© Iina Siniluoto

Vendor Hall Terms of Contract 2024

Vendor Hall Terms of Contract 2024

Terms updated February 22nd, 2024

These are the terms of contract for the sales stands (later to be referred to as stand) at Ropecon 2024 (later to be referred to as event). The event is held at the Messukeskus Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre (later to be referred to as venue) and is organized by Ropecon ry (later to be referred to as organizer).

The exhibitor

A stand can be reserved by a legal or natural person. The person that has reserved the stand (later to be referred to as exhibitor) is responsible for the space and for following these terms.

Upon making the reservation, the exhibitor must give a legal name, billing information, and contact information. They may in addition give a name for the stand, if different from the legal name. The organizer must be informed of any changes to this information without delay.

The exhibitor may, with permission from the organizer, transfer control of the stand or part of the stand to another legal or natural person. This transfer of control must be agreed upon with the organizer no later than two weeks before the event.

If there are significant changes in the ownership or control of a legal person acting as the exhibitor, the organizer must be informed without delay. The organizer reserves the right to deny use of the stand as a result of such changes. If the organizer denies the exhibitor the use of their reserved stand, the exhibitor will be refunded any reservation fees they have already paid.

The stand and their equipment

The stand is shaped like a rectangle, unless agreed otherwise. The organizer defines its width (the length of the long edge) and depth (the length of the short edge) to the nearest half-meter. The organizer reserves the right to make minor changes to the dimensions of the stand area from what has been agreed.

If the stand is in the row, one of its long edges faces the public. In a corner, one of the long edges and one of the short edges will face the public. The other edges of the stand may be shared with an adjacent space, against the wall, or toward the public or unused stand space. The organizer and exhibitor may also agree on a different setup.

The reservation fee of the stand does not include furniture, carpets, wall elements, or other furnishings, except by separate agreement with the organizer. The exhibitor may use their own furniture or rent them from the organizer.

The organizer defines an upper limit for electricity use at the stand, which the exhibitor may not surpass even momentarily.

Activity at the stand

All activity at the stand must happen inside the allocated space. If there is a small gap of unused space between the stand area and a wall or other permanent structure, the exhibitor may request permission from the organizer to use it for storage.

The exhibitor may organize program at the stand that is in the spirit of the event. Any such program should be agreed upon with the organizer no later than two weeks before the event. Such program should not disturb the event, the public, or other exhibitors. Using audio systems in the program is prohibited.

Activity at the stand cannot cause danger or disturbance to the event, the public, or other exhibitors. The activity must not be offensive or contrary to good manners. Political and religious activity is prohibited at the event.

Merchandise and advertising

The products on display and sale at the stand must not be offensive or contrary to good manners. The exhibitor may not prepare, sell, or serve food or beverages to the public without a permission from the organizer.

The exhibitor may not place advertising outside the stand without a permission from the organizer. The advertising must not be offensive or contrary to good manners. Advertising may not be attached to walls, doors, or other structures of the venue without a permission from the organizer.

The schedule

Thursday, July 18, 2024

12:00 – 18:00 Building

Friday, July 19, 2024

08:00 – 15:00 Building

15:00 The event opens to the public

15:00 – 21:00 Vendor Hall is open to the public

21:00 – 22:00 Maintenance

Saturday, July 20, 2024

09:00 – 10:00 Maintenance

10:00 – 19:00 Vendor Hall is open to the public

19:00 – 20:00 Maintenance

Sunday, July 21, 2024

09:00 – 10:00 Maintenance

10:00 – 17:00 Vendor Hall is open to the public

17:00 – 21:00 Dismantling

18:00 The event ends

The stands at the event are located in the Vendor Hall, which is locked and off limits to the public outside of its opening hours. The exhibitor may make a separate agreement with the organizers about locating their stand outside the Vendor Hall.

An exhibitor whose stand is located outside the Vendor Hall may choose their opening hours freely within the limits of the event’s opening hours. In this case, the exhibitor is responsible for guarding and storage of their stand’s contents outside of its opening hours.

