Full Version: ARA Show Venue
From: jeanettebrewer (JEANETTEBREWER2) [#10]
26 Mar 2007
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#9] 26 Mar 2007
From: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#11]
26 Mar 2007
To: John (ICTJOHN) [#8] 26 Mar 2007
Actually I've never seen Branson....just heard about how popular it has become.
I suppose the airfares are very different depending on the point of origin. You would think that a fare from NY would be inexpensive (...the way it used to be to Vegas.) But the specials are largely gone. I booked my ticket for the show in September, and it was still over $500.00 on Southwest.
Now that I think of it, Chicago would be a great place for the show. I remember going to McCormick Place for some trade show shortly after it was built up, and the travel was a piece of cake. Great restaurants and bars, and centrally located with fantastic convention facilities.
From: Dee (DEENA-ONLY) [#12]
26 Mar 2007
To: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#11] 26 Mar 2007
From what I hear Chicago is almost as expensive for shows as NY and there are more union issues there than in NY.
Dee
From: John (ICTJOHN) [#13]
26 Mar 2007
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#2] 26 Mar 2007
David,
ARA has asked that question of it's members almost yearly...........sometimes in e-mails, sometimes in the registration packet with your badges. I believe the overwhelming majority has said Vegas was their choice for many reasons... Most airfares were reasonable, food, sights, weather, chance to make a vacation out of a business trip etc., etc., etc.
ARA has to schedule about 4 years out in advance, so it will be a slow move to get it changed to a different location unless something drastic happens, like they quit building new hotels or that earthquake fault line is farther west than they think and it falls into the ocean... =:)
I would probably go once in a while if they moved it to another city, but I really enjoy going to Vegas 1 - 3 times a year and will go every year it is in Vegas.
Just my warped sense of an excellent "destination"!
Kind of like the old saying: If you don't like the weather in Kansas....wait 15 minutes and it will change!
If you don't like Vegas today...........wait a year and they will build a new one.
:O)
btw: while we were in Vegas, they announced plans to extend the monorail down to the airport, I think that will take 4-5 years. Another extension will take it to the downtown area. Still priced too high I think.
~
From: gt350ed [#14]
26 Mar 2007
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#2] 26 Mar 2007
Question pertaining to the 3 words: How far is Las Vegas from your place of business?
Next question: When was the last time the poll-taker was IN (or ON) Las Vegas for a ARA event? :O)
Message 6428.15 was deleted
From: Cindy (CINDYM) [#16]
27 Mar 2007
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#2] 27 Mar 2007
When I was a State Director for ARA years ago I asked this same question and was told that too many members consider Las Vegas a vacation also and would not come to the show if held elsewhere. Also thrown in to the reason(s) why people would not attend if the show was not held in Las Vegas was the central location and that people could fly directly in to Las Vegas. There were comments about our international members, and how Las Vegas was a draw for them, and they could get easy connections for travel. Believe me, a whole list of reasons were given to me.
It's a catch 22 because if you ask the question another way - why do we have so much trouble getting good space - you are told it is because our show is small potatoes compared to other groups and we don't spend enough on gambling - so our group isn't one that is in high demand in Vegas.
I for one am not a Las Vegas fan. After going there year after year, it was fun the first few years, but it is no longer a fun place for me. Food is expensive, lodging is expensive, travel on the ground is expensive and for anyone who has issues with walking or has a disability, it is not a disability friendly place. My understanding from vendors is that it is an outrageously expensive place to show off their goods - union unloading & loading, booth space is very expensive. I don't know how they do it show after show.
The change in venue would have to be to a place where they have direct flights in and out, or moving the show would not even be considered.
Cindy
From: Doug (JDOUG5170) [#17]
27 Mar 2007
To: Cindy (CINDYM) [#16] 27 Mar 2007
Cindy, I think yours was the best message in the bunch. You hit every topic right on.
