Are you ready to bring new life to your exhibit? Or are you ready to chuck it becuase no one stopped to see you at your last event?

Your answer is a few steps away with these tips we found from BSI Exhibits to attract visitors to your booth.

10 Booth Boosting Tips

1.   Improve your lighting

Any booth will attract attention if it is well lit. The human eye is naturally attracted to bright lights.

2.   Color your world

Bright colors are pleasing to our eyes and exciting to our brains. Bright, rich colors attract people.

3.   Use the soft touch

Upgrade to quality carpet and padding. The soft feel underfoot gives the impression of quality and class.

4.   Creat an open atmosphere

Eliminate all other phyiscal andpsychological barriers to your booth by making it open and inviting.

Eliminate all other physical and psychological barriers to your booth by making it open and inviting.

5.   Make something move

Provide movement to attract attendees' eyes and bodies towards your booth. Activity attracts people's attention.

6.   Tickle the senses

Smells often trigger the most pleasant of memories. Present smells to attract visitors to your booth like cookies.

7.   Personalize your exhibit

Your exhibit doesn't have to be all work and no play. Use props and decorate your booth.

8.   Invent a corporate dress code

Make your staff stand out. Wear the same shirt, tie, scarf, vest or jacket.

9.   Go high-tech

Use all the tools at your disposal to provide information. Use websites, email blasts, web links and downloads.

10. Staff your booth with the best

Nothing will increase your ROI like choosing the right people to staff your booth. Only send the best!

If you do not have the time or money to take on all 10 tips at once, take it slow. Try out a few ideas to see how they work. Whatever you do, have fun and be comfortable with your exhibit.

Are you planning on exhibiting at an event? Check to see if the venue offers any exhibitor ordering or opportunities. Take a look at what we offer exhibitors exhibiting at events held here at the Colorado Convention Center.

The Colorado Convention Center is big on sustainability and we pride ourselves on our continued efforts. But, the sustainability goes beyond what you can see. Centerplate, the exclusive cater for the Colorado Convention Center and preferred carter for the Denver Performing Arts Complex, is also dedicated to sustainability. Centerplate donates unused food to “We Don’t Waste,” a nonprofit that works with carters, restaurants, food growers and producers.

"Last week, we were feeding 4,000 people breakfast, lunch and dinner," executive Chef Carmen Callo of Centerplate said.

We Don't Waste takes the food the Convention Center won't use and puts it on the tables of people who need it.

"As chefs, part of the reason we love the job to have people enjoy our food, to know that it can go full circle and continue to be enjoyed is great," Callo said.

Before We Don't Waste came about, a large portion of their prepared perishable food was tossed, Callo said.

Today, thanks to Occasions Catering and Centerplate, Preblud, the founder of “We Don’t Waste” is delivering a ton of different fresh food to Father Woody's, a Denver day shelter for the homeless.

For the full story on “We Don’t Waste,” check out the news story from 9News.

We came across these 11 meeting trends in Successful Meetings Magazine. With an industry that has found struggle with the economy the past few years, it is important to realize and follow the trends to plan and work towards better days.

Here are the top 10 trends, plus a bonus 11th focused on corporate social responsibility:

1. Luxury is back. Back cautiously, but back. While luxury resorts are no longer pariahs, corporate accountants have long memories, and are “watching the meeting budget as closely as if it were 2008!”

2. Meeting demand is growing. Demand is the strongest it’s been since 2008, and the trend is up across all industry segments. While the booking pace remains short term, the “meeting sale” is over.

3. Meeting size is trending up, and space is at a premium. With the economy and business climate strengthening, hotels and resorts are being more selective about bookings, giving preference to larger meetings willing to pay higher rates. The flexibility of many hotels and resorts is waning with the strengthening of demand. No longer can planners expect to book a meeting 30 days out and receive premium space at bargain prices.

4. 21st century meeting space is different. Meeting space isn’t what it used to be—it’s more creative! Today’s planners are looking for properties with outsized, outdoor meeting spaces, inspirational and non-traditional nooks and crannies for small gatherings and breakouts inside, and are requesting oversized chairs and meeting accessories as an occasional alternative to ergonomics.

5. Meetings technology has leapt into the 21st century. Apps downloaded on smartphones and iPads, easily accessible mobile sites, and meeting-dedicated Facebook pages are assisting planners and conference attendees with the registration process, enabling quick access to event itineraries, and offering an easier method to gather feedback from participants post event.

6. The meeting package is coming back strong. Although the past few years saw a slide in demand and an unbundling of meeting packages, in 2012 planners are embracing customized packages for the budget value they offer.

7. Slowly and carefully meeting pricing is trending up. With an improving economy, planners are expecting and seem prepared for price increases in 2012. They are still looking for the best value, but pricing push-back is on the wane.