The Vendor Hall’s service door is open during building, maintenance, and dismantling hours. Bringing in more product and other stand maintenance during the Vendor Hall’s opening hours must be executed so they do not disturb the event, the public, or other exhibitors. Bringing a car into the Vendor Hall during building, maintenance, or dismantling hours requires permission from the organizer.

Entry

The stand’s reservation fee includes a reasonable number of vendor badges. A vendor badge is specific to the stand and can only be used by the staff of that stand. A vendor badge

  • functions as an access pass to the Vendor Hall during building, maintenance, and dismantling.
  • permits access to the venue
  • permits the use of the event’s services such as the coat check and the sleeping area; and
  • permits access to the exhibitor lounge.

Participating in games and other program items requires purchasing a full ticket. Tickets may be preordered while reserving the stand or bought at the event.

Reservations and billing

Reserving the stand is done via an online form. The reservation is considered completed when the organizer has confirmed it.

The exhibitor may change or cancel their reservation without incurring a fee until June 9, 2024. For a cancellation made after June 9, 2024 but by June 23, 2024, the organizer may bill the exhibitor for a sum corresponding to costs incurred to the event. Reservations not canceled by June 23, 2024 will be billed in full.

The organizer will send an invoice for the stand’s reservation approximately three weeks before the event. The invoice must be paid before the event, unless otherwise agreed upon with the organizer.

Contact

Communication between the organizer and the exhibitor is by e-mail, unless otherwise agreed upon. The organizer’s representative is reachable by phone during the event and in the days leading up to it during hours that will be announced later.

Permits

The exhibitor must have all relevant official permits for their activities. This is especially true for copyright holders’ licenses for the sale and exhibition of copyrighted material. The exhibitor must be able to produce such permits upon the organizer’s request.

The use of the event’s or the organizer’s graphics without a separate permission is prohibited.

Safety and security

The exhibitor is responsible for the fire safety of the stand’s structures and furnishings. Covering the stand as well as structures over 300 cm in height is prohibited without a separate permission from the organizer.

The stand must have sufficient exits to the emergency exit aisles:

  • Up to 20 m2: One at least 90 cm wide exit.
  • Over 20 m2 up to 50 m2: Two at least 90 cm wide exits.
  • Over 50 m2 up to 100 m2: One at least 120 cm wide and another at least 90 cm wide exit.
  • Over 100 m2 up to 200 m2: Two at least 120 cm wide exits.
  • Over 200 m2: On a case-by-case basis.

When multiple exits are required, they must be separate and fully independent of each other.

Any electronic devices and electric cables used in the stand must be functional and approved by the authorities. Electric cables must be positioned and covered so they do not pose a danger or disturbance.

Open fire, burning candles, and storing hazardous materials such as flammable liquids or gasses in the stand is prohibited without separate permission from the organizers.

Children under 12 may not access the Vendor Hall during building, maintenance, and dismantling hours.

The venue’s general building and security instructions are in effect where applicable.

The exhibitor’s responsibilities

In addition to these terms and the Finnish law, the exhibitor agrees to follow the orders and instructions given by the organizer, the venue, or the authorities.

The exhibitor accepts full responsibility for any damage or distress caused to the organizer, the venue, or a third party.

The exhibitor must be able to produce official accounts or authorized documents of their activities, such as a commerce registry document or an association registry document.

Breach of terms

An exhibitor who breaks these terms or other guidelines in effect must comply with them immediately. If the exhibitor does not comply after a request from the organizer, the organizer may remove the exhibitor from the event.

Changes

The organizer reserves the right to change these terms and the opening hours of the event and the Vendor Hall. If the organizer is unable to provide the stand to the exhibitor for reasons beyond their power (e.g. a strike or orders from the authorities), the organizer is not responsible for any damages incurred to the exhibitor. The organizer’s responsibility for changes is limited to refunding the reservation fee.