Why Every UK Event Venue Needs Custom Pocket Maps: The Secret to Seamless Attendee Experience
- Trade-show / Expo marketing ideas
The UK events industry is booming, contributing over £10.9 billion to the economy annually and hosting more than 1,145 exhibitions nationwide. With 7.2 million visitors attending events each year, venues face an enormous challenge: how do you help thousands of attendees navigate complex spaces efficiently while creating a memorable experience that reflects well on the venue and event organisers?
The Navigation Challenge in Large Venues
Modern event venues are architectural marvels designed to maximise space and flexibility:
NEC Birmingham spans 182,000m² across 18 halls
ExCeL London offers multiple interconnected buildings
Manchester Central transforms a historic railway station into 23,000m² of event space
These impressive venues can be overwhelming for first-time visitors. Event organizers consistently report that poor wayfinding is one of the top complaints from attendees.
Why Digital Solutions Fall Short
Most major venues have invested heavily in digital wayfinding solutions, such as smartphone apps, interactive kiosks, and digital displays. While these technologies offer sophisticated features, they often fail when attendees need them most.
Consider the typical conference delegate: they're juggling a packed schedule, networking with new contacts, and trying to absorb information from presentations. When their phone battery dies halfway through the day, or when they're in a conversation and need to quickly check directions without appearing rude, digital solutions become useless.
International attendees face additional challenges:
Data roaming concerns and costs
Unfamiliar apps and interfaces
Language barriers in digital systems
A preference for reliable, physical backup navigation
The Power of Physical Navigation
Custom pocket maps offer everything digital solutions promise without any drawbacks. They're instantly accessible, never run out of battery, and can be quickly referenced without interrupting conversations or presentations.
Event organisers at major venues report that attendees who receive pocket maps during registration are:
34% more likely to visit sponsor areas
28% more likely to attend networking events
Significantly more engaged with event content overall
Beyond Basic Wayfinding
Modern pocket maps can serve multiple functions beyond simple navigation:
Sponsor location highlights with promotional messaging
The networking area is designed to encourage interaction
Emergency information and evacuation procedures
QR codes linking to digital resources and event apps
Crowd management directing attendees to underutilised areas
ROI for Event Organisers
For event organizers, pocket maps represent a small investment with substantial returns. Competitive volume pricing makes them extremely cost-effective per attendee, and the cost is minimal compared to the potential impact on event success.
Events that provide practical navigation tools see:
Higher satisfaction scores from attendees
Better sponsor engagement and ROI
Increased likelihood of repeat attendance
Reduced staff time spent giving directions
Global Reach, Local Production
With UK and US production facilities, we can serve international event organisers while maintaining rapid delivery times. Our instant online quoting system provides immediate pricing, while our project management dashboard keeps everyone informed throughout the process.
From proof approval to delivery, our streamlined process ensures your pocket maps are printed, folded, and delivered in just 10-15 days, perfect for tight event schedules.
In an industry where attendee experience directly impacts event success, custom pocket maps might be the difference between a good event and an exceptional one.