2008 Space Allocation: Day 2

10:44 a.m.
And … we're done! I'm going to talk with a couple committee members and post again in a few minutes. But Space Allocation for 2008 is a wrap. The committee's going to take a 15-minute break to see if any changes come through, so if you're still following along there's still time to make a change.

10:40 a.m.
Second-to-last booth to be assigned, and there was still a discussion to make sure they're in the right place. Working the solution right to the end …

10:34 a.m.
Ten to go …

10:30 a.m.
Less than 20 to go …

10:11 a.m.
The committee is now dealing with this year's crop first-time exhibitors. Expo 2008 will be the third year IAAPA's offered the First Time Exhibitor Pavilion, which has been a great success in its first two iterations by highlighting the new people on the floor, gathering them into one place, and providing extra exposure they might not have otherwise.

This year's pavilion will be larger than 2007's, but it remains a prime location that has limited space. Last year's pavilion sold out in August, so it will be interesting to see how much space is left in there at the end of this meeting. There are approximately 40 first-time exhibitors to be assigned today, leaving about 60 slots in the pavilion once this meeting concludes (although not all first-time exhibitors make use of the pavilion, so there will probably be a few more than that).

Which it will, very soon it seems.

10:00 a.m.
The committee is now into the low 500s, so we're starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It is worth noting that the committee continues to diligently seek out best-booth preferences for these exhibitors. The members are still piping up when their constituencies come up, ensuring their best interests are accommodated as much as possible. The floor is filling up, of course, so there's discussion on most items as a lot of top slot choices are already gone.

9:44 a.m.
Committee's back in session. Dealing with a couple changes that came in over the break and then they'll be back to the business of assigning booths. Keep in mind, you can also follow along in real time on the Online Interactive Floor Plan.

9:28 a.m.
Things have settled down some as slots are going faster now. We're into the 480s. The committee's taking a 10-minute break.

9:10 a.m.
There's more chatter in the room right now than at any point in the entire meeting thus far. Still a couple booth changes trickling in, while the committee at large at times has to work a placement a little longer with more discussion to get exhibitors into the best possible slots.

9:05 a.m.
Looks like the committee is done with the changes and is now moving on to assigning new booths again. As a reminder, they stopped on No. 450 last night, so there are a little more than a hundred spaces to slot today. People are talking like the whole thing will be done by noon—or even earlier.

8:43 a.m.
Sounds like about 20 changes to make, in all. They're on the third one now, and this is more like what I expected. Lots of discussion/puzzle-fitting.

8:41 a.m.
Well, things are off to a good start, at least. The first two alterations took about 10 seconds each. Simple solutions were readily available. Is that a good sign for the rest of the morning? Here's hoping …

8:38 a.m.
The committee is back under way for the Day 2 session. The first order of business is handling booth moves/changes that came in overnight.