NBAA-BACE provides an unparalleled platform for aviation companies to showcase their products and services
Since 1947, NBAA has brought together aviation professionals, manufacturers and companies that rely on general aircraft to help make their business more efficient.
The exhibition is returning Oct. 18th-20th, 2022, at the Orange County Convention Center at the Orlando Executive Airport in Orlando, FL.
Who Attends NBAA-BACE?
According to NBAA-BACE attendee and exhibitor surveys, 51% of attendees are executive management, and 31% are first-time attendees. Close to 87% of the attendees have buying authority or are in a high-influence position in purchasing.
On average, each attendee spends around 11 hours in exhibit halls and aircraft displays. With all fifty states and nearly 100 countries typically represented, NBAA-BACE is an incredible event, and exhibitors need to put their best foot forward to attract their target audience.
With over 1,000 businesses normally exhibiting, it’s going to take focus and intelligent marketing for your business to break the sound barrier of the crowded show floor.
And though NBAA-BACE is first-time exhibitor friendly, it’s crucial to take advantage of every opportunity, whether you’re new or have been attending for over ten years.
To help prepare for the convention, here are all the marketing trends and suggestions you need to know as you exhibit at the NBAA-BACE.
Conference rooms and branded lounges
The return of trade shows has been gradual.
During what has felt like an extended break from exhibiting, many exhibitors have had the chance to think of solutions for making the show floor a more comfortable place to do business.
After all, it was not uncommon in previous years to experience sore feet from walking, glazed eyes from overstimulation, and general exhaustion from meeting show guests all day.
Before the pandemic, vendors were moving to provide more conference rooms and branded lounges for weary business travelers to congregate and catch a break.
Some businesses even provided a branded lounge away from the exhibit hall for extra seclusion. Others built conference rooms within their booth to conduct business with prospects in a more private space.
Increased space for demos and displays
This event marketing trend has only accelerated since the pandemic.
The main reason is that one of the purposes of exhibiting at trade shows is to put the product into the hands of the consumer. Interacting directly with a product or service member creates a memorable experience in the prospect’s mind.
After two years of digital marketing, Zoom meetings and cold-calls, it’s not surprising businesses are ready to make their big debut with an impressive demo and display space. You can expect to see bigger booths emphasizing tactile experiences so the products can once again sell themselves.
Emphasis on experiential elements
Unlike the previous trend, the experiential elements often indirectly relate to the products or demos.
Experiential activations are generally used for B2C businesses and can come in the form of booth games and shows like mock-ups of Jeopardy, Family-Feud, photo booths and fortune wheels.
However, this event tactic is finding itself at more B2B events with practical, interactive elements in the form of celebrity appearances, Livestream discussions with thought-leaders and strategic giveaways related to products and services.
The bottom line is don’t discount the effectiveness of experiential elements for bringing prospects to the booth at B2B events.
Increased prep time for building exhibits
If you’re planning to build a custom design to make a high impact at any event, contacting reputable exhibit houses should be a top priority. This ensures you get your materials on time and in one piece.
Labor shortages, material shortages and shipping delays are increasing exhibit construction time by up to 6 months and more. This is a trend that nearly every exhibit design firm is experiencing.
Thankfully, almost everything the Trade Group builds happens in-house in our 185,000 SF facility in Grapevine, TX, helping us control the entirety of the exhibit design process from ideation to execution while, at the same time, allowing us to cut time and costs for our clients. This is a great time to get started on design solutions for your booth space.
NBAA-BACE provides plenty of opportunities for both experienced and first-time exhibitors. Discover more about the 2022 NBAA-BACE and other upcoming trade shows by using our trade show search tool.
The Trade Group is a full-service trade show and event marketing company. We will work with you to create an exhibit or an event that brings in leads and helps you achieve your business goals. Contact us here or give us a call at (800) 343-2005.
Jason Rubin joins The Trade Group after nearly 10 years in the exhibition industry, primarily on the international major airshow circuit. His focus at TTG are the aviation, space, defense, security and law enforcement sectors, having overseen his clients’ prior exhibition success on five continents. His unique globe-trotting experiences in exhibit halls, chalets and activations bring with it an attention to detail and customer-first focus that all exhibitors should demand.
