Global Experience Specialists (GES), an exhibition, event and retail marketing services provider, has announced that it completed another product launch for Bell Helicopter at Heli-Expo 2011. GES has also noted that this year was their largest presence at the Paris Air Show, where they supported 16 clients.
At Heli-Expo 2011, the largest tradeshow dedicated to the international helicopter community, GES delivered a high-impact experience to showcase and debut two new Bell Helicopters, the 407GX and 407AH, as well as the integration of customer service and support products.
“Bell has been a long-time GES client, and creating this highly successful product launch is an example of our strong partnership,” said Tom Merrill, GES vice president of business development. “This project is a great representation of the broad range of skills that GES can bring to large scale projects that require balanced messages for a variety of audiences.”
The experience of this event was created in a 24,500 square-foot space through the use of graphic imagery, large-scale video projection, lighting, special effects and teamwork. GES designed the space to emphasize featured products, which were surrounded by customer support and helicopters customized to meet a variety of customer missions. During the show’s opening, Bell President John Garrison, grandly revealed two of these highlighted products.
Two key components of the experience included leveraging the Bell “On a Mission” tagline and integrating the message throughout the experience. By focusing on actual customer missions (corporate, law enforcement, offshore oil and gas, and emergency medical services), Bell placed its clients center stage. The exhibit also included a “Mission” theater, which was created to host customers interested in specific mission-targeted subjects. Furthermore, GES targeted customer audiences by producing collateral and electronic marketing elements, such as invitations and e-mail blasts.
“GES has provided the experience, talent and imagination to showcase the Bell Helicopter brand at all domestic shows for the last 27 plus years,” said Robert Hastings, senior vice president of communications for Bell Helicopter. “GES’ vision and understanding of Bell’s mission and audiences enables it to provide the best possible environment to represent our products to customers and the rotorcraft industry.”
Along with creating experiences at Heli-Expo 2011, GES has also been busy supporting clients at the International Paris Air Show. This year’s show represents GES’ largest presence, supporting 16 clients who read like a “Who’s Who” in aerospace and defense.
Projects included 13 business and hospitality chalets, six exhibit stands and three product pavilions. GES was the largest design and build contractor at the show, producing more than 75,000 square feet of chalet and exhibit space and 32,000 square feet of landscaped space while managing a support team of more than 300 at the peak of set up.
Client chalets served as venues for business meetings at the highest level and included reception and press centers, dining facilities, full kitchens and restrooms, air conditioning, temporary headquarters, conference centers, product displays, media theatres and staff support accommodations.
“SDD did another fantastic job for Boeing in Paris,” said Lucy Goulding, Boeing Company chalet manager. “The finish on the chalet when we first arrived was phenomenal, and I really can’t put into words how much I appreciated all the help and support of the team.”
Project planning began a year in advance, and crews were on site for 45 days prior to the show’s opening to ensure that client facilities were ready for business at least three days before the show opened. The full service on-site team operated from an 18,000 square-foot enclave that was located on the show grounds and included a warehouse, equipment and furniture storage, communications center, catering facility, operations center and graphic production facility.
The International Paris Air Show first opened in 1909 at the Grand Palais in Paris. Today, the show represents the world’s largest venue for the industry. This year’s show included more than 2,000 exhibitors, 138,000 trade visitors and close to 200,000 public visitors during the final three days.
