Safe Exhibiting Guide

Replace the Space If you don’t need the extreme privacy of a fully walled-off setting, opt for an open-air iteration that still functions as a discussion zone. Here are some options to do just that.

f Swap out walls for a table, chairs, and acrylic. One possibility is to devise simple table-and-chair arrangements with a sheet of clear acrylic down the center of the table, says Courtney Cantor, marketing director at Hamilton Exhibits LLC. This is a great option if you merely need to sit down and talk. You can also set up a laptop on one side and mirrored monitor on the other so staff can safely offer product info and presentations while social distancing. f Employ creative dividers. “To produce the perception of an enclosed environment but maintain substantial air flow through the space,” Cantor says, “opt for louvered or even movable walls and pergolas

that allow for easy air movement.” Zipay concurs. “Think about fabric structures, horizontal half walls, materials with clever cutouts, and more to delineate an area,” she says. f Go green and focus on flooring. Aside from wall-like dividers to define the zone, Todd Dailey, vice present of creative at Visual Communications, suggests you also consider flooring and greenery to mark out some meeting territory. “A series of evenly spaced live plants can delineate an environment, as can carpet inlays, a switch in flooring materials, or even floor graphics,” he says. Similarly, Jay Menashe, CTSM, vice president of sales and marketing at EDE Corp., suggests that seating elements in and

of themselves can function as barriers. “We like to incorporate comfy chairs with high backs — almost like giant thrones,” he says. “When assembled in a circle or square, the pieces work together to create a sort of wall, add ing both privacy and an interesting aesthetic to the space.” f Double up. Another viable solution is to move the meeting to an open air double deck. “Granted, adding a deck solely for this purpose may be cost prohibitive,” says Kevin Carty, executive vice president at Classic Exhibits Inc. “But if you already have a double deck, this upper-level environment can provide much of the privacy afforded via a traditional enclosed conference area.”

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