One thing I was not able to do in my hospitality career was to attend a tradeshow as an exhibitor. This past month, I was part of Percipia’s Team at HITEC Toronto. HITEC is one of the most important hospitality technology and finance events. It promotes education, expert panels, and hundreds of innovative solution providers that attend to showcase their products and services.
After months of planning, the time finally came. The Canadian wildfires were still polluting the air and many flights had been canceled. Our team made it to Toronto after a bumpy ride from Chicago on a Monday morning. We went straight to the Delta by Marriott in Toronto, which is connected via a pathway to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, where the events would be held for the next four days.
Our booth was designed by our Marketing Manager, Annabelle. Upon our arrival, the booth structure was already up and Exponents Insta USA, Inc. was adding the finishing touches. We set up our devices, marketing posters, and collateral before we headed to the Welcome Reception that featured live music, hors d’oeuvres, and drinks in the afternoon.
Tuesday was the first day of exhibits. It was great to have the team ready to jump in to provide information and answer questions. We also received many compliments on our booth design. There were four screens showcasing our products as well as some of our clients sharing their experiences.
One of our goals this year was to introduce our newest solution, Frequency SE. Frequency SE is an alternative for select service and extended stay properties that need a PBX solution that fits their needs and budget better.
Another goal was to introduce Percipia’s partnership with Cisco’s Webex. Although we have been a Cisco partner for quite some time, our team recently developed an integration to the Webex app environment. We highlighted both of these during the show.
Wednesday was the second day of exhibits. We connected with folks interested in what we do and what we could offer for their properties and ownership groups. We also met several companies that offer different products and services, some of which we could potentially partner with. I was able to connect with so many professionals in hospitality technology from all over the world. I felt particularly useful while translating for some potential customers from Latin America.
Thursday was the last day of exhibits. It was a short day, and everyone started getting ready to break down close to 2:00pm. We packed our display equipment and supplies before we headed to the airport for our return to Chicago.
This experience was beyond what I expected. I can say that I am more confident in presenting Percipia’s solutions. Watching my colleagues, CEO, and COO pitch our products taught me more creative ways of communicating what we do. I also learned what information to collect from a potential lead. It was great to chat with industry leaders and hear directly from them what they are looking for.
I am very excited to see my team continue to improve our sales and marketing strategy and looking forward to HITEC Charlotte in 2024!