What an Exhibitor Code of Conduct Covers
Most exhibitor problems are about people, not booths: staff stepping into the aisle to stop attendees, demos that drown out neighbors, aggressive selling, photographing another exhibitor's products, or behavior toward attendees that would get anyone removed. Your vendor rules and regulations cover construction and safety; a code of conduct covers how everyone in the booth behaves, and it gives your floor staff something in writing to point to.
| Topic | What the rule says | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Staff behavior | Professional, respectful conduct toward everyone at the show | Sets the standard for every person wearing an exhibitor badge |
| Booth and aisle boundaries | Staff, displays and products stay inside the booth | Keeps aisles clear for traffic and fire exits |
| Solicitation | No selling or handing out material outside your booth | Protects other exhibitors and sponsors who paid for visibility |
| Sound | A maximum sound level and no amplified sound aimed into aisles | Neighbors can hold conversations |
| Harassment | Zero tolerance, with examples | Protects attendees, exhibitors and staff |
| Photography | No photos of other booths without permission | Protects exhibitors' products and designs |
| Consequences | Warning, then removal, without refund | Makes the code enforceable |
| Reporting | One contact and a location to report problems | People know where to go |
Copy-Ready Exhibitor Code of Conduct Template
Replace every bracketed field and remove sections that don't apply. Have the final wording reviewed by your counsel, especially the consequences section.
How to Get Exhibitors to Accept It
- 1
Put It in the Exhibitor Agreement
Reference the code in your exhibitor agreement, saying the exhibitor agrees to follow it and that breaking it can lead to removal without refund. That is what makes it enforceable.
- 2
Ask for Acceptance at Booking
Link the code on your booking page and ask exhibitors to confirm they accept the agreement and the code before they pay. A rule they agreed to before buying is easier to enforce than one sent later.
- 3
Repeat It in the Manual
Include the full code in the exhibitor manual and in the welcome letter, so the people who staff the booth see it, not only the person who booked.
- 4
Remind Before the Show
Remind exhibitors in the final logistics email before move-in and give floor managers a printed copy and the reporting contact.
- 5
Train Floor Staff to Enforce It
Brief floor staff on how to give a warning, when to escalate and who decides on removal. Write down every incident with the time, booth and what was said.
Exhibitor management software keeps each exhibitor's booth, agreement and documents in one place, so you can see who has booked and what they were sent.
Code of Conduct Mistakes to Avoid
- Publishing a code that the exhibitor agreement never mentions, so it can't be enforced
- Sending it only to the person who booked, not to booth staff
- Setting a sound limit without saying how or where it is measured
- Leaving out who to report a problem to, or listing a no-reply email
- Promising removal for every breach, then not enforcing it
- Writing rules that only apply to attendees and forgetting exhibitor staff at receptions