According to Show Manager Renee Johnson, the changes to the Florida show are an answer to companies wanting to advertise without having to foot the bill for booth space. Johnson said that every aspect of this year's show will be considered inventory and is not mutually exclusive.
Typically seen as the more casual, network-centric Internext than the Las Vegas event, Johnson said that while modifications to the Florida show are not "super dramatic" they provide first-time advertising outlets such as buying banners and sponsoring parties without having to commit to floor space. In addition, the venue, the Westin Diplomat Hotel & Spa, will be completely locked off from the public, enabling more networking privacy for adult company attendees.
In prior years, advertising or sponsorship opportunities were reserved primarily for traditional exhibitors.
"There is flexibility now," Johnson told XBiz. "It's all about how they want to market themselves and connect with their customers. If you want to take a banner but don't want the overhead of a booth, then that's an option. Or to sponsor a party, you don't have to have physical booth space either."
Additionally, Florida Internext will provide high-speed wireless access throughout the showroom floor, the pool, lobby, conference room and restaurants, and booths will be wired for either Mac or PC.
"We feel like the summer has always been the smaller of the two [events] and this year it's a little more informal," Johnson said. "The facility is just so perfect for that. We're looking at everyone as a client and there is no such thing as a traditional exhibitor. Some people might want booths, but others are just as excited to get sponsorship and advertising opportunities."
This year's showroom lineup includes the option of purchasing floor space for customized booths, pre-fabricated booths provided by AVN, a furnished "hard wall" conference room on the show floor, or meeting rooms on the second or third floor of the Westin. In prior years, floor space was capped at 8' by 20', but according to Johnson, this year there are no such restrictions.
As for more controlled access to the hotel itself, Johnson said that this year will be the first year that access to the hotel is restricted to people with badges, which will not only include the showroom floor, but the lobby, pool and other networking areas in an effort to retain the networking purity of the event.
Online registration and the show's pricing structure have not yet been made available.
