All exhibiting companies are required to be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and are encouraged to be sensitive, and as reasonably accommodating as possible, to attendees with disabilities. Information regarding ADA compliance is available from the U.S. Department of Justice ADA Information Line, (800) 514-0301, and from the ADA Web site at www.ada.gov.
Animals are not allowed at the Show except for service animals (dogs).
Announcements are only made by Show Management.
All exhibitors must have their badges before they will be allowed onto the Show Floor. No one under the age of 18 will be allowed on the Show Floor.
Please refer to applicable convention center policies.
Child Policy: Children are prohibited on the Show floor, this includes before, during and after the event, this is for their safety.
Show Management reserves the right to control all suites and meeting rooms in the official hotels, which are participating in housing for the Show. Exhibitors shall not have hospitality suites and/or meeting rooms during Show hours or during a time that conflicts with official functions of the Show and shall not host any event during the Show or official functions. Marketing and sales activities are limited to the Show floor during Show hours.
See fire rules and regulations.
Exhibitors will not be permitted to dismantle their exhibits or do any packing prior to Show close. This policy will be strictly enforced.
Please refer to GES and venue policies.
Please refer to GES for details.
- Floor manager desks will be located throughout the Show floor in case you have any immediate issues needing attention. Floor managers and floor manager assistants will be available to supervise and coordinate various exhibitor, facility and contractor activities and to assist in a management capacity on the Show floor as directed by Show Management.
- All audio and video should be appropriate for a general audience. In the event of a complaint from any person on a booth's content, Show Management will investigate and determine if the content is offensive or inappropriate. If content is determined to be offensive or inappropriate the exhibitor must cease use of such content.
- Island Booth Exhibitors: In the spirit of neighborly cooperation, we ask you to avoid adding any unnecessary walls or drapes that may contribute to obstructed views of exhibitors that surround your booth. Feedback from our attendees indicates that this causes substantial frustration in their ability to navigate the Show floor.
- Please take your exhibiting neighbors into consideration when positioning hanging signs and exhibit structures that could impede or obstruct lines of sight to them. Your thoughtful planning will make the Show a better experience for yourself, attendees navigating around the halls and other exhibitors.
- Sound and noise are permitted up to a maximum of 85 decibels. Show Management reserves the right to require any group whose noise levels disturb another group within the building to reduce their sound to a reasonable level that does not disturb any other group. If you feel that your event will have high noise levels at any time (including bands, loud music for dancing, shouting, singing, or other noise), please make arrangements with your Account Manager and Show Management to ensure that no other group will be in the vicinity of your event.
- Show Management will intervene if necessary, and reserves the right to shut down exhibits deemed objectionable. Floor managers in each show location will rove through the exhibit areas monitoring the decibel level during Show hours. Measurements will be taken at a distance no greater than 10' from the offending display. After measuring a continuous decibel level of greater than 85 dB, following a complaint being registered by a spectator, a neighboring exhibitor or personal observation by a roving designee, procedures will be strictly enforced to require the violating exhibitor to reduce noise level.
Insurance/Liability:
Liability insurance, property insurance and worker's compensation insurance must be taken out by each exhibitor at its own expense and must comply with state laws. Insurance can be obtained by the exhibitor's insurance company. A rider to existing policies may be taken out providing complete protection for the period of the Show, from move-in to move-out. If you need assistance acquiring insurance, Brokers Trust Insurance Group, Inc is our official Show insurance vendor.
Music Licensing:
It is the responsibility of the exhibitor to pay all royalties, license fees, or other charges due to any person or entity for any music or other entertainment played within the exhibitor's contracted space. Exhibitor must obtain music performance rights licenses through ASCAP and/or BMI (and any other necessary performing rights associations) if exhibitor intends to use copyrighted music in its booth.
Moving Displays/Lighting:
Lighting instruments must be focused so as not to interfere with adjacent exhibits.
Onsite Sales:
No direct/retail selling is permitted on the Show floor. Attendees may place orders with exhibitors for products/services at the Show, but the product or service ordered/purchased must be delivered to the attendee after the close of the Show. No soliciting of attendees shall be permitted in the aisles or in other exhibitors' booths. Signs showing the prices of items must not be displayed.
Personnel:
Booth must be staffed the entire time.
Photography/Videography Restrictions:
Exhibitor may take photos or videos of its displays; however, exhibitor is not permitted to directly take pictures of any other display or instruct others to take such pictures without written permission of Show Management and the exhibitor whose display is being photographed.
Privately Owned Vehicles/Hand Carried Items:
Please refer to GES.
Roaming Characters:
Roaming characters are not allowed at the Show. Any character in costume must stay within your contracted exhibit space. If roaming characters are found on the Show floor they will be sent back to the exhibit space. If the roaming character is spotted again, the individual's badge will be confiscated and the individual will be asked to leave the Show floor.
Sampling:
- Food & Beverage Sampling Form must be submitted to Centerplate
- Beverage samples are limited to 3 oz. pours; food samples are limited to 2 oz.
- Exhibitors demonstrating appliances such as teapots, kettles or other devices can use tea from other exhibitors, but they may not sample the tea to attendees.
