years as the number of exhibitors has outpaced the available floor space. Pressurized tents, outbuilding, and temporary structures have all served to house the extras, and both vendors and attendees have suffered for it.
The announcement was just made, however, that there has been a change in plans:
Because of persistent negotiating, creative planning and the cooperation of the Orange County Convention Center, all of the exhibitors scheduled to display in two separate buildings, North-South and West, instead will be in one central location.
By utilizing lobbies and meeting rooms, all exhibitors will now be in the West Hall.
“It’s a win-win situation for everyone,” said Jeanette Mannuzza, the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s manager of exhibitions & conferences. “For the attendee, it means the convenience of being under one roof and not having to cross a pedestrian bridge or wait for shuttle busses to go from one hall to another.
For the exhibitor, it translates into a lot of exposure,” she added.
At first glance, this is great news. No more trudging long distances between the main halls and the outliers. No more missing a whole group because you overlooked some little building off in the corner of the parking lot. Without fail, I’ve found that when I need to follow up with someone, they’re in the other section. The show is big enough as it is. Miles and miles and miles of walking each day. The lack of half hour “transits” out to the overflow will be a welcome change.
The only thing I worry about is the fact that the exhibitors scheduled for the huge North/South building are being put in “lobbies and meeting rooms.” I’m not sure how much of the other building was going be used for the SHOT Show, but now I worry that vendors are going to be scattered throughout the maze of upper-floor corridors in the West building.
We’ll see.
Tags: FL
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:08 pm
I think it can work out well, even if it is through a maze of corridors. In that regard, it’s similar to a gun show. Somehow, people figure it out. When it is in two buildings, not so much.
If vendors are concerned that the corridor factor will hurt them, they either need to do something big and splashy for themselves, or find out who they will sharing the space with and put together some kind of mini debut or event to get people to come by. There’s lots of opportunities.
December 3rd, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Are you going this year?
December 3rd, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Yes, I’ll be there. Are you? I don’t remember if you went last year or not.
I don’t know if any/many bloggers will make it. I think maybe Ahab will. If some do, maybe some sort of meetup might be in order.
December 4th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
I wish I was