Exhibitor ROI in 2025 – and how event platforms can deliver

Exhibitor ROI is the central pillar of success of large-scale conferences and association-led events. These are the partners who invest, engage, and expect meaningful return, both in visibility and lead generation.

The presence of exhibitors at an event are not limited to the booth anymore. They want visibility across the full event lifecycle, real-time attendee interaction, branded content opportunities, and measurable post-event ROI.

At Conference Compass we know just how important exhibitors are. That’s why our platform is designed from the ground up to support associations and major conferences where sponsor presence is a core value driver. We have come up with a solution to find ways in which an event platform can be a lead-generating, engagement-rich experience for sponsors and a discovery-friendly space for attendees.

Here’s what exhibitors are looking for in 2025 and how event platforms can deliver.

1. Visibility that starts early and lasts past the event

From the moment attendees open your event app, sponsors want to be seen. That means branding that’s visible on home screens, banners across pages, and logos integrated into the event’s digital presence.

• Home page sponsored buttons and banners in various sizes to suit tiered sponsor packages.
• Custom home page backgrounds and rotating banners.
• Branded event tiles and society app tiles that lead to exhibitor pages or external links.
• Sponsor logos embedded in session listings, placeholder slides, and intro screens.

Tip: Different levels of exposure within the platform or the venue can be sold as separate sponsor packages.

2. Direct attendee interaction needs to happen both online and in real life

Visibility does not guarantee exhibitor ROI. There need to be sufficient tools that can turn browsing into a conversation and a short chat into an interaction that can be explored later on. The technology acts as a facilitator of this engagement, removing the barriers such as accumulating business cards with names you’ve already forgotten or writing down notes on a piece of paper you might lose.

• Smart exhibitor pages include contact buttons, downloadable materials, video demos, and a “drop business card” feature, making it easy for attendees to connect and exhibitors to generate qualified leads.
• Display Booth QR codes onsite and link them directly to the exhibitor’s page in the app, where attendees can explore exhibitor materials, take notes, and bookmark for post-event follow-up.
• In-booth sessions or mini-presentations can use the app’s lead scanning or check-in tools to track attendee interest and enable exhibitors to follow up with everyone who participated, thus boosting exhibitor ROI through targeted outreach.

Tip: Encourage sponsors to fully populate their institution page and booth with assets. Add reps with photos and bios to personalise the experience.

️ 3. Gamification increases Exhibitor ROI

Exhibitor ROI relies on concrete interactions with the delegates. Gamified elements can greatly boost booth visits and encourage interaction. They are a great way to streamline attendee movement, and create hot spots in exhibition areas. Finally, you can categorise gamification in different exhibitor packages, both within the event platform and on-site.

• Scavenger hunts and booth challenges encourage attendees to explore the exhibition area. Sponsors benefit from higher foot traffic and better engagement metrics.
• Tiered gamification options make it easy to include interactive features in sponsor packages, giving premium sponsors more exposure through high-impact placements.
• Achievement badges and in-app rewards add a layer of fun to sponsor interaction while encouraging attendees to visit more booths and stay engaged.

Tip: Position the scavenger hunt as a discovery tool that is not just for fun, but to incentivise learning about sponsors.

4. Exhibitor ROI achieves best results with though leadership and sponsored sessions

Exhibitor ROI improves when delegates see sponsors as experts, not just sellers. Hosting sponsored sessions is a powerful way for exhibitors to share insights and contribute to the progress of their industry or specialty. You can achieve this in multiple ways that ensure sponsor visibility throughout.

• Moderated sponsor sessions where exhibitors can host panels or talks with experts who have made tangible contributions to the field. These sessions include Q&A and attendee interaction tools to keep engagement high.
• Branded session listings in the programme with sponsor logos, banners, and intro slides that reinforce visibility without compromising content value.
• On-demand session access after the event, giving exhibitors continued exposure and allowing delegates to revisit or share valuable content.

Tip: Promote sponsor-led sessions in push notifications and the news feed to increase attendance and follow up with analytics on views and engagement.

5. Proving Exhibitor ROI with post-event analytics

Post-event data is where the story of the exhibitor effort comes together. For exhibitors, knowing who engaged, what content performed, and how attendees interacted is key to measuring success and planning smarter for future events. An event platform has actionable data that tracks various exhibitor touch points.

• Booth traffic reports that show how many attendees viewed or visited the exhibitor’s profile, scanned their QR code, or interacted with downloadable content.
• Sponsored session analytics detailing who attended, how long they stayed, and what actions they took during or after the session (e.g. clicked links, saved content).
• Lead engagement metrics that include chat activity, dropped business cards, meeting requests, and contact form interactions.
• Comparative insights for organisers to demonstrate performance across sponsor tiers, helping you refine your packages and justify pricing.
• Easy-to-export reports that you can share directly with sponsors post-event. Thus, you will show exhibitors in concrete terms how your platform delivered visibility and lead potential.

Tip: Share tailored analytics reports with each sponsor shortly after the event. Highlight key engagement stats to demonstrate value and secure future sponsorships with data, not just impressions.

Why Exhibitor ROI matters for associations and conferences?

Exhibitors are not just a source of revenue, they’re your strategic partners. And when they see value from your event, everyone wins: attendees get more interaction and content, sponsors get the visibility and leads they want, and organisers see stronger relationships and repeat bookings. An event platform is an excellent first point to prove Exhibitor ROI and deliver key measurable and data.

At Conference Compass we are committed to offering a product where we built sponsor success into the foundation of the platform and the event.  From high-impact branding to deep data insight, and from pre-event promotion to post-event replay.

So if your event thrives on exhibitor participation, make sure your platform doesn’t just support them, but empowers them and gives them the highest ROI.