- All sampling booths are required to have a handwashing kit in their booth
- You may order one from Centerplate for $75
- You may bring your own; it is required to contain the following: Disposable bucket, 2.5 gallons of water, 1 roll of paper towels, hand soap, 100 professional grade sanitizing wipes and test strips.
Security:
Show Management, the building operator, the official exhibit services contractor (GES), and the security company provide a measure of protection, such as providing perimeter security, but only you and your staff are responsible for your valuables. Some exhibitors hire designated booth guards to assist in this process.
We have found that theft at trade shows is most likely to take place during the set-up and dismantling (move-in and move-out) of exhibits. You are responsible for the safety of your booth and all exhibit and personal items. If you would like to hire additional security, simply fill out the Booth Monitor Form in the ESK.
In order to ensure the best possible protection, we would like your cooperation working within the following guidelines to help safeguard your exhibit and your products.
- Don't identify the product or manufacturer on the outside of cartons, crates, boxes, etc. Mark these numerically to indicate the total being shipped (1 of 6, 2 of 6, etc.).
- Stay with your exhibit until your empty cartons are delivered and your goods are packed, sealed and properly labeled.
- Products or equipment given away should be accompanied by donation stickers available on the last day of the Show.
- Use "empty” containers for display purposes.
- After Show hours, cover your display and products.
- If you observe an attendee taking more samples than normal, please contact your floor manager.
- Move all samples and displays to the rear of your booth. Post signs encouraging attendees to take only one sample.
- Do not leave any items of value in your booth overnight. If you order in advance, GES has security cages available for equipment and larger items. You will need to supply your own lock and key for security cages rented from GES.
- Be sure you make all arrangements for your outbound shipping prior to leaving the Show floor.
- Be sure to turn in your Bill of Lading to the GES service desk after your freight is packed and ready to be picked up. Do not leave it in your booth with your freight.
- Remove all old labels from inbound shipping and apply new labels for outbound shipping.
- At the close of the Show, you may begin to pack up products within your exhibit space. Keep all aisles clear of crates, boxes and cartons until the carpeting has been rolled up in front of your booth.
Subletting booth space:
Please refer to the exhibit space contract.
Suitcasing/Soliciting:
Only exhibitors that have contracted with Show Management are permitted to promote their products, services or company at the Show. Unless a marketing opportunity has been contracted by the exhibitor, all company promotion and product sampling must occur within the contracted booth space. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Approaching exhibitor booths to sell products
- Leaving and/or distributing product information in public spaces and Show floor aisles
Exhibitors violating this policy will be sent back to their booth space and materials left will be recycled. Attendees violating this policy will be asked to leave the Show and forfeit their badges. Any "suitcasers" should be reported to the Show Office. Repeated violations will be reported to Security and may result in loss of priority points.
We make every effort to ensure exhibitors will not be solicited in their booths. However, this does occur at trade shows. Should you be approached in your booth, kindly take down the name and company of the solicitor and provide the information to the Show Office or your floor manager.
Termination Rights:
Show Management reserves the right to terminate at any time the privileges of any exhibitor if Show Management determines, in its sole discretion, that an exhibitor is conducting its exhibit in such a fashion that might reflect unfavorably upon Show Management or the Show. In the event of termination by Show Management, the exhibitor shall promptly remove all equipment and personnel from the exhibit area. No portion of payments paid or owed to Show Management on account of said exhibit shall be refundable.
Union Jurisdictions:
Please make sure you read and understand the Show Site Work Rules in the GES section of the ESK.
Variances:
Any displays not conforming to the exhibit specifications outlined in the exhibit space contract or booth guidelines in the ESK must apply for written approval from Show Management by submitting the Approval Request Form by the date listed in the critical dates and deadlines in the ESK. Non-conforming booth structures set up without pre-approved variances may need to be modified or removed from the exhibit hall.
Vehicles on Show Floor:
Please refer to GES.
Violations:
Violations of any of these regulations on the part of the exhibitor or its employees or agents shall, at the option of Show Management, constitute cause for the termination of the exhibitor contract for exhibit space and could cause the exhibitor to be expelled from the Show. In the event this action is taken, the exhibitor will forfeit all fees paid and incur all related costs.
Waste Management:
Trash removal service is provided during Show hours and immediately after daily Show closing in the following areas: exhibit hall aisles (excluding exhibit booths), corridors, public space and areas used for meetings. Janitorial services are provided in restrooms throughout Show hours.
Exhibitors are responsible for cleaning their own booths (including but not limited to trash removal and vacuuming) or ordering service through GES. Show Management and GES are committed to reducing our environmental impact on the earth.
By incorporating environmentally-friendly practices into your trade show presence you will encourage your customers and peers to follow. Green business is good business!
IN ADDITION TO THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS AND ALL OTHER TERMS AND GUIDELINES SET FORTH IN THIS ESK, ALL EXHIBITORS MUST COMPLY WITH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLICABLE TO THE EXHIBIT SPACE CONTRACT AND ALL POLICIES, DIRECTIVES AND STANDARDS PUBLISHED ON THE SHOW WEBSITE OR OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY SHOW MANAGEMENT RELATING TO THE SHOW.