EXHIBIT AT AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY 153RD ANNUAL MEETING!

DeVos Place Convention Center

Grand Rapids, Michigan | August 20-24, 2023

AFS is excited to welcome you back to our 153rd AFS Annual Meeting August 20-24, 2023, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In that same spirit, we hope you’ll come and join AFS and over 1,500 fisheries professionals in the newly rebranded “Center for Fisheries Technology and Collaboration” (CFTC; formerly the AFS Tradeshow). We’ll be celebrating 153 years of fisheries ecology, conservation, and management with fisheries students and professionals from across the world.

Meeting Exhibitors are typically represented by federal and state fisheries agencies, sellers of photos, arts, and crafts, and companies providing boats, aquaculture supplies, fish tagging and tracking equipment, computer and software applications, consulting services, digital fish-measuring equipment, water quality monitoring and filtration systems, aeration systems, hydroacoustic systems, and others related to fisheries research and management. This unique industry event will be a celebration of the fisheries tradition and cutting-edge technology solutions for fisheries professionals, and not to be missed. 

RENTAL FEES

AFS Nonmember Firm: $1,950 per booth
Crafters: $450 per booth
Nonprofit: $650 per booth

AFS Qualifying Strategic Partner Member Firm:

  • Platinum members: No charge/One
    complimentary booth
  • Gold members: $1,463 per booth (25%
    discount)
  • Silver members: $1,755 per booth (10%
    discount)
  • Sustaining members: Non-member rate

To get the AFS Strategic Partner booth discount, please
contact Rachel Bruce for exhibitor registration
instructions. Strategic Partners are AFS institutional
members. For more information on becoming a
Strategic Partner or to check your organization’s status,
please contact Kelly Kotche.

Booth Power: $60. Click here for ordering electricity for your booth from the DeVos Convention Center.

Tech Talks: 20-minute sessions which provide you with free, dedicated space to speak directly to attendees about your new technologies. Each exhibitor receives one free Tech Talk session with each booth reservation. However, Tech Talks are limited in number and are reserved on a first come, first served basis. Contact Rachel Bruce for more information
and to reserve your Tech Talk Session today. (Below is a picture of a Tech Talk).

Tech Sessions: $2,000 (Different from Tech Talks. Contact Shawn Johnston for more information)

Lead Retrieval: Exhibitor Lead Retrieval allows you to scan attendee badges on site, capture their contact information, take notes, and create follow up actions within the Lead Retrieval app. See below for LeadR Key prices. Note: A LeadR Key can only be used on a single device. 

  • 1 Lead Retrieval Key- $249.00
  • 2 Lead Retrieval Keys- $299.00
  • 5 Lead Retrieval Keys- $499.00
    10 Lead Retrieval Keys- $599.00

How to Use the LeadR Mobile App

 

We urge exhibitors to be alert for potential scams! Please see our Fraud Alert.

2023 SHOW INFORMATION

BOOTH PACKAGE
  • Space: 10’ x 10’ booth
  • Eight-foot (10’) back drape and three-foot (3’) side drapes
  • One eight-foot table, Two chairs, One wastebasket
  • Two complimentary conference registrations for member/nonmember rates. These passes allow exhibitors to attend all conference sessions and networking functions, interact with attendees outside
    the Exhibit Hall, and gain information on industry issues.
  • OR Two exhibitor-only badges for nonprofit and crafter rates. The exhibitor-only badges grant access to the exhibit hall but do not grant access to conference sessions or networking events. To gain full access to all
    the meeting’s events, exhibitors at the nonprofit and crafter rates will need to purchase full registration.
    • Additional Exhibitor Only staff badges are $200.
ADDITIONAL SERVICES

A complete service kit containing information on carpet, utilities, and freight will be provided by Art Craft Display, Inc. Please click the following link below to access it. **Note: be aware of scams and only do business with Art Craft Display, Inc.

