Why should you exhibit at a trade show?

Exhibiting at a trade show is a great way to reach new customers, promote your brand and products, and make connections with potential partners. But, if you’re on the fence about exhibiting, here are some other benefits you may not have considered.

Trade shows may appear time consuming, since they require planning and travel, but they can actually save you quite a bit of time. Compared to recruiting new customers and setting up individual time with them, trade shows enable you to meet with many people at once. Additionally, face-to-face interactions give you the chance to provide further information than a sales call will. At a trade show, you’ll not only reach many customers, but you’ll also be introduced to new segments of your industry.

Staying up-to-date on your industry is essential to successful marketing. Trade shows expose you to your competitors and other members of your industry. You’ll learn where your industry is going and what trends you should be capitalizing on.  This also means that you’ll have access to all of the influential players in your industry, who might be interested in adapting your product or service.

Attending a trade show is an investment in your company’s future.  If you approach exhibiting with a measurable goal in mind, it’s a great opportunity to be involved in your industry. Your sales team will be able to reach new customers and have more meaningful interactions with those customers. Trade show exhibiting is a chance to make your company, brand, and products shine.

You can also combine exhibiting at a trade show with sponsoring the event. This combination will increase your company’s profile at the event and make your brand stand out above the competition. Whatever your exhibiting and sponsoring goals, Ticket Summit® has a number of packages that are suited to fit your needs. Prices are going up January 1, though, so you’ll want to act soon. To learn more, visit www.ticketsummit.org or call 860-416-5767.

Webinar Recap: Become a Better Broker

The Fall 2013 Ticket Summit® Plus webinar series concluded yesterday with Become a Better Broker. In this webinar, two premier brokers—Lon Belvin of TIX CITY and Andy Wallenstein of Best In The House Tickets—discussed best practices for running a ticket brokerage in the secondary market.

The two brokers covered a variety of topics, including daily logistics, last-minute orders, pricing, customer relations, and marketing. Each broker discussed how these issues impact his business, depending on its size. Belvin runs a large brokerage, with about 15 employees, while Wallenstein’s is smaller with only one employee besides himself.

Belvin’s buying and pricing philosophy is simple—he wants to be the first in to an event and the first out. “The only way we have inventory late is if we really believe in the event,” he said. Customer service is also very important to his business. As he says, “the way you say ‘there’s nothing we can do’ makes all the difference. Say it nicely and they’ll come back.”

Wallenstein agrees about the importance of customer service. “It’s really not that hard to do customer service well,” he adds. His pricing philosophy is a little different though, he looks at the price on the TicketNetwork® Exchange and prices based on that. He also defines his competition slightly differently: “Someone buying three tickets isn’t actually competing with pairs or four-packs…they’re different customers.”  He also advises brokers to diversify their inventory, unless they have a great knowledge of a specific area.

Ticket Summit® Plus will continue in February 2014. More details about the spring webinars and registration will be available on the Ticket Summit® website soon.

Automation: The Industrial Revolution of the Secondary Ticket Market

By Scott Barrows, CEO, Symbioticks

The secondary ticket market has entered its most competitive period in history. An increased number of brokers are listing more inventory than ever on the ticketing networks and primary sellers are aiming to capture secondary market profits via variable pricing.  It is clearly essential for brokers to embrace the tools that are available in order to maximize efficiency, reduce overhead, and increase their chances of success.

Automation is the key component to increasing the efficiency and cost effectiveness of a broker’s operation and thankfully third party vendors have brought automation tools to the secondary market.   These tools were previously enjoyed by large brokerages that invested large sums into in-house development teams and enjoyed a competitive advantage over “the little guys”.   Auto holds, auto processing, auto ticket download, auto pricing, and auto PO creation  have arrived and new iterations and improvements are being released to the broker public on a constant basis by a growing number of independent development companies.

