The AARP Life @50+ National Event & Expo opened at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Thursday. The three-day convention offered the usual fare—educational sessions and mixers—in addition to concerts and appearances from personalities such as Natalie Cole, Chaka Khan, Quincy Jones, Gene Simmons, and Paul Simon. At the expo, some 400 exhibitors—from Microsoft to Sam's Club to Walgreens—set up shop to spread their corporate message to the 25,000-person crowd, using relaxation stations, interactive games, and loads of freebies. Here's a look at some of the stand-out exhibits.
The DirecTV display at the AARP expo
Photo: BizBash
More than 400 exhibitors set up shop at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
Photo: BizBash
Nintendo's haloed, gray-carpeted booth offered a network of Wii stations for curious attendees.
Photo: BizBash
Verizon appealed to the crowd with cell phone seminars and giveaways.
Photo: BizBash
The NASA station's carpeted floor featured photos of the moon's surface and interactive games related to space exploration.
Photo: BizBash
Passersby were invited to take photos with a Dodge Challenger at the Chrysler setup.
Photo: BizBash
The Moroccan tourism board display, appealing to traveling retirees, offered a taste of the country's architecture.
Photo: BizBash
Amtrak created a miniature train station, complete with sample seating and a display of the company's on-board food and beverage offerings.
Photo: BizBash
An assortment of flats-creen TVs decorated the walls of DirecTV's space.
Photo: BizBash
HP kept its display simple and informative with several customer service stations.
Photo: BizBash
UnitedHealth Group's blond-wood center offered back massages to weary expo-goers.
Photo: BizBash
