LAS VEGAS—Show organizers will be offering attendees and exhibitors alike a variety of tools and programs in an effort to maximize this year’s Expo experience. From planning appointments to navigating the show floor, there are several new programs and apps that will help showgoers make the most of their convention time here in Las Vegas.

“The new initiatives launching at International Vision Expo West this year are very in-depth and comprehensive,” said Tom Loughran, vice president for Reed Exhibitions. “From our new Vision Mobile technology to our extensive show specials listing to our board certification review program, our goal was to create quality programs and events that will help attendees get the most out of the show.”

Interest in this year’s show has been healthy as evidenced by pre-registration figures released on Sept. 1 by show organizers. More than 8,400 eyecare professionals and buyers have registered for the upcoming International Vision Expo West, representing an increase of nearly 10 percent over pre-registration figures for the same time period in 2009, five weeks prior to the start of the show, according to show management.

Currently, optometrists and buyers make up 40 percent of the attendee base and 67 percent of all pre-registered attendees hail from independent professional practices. In addition, approximately 60 percent of pre-registrants are returning attendees, according to show organizers.

“With the new board certification review courses, an opening night party and over 290 show specials, attending International Vision Expo West is a valuable investment for eyecare professionals,” Loughran said.

Following is an overview of some of this year’s new initiatives:

My Show Planner

By creating an account with My Show Planner, attendees can customize an agenda with the exhibitors they’d like to see, email exhibitors directly, load appointments in Outlook and use the My Events calendar to help plan the rest of each day. Exhibitors who upload their information into this tool also promote their show specials and exclusive offers. My Show Planner is a unique way to have all this information available in one area for planning their time effectively at the show.

Vision Mobile

Via their mobile device, with International Vision Expo’s new Vision Mobile technology, attendees will be able to plan their show, make appointments with exhibitors they wish to see, explore exhibitor show specials and quickly navigate the show floor via interactive maps on their device. For exhibitors, Vision Mobile offers robust mobile showrooms and messaging opportunities to reach conference attendees. Exhibitors will also benefit from the planned system integration with conference support vendors allowing them to track the status of orders.

VisionExpoWest.com

International Vision Expo West has redesigned its website into five distinct “Areas of Interest.” Visitors to the site will find information organized by fashion trends, continuing education, lens technology, medical eyecare and business solutions. Each “Area of Interest” gives visitors data specific to that section of the site, including “What’s New,” conference sessions, exhibitor with products and services and exhibitor show specials and discounts.

Show Specials

An extended show specials program at International Vision Expo West will list hundreds of show specials from exhibitors, with a particular emphasis on What’s New. These specials include product launches, events, parties, seminars, demonstrations, free gifts, contests and raffles, giveaways and celebrity appearances. The Show Specials guide will be available online and the Show Specials catalog will be offered at new Show Specials Counters on-site. All Show Specials will integrate with the Vision Mobile app.

Optical Laboratories Association (OLA) Annual Meeting

The OLA will host its Annual Meeting, themed “Tradition + Vision= The Future,” in conjunction with International Vision Expo West. Along with the traditional OLA education and exhibits, the meeting will also include exclusive exhibit hours only for OLA delegates, an OLA Lounge in the exhibit hall available only to OLA delegates and evening receptions in the OLA Lounge.

New Opening Time

Due to the OLA Annual Meeting, International Vision Expo West will open at 10:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday this year. The show floor will open at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday as in years past.