Structured Engagement: The Use of Games on the Expo Hall Floor

Building engagement takes more than adding something fun to the agenda. It is about creating opportunities for people to connect, participate, learn and find value in the time they spend at the event.

That was the idea behind the Expo Punch List Game, a new engagement initiative introduced at CxEnergy 2026. The goal was simple: Encourage attendees to visit participating exhibitor booths, start real conversations, learn about products and services and spend more intentional time in the exposition hall.

On the surface, the game was easy to follow. Attendees visited "gold" and "silver" booths, asked questions, collected unique booth codes, checked in through the mobile app and earned badges toward prizes. Behind the scenes, however, the project required sponsor planning, app coordination, staff training, signage, testing, communication and a clear understanding of how the experience would benefit everyone involved.

Please select this link to read the complete article from ASAE's Center for Association Leadership.