How in the world can anyone that has been to vegas more than once consider it a vacation? I have been to so many more larger cities that are of more interest to me. ARA is New York City would get my attendance every time! But, for a true vacation/work venue, how can you beat the Bahammas, Hawaii, The Great Northwest...so many place to go, so little time.
I also believe what you said about the vendors finding Vegas to be very expensive to show in. When I worked for a company that showed at Comdex every year, it was outrageous what we had to budget just for move in and tear down considering the union rules. Funny too, they used to say the same thing about us and the gambling, apparently computer geeks were not considered gamblers either.
Ah well, change will come someday, but, probably to Anaheim! (Boo, hiss)
Doug
From: Jim (RETAIL74) [#18]
27 Mar 2007
To: Cindy (CINDYM) [#16] 27 Mar 2007
The only other city that would meet the criteria needed for a national ARA trade show would be Orlando. The city needs to have plenty of space to accommodate the show because it's not a big show. It also needs to be in a warm climate that has other attractions because it brings more people.
The access to affordable flights and rooms is always underestimated. Hotel rooms in NYC are $250+ per night. Plus transportation, parking, and food for vendors would be much higher. All things considered, Las Vegas is probably the best location.
From: Cindy (CINDYM) [#19]
27 Mar 2007
To: Doug (JDOUG5170) [#17] 27 Mar 2007
I might have mentioned this before in another post, but the best show I ever attended was in 1991 or '92 when the show was held in Oahu. It might have been a regional show - taken the place of the LA fall show. Ahhh, that was worth attending. It was in Nov, so although there was some rain, it was warm and beautiful and it was sunny most of the time. I remember, after the show part was over, we moved over to the big island and I never wanted to come back to the rainy northwest. If you can picture this, I was at the airport waiting for our connecting flight home, lying outside in the sun on one of the benches (the whole airport there is pretty much outside) and chanting "don't make me go back, don't make me go back". Pretty pathetic, but that was the last 'vacation' I've had that I enjoyed so much. At the time, airfare wasn't that bad to Hawaii - I could go now, but my family sure wouldn't be joining me at today's air prices!
There are pro's & con's to Vegas. It used to be a big town with a little town feeling, but now it is just hard to manuver there and expensive all the way around. LV is more a resort town now.
I'm pretty sure I've been told ARA does have to commit at least 4-5 years in advance and I don't see anything changing about where the show is held in the near future, much as some of us would like it to go elsewhere. After years of working the logistics out I'm sure the planning group would hate to start all over again.
Cindy
From: Mike (MIKEN) [#20]
27 Mar 2007
To: ALL
All three of the shows I mentioned are larger than ARA and all grapple with the site issue. There are 3 cities in the country that can handle shows of that size from the standpoint of hotel rooms, flights, ground transportation and exhibit space. Those cities are Las Vegas, Chicago and New York.
Unions are a problem everywhere in terms of cost and the number of them you have to deal with in setting up your exhibit. Security is a major issue at all of them.
I also had the pleasure of attending several trade shows in Europe and while hotels space and transportion are more of an issue than here exhibit space and concept are not. Their halls are comfortable with plenty of lounge areas, restaurants rest rooms etc. plus it is their way to have a hopitality area in most exhibits. Something we could learn from.
Where is our virtual exhibit for all of us who are tired of the travel?
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#21]
27 Mar 2007
To: Mike (MIKEN) [#20] Unread
Mike,
It's a topic I raised with some exhibitors at the ARA show. Those I spoke to were up for the concept of a "Virtual Trade Show."
I don't know if that would knock the legs out from under the live events, and that's not the intent.
From: Dee (DEENA-ONLY) [#22]
27 Mar 2007
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#21] 27 Mar 2007
I don't care for virtual shows accept as an additional show. I want to touch the product and pick the brains of the salesman.
Dee
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#23]
27 Mar 2007
To: Dee (DEENA-ONLY) [#22] 27 Mar 2007
Dee,
My concept was to have the company set their booth up, then interview (grill?) the salesperson, touch, feel, beat the product to death, just as if you were at a trade show.
