#25: The Secret to an Unforgettable Trade Show with Daniel McKinnon of MHI

If you want to take your association’s trade show from ordinary to unforgettable, this is the episode

for you. Our guest today, Daniel McKinnon, CEM, Chief Exhibitions Officer at MHI, has been in the industry for 30 years and currently leads two of North America’s biggest supply chain trade shows.

Daniel and our host, Christine Shaw, dive into the evolution of trade shows, the best tech driving the events industry forward, and the key to measuring the success of your trade show. Daniel shares how focusing on attendee value and investing in the right team can take your association’s events to the next level. 

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

• How to make sure attendees return to your show year after year. 
• The importance of vendor and partner relationships. 
• How to leverage data and AI to work smarter, not harder.
• The secret to executing big events with a small staff. 
• How to ensure the success of your trade show exhibitors. 

About our guest:

Daniel McKinnon, CEM, is the Chief Exhibitions Officer at MHI, where he leads the team behind MODEX and ProMat, two of the world’s largest supply chain trade shows. With more than 30 years of experience in exhibition management, Daniel has held leadership roles at FreemanXP, Access Intelligence, 1105 Media, and Messe Frankfurt, among others, and has served as chair of both the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) and the board of directors at the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR). A seasoned strategist in global events and business development, he continues to shape the future of the exhibitions industry while balancing life in Dallas with his wife, five children, and a house full of pets. 

Resources:

Recommended Reading: Lonesome Dove

Explore more on the trends shaping the future of the trade show industry. 

Visit: AssociationAdviser.com

Connect with MHI & Daniel McKinnon:

LinkedIn: @MHI & @DanielMcKinnon

Facebook: @MHI

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