Conference Banners - anyone have any techniques?

[SeatBackForward]

Does anyone else on AFF ever have to carry conference/exhibition banners? and what's their go-to method?

Most of my international travel is to attend conferences/events, often where I'm part of the team exhibiting. This from time to time means I am also required to bring over and bring back banners. The pull-up type, that are approximately 80cm wide and about 2m hight when unrolled. Sometimes just one, sometimes upto 3 as part of a "wall" feature.

Now given this width, they cannot be carried on board, plus can weigh between 5-15kgs! I have a roller duffel that can take it, but obviously needs checking in.

Sometimes I've had to put this through oversized, but I think I've got it down to a bag that doesn't look stupidly big and can check in as normal:

My next goal is to come up with a system that will be completely carry-on compliant, but wanted to test the ingenious ideas that might already be out there.

 

[leadman]

I'm actually Chair of two conferences, both in two weeks' time in Siem Reap. 900+ pax, 130 exhibitors over five days. I see the delegates bring them in all ways; Checked, hand and shipped in. There doesn't seem to be any one formula, although some actually get us to manufacture their posters over there. The new type of booths is making it much easier for exhibitors to carry less material.

On a side note, it's been quite a challenge to take the conferences to REP. Even the Sofitel and Sokha say it's the biggest events they have had with the format we have. Even funnier have been the questions from delegates, the best one was if "Siem Reap had a Metro system?"

 

[SeatBackForward]

I'm actually Chair of two conferences, both in two weeks' time in Siem Reap. 900+ pax, 130 exhibitors over five days. I see the delegates bring them in all ways; Checked, hand and shipped in. There doesn't seem to be any one formula, although some actually get us to manufacture their posters over there. The new type of booths is making it much easier for exhibitors to carry less material.

Yeah I've seen the setup that some other exhibitors bring in and my jaw drops at the money they must be spending. We're a lean machine, so whatever we can do ourselves at bare minimum cost is our preferred options. Others are usually surprised when they see that we're not only manning the booths, but setting and breaking them down ourselves.

These new types of booth - are these the panelled walls? I saw these being put up for an event recently and I hope they recycle all that material! But as an exhibitor that was a good one, no banners, just whatever junk we wanted to give away on a desk.

On a side note, it's been quite a challenge to take the conferences to REP. Even the Sofitel and Sokha say it's the biggest events they have had with the format we have. Even funnier have been the questions from delegates, the best one was if "Siem Reap had a Metro system?"

You'd think the major hotel chains would have experts within their organisations that offer advice to each other!

 

[leadman]

For the bigger cities, yes, very streamlined and easy to do, but in the world of hotel conference management, places like REP and Kuching are "backwaters". The simple overhead projector is not a problem, but getting in a 14m LED screen is a challenge.

 

[leadman]

To go off topic a bit, delegates are starting to tell us flights are becoming harder to find to get into REP for the conferences. 1,000 pax now, and most BKK flights are gone, so we are telling them to head over to DMK, plenty there. SQ is charging AUD1,750 in Y OW for the Sunday. I'm finding that delegates are leaving very late to register and make flight arrangements post-covid. At least I know I've got the airlines and hotels some business!