9 Must-Have Apps for Meeting Pros

As long as you’re dragging that smart phone everywhere you go, you may as well put it to work. We’ve rounded up nine must-have apps for meeting professionals (and a few more just for fun). All are built for the iPhone, but BlackBerry users take heart: some comparable applications are out there.

The great thing about an app is the low cost. The most expensive on our list is $9.99 and several are free. If you bought the most expensive app in each category below, the most you’d be out is about $41—a small investment in productivity. See List from MeetingsNet

Common Mistakes Made in International Trade

Exporting products to international customers is generally a difficult process involving huge risk. In this competitive global market, a successful export business is ensured only when the exporter is able to carefully predict probable pitfalls and avoid several common mistakes that are made by various other exporters. Continue reading.

Signs of a surge in Las Vegas conventions

After more than a year of lethargic convention attendance in Las Vegas, the meetings and trade show industry will regain much of its health in 2001.

Continue reading from The Las Vegas Sun

21 Trade Show Predictions for 2011

1. SHOWS GROW: United States trade shows will return to growth for the entire 2011 for multiple reasons:

• Exhibitors will be past their smaller 2010 budgets set during the harsh 2009 conditions, and will have their replenished 2011 budgets ready to go.
• Companies awash in cash will invest in marketing to compete with aggressive competitors and spur growth.
• Larger number of new products developed during the less scary 2010 need to be introduced at 2011 shows.
• The weaker U.S. dollar (“quantitative easing”) will boost U.S. manufacturing sales (who are most of the larger exhibitors), and also make travel and exhibiting at U.S. shows less expensive for foreigners.
• B2B marketers impatient with their inability to demonstratedly drive enough sales volume with harder-than-it-looks social media will re-allocate more dollars back to proven trade shows.
• Recently hired entry-level professionals will be sent to get training at industry shows.
• Full article from BizBash
  

Top Ten Tradeshow Items of 2010

Through the course of 2010, we attended 20+ trade shows, gave out 2000+ of recyclable bags, 1000+ pens, 200 or more 20 year planners and although they were popular items – we wondered what were the most tradeshow items of 2010.

Our friend Lisa Groover at MacMannes (a promotions and branding company) was able to provide us with a study by the 2010 Advertising Specialty Institute about promotional products. Here are the most interesting facts we found -

TOP 10 TRADESHOW GIFTS OF 2010 (IN THE U.S.)

Writing Instruments
Shirts
Calendars
Bags
Caps/Headwear
Desk/Office/Business Accessories
Food Items
Ceramics/Glassware (includes Mugs)
Health & Safety Products
Jackets/Hoodies/Sweatshirts/Fleece

Full article from The National Conference Center blog.

Hands On Trade Show Exhibits Lure Attendees

When trade show exhibit goers walk the vast exhibit hall floors and come upon highly creative, interactive trade show displays, they get to stop and join in some fun. The trade show attendee becomes part of the exhibit. By using experiential activity, the trade show exhibitor not only entertains but also educates their key customer prospects with entertaining hands-on experiences.

Why are such participatory activities important at trade shows? Quite simply: they boost traffic to the trade show exhibit site, leading to product interest and often substantial sales from experiencing first hand a dynamic new product.

When Event Marketer covered the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in early January 2006, they found exceptional trade show exhibits that offered interactive experiences. Here are a few exhibitors whose hands-on trade show displays showcased new product trials on the trade show floor: Continue.

6 places germs breed in a plane

Holiday travelers are filling up flights, and flu season is in full swing, so it's more important than ever to protect yourself against illness. We dug deep to identify the major germ zones on planes (and tips to avoid them). No, you're not likely to contract meningitis, but better safe than sorry, right? Full article from CNN.