Overheard on the Showfloor

“Not as hard to get a drink as you thought it would be, huh?”

–Clorinda Holland, Northeastern director of conventions, Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau, during the Healthcare Convention & Exhibitors Assn. Annual Meeting (Salt Lake City, June 21-24) on misconceptions concerning the state of Utah

“When I got into it, Cherif was a baby.”

–Bob Dallmeyer of RD Intl., during the Natl. Assn. of Consumer Shows Annual Convention (San Diego, June 25-27), joking about when he started in the tradeshow industry compared with 30-year industry veteran Cherif Moujabber

“I heard a hiss.”

–Kristine Rapp, vice president of global ethics and compliance, Hospira, when it was announced she had co-authored the AdvaMed Code of Ethics, during HCEA

“You've got $6 worth of tchotchkes, and you're going to pay $25 to get them home.”

–Robert Batte, partner and vice president for medical education at Conexus Health, on physicians' determination to collect giveaways at health care tradeshows, during HCEA

“The word 'promote' is really an important one. Just make sure you never use it.”

–Lucy Rose, managing director of life sciences, regulatory and capital markets, Deloitte & Touche, on regulations involving the marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical devices, during HCEA

“I'm not going to be politically incorrect here, so let me just say the interviewers were very talented.”

–Jeremy Williams, group president of HealthSTAR Communications, when asked how he managed to get physicians at a recent tradeshow to spend 20 to 25 minutes each completing a survey, during HCEA

“How many leads do you need to have a successful show? The answer really is one.”

–Margit B. Weisgal, president and CEO of the Trade Show Exhibitors Assn., during HCEA

“You text them.”

–Ray Pekowski, president and CEO of The Expo Group, during the Exhibition Services & Contractors Assn. Summer Educational Conference (Monterey, Calif., June 22-25) on how to encourage young people to consider careers in the tradeshow industry