8. Teambuilding budgets continue their comeback. Groups looking for unique half-day options onsite and offsite, and this is influencing site selections.  Properties that come equipped with creative, built-in teambuilding opportunities such as volleyball on the beach, kitchens designed for cooking classes, mixology programs, and even golf courses on which conferees can test their mettle as a group, are winning meetings business.

9. Training budgets are back. As the economy strengthens, corporate America is increasing the training budgets of its sales and management teams, realizing that in an increasingly complex and competitive global economy, companies can't afford to be anything but the best-informed and skilled in their industry. They've seen the impact of losing focus, and so there is money for training once again. This time around, training is more intense and meetings tend to be longer that previously.

10. The destination is as important as the venue. Time invested in a meeting is more valuable than ever before, and the need to counter-balance this with destination experiences is taking on new meaning. While exotic locales are thrilling to experience, it’s about affordable destinations, perhaps closer to home, that offer great value and a relaxed atmosphere, where business can get done and recreation can offer new opportunities for learning in a more relaxed setting.

11. Social responsible meetings are on the rise. The need to give back remain strong in corporate America, and investing in the community is as important for planners and conference attendees as it is for the hotel or resort serving as the meeting venue. Socially responsible meetings are no longer just about helping clean up the environment, they're about helping corporate teams learn ways to more actively integrate into their local community and help develop and strengthen its social fabric.

If you have ever been to a show at the Wells Fargo Theatre, it is hard to miss the Wood Water Rock wall, made up of 18 separate wood panels painted in oils. The piece of art work spans the entire wall next to the entry door of the 5,000 seat music venue.  Created by artist Trine Bumiller, the art piece has not only become a popular piece for music goers, but the artist is now gaining national news. 

Bumiller was recently feature in in art ltd. magazine for her upcoming solo exhibition at Zg Gallery in Chicago titled "In Medias Res."  The art exhibition is titled in Latin translated to mean "into the middle of things."  In asking Bumiller about the exhibition, she mentioned the following, "I like that in-between period, that in-between region whether it's literal or philosophical. I've been working with the organic and inorganic and finding that combination in the middle of things that is representational and abstract,"

Check out Bumiller’s exhibitions and other art around Denver/Colorado at the Colorado Boulevard Public Art Project, University of Colorado at Boulder, and exhibit at the Denver Botanic Gardens; Estuarine:Works.

Building a life-size sculpture out of LEGO bricks is fun, but building one out of cans of food can make all the difference. Canstruction is using one can of food as a catalyst for change.  April 3rd marked the building date for Canstruction® Colorado 2012: Hungry for Change presented by Hunger Free Colorado.

Canstruction® Colorado 2012: Hungry for Change is an exciting design/build competition and exhibition in which local designers build large-scale structures made entirely of cans of food. After the exhibition, the food is donated to local food banks. 

This year’s event is produced in association with the Society for Design Administration.  The event is being held at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, April 3-9 and is free with admission to the museum.

Several design teams have participated in this event including Fentress Architects; the company that designed this magnificent building, the Colorado Convention Center. Fentress Architects based their design around the iconic blue bear art work “I See What You Mean” by Lawrence Argent.  Fentress hopes by their involvement to build awareness of hunger in Colorado by enforcing the mentality of; “I see what you mean. How CAN I help?”

Fentress Architects won 2 out of the 4 awards - Jurors Favorite and Structural Ingenuity. Plus the popular vote by those that attended the event. They will be going to Nationals to show off their Canstruction for hunger.

The display of the Canstruation will be at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science until Monday the 9th. Check out all the cool Canstruction displays on 9News.

Rocky Mountain Bridal Show

January 2012

Now that you have said “YES” it is time to say “I DO!” Let the planning begin and turn your wedding day dreams into reality at Colorado's most Elegant Bridal Show with the most vendors, the most prizes, and the most choices with EVERYTHING you'll need. It is the easiest and most convenient way to plan your wedding and it can all be done in one day.

On January 8th the Mile High Ballroom was filled with Brides and Grooms to be checking out and planning the latest and greatest for their big day. The ballroom was full of vendors ready to make your day a dream come true.  Everything from venues, flower shops, cake studios, caterers, photographers, and invitations, to bridal and bridesmaid dresses, tuxedos, DJ’s, and photo booths. Your entire wedding could be planned and booked that day! All of the vendors were extremely helpful and friendly, and to make sure that is really what you wanted you could try things out like taste food and cake, take home brochures and samples, test out the photo booths and dance off for a DJ.

To top it all off the show would not be complete without a Bridal Fashion Show presented by The Bridal Connection and Jos. A. Bank Formal Wear and giving away fantastic prizes. At 1:30 PM the runway lit up and showcased different bridal gowns, bridesmaid dresses, tuxedos, and flower girl dresses so one could envision their entire big day. Prizes like, free venues, trips to Vegas, trips to Blackhawk, hotel stays and spa days were given away to hopeful and happy brides. 

