The construction industry is one of America’s true engines of growth and productivity, and CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2011 (Construction Expo/Concrete And Aggregates)– in Las Vegas from March 22-26 – is its premier gathering place. CONEXPO, held every three years, brings the latest in services, technologies and equipment. Are you exhibiting? Lets us help you strategize the perfect convention rentals to make your best impression.

Rent plasmas & touchscreens to stand out

With 2,000 exhibitors expected, and an ocean of attendees, you need to stand out. Nothing works quite so well as great video or animated presentations on large-screen plasma rentals. Getting people to stop is one thing – now you want to engage them. Touchscreen LCD monitor rentals, as well as the Sony VAIO L touchscreen computer rentals, offer a simple way to interact with attendees. Consider making the presentations available on your Web site, too, and hand flyers or cards with the URLs to people who walk past your booth.

The CONEXPO focuses quite a bit on education, with 120+ sessions on everything from new industry trends to marketing. The exhibit area will be divided into “product concentration” areas, which will help route interested parties your way – but not everyone will stop at your booth. Counter that by carrying your presentations on iPad rentals, so you can take your multimedia message around with you. You now have multiple ways of communicating your own excitement to attendees.

Get interactive at Green Roads Summit

CONEXPO is holding a Green Roads Summit to cover such crucial topics as sustainability, transportation, climate and competitiveness. Multiply the effectiveness of your conference presence by adding interactive kiosk rentals. These units can be programmed to offer your product presentations on a touchscreen interface, while also collecting contact information on attendees you never see. If you have arranged to lead a breakout session during the summit, combine both information and audience feedback with Audience Response System rentals.

CRE has you covered for any type of trade show rental equipment you need for CONEXPO-CON/AGG.  Do you know what you need? Use the handy Quick Rental Quote form, and get just the right gear when and where you need it.

The National Automobile Dealers Association will hold its 2011 NADA Convention & Expo at Moscone Center in San Francisco from February 5-7. Thousands of new vehicle dealers – plus retailers, automakers and industry leaders – will be there at the most important event in the automotive industry. Exhibitors need to stand out or be lost in the crowd, so  audiovisual rentals and other attention-grabbers should be part of your plan.

Do you have a product or service that targets this industry? Your customers are going to be there as well as your competitors and potential partners. So, it is vital to put on your best show with an interactive presentation displayed on a touchscreen LCD monitor rentals.

Since exhibiting at NADA brings you into personal contact with more auto dealerships than any other venue, you want to make a memorable impression. Letting people “touch their way” through presentations on Sony VAIO L all-in-one computer rental will engage them at your booth, while interactive kiosk rentals placed elsewhere will present your message while capturing information from potential partners and customers. With CRE, you have ‘em covered, coming and going!

RSA Conference USA 2011, coming to San Francisco’s Moscone Center from February 14-18, is the most comprehensive gathering of information security professionals. Attendees will learn about the newest security technologies, get updated on new best practices and gain insight into the security challenges facing businesses today. If you market a product or service to this industry, you can make a big impact with CRE convention rentals tailored to your needs.

The RSA Conference USA 2011 is the ultimate way to connect with security pros from around the globe. They will come from everywhere looking for solutions to the latest security risks, and if you have one of CRE’s plasma rentals you can really wow them. With simple computer programs you can control a multi-monitor setup (even a “wall”), so a few plasma screens or a mix of them and some LCD monitor rentals can make your exhibit the most eye-catching of all.

Consider holding a breakout session with one of CRE’s Audience Response System rentals. You can get immediate input as well as valuable feedback for later use. With CRE’s array of convention rentals you can achieve whatever effect you want.

At CRE Rentals, we are constantly thinking of how we can best serve your needs. We are always ready to equip you to blast through any production bottleneck or put your best foot forward at a convention. Call or e-mail an experienced Account Executive, or fill out the Quick Rental Quote form, and we’ll set you up with the right equipment, at the right place, at the right time and the right price – right away!

Music is NAMM

The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) is holding the 2011 NAMM Show at the Anaheim Convention Center from January 13-16, 2011. In a nod to the environment and the growing “green convention” movement, NAMM has moved registration, schedules and program material to the cloud instead of including a printed supplement in PLAYback, its member magazine. Since the online format allows continuous updating, attendees are encouraged to check the program regularly.

