Survey Results: CRA Rental Rally Tradeshow

The 2016 West Coast Rental Rally Trade Show took place Jan. 26-28 at the Cashman Center in Las Vegas. CRA asked attendees to provide feedback on their evaluation of the show. Here are the results.

 ATTENDEE SURVEY: (Number of responses shown in parenthesis.)

1. Did you attend?
Yes: 75% (62);  No: 25% (21)

2. Your Board of Directors is asking how we can better serve you with regards to the trade show. Please take a few minutes to assist us in serving YOU better. (Please select all that apply if you did not attend.)
• Too Expensive: 13% (2)
• Staffing Issue: 31% (5)
• Wrong Time of Year: 13% (2)
• Do Not Like Las Vegas:19% (3)
• Wrong Vendors (List vendors you would like to see in comment box.): (0)
• Do Not Find Value in Trade Shows: 6% (1)
• Other (please specify): 56% (9)
-Had another trip planned at same time.
-Should combine shows with ARA. (2)
-Just too busy to attend.
-Sent my Assistant Branch Manager.
-Health problems.
-Going to ARA.
-Another event previously planned.

3. Additional comments (4):
• I really wanted to go to this convention, but had planned a cruise to Hawaii for the same time period.
• I booked travel Mon. to Wed. thinking exhibits opened on Tuesday. Bad planning on my part not getting the full itinerary before making flight arrangements.
• Sent my assistant manager. He said that he had a great time, met lots of new people and saw equipment he hadn't seen before.
• Health issues.
 
4. How did you hear about the West Coast Rental Rally 2016?
• Rental Rally Magazine: 30% (17)
• CRA's eJournal: 43% (24)
• Mailing from CRA, i.e., Post Card or Brochure: 45% (25)
• Email from CRA: 46% (26)
• Vendor Invitation: 13% (7)
• CRA Website: 25% (14)
• RER Magazine: 5% (3)
• Other (please specify): 18% (9)
  -On board of directors. (5)
  -ALL OF THE ABOVE.
  -Attend all rental shows.
  -Used to go when as large as ARA show, looking great.
  -All of the above plus MATRA.
  
5. Do you receive CRA's Quarterly Rental Rally Magazine?
Yes: 84% (47);   No: 16% (9) 

6. Do you receive CRA's Monthly eJournal?
Yes: 80% (45);    No: 20% (11)

7. How would you rate this year's West Coast Rental Rally?
• Excellent: 52% (28)
• Good: 48% (26)
• Fair: 0%
• Poor: 0%
Comments (8):
  -Good turnout.
  -Next year's will be better back at South Point.
  -Comments from vendors and attendees were very favorable.
  -Best CRA show I have ever attended.
  -Would like to see more Party Rental Attendees there.
  -Best yet that I've been to. Show was great and entertainment set was perfect. Speakers were very informative.
  -Amazing party turn out!!!
  -Much better with more vendors.

8. Did you use the shuttle Bus from the Westgate to the Cashman Center?
Yes: 63% (35);  No: 34% (19)
Other (please specify): 4% (2)
  -Monorail.
  -Took shuttle one day and waited too long on Thursday... took cab. 

9. How would you rate the host hotel the Westgate, Las Vegas? 
• Excellent: 20% (9)
• Good: 51% (23) 
• Fair: 27% 12
• Poor: 2% (1)
If you did not stay at the Westgate, where did you stay? (9)
• Drove in for the day.
• Did not stay, only came out on Thursday.
• Timeshare over on Decatur St.
• Planet Hollywood.
• With family.
• South Point.
• Private accomodations.
• Oasis RV Resort.
• Palazzo.

10. How would you rate the Cashman Convention Center?
• Excellent: 26% (14)
• Good: 62% (33)
• Fair: 11% (6)
• Poor: 0%
Comments (5):
  -LARGE LAYOUT, GOOD ACCESS TO LOAD/UNLOAD.
  -Food took so long.
  -Food options weren't great. Wasn't a fan of the drive time to and from hotel. Layout was great. 
  -CONCESSION COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER.
  -Poor food/drink options. 

