1. Always confirm your reservations before you leave--worry about the show, not where you're going to stay.

2. If you have small last minute items going to the show (graphics, premiums, etc.) bring them with you on the plane. Less cost, and less likely to get lost.

3. If you're shipping small last minute items, ship them to your hotel instead of the show floor. You won't get charged the drayage, and they're less likely to get lost.

4. Try to book hotels within 3-4 miles of the convention center. The cost may be a little more, but you'll appreciate saving the money on taxis, and you're right down the street in case anything goes wrong while you're not there.

5. Often times you can bring your smaller exhibits with you on the plane (as checked baggage, of course). This is a great way to save some money. Check with your airlines for weight limits or dimension restrictions.

Here's some quick definitions:
friend-n.-someone who cares about your well being; someone who is not ultimately persuaded by personal benefit.
foe-n.-someone whose motivation lies solely in personal gain. 

The quick friend vs. foe test:

1. There's a problem with the shipment of the booth. Your exhibit house:
a) calls the shipper immediately to find out what the problem is.
b) tells you that it's not their problem, take it up with your shipper. 

2. You notice a chip on the corner of one of your counters. When you ask your exhibit house to repair it, they:
a) repair it as soon as the booth returns, so it's ready to go out for your next show.
b) tell you that they're waiting for more damages to occur to your booth because they have a minimum charge for work done.

3. You buy a brand new modular booth, but you notice that the laminate colors don't match on some of the panels. When you bring it to your exhibit houses attention, they:
a) tell you that they are already aware of the problem and have been in contact with the manufacturer to get the panels replaced.
b) tell you, "You get what you pay for."