These are the words you meet in contracts, exhibitor manuals and organiser team meetings. Usage differs a little between regions (booth or stand, build-up or move-in), so where there are two common names we give both. Where a term shows up in Expo Tycoon, a note under the definition says how.
A
- Aisle
The walkway between rows of stands. The hall plan fixes aisle widths, and fire rules set the minimum, so exhibitors may not put anything in them.
In Expo Tycoon: Visitors walk the aisles between your tables; keep them clean on show day.
- ATA Carnet
An international customs document that lets goods for an exhibition enter a country temporarily without paying import duty, as long as they leave again. Issued by chambers of commerce.
- Attendee
Anyone who attends the event: visitors, delegates, speakers and press. Some shows use it to mean visitors only, so check how a figure was counted.
- Audited figures
Visitor, exhibitor and space numbers checked by an independent auditor under published rules, so exhibitors can compare one show with another.
B
- B2B show
Business to business: a show for trade visitors who buy for a company. Visitors usually register with business details, and some B2B shows do not admit the public or minors.
In Expo Tycoon: The Trade Fair route plays like a B2B show: fewer visitors who each spend more.
- Badge
The name badge issued at registration. It shows the holder's name, company and type (visitor, exhibitor, press, VIP) and usually carries a barcode or QR code for entry control and lead scanning.
In Expo Tycoon: You badge the queue at the badge desk, then hire a desk team to do it.
- Booth (stand)
An exhibitor's space at the show and whatever is built on it. "Booth" is usual in the US and much of Asia; "stand" in the UK and Europe. Both mean the same thing.
In Expo Tycoon: Every table and booth you build is sold to an exhibitor.
- Breakdown
The period after the show closes when stands are dismantled and goods removed. Also called tear-down or move-out. It is usually much shorter than build-up.
- Build height
The maximum height a stand may reach, set in the exhibitor manual. Going higher, or building a second storey, needs the organiser's and venue's approval of drawings.
- Build-up
The days before opening when contractors and exhibitors build the stands, lay carpet and connect power. Also called move-in. The exhibitor manual gives the schedule.
- Business matching (B2B matching)
Meetings between exhibitors and buyers arranged in advance, usually through an online system that matches their profiles. Common at Asian trade shows and often run with trade promotion agencies.
C
- Co-located event
A separate show or conference held at the same venue on the same dates, so visitors can attend both. Organisers use it to share visitors between related sectors.
- Conference
A programme of talks and sessions, usually paid, often run next to or inside an exhibition. Its paying participants are delegates.
In Expo Tycoon: The Conference route puts knowledge first: delegates and VIPs pay more.
- Consumer show (B2C)
A show open to the public, usually with a ticket or free entry, where exhibitors sell on the spot. Food, travel, home and motor shows are typical.
In Expo Tycoon: The Consumer Show route brings crowds that spend less each.
- Corner booth
A booth open on two sides, at the end of a row. More visible, so organisers usually charge a corner surcharge.
D
- Delegate
A registered participant of a conference, usually paying a fee, as opposed to a free exhibition visitor. Also used for members of an official group or mission.
In Expo Tycoon: Talks in the seminar room bring delegates, who pay and shop.
- Dwell time
How long a visitor stays at the show, or at one stand. A longer average usually means visitors found enough to see and do.
E
- Early-bird rate
A discounted space, sponsorship or ticket price for booking before a deadline. It helps the organiser fill the hall plan early.
- Edition
One occurrence of a recurring show, such as the 2027 edition. Shows are sold edition by edition, and the next one is sold during the current one.
- Exhibitor
A company that rents space at the show to present its products or services. Exhibitor fees are the main income of most trade shows.
In Expo Tycoon: Exhibitors pay a fee to take a table; walk them to an empty one.
- Exhibitor manual
The organiser's rulebook for exhibitors: build-up and breakdown times, stand rules, height limits, deadlines, order forms for power and furniture, badges and shipping.
F
- Fascia
The name board along the top of a shell scheme stand showing the exhibitor's name and stand number. Exhibitors send the exact wording before a deadline.
H
- Hall plan (floor plan)
The map of the hall with every stand, its number and size, the aisles, entrances and features. The sales team sells space from it and updates it as stands are booked.
In Expo Tycoon: Your halls grow from a meeting room to Grand Hall 2 as you build.
- Hosted buyer
A qualified buyer whose travel or hotel is paid by the organiser or a partner, in return for committing to a set number of meetings with exhibitors.
I
- Inline booth
A booth in a row with neighbours on both sides, open only to the aisle in front. The standard and cheapest position.
- Island booth
A booth with aisles on all four sides. Usually large and space-only, built by a stand builder.
L
- Lead retrieval
Scanning visitors' badges at a stand to capture their contact details for follow-up. The data is personal data, so privacy law applies (in Thailand, the PDPA).
M
- Media partner
A magazine, website or association that promotes the show to its readers, usually in exchange for exposure at the show rather than payment.
- MICE
Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions: the business events industry. In Thailand it is promoted by TCEB, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau.