“Music Education Days” (Saturday and Sunday, January 15-16,) feature panel discussions, hands-on training and educator workshops in the Anaheim Hilton’s “Learning Lounge.” You can lead your own breakout sessions with Audience Response System rentals and/or audiovisual rental from CRE, an official rental vendor. With attendance strictly limited to industry professionals, NAMM is where you can target just the right buyers, vendors or potential partners. From interactive kiosk rentals to pitch your product and capture attendee information, to dramatic NAMM plasma rentals that will make your exhibit space stand out, CRE will deliver the goods, set them up, get you going and retrieve the rentals when the trade show is done. CRE takes care of you, the whole way.

Mac is Macworld

Macworld 2011 is coming back to San Francisco’s Moscone Center once again, from January 26-29. All the latest software, hardware and accessories for Apple’s various product lines – Macs, iPods, iPad, AppleTV, etc. – can be viewed, reviewed and test-driven.

If you are exhibiting and need a dozen iPad rental for polling potential clients or need HD plasma rentals to showcase a product demo, CRE gives you a potent trade show presence. With Macworld offering access to the major players behind Apple-related products and services, it’s where you want to be to stay on the leading edge – while cultivating contacts, making presentations and sealing a few (or many!) deals.

One call or e-mail, or a few moments filling out our Quick Rental Quote form, will put us on the job for you. From convention rentals to strategic advice, our expert Account Executives can help you put your best foot forward at NAMM, Macworld or any other trade show event. We’re ready now!

1. The right kind of session

Obviously, the session topic needs to relate strongly to the conference theme. In a recessionary economy, you may need to focus on the one or two most important conferences rather than spread yourself thin covering “second-best” venues. The “right kind of session” also means the appropriate delivery method – video on LCD monitor rentals, presenter with slides, interactive, discussion panel – and compelling content. Experts note that attendees need to feel that the material they are receiving will resonate with them and be filled with concrete and practical advice.

2. Pre-session promotion

In most cases, you can buy the e-mail list of last year’s conference to promote your breakout session at the current one. You can also do some promotion via trade journals, newspapers, blogs and the Web newswire services. Don’t forget that interactive kiosk rentals can serve as “robot PR people” at the conference. The kiosks can run promotional spots as attendees walk by or showcase additional information on the spot. You need to get people to your session, so drum up some excitement!

3. All-important follow-up

Whatever the audio visual requirements are, CRE has audiovisual rentals and the broadest selection of LCD monitor rentals to fill the bill. Add  great content, and you could have a real hit.

Unfortunately, there is no way to speak with every attendee individually, so post-session and post-conference follow-up is essential. Collect attendee contact info with an old-fashioned sign-up list. Or, try polling attendees during the session using an audience response system rental. Not only will you gather feedback about the session but you can also collect attendee contact information.  Once the conference is over, you can start following-up.

Remember, whatever your situation with conventions or digital workloads, CRE is your premier solution provider. Call or e-mail an Account Executive today, or fill out the Quick Rental Quote form, and get moving with state-of-the-art speed and capabilities!

The NCE pre-conference event, “Pediatrics for the 21st Century,” will key on Health Information Technology (HIT) and quality. Speakers will explain the importance of HIT for improved patient outcomes, while the newest technology will be displayed in a “Pediatric Office of the Future” exhibit.

If you are exhibiting, consider adding an all-in-one desktop touchscreen rental to showcase your products and services or rent an interactive kiosk to capture attendee information for later follow-up.

AAO 2010 is the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s annual meeting taking place at Chicago’s McCormick Place from October 16-19 with Subspecialty Days on the 15th and 16th. In addition to pre-conference programs ranging from exhibits and product demos to seminars, there will be plenty of discussions in the mini-lounges, as well as 100+ hours of free scientific sessions.

Free Wi-Fi access from the AAOasis booth allows attendees to get program info, view on-demand videos and visit the Virtual Exhibition. Real exhibitors of all kinds will be on hand so, grab their attention with a plasma rental to display product demos, infomercials and other presentations using various devices.

ASTRO 2010, the 52nd annual meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiation and Oncology, is being held at the San Diego Convention Center from October 31 to November 4.  The theme this year is “Gathering Evidence, Proving Value,” inviting participants to consider the changing realities of modern oncological medical practice and take part in the world’s premier educational radiation oncology event.

The Presidential Symposium will address the many challenges of medicine in an era of evidence-based practice. The meeting will highlight the latest advances in both research and practice. Of course, exhibitors are also an important source of information about new devices, technologies and practices. To make your most dramatic impact, CRE has an array of LCD monitor rentals and other displays that will stop people in their tracks.

Consider promoting your “green-ness” by incorporating some of these green ideas at your next conference. When you need to put your best foot forward as an exhibitor, CRE can help — we have decades of experience and can help you strategize an effective trade show floor presence. Simply complete our  Quick Rental Quote form and get a speedy reply.

