Suit-Casing / Out-Boarding Policy

Due to numerous complaints about suit-casing over the last few years our exhibitor’s have asked us to put a policy into place to prevent this practice from impacting the business practices of legitimate exhibitors. The problem is really starting to affect our exhibitors and their ability to do business on a level playing field when they have a competitor not paying to exhibit and they are taking away their customers. This has become such a large problem nationally that most trade shows have adopted Suit-Casing/Out-boarding policy to help protect their exhibitors and the cost they put out to market and exhibit at trade shows.

TransWorld is making preparations for its upcoming Trade Show and doing its best to help all exhibitors have a successful show. As such, we are mandating increased measures to protect exhibitors from suit-casing/out-boarding at the show. This is TransWorld’s Suit-casing Policy, which will be posted on signage around the exhibit hall.

What is Suit-Casing?

Suit-casing is a parasitic business practice in which unethical companies will gain access to an event by obtaining some type of event credential attendee badge and then solicit business in the aisles or other public spaces used for the conference. This practice skirts the support of the organizer and the industry. This does not pertain solely to soliciting the attendees of an event. As we all know, some of your biggest customers/vendors can be other exhibiting companies. So, when a salesperson for “Joe’s Manufacturing” (who is not exhibiting) shows up in your booth in an attempt to earn your business as a sub on your next big contract, they are suit-casing. Suit-casing includes any business trying to solicit business at the trade show without exhibiting. In addition any outside event or trade show/conference attempting to promote at the show that is not affiliated with TransWorld and trying to solicit exhibitors or attendees to attend their show is also considered suit-casing and this conduct will not be permitted without written consent from TransWorld Trade Shows.

Some examples of Suit-Casing:

• Passing out marketing materials or business cards
• Attempting to sell product on the show floor without exhibiting
• Dropping of marketing materials on tables, counters or in booths
• Promoting outside events, trade shows or conferences
• Booth sharing with a company or person that is not exhibiting
• Approaching people on the show floor at outside events and soliciting them.

 Basically if anyone does not have an exhibitor badge or consent from TransWorld they cannot solicit you or anyone else at the show or any of its events.

TransWorld’s official suit-casing / Out-Boarding policy:

TransWorld has a zero-tolerance policy regarding suit-casing. Please note that while all Trade Show attendees are invited to the exhibit floor, any attendee who is observed to be soliciting business in the aisles or other public spaces, or in another company’s booth, will be asked to leave immediately without refund.

TransWorld recognizes that suit-casing may also take the form of commercial activity conducted from a hotel guest room or hospitality suite, a restaurant, or any other public place in proximity to our event. For the purposes of this policy, suit-casing violations may occur at venues other than the exhibition floor and at other events. It is for this reason TransWorld must be informed of any hospitality suites where business is being transacted, and expressed consent must be obtained from TransWorld prior to the event.

The Suit-casing Prevention Team

TransWorld has created a Suit-casing Prevention Team that will be in place for the duration of the conference. The team will consist of TransWorld staff, conference security and the most important member of the team, YOU! Exhibitors will be our greatest asset in preventing suit-casing since there are so many of you, and it directly affects all of us.

What to Look For?

Identifying potential “suit-casers” is fairly simple. First, look for those non-exhibitor attendees who appear to be initiating contact in the aisles or in booths. Look for people handing out fliers/business cards or dropping marketing materials on tables. Any attendee who appears to be handing anything out in the aisles is suspect, because as we all know, distribution of anything is restricted to one’s booth space unless otherwise approved by TransWorld.

What Can You Do?

Please report any violations you observe to the show office or Rich Bianco, by calling him immediately at 412-812-1773 or simply text your company name, booth number and “suit-caser” as soon as you recognize the infraction.

Suit-casing Procedure:

• Identify the person suit-casing
• Try to keep the suspect party at your booth until we can get there to confront them.
• Take a photo/video of the infraction and send it to us.
• Immediately contact show management or Rich Bianco at 412-812-1773.
• After we get the report we will immediately come to your booth with security to assess the infraction.

The exhibit manager will investigate all complaints of suit-casing as quickly as possible. We prefer you try to keep the suspect party in your presence while we make our way over to your booth to confront the party.

Upon receipt of a complaint from an exhibitor, TransWorld will review the complaint with the reporting party and, if possible, observe the suspected suit-caser. TransWorld will then address the issue directly with the subject of the complaint. If found to be valid, the complaint will be resolved by show management immediately.

Code of Conduct

We expect all Exhibitors and Attendees that attend The Halloween and Attractions Show (HAA) or any of its affiliated events to engage in respectful, considerate behavior towards each other and refrain from engaging in behavior or speech that is demeaning, discriminatory or harassing in any manner.

The Halloween and Attractions Show’s Code of Conduct defines unacceptable behavior as behavior that includes (but is not limited to) the following:

• Creating a disturbance that is dangerous or interferes with the ability to transact business on the show floor, or creates apprehension in another person.
• Engaging in any aggressive or unwanted physical contact with other vendors, attendees and/or general staff.
• Making defamatory, harassing or demeaning remarks.
• Use of profanity, sexually explicit/suggestive or offensive language, racial, religious or ethnic slurs.

Unacceptable behavior will not be tolerated in the facility, on the show floor or at any HAA events. Participants determined to be in violation of these policies in the sole discretion of management will be asked to immediately discontinue their inappropriate behavior. If the behavior continues, management reserves the right to take immediate action to bar the attendee or the exhibitor from further participation in the HAA without the right of refund for unused days of attendance, seminar or event tickets, or any booth fees or any costs associated with the trade show.

Costume Policy

Attendees are not permitted to wear costumes in the convention center or on the trade show floor.

Exhibitor’s and their employees are permitted to be dressed in costume but are required to stay within the area of their booth space. You are not permitted to walk the show and solicit customers back to your booth. (Please note we do understand you need to leave the booth at certain points throughout the day. You can wear your costume when doing that.)

NO children under 10 policy

Attendees must be at least 10 years old to attend. Children between 10-15 years old need to have a copy of their birth certificate or school ID and must be accompanied by an adult at all times while attending the trade show floor, seminars or any of our events.  Attendees 16 and older need a drivers license or a government issued ID. A VALID GOVERNMENT ISSUED PHOTO ID IS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY – Please be prepared to show a valid Photo ID to enter the trade show floor, seminars, parties & events. *Please note children under the age of 10 will not be permitted to attend the trade show floor, seminars or any our events. No exceptions!