When deciding which technologies are worth investing in, it is important for a broker to have a firm grasp on their current operating expenses. Questions worth knowing the answers to include “How much of your monthly overhead costs go to processing orders?”, “How much would additional profit would you gain if your net returns went up 1%?”, “How many man hours are consumed by pricing?  PO entering?”, and “What is preventing our company from growing?  Or being more efficient?”  Knowing your operations from both a human and analytical basis is crucial when considering investments in an automation tool.  $10,000 might seem too costly, until you frame it in the context of your current cost structure, it may very well be that a $10,000 investment creates $30,000 per year in overhead cost savings. 

 
Three individuals that are at the forefront of this revolution are Sam Sherman of Broker Genius, Billy Becher of 24/7 Broker, and Dominic Laico of Autoprocessor.com.  All three are continuously developing new automated software solutions for the broker community.  When asked, all three expressed similar views regarding the present and future of automation in our industry.

Sam Sherman of Broker Genius believes one key to the continued success of automation development are competitors working together to create more efficiency and to ultimately build better products for sellers.  Dominic Laico of Autoprocessor.com believes that adoptions of formal APIs by the POS providers and exchanges will help create more stable products for everyone.  Billy Becher of 24/7 Broker also feels that opening up APIs will be critical for the industry to evolve.  He also feels strongly that the exchanges need to continue to work together with developers to achieve true real-time systems.

When asked about their vision of what is to come, both Laico and Becher stated end-to-end automated solutions that encompass all aspects of an order's life cycle are what they see next. Whatever the future does end up providing, there is no question that there is an abundance of valuable tools available today for brokers to utilize and maximize their efficiency.

To learn more and stay up to date on all available technologies and tools in the secondary market, you can go to http://www.symbioticks.com for a free membership. There are currently 50 industry specific tools ranging from automation, marketing, exchanges, POS, credit card fraud protection, and more to learn about. In addition with your free Symbioticks membership you will also be notified of any new technology release, along with exclusive free trials and pricing.

How Mobile Has Changed Ticket Sales

By Mark Hunter, Senior VP of Sales and Business Development, Mobile Ticket App

Mobile devices and smartphones are everywhere.  People are reading emails, sharing their lives on social networks, staying connected, and buying products and services including tickets.

Facts:
ComScore data revealed that smartphone penetration ticked up in the three months prior to August 2013 to about 61%.  It is noted that people who carry smartphones also have higher disposable income and use their smartphones more frequently.

According to Google, tickets are the #2 product category purchased on smartphones, just below clothing and accessories.  Additionally, 66% of ticket purchasers used more than one device to research and buy their tickets. 

Sales Process:
When ticket apps where first released 3.5 years ago, many ticket brokers looked at apps and mobile sites as separate sales channels.  Traditional ideas about traffic and conversion rates were applied to apps and mobile sites to judge their success.

Today, the facts show, that the mobile device is an integral part of the ticket buying process, and that traditional conversion rates are hard to apply to measuring the success of the mobile app and mobile site.  Logic and observation need to apply here and the correct way to measure mobile success is through mobile activity and use. 

The mobile industry has two successful platforms that are measured by use- the Apple iPhone and the Google Android. 

A mobile site can be used by all smartphones including the iPhone and Android, which should be considered the bare minimum if you want to have a mobile presence.  Like your traditional website, a user must come to you to shop for tickets on your mobile site. 

Having an iPhone and Android app is a necessary product set for any ticket broker who proactively sells tickets to retail buyers.  The ticket app is a piece of software that sits on the mobile device and uses all features of the mobile device to make finding and buying tickets easier.  A correctly built app will be built using the same operating system code as the mobile device,  meaning an iPhone App should be built using iPhone software code and an Android app should be built using Android software code.  Some developers have cut costs and outsourced development to India using a standardized software code called HTML5, which Facebook and LinkedIn have dropped for numerous reasons.

When you decide to embrace ticket apps, it is prudent to have an individual iPhone app and a separate Android app. They are two different systems and each should have an app tailored to that specific platform.