Web 2.0 Expo

Web 2.0 Expo will feature the latest Web 2.0 business models, design strategies and development tracks for building the next-generation Web. From May 3-6 at Moscone West in San Francisco, this year’s multi-track conference brings together people, ideas, connections, products, contacts and companies to nurture stronger Web 2.0 communities.

The Web is still a powerful engine of economic growth, continuously fueled by a host of evolving business, development and design ideas that collectively fall under the umbrella of Web 2.0. The Expo features influential keynotes and speakers, info-packed workshops, an Expo show floor where your CRE interactive kiosk rentals can capture contact information from attendees of all types and the freewheeling Web2Open “unconference” and other rich, rewarding networking events. The event-wide WiFi network will allow your team of attendees, exhibitors or both to stay in touch with tablet PC rentals and leverage the network to gain even more from the event.

2010 ISRI Convention & Exposition

The scrap recycling industry’s businesses, customers and vendors will be attending the 2010 ISRI Convention and Exposition from May 4-8 at the San Diego Convention Center. They will come together to define the meaning of “success” in coming years, attending workshops and general sessions that will equip them with knowledge that will be key to success in today’s, and tomorrow’s, business operations.

Networking time will provide many opportunities to find new partners, clients and customers, while the largest scrap recycling equipment and service expo in the world will introduce attendees to new tools and technologies. It’s a perfect opportunity to deploy plasma rentals in a “TV wall” or set up the all-in-one computer rental with multi-touch screen  for crowd interaction.

The Cable Show

Billed as the event that brings together “Hollywood creative visionaries and Silicon Valley technology leaders for a one-of-a-kind convergence of ideas and innovation,” The Cable Show runs May 11-13 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The conference, presented by the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA), will touch on all the program delivery models – cable, mobile, portable content, Web – where technological advances and new business models are creating new opportunities and synergies.

In addition to sessions on everything from customer service, e-care, IP (Internet Protocol) service delivery and social media, Brian Roberts, the chairman and CEO of Comcast Corp., will headline an exclusive Newsmaker Brunch on the future of entertainment. Both cable company executives and content creators attend The Cable Show, and you should consider plasma rentals or LCD monitor rentals from CRE to catch their attention at your exhibit booth.

CLEO/QELS 2010

The Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics (CLEO), held in conjunction with the Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference (QELS), yields CLEO/QELS 2010. The conference attracts top talent from the fields of optical devices and fibers, lasers and photonics. This year’s conference will be held May 16-21 at San Jose’s McEnery Convention Center.

Attendees from around the globe come to hear from leading authorities as well as new innovators, and this year CLEO will include emergent applications related to lasers. The event is organized into four main segments, the first of which is the conference itself. The second segment is CLEO: Applications, where the focus is on practical demonstrations. The CLEO Market Focus sessions, segment three, will be held on the exhibit floor (a perfect place for interactive kiosk rentals) and deal with commercialized applications in such fields as energy, defense, security and biophotonics.

The CLEO: Expo segment, where over 300 companies from around the world will exhibit their new products and demo their latest innovations, is where you want to be equipped with CRE audio visual rentals and the biggest, brightest CLEO/QELS plasma rentals to showcase your company’s offerings.

Wherever you need to make an impression as an exhibitor, CRE can outfit you just right. Call or send an e-mail to our Account Executives, or fill out the Quick Rental Quote form, and we will take care of you quickly and professionally. With CRE., you are always equipped to win.

To combat these so-called cybercriminals, new technologies and techniques were developed – and are continuously updated and improved – to provide security for both information and the systems that store it. As the technologies are in a state of constant improvement, IT security professionals must be involved in ongoing education or risk catastrophic losses. The previous blog told you what expertise you needed, while this one tells you how to get it.

The SANS Institute

Founded in 1989 to undertake collaborative research and provide state of the art education, SANS (SysAdmin, Audit, Network and Security) Institute oversees programs that reach some 170,000 computer and network professionals worldwide every year. From auditors and system operators to network administrators and chief information officers (CIOs), increasing numbers of IT professionals are sharing insights, learning lessons and finding solutions to a never-ending stream of security challenges.

SANS brings together security professionals from a diverse array of global groups – including corporations, think tanks, universities, government agencies and trade associations – to benefit everyone concerned with information security. It is among the most trusted, and without question the world’s largest, independent source for IT security training and professional certification. The group is a fabulous resource for everyone, from small TV post-production firms with CRE Mac Pro rentals to financial institutions running huge databases on IBM iSeries servers.

