It may be summertime, but business still is happening with several companies signing, or adding onto, contracts with trade shows.  

The Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) has just signed a three-year contract with Convention Data Services (CDS) to provide full registration services, a customer service contact center, exhibitor services and onsite support for the CHA MEGA Show.

Next year marks the 75th anniversary of the CHA MEGA Show, Jan. 7-12 in Anaheim, which is the largest global event for the craft and hobby industry.

Thousands of buyers from more than 56 countries attend the MEGA Show for six days of education, networking and product innovations.

“Both CDS and CHA have their eyes set on a successful MEGA Show,” said Tina Lynn Mercardo, CEM, associate vice president of Events & Expositions at CHA.

She added, “CDS’ innovative technology is designed to ease the registration process for our attendees and exhibitors. We will be able to offer our constituents exceptional service and demonstrate the show’s value from the very second they register to attend.”

Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) and Experient plan to unify event housing and registration together at The PPAI Expo and Expo East.                                  

For the past three years, Experient has been providing registration and lead services for these events. Combining demographic and behavioral data drived from registration and housing will allow event organizers to see and understand more about their events than ever.

With this data, business decisions can be made that will enhance marketing efforts and result in better guest experiences, according to Experient officials

“Experient has done a great job with our registration and we believe that combining registration and housing will enhance our member experience,” said Darel Cook, PPAI director of expositions & meetings.

He added, “Our ability to create individual experiences through complete data knowledge from combined registration, lead, and housing services separates us from our competition and furthers our goal to make the PPAI Expo and Expo East exceptional and unique events.”

Exhibitor Invites, a service offered by shows to help their exhibitors invite attendees, just scored several new contracts and resigned ones with WEFTEC 2015, PhotoPlus Expo 2015, Enterprise Connect 2016, 2015 International Pool Spa Patio Expo, KBIS 2016, CAMX 2015, AVA 2015 (Association for Vascular Access), 2015 NASS Annual Meeting (North American Spine Society) and GlobalShop 2016.

“Exhibitor Invites is proud to work with these and many other great shows," said Evan Shubin, president and co-founder Exhibitor Invites. "We appreciate all the support these past seven years!”