Display Group used their space on the trade show floor to pay homage to an iconic Detroit monument. The company's creative director, David Danielson, digitally sculptured a replica of The Spirit of Detroit—installed in the city's downtown in 1958—before it was built with foam and a plastic hard coat. "This is one of many props in our inventory available to rent," said Display Group sales and marketing director Niko Solomos.Photo: Octane Design
DETROIT—BizBash, along with parent company Connect, threw down in Detroit Aug. 8-10 for our annual three-day Connect Marketplace. This year's event featured (of course) valuable one-on-one networking appointments, immersive trade show booths from some of the industry's most sought-after partners, forward-thinking education sessions (did you catch the one about THC at meetings?), and special guest Gwyneth Paltrow at the closing general session.
The hybrid event, produced in partnership with akire productions and Hubilo, proved that trade show booths are often more successful when they deliver an experience. (Just read this advice from industry pros in our story on how to make your trade show booth stand out on a crowded show floor.) During BizBash at Connect Detroit, there was no shortage of fun and engagement inside the exhibit hall at Huntington Place.
From ice cream spiked with moonshine to a beauty bar, colorful teas, an homage to Prince, and more, suppliers didn't hold back this year. Keep scrolling to see some of the creative booths on the trade show floor—plus a handful of our favorite moments from the event.
They don't call it Motown for nothing. One of the standout spots on the trade show floor this year? Visit Detroit's music lounge, where attendees heard from local acts against a backdrop slider showcasing some of Detroit's best scenery. Attendees especially loved this Marvelettes-inspired trio, who performed—among other hits—"Please Mr. Postman."
Photo: Octane Design
Who can pass up a sweet treat after a long day of networking and walking the floor? Explore Branson had the fix with their ice cream social-inspired counter. Attendees could post up on one of the bar stools, enjoy a cup of their favorite flavor (with moonshine poured on top if requested), and continue catching up with colleagues and peers.
Photo: Octane Design
We love a good mobile activation. One of the most photographed spots on the trade show floor was Graduate Hotels' recreation of the Mutt Cutts van from the 1994 comedy Dumb & Dumber.
Photo: Octane Design
This year, Interactive Entertainment Group turned the notion of an engaging trade show booth on its head—literally. In addition to being flipped upside down, attendees could try out the company's VR 360 simulator to engage in a number of immersive experiences like space missions and rollercoasters.
Photo: Octane Design
Many DMOs showcased local spirits—and excited attendee taste buds—on the floor this year, but one of the best displays came from Visit Fort Worth. Glittering bottles with a bold TX on the front were an eye-catching way to get attendees to try this blended whiskey while learning about the destination.
Photo: Octane Design
Another standout photo op: Meet Minneapolis' five-foot-tall replica of one of the famous cloud shoes that Prince wore in his "Raspberry Beret" music video. The DMO unveiled the installation, created in partnership with Paisley Park, at this year's Connect Marketplace. (We'll be hosting in Minneapolis in 2023!) Two identical pairs of the real shoes can be seen on display at the Paisley Park exhibition “The Beautiful Collection: Prince’s Custom Shoes,” which includes more than 300 pairs of Prince’s bold footwear.
Photo: Octane Design
Giving away free samples or swag never gets old, but HOLISTIK Wellness took that a step further this year by handing out its water-soluble CBD STIKS. Although untraditional, the addition of the booth to Connect Marketplace—plus hosting a panel all about cannabis and events—paves the way for forward-thinking.
Photo: Octane Design
Another popular spot on the floor: Visit Detroit's beauty bar. The DMO put a spotlight on a Detroit-founded, Black-owned makeup brand, The Lip Bar, where attendees could try the products to glam up their trade show experience.
Photo: Octane Design
The Hubilo booth proved to be the perfect oasis on the trade show floor, with its windowed enclosure, pastel orange walls, and greenery. (The champagne bar didn't hurt either.) Happy attendees could leave with Hubilo-branded bags, tumblers, and espadrilles.
Photo: Octane Design
The puppies returned! Reno Tahoe brought back a favorite: the puppy lounge. Attendees could unwind with a brood of adoptable pups, who were either happy to adorably chase each other or snooze in your arms.
