Checklist:
PHASE 1: Approximately three/four months in advance Establish participation objectives Gather information about the event: Ask the event organiser for details of sectors represented, exhibiting companies, parallel activities, etc. as well as the visitor brochure. Plan the trip: Book accommodation. Decide on the means of transport to be used and make the appropriate reservations. If you are coming from outside the European Union, you will need to prepare your passport and/or visa. Make the pre-mail (pre-application for the professional visitor’s registration card).
PHASE 2: Approximately two months before the fair Design the daily plan: Establish a schedule of contacts with exhibiting companies during the fair Define the time to be devoted to other activities: Other commercial visits: Visit the pavilions to find new products and new suppliers. Find out about the sector’s offer and trends Attend parallel activities Draw up a questionnaire to serve as a script for interviews with exhibitors and where the most important information is noted down. Hire translation and interpreting services if you are not fluent in the language of the exhibitor companies you are going to visit.
PHASE 3: Approximately one month beforehand Contact exhibitor companies to arrange interviews Check that invitations have been received from any exhibitor company (if not, request them) Prepare commercial files: company name, contact person, location at Feria Valencia (Hall and stand number), time of meeting, etc. Register, if necessary, for parallel activities of interest to the company.
PHASE 4: Post-fair Contact new suppliers of interest Analyse the information gathered and compare the alternatives offered by the different suppliers Evaluate the results.