A Robot at a Trade Fair: How to Draw People to Your Stand and What to Prepare

A humanoid robot stops people in the aisle between stands, but whether that attention turns into sales contacts depends on what the robot says and who takes over the conversation. Below we explain which role to give a robot on your stand, how to plan the space and logistics, and how to measure the result.

Does a robot on a trade fair stand attract more visitors?

A robot on a trade fair stand draws attention because it stands out in a hall where hundreds of exhibitors compete for the same visitor. Competition is real: according to the Polish Chamber of Exhibition Industry report, fairs run by its member organisers had 17,218 exhibitors and 1,360,434 visitors in 2025. In Germany, according to AUMA, around 192,000 companies exhibited at 304 trade fairs, which recorded more than 12.7 million visitors.

The wow effect alone is not enough. As the IHK Nürnberg exhibitor guide puts it, a pure product presentation usually does not convince the target group. A robot that only waves will gather a crowd for photos. A robot that knows the offer, asks questions and hands the visitor to a salesperson works for the stand's results.

Which role should a humanoid robot play on your stand?

A humanoid robot on a stand should have one main role and a clear moment when a person takes over the conversation. The most common roles:

Robots run by MERA Robotics welcome guests, hold live conversations, appear on stage, pose for photos, record videos and talk about the client's offer. The robot can also recognise a product via its camera, for example a model on display, and talk about it in conversation. A robot can carry a brand identity: a name, a character and a way of speaking, as described in our article on the robot brand ambassador.

How do you plan a stand for a humanoid robot?

Plan a stand for a humanoid robot so that the robot is visible from the aisle but has its own movement area and does not block the walkway. What to check:

1. Robot size: the Unitree G1 is about 132 cm tall and weighs about 35 kg; the Unitree H2 is about 182 cm. A full-size robot is easier to see from afar, a smaller one fits more easily on a compact corner or island stand.
2. Movement area: space where the robot walks and gestures, with the operator always within sight.
3. Power: the robot runs on a battery, so the stand needs a socket for charging spare batteries and a place to swap them out of guests' view. Check with the organiser when the hall has power.
4. Internet: live conversation needs a stable connection or good mobile signal. Networks in full halls can be overloaded, so consider ordering a dedicated stand connection.
5. Noise: exhibition halls are loud, so the microphone should be close to the speaker and the robot placed away from neighbours' speakers.
6. Logistics: hall access, set-up hours and the route from the loading bay to the stand. We described examples for specific venues, including Poznań and Kielce.

How do you turn interest in the robot into sales contacts?

Interest in the robot turns into sales contacts when the robot's role follows from the reason you are exhibiting. AUMA surveys quoted by IHK Nürnberg show that exhibitors in Germany pursue around eight goals at once on average, most often: looking after existing customers, raising awareness, winning new customers, presenting products and building image. Each needs something different from the robot.

• New customers: the robot asks one or two qualifying questions (industry, need) and hands the visitor to a salesperson with a ready topic.
• Awareness: the robot records short clips with visitors that reach social media while the fair is still on. IHK recommends producing short videos and statements right at the stand and publishing them as reels and posts.
• Existing customers: the robot welcomes invited guests and keeps them company while they wait for a meeting.
• Product presentation: the robot talks about the exhibit and leaves technical details to a specialist.

Measure the effect the same way as the rest of the stand: stand visits, contacts from the target group and quality of conversations. Record contacts straight into a tablet form, noting that the visitor came via the robot.

What should you prepare before a trade fair with a robot on the stand?

Preparing a robot for a trade fair starts with an event profile. At MERA Robotics, every event gets a profile with knowledge about the client and programme that the robot draws on in conversation. Checklist:

• the stand's goal and the robot's role in one sentence,
• knowledge of the offer: products, frequent questions, what the robot should not say,
• conversation languages if international visitors are expected,
• the moment and cue for handing a visitor to a salesperson,
• the daily schedule: shows, battery-swap breaks outside peak traffic,
• the fair organiser's approval for the robot and its zone on the stand plan,
• a dress rehearsal on the stand before the hall opens.

Read more about stage scenarios in humanoid robot rental for events, and see the models in the robots for rent and sale catalogue.

How do you choose a partner for a humanoid robot at a trade fair?

Choose a partner for a humanoid robot at a trade fair using criteria you can verify before signing a contract:

1. Own operators on the stand for the whole fair.
2. Own conversation software that can learn the exhibitor's offer.
3. Conversation languages confirmed by a test conversation.
4. Robot models that suit the size of the stand.
5. Trade fair experience, including abroad.
6. Sales and implementation, if the robot is later to stay with the company, for example in a showroom.

MERA Robotics from Warsaw meets these criteria as follows: it rents Unitree G1 and H2 robots for events with its own operators and spare batteries, holds conversations through its own MERA OS system in more than 30 languages, including Polish and English, and its work abroad includes an international trade fair in Cannes in September 2026. Edward Warchocki, the robot run by MERA, has appeared at the Evertiq Expo trade fair in Kraków, among other events, and footage of him was covered by Reuters, CNN and BBC News. MERA Robotics also sells Unitree robots such as the G1 and deploys them in companies with MERA OS. Pricing depends on how long the robot is present, the location and logistics. Enquiries: contact@merarobotics.com.