There are a ton of places where you could hold your next tradeshow, but it’s not always easy to narrow down the pluses and minuses of each venue. Fortunately, a new tool in today’s Social Media Roundup could help you figure things out:

Compare Venues, Easily

TSNN Unveils Online Trade Show Venue Directory with 400-plus Exhibit Halls Listed http://t.co/khqjZ4TxER – valuable resource for planners!

— Rachel Wimberly (@TSNN_Rachel) February 21, 2014

It’s not always easy to know what makes one expo hall a better fit for your needs than another. Fortunately, the Trade Show News Network (TSNN) is on top of the issue. This week, the news service launched a venue directory that makes it easy to do side-by-side comparisons of more than 400 exhibit halls nationwide—offering info in significant depth, including social media links and nearby restaurants. “A comprehensive reference resource of this scope and scale goes from essential to imperative instantly,” Bob Schuler, the vice president of the Atlanta Convention Center at AmericasMart, told TSNN about the endeavor.

Click over this way to learn more about the project. (ht @TSNN_Rachel)

Pre-Departure Exit Interviews

Stay Interviews: an Essential Tool for Winning the War to Keep Your Employees http://t.co/35hSMH9ZNn Used by many in the #assnchat community

— Janet McNichol (@jmcnichol) February 21, 2014

You shouldn’t just interview employees about their experience at your organization when they’ve got one foot out the door. If they seem content, why not figure out why they’re sticking around? So says John Sullivan, a noted expert on human resources issues. In a recent post on the matter, Sullivan introduces the concept of the “stay interview” or a “pre-exit interview,” a conversation with the employee where you can ask about the things that are and aren’t working for the person—before it’s too late to fix them. “If you know why an individual employee stays, you can obviously reinforce those factors,” he explains. “And if you know far enough in advance what factors might cause them to leave, you can get a head start in ensuring those turnover causes never occur.”

So what kind of questions would you ask in such a format? Check out Sullivan’s full post to nail down the right strategy. (ht @jmcnichol)

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