For hospitality industry professionals, trade shows are gold. Here is the best hospitality equipment discovery and testing under one roof, which makes it a one-stop shop for purchasing the highest quality hospitality equipment. Whether a busy restaurant, quaint café, or expensive hotel, trade shows are treasure troves of insights and deals that can raise the bar of your business considerably. In this article, we shall discuss how to get the most out of trade shows and how to find the best equipment at the best price.
Why Go to Hospitality Trade Shows?
Trade shows are more than just an exhibition. They present the opportunity for hospitality professionals to immerse themselves in the newest industry trends and technology. So why do you need to include them in your agenda?
Networking Opportunities
Attending the trade shows allows one of the major benefits: networking. They provide an opportunity to engage suppliers, manufacturers, or even other business owners of like-minded objectives. Through networking, one gets possible openings for partnerships, exclusive offers, and important tips that can benefit their venture.
Meeting people face to face helps in developing these types of relationships, which later would be of importance in benefiting your business.
Directly Having a First-Hand Look at the Product
There are a variety of advantages trade shows offer: you cannot view and read about items over the Internet nor browse through catalogues but can physically walk through exhibits. You may touch it, look at it even test some pieces to your heart’s desire. Hence, the much better judgment of product quality and even functionality, guaranteeing you are well aware of what you are committing for a heavy usage environment as seen in most hospitality-related institutions.
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How to Prepare for a Hospitality Trade Show
Visiting a trade show without preparation can be very overwhelming because hundreds of vendors and a long line of products have to be inspected. All that you may need is a little planning to make the best out of your time in that fair.
Start by researching the exhibitors list and layout of the trade show. Identify which companies are offering the type of equipment you need. Set specific goals for visiting the trade show. Is it to look for new equipment for your kitchen, new furniture, or new technologies? That way, if you are clear about your goals, you will have an easy time focusing on finding the items that answer your business needs, rather than getting diverted by everything on display.
Setting a budget helps you not to spend more than you can. The trade shows have only exclusive deals and discounts that you can’t afford, so you should make sure you invest in those things that will bring the most value to your business. That is not just the cost of the equipment but shipping, installation, and even maintenance.
Finding the Best Deals at Trade Shows
Among the attraction points of a trade show is the possibility of finding incredible deals on excellent products. Here are a few guarantees for getting the best bang for one’s buck.
Check for special deals and discounts on the particular show.
Many vendors provide exclusive discounts for trade show visitors. These “show specials” can be in the form of a price cut, trial version freebies, or package of services. Do not forget the vendors to enquire the chances of getting other special offers and one should look at the flyers or banners for those offers not written at the back.
Compare Different Vendors
Trade shows are a good place to compare vendors. Take your time; don’t go for the first deal. Go to several booths offering the same products. Apart from the price disparity that you compare you should also compare the warranties, the maintenance and support and the customer service from the different vendors. It will assist you in eliminating the usual problem of buyer’s regret to be able to make a wise decision.
Some Must-Have Equipment
While no two hospitality business is alike, some equipment items are bound to benefit most businesses. Here are some items to watch for at trade shows.
Kitchen Appliances
Good quality in the kitchen equipment is what makes any successful hospitality business. Look for basic equipment like ovens, refrigerators, and dishwashers, which enhance the performance of your kitchen without lowering the quality of food prepared. Trade shows feature latest models that boast energy-saving features or high-end cooking technologies, and hence, the best time to upgrade your kitchen.
Front-of-House Equipment
But then the front-of-house equipment isn’t so much smaller; you have things such as the seating and style of the tables and all these very efficient point-of-sale systems. It all impacts how your customer receives service in your business, you would find a good solution by combining functionality and beauty to create innovative equipment when checking out at these trade shows.