Conference planners are looking for destinations that offer great exhibitor services. We met with the Grand Wayne Convention Center team (GWCC) to learn about the exceptional exhibitor spaces, services and amenities they offer planners. Read on to find out how Grand Wayne is truly going Beyond Convention. Beyond Expectation.™

Why are exhibitor services vital to event success?

One of the core values of Grand Wayne Convention Center’s operations is that we level the playing field, meaning that we see and treat exhibitors with the same degree of professional courtesy that we provide event planners, attendees, and guest speakers. Exhibitors play a vital role in the overall experience. It’s very important to us that every exhibitor have a great experience so they want to return to Grand Wayne Convention Center. Event planners know how important it is for their exhibitors to like a facility and want to continue participating with the conference or event. Many exhibitors share good feedback with other exhibitors, and that helps an event grow!

How does Grand Wayne Convention Center exceed exhibitor expectations?

Around 80% of our business consists of repeat events. We have earned a reputation among event planners, attendees, and exhibitors as a favorite Midwest destination for several reasons! The facility is luxuriously appointed and features 60,000 s.f. of fully carpeted, divisible convention and expo space with soaring ceilings, 8 loading bays with drive-in accessibility, no drayage or union fees, in-floor power for full-function booth set-up, new LED lighting, 24/7 onsite engineering support, and full AV technology. Exhibitors can ship materials directly to GWCC up to 72 hours prior to the event with no storage or handling fees. We offer a free Exhibitors Handbook, online equipment ordering, and ready assistance with scheduling shipping. In short, we’re streamlining the process for exhibitors and event planners so the focus can be more on enjoying the experience than being caught in process. One other thing our event managers do is create a customized rate sheet based on what the client needs. They can send this rate sheet directly to their exhibitors — no need to reinvent it, which is a big time-saver.

What do planners love about Grand Wayne Convention Center?

We receive a lot of feedback from exhibitors and event planners about how much they love seeing the familiar faces of our staff. We are long-term-relationship-oriented, and that longevity goes a long way — we often know what our guests need before they ask! Our floor plans are intentionally intuitive and close — guests can move from sessions to exhibits with ease and not feel “worn out” in the process. GWCC offers 225,000 s.f. of event space among 18 meeting rooms, but it doesn’t feel oversized or overwhelming. Everything is here and ready: adaptable rooms; creative event and technology managers for every logistics and AV need; in-house catering for up to 3,100 guests; and our “Green Jacket” ushers who stand by for immediate assistance. Aside from the space, that 80% rebooking rate is because of the staff! And our location in beautiful downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana — we hear all the time about how delighted our guests are to explore and experience so much great food and fun within a few blocks of GWCC and Fort Wayne’s downtown hotels. It makes every event planner’s job easier — but that’s our job, and we love what we do!