Getting the Most out of NatRefs Virtual Trade Show 2021 – Tips for Participants

When physical trade shows became a thing of a pre- (and hopefully post-) pandemic world, event organizers had only two choices – innovate or cancel.

shecco (publisher of Accelerate) chose to innovate, pioneering the virtual trade show concept for the natural refrigerants/clean cooling sector with the launch last September 1-2 of its first 24-hour global event, ATMO Virtual Trade Show (VTS).

Driven by exhibitor and participant feedback from the inaugural event, ATMO VTS 2021 will offer even more exciting features to help stakeholders engage globally from the comfort of their screens.

ATMO VTS 2021 will take place online over a 24-hour period, from 10 am CET March 30 to 10 am CET March 31.

Getting started – what to do before the show

Register for event: To gain access to the Meetyoo-powered ATMO VTS platform, participants need to register online. Registration is simple – and free. It is also a two-step process and participants would need to also verify their emails. So, please ensure you have clicked on the email after registration too. (Have a look in your junk/ spam folder if you don’t see the email immediately.)

Join ATMOsphere: One of the most exciting features this year is the opportunity to network before, during and after the show using the newly launched global Slack-powered ATMOsphere network (also created by shecco). With 14 public channels and already nearly 500 members from around the world, this will be the place for optimally interacting with other ATMO VTS attendees – as well as with other natural refrigerant stakeholders from around the world.

The ATMOsphere network includes the following:

One-to-one private chats with anyone attending ATMO VTS (identified via the search function in ATMO VTS) or otherwise in the network, via text or call/Zoom-MS Teams video.Private group chats with others attending ATMO VTS or otherwise in the network.Commenting on ATMO VTS in a public channel dedicated to the event.Learning about and discussing specific topics in public channels dedicated to those topics, including refrigerants, skills and training, product innovations, market data and case studies.Seeking out like-minded stakeholders for projects in the public projects and partners channel.Staying up to date on all news related to sustainable cooling in the public daily news channel.

Applying to join ATMOsphere is free; simply visit the website and complete the form. We recommend you download the free desktop application as it makes engaging much easier. 

Study exhibitor directory and live webinar schedule: This year, the show has an exhibitor directory for the first time, which will be published in Accelerate online on March 23. Now you can enjoy an overview of which exhibitors will be at the show, and what they offer. (The list of exhibitors can also be found here.

This will allow you to plan your virtual visits and ensure you don’t miss any booths/companies related to your areas of interest. Also be sure to note the extensive live webinar program this year – with two halls featuring presentations every hour. Have a look at the schedule in the next Accelerate to make note of which sessions are of interest.

During the event

Visit the information desk/networking lounge: The event has started, you’ve logged in, and it’s time to enter the virtual world of clean cooling. One of the first things you will see is the information desk, which will be manned throughout the 24-hour period by the global shecco team. If you need any help with anything at all – perhaps you even have suggestions – feel free to stop by and talk to one of our friendly team members. You could also visit a public networking lounge where all users logged in can appear.

View the webinars: ATMO VTS 2021’s extensive live webinar program will feature more than 20 live sessions from around the world, scheduled in different time zones to accommodate different markets, as well as five on-demand sessions. The program also includes three live panel discussions – two end-user panels and a very topical EU policy panel that will focus on the current EU F-Gas Regulation revision. Don’t worry if you miss any of the sessions or there is a clash in the program – the recordings will be available after the event too. 

Visit booths: In addition to the jam-packed webinar program, ATMO VTS offers an exhibition hall with 34 leading natural refrigerant-focused companies and organizations. Exhibitors have been working for weeks (some even for months) to put together their booths, which will have live company representatives available to engage with visitors. Now is your chance to ask all those questions you have.

At the exhibitor booths it is possible, via the show platform, to chat publicly with all attendees present at the booth via text, or privately with the exhibitor staff members via text, audio or video.

Many of the premium booths will have a 3D product viewer, allowing visitors to get a better look at some of the latest innovations the industry has to offer.

Many booths will also have private meeting rooms, where an attendee can join meetings with a group of people. Some exhibitors are also making live presentations at public meeting rooms or offering a virtual tour of the exhibitor’s physical show rooms (see list in the next Accelerate).

See who else is online: This year, the VTS platform also boasts a new user search function that allows visitors to search for any person or company currently online, allowing the opportunity for easier networking. There will also be complete list of all who are logged in. You can simply click on a person’s name to start a conversation or a video call with them via the ATMO VTS platform. This is a great way to say hello to an old acquaintance or even make a new one. 

The functionality of the one-on-one chats within ATMO VTS have been redesigned and improved this year to ensure conversations (via text and video) can happen in a more user-friendly, organized manner. The ATMOsphere network, though, offers more robust networking options with other show attendees.

Log into ATMOsphere: Hopefully, by now, you’ve had some time to look around the ATMOsphere network to see how it works. Have a look at the #virtual_trade_show channel to keep up with the latest highlights from the show. Networking with any of the show attendees will be possible by simply searching for members and starting direct conversations with them.

Check out the #get_started channel for useful quick tutorials on how to do things like post, comment, search for other people or starting a direct message. Familiarizing yourself with the Community Guidelines is a quick way to figure out how to get the most out of ATMOsphere.

We wish you an amazing Virtual Trade Show experience.