47
and the road access to the back of the halls
is great. They all know the venue and they
are all working together to make this thing
work.”
“They have been so supportive
throughout the whole process,” agrees
Mork-Eidem. “It's been very comforting
from an event organiser perspective to be
able to go to them with questions and sense-
check stuff along the way.”
While the build may have had its
challenges, with exhibitors bringing in
large pieces of machinery and vehicles into
the halls, the move has also meant that the
exhibitors have a lot more options when it
comes to their stands.
NEC senior account manager, Amy
King comments: “The biggest success for
us was being able to demonstrate that
exhibitors could do everything they had done
outdoors and more. There were so many
logistical benefits to coming indoors, such
as not having to worry that AV equipment
“It's like we're launching a new show at the NEC
using 11 halls and expecting thousands and
– Elisabeth Mork-Eidem
thousands of people”
wouldblow over, it could be installed and
managed easier, buyers could meet suppliers
without battling the elements, and exhibitors
also had access to an experienced in-house
event team on site.
“We needed to change the perception of
the NEC; some exhibitors were concerned
that due to being a big corporate, we would
be inflexible and rigid in our thinking- it is
quite the opposite. We worked tirelessly to
change this throughout the year acting as a
part of the LAMMA team.”
The move indoors might be the big change
for this year, but the AgriBriefing team have
big plans for the show’s future.
Taking up residency at the NEC opens
up possibilities for conference and content
elements at the show, including opportunities
for learning and thought leadership going
forwards, along with the chance for
exhibitors to get far more creative in their
new, and less weather-dependent, home. EN
exhibitionnews.co.uk | February 2019