Attendee Engagement Ideas

Whether or not your company purchases drink tickets, you’ll definitely want to plan something special for Happy Hour! Here are a few engagement ideas to draw attendees to your booth during this heavy-traffic period.

What do you plan to do during Happy Hour? Let us know by Feb. 5, and we’ll help you promote it!

Offer snacks to visitors (and be the most popular booth in all the hall!)
  • Waffle bar with all the toppings
  • chocolate
    A chocolate fountain with all the fixin’s for dippin’
  • tacos
    Build your own mini taco bar
  • A beautifully designed charcuterie board will impress hungry attendees.
  • ice cream
    Ice cream social with a variety of frozen treats
  • Root beer float or nostalgia bomb? You be the judge.
  • A pizza party — classic!

    • Keep in mind that the convention center prohibits outside food (with the exception of wrapped, bite-size candy or peppermints). Click here for catering, pricing, and other information »

    Host an activity and give away prizes that spotlight your company
    • Host a trivia game featuring questions about a topic your company specializes in, with a free sample product as prize
    • Raffle off a high-value item to anyone who visits your booth during Happy Hour and has their badge scanned
    • Hand out special-edition decals, device chargers, drinkware, socks, or another fun item that’s only available during Happy Hour
    • Host a “weirdest pet name” or “most bizarre surgical case” contest and offer your most popular product to the winner
    • Invite attendees to participate in a group activity, such as assembling treat bags or blankets that will be donated to a local shelter
    • Have a photo booth stocked with your company’s gear (think hats with your logo and large cutouts of your company logo) for visitors to pose with
    • Invite visitors to spin the wheel or play Plinko to win company swag, a free consultation, discounts on a future order, or branded merch
    • Hold a casino night, cornhole tournament, or other contest with company swag for prizes
    Take advantage of other sponsor and marketing opportunities to raise your visibility
  • Draw visitors to your booth with a spot in the Mobile App Scavenger Hunt
  • Send out a push notification to let attendees know what you’re doing in your booth during Happy Hour
  • Place a digital ad in the mobile app to draw attention to your booth.
  • Send a sponsored email directly to attendees to invite them to your booth.
  • Include an ad in the print program to grab attendees’ attention.
    • View Marketing Opportunities »
    View Sponsorship Opportunities »
    Other General Tips
    • Use the MVC’s marketing kit to share your plans on social media leading up to the MVC (don’t forget to tag us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook and add #2026MVC for extra visibility!)
    • If your company purchases drink tickets, be sure to instruct your on-site staff on where to pick them up, as well as any guidelines around distribution
    • Share your plans with the MVC team by Feb. 5 if you’d like help getting the word out about your Happy Hour activities!
    • Make sure to prep your team in advance for the additional booth traffic
    • Stock up on supplies and swag to give away (MVC attendees love free stuff!)
    • Be sure to place any catering orders through the convention center by Jan. 22, 2026