Producers are getting calls from interested parties ahead of the third Virtual Hospitality Expo on February 23rd and 24th 2016.
It started several weeks ago when nearly a dozen members of the trade press involved in the hospitality industry started to publish press releases about the event. Several publishers have already committed to have booths in the press room at the virtual show in exchange for publicising the event to their trade readership.
Several industry publications in the US have also signed on. Among them are Campground and RV Park e-News and RV Daily Report, which deals not only with RV Dealers but also RV campgrounds. There are other publications in several of the hospitality industries covered by the Expo that have expressed interest but have not yet signed on. Hotel, Marina, and Ski Lodge publications have already printed earlier press releases which are generating interest in industry facilities. Free registrations for the February 2016 event have started to flow in.
The producers have found that, for potential exhibitors, the most attractive aspect of The Virtual Hospitality Expo is that it is free for attendees. The 2011 event had 3,364 attendees, almost ten times the normal attendee’s registration for the largest outdoor hospitality business shows.
The Expo’s online platform, “VConference Online” has begun to provide the booth and room designs that will give the Expo its trade show appearance. The virtual lobby has a place for attendees to register, view or download the Souvenir Program, promotional banners for sponsors, a screen for the welcome video and even a coat check room for the virtual winter apparel that attendees will not have to wear on their computers. The conference room will have a listing of the six webinars that will be conducted during the two live days of the Expo but also will be viewable during the 90 days that the Expo stays online in the “On Demand” mode.
Sponsor and exhibitor booths will have a banner or title sign of the exhibitor, a screen (if desired) for a video and several tabs for viewing or downloading of documents by attendees. When an attendee enters a booth, a chat screen will appear and the exhibitor and attendee can hold a conversation about products or services available. As with past shows, neither the exhibitor nor attendee need to leave the comfort of their home or office to attend the Expo.
The Expo has attracted two gold sponsors and three silver sponsors who receive the additional benefits of ads in the souvenir program, signage in the lobby, conference room and the chat lounge and premiere booth placement in the exhibit hall. One of the gold sponsors, a credit card provider will also be presenting a webinar explaining the changes in processing taking place in the US with the introduction of chip cards which are being distributed by banks.
Registration for the event has begun and is available on the Expo’s website. Also on the website are the forms for purchasing a booth or participating as a sponsor of the event.
Several years ago at the Expo, one of the producers laughingly stated, “It’s a show you can see in your jammies.” It still is, but now hotel and motel owners will also be able to do so.
eHotelier is proud to partner with the Virtual Hospitality Expo. For more information, please visit the Virtual Hospitality Expo event listing.
