For show organizers
Registration, Check-In, and Badge Printing
Check-in stations, self-service kiosks, and badge printers for the front door of your show, with spares and support for the first morning rush.
At a glance
Show registration usually runs on check-in stations or self-service kiosks connected to your registration software, with a badge printer at each station or shared between two. ConventionVendor.com rents the stations, kiosks, badge printers, and spares, sized to your attendance and peak arrival, and delivers them before registration opens.
The first impression of your show
Registration lines are the first thing attendees remember. The station count, the badge printing speed, and the network behind them decide whether the first morning feels organized or slow.
We rent the hardware your registration software runs on: laptops or tablets for staffed check-in, freestanding kiosks for self-service, and badge printers matched to your badge stock. We work from your expected attendance and arrival pattern to recommend how many of each you need.
Registration should be the most reliable network connection in the building. We plan for wired connections where the venue provides them and keep spare devices and printers on site.
| Peak arrival | Plan stations for the busiest hour, usually the first morning |
|---|---|
| Check-in time | Often 30-60 seconds per pre-registered attendee with on-demand badges |
| Printers | One per station, or one shared by two stations at lower volume |
| Spares | At least one spare station and one spare printer |
| Network | Wired connection from the venue's provider where possible |
General guidance. Your quote confirms the exact equipment for your booth, show, and dates.
Popular packages
Registration setups
Starting points our team adjusts to your booth size, traffic, and show rules. Every quote is itemized.
Staffed check-in station
Shows where staff look up attendees, answer questions, and hand over badges.
- Laptop or tablet with stand
- Badge printer
- Barcode or QR scanner where needed
- Power and network cables
Self-service kiosk bank
Pre-registered attendees who scan a code and print their own badge.
- Freestanding touchscreen kiosks
- Badge printer at each kiosk or shared
- Kiosk signage area
- Staff help station
Exhibitor and speaker desk
Separate check-in for exhibitors, speakers, and press.
- Two check-in stations
- Label or badge printer
- Laptop for last-minute changes
- Printer for documents
- Sized to the show
- A regional show and a citywide convention need very different station counts. Renting matches the equipment to this year's attendance.
- Ready for your software
- Tell us your registration platform and badge stock, and we prepare devices and printers to work with them.
- Spares on site
- A spare station and printer turn a hardware problem into a two-minute swap instead of a growing line.
- Set up before the doors open
- Delivery is planned for the day before registration opens, so your team can test with real badges.
Running registration at a convention center
Order wired internet for registration from the venue's provider, separate from exhibitor and attendee Wi-Fi. A dedicated connection keeps lookups and badge printing fast when thousands of phones join the venue network at once.
Lay out the space for flow: a short line per station, signs that direct attendees by registration type, and a help desk for problems so they do not block a station. Badge pickup for exhibitors and speakers is easier at a separate desk.
Test with real badge stock the day before. Print a test badge on every printer, check alignment, and keep extra stock and ribbons at the help desk.
What to tell us
- Expected attendance and peak arrival
- Registration software or vendor
- Badge size and stock
- Staffed, self-service, or both
- When registration opens
Frequently asked questions
How many registration stations does a show need?
Plan for the busiest hour. As a starting point, divide the number of attendees expected in the peak hour by the number one station can process in an hour, then add a spare. Our registration planning guide walks through an example.
Do you provide registration software?
We rent the hardware: stations, kiosks, badge printers, and scanners. Your registration platform provides the software, and we prepare the equipment to work with it.
Can attendees print their own badges?
Yes. Self-service kiosks let pre-registered attendees scan a confirmation code and print a badge. Most shows pair a kiosk bank with a few staffed stations for questions and walk-ins.
Can you equip exhibitor registration separately?
Yes. Many shows run a separate desk for exhibitors and speakers so their badge pickup does not compete with attendee lines on the first morning.
Plan the rest of your booth
- Touchscreen Kiosks for Booths and Shows
Freestanding touchscreen kiosks for product demos, surveys and lead forms, wayfinding, and self check-in, ready for your content.
- Show Office and Breakout Room Technology
Laptops, printers and copiers, projectors and screens, and two-way radios for show offices, speaker ready rooms, and breakout sessions.
- Show Wi-Fi, Hotspots, and Connectivity
Cellular hotspots, routers, and network gear for show offices, hotel suites, off-site events, and booths where the venue and show allow them.
Exhibitor and planner guides
- Planning Show Registration and Badge Printing
How to size registration stations for peak arrival, choose kiosks or staffed counters, plan badge printers and spares, and set up the network.
- Show Wi-Fi Rules: Hotspots, Venue Internet, and Exclusives
Why show floors limit hotspots and access points, what the typical rules look like, what to order instead, and where a hotspot still makes sense.
- How Booth Power and Internet Work at Convention Centers
Who provides booth power and internet, how to estimate watts, where to place outlets, and when to choose wired, venue Wi-Fi, or a hotspot.
Convention centers we deliver to
- First Financial Center
Cincinnati's convention center, reopened in January 2026 after renovation and renamed in February 2026, with 195,000 square feet of continuous exhibit space.
- Henry B. González Convention Center
Riverside convention center in San Antonio's Hemisfair district with about 514,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space.
- Indiana Convention Center
Downtown Indianapolis convention center with 566,600 square feet of contiguous exhibit space, a walkway to Lucas Oil Stadium, and strict rules against exhibitor wireless equipment.
- Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Events DC's 2.3 million square foot downtown venue with 703,000 square feet of exhibit space and a Metro station that opens into the building.
- America's Center Convention Complex
A 2.2 million square foot downtown St. Louis complex with 574,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space, the Dome, and a newly added 72,000-square-foot hall.
- Baird Center
Milwaukee's downtown convention center, formerly the Wisconsin Center, with 300,000 contiguous square feet of exhibition space and a 2024 expansion.
Ready to plan your booth?
Tell us the show, venue, booth number, and dates. We will recommend the right booth and show technology and send a quote built around your move-in and move-out.