Summary:
Information and facts have shown us that having a mobile presence isn’t just important for customers that wish to start and complete the entire purchase process on their smartphones, but is necessary for any ticket broker who sells tickets to retail buyers.  Having a mobile site is an entry point, and having an iPhone app and an Android app is the norm for any organization trying to sell their products and services to the community of retail buyers who use smartphones to research and purchase tickets, which is 61% of the United States population. 

For more information on out mobile ticket apps and mobile ticket websites, email Mobile Ticket App at info@mobileticketapp.com.

www.MobileTicketApp.com
888.206.6374, extension 1

Why should I sponsor a trade show?

Sponsoring a conference or trade show is a great way to get your company name out there. It can really supplement your traditional marketing plan and promote your association with a specific event. Sponsoring an event is an opportunity to gain visibility in a new and exciting way.

Event sponsorship allows you to target your marketing in a way that traditional advertising does not. Many events offer a list of the companies that plan to attend their conference or trade show, allowing you to know in advance exactly who will be there. If your customers are there, then your name should be everywhere at the event!

Sponsorship can also create positive publicity and increased visibility for your brand. The local and national media often cover large events, allowing for more exposure of your company name. Check to see if your sponsorship includes mentions in a show’s press releases or advertising materials. This will give your brand name access to an audience you might not be able to reach otherwise.

Conference or trade show sponsorship also sets your brand apart from the competition. Sponsoring an event that will be attended by your customers and your competition will put you heads above the rest. Your brand and logo will be found throughout the conference, be it on signage or a sponsored item, while your competition’s might not. The attendees will remember your brand when they get home.

Sponsoring events is a great opportunity to showcase your brand to your customers. For more information about sponsoring Ticket Summit® 2014 at ARIA, please call +1.860.416.5767 or email info@ticketsummit.org.

Webinar Recap—Publicity: Boost Your Profile!

This Wednesday, publicist and media strategist Carrol Van Stone shared some tips and tricks for using media coverage to boost your company’s profile in her Ticket Summit® Plus webinar! Van Stone works to position small business brands for media coverage to have a dramatic influence on awareness and growth. Her work with a ticketing industry company has led to profiles in Forbes and regular appearances on Fox News Live, Yahoo Post Game, and ESPN Radio.

In the webinar, Van Stone said it is important to know how you WON’T get publicity. She has a few hard and fast rules: never call the media to say how great you are, never read the company brochure to a reporter, and never ask why they have quoted your competitor and not you. Remember that reporters and editors work for their company, not yours. Your mention or quote will be the result of your assistance to them, not theirs to you.

You can keep a PR representative on retainer, Van Stone suggested, or you can have a pay per placement arrangement. However, you should never expect any media coverage guarantees. Van Stone offered the old adage: “Advertising is what you pay for, media coverage is what you pray for.” Instead, Van Stone recommends gauging the media efforts of the PR rep you are working with.

Van Stone also discussed unusual or underused methods of boosting your company profile, such as paid editorial or op-ed pieces. Paid editorial will guarantee your coverage, but might be obvious to viewers/readers that you have paid for the opportunity. Op-Ed pieces and letters to the editor can provide extra coverage, but must cover timely and relevant topics.

Be sure to follow Van Stone on Twitter at @VanStonePublic for more tips! The Fall 2013 Ticket Summit® Plus webinar series continues on Wed., October 23 at 1 PM ET with How to Prevent Online Fraud. Register now for FREE!

Exploring ARIA!

The summer 2014 Ticket Summit® conference will be held July 16-18, 2014 at the fabulous ARIA Las Vegas! ARIA is home to much more than Ticket Summit®’s industry seminars, Keynotes, and trade show, though. Here’s a few of the other attractions ARIA has to offer:

·         Dining: ARIA has numerous great restaurants! Julian Serrano redefines small plate dining, while Javier’s brings Mexican cuisine to the Las Vegas Strip. For those coffee addicts, there’s both a Starbucks and Roasted Bean in the hotel.