Grand Rapids Exhibitor Kit 2023

ADVERTISING

Exhibitors registered and paid by May 1st will be listed in the July issue of Fisheries AFS monthly magazine. Company name and logo will also be included in the conference virtual program guide and meeting app

2023 EXHIBIT HALL SCHEDULE

Sunday, August 20th
3:00 pm–7:00 pm Exhibit move-in

Monday, August 21st
8:00 am–11:00 am Exhibit move-in
11:00 am–5:30 pm Exhibits open
5:30 pm–8:30 pm CFTC Networking Event

Tuesday, August 22nd
9:00 am–5:00 pm Exhibits open

Wednesday, August 23rd
9:00 am–1:00 pm Exhibits open
1:00 pm–4:00 pm Exhibit dismantle

EXHIBITOR RULES AND REGULATIONS

EXHIBITOR RULES AND REGULATIONS EXHIBIT LIMITATIONS Exhibits may not project beyond the space allotted and aisles must be kept clear for traffic and for safety reasons. Exhibits shall not obstruct the view of or interfere with access to other exhibits. Devices for reproducing sound or music may be restricted at the discretion of the American Fisheries Society (AFS). Projection of sound beyond the confines of the exhibit is prohibited unless a request is submitted to and approved by AFS in writing prior to the conference.

BOOTH ASSIGNMENT The assignment or subletting of any part or all of an exhibit booth is prohibited unless a request is submitted to and approved by AFS in writing prior to the conference. AFS reserves the right to change the location of exhibition space and reassign exhibit booths if it determines such action is in the best interest of the meeting.

PROMOTIONAL CONSIDERATION All promotional considerations for the App and Virtual Program Guide must be received by AFS by June 1, 2023. Submission after that date risk not being included in the guide.

RIGHT OF REFUSAL AND/OR CANCELLATION AFS reserves the right to refuse the application of any organization not meeting the professional standards for exhibiting with AFS, which generally entails offering products and services for fisheries professionals. Additionally, AFS may curtail exhibits or parts of exhibits that detract from the character of the meeting. These standards apply to displays, literature, advertising, novelties, souvenirs, and personal conduct of exhibiting personnel. AFS retains the right to cancel an Exhibitor agreement if it discovers that the exhibitor’s display is not as described in this agreement or is incompatible, in the opinion of AFS, with the scientific and educational purposes of the meeting as a whole.

INSURANCE AND HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENTS Fire, theft, liability, and extended coverage insurance are not provided by AFS, or the Spokane Convention Center. Exhibitors may obtain such coverage at its own expense. Small and valuable exhibit materials should be packed each night and placed in a secure location. Exhibitor remains responsible for all property brought into the conference facilities and shall bear the sole risk of loss for that property. Exhibitor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the American Fisheries Society, the Spokane Convention Center, and their agents and employees from any damages caused by theft or other perils normally covered by extended coverage, liability, theft, or fire policies. Exhibitor shall indemnify and hold harmless the American Fisheries Society, the Spokane Convention Center, their agents and employees, and co-sponsoring agencies for all claims, losses, liability, or damages for injury, death, or property damage that may arise from activities of the exhibitor, its employees, agents, invitees, and licensees.

ATTORNEY FEES AND COSTS Should any litigation arise out of this contract, the exhibitor shall pay all costs and reasonable attorney’s fees incurred by AFS and/or the co-sponsoring agencies if AFS, or the co-sponsoring agencies are the prevailing party.

TAXES AND LICENSES Exhibitor shall be responsible for obtaining any licenses, permits, or approvals required under local, state/province, or federal law applicable to its activity at the conference, including the use of copyrighted music. Exhibitor shall be responsible for obtaining any tax identification numbers and paying all taxes, license fees, or other charges that shall become due by any governmental authority in connection with its activities at the conference.

FIRE, SAFETY, AND HEALTH Exhibitor agrees to accept full responsibility for compliance with city, county, state/province, and federal fire, safety, and health ordinances regarding the installation and operation of equipment. All exhibit materials and equipment must be reasonably located within the booth and protected by safety guards and devices where necessary to prevent personal accidents to attendees. Exhibitor hereby represents and warrants to AFS, and co-sponsoring agencies that the exhibitor has taken all steps reasonably necessary to ensure the sound engineering and structural integrity in its exhibit design and the proper construction and safety of the exhibit itself, as erected.

CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS Due to the uncertainty in our times, cancellations for any reason will be refunded until June 1st 2023. Cancellations occurring from June 2nd to July 15th will receive a 50% refund. However, cancellations after July 15th will not receive any refund. COVID-19 AFS remains in close contact with meeting venues, hotels, and other organizations relevant to our annual meeting. While we fully expect the meeting to be held in-person and we don’t expect cancellation or curtailment of the event, Exhibitors should be aware that impacts from COVID-19 last longer than projected and may necessitate changes in meeting programming, events and possibly even cancellation. Please know that all of your booth fees will be fully refunded, if the meeting is canceled due to Covid-19.