Time is running out to reserve exhibit space at the 129th NGAUS Conference and Exhibition in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Aug. 24 to 27.

About 500 exhibitors have already signed up for this year's show at the Puerto Rico Convention Center, the newest and largest meeting facility in the Caribbean.

"We continue to be optimistic coming down the stretch that we will have another sellout," Harve Horowitz, president of Exhibit Promotions Plus, Inc., said last month.

This year's exhibition offers more than 150,000 square feet of space and will accommodate 762 booths. Unlike last year in Albuquerque, N.M., he said, all the displays will be in the same hall, which should provide more consistent traffic.

While an island destination poses shipping challenges, Mr. Horowitz said exhibitors need not worry as shipping services are "in the capable hands" of Liberty Freight, a customs brokerage house that will assist vendors with customs, clearance and paperwork.

The two-day move-in period begins Aug 22. An exhibitor reception caps the second day of move-in Aug. 23 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Once again, NGAUS will conduct an industry workshop on "How to Do Business with the National Guard" prior to the opening of the trade show. The one-hour workshop takes place Aug. 24 at 1 p.m.

The exhibition opens with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Aug. 24 at 4 p.m. An all-attendees welcome reception with free food and drinks follows on the show floor until 7 p.m. Exhibit hours Aug. 25 run from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Aug. 26 from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Association officials are always looking at new ways to bolster booth traffic.

This year, the Puerto Rico Guard has provided exhibit hall passes to more than 2,000 "first responders" on the island. Several local nonmilitary government officials are also expected to visit.

In addition, NGAUS plans another information-seeking game in the exhibition hall to stimulate traffic.

More information about the exhibition is available from Exhibit Promotions Plus, Inc. at (410) 997-0763 or ngaus@epponline.com. An exhibit prospectus is available on the company's web site at www.epponline.com or at www.ngaus.org.

Additional conference information-including the current sequence of events and things to do in Puerto Rico-is available at www.ngaus.org.

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