Backstage ANTER
Most of us are witnesses to the grandeur and hustle-bustle of trade expos with the elaborate floor-plans and eye-catching decor all perfectly synced together. But how many actually have an idea of what goes on behind organising these larger-than-life show
Raju Kannampuzha, Managing Director, Executive Events, is no stranger to the madness that goes on behind the scenes. With experience in organising expos from different sectors like pharmaceuticals, and health, to name a few, to planning large-scale weddings, Kannampuzha deals with major clients like Kerala Travel Mart and the Department of Tourism – Kerala and is responsible for the state’s elaborate booths at international travel marts like WTM London, Arabian Travel Mart and ITB Berlin, among others. SETTING UP “As I’m an organiser, our role starts from planning to sourcing materials and to on-site management as well as the entire coordination of the event. We have different teams that look after separate aspects and work harmoniously to get the job done,” he reveals.
Through his experience, an average sized expo takes at least a minimum of six months to plan while a global mart takes not less than a year. “It takes more to plan a global mart because of all the travel arrangements that have to be done months in prior. Additionally, we don’t just think about experience of the expo, we also like to give the experience of the destination.” The sole motive is to meet the needs of clients at both ends, he adds. “The balancing of the buyers’ and the sellers’ demands is the most crucial part of the job.” ROADBLOCKS With so much to do, roadblocks are a frequent phenomenon like with any other event, he informs. Most exhibitors come with their own vendors and service providers who require a lot of equipment, logistics and availability of space and manpower. He shares, “For a show with, say, about 300 stalls, around 300 vendors and fabricators work at the same time. It becomes very chaotic. Not to mention the last-minute changes that happen every now and then.”
Safety measures are another cause of concern since they require several approvals, he states. “We have to maintain certain standards, as well as fulfil all the parameters. A lot of time is spent in acquiring permissions from various statutory bodies, like Fire & Safety, Electrical Inspectorate, Public Works Department, etc.”
However, working in other markets where the location of the mart has remained constant is not a big problem, Kannampuzha adds.