SHOW NEWS: Free & Reduced Admission Offered for Orlando

John Wolz

Show management reduced admission prices for the 2004 National Industrial Fastener Show/East in addition to earlier announced free passes.
Unless there is a late surge of booth sales, the show in Orlando, FL, is likely to be smaller this year. As of February 23 the show listed 160 companies reserving 177 booths.
The show had 260 occupied booths last year. The record high was 653 in 1996.
Attendees can get free admission to exhibits, as each exhibitor has 10 exhibit hall passes to give to customers and prospects. Platinum exhibitors receive 25 passes.
Advance registration is $30, and onsite is $40. Each category is down $10 from last year.
The show will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, May 14, 2004, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. Conferences and a preshow reception are slated for Thursday.
After six years of declining distributor registration for the old �Columbus� show, the number rose 59 to 469 with the move to Orlando last year. A 51% majority came from three states � Alabama, North Carolina and Florida at the 2003 East show.
The show peaked at 1,753 distributor registrations in 1995.
Show promoters Jim Bannister and Mike McGuire have predicted more exhibitors and attendees for the second year the show has been in Orlando.
�A trade show is like anything else. It takes at least a year for some people to adjust and �buy into� a new location,� the show owners reasoned. �Besides, the improving economy and a promising first quarter in 2004 are all positive factors.�
Show management also announced $10,000 platinum, $5,000 gold and $3,000 silver sponsorships. For $10,000 an exhibitor can have a banner at the opening reception, an extra booth, full-page ad in the show directory, napkins with logo, 25 admission passes, website link, mention in news releases, signs in the registration area and recognition in the show directory.
Hotel Discounts
The headquarters hotel is the Peabody at $160 per night.
Orlando has more than 86,000 hotel rooms, including more than 6,000 near the convention center.
Among hotels less than one mile from the show and under $100 on a recent hotels.com listing were: Best Western/Plaza International, Sleep Inn, LaQuinta, Comfort Suites, Sierra Suites and Westgate Lakes.
Other nearby hotels include Amerisuites, Doubletree Castle, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, Marriott Residence Inn, Sheraton World Resort and Springhill Suites.
For show information contact general manager Gloria Crase. Tel: 614 895-1279 Fax 614 895-3466 E-mail: nifsco@fastenershows.com Web: FastenerShows.com \ �2004 FastenerNews.com