FAQs
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This year, we’re hosting all of our events on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the exhibitor floor being open until 3 p.m. Jamie Grayson hosts his keynote — Baby Registry Lab — from 3 to 4 p.m. We carefully select venues that have free and plentiful parking as well as easy highway access. Here’s our lineup for 2024:
Columbus (April 21, 2024): Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris (NEW VENUE)
Detroit (May 5, 2024): Marriott Auburn Hills Pontiac
St. Louis (June 2, 2024): Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel
Kansas City (June 9, 2024): Marriott Kansas City Overland Park
Indianapolis (June 23, 2024): Sheraton Indianapolis at Keystone Crossing
Nashville (July 21, 2024): Franklin Marriott Cool Springs
Atlanta (July 28, 2024): The Hotel at Avalon (NEW CITY)
Charlotte (August 11, 2024): Embassy Suites Charlotte Ayrsley
Pittsburgh (August 18, 2024): DoubleTree Pittsburgh-Cranberry (NEW VENUE)
Rochester (September 15, 2024): DoubleTree Rochester
Buffalo (October 6, 2024): Buffalo Marriott Niagara
Cleveland (October 27, 2024): Cleveland Marriott East
Cincinnati (November 3, 2024): Cincinnati Marriott North
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Columbus (April 21, 2024): Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris
No special rate available.Detroit (May 5, 2024): Auburn Hills Marriott Pontiac
– 10 rooms available on nights of 5/4 and 5/5 for $149 per night (plus applicable taxes)
– Must make reservation by 4/15/24
– Use this link to bookSt. Louis (June 2, 2024): Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel
No special rate available.Kansas City (June 9, 2024): Marriott Kansas City Overland Park
– 10% off any night of our event weekend.
– Use this link to book.Indianapolis (June 23, 2024): Sheraton Indianapolis at Keystone Crossing
– 10 rooms available on nights of 6/21, 6/22, and 6/23 for $179 per night (plus applicable taxes).
– Must make reservation by 5/1/24.
– Use this link to book.Nashville (July 21, 2024): Franklin Marriott Cool Springs
No special rate available.Atlanta (July 28, 2024): The Hotel at Avalon
– Available any night of our event weekend.
– This is their standard corporate rate and it’s subject to change.
– Use this link to book.
– Please note, this hotel is pricey; our team will be staying at a nearby hotel, either The Courtyard Alpharetta/Avalon Area, which is in walking distance, or the Atlanta Marriott Alpharetta, which is a short drive away.Charlotte (August 11, 2024): Embassy Suites Charlotte Ayrsley
– Available 8/9 to 8/12
– 2-room suite with king bed: $184 per night (plus applicable taxes)
– 2-room suite with two queen beds: $194 per night (plus applicable taxes)
– Both rates include breakfast and evening reception.
– Available on a first-come, first-served basis through 7/9/24.
– Use this link to book.Pittsburgh (August 18, 2024): DoubleTree Pittsburgh-Cranberry
– 10 rooms available on 8/17 and 8/18 (5 standard king and 5 standard 2 queens) at $139 per night (plus applicable taxes)
– Must make reservation by 6/27/24.
– Use this link to book.Rochester (September 15, 2024): DoubleTree Rochester
No special rate available.Buffalo (October 6, 2024): Buffalo Marriott Niagara
No special rate available.Cleveland (October 27, 2024): Cleveland Marriott East
No special rate available.Cincinnati (November 3, 2024): Cincinnati Marriott North
No special rate available. -
Every venue has different guidelines for shipping, and some of them have receiving fees. If you ship to any of our venues, please let us know so we can coordinate with our contacts and make sure your materials make it to your space on event day. Here’s a PDF with details.
If you’ll be with us at multiple events and would like a quote for materials transport on our trailer, please let us know!
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On event day, set-up for brands begins as early as 8:30 a.m. and ends at 10:55 a.m.
Please plan to arrive no later than 10:30 a.m. If you’re running late, text or call 585-704-2103.
If you need to arrive earlier, please send an email to partners@babies-and-bumps.com at least one week prior to the event to make arrangements.
Tear-down begins at 3:01 p.m. Please note that, aside from short breaks or session hosting, your space is required to be staffed for the duration of the event.
We’ll send an email to all brand partners a few days prior to the event to detail points of entry, where to park, and any other special considerations related to venue access. We often can’t send this earlier due to when our final preparation calls are with the venues; we’ll send it as soon as we’re able to have these.
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An event bag is given to all attendees upon their arrival. Gift bags are given to attendees with certain ticket types upon departure.
Event bags contain literature and special offers, and are flat (paper with no depth or protrusions).
Gift bags contain full-size products.
All of our bags are packed at our office in Fairport, NY and we transport them to the events fully assembled.
The deadlines for receipt give our team enough time to make sure we can pack all of the bags in time for our departure. In some cases, we pack for multiple trips. For instance, the deadline for St. Louis, Kansas City, and Indianapolis is the same because when we leave for St. Louis, we won’t be back until after Indy! We will do our best to accommodate late arrivals, but can’t make any guarantees.
We’re unable to add anything to bags at our venues.
Read more about event bag and gift bag placements by following the links.
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You can indicate any special requests on our event prep form, which we ask all of our brand partners to provide at least three weeks in advance (when our floorplans are due to the venues). We will do our best to accommodate you!
Unless other arrangements are made, you will receive one 6-foot table (or 8′ table, if that’s what the venue has available) with a white, floor-length linen. If you have a linen you prefer to use instead, or if you want to dress up your table in any way, you are more than welcome to do so! Two chairs are also provided, along with an event-branded tabletop sign with your brand’s name.
You’ll also receive complimentary access to wireless internet. Instructions and a password will be provided to you on event day.
Even if your table or booth is located near an electrical outlet, we are prohibited by the venues from using them without paying for the connection, for power strips, and for cords to be taped down for safety and liability purposes.
If you already added an electrical outlet to your registration, power will be run directly to you, and a power strip will be under your table on event day. If you need power and haven’t added that on yet, here’s a form to do that.
Please note that we maintain an open-concept space on event day. Single-width retractable banners (2.5′ maximum width) are permitted at any table. However, wider / taller signs, shelves, displays, etc. require a perimeter space — please make a special request on your event prep form so we can do our best to accommodate you.
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Unfortunately, no. All of our venue contracts prohibit all outside food and beverages, except drink containers from home. Most of our venues have on-site restaurants or snack bars. And many of our venues are in locations with nearby restaurants. We may be subjected to a fine for non-compliance, so your cooperation is appreciated.
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No, admission for you and the staff representing your brand is included with your tabling package.
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Sales are permitted (and encouraged!) as long as you’re collecting any required sales tax.
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Here are PDFs for all of our advertising and bag placements for 2024, which detail specs and deadlines.
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Here’s a PDF outlining details for charity raffle donations. We’ll be updating the list as we confirm partnerships for the season, so check back!
We’ll ask for details about your donation in our event prep form (if you’ll have a table or booth on event day) or on our charity raffle form (if you won’t be with us on event day). Please make sure this is filled out by the deadline so we can create the cards with information about the product name, description, and value.
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Check out this page for all the details!