3 Exhibitions to watch out for for October 2009

After the summer holidays and with many of us back into the routine of things at work, there are some good trade and also public exhibitions and events coming up for October. Below the editors choice of 3 UK exhibitions for October 2009.

1. The National Wedding Show - Taking place in London (2nd-4th October) and then Birmingham (9th-11th October), this show attracts a lot of the key players in the wedding business. These shows are well worth attending and exhibiting at if you have a business related to weddings. If you are getting married in the coming year, this is an event provides you with all services you are likely to need under one roof, for planning your wedding.

2. E2 Energy Solutions Expo - Energy solutions for preserving energy and for creating cleaner energies is taken far more seriously by companies these days and this Expo reflects the shift in attitudes. This is a relatively new show but one which attracts a lot of interest from a variety of sectors and is a very interesting show if you can make it to London's Olympia Exhibition Centre on the 7th or 8th October.

3. The Metro Ski & Snowboard Show - is a 5 day show at the Olympia Exhibition Centre (21st - 25th October) which is a real good show to attend, both from the viewpoint of exhibitors and the general public. For companies, this is a key ski and snowboarding event in the European and world exhibitions calendar. For the general public, there are many fun things to try out including small ski slopes, the very latest equipment and presentations from some top skiers and snowboarders. This is a great event to attend if you can make it to London at the end of October.

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Exhibitions in Miami - City Spotlight

Travelling around the UK, Europe and worldwide to exhibitions and conferences, I have been to some fascinating and some not so fascinating locations; some very central and some out of the way venues; and venues or all shapes, sizes and facilities.

Miami is one of those locations which I enjoy going to. With a decent exhibition venue, a location I can enjoy if I have an extra spare day and a location which is well served with Miami International airport, it ticks many of the boxes.

Miami Beach Convention Center holds a large number of shows each year including popular ones such as the:

• Miami International Wine Fair
• Health and Fitness Expo
• Miami International Boat Show
• International Beauty & Barber Show

With the main convention centre in the South Beach area, there are several hotels to choose from and overall this is a good city for attending or visiting an exhibition. Getting to Miami is also very possible by water and events such as the boat show mean that this is a form of transport for many exhibitors to the show.

Outside of Exhibition and conference hours and if you are not too tired, Miami Seaquarium is worth seeing. Key Biscayne provides an excellent day trip location and the Everglades are a beautiful national park if you have to chance to see it.
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3 Exhibitions and Events with a difference

There are literally hundreds of Exhibitions and Events which take place across UK and thousands across Europe each year. There are many which cover property, food, fashion, the oil and gas industry, travel and business. There are also though some more unusual but worthwhile events to attend. Below 3 of events with a difference:

1. Autosport International Show - next taking place in 2010 (14th - 17th January at the NEC, Birmingham) the Autosport show is a very large event for both the general pubic and trade (with 2 days for each). This is a show which attracts people from around the world including many of the large manufacturers. If you love cars, you will love this event.

2. World Belly Dance Congress - Coming up much sooner (25th-27th September 2009) the event this year takes place at the 'Lakeside Leisure Complex' in Surrey, England. As well as workshops and a number of events, there will displays and product sales taking place. This is an event which attracts women from across Europe and worldwide.

3. London Book Fair - Next taking place between the 19th and the 21st April, 2010, this is a very relaxed and enjoyable fair to attend. The choice and range of books available means that there is literally something to entertain every visitor. Expect also to see some rare and also unusual books. (Takes place at the Earls Cour Exhibition Centre).

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Things to consider for Exhibition Stands (Part 2)

Continuing on from Part 1 of Things to consider for Exhibition Stands, some more considerations and tips below:

4. Consider storage - You may need to consider storage for your exhibition stand/s and equipment. You may for example need to store stands before and after an exhibition or conference. There are various options and a good Exhibition Stands Company will be able to advise you on storage options.

5. Exhibition Graphics - Another aspect of Exhibition Stands design which can easily be initially overlooked in the haste to get everything prepared on time for an exhibition or conference, is Exhibition graphics. Make sure to consider issues such as if the graphics will be used outdoors for example, because this can affect the materials used.

6. Exhibition Stand transportation - potentially can be another issue and is one which should be considered ahead of time. Depending on if you are working with a professional exhibition stands supplier, they will often be able to help with transportation, in addition to the aforementioned storage issue. If you plan to transport everything yourself, do not forget to consider that you may need lifting equipment.
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Exhibitions in Thailand:Country Spotlight

The latest in our series of country spotlights, this time sees us look at Thailand. An exotic location for international visitors, this means a great chance to experience a fascinating culture whilst going about business in Asia.

