My husband Alan & I just took our first vacation in 15 years! We covered a bit shy of 2000 miles in 8 days, checking off a bunch items on our wish list.
We got to experience cranberry harvest in Wisconsin and spent time exploring the North Shore of Lake Superior. I highly recommend both of these areas, which are truly undiscovered gems! (You can feel free to reach out to me for recommended things to see & do – I’m happy to share.)
We were also fortunate to have brunch and a sightseeing tour with Wendy Porter in Minneapolis! (You may remember she was my guest for a conversation about Sponsorships That Drive Results.)
But of course as a trade show & event professional, I couldn’t help but notice a few lessons along the way.
1. Signage
We got lost a few times, often due to inadequate signs. Sometimes they were hidden behind overgrown shrubbery, or there was no street sign at an intersection (why??!), or the signs only took you so far. Like how they led us to the parking lot, but we couldn’t find the actual attraction. (Where are you hiding, Pink Beach?) I’ve never been so thankful for Apple Maps on my phone – it was my most-used app that week … by FAR!
Lesson for EventProfs:
Don’t assume that everyone’s a “local” and has been there before. Always look at navigation with fresh eyes. Organizers: Can people easily navigate the venue? Exhibitors: How can you invite people in and help them navigate your space? Sometimes you’re just a few missed signs away from a great attendee experience.
2. Scheduling
Since we only had a couple of days in each place, we wanted to see all we could. So we tended to pack things in, and were probably fortunate that a few of our planned activities didn’t pan out. Leaving space in the schedule allowed us to spend more quality time at the places we really loved, like Split Rock Lighthouse.
Lesson for EventProfs:
Unless you intentionally leave room in the schedule, people will always be racing breathlessly from one activity to another and never have time to process what they’re experiencing. Let them be more in the moment. Too much of a good thing is still TOO MUCH! This also allows for lesson 3 …
3. Serendipity
Even with a well-planned itinerary, a few things are bound to go wrong. The Cranberry Museum we wanted to see is in transition and was closed the day we were there. But after a short conversation at the Chamber office across the street, I learned there was a local farm with an older lady who was happy to show off the history of her five-generation operation. Turns out that was way more personal and made us feel like VIPs!
Lesson for EventProfs:
Don’t assume that you need to provide an endless stream of “official” learning opportunities. Allow room for exhibitors and attendees to discover “happy little accidents” (as Bob Ross would say), and then let the magic happen.
Leave space for a few surprises, because sometimes the most memorable parts of a trip aren’t on the brochure … and the same goes for events.
