Is Indiana Ready To Host Conventions?

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Comment by Sara Croft on October 2, 2009 at 5:52pm

Coffee is totally necessary. They didn't have any food or drink available on the day of my event except for a Dasani machine advertising water for 3 bucks.

Comment by Jon D. Speer on October 2, 2009 at 3:28pm

I can understand the sign comments, to some extent. However, the day's events and locations should be posted near every entrance.

And why not open up the coffee kiosk?

Comment by Justin Bryant on October 2, 2009 at 2:22pm

I really want Indiana to succeed with it's new convention center. It's obvious like any marketing you have to give people a reason to come. If you can achieve that, why do they want to stay? It's a multi-tiered issue. Downtown will have to beef up but the demand has to be in place before the supply, right?> If you build it, will they come? Indy has always had the 'scattered' feeling. In Chicago or NY everything is much more self contained by design.

Comment by Kevin Hood on October 1, 2009 at 10:00pm

I agree with Sara. In big convention centers like in Chicago, they have what seems like hundreds of signs to direct you in the right direction. They're all branded with the trade show logo for easy identification.

Comment by Sara Croft on October 1, 2009 at 7:08pm

Chances are, if you are having an event at the convention center, you aren't the only one! Your contract generally pays for the rent of the facility and that's it.

Why wouldn't it be the event planner's responsibility? They are the ones who have invited the guests (either individually or with news releases, right?) and therefore they should know what to expect. The facility did not plan your event, therefore they don't know if you are hand holding your visitors or not. Putting arrows at the door is okay if the facility isn't any larger than two rooms. Guess what, the convention center is two floors and humongous with several entrances. And if you have a large amount of people at the event, (and there are many other events going on at the same time...) good luck on seeing the signs at all.

Comment by Greg Blunk on October 1, 2009 at 2:10pm

I don't know Mike. Every seminar that I've ever held, I've been the one that was responsible for showing people where to go. They might have a sign out telling folks what room they're supposed to go to. But it was my responsibility to get them to that room.

Comment by Mike Seidle on October 1, 2009 at 9:51am

Why should the "event planner" be responsible for directing traffic inside a facility? Even hotels will put up a sign with an arrow at the door to direct attendees to the right room.

Comment by Sara Croft on September 30, 2009 at 3:30pm

I've had a conference at the convention center before. It was on the second floor. The trouble was trying to cover all of the entrances with signs pointing people in the right direction, especially when over 50% of the people attending our conference had some kind of disability. My conference was about assistive technology, so people that were blind or had any visual impairment had way more difficulties than what you or I could imagine!

I think the question is not about Indiana being ready to host conventions, but event planners understanding the needs of their consumers. The convention center does not put signs up for you, nor will they direct traffic to your event.