2025 OTA Trade Show
2025 Vendor Registration
Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC)
* Registration open until 1/6/25 at 4:30 PM (EST)
One of the largest local government conferences in the Midwest, the Ohio Township Association’s (OTA) annual Winter Conference and Trade Show will be held from January 29-31, 2025, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC). The conference consists of more than 100 individual workshops, a Trade Show with over 150 vendors, and optional events for networking.
*NEW FOR 2025*
Table and Chairs
We are pleased to announce that vendors will receive a complimentary six-foot table and two chairs with each registration! You may opt-in to this perk when registering.
One-Day Trade Show Pass
New this year, attendees have the option of purchasing a One-Day Trade Show Pass, bringing in even more exclusive traffic to the Trade Show.
Conference Kickoff
Kickoff conference on Wednesday, January 29, from 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. in the Trade Show Hall. As attendees lead the way through the entire Trade Show Hall, we will have various food and drink options. This free vendor and attendee event is a great opportunity to network early on in the conference.
Trade Show Bingo
Popular, expanding, and sold out in 2024, purchase a Premium booth upgrade to secure a spot in our Trade Show game – Trade Show Bingo. Trade Show Bingo is a challenge open to every attendee, encouraging them to visit booths scattered throughout the trade show. The program has been incredibly popular in previous years and is sure to draw many attendees directly to your booth.
MEET OUR ATTENDEES
Approximately 3,000 people, including representatives from Ohio’s 1,308 townships, attend annually. Conference attendees include elected officials (e.g., trustees and fiscal officers), township administrators, road and cemetery superintendents, zoning officials, safety service personnel, and legal counsel.
DECORATOR
The 2025 decorator is Excel Decorators, Inc. You will receive a service kit via email from Excel within two weeks of registering. The kit includes information and pricing on furniture, carpet, shipping, labor, cleaning, electrical and other services. If you do not receive a service kit, please contact Excel at 614-522-0056.
NETWORKING WITH VENDORS
Attendees have several dedicated times when no other programming is scheduled to visit the Trade Show, talk with vendors, grab a refreshment, and network with other officials.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE
Levy is the exclusive caterer for the Columbus Convention Center. If your company wishes to provide any food or beverage during the trade show, contact Michael Zaky. There are various options to purchase food on-site, including Columbus Grille, Crimson Cup, Homegrown Market, and CBUS Tap Room. Additionally, there will be food vendors inside the show hall each day.
HOTEL REGISTRATION
The OTA provides block rates at six hotels in the downtown Columbus area. Hotel reservations must be made via the link above, and registration will open on Friday, November 1, at 10:00 a.m. See the link above for more information.
VENDOR DIRECTORY
Our Vendor Directory is part of our 2025 Winter Conference program. The listing shows a brief introduction to your business. By purchasing the listing, your company will also receive a listing in our online Vendor Directory. Winter Conference vendors are offered a $250 discount from a traditional listing. A profile listing will include your company name, company logo, description (max 50 words), contact information, social media handles, and website link. Purchasing a listing will also place you on the Online Vendor Directory for the 2025 calendar year.
EXHIBIT AREA RULES AND REGULATIONS
(Revised for 2025 Trade Show)
Exhibit Standards
Show management, including the OTA, shall have the right to prohibit any exhibit or part of an exhibit that, in its opinion, is not suitable for or does not keep with the character or purpose of the exhibition. Extending into another vendor’s space and fastening materials to booth drapery or building walls, ceilings, floors, carpeting, or columns is expressly prohibited.
Exhibitors will comply with GCCC's rules and regulations, found here.
Assignment of Space
Space is assigned to each applicant on a first-come, first-served basis and is not finalized until payment, a Hold Harmless agreement, and a Certificate of Liability Insurance have been received by the OTA. The OTA strives to place vendors according to their preference in the order in which their complete registration materials are received. The OTA does not guarantee booth placement and reserves the right to alter booth placement. Confirmations with assigned booth numbers will be sent at least two weeks prior to the show to the contact name and email listed on the registration.
