Business/Brands: EXPO Jamaica BOB, Best of Booths

Sure, the recently concluded EXPO is "really all about business, about getting people to buy more Jamaican products" as  Deryck Rose, Project Manager fro the Caribbean's largest trade show loves to point out.

But its the booths and the wow - as well as the free samples -  that bring out the masses that make the event newsworthy (notwithstanding deals that have been initiated and consummated there this year). Visual impact is paramount, as is the overall experience, including the knowledgeability, friendliness and product and information offerings of the booth.

Based on the above, the following is a sampling of  booths at this year's EXPO:

Favourite Food Product Booth: B & D Trawling 
Simple truth is, its not every day that one goes into an arena, even fora trade show, and gets to interact with a live - and quite large, we might add- lobster (as did PM Andrew Holness at right). Kudos to the scrappy yet innovative team of "humble fishermen" at B& D for keeping things fresh, in more ways than one. Even without the photo booth, it would still be a hit

Favourite large Enterprise booth: Wisynco

The distributive giant won by a hair (or an optic cable fiber) over energy company JPSCo, and this being in terms of visuals only. Wisynco still needs to work on getting a universal engagement from its booth staff,as there were wide variances in the level of reception between the various brands, even on the lighter Buyer Days.


Favourite Service company booth: JUTC   

The Jamaica Urban Transit Company, in serious need of a reliable revenue stream, has launched a series of themed tours, using upmarket carriages that are a cut (or a "plush" ) above the "yellow bus" put out for the daily commuter grind in Kingston. The transport company came out on top largely on the winning personality and willingness to provide info on the part of its vibrantly outfitted reps.


Favourite Tourist industry booth: Couples resort

The personnel were just as nice and welcoming at several other contenders (Sandals, Club Ambiance, Kool Runnings, BayView), but this was the only booth, in a welcome gathering from the Accommodations/ Attractions sector that made me actually want to see what staying there would be like - and they weren't the lowest-price offering.


Special Mention:

In order to take advantage of the impending "snowstorm" of the HBO smash "Game of Thrones" on the EXPO Sunday, media giants FLOW staged a "Castle Black VR Experience" in the front foyer of the Arena and the popular series proved a major draw for EXPO patrons.