Unique Ideas

Marriott's "VRoom Service" kit comes with headphones and a Samsung phone and headset, all delivered in a steel case.

Graffiti artist Andrea von Bujdoss painted items such as a Yankees cap, bicycle, and iPhone case that were awarded to guests who posted about them on Twitter. The items were dubbed #InstaSwag.

Inside the private room, Martell's international brand ambassador guided guests through a tasting of L’or de Jean Martell, which retails for about $3,000 a bottle and is served from a crystal decanter. The space had its own entertainment, Greg Pattillo, a beatbox flutist.

Confetti and props were available for guests to play with at a slow-mo video booth.

Charging stations are hot commodities at conferences and trade shows, but they can also be a distraction as users stand by waiting for their phones to charge. Brightbox eliminates that issue. The charging station is secure, so users can leave their phones—for a few minutes or a few hours—to go about their business. Each unit has six compartments that are unlocked with the swipe of a credit card. At events where the units are provided by the host or sponsored by a vendor, charging is provided for free to the attendees, so the credit card simply acts as a key. Brightbox launched in early 2012 and has been used at the Democratic National Convention and the New York Times Travel Show. To recognize sponsors, the company can add custom wraps on the unit or add logos or other information to the user interface screen.

CNN used this type of interactive video wall during its election coverage and now it's available for events. PSAV offers two standard sizes, each using 46-inch square screens configured in either a two-by-two or three-by-three format. The company can also create custom screens of any size. The wall operates like a large iPad with about two dozen apps to create maps, presentations, and games. The product can be used as a presentation screen in educational sessions or in common areas as interactive digital signage, for example to provide venue maps and sponsor information. At a trade show, the wall can display exhibitor logos and information when users click on a specific booth. Within a booth, users can input their email addresses to receive additional information, creating an instant lead retrieval system.