2008 Exhibitor Rules & Guidelines

Electrical Needs for Exhibitor booths
Florida Housing does not provide electric outlets or other electrical/technical services for exhibitor booths. For these and other special services, contact the Orange County Convention Center directly via the website at http://www.occc.net/Exhibitor/Orders/; on the site, you will find instructions and forms for ordering these and other services.

Exhibitor Booth Set-up
Early set-up begins on Friday, June 6, from noon - 4:00 p.m.
Show-day set-up begins on Saturday, June 7, from 7:30  -  9:30 a.m.
All booths must be set by 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 7.

Exhibitor Booth Breakdown
Exhibitors may begin breaking down booths on at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 7; ALL BOOTHS MUST BE BROKEN DOWN BY 7:00 P.M.
NOTE: No exhibitor will be allowed to break-down an exhibit until 5:00 p.m. Saturday, June 7; any exhibitor that willfully dismantles its exhibit prior to 5:00 p.m. may not be considered for participation in future Florida Housing events. Each exhibitor understands that this schedule will be adhered to as a courtesy to other exhibitors, partners and to attendees at the HomeBuyer Expo.

Package Deliveries
Each exhibitor must arrange all package deliveries directly with the Orange County Convention Center; any delivery/holding charges and/or picking-up of the packages are the sole responsibility of the exhibitor.

Unoccupied Space
If any exhibitor booth space remains unoccupied for the first hour after the Expo opens, Florida Housing reserves the right to resell, rent or occupy said space.

Payment Deadlines and Refunds
Platinum, Gold and Silver Partners:
Full payment must be received at the Florida Housing office by 5:00 p.m., Friday, May 23, 2008; this will secure your sponsorship, and all rights and privileges that accompany it, including registration, advertising placements, signage and placement in the Expo program. Checks or money orders should be made payable and mailed to: Florida Housing Finance Corporation, 2008 HomeBuyer Expo, 227 N. Bronough St., Suite 5000, Tallahassee, FL 32301. Please note in the memo section of the check/money order that it is for the HomeBuyer Expo.

All Other Exhibitors:
Full payment must be received at the Florida Housing office by 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 28, 2008; this will secure your exhibit booth, and all rights and privileges that accompany it. Checks or money orders should be made payable and mailed to: Florida Housing Finance Corporation, 2008 HomeBuyer Expo, 227 N. Bronough St., Suite 5000, Tallahassee, FL 32301. Please note in the memo section of the check/money order that it is for the HomeBuyer Expo.

Cancellation Policy: In the event an exhibitor finds it impossible to participate in the Expo once payment has been received, the exhibitor must send a letter to that effect to: 2008 HomeBuyer Expo, Florida Housing Finance Corporation, 227 N. Bronough St., Suite 5000, Tallahassee, FL 32301; letter must be postmarked by 5:00 p.m., EST, on Friday, May 16, 2008. Upon receipt of the letter, Florida Housing may authorize a refund of 50 percent of the exhibitor fee, only. No refunds will be made to exhibitors whose letter is postmarked after 5:00 p.m., EST, on Friday, May 16, 2008.

Unauthorized Personnel
All attendees, staff and exhibitors will have identification name badges for this event. Only individuals with Florida Housing/HomeBuyer Expo name badges and/or convention center staff will be allowed into the exhibit area. For Partners and Exhibitors: additional name badges (i.e., any amount over and above your allotted number of badges) may be purchased for $5.00 each.

Signs, Posters and Banners
Each exhibitor agrees NOT to post, adhere or hang signs, advertisements, posters, or cards of any type inside, in front of or on any part of the convention center, except for in areas specifically designated for exhibitor signage. It is the responsibility of each exhibitor to contract with convention center staff to have banners, signs or posters that are to be displayed in the exhibition area properly affixed in designated areas only. No banners may be hung except in the exhibition area within the exhibit space, and signs must be hung by convention center staff only when affixed to the convention center, itself.

Public Policy
All companies and individuals exhibiting at the 2008 HomeBuyer Expo are participating at the exclusive discretion of Florida Housing, and must abide by all local codes, rules, regulations and ordinances, including fire regulations; in addition, exhibitors must abide by the directions and instructions presented by official Florida Housing and convention center personnel, as well.

Eligible Exhibits and Restrictions
Florida Housing reserves the right to accept or reject, without reason, any exhibit agreement received. Florida Housing also reserves the right to re-assign exhibit space as deemed necessary and in the best interest of the HomeBuyer Expo. Florida Housing may choose to waive exhibit fees for select non-profit exhibitors with approval from the Executive Director or Conference Coordinator.

Exhibit Floor Access
Florida Housing reserves the right to limit access to the exhibit floor to anyone during times the exhibition area is not officially open, as well as to any person not in possession of a Florida Housing-issued or convention center name badge.

Use of Exhibit Space
Exhibitors shall reflect their company's highest standards of professionalism while maintaining their exhibits during exhibition hours. No exhibitor shall assign, sublet or share exhibit space without express permission of Florida Housing.

No Soliciting Policy
Soliciting at the HomeBuyer Expo is strictly prohibited. No firm, organization or exhibitor is permitted to engage in solicitation activities within the exhibit area.