Anything less, wouldn't be a virtual trade show. :-)
EDITED: 27 Mar 2007 by DGL
Message 6428.24 was deleted
From: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#25]
27 Mar 2007
To: ALL
The $64 question is by how many people has the show shrunk as a direct result of this venue? It certainly couldn't be because our industry in general is shrinking dramatically, could it?
I'm guessing not. The fact is, Vegas has become significantly more expensive than in years past. Airfares are up (...and air travel's a hassle anyway), hotels rooms are expensive, and even food has gotten pricey. And as a result, the trek is at best an every-two-year treat for us.
I'm not sure what the answer is (if any), but I sure wish the Atlantic City Show was as large :S
From: UncleSteve [#26]
27 Mar 2007
To: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#25] 27 Mar 2007
There are only a few reasons to spend what the vendors lay out for the "big 'un"..... and some lay the $$$ out anyway.
BIG expensive equipment where one or two sales will cover the cost of the show and the exposure brings numerous after-show sales. (these companies often sell the demo machines right off the show floor to avoid having to ship them back to the showroom/warehouse)
A new company looking to make their name/products known to the engraving community
An old, established company with new products, not the same old, same old
Because if they are NOT there, everyone will notice even though they don't notice if the company IS there....
IMHO, jumping into venues like our forum would be a much better way to get the word out and just think how many samples could be distributed for what the show costs....
From: Mick [#27]
27 Mar 2007
To: UncleSteve [#26] 27 Mar 2007
Strange timing I must say, as an attendee of ARA in Vegas this year, I was just emailed today a poll from ARA asking all questions about the venue, hotel, travel to and from etc., etc...
Anyone else get one ???
From: John (ICTJOHN) [#28]
27 Mar 2007
To: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#25] 27 Mar 2007
Not to be antagonistic, but I would like to give my point of view.
Food is expensive........
I agree LV is raising their prices from the 1.99 buffets of long ago, but I dont' feel they are higher than I pay here at home. Yes, you can spend a lot in the "Fancy" restaurants, but they do have medium price ranges available. I love Blueberry Hill - a regional chain (CA & NV) of 24 hour restaurants, moderate prices.
Air fares......
Yes, some markets are high, yours is one of them and & I don't dispute that. I do believe for the majority of the people flying into Vegas, it is a good value. Last year, I drove 200 miles to save bucks to fly out of a different airport, just my luck it was cold and icy at 2:00am when I left here.
Hotels are expensive....
The host hotels are always going to be more expensive, they pay for their comp rooms by getting an "allowance" on the number of rooms booked (can't say "kickback").
By doing a search via Travelocity & Orbitz et al, you can find hotels from $39.00 and up. Depends on where you are willing to stay and how nice of a place you want. I stayed 1 block from the convention center and paid $69.00 a night. Last year I stayed at PARIS for a different convention, and the room rate was $220 per night - my other half's company picked up that tab......Lord knows I wouldn't pay that rate!
News Flash.........
ARA just sent a survey to show attendees, asking these and other questions. They also pointed out that the show next year is Wednesday thru Friday - Nothing on Saturday. That fact is not important to me, but it may be to someone else. The dates are February 26-29, 2008
I will go to the show every year that it is in Vegas unless it really, really, really goes downhill. You may have reached that point and that is fine, except you should let the ARA staff know what would pique your intrest and get you to go every year. Even if they don't ask you, just send a short note stating your ideals.
Boy, that was more than 2 cents worth, huh! :>
~
From: bluepaw [#29]
27 Mar 2007
To: Jim (RETAIL74) [#18] 29 Mar 2007
Hey, yeah. Being a Disneynut I visit there 2 or 3 times a year so I am all for anything that takes me to Orlando.
Put me down as a definite yes for ARA in Central Florida.
Bill
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