| “CommunicAsia sucks!
BEWARE: you can be refused entry if your Name card doesn''t have any IT-related company name!
That''s right. I was refused entry to the almighty CommunicAsia this morning! After 5 years of visiting this event, to my embarassing horror, I was told I can''t enter the Exhibition because of my name card!
This is what exactly happened. I went to the Local Visitor''s booth to register. The girl looked at my name card, hesitated, then walk away while I fill in the form as usual. Before I can tick the 2 page(about 30 seconds). the girl came back and flatly told me I can''t enter the show because my name card stated "Property" and its not "IT-related"!
For a moment, I was dumb-founded, stunted. I can never understand how an organiser would refuse a visitor, especially if she don''t even know what I am doing? This is a Trade fair. And qualifying a visitor by name cards seem absolutely absurd!
I demanded to see the manager. Apparently, she was surprised an unqualified person like me would barged in and demand an intelligent answer. Nope. Sorry, I didn''t get one. She couldn''t answer my questions. She don''t even know what I do, what I am here for(I didn''t even get to finish my form, remember?). How would she know if any of her exhibitors would like my participation and investment?
Then came her admirable statement, "I can let you in...". What a "generous" offer! Should I be eternally grateful for her "permission to enter"? What has CommunicAsia come to? Is it because Local Visitors do not deserve the same respect as foreigners as we don''t wear coats? Mind you, I was in my business shirt and in no way look like I just drop by, out of curiosity or having too much free time to kill.
How can a supervisor or manager(she proudly told me she is Ms Christine) like her, qualify a potential customer for her exhibitors? The fact is, I was invited year after year by emails to visit the show. And received 2 sms to visit the Show. I was even an exhibitor 5 years ago! It''s unfortunate, Ms Christine had stopped an exhibitor from benefitting the $500k budget I had, to look into new internet technology & content.
Just a word of caution for all who wish to visit CommunicAsia, bring along an "IT-related" card or indicated you are from "IT Dept". If you are a furniture or industrial manufacturer or travel agency or any companies not related, be warned. It doesn''t matter if you have $1m or $50,000 IT-related budget, it must be written on your name card!
CommunicAsia will fail miserably because they had failed their exhibitors. Exhibitors must start looking elsewhere for a more qualified organiser or risk potential customers being rejected even before the Exhibitors had a chance!” |