·         Nightlife: HAZE offers the magnetic energy of Vegas nightlife and GOLD Lounge delivers charming elegance.

·         Pools & Spa: Three elegant pools and the Liquid Dayclub allow you to enjoy the Nevada sunshine. The Spa & Salon at ARIA take you away from the momentum of the Strip.

·         Shopping: As part of the CityCenter complex, ARIA is attached to The Shops at Crystals, which feature the largest collection of luxury brands in Vegas.  

·         Casino: ARIA’s stylish casino features numerous table games, slots, poker, and more! Be sure to use your M life card to receive rewards at any MGM Resort.

Explore and enjoy the luxury of ARIA Las Vegas at next summer’s Ticket Summit® conference! We’ll see you there!

Social Media Marketing Demystified Wrap-up!

The Fall 2013 Ticket Summit® Plus webinar series kicked off yesterday with Social Media Marketing Demystified, an hour-long webinar led by email and social marketing expert Ron Cates of Constant Contact. In this webinar, he provided practical tips and best practices for promoting your business across a variety of platforms.

Throughout the webinar, Cates emphasized the importance of integrating your social media efforts with your email marketing campaigns. Use a separate email to announce your presence on a social network, and be sure to include links to all of your networks in your emails, he suggested. He also emphasized the importance of making your newsletter content shareable, which will automatically increase your readership.

Cates also stressed the importance of providing content that people want to read, rather than sales pitches or grabs for shares and likes. He says to aim to “inspire trust” by providing your followers with content that is relevant to them and their business. “Everyone has content,” he says, and recommends asking yourself questions customers might ask about your product, business, or industry to generate potential content. This kind of content does not take long to write, but will drastically increase your marketing ROI.

The webinar concluded with Cates’ recommendations for tools to improve your social measurement. Personally, Cates uses Google Alerts and TweetDeck to monitor sentiment about his brands. He also recommends NutshellMail, which sends recaps of activity and allows you to respond to posts right from your inbox. Constant Contact provides numerous resources to help you build your following.

Follow Ron Cates on Twitter at @roncates or connect with him on his blog.

Get your Swag on at Trade Shows and Conferences

Exhibiting at trade shows is an important way to network and build professional relationships within any industry. It is an effective way to establish and extend your company's brand and services. Consider the hustle and bustle of the conference environment and the competition to stand out from the crowd, as you take the time to prepare a booth that will tell your company's story and highlight your capabilities.

Swag items are the little give-away items you'll take away from a trade show display.  Your choice of swag can go a long way to help you attract foot traffic during a trade show, and also create lasting impressions over time. Careful thought should be given to selecting the swag items to represent your business.

Flashy swag items at your booth are great to attract people, but if these items aren't useful over time, they will fail to support your efforts to create lasting connections with the conference attendees. People may be more impressed with the swag than with your business. Think of sensible items with enough pizazz to bring people to your booth so you have the opportunity to engage them and sell your services.

The ideal swag item should be something your contacts and potential customers will use over time, but also something relevant to your industry. For example, if you are a technology company, a useful high-tech device would be logical; if you are an agricultural company, perhaps a gardening tool, or even a pen that is designed with images or shapes of agricultural symbols.

Remember to brand your swag with your company logo and a means of contact. Printing your company website or a QR code on your swag will support communication and interaction over time. Even if your contact loses your business card, that really cool pen or flash drive with your web address will be a handy reminder of who to contact long after the show.

Stay Connected Year-Round with Ticket Summit® Plus!

Ticket Summit® may be over, but you can stay connected year-round with Ticket Summit® Plus. Ticket Summit® Plus is a series of educational webinars hosted by industry experts. These  experts will provide you with an inside look into the ticketing and live entertainment industry. They will also discuss development strategies to help you grow your business. The Fall 2013 webinar series features these webinars:

·         Social Media Marketing Demystified: Tuesday, August 20 at 1 PM ET—Ron Cates of Constant will pull back the veil on social media marketing, and provide practical tips and tricks for promoting your business across a variety of platforms.

