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Event Timeline Template

A phased schedule that works backwards from your event date. Adjust the lead times to the size of your event.

Book a demoBuild your floor plan free
900+
Organizers who have run shows on Map D
9,000+
Events powered since 2011
1.8M+
Booths drawn to date

Trusted by associations, expos and show organizers since 2011

In short

How do you build an event planning timeline?

An event planning timeline works backwards from the event date, grouping tasks by how far ahead they must start. Typical phases are strategy and booking at the longest lead, then sales and marketing, then logistics and content, then final confirmations, event week, and the post-event wrap-up. Adjust the lead times to your event size.

Best for
Planners who need a phased schedule for a conference, trade show, or corporate event
What to evaluate
  • Work backwards from the date
  • Phased lead times
  • Owner and deadline per task
How it works

From floor plan to sold show floor in four steps

  1. 1Build the floor planUpload the layout you already have or describe it to the AI Floor Plan Assistant, then place, number and size booths with snap-to-grid.
  2. 2Set booth types and pricesCreate booth types with their prices and mark booths open, reserved or sold. AI-assisted dynamic pricing can move prices inside the limits you set.
  3. 3Publish and sellPublish the interactive map to your event site. Exhibitors pick a space, check out and get their invoice without a back-and-forth email.
  4. 4Run the showExhibitors manage profiles, staff and assets in their portal, attendees find booths on the live map, and sales reports update as you sell.

The event planning timeline

01

Phase 1: Strategy and Booking

Longest lead. Set goals and budget, choose the date, and secure the venue and key partners.

02

Phase 2: Design and Open Sales

Draw the floor plan or room layout, set pricing, and open registration and exhibitor or sponsor sales.

03

Phase 3: Marketing and Content

Announce speakers and the agenda, promote through partners, and keep a steady cadence of reminders.

04

Phase 4: Logistics and Vendors

Confirm production, catering, signage, printing, badges, and staffing, with a named owner for each.

05

Phase 5: Final Confirmations

Reconfirm every vendor, finalize the attendee list and seating, and send attendees their arrival details.

06

Phase 6: Event Week

Run a walk-through, brief staff and volunteers, and keep a single sheet of contacts and decision-makers.

07

Phase 7: Wrap-Up

Send thanks and surveys, pay vendors, reconcile the budget, and record lessons while they are fresh.

Customer stories

What our customers say

See how event teams use MapD to run smoother events.

MapD is the best option for our expos. Our clients love the registration process! Data organization and exports are simple and easy. Fast reliable customer support feels like family. The wide variety of tools available for us allow us to grow and still feel well accommodated.

Experience ExpositionsKyle MichaudPresident @ Experience Expositions

MapD is indeed a welcome and needed change for the way we sell booths and handle our awesome exhibitors. With being in our 20th year, we needed a system that would take the guesswork out of exhibitor payments, accounting, floor plan assignments and more! MapD has helped us sell more booths in a shorter time frame and we will most definitely continue to use them!

Taliah WaajidTa'ron JoynerExhibitor Acquisitions Manager @ Taliah Waajid

MapD is one of the most user friendly systems I have found for floor plan software. The customer service received after signing up goes unmatched by any other systems I have used. MapD has truly made my job easier as an Exhibit Manager and helps to promote and sell booth space with the interactive floor plan I can deliver to my vendors.

KinsleyCasey HinerMeeting Architect @ Kinsley

The support of our vendors and partners allows us to put these events together, so again, thank you. I hope you have enjoyed this year's Virtual A-Day! The platform is amazing and so easy to use. :)

DFWAEAlyssa MeekEvents manager @ DFWAE

I am really excited about this. The staff met with me this morning and we all LOVE the platform. People are already filling out their booths.

Maine Insurance Agents AssociationLisa VereggeDirector, International Trade and Development @ Maine Insurance Agents Association

Map D is an amazing platform and easy to use! We worked with Map D for our virtual annual conference last year and it worked like a charm. When we held our annual conference in-person for the first time in two years, our first choice for our conference app was Map D!

Texas Society of CPAsRori ShawExecutive Director @ Texas Society of CPAs

I just came back from show site. This week I had my largest show ever. I had 247 exhibitors and I had 247 happy exhibitors. And a lot of that is a result of they were able to get their badges, update their profile, reach out to me anytime they want to.

Georgia Municipal AssociationYalonde TannerShow Manager @ Georgia Municipal Association

Exporting exhibitors is really helpful for me. Fern needs a list of all our exhibitors with their booth number and what size it's going to be. Just exporting that list and getting it to whoever I'm working with at Fern is so incredibly helpful.

Multi Family NorthwestLaura WebbEvent Coordinator @ Multi Family Northwest

I'm probably your only customer who uses it to sell campsites, but it works really well. I just give them a drawing and they put it all together for me. I don't have to do it - it saves me many hours.

High Lifter ProductsTracie EngiHigh Lifter Products
Pricing

One flat price per event, never per booth

Every plan is a flat rate per event — not per booth.

Compare plans
  • Free$0one event, no cardStart free. Build one event's floor plan.
  • Starter$1,500per eventPublish an interactive floor plan and run your event.
  • Growth$2,500per eventExhibitors buy their booth directly on your floor plan — pick a space, check out, invoice sent.
  • Scale$2,750per eventEverything in Growth, plus the exhibitor portal: personnel, products and assets, self-served, with lead capture in the Map D app.
Works with the tools you already use
  • Novi
  • Salesforce
  • HubSpot
  • QuickBooks
  • Stripe
  • Authorize.Net
  • PayPal
  • WordPress
  • Zapier
See all integrations
See it on your own floor plan

Stop reading about it. Build one.

Upload the floor plan you already have and place your booths on it yourself, in Map D’s editor. Free to build, no contract, and nothing to install.

Build your floor plan freeRequest a demo
900+
Organizers who have run shows on Map D
9,000+
Events powered since 2011
1.8M+
Booths drawn to date

“I am really excited about this. The staff met with me this morning and we all LOVE the platform. People are already filling out their booths.”

· Director, International Trade and Development @ Maine Insurance Agents Association

Related event solutions

FAQ

Your questions answered

Common questions about event timeline template.

Have more questions? Request Demo →

How far ahead should I start planning?

Larger events such as trade shows and conferences need the longest lead, since venues and sponsors book early. Small events can use a much shorter timeline.

What belongs on an event timeline?

Every task with an owner and a deadline, grouped by phase, so anyone can see what is next and who is responsible.

How do I handle slipped deadlines?

Review the timeline weekly and move dependent tasks when something slips, rather than letting the plan go stale.

Can Map D help with this?

Map D handles the event itself: floor plan, booth sales, registration, check-in, the attendee app, and reporting. Request a demo to see how it fits your event.

Book a demo

Ready to launch your event with Map D?

Join a growing community of associations, event planners, and organizers who use Map D to run better events.

Organizers who have run shows on Map D
900+
Events powered since 2011
9,000+
Booths drawn to date
1.8M+