Trade shows are expensive but they can also be one of the best sales and marketing investments your company makes. Trade show exhibits provide unparalleled opportunities to forge stronger customer relationships, win-back old customers and acquire new, high-value customers. But you should expect this effort to deliver more.

Thanks to TSEA and Jessica Davis  for this information.

Registration for 2009 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show® and International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event Now Open

Special early online-only pricing offered through December 1, 2008

The National Restaurant Association today announced that attendee registration is now open for its 2009 Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Trade Show and International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event (IWSB). A special online-only discount is available for restaurant and hospitality industry professionals who register before December 1, 2008. NRA Show 2009 will be held May 16-19 at McCormick Place in Chicago, and is the largest industry trade event in the world. IWSB 2009 will be held in conjunction with the NRA Show on Sunday, May 17, and Monday, May 18, and is the only beverage alcohol event exclusively focused on the restaurant and hospitality industry. Attendees may register online at www.restaurant.org/show or www.winespiritsbeer.org.

“If restaurant and hospitality industry professionals could only attend one trade show next year, the NRA Show would be their absolute best choice,” said Lorna Donatone, Convention Chair for NRA Show 2009 and President of School Services, Sodexo, Inc. “The event gathers the best and the brightest of the industry in one place, among 2,200 exhibitors showcasing thousands of products and services. No other industry trade show offers more opportunities or more excitement, and we are pleased to provide special registration prices to committed individuals who want to get a head-start on the next business year.”

General attendees registering for IWSB will automatically be registered for the NRA Show. However, those registering for the NRA Show will not automatically be registered for IWSB; separate qualifications, registration and badges are required for IWSB.

Before December 1, 2008, registration for the NRA Show is $30, and IWSB registration is $85. Between December 2 and April 10, 2009, NRA Show registration is $40 and IWSB registration is $95. After April 10, 2009, registration fees increase to $80 for the NRA Show and $135 for IWSB.
National Restaurant Association members receive free registration for the NRA Show and the value-added discount rate of $55 for IWSB when registering any time.

The NRA Show attracts more than 71,500 industry professionals from 100+ countries and is the premier venue to find new products and services, build relationships and network, learn from experts and peers, as well as explore the latest trends in food and beverage, equipment, training and cooking techniques.

Now in its second year, IWSB is the industry’s first and only professional forum focused exclusively on restaurant and hospitality bar programs. Held in a separate exhibit area of McCormick Place, the event gathers brewers, vintners and distillers, leading beverage experts, beverage alcohol buyers and more in one exclusive area.

Registration for NRA Show 2009 and IWSB 2009 exhibitors and for news media will begin later this fall.

Celebrating its 90th year, the annual National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show is the largest single gathering of restaurant, food service and lodging professionals in the world. The 2009 Show will be held May 16-19, at McCormick Place in Chicago. The event attracts more than 2,200 exhibiting companies and 71,500 attendees and visitors from all 50 states and 100+ countries. For more information, visit the Show Web site at National Restaurant Show

Written by: Sue Hensley

You’ve heard the phrase, “Use the right tool for the right job.” You may be able to get the job done, but there are usually ramifications for using the wrong tool. Freight has different characteristics than a letter or something that can fit in a “flat-rate” kind of box, so you have to use the right company to handle freight. The Service Team at Tradetec Skyline not only has access to hundreds of transport companies in their network; they have the know-how to match your freight and service level with the right one.

Not planning ahead with the shipment of your exhibit can cost you. The only way to eliminate mistakes before they happen is to plan ahead. Make sure you have an accurate weight for your item including any packaging material and pallet. If there is a discrepancy between the listed weight and the actual package, the transport company may reweigh your item and charge you the difference. If you have scheduled a pickup, make sure your shipment and its accompanying paperwork is ready to go. Do not overnight something unless it must be somewhere tomorrow; the price to expedite something is exponentially higher than regular rate.

If this is you or someone you know, the good news is that it’s never too late to change! Recognizing the facets of exhibiting that need to managed by you or your staff and rely on the experienced, professional team at Tradetec to manage the shipping and small details of getting your booth to the show and ready for you to exhibit.