So You’re Visiting Digital Signage Expo

Not too long from now the ScreenCloud team will be heading out to attend Digital Signage Expo 2018 in Las Vegas. Now we have a rather unique viewpoint as we’ve attended DSE as a visitor, a very small exhibitor (one man and his laptop to be exact), before returning this year in full ScreenCloud force.

What does this mean for you? That we have all of the insider tricks and tips, on how to make the most of your time at the show as a DSE visitor.

1. Booking your DSE ticket

If you haven’t already booked your ticket for DSE, you’ve possibly missed the early bird price that the organizers offer. After this, you’ll pay slightly more for a ticket (for example $1795 for a conference pass instead of $1495) but hopefully, it will be worth it for all of the rich education you’ll receive.

If you aren’t interested in the conference programme you can grab an exhibit hall pass and see all of the exhibitors in action for around $100 (this hall pass is free with the early bird offer although this offer expires around March 2nd).

If you’re a NFP or are attending in a group, you can contact the DSE organizers to ask for a discount.

View all of your ticket details here.

2. Where to stay

Now we know what you’re thinking. Las Vegas is expensive. Particularly when one of the biggest trade shows in the world wings its way over there.  

Luckily, DSE partners with a whole bunch of registered hotel where you can get special show rates that start at $99 per night and go up to $299 per night.

If there’s another hotel you have your eye on, one of the ways you can save a little money is by joining a “gaming” club. This immediately gives you access to a discounted room rate. For example, on signing up to the Wynn Insider club you immediately get a 15% discount on any rooms booked at the Wynn so it’s definitely worth checking out before you book.

Also look out for hotels that are connected to the Las Vegas Monorail as this public transport service takes you direct to the Las Vegas Convention Center where DSE is held, saving you on taxi fares.

Lastly, Vegas Caesars properties offer a 10% discount to teachers, students and first responders (firefighters, police officers etc.) so make sure to show your badge to get a discount if you fall within any of those categories.

3. Where to fly into

The airport in Las Vegas is Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS) if you’re travelling from outside the US. However if you find that last-minute flights are out of your budget zone, you could fly into LA, Phoenix or Denver and get a connecting flight or transfer to Vegas for between 1-3 hours. Just ensure you leave yourself enough time for transfers, delays and varying road conditions.

From LA you could also potentially take a bus to Vegas for around $100.  

For your general knowledge, Las Vegas McCarran has two main terminals: Terminal 1 which services some domestic carriers for internal US flights and Terminal 3 which is for both international and domestic flights.

4. Getting to the show

The official address of the Las Vegas Convention Center (where the show is held) is:

3150 Paradise Rd

Las Vegas

NV 89109

The DSE exhibition hall opening times are 10.00am - 5.00pm Wednesday and Thursday, although the conference schedule may differ outside of this so check your sessions.

The Las Vegas Monorail is probably the cheapest way to get the center (other than walking) as it’s connected to the convention center. For about $12 you can get a 24-hour day pass that will allow you to go back and forth to the center as well as to explore the rest of the city. A single ticket is also only around $5 if you want to make just the one trip.

The Monorail is open at the times below.

Monday 7.00am - 12.00am

Tuesday – Thursday 7.00am - 2.00am

Friday – Sunday 7.00am - 3.00am

If you’re travelling outside of this you may want to grab an Uber (and a Red Bull).

5. What to pack

The thing about tradeshows is: there’s a lot of walking. And the LVCC is huge (2 million square feet in the exhibiting space alone). So the first thing you’re going to want to pack is a comfy pair of shoes. Sure you can get changed for your evening activities, but when it comes to walking around the show, it’s time to pull out the wear-all-day shoes.

The weather in Vegas in March during the show can range from as low as 9°, up to a sunny 23°. This can make it a little unpredictable so it’s best to pack for cooler evenings and sunnier days, to make sure you’re covered. Some hotel pools won’t be open in March so check beforehand if you’re planning to swim. You should also take lots of sunscreen - even in the winter the sun still shines in Vegas and it can be really easy to get really burnt.

The air conditioning in trade show centers (plus travelling and those post-show drinks) can make you feel a little dehydrated so pack lots of moisturizer, lip balm and ensure you carry water with you at all times.

You may also want to take extra battery packs for your phone or laptop which you can usually find outlets for at the show (just remember your travel plugs!).

LVCC does have free public WiFi but with so many people at the show, the lines could get busy.

6. What to know about Vegas

If you have a little time to explore Vegas outside of your DSE experience, you won’t be bored. There’s everything from sightseeing at the top of the Stratosphere, to fountain displays at the Bellagio and photo opportunities at the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign.

Hotel food courts can be found in almost every hotel and are a cheap way to stock up on everything from pizza, to middle eastern cuisine. If you fancy more of a delicate dining experience there are restaurants in pretty much every hotel. Check out Tripadvisor’s great guide to find something you fancy.

It’s also important to know that you cannot hail taxis on the Las Vegas strip. It’s illegal for them to stop there, so grab a cab from your hotel or book an Uber instead.

Also, many of the routes between hotels may seem short but this is a Vegas mirage and things are often much further apart than they first may seem. The strip is four miles long in its entirety and after a day at DSE, that’s a lot of walking.

See you at the show?

If you fancy telling us what you thought of our travel tips (or you want a free digital signage content health check) pop over and see the ScreenCloud team. We’ll be exhibiting at booth #2166 ready to say hello!