Not every show has the time or resources to invest in a full-time public relations expert or create an intricate press strategy. But even if you don’t have someone devoted to the press full time, you shouldn’t relegate the media to second- or third-priority status when it comes to prepping for your next show.

At press time, the industry is abuzz with news that Chicago’s Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority was proposing legislation to the Illinois State Assembly that would essentially turn union workers at McCormick Place into public employees and prohibit labor strikes.

When’s the last time you took a hard look at the rental furniture you’re using for parties and gala events? The right choice can make — or break — an off-site event. The Buzz checked in with rental furniture specialists to get the skinny on the latest trends. One tip: get modern.

What it is: Trendwatching.com profiles the latest, greatest trends and business ideas, relying on a network of hundreds of “spotters” in more than 120 countries. Readers can get a free roundup of those trends sent to them in a monthly “briefing” e-mail. One recent briefing included tidbits on anti-energy drinks, “urge alert” advertising and branded pop-up shops.

Whether they’re used as a marketing vehicle leading up to the show, a way to extend your brand year-round or simply a place for your community to connect with one another, most organizers understand the value that social networks can bring to their events. But creating a network that serves as an industry destination and truly engages your audience is much easier said than done. Defining what you want your social network to accomplish is just the first step in launching your initiative, which we’ll examine here in the first of a three-part series.

Sure, you refresh your show or reposition a couple of elements every year. But how often do attendees or exhibitors notice and, more importantly, is it driving attendance or exhibit sales?

If you’re considering hiring a professional photographer, it pays to do some homework beforehand. EXPO checked in with Robert Shiverts, Director of Photography at Oscar Einzig (www.oscareinzig.com), a photographic and imaging provider for trade shows and events, for some tips and expert advice. Here’s what you need to know before making your first phone call.

Passkey has three new features that give organizers real-time information on block pick-up, delegate lists, reservation pace, revenue and other data, as well as tools to submit and modify hotel room lists, run
reports and analyze trends.

DALLAS

FIVE SIXTY
Located atop Dallas’ Reunion Tower, this revolving fine-dining restaurant sports floor-to-ceiling windows lining the entire space to reveal 360-degree views of the city’s skyline. Featuring modern Asian fusion cuisine by Wolfgang Puck, the restaurant’s modern interior creates a warm, sophisticated ambiance with a palette of warm gray, ivory and silver as well as natural materials such as wood, glass, ceramic tile and stone.

Ever considered staging a world record-breaking attempt at your show? That's exactly what the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. did last year at Washington, DC's Walter E. Washington Convention Center, when it hosted the world's largest sit-down dinner of 16,206 members as part of its Centennial Convention. The attempt succeeded in officially breaking the previous record set in 2001 when 11,483 people dined at a dinner party sponsored by Vodaphone Group PLC at Earls Court in London.