In addition, SANS creates, maintains and distributes the most extensive set of research documents available regarding information security. Many of these valuable resources are free for the asking, including use of the Internet Storm Center (an “early warning system”), a weekly news digest called NewsBites, a weekly vulnerability report entitled @RISK and timely security alerts available by RSS  or e-mail.

Annual training conference

In San Diego, from May 7th to 15th, the group will be holding its SANS Security West 2010 training conference. To benefit fully from over 20 top-rated course offerings presented by expert instructors, make sure your show attendees pack our convenient laptop rentals to take notes, stay in touch via Wi-Fi and download course materials.

Security West 2010 is the place to be for security pros and business owners, and CRE can outfit you for attending, exhibiting or making a presentation. If you’ve reserved a spot at the Vendor Expo, we can set you up with touchscreen LCD monitor rentals, interactive kiosk rentals or anything else you need to present and promote your product or service.

Diverse and comprehensive

SANS veterans will recognize both classic, always-relevant offerings as well as exciting new courses in the comprehensive lineup. From SANS Security Essentials Bootcamp Style, Intrusion Detection In-Depth, Computer Forensic Essentials and Developing Exploits for Penetration Testers & Security Researchers to Comprehensive Packet Analysis, Security Architecture for Systems Administrators and Virtualization Security Fundamentals, the course offerings are both diverse and comprehensive.

The conference will also feature special events, a Vendor Expo/Reception and SANS@Night talks, all absolutely free to registered attendees. There are many informal yet enriching networking opportunities at SANS training events where you can forge valuable professional relationships that can last for years. That’s the kind of relationship that CRE has with many of its valued clients and customers. Whether you’re an old friend or a new one, call or send an e-mail to our experienced Account Executives (or use the Quick Rental Quote form) for all of your computer, networking, storage, presentation and event management rental needs.

Kiosk rentals in the convention space

CRE’s interactive kiosk rentals are used by companies in many ways, particularly as a way of deploying additional “virtual employees” at conventions and events.  Some of the obvious uses at conventions include:

• collecting names and addresses of people interested in your product or service
• dispensing information directly
• displaying a slideshow or playing a video presentation.

The newest kiosks include Web connectivity so that a marketing team with their tablet PC rentals can actually update the kiosk contents, download captured data and otherwise manage the device’s various tasks. In fact, quite soon many kiosks will be more akin to what IT people call “thin clients,” meaning there will be limited computing horsepower and storage in the physical unit, and it will take its orders and get its presentation material over the Internet.

Kiosk (rentals) in the future

With continuing advances in multimedia processing, new generations of ever-more advanced tools will further reduce development costs of kiosks while increasing their capabilities. A range of other new technologies – like signature cards, smart cards, 3G/4G cell phone connectivity, etc. – will lead to kiosk solutions yet to be imagined. While this is happening with the standalone kiosk rental model, there are other interesting “kiosk-ish” things happening as a result of touchscreen technology coming to PCs.

For one example, CRE has touchscreen LCD monitor rentals and the all-in-one desktop computer rental (Sony’s VAIO L model) that can be used in kiosk-type ways. By installing some special software, you can create your own kiosk and station it at your exhibit booth’s entrance or on a second table. Your “virtual partner” will help you capture more information from more people, perhaps twice as much, since you would be able to assist more than one person at the same time. There are other creative ways to employ kiosk technology that we will address in a future blogs (so check back).

CRE’s Account Executives are up to speed on all the technologies you need for success on an trade show exhibit floor or convention. Call, send an e-mail or fill out the Quick Rental Quote form and we will help you find the solutions you need to the challenges you face. With CRE, you are never in it alone.

IPC APEX EXPO 2010

IPC, the Association Connecting Electronics Industries, is holding its annual conference April 6-8 at Las Vegas’ famed Mandalay Bay resort. For electronics industry firms seeking new solutions in a tumultuous global economy, IPC’s APEX EXPO 2010 will offer answers as well as access to experts and engineers. Various venues – from the exhibit floor with over 300 suppliers to breakout sessions and an “Online Exhibit Hall” – will cover today’s critical areas, from reliability and decontamination to such emerging technologies as embedded devices and new solar panel technology.

The EXPO features the industry’s best standards development discussions, technical conferences and professional development training, as well as an exhibition featuring the industry’s top suppliers.  If you are exhibiting, you need to grab the attention of the thousands of passersby, which can be done with plasma rentals displaying your company products, Web site or even a live webcam feed.

NAB 2010

Called the NAB Show, the National Association of Broadcasters’ annual conference will take place April 10-15, with exhibits opening on the 12th, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. It is the world’s premier electronic media event, covering filmed entertainment as well as the creation, management and distribution of content across all media. The NAB Show is putting into practice many of the same “green meeting” ideas discussed in this blog, making it a living laboratory for continuing progress.