Photo: Octane Design
An out-of-the-box engagement idea we loved for a trade show booth was Visit Wichita's giant colorable column. Attendees could grab colorful pens and channel their inner creative as they learned about the city's history and must-see attractions.
Photo: Octane Design
Sketch & Etch was also on the floor, showing off its customizable LED neon signage. A custom neon sign can go a long way in attracting foot traffic to a trade show booth—it's the perfect on-trend photo op.
Photo: Octane Design
We spotted too many attendees to count on the floor who had these colorful teas in their hands. Kalahari Resorts' tea bar proved to be a hot spot with the perfect cold pick-me-up.
Photo: Octane Design
Game on! Enticing attendees to your booth is easier with a giant inflatable game. This year, attendees could hang with Team Travel Source and try out, among other games, the tic-tac-"throw" for prizes.
Photo: Octane Design
At Visit Cincy's booth, attendees could see screen-printing in action. James Billiter of Billiter Studios printed limited-edition Cincinnati prints for attendees who stopped by.
Photo: Octane Design
Display Group used their space on the trade show floor to pay homage to an iconic Detroit monument. The company's creative director, David Danielson, digitally sculptured a replica of The Spirit of Detroit—installed in the city's downtown in 1958—before it was built with foam and a plastic hard coat. "This is one of many props in our inventory available to rent," said Display Group sales and marketing director Niko Solomos.
Photo: Octane Design
Some of our other favorite moments...
Our opening night reception was one for the books. Visit Detroit pulled out all the stops for the "Detroit Throwdown," which had attendees filtering between three stellar venues, all right next to each other—The Fillmore Detroit, the Fox Theatre Detroit, and Union Assembly—for dancing and dining.
Photo: Octane Design
At The Fillmore, guests could watch self-taught fine arts painter Devin Laster live paint this stunning 5-by-7-foot portrait of Detroit-born rapper Eminem. Laster has been part of over three dozen public exhibitions across the country, including in Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta, and Los Angeles.
Photo: Octane Design
At Union Assembly during the Detroit Throwdown, partygoers could venture up to the mezzanine level to find Mom's Spaghetti, a concept from Eminem that pays homage to the iconic lyric from his song "Lose Yourself."
Photo: Octane Design
BizBash assistant editor Shannon Thaler (left), who hosted the event's education programming, has a quick pow-wow with Gabrielle Groll, production coordinator for akire productions, who produced the program.
Photo: Octane Design
One of our most talked-about education sessions this year was "What the Legalization of THC Means for Event Producers." Panelists (pictured here left to right) were HOLISTIK Wellness CEO TJ Stouder, Infin8ly Elevated Events and Cannabis Wedding Expo CEO Vanessa Oliver, The Hashinista founder Elise McRoberts, and AKJOHNSTON Group founder and CEO Austin Johnston. Watch it on-demand here.
Photo: Octane Design
It's not Connect Marketplace without valuable one-on-one networking! Event profs got to work each day making new connections and closing deals.
Photo: Octane Design
There's nothing like face-to-face, one-on-one time, and planners and suppliers were eager to make new contacts.
Photo: Octane Design
Another education session worth catching if you missed it: "Fearless Females: How These SheEOs and Lauded Leaders Achieved Success." Panelists (picture left to right) included CORT Events director of marketing Lilian Shen, Hubilo CMO Cathy Novelli, and LaJoy Plans owner Melva LaJoy Legrand.
Photo: Octane Design
BizBash chairman and founder David Adler recorded a live episode of GatherGeeks on stage during the trade show with Gregorio Palomino, CEO of event and travel management agency CRE8AD8.
Photo: Octane Design
DJ Shawna kept the energy high at our closing general session. She's known as one of Milwaukee's top DJs. (Guess where Connect Marketplace will be in 2024?)
Photo: Octane Design
You could say we were in "goop" company with our special guest. The event ended on a high note as Connect Meetings president Chris Collinson sat down with Academy Award-winning actress, author, and goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow. She spoke about growing up with show biz parents, her favorite places to travel, her favorite movie role (she named Wes Anderson's The Royal Tenenbaums and the first Iron Man film), and how she's grown goop into such a successful business.
Photo: Octane Design
