Interested in exhibiting?

We understand that many people come conferences like Reliable Plant to network, making connections that could lead to business opportunities in the future. We encourage everyone to meet people and build valuable relationships at our conference, but we also have a duty to paying exhibitors, sponsors, and attendees to stop unauthorized solicitation activities at the event. For this reason, we have a zero-tolerance policy for suitcasing activities. Unless you are a sponsor or vendor who has purchased booth space, soliciting of attendees or exhibitors (known as “suitcasing” in the industry) is strictly prohibited.

While the line between soliciting and simply meeting people is not always obvious, conference staff and paying exhibitors will take note of those who are “selling” at the conference without purchasing a booth or other sponsorship opportunity. If you are not a paying exhibitor, avoid activities like:

• Going booth to booth and handing out business cards.
• Handing out promotional material like flyers or brochures.
• Forcing attendees into sales conversations about your product or service while they are trying to enjoy the conference and meet authorized exhibitors and sponsors.

In addition to the above information, suitcasing is a parasitic business practice in which unethical companies will gain access to an event by obtaining some type of event credential (attendee badge, media pass, etc.) and then solicit business in the aisles or other public spaces used for the conference. This practice skirts the support of the organizer and the industry. This does not pertain solely to soliciting the attendees of an event—companies exhibiting at the show who have paid for space on the exhibit hall floor also did not spend company funds to be sold to by other exhibitors, unauthorized solicitors, advertisers, or trade publications.