By Duranya Freeman

With more than 180 exhibitors and 50,000 sq ft. of floor space in Chicago’s McCormick Place, the 2016 Legislative Summit exhibit hall was packed with issues and organizations that spanned the political spectrum and tools intended to help government work more efficiently. 

Joe Giessner and Bernie Lidestri of Tallan, Inc., a database technology program for constituents and legislators, say the exhibit hall is a “one stop shop” to interact with state legislators.

“It’s great because legislators from all the states are here, and we don’t have to seek them out individually,” says Giessner. “We can also connect with IT legislative staff, who are the people that primarily use our services.”

Exhibitors used several tactics to engage with attendees. Many had free giveaways, including water bottles, stress balls, food, bumper stickers and pins.

Others had more creative pulls. C-SPAN had the C-SPAN bus on display so attendees could explore the interior, complete with interactive computer screens. Radon Leaders Saving Lives took visitors back to the nineteenth century with their special guest, Abraham Lincoln, who in addition to posing with exhibit attendees, was also a featured speaker at the event. The annual exhibition hall luncheon was sponsored by the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), which featured traditional Southern cuisine and interactive recycling displays.

Exhibit hall manager and coordinator LeAnn Hoff said that the exhibitors are “level-headed and enjoyable to work with,” and the diversity of their issue interests makes organizing the hall interesting.

On Wednesday, exhibitors had the chance to make their bids for their spots for next year’s 2017 convention in Boston, Massachusetts on a point system primarily based on number of years exhibited. Corners and island booths are traditionally more sought out. Al Katzenberger of the Public Revenue Education Council, who had a booth in the 500 aisle this year, emphasized the importance of having a direct traffic flow from the entrance. “It’s good to be on the right-hand side as well,” he said, “because many people are right-handed and it makes it easier to shake hands.”

Thanks to interactive scanners that scan badge barcodes, the exhibitors now have contact information specific to those who visited their booths, making it easy to follow up on their target audience. Physical handshakes can then turn into a true partnership.

Duranya Freeman is the intern for NCSL’s communications division.  

Email Duranya.