·         Publicity: Boost Your Profile!: Wednesday, September 18 at 1 PM ET—Join publicist and media strategist Carrol Van Stone for this informative session on using publicity and media coverage to boost your company’s profile.

·         Inside Sports: In October 2013, Tickets.com’s Doug Lyons will provide an insider’s look at sports team and venue management and how markets have evolved.

·         How to Prevent Online Fraud: In November 2013, Cresta Pillsbury of Trust Guard will discuss tactics for decreasing fraud and ensuring customer confidence.

Register now for Ticket Summit® Plus for just $99 per webinar, and stay up-to-date on the ticketing and live entertainment industry all year long!

Get Ready for Ticket Summit®!

Ticket Summit® is just a week away, July 17-19, 2013 at Bellagio! Before you get to Las Vegas, be sure to take some time to review everything the conference has to offer. The Ticket Summit® schedule is jam-packed with networking opportunities, the concurrent trade show, industry seminars, and the Keynote session.  

There are plenty of networking opportunities during the conference, including the Networking Cocktail Party on Wednesday, July 17. The party is a great chance to meet and network with everyone at the conference. Thursday night is Game Night! Stop by the conference space from 9:00 PM to 12:00 AM to enjoy games, an open bar, and more with your fellow attendees! Finally, as always, the conference wraps up on Friday, July 19 with the Closing Gala at The Bank.

Don’t forget to earn your Ticket Summit® Tokens while at the conference! Earn tokens by attending a Speaker Q&A Roundtable, visiting each of the exhibitors, giving a testimonial, or playing games at the Ticket Summit® Swag Shop. Redeem your tokens at the Swag Shop for some great prizes! You could even win a free pass to Ticket Summit® 2014!

Be sure to download the Ticket Summit® Mobile App before you arrive at the conference. The app is full of information about the schedule, speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, and much more! Access all of the details about Ticket Summit® on-the-go. See you in Vegas! Don’t forget your business cards!

Get Connected at Ticket Summit®!

Ticket Summit® is in a little less than three weeks, and the conference offers countless ways to connect with the ticketing industry. Forge business relationships that will help you to achieve your business goals throughout the year.  You’ll also get a chance to meet industry leaders and influencers, and reach out to them year-round.

Of course, the best way to make connections at Ticket Summit® is to attend one of the many networking events. The Networking Cocktail Party will be held on Wednesday, July 17 from 5-7 PM, and is a great chance to meet everyone at the conference. Game Night, scheduled for Thursday, July 18 from 9 PM to 12 AM, is a more informal networking event, packed with arcade games and an open bar. As always, the conference wraps up with the Closing Gala at the Bank on Friday, July 19 from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Breakfast and lunch are also great times to meet someone new.

Visiting the Ticket Summit® trade show is also a fool-proof way to network and make connections. Numerous exhibitors, representing various aspects of the industry, will be offering information about their products and services at the trade show. Take some time to visit them; you never know who you might meet!

Network with Ticket Summit® speakers at Speaker Q&A Roundtables, which give you the chance to ask speakers questions about their sessions. During these roundtable sessions, discuss issues facing the industry with speakers and other attendees.

Stay connected to exhibitors and conference speakers year-round through the Ticket Summit® Mobile App. The app includes information about speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, the schedule, and much more. It also includes contact information for exhibitors and speakers’ Twitter handles, so that you can connect with them after the conference is over.

So, be sure to get connected with the industry at Ticket Summit®, July 17-19, 2013 at Bellagio in Las Vegas! Don’t forget to bring your business cards!

Explore Bellagio!