Use of OTA Logo
Any use of the OTA logo on marketing material not provided by the OTA office must receive express approval from the OTA Executive Director prior to distribution.
Trade Show Hours
Trade show exhibitors must abide by trade show hours. Exhibits must be manned by at least one company representative at all times. Dismantling is not permitted until the exhibit hall closes at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, January 31.
Hospitality Rooms
Exhibitor entertainment, meetings, or other activities aimed at general attendees during all scheduled conference hours are prohibited. This includes hospitality rooms and other outside events.
Safety
All materials must conform to the requirements of the building and inspection authorities having local jurisdiction. Most notably, all decorative materials must be nonflammable, and display vehicles must have fuel tanks drained, batteries disconnected, and fuel filler openings must be locked or taped shut.
Outside Photography/Videography
No vendor is permitted to hire an outside photographer or videographer to photograph or record the OTA conference and trade show.
Door Prizes
A portion of the vendor registration fee is used by the OTA to purchase door prizes which are awarded by random drawings throughout the week. We are aware that some vendors choose to hold drawings for prizes at their booths. Ohio’s Ethics Laws place restrictions on this practice. Prizes should not be so valuable that they could be considered substantial and thus place improper influence on the public official who may win the prize. Prizes with a value of $40-50 are likely to be considered below the threshold where an issue could be created. More valuable prizes could be awarded if the recipient of the prize is the township itself and not the public official personally. These prizes would need to be suitable for use by the township (e.g., a desk chair, business software, or a technology device such as a tablet) and not designed for personal use (e.g., an expensive golf club or sporting event tickets). If you have questions, visit the Ohio Ethics Commission's website. For more information, contact Michael Zaky at zaky@ohiotownships.org or 614-863-0045.
| Price | |
|---|---|
|
Early Bird Registration
|
$800.00 |
|
Regular Registration
|
$900.00 |
|
Late Registration
|
$1,000.00 |
|
Additional 10'x10' Booth
|
$500.00 |
|
Premium Booth (add-on)
|
$150.00 |
| Price | |
|---|---|
|
Name Badges
|
FREE |
|
Additional Name Badges
|
$10.00 |
| Price | |
|---|---|
|
Vendor Directory Listing
online vendor listing alone. |
$500.00 |
| Price | |
|---|---|
|
Casino Night | Thursday, 6:30 - 10:00 p.m.
|
$50.00 |
|
Luncheon | Friday, 11:45 am - 1:30 pm
|
$40.00 |
Product Add-ons
| Add-ons | Price |
|---|---|
| 2025 Winter Conference Bronze Sponsor View Product | $2,500.00 |
| 2025 Winter Conference Diamond Sponsor View Product | $25,000.00 |
| 2025 Winter Conference Gold Sponsor View Product | $10,000.00 |
| 2025 Winter Conference Platinum Sponsor View Product | $15,000.00 |
| 2025 Winter Conference Silver Sponsor View Product | $5,000.00 |
For More Information:
Contact OTA Public Relations & Events Coordinator Tyler Lovelace at 614-863-0045.
Please call to check on availability prior to registering.
Sponsorship & Advertising Packet
Explanation of Insurance Coverage: Each 2025 exhibitor is required to have in effect and maintain, for the period of the 2025 Ohio Township Association Winter Conference, January 29 through January 31, 2025, a policy of comprehensive general liability insurance covering personal injury or death or property claims occurring on or about the exhibitor’s rented space or any other area of the OTA Winter Conference. The period of the OTA Winter Conference includes the set-up and tear-down days, and this insurance must be applicable to those days as well. The comprehensive general liability insurance (including contractual liability) shall provide coverage in the amount not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 in the annual aggregate. A certificate of insurance evidencing the above and listing the Ohio Township Association as an additional insured must be forwarded to the OTA before an agreement to rent booth space in the 2025 OTA Trade Show is completed.