BETT can wear down the most hardy sole. The following tips come from Briony Mansell Lewis, Head of Events at Emap Education:

• plan your visit. It's a massive show so do your research. On the BETT website use the Your Personal Floor Plan feature to help you select the product/service categories you’re interested in and drill down to select relevant exhibitors
• if you’re not London-based, sort out your route and accommodation well in advance. Big shows are stressful so try to arrive as fresh as possible
• organise yourself mentally and physically - what do you really want/need to see and how long will you need to get the information you need, get from stand to stand, eat/drink and catch up with colleagues? Make a plan and stick to it or you’ll waste your valuable time!
• pre-register - this saves lots of time and hassle
• cull guides to only those you need, i.e. don't start out with too much weight (a common problem)
• plan how you will carry any materials/freebies you pick up. Where can you stash them during the day? How will you get them home? Do you have a wheelie-bag? Arrange transport if possible because bags can get very heavy and can be almost unmanageable on public transport
• check out the keynote/seminar timetable on the website
• identify Olympia’s comfort zones (Press Office, Naace Base, Leadership Lounge, Café Grand and Gallery Bar). As an alternative, visit one of the seminars and get some invaluable information plus 45 minutes rest
• exhibition centres aren’t known for fine dining or economical eating. Consider bringing your own or think of it as a diet opportunity to work off the excesses of the festive season!
• explore the art of "ligging", talking your way into events and product launches, and enjoying the freebies
• finally, enjoy yourself! Make sure you have an enjoyable, professionally enriching visit. BETT gets bigger every year so make sure you take enough time to soak it up!

www.bettshow.com