The world-class Bellagio is home to Ticket Summit® 2013 and much more! Be sure to take some time to explore the hotel and all it has to offer while you’re there attending Ticket Summit®. Here are some attractions you definitely do not want to miss:

·         Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art: Through October 2013, the BGFA is hosting Warhol Out West, the most extensive collection of the legendary Andy Warhol’s works ever exhibited in Las Vegas. The BGFA is open daily, but tickets are necessary for admission.

·         Conservatory & Botanical Gardens: Enjoy nature in the heart of the Strip at Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, which is always open to the public. This summer’s theme is Summer Garden Party.

·         O by Cirque Du Soleil: Cirque weaves an aquatic tapestry of artistry and surrealism in O. Each night, the cast performs in, on, and above water to create a breathtaking experience.

·         Nightlife: Bellagio offers a Vegas entertainment experience for everyone, from the Pool Bar and Lily Bar and Lounge to The Bank, home of the Ticket Summit® Closing Gala!

·         Casino: Bellagio’s unparalleled casino features countless table games, a variety of slots, race and sports book wagering, and the World Poker Tour. Earn benefits by joining the M Life program.

Bellagio is home to some of the most sophisticated and luxurious amenities on the Strip—you can even order your own linens and toiletries to enjoy the luxury of Bellagio when you return home. Don’t miss out on the experience—be sure to book your room today!  

Conference Networking…Where to Start?

Conferences are a fantastic opportunity for networking within your industry and making connections that will help you reach your business goals. But, networking at conferences can be daunting, especially if you don’t know where to start.

Just like exhibiting at a trade show, it is important to have a goal in mind when networking at a conference. Ask yourself: what do I hope to achieve in attending this conference? What sort of connections am I trying to make? Having a goal in mind will focus your networking and enable you to make the connections that will help you.

The questions you ask yourself are important, but those you ask while networking at the conference are even more essential. Steer away from yes or no questions, as those questions shut down rather than foster conversation. Instead, ask perceptive or in-depth questions, such as “What made you chose this business?” and “What challenges did you face early on?” Questions that show a genuine interest in the other attendee and their work will help you to stand out from the “What do you do?” crowd.

Researching potential connections in advance can also help you stand out from the crowd. Many conferences include lists of exhibitors and attending companies on their website. Researching these companies can help prepare you for conversation with their representatives and allow you to form some questions in advance. Before the conference, you can even reach out to exhibitors you are interested in visiting at the conference to ease the introduction.

Following up after the conference is equally as important as making connections onsite. Be sure to follow up via email or social media promptly to maintain your connections. Show people that they made an impression on you and that you are interested in continuing the conversation and they will reciprocate.

Networking can be intimidating, especially at a large event. But with a little planning, you’re sure to make the connections you need to expand your business!

What To Do in Vegas…Off the Strip!

There are lots of things to do in Las Vegas on the Strip, but what about off the Strip? Well, by trekking just a little ways off the Strip, there is still plenty to do and see, from some great places to commune with nature to museums and shopping!

·        Nature: The area around Las Vegas offers some great hiking and spectacular views. Located about 20 minutes off the Strip, Red Rock Canyon has a wide selection of hikes and trails of varying difficulty. For something a bit easier on the knees, be sure to visit the Springs Preserve and explore the nature exhibits, botanical gardens, live animal shows, and more.

·        Museums: The Pinball Hall of Fame is a must for anyone who likes vintage video games and pinball machines. Learn about Vegas’ history from pre-historic to modern times at the Clark County Museum.

·        Sports: Las Vegas doesn’t have any major league sports teams, but it is home to the Las Vegas 51s, a minor league affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays! The 51s play at Cashman Field north of the Fremont Street Experience.

·        Shopping: There is some great shopping on the Strip, but for the more budget conscious, the Primm Outlets are a great option. Located on the California/Nevada border, the Outlets operate a daily shuttle to-and-from the Strip.

For more suggestions on what to do and see in the area around Las Vegas, be sure to visit TripAdvisor.  See you in Vegas!