Show Schedule

11. Were the exhibit hours adequate on:
• Wednesday 10am-5pm: Yes: 100% (51)  No: 0%
• Thursday 9am-2pm: Yes: 89% (41)  No: 11% (5)
Comments (7):
  -Delay the start time on the 2nd day.
  -If the show gets much bigger, we might need more time on Thursday.
  -Time the floor was open was perfect.
  -Not long enough show hours for us.
  -Probably could have started a bit later on Thursday.
  -I only attended Wednesday.
  -I'M READY TO GO AGAIN.

Seminars

12. Did you participate in the Seminars on Tuesday?
Yes: 32% (17)  No: 68% (36)
Comments (7):
  -WE DROVE ON TUESDAY.
  -Very informative. 2/8/2016 1:37 PM
  -Heard great things, even though I wasn't there. Hoping to continue with great seminars, and possibly add more "Hands On" tent workshops.
  -Wish I could of though.
  -VERY INFORMATIVE. MY STAFF LEARNED A LOT.
  -Only because I was helping with registration.
  -Topics did not seem appealing. 

13. Which afternoon sessions did you participate in:
Party Seminars: 53% (9)
Equipment Seminars: 47% (8)
Comment:
  -The permit seminar was not very informative. 

14. Did you like the speakers?
Yes: 100% (17)   No: 0%
Comment:
  -Gazelles was excellent.
  -Leadership presentation was excellent. 

15. What was your reason for not attending the seminars? (Select all that apply)
Too Expensive: 0%
Too Long: 9% (1)
Not Interesting Enough: 91% (10)
Comments (21):
  -Drove up that day.
  -I was just checking out the show. 
  -Helped set up show floor.
  -Seemed like it was late when you finally put up what they were actually going to be.
  -Did not arrive on time. (4)
  -I had other things going on during the seminars.
  -I chose to volunteer at the convention this year over the seminars. That may change next year.
  -Too dang busy.
  -Had to be at work.
  -Could not get away in time.
  -I was not available.
  -Too busy in office, flew out Tuesday afternoon.
  -Didn't arrive until Tuesday afternoon for cocktail party.
  -Busy helping set up the show.
  -Didn't have time. (4) 

Store Tour of Ahern Rentals

16. Did you attend the store tour of Ahern when the show ended at 2 pm on Thursday?
Yes: 7% (4);  No: 93% (50)
Comments (7):
  -Would of liked to, but I was cleaning up and loading equipment.
  -ATTENDED LAST YEAR.
  -Did last year, very nice.
  -Drive through on the bus.
  -Wanted to but was too busy.
  -Left Thursday morning.
  -Did not have time. 

17. Which answer best describes the length of tour:
Adequate: 100% (4);  Too Long: 0%;  Too Short: 0%

The Opening Event Cocktail Party on Tuesday Evening

18. Did you attend this event?
Yes: 60% (32);  No: 40% (21)

Please rate the follow for the Opening Cocktail Party:

19. Overall Event
Excellent: 53% (17);  Good: 28% (9);  Fair: 19% (6);  Poor: 0%

20. The Venue
Excellent: 50% (16);  Good: 44% (14);  Fair: 3% (1);  Poor: 3% 1)

21. The entertainment with Elvis and Marilyn
Excellent: 28% (9);  Good: 53% (17);  Fair: 13% (4);  Poor: 6% (2)

22. The length of the event?
Adequate: 97% (31);  Too Long: 3% (1);  Too Short: 0%

23. How did you find the quality of the food?
Excellent: 17% (5);  Good: 53% (16);  Fair: 27% (8);  Poor: 3% (1)

24. What did you think about the amount of food?
Adequate: 59% (17);  Too Much: 0%;  Too Little: 41% (12)

25. Comments (14):
-Poor audio.
-Need more bars or bartenders. (3)
-DIDN'T STAY - DRINK LINE WAS LONG.
-Music tooooo loud could not talk easy.
-The food ran out.
-Needed more bars. Lines very long. Venue noisy, need the atmosphere to more conducive to conversation. This is a time to socialize. The entertainment is really secondary.
-Some comments were that the food ran out.
-Overall it was a great show.
-I was the last to leave the convention center, so I was only able to be at the cocktail party for an hour. Not much food left, and the bar lines were way too long. Had a hard time hearing the announcements. Still enjoyed spending time with friends.
-Music was very loud hard to talk with other rental people. 
-I FELT EVERYTHING WAS TIMED PERFECT - ELVIS AND MARILYN HIT THE SPOT.
-Impossible to get a drink as two bartenders was inadequate to serve that many people.

