About Expos
Expos are more like trade shows but are often conducted on a national or global level. It’s where organizations or businesses showcase their services and products, foster cooperation, and educate the public. Since it’s filled with demos and visitor interactions, you must be prepared to answer questions, explain what you offer, and make connections in a welcoming environment. If you’re attending as a guest, it is a great way to learn more about the topics you are interested in and network.
Part of getting a lot of attention to your event is choosing a fantastic venue that will support your goals and ensure you’ll have a successful expo. It can be both small and large, but regardless of the scale of your event, you must pick a space with plenty of room to display information and all the key features of your products. That’s why an ideal expo location is open, inviting, and unintimidating, allowing attendees to ask questions freely and retain further information.
The Best Expo Venues
You want your event to provide the best experience to guests and exhibitors, and finding a suitable expo site is crucial to achieving that. In that case, check out these venue ideas to consider for your next exposition.
- Exhibition Centers
Exhibition centers are specifically designed for trade shows, conventions, and expos. These professional venues have adequate facilities and an expert team to assist and support you from start to finish. It means you’ll have more time to relax and focus on more essential aspects of your expo.
- Sports Arenas
Get creative and make a lasting impression on your attendees by taking your expo to a stadium or sports arena near you. Their wide-open space and unique structure are more than enough to lure event planners and hosts. Some sports arenas for rent will provide caterers or event planners to help prepare and set up food, tables, chairs, decor and more.
- Industrial Spaces
Converted industrial spaces are unconventional yet trendy expo spaces you can explore. Perhaps, you’re looking for a site with plenty of room for hundreds of visitors, a blank canvas space you can transform into whatever you desire, or a venue with a rich history. You’ll get all these benefits and more if you rent an industrial studio space.
- Farms
Urban and country farms make an ideal informal space for large functions. Picturesque and spacious, farms will spruce up your event and provide a relaxing setting for demonstrations. However, there are a few downsides to hosting an event on farms, like the weather and lighting. While you can take advantage of the natural light during the day, you’ll have to set up lighting in the evening.
What to Look for in Expo Spaces
There’s a lot of preparation and planning needed for an excellent exposition. No matter your goal or budget, there are a few things that should be high on your agenda before committing to any expo location.
- Size
You need to understand how many exhibitors will attend and how many guests you anticipate coming to your expo. Such understanding will provide you with the best foundation for choosing the size of your venue. Of course, you don’t want it to be too small and cramped, but it’s also not a good idea to pick a space that’s too big; otherwise, your event will look too spacious and empty.
- Layout
The layout is typically the deciding factor that affects the flow around the venue, especially when accommodating a big crowd. Check the floor plan to see all the components that will make up your expo location. It includes the doors, windows, power outlets, outdoor areas, room walls, moveable furniture, and more. Through this, you can plan everything in detail and determine how you can bring your vision to life and deliver an extraordinary experience to attendees.
- Atmosphere
There’s no single action to take that can create an ideal atmosphere. It involves the right eye, the right amount of work, and other essential elements to transform your space into a pleasant venue for networking, interaction, and learning. No matter the purpose of your expo, keep in mind that the venue should mirror the ambiance or style you are trying to establish.
- Amenities
Often, it’s the little things that make a difference between a successful and uneventful exposition. That’s why you must look at the details, from toilets and kitchen to catering options available. You might also want to check if they have a good WiFi connection and tech support if anything goes wrong with your sound system, lighting, or audio.
- Expo Inspirations
They say expos are like a hybrid of a conference and trade show. They’re usually huge and have many attendees. They also serve multiple purposes simultaneously. But its success or failure largely depends on the types of connections you make with your visitors and potential customers.
- Food Expos at Airport Hangars
Sure, having a food expo in exhibition centers and grand convention facilities is great. But if you’re looking for an out-of-the-box idea, rent an airport hangar for a unique and stylish corporate affair. Many airport hangars can accommodate over 500 people, so your exhibitors and visitors have plenty of room to perform their tasks and achieve their goals.
- Technology Expos in Warehouses
With spacious rooms, bare backdrops, and high ceilings, warehouses make a perfect location for your technology expo. Their open floor plan, industrial setting, and raw open space are perfect for a modern, urban-inspired event. You can also redecorate them to your heart’s content or take advantage of exposed bricks, ceiling beams, and enormous windows as part of the style.
- Manufacturing Expos at Parking Garages
Empty your parking building or look for a parking garage to rent for your manufacturing exposition. You can also use the top level of a metro parking garage, an open space that often has a stunning view of the skyline. It’s a quirky setting that will create a welcoming vibe to your event and undoubtedly impress your attendees.
- Arts and Crafts Expo in Museums
Perhaps, there’s no better place to hold your arts and crafts expo than in a museum. Promote beautiful art pieces, bring awareness of the significance of arts and crafts in the country, and market the artists’ skills and talents in a historic building. Furthermore, museums have suitable lighting and design elements to highlight works of art.
