Guide
Plan Exhibition Gate Staffing Using Entry Data
Entry data from NITE 2026 showed an evening peak, not an opening rush. How to use it to staff gates and add lanes.
By the ExpoLiz team · · 3 min read
Most organisers staff the gates for opening time. The entry data from NITE 2026 showed something different, and it changes how you should plan.
What the NITE data showed
Entries started around 9:30 AM, held steady through the day, then climbed sharply from 4:30 PM to an evening peak around 6 PM. Gate 1 handled about two thirds of all entries (66%) and Gate 2 the remaining third (34%).
What that tells you
- