2020 was a year like no other, to say the least. We all retreated into our home offices and traded out business casual attire for sweatpants, and the world around us came to a halt. The event industry faced new challenges as in-person gatherings were put on pause and trade shows around the world were canceled.
At Hamilton, we saw the changing world as an opportunity to innovate and reinvent the way events and conferences could be done.
With more people working remotely and moving to a digital landscape, we took Hamilton virtual and invested in new technologies to deliver the same Hamilton experience our customers have come to expect in a totally new environment.
Let’s take a look at some of the ways Hamilton evolved and adapted to the challenges of 2020 and helped usher in a new era of experiences.
We Took Home Some Hardware
Our team works hard every day to produce the highest quality work for our clients. While our main focus is to deliver the best experience for our clients, being recognized for our efforts is always the cherry on top. In 2020, we were excited to receive multiple awards including:
- Hamilton Exhibits Chairman, Dan Cantor, received the Hazel Hays Award from theEDPA in recognition of his contributions to the experiential and exhibit industries. EDPA Executive Director, Dasher Lowe, had this to say about Dan: “With a focus and understanding of clients, unwavering respect for competitors, and an insatiable desire to seethis industry grow and succeed, no one is a more deserving recipient of this year’s award.” In addition, Hamilton Exhibits Senior Project Manager, Kyle Miguel, received EDPA’s first-ever Future Leader Award.
- We were included in Event Marketer's 2020 Fab 50 List and recognized as one of the top fabricators serving the event and trade show industries. Check out our featured Executive Q&A with our Creative Director here!
- Our work with Mailchimp received EXHIBITOR Magazine’s Gold Exhibit Design Award for Best Use of Storytelling with the judges saying our efforts resulted in a “tightly focused stand that hit the client’s directive dead on.”
We Launched A New Website
As more and more people transitioned to the digital world, we knew our website would become our first touchpoint for many existing and new clients. We wanted to make sure our website was up to date, to accurately represent the innovation and expertise that define the Hamilton brand.
In early 2020, we worked with a team of developers to rebuild our site to be more visual, showcasing exciting photos of our work to capture the full Hamilton experience. Additionally, we implemented new features behind the scenes to increase site speed and ensure a better overall user experience for those looking to learn more about Hamilton and our services.
Hamilton EXTEND® Launch
With in-person gatherings on hold in the wake of COVID-19, business leaders and event organizers were left wondering how they could still connect with important stakeholders. Recognizing the need for a virtual environment to encourage interaction, we launched our new platform: Hamilton EXTEND.
Hamilton EXTEND is our online platform that enables event marketers to extend their brand reach and customer engagement strategies beyond the physical conference space. Event managers and event organizers work closely with our team to build out a customized virtual experience that meets the needs of both the business and attendees.
With hybrid events promising to be permanent fixtures in the event industry moving forward, EXTEND gives businesses the tools they need to deliver a cohesive and engaging experience for both in-person and virtual guests. And with enhanced tracking and reporting capabilities, our clients can get valuable feedback and insights to make the most of every interaction.
When Zimmer Biomet’s marquee event needed to transform for 2020, Hamilton EXTEND offered a platform to engage audiences.
Together, we built an immersive and interactive virtual recreation of the actual in-booth experience where visitors can navigate through the exhibit areas of interest, interact with the displays, download marketing materials, watch videos, and request information.
lthcare approached Hamilton to create an immersive virtual experience to showcase their products and services.
Launched Our Commercial Interior Solutions
With students and teachers around the country heading back to the classroom this fall, school officials were looking for ways to ensure their health and safety. We developed an innovative solution to help keep schools safe during the COVID-19 pandemic with our Temporary Quarantine Rooms (TQR™).
Each TQR is designed to meet CDC isolation guidelines for those exposed to COVID-19. Schools can choose from five configurations to meet the needs of their students and teachers, with the versatile and easy-to-clean components of each room offering safety and flexibility at an affordable price.
Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation needed a way to quickly and comfortably isolate students or teachers who came to school with symptoms of COVID-19. Hamilton’s TQR proved to be the perfect solution, offering a stress-free experience for the affected individuals while protecting others in the building. "Hamilton was able to come in very quickly and set up a structure that allowed us to isolate two students or faculty at the same time,” said one Mt. Vernon official.
Schools are just the starting point for Hamilton’s safety solutions. We will continue to create customized, scalable solutions for region, county, and retail environments including pharmacies, hospitals, corporate offices, stadiums, convention centers, and more. All of this is part of our commitment to providing support to our clients and communities as they navigate the coming year.
While 2020 was a year filled with unexpected obstacles and challenges at every turn, we were excited by the opportunities to create innovative solutions to meet the changing needs of our clients. We look forward to creating even more exciting, immersive, and forward-thinking experiences for our clients as we head into 2021. See you next year!