N
- Net space
The floor area actually sold to exhibitors, in square metres. Gross space is the whole hall; the difference goes to aisles, catering, registration and service areas.
O
- Official contractor
A company appointed by the organiser to supply shell scheme, electrics, furniture rental, cleaning or security. Exhibitors order these through the exhibitor manual.
- Official freight forwarder
The logistics company appointed by the organiser to ship exhibits, clear customs, deliver to the stand and store empty crates during the show.
- On-site registration
Registering at the entrance on the day, without having pre-registered. Slower for the visitor, and some shows charge more for it.
In Expo Tycoon: The queue at your badge desk is on-site registration; slow badging costs stars.
- Opening ceremony
The formal opening on the first morning, with officials, partners and sponsors, speeches and often a ribbon cutting. Common at trade shows across Asia.
- Organiser
The company that owns or runs the show: it books the venue, sells space and sponsorship, markets to visitors and runs operations. Messe Asia, which makes Expo Tycoon, is one.
In Expo Tycoon: In the game, you are the organiser.
P
- Pavilion
A group of stands under one banner, usually a country or region, often booked by a trade promotion agency for its companies.
- Peninsula booth
A booth open on three sides, with its back against another booth.
- Post-show report
The summary sent after the show: visitor numbers and profile, exhibitor feedback and dates for the next edition. It is the main sales tool for rebooking.
R
- Rate card
The organiser's published price list: space-only and shell scheme per square metre, corner surcharges, and sponsorship packages.
- Rebooking
An exhibitor signing for the next edition, often on site during the show. The rebooking rate is one of the clearest signs of a healthy show.
In Expo Tycoon: The $ coins happy exhibitors drop after a show are rebooking contracts.
- Rigging
Hanging banners, lighting or truss from the hall ceiling. Only the venue's approved riggers may do it, from approved drawings and within the weight limit of each hanging point.
S
- Seminar programme
Talks held in theatres on or next to the show floor, often free to visitors. It gives visitors a reason to come and stay longer.
In Expo Tycoon: Send speakers to an empty stage in the seminar room.
- Shell scheme
A ready-built stand package from the organiser: wall panels, fascia with the company name, carpet, lights, a power socket and basic furniture. In Asia the standard unit is often 9 m² (3 × 3 m).
In Expo Tycoon: Your tables and booths work like shell scheme: you build them, exhibitors move in.
- Show catalogue
The directory of exhibitors with stand numbers, product categories and contacts, in print, online or in the show app.
- Show manager
The person at the organiser responsible for one show from planning to the post-show report. Titles vary: project manager, show director or event manager.
In Expo Tycoon: The last hire in the game is the show manager, who runs whole shows for you.
- Space-only
Bare floor space with nothing on it. The exhibitor hires a stand builder to design and build a custom stand. Shows often set a minimum size, such as 36 m².
- Speaker
A person who gives a talk in the conference or seminar programme. Organisers invite, brief and look after them.
In Expo Tycoon: Speakers go to an empty stage; their talks bring delegates.
- Sponsor
A company that pays for visibility beyond a stand: its logo on signage and badges, naming rights, a sponsored area or a speaking slot.
In Expo Tycoon: Sponsors take a sponsor stand, pay the most and send VIPs.
- Stand builder
A contractor that designs and builds custom stands on space-only plots, and removes them at breakdown.
- Stand power
The electrical supply to a stand, ordered separately by load. A shell scheme usually includes one socket and lights; anything more is ordered through the official electrical contractor.
In Expo Tycoon: A technician in the game fixes mic and power faults.
T
- Trade fair (trade show, exhibition)
An event where companies in one industry show products and services to buyers. The three names are used interchangeably.
In Expo Tycoon: Expo Tycoon is a trade fair game: you run the whole show.
- Trade visitor
A visitor who attends for business: to buy, source, compare suppliers or meet partners. B2B shows count and profile them separately from the public.
U
- UFI
The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, based in Paris. Its members are organisers, venues and service companies; its "UFI Approved Event" label requires audited figures.
V
- Venue
The exhibition centre or hall where the show takes place. The organiser rents it for build-up, show days and breakdown.
In Expo Tycoon: The game has three venues: Bangkok, Singapore (Bayfront Expo) and Macao (Cotai Grand).
- VIP
An important guest: a senior buyer, an official, or a sponsor's guest. VIPs get a lounge, escorts and fast entry.
In Expo Tycoon: Walk VIPs to a sponsor before their patience runs out, or hire a concierge.
- Visitor pre-registration
Visitors register online before the show and receive an e-badge or QR code. Entry is faster, and the organiser learns who is coming.
In Expo Tycoon: The registration kiosks research badges visitors faster, like a good pre-registration system.
- Visitor promotion
All the marketing that brings visitors: email to the show database, advertising, social media, associations, media partners and exhibitor invitations.
In Expo Tycoon: Pick a marketing campaign at the campaign board before the doors open.
W
- Walk-in visitor
A visitor who arrives without pre-registering and registers on site. Shows compare walk-ins with pre-registrations to judge their marketing.
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