By Danny Gavin, AEM Communications Coordinator —
CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 is right around the corner, set for March 3-7, 2026, and exhibitors are preparing to make the most of their time in Las Vegas. Exhibiting at any trade show involves a great deal of planning and expense, and it's key that exhibitors possess a well-thought-out strategy to ensure they receive the most return on their investment.
For exhibitors seeking to optimize lead retrieval, attendee outreach, and analyze their show audience, collecting data and ensuring that data is high-quality is key. Representatives from Maritz discussed how exhibitors can make the most of their show experience by leveraging data insights during the CONEXPO-CON/AGG exhibitor meeting this past August.
“Data and lead retrieval are some of the most important tools that will come into play at CONEXPO-CON/AGG,” said Maritz Senior Manager of Exhibitor Operations Jessica Quinteiro. “And having a centralized place for leads, notes, and attendee demographics can make a big difference post-show.”
The Tools Available
The official CONEXPO-CON/AGG lead retrieval app, called SWAP, enables exhibitors to be more flexible with lead retrieval, and make the most of the data they receive.
“We’ve been getting amazing feedback on the SWAP app, because it’s a native application – which means that you download the app, all of the information gets housed within the app, and then when you have connection it syncs up to the cloud,” said Quinteiro.
The SWAP mobile app can be downloaded on every booth staffers personal device, and there is no need to have internet connection to scan attendee badges. This allows exhibitors to:
- Create custom surveys to quickly qualify leads
- Gather leads on or off the show floor at meetings, lunch, on the shuttle or bus, or in the hallway
- Incentivize booth staff with contests and awards as leads are collected on an individual basis
The SWAP app comes with three licenses, and additional licenses can be purchased through the exhibitor portal. Quinteiro recommends that each employee have a license, to account for breaks and heavy traffic flow. The exhibitor portal is a one-stop-shop, where exhibitors can order lead retrieval products and see all captured leads (which are stored on the platform).
Access the CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 Exhibitor Portal to purchase show-related products.
New This Year
SWAP Reach is a new engagement marketing feature that helps exhibitors get in contact with attendees before and after the show. This platform helps exhibitors send out targeted email messaging to specific attendee demographics. Exhibitors can announce the launch of new products, booth location and services, networking opportunities, company updates, and make appointments. Reach is also available after the event to follow up with attendees exhibitors may not have connected with during the show. The feature also gives exhibitors performance insights post-send.
Through the Booth Visitor Data (EventBit) tool, exhibitors can understand their booth traffic better, as well as secure a comprehensive view of dwell time, demographics, and buying intelligence. The tool is comprised of three elements:
- Beacons are attached to the back of participating attendee badges as a part of the registration process
- Receivers pick up on the low energy Bluetooth signal that the beacons transmit, picking up attendee traffic across the show floor
- Analyzing this data is easy, as collected data is translated to hear maps and reports and analysts help exhibitors identify takeaways
“There are billions of rows of data that companies can access in their exhibitor dashboard, and they can use that data to enhance their show experience,” said Brian Crum, Maritz Vice President of Onsite Services.
Data collected in the app includes the number of booth visits for attendees, visit timing, aisle traffic, and estimated visitor to lead conversion. These tools available to exhibitors through Maritz for CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 offer expanded data insights to exhibitors – insights that show staff can use to adjust their tactics in real-time.
“The data collected at the show allows exhibitors to tell a story, and dive into aisle and event behavior for better event planning,” said Aaron Dorsey, Maritz Vice President of Product Development.
Learn More
Held every three years, CONEXPO-CON/AGG is the must-attend event for construction industry professionals. The show features the latest equipment, products, services, and technologies for the construction industry, as well as industry-leading education. CONEXPO-CON/AGG is owned in partnership with NRMCA, NSSGA, and AEM, and it is managed by AEM. The next CONEXPO-CON/AGG will be held March 3-7, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
For more information on CONEXPO-CON/AGG, visit https://www.conexpoconagg.com.