Almost exclusively, all major exhibitions in Thailand take place in the capital Bangkok, a city with several world class venues for holding exhibitions and conferences. The Bangkok venues include the:

• Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC)
• Impact Exhibition & Convention Center (IECC)
• Queen Sirikit National Convention Center
• Royal Paragon Exhibition & Convention Centre

All 4 venues can hold sizeable shows and have excellent facilities. It is BITEC and IECC which seem to attract the most major shows and both these venues seem to have events on almost a weekly basis. The BITEC annually holds shows which include the International Logistics Fair, Beauty, Spa and Health show and the Wedding Fair. The BITEC official site provides a full schedule.

Bangkok, Thailand as a location is a wonderful place in which to find oneself. As a business person in Bangkok you will find an abundance of high quality and affordable hotels, excellent restaurants and a diverse and enjoyable nightlife. For business travellers though looking to relax in the evenings in their hotel, most of the hotels offer Wi-Fi and business facilities.

Arriving into the city, Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport is a very nice airport and one which is relatively easy to get to, from the centre of Bangkok.

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Read more about World Exhibition venues.

Things to consider for Exhibition Stands (Part 1)

If you are new to organising an exhibit at a event it can be overwhelming and there are many things which are easy to forget the first or second time around. In case you are new to the Exhibition and Events industry and you will have to in the future organise your company's presence at an exhibition, some considerations below:

1. Indoor or Outdoor - Make sure to be clear on if you will be exhibiting indoors or outdoors. Some events have both indoor and outdoor space. The type of exhibition stand you require might well differ according to whether you will exhibit in or outdoors. There are stands and banners designed for outdoor use and which may be more suitable than some other stands. These are for example more weather resistant. (See samples of Outdoor Banner Stands).

2. Staff Training - Who will manage your stand on exhibition day and are they trained in sales and will they be supplied with any literature they will need. Will they or you also have a way of monitoring sales or leads. You may want to analyse the cost to sales leads afterwards for example to have a better idea in the future of the most efficient show, for your particular business.

3. Travel and Accommodation - With so much to organise ahead of an exhibition, there can be a temptation to book accommodation and travel at the last minute. The problem with booking accommodation late is that you will be booking for a location and time when hundreds of other exhibitors will also be booking for. The best advice is to book the accommodation as soon as possible.

(More tip and ideas in Part 2 next week...)
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Accommodation for Exhibitions in London, UK

We get a lot of enquiries from Exhibition and Conference attendees who are travelling to London for an event. Choosing accommodation whilst staying in London for an exhibition can sometimes be overwhelming given the wide choice of options. Below a look at accommodation for those of you visiting the Olympia, ExCel and Earls Court exhibition venues.

ExCel Centre, Docklands - ExCel has several hotels located within walking distance and these include the Crown Plaza and a Novotel. If you are at an exhibition for several days in the Docklands then a hotel nearby is your best option. There are not really any B&Bs or Guest-houses near to the venue and staying near to the venue will save you what can sometimes be a hectic journey from the centre of London each day.

Earls Court and Olympia venues - These 2 venues are within a mile of each other and both are in built up and very central locations. The choice of accommodation is much wider with hotels, B&BS and short-term holiday apartments all viable options. Earls Court is a particularly nice area, with an abundance of restaurants, coffee shops, pubs and shops. Both locations also have nearby subway stations.

• Hotels: 'Park International' in nearby Kensington is great for luxury, whilst Hotel Ibis Earls Court offers a good budget option.


• B&Bs: Many of you will prefer a hotel but a number of visitors do prefer the more personal experience of a B&B. There are numerous B&Bs in Earls Court and a search of a site such as booking.com wil provide many options.


• Short-term rental apartments: This is a fairly new but very popular option. This often means more space, Wi-Fi set up and your own kitchen. If you are staying for several days or a week, this can be a great way to stay in the area. For London & Rome apartments, vacationrentals.com are worth checking.

More about London Exhibitions and Venues.

September Exhibitions - Editors Top 5

I am not sure where the summer went to but we are into September already. This month there are some good shows coming up and below the editors choice of 5 for September exhibitions.

1. Autumn Fair Birmingham 2009 - The Autumn Fair at the NEC between the 6th and 9th September, is a fun event to attend and which highlights the best of Home and Gift products. Jewellery, toys, crafts and food are all promoted at what is quite a diverse and very interesting exhibition.

2. Offshore Europe 2009 - is an exhibition we have mentioned a few times on this blog, in the lead up to the 8th - 11th September show. This is a big show for the industry and will bring a lot of international visitors to the Aberdeen Exhibition Centre in Scotland.

3. Southampton Boat Show - will see tens of thousands head to the South coast, England over a 10 day period between the 11th and 20th September. If you have any interest at all in boats, this is a great event to attend.

4. French Property 2009 - In London, the Olympia Exhibition Centre hosts the annual French property show, 11 - 13th September. With the French economy out of recession and the property industry as a whole gradually beginning to grow again, interest may be high for this exhibition.

5. The British Bridal Exhibition takes place at the Harrogate Centre between the 13th-15th of this month and this is a great opportunity in the Harrogate and surrounding area to attend a well attended bridal show.

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Brought to you from Clip Ltd - UK Exhibition Stands Specialists.