The CRA Night "Crawl at the Linq" on Wednesday Evening

26. Did you attend this event?
Yes: 47% (25);  No: 53% (28)

Please rate the following for the Crawl on the Linq

27. Overall Event
Excellent: 57.69% 15);  Good: 42.31% 11);  Fair: 0%;  Poor:0%

28. The Venue
Excellent: 58% (15);  Good: 38% (10);  Fair: 4% (1);  Poor: 0%

29. The length of the event
Adequate: 85% 22;  Too Long: 8% (2);  Too Short: 8% (2)

30. How did you find the quality of the food?
Excellent: 40% (10);  Good: 52% (13);  Fair: 8% (2);  Poor: 0% 

31. What did you think about the amount of food?
Adequate: 85% (22);  Too Much: 8% (2);  Too Little: 8% (2)

32. Comments (8):
-Cool venue I didn't know existed.
-Only went to two of the four stops, half the people in my group were afraid of heights, so they passed on the wheel.
-One word...AWESOME! Well done Dale & Vicky, this was a home run!.
-Great time. It was something different and fun that we could take our time and do at our own pace.
-Great time!!.
-The Linq was better than expected. The High Roller was super.
-So much fun!
-Was fun but seemed disorganized. 

33. Did you ride the bus?
To the Linq?  Yes: 77% (20);  No: 23% (6) 
Back to the Westgate?  Yes: 29% (7);  No: 71% (17) 
Comments: (7)
  -TOOK THE MONORAIL BACK, STAYED OUT TILL 10:00.
  -I was too late at the event and took the monorail back... It was easy.
  -Not enough time to visit, eat and catch bus, so had to take monorail back.
  -Had to find a way back, bus schedule was inadequate.
  -Great service.
  -We dind't leave until after 10 PM. Took the monorail back, which worked out great.
  -ENJOYED THE HELL OUT OF IT.
 
CRA's 2017 Rental Rally Tradeshow will be held Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 2017 at the South Point Casino Hotel in Las Vegas.

34. Do you plan to attend the January 2017 CRA RR in Las Vegas?
Yes: 72% (51);  No: 0%;  Not sure at this time: 28% (20)
Comment (1):
  -Looking forward to the South Pointe.

35. Do you have any suggestions to improve our show? (16)
-No.
-Hoffbraus House would be fun in the evening.
-Keep it in California.
-I understand that everyone wants an end cap, but it would have been easier to walk through if the aisles were lined up.
-It should be a better show at South Point with everything in one location. Good job this year. 
-Do the icebreaker thing like on Tuesday night, either on show floor at in room like at the Westgate.
-Moving back to South Point will be an improvement in that we won't have to leave the hotel. I'm looking forward to it!
-It was interesting to see the IFAI Tent event on at the same time. I have previously attended some of their events--great group, suited for the Party Rental crowd.
-Let me think about it and get back to you.
-I need more floor time. It would be nice if you could have some kind of forum so rental stores could interact and get to know one another/shares stories and challenges.
-I have a small party rental business in northern California. I look for training opportunities at conferences. I did not see enough value in the few seminars that focused on party rental to go or send my staff to.
-The "Pub Crawl" was fantastic. Made for a fun night.
-Improve the shuttle service!!! Apparently, you don't want to be waiting for the same shuttle as I do, as it left us both Wednesday and Thursday!!!
-GET MORE PARTY PEOPLE TO ATTEND, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT SHOULD BE A GREAT SHOW IF IT'S ANYTHING LIKE THE 2016 SHOW.
-Better social events/mixers and better seminars, maybe on sales items, or business mgt., etc. Classes that pertain to owners and key staff so we all attend.
-Separate events from general equipment slightly more.