At Association Forum’s Holiday Showcase in Chicago, Visit Raleigh brought the spirit of Raleigh to life for meeting planners and destination decision-makers. The event served as a high-visibility opportunity to connect with key audiences evaluating future meeting destinations, while showcasing what makes Raleigh a welcoming and experience-driven city for groups and events.

A standout moment at the booth was the inclusion of popcorn giveaways from Ella’s Popcorn, which quickly became a crowd favorite. Attendees were naturally drawn to the booth not only for conversations about Raleigh as a destination, but also for the memorable, grab-and-go snack experience. The popcorn created an easy, sensory touchpoint that sparked engagement, encouraged lingering conversations, and left planners with a tangible (and tasty) reminder of the Raleigh brand.

The activation reinforced a key takeaway for corporate and event marketing: thoughtful, locally rooted gifting can elevate trade show presence far beyond traditional swag. In this case, popcorn served as both a hospitality gesture and a storytelling tool—offering a “taste of Raleigh” that made the destination feel personal, approachable, and memorable.

For Ella’s Popcorn, this partnership highlights the power of corporate gifting and experiential marketing. Whether at large industry trade shows, client appreciation events, or corporate activations, popcorn bars and packaged gifting solutions create meaningful brand moments that drive connection and recall long after the event ends.

👉 Interested in bringing this experience to your next event or client activation? Visit our Corporate Gifting Inquiry Page to learn more.

Check out Visit Raleigh's Raleigh on the Road: Holiday Showcase to read more.