Improve Your Inventory Management! Wrap-up

 

The Ticket Summit® Plus 2013 Spring webinar series wrapped up this week with Improve Your Inventory Management!, a free webinar led by Scott Barrows, CEO of Symbioticks and Epic Inventory Management. Barrows provided tips on how to boost inventory efficiency and discussed the obstacles that brokers face in their daily operations.

Barrows stressed the importance of using numbers and analytics in managing inventory. “Don’t steer a rudderless ship,” he said. Analytics allow brokers to determine essential elements of their business, like how much it costs to sell a ticket, and to increase their ROI.

He also discussed how automation technology, provided by companies like Ticket Utils, Cloakify, and more, can streamline a broker’s business. Likewise, utilizing e-tickets can increase efficiency, though e-tickets should be protected to the same degree as hard stock.

Effective pricing can also increase a broker’s ROI. Barrows finds it useful to keep a set pricing schedule, so that his staff is constantly pricing tickets.  He also advocates rewarding staff for pricing well.

For Barrows, people are just as important as inventory. When you identify and use the strengths of your staff efficiently and well, you streamline the process and increase your ROI, he said. He added that you shouldn’t let your inventory manage your life, and stressed the importance of continuing to educate both yourself and your staff.

Barrows will be among the speakers at Ticket Summit® this summer, and Symbioticks will be exhibiting at booth 116 at the Ticket Summit® trade show. Be sure to visit them there!

Hotel Amenities to Keep You at Your Best

The Vegas strip has plenty to offer in terms of nightlife, but after a long day of networking at a trade show such as Ticket Summit®, you might appreciate a little pampering before heading out on the town or attending one of our After Dark events. This year, our attendees have access to deeply discounted room rates at Bellagio. If you take advantage of this discount and stay at Bellagio, you may decide to treat yourself to services from their world-class spa and salon.

To look and feel your best, you can plan ahead and schedule a reservation for regular Salon Bellagio services between 9am and 7pm daily. Services available include hair treatments, barber services, make-up service, manicures & pedicures, and more.
 
You may also choose to make spa reservations during your stay at Bellagio. Spa Bellagio is open daily between 6am and 8pm. Reservations are accepted up to three months in advance and are strongly encouraged. Available spa services include facial treatments, massage therapies, and packages such as the Gentleman's Escape and Bellagio Signature Journey.

Once you find yourself pampered and refreshed, you'll be ready to take in all the excitement Las Vegas has to offer. If you haven't already, now is the perfect time to book your room at Bellagio for Ticket Summit® 2013 in Las Vegas.

What Else to Do in Vegas?

If you’re not already coming to Las Vegas for Ticket Summit® this summer, you should be! The Ticket Summit® schedule is jam-packed with industry sessions, Keynotes, and networking opportunities, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t have time to enjoy Las Vegas! But what should you do while you’re there?

·         Sights to See! Vegas  provides some one-of-a-kind sight-seeing experiences, including the Fremont Street Experience and the Stratosphere Tower. Don’t forget—the Grand Canyon is only about 250 miles away!

·         Dining—Vegas is home to some of the best restaurants in the world! Try world-famous chef Gordon Ramsay’s steak house, located in Paris Las Vegas. New York’s beloved Serendipity 3 offers a unique experience in Caesars Palace.

·         Nightlife—Parties are a way of life in Las Vegas, so don’t miss some of the world-class nightclubs and lounges. Enjoy the fountains from Hyde Bellagio or the view from TAO’s terrace. You might even run into a celebrity!

·         Shows—Enjoy the high-flying acrobatics of Cirque du Soleil in O or The Beatles’ Love, or the music of Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys!

·         Shopping—Shop like a high-roller at Fashion Show Mall or the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. For the more budget-conscious, the Premium Outlets can’t be missed!

Check out the Ticket Summit® Explore Page for more suggestions of things to do and see in Sin City! See you in Vegas!

Ticket Summit® is Going Green and You Can Too!

