Was the first WVC Nashville conference worth attending? We think so.
Ahhh Nashville, the country music, the neon, the cowboy boots, and bedazzled everything, the CE…wait what? That’s right! The Viticus Grouplaunched the inaugural WVC Nashville this week. It's been a LONG TIME since the launch of a big new conference. VMX (previously known as the Eastern States Veterinary Conference) launched in 1984, and the Western States Veterinary Conference opened its expo hall doors 40+ years ago. So this is a BIG DEAL!
The Viticus Group brought us an awesome conference that gave WVC Vegas vibes but with a Nashville twist. More on that below.
The buzz on the floor was that there were over 7,000 attendees at the first WVC Nashville, which I think I speak for more than myself when I say significantly exceeded expectations. Final attendee numbers aren't available yet (since the conference is just ending today), but we can’t wait to see them.
Huge congratulations to the Viticus Group and all involved in the launch of this historic event. We were super impressed. For those who didn’t attend or those who didn’t get a chance to explore the expo hall, we’ve got a summary of our impressions here!
The vibes on the Expo Floor
Let’s just put it out right up front. Vendors seemed very happy. Now for the play-by-play breakdown.
A Well-Oiled Machine
You would never know it was a first-year show, given how smoothly everything went. No registration back-ups. No food issues. No vendors are complaining about logistical issues. There was some complaining about the heat, but honestly, I think it kept attendees in the expo hall, so thank you, heat wave. It’s no wonder it was smooth, though. The WVC knows what they’re doing; they have been hosting a successful conference for over 4 decades after all. Their expertise showed, it was like a mini Vegas was transplanted in Nashville and we loved it.Hall Configuration
We’ve never been a fan of the “L” format of the hall in Vegas. This is not a criticism of the event planners; the Vegas show is just monstrous, and to fit everyone in the hall, it has to be configured that way. But the expo hall is overwhelming and difficult (if not impossible) to get all the way through. Not in Nashville. The hall was a very manageable size, even with over 330 exhibitors. If an attendee wanted to walk the entire floor, it was super doable.
In the first year, it’s always hard to predict which entry/exit spots will get the most traffic. It was our observation that the booths near the entrances in aisles 900-1300 seemed the busiest. No science behind this observation, just what we perceived while being on the show floor, walking around with the attendees for 12+ hours on Sunday and Monday.Booth Size Trends
Most booths were 10x10. It was awesome. Often, at large shows, the smaller vendors can get hidden behind the sea of island booths, and it’s also the thing that makes the hall feel HUGGGGEEE. It appeared that, being a first-year show, many vendors were conservative with their footprint, which made smaller vendors more visible than they often are at VMX and Vegas.
One outlier was Weave, which had 3 20x20 booths throughout the hall. We’ve seen this done in very large expo halls, but never in one this size. Not throwing shade on the strategy here, just calling it out because it was interesting. With most companies opting for 10-foot booths, it was noteworthy to see them 3 times in large booth spaces.
We hear they’re already predicting a significant expansion of the expo hall next year, but if the booth sizes remain similar to this year’s mix, it’s a great opportunity for smaller vendors to get the visibility at a large conference that is often challenging in the mega halls of VMX and WVC Vegas.Traffic
When the expo hall opened on Sunday, the traffic was really strong! It eventually slowed down in the afternoon when local folks returned home, but the show started with a bang, and vendors are very pleased. We had suspected that this conference would have a strong regional draw, and Sunday showed strong local attendance.
Monday was a little slower, but that’s predictable with any conference. Despite the slowdown, traffic was still super respectable. There were quality conversations happening in the hall all day. Many of our clients reported strong traffic to their booths from attendees outside driving distance, which is very promising for this conference to grow into a large national draw like WVC Vegas and VMX.
Overall, we heard positive feedback throughout the floor and observed a steady stream of attendees in the hall all day.Getting There
The Music City Convention Center was super easy. I commuted in each day via car and had no issues with parking; there were plenty of walkable restaurants, overall, no notes on the location. 10/10 stars, would love to go there again. It was a relief not to have to embark on a mile-long walk just to have a lunch meeting or a cocktail. There was a great selection of places to go nearby and a plethora of great hotels. Everyone seemed to find the right fit for after-show hangs.
Sights on the Expo Floor
The neon, the booth staff clad in cowboy hats, the actual cows and horses on the show floor, this expo hall understood the assignment. There was live music outside the hall, and the exhibitors did a great job of embracing the spirit of Nashville. There were many booths that embraced their “Country Roads” side featuring campers, stone fireplaces, and rocking chairs. And the neon signs all over the hall were definitely bringing the fun of Broadway to the show floor.
Mixed in with the standard kitty cafe and puppy play area was a spot where you could visit with cows and mini horses. So much fun! Check out the pictures below to see some of our favorite finds.
In Summary, Would Recommend to a Friend
The conference surpassed our expectations; it was a great-sized expo hall, and WVC Nashville definitely earned a place on our recommended conference list.
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