Every bride should attend this show to meet vendors and be able to actually see and experience what they could have for their special day. The Rocky Mountain Bridal Show is an annual event here at the convention center holding 2 more shows this year, Sunday April 22 and August 19. We will see all you Brides to be there!

NCAA Women’s Final Four entering Sports Nation
Excitement a Mile High

Energy and excitement is in the Denver air! The NCAA has taken over the town and turned Denver into the ULTIMATE FINAL FOUR destination. Denver is considered a “Sports Nation” so it is only appropriate that the NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four takes place here.

Festivities kicked off today at 10am here at Tourney Town Refreshed by Coca-Cola Zero. Mayor Michael Hancock WELCOMED the NCAA and all the coaches, players and fans by showing off his skills on and off the court. If seeing the Mayor’s skills didn’t get you pumped up, then seeing all of the activities line the walls off Tourney did and will.

Show off your skills at the Coca-Cola Zero Fan Zone in a shoot off with your friends. Test out your doodling on an AT&T phone and get your picture taken with some hardware. Climb for Kay at the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. Play some one-on-one, knock-out, kick some goals, and hit and throw some balls. Meet basketball stars and get their autographs. Then gear up with the Official Final Four merchandise.

Not a dull moment while being here at Tourney Town. Tourney Town is FREE and here until April 1st (and that is not an April Fool’s joke!). Make your way down here to enjoy the experience the excitement of the NCAA Final Four.

Nothing beats that new car smell and browsing hundreds of 2013 intros and concept cars. It was the perfect place to fall in love with a new car, giving you the itch to buy! The 2012 Denver Auto Show was the ultimate showcase of the newest model year import and domestic vehicles -- cars, vans, crossovers, hybrids, light trucks and sport utilities.

When walking into the show you were instantly mesmerized by the smell and shiny finish on all the new vehicles on the floor, waiting for you to open the doors, take a seat, and picture yourself driving down the road in one of them. Not only could you sit in and check out the cars you could Ride & Drive certain makes and models and experience Camp Jeep. 

Special Thanks to the Colorado Automotive Dealers Association who puts on the Denver Auto Show and to all the Automotive Dealers and Exhibitors who bring the show to life.

The Denver Auto Show is sponsored by BELLCO and State Farm. Stay connected to find out and attend the 2013 Denver Auto Show. You won’t want to miss out on 2014 models!

Denver B-Cycle is coming out of hibernation on Monday, March 12th. At 5am on Monday, there will be B-cycles in all the stations available to check out. There is a station on 14th and Welton and 14th and Champa here at the convention center.

B-cycle members are encouraged to take a stroll on Monday to show the rest of the city that the bikes are back! Every trip you take on Monday will enter you to win a t-shirt or helmet. Winners will be announced in B-cycle’s March newsletter. The bikes are available for an extra hour this year, until midnight, giving you more time to ride.

Celebrate the first ride of 2012 by participating in First Ride 2012. Just show up at Denver Bike Sharing HQ, located at 2737 Larimar St, wearing red on Sunday, March 11th at 11am. Enjoy some brunch brought to you by Dean’s Urban Market, drinks provided by Honest Tea, enjoy tunes courtesy of Jay Ryan and grab some Clif Bars, take a group photo and at noon ride your B-cycle to a pre-assigned station for your choice. This will help them set up for their official third season and help the environment by replacing trips they would have made in their trucks. SIGN UP HERE if you plan on attending First Ride 2012.

Check out Denver B-cycle Facebook and Twitter pages to participate in their Launch Contests taking place now until March 12th. Ride on and enjoy the bikes!

The 53rd Annual Colorado Garden and Home Show presented by Dish in association with Xfinity, 9News, The Denver Post, and Colorado Homes & Lifestyles brought Spring to life indoors with not so Spring like weather to accompany it the past 9 days. When entering the show floor you automatically felt like you were in a garden and enjoying the spring weather with the live garden, balloon and butterfly landscaping at the entrance.

But gardens were not the only thing that welcomed attendees, aisles upon aisles, covering 400,000 square feet of the Colorado Convention Center, of home products, landscaping ideas, playgrounds, decks, and demonstrations/seminars were there for attendees to enjoy.

The Garden & Home Show had something there for your driveway, to the backyard, inside to the bathroom, kitchen, and bedroom. Anything you needed or wanted for you home and garden was there! 650 different companies from 25 states and Canada showcased their products and services. Not only could you purchase products or get ideas you could learn from some of the region's most noted gardening, landscaping and home improvement experts with the 50 FREE educational seminars available.
The show had people leaving ready and determined to work on their gardens and homes for the spring. BRING ON SPRING!

For more details and information about the show and future shows visit Colorado Garden Show, Inc. See you all at the 2012 Fall Home Show.