Virtual reality system for tradeshows and associated methods

A method for conducting a tradeshow using a virtual reality system, comprising the following steps.

• a) creating electronic files defining a three-dimensional virtual reality venue in which the tradeshow will be conducted;
• b) creating electronic files defining one or more three-dimensional virtual reality exhibit booths and positioning the booths within the venue,
• c) compiling the venue electronic files and the one or more exhibit booth electronic files into a set of electronic files defining a three-dimensional virtual reality tradeshow,
• d) creating multimedia files containing supplemental information associated with the tradeshow;
• e) compiling the tradeshow electronic files and the multimedia files into a set of data files defining a virtual reality tradeshow environment;
• f) authorizing a first user to use a virtual reality tradeshow software application and the tradeshow environment data files on a first host device associated with the virtual reality system;
• and
• g) displaying a first visual image of the tradeshow to the first user based on the first user's initial position in the tradeshow and updating the first tradeshow visual image as the first user navigates through the tradeshow.

A method for identifying potential sales leads associated with a three-dimensional virtual reality tradeshow, comprising the following steps:

• a) collecting a set of user profile information from each tradeshow attendee via a first type of host device associated with an attendee of the tradeshow,
• b) assigning a unique user identification address to each attendee;
• c) periodically recording the unique user identification address and current position for each attendee as each attendee uses the first type of host device to navigate through the tradeshow, wherein the information recorded is communicated to a second type of host device associated with a promoter of the tradeshow,
• d) recognizing when any attendee using a first type of host device has entered a first three-dimensional virtual reality exhibit booth within the tradeshow, and
• e) reporting the user profile information for each attendee that entered the first exhibit booth to a tradeshow exhibitor associated with the first booth on a third type of host device.