The Show was promoted with electronic communications instead of direct mail, social networking sites were leveraged for publicity and registration took place online. Post-consumer recycled materials are being used for conference bags and the limited amount of printing required. CRE can supply exhibitors with energy-effective rentals for NAB, from modern LCD monitor rentals that draw half the power of 5-year-old models to wireless tablet PC rentals for taking notes, downloading conference materials and communicating with others via Skype, chat or e-mail.

The NAB Show’s famous annual exhibition features some 1,500 companies covering over 800,000 square feet. Special pavilions include Destination Broadband, with more than 50 cutting-edge firms and a theater, which will showcase the online video experience and map out the “broadband ecosystem” from basic infrastructure to the latest home entertainment technologies. Other technology-focused pavilions include the 3D Pavilion, Mobile DTV Pavilion, Technologies for Worship and Content Central.

Interop

Interop, being held at the Mandalay Bay resort from April 25-29, is the best event for getting a comprehensive, unbiased view of all the latest IT innovations, from cloud computing and virtualization to security, mobility and data center innovations. A member of the TechWeb family, Interop drives adoption of new and emerging technology by providing expertise, insight and hands-on investigation of products that help IT managers and company decision-makers succeed.

For exhibitors who need to be in two (or more) places at once, CRE interactive kiosk rentals are a good move. You can capture attendee contact information, offer product specs and maximize your conference investment. If you have a booth, nothing grabs and holds attention like touchscreen feature available in the all-in-one computer rental with some “push-button fun.” You could also plug a laptop, a DVD player or a home-theater system into a plasma rental to present a PowerPoint slideshow, Flash animation or multimedia brochure.

You will also see new technology being deployed, as the InteropNet will be offering a stable high-speed network for attendees and exhibitors, from the conference rooms to the exhibition floor. InteropNet will showcase leading technologies in a live environment, with “virtualization in action” and information on bringing the same cost-effective power to your company.

If your company is exhibiting at any of these events and needs technology rentals, partner with CRE Rentals – your one-stop conference and expo shop. Fill out the Quick Rental Quote form and one of our expert Account Executives will work with you to ensure you get the gear needed to make your conference presence a success!

Nothing pulls people to your booth like the impressive plasma rentals for Game Developers Conference, offering up to 65 inches of high-definition pizazz. You can use one (or more) to display promotions, animations, Flash and PowerPoint presentations, or the biggest, brightest version of your company logo. Since you can connect most any digital device to the monitor, you can show DVDs or even use the screen as a huge browser window to show off your Web site. With upwards of 17,000 attendees expected at Game Developers Conference, you can try any number of approaches to reach the widest possible audience.

Game Developers Conference is the primary annual grazing ground for artists, game designers, programmers, producers, audio/video pros, business owners and others in the game industry. If you want to capture as much contact information as possible, and multiply your effectiveness (whether you’re short-staffed or not), interactive kiosk rentals can be a great help. If you have more than a few people going, you might consider standardizing on CRE’s wireless MacBook laptop rentals to stay in touch throughout the five-day extravaganza.

- – -

WESTEC 2010 is being held from March 23-25 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Manufacturing is changing in amazing ways, with new economic forces, dramatic advances in technology, new “lean and green” ideas and evolving, emerging industries. WESTEC has been the West Coast’s premier manufacturing event for over 40 years, showcasing breakthroughs in production methods and materials, machine tools and business strategies.

Whether you’re a multinational corporation or an independent consultant, if you’re one of the 450+ exhibitors at this year’s event you need to stand out from the crowd. Holding a breakout session or tutorial? You’ll want to check out CRE’s Westec plasma rentals and Audience Response System rentals. They constitute a powerful one-two punch for showing off the goods, then getting usable feedback.

WESTEC puts you face to face and right in the midst of all the experts, vital suppliers and industry innovators. If you’re bringing a convention team, you may want to have some of your staff check out the speakers, panel participants and other exhibitors while you hold down the fort. With CRE’s digital recorder rentals and digital note-taking tablet PC rentals, they’ll get all the important info that you need.

Whether you’re planning to exhibit, attend or both, as one of the leading convention and computer rental firms CRE can help you maximize your presence while minimizing the cost and complexity. Our Account Executives are experienced professionals, and good listeners, which means you will get first-rate help, often in ways you don’t even anticipate. Let them help you make the most of your trade show time by calling, sending an e-mail or filling out a Quick Rental Quote form today.