Full-Service Show Management & General Contracting

Austin Trade Show Displays operates as your appointed general contractor (GC) for convention center events, managing the behind-the-scenes logistics that transform empty exhibit halls into functional show floors. From distributing service kits and coordinating drayage to supervising multi-exhibitor installs and maintaining compliance with fire marshals and venue operations, we act as the single point of accountability between show management, exhibitors, and facility teams.

Show management depends on GCs to orchestrate the choreography of move-in day: sequencing freight deliveries from marshaling yards, assigning dock times, dispatching labor pools to multiple booths, coordinating electrical and internet orders through Smart City or Encore, and ensuring every exhibitor passes final safety inspections before doors open. We manage that complexity across the Austin Convention Center's 246,000 square feet of exhibit space, Palmer Events Center's multi-use halls, and regional hotel ballrooms where timelines compress and access windows narrow.

Our full-service show management includes pre-show planning meetings where we review exhibitor service manuals with show organizers, audit booth drawings for compliance, and build master schedules that assign I&D crews, riggers, electricians, and decorators to specific exhibitors and time blocks. During move-in, our site supervisors coordinate dock traffic, troubleshoot freight delays, approve electrical connections, and document progress with hourly photo reports shared with show management and exhibitor contacts.

After show close, we reverse the operation: coordinating dismantle schedules, staging outbound freight by carrier, photographing crate conditions, completing material handling agreements, and clearing the venue before penalty clocks start. Show organizers receive final reconciliation reports that document labor hours, freight movements, compliance approvals, and any incidents or exceptions—ensuring transparency and continuous improvement for future events.