Spring is a great opportunity to improve sustainability around the office! Here are some great tips for reassessing your practices, and making them more environmentally friendly:

·         Use Eco-friendly materials in the break room—the break room is one of the most wasteful places in the office. Countless cups, plastic cutlery, and paper plates are thrown away every day. Make your break  room greener by using re-usable mugs and plates or purchasing biodegradable materials.

·         Recycle your electronics—When old electronics are thrown away, they can leech toxins into the soil and water supply. The materials in recycled electronics will be reused in new ones. Visit the EPA’s website for a list of electronics recycling centers near you.

·         Plant a tree—Planting is always a great way to reduce your carbon footprint, and make the world a lovelier place. Ticket Summit® recently planted the tree below, and will move it outside soon! If you’d like to receive your own TS sapling to plant, simple email info@ticketsummit.org.

For more tips and tricks on going green around the office, visit the U.S. Small Business Administration’s website.  With just a few small steps, your business can become greener overnight!

Webinar Recap: Boost Your Trade Show Sales!

Last week, Ticket Summit® Executive Director, Molly A. Mérez, Ph.D., led Boost Your Trade Show Sales!, an hour-long webinar as part of the Ticket Summit® Plus 2013 Spring webinar series. In the webinar, Mérez provided tips and tricks for gathering leads and boosting sales when you exhibit at a trade show.

For Mérez, the most important part of exhibiting at a trade show is having a goal in mind. Are you launching a new product? Do you want to reach new customers or rebrand your current company? Your goal will dictate the design of your exhibition space.

With your goal in mind, what do you want booth visitors to do? Will you be having extended conversations with them? Do you need to perform a demo? Will they be stopping by briefly, or having an extended meeting with you?

What you want visitors to do should guide the design of your materials. If you expect visitors to listen to a 30-minute demo, Mérez says, you should provide a table and chairs for their comfort. If you are planning on having extended conversations, pertinent information—like your logo or phone number—should be posted in a location where it won’t be blocked by people standing at your booth.

Mérez also provided some tips on how to stay within budget, like purchasing fewer, high-quality swag items rather than a large quantity of items. She also discussed ideas for promoting your presence at the show, and following up afterwards. Mérez recommends following up with connections via email the day you meet them, rather than when the conference is over. That way, they’re more likely to remember you!

To brainstorm ideas about your trade show booth, feel free to reach out to the Ticket Summit® team! Just give Ticket Summit® a call at +1.860.416.5767 or email info@ticketsummit.org.

Ticket Summit® Plus will continue on Wednesday, May 22 at 1 PM ET with Improve Your Inventory Management!, led by Scott Barrows of Symbioticks. Register now for FREE!

Are You Exhibiting at a Trade Show?

Exhibiting at a trade show can involve considerable logistics, particularly if the trade show is in a different city from your headquarters. With so many elements to consider, where do you start to plan?

Well, you can start by setting a goal: what to you hope to attain by exhibiting at this trade show? Do you want to generate leads, raise brand awareness, sell a specific product? Are you looking to create partnerships or draw in new clients? Setting a goal will determine the design of your booth, which will in turn help you to determine what you need to bring with you to the show.

With your goal in mind, you can next determine what items you will need at your booth. For example, if you plan on selling a product, presumably, you will need to perform product demos at your booth. To perform software demos, you’ll need a computer and large monitor, so multiple attendees can view the demo at once.

Some trade show items are necessary no matter what your goal may be. Signage can make your booth stand out and draw in attendees easily. Innovative swag items can create buzz around the trade show hall. Business cards and documentation about your company are absolute necessities, no matter what.

Once you have determined what you plan to bring, it’s simply a matter of booking your hotel and shipping your items. The host hotel or the trade show management can assist you in shipping, but you can also mail them directly to yourself at the hotel.

Trade show exhibiting can seem like a daunting process, but if you approach it with a singular goal in mind, you’ll see how all of the elements come together to achieve that goal. With some advanced planning and by answering some simple questions, you should be able to more than exceed any trade show goal you set!

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