Challenge
For EXHIBITORLIVE 2025, an industry-leading conference and exhibition for trade show and corporate event marketing, we wanted to create an impactful, memorable experience to Be Remembered. “Be Remembered” is an Event Marketing Campaign that embodies the notion that great experiences don’t just happen–they’re built to Be Remembered. At EXHIBITORLIVE, we wanted attendees to experience a live and on-demand demonstration of a working integrated event solution.
Approach
“Be Remembered” is about the importance of creating an unforgettable experience. In addition, it is a subtle nod to Remember the Alamo, as the Alamo is a key landmark and historical figure in San Antonio. The look and feel were to be warm, authentic, and low-key vibrant. The colors were inspired by the gradients of the Texan desert and sunset. To Be Remembered, we utilized a striking LED wall, organic shapes alongside rigid forms, and uniquely employed TimberStrand® framing as louvers to enhance the space.
Pre-Show Marketing
For our pre-show marketing, we aimed to position Hamilton as a thought leader, generate anticipation for EXHIBITORLIVE, and tease our Be Remembered theme to spark intrigue. By leveraging an organic social campaign, paid digital ads, geo-fencing, an event microsite, and email marketing, we generated excitement for our appearance at EXHIBITORLIVE.
Atmosphere
To embody our “Be Remembered” theme and embrace the host city of San Antonio, we produced 30 custom curated tracks that delivered funky, soul, and chill vibes and featured local Texan artists. Our signature scent of leather and tobacco was a nod to our personalized leather engraving activation. With key notes of leather, tobacco leaf, and plum brandy, the scent was warm, luxurious, and relaxing. Vibrant motion graphics danced across a massive LED wall that showcased the Hamilton brand, the “Be Remembered” theme, and StudioH® – Hamilton’s in-house creative experiential studio.
Engagement Activation
A personalized gold-foiled leather good activation was the primary booth draw. Through our digital order fulfillment portal, powered by Hamilton inSIGHT®, attendees could personalize a leather key chain, luggage tag, or coaster. Two calligraphers then hand-engraved each item with personalized details, leaving attendees with a keepsake to remember their experience.
Hospitality
Our hospitality created an opportunity for guests to step off the show floor and enjoy a Texan-inspired mocktail. There were four versions: Lone Star Spritz, Remember 75, Cobalt Cowboy, and Ranch Water. The mocktails enhanced the sensory experience and created a more memorable interaction.
Sustainability
We prioritized sustainability by ensuring that all flooring and padding were recycled at the end of the show. Our aluminum extrusion panels used for the closet and counters will be repurposed within our rental inventory, while custom countertops and fabric will be used internally at Hamilton. We also incorporated TimberStrand® framing for the exterior structure, a green building solution that utilizes small-diameter trees to create high-performing engineered lumber, with the beams being repurposed into “skeleton crates” for shipping and storing aluminum extrusion panels. Additionally, we reinforced our commitment to sustainability by supporting local vendors through our booth activation.
Innovation Tour Host
Hamilton participated in the EXHIBITORLIVE Innovation Tour, where select companies can present their latest innovations in a live exhibit environment. This year, Hamilton presented Hamilton inSIGHT® suite of innovative attendee engagement solutions. Our offerings, such as lead capture, eLiterature kiosks, gamified booth experiences, and hospitality & giveaway fulfillment, can enhance your event's ROI, facilitate data collection, and boost attendee engagement.
Hamilton Conference Session Speakers
Josh Halpern, Director – Business Development at Hamilton, and Scott Knight, Director of Marketing and Communications – Americas at Dematic, partnered together to present a CTSM session on how to Enhance and Evolve Your Trade Show Presence. The session guided participants in transforming their trade show presence from being product-focused to solution-oriented, showing them how to gain support, design with intention, and create an extraordinary impact on the show floor.
Women In Experiential Gold Sponsor
Hamilton is proud to be a Gold Sponsor of Women In Experiential. Hamilton joined industry colleagues at the 7th Annual Women In Experiential breakfast to connect with some of the brightest minds in the field. Hamilton’s Chief Marketing Officer is on the Board of Directors of Women In Experiential.
Results
Hamilton's Be Remembered experience was certainly unforgettable. Hamilton was the only company to be a finalist in all 3 award categories – Best Large Booth, Student's Choice, and Best Booth Staff. Hamilton won first prize in the Student's Choice Award category. The Student's Choice Award is chosen by students from the EDPA University Affiliation Program, representing Bemidji State University and the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York. This recognition highlights Hamilton's unwavering dedication to crafting innovative and memorable experiences.
Additionally, we observed a dwell time of over 17 minutes per visitor. Moreover, 85% of engaged attendees visited both the engraving station and the hospitality area. We recorded an average of 3.58 repeats per visitor, which is 6.5% higher than the benchmark for similar shows. There were 9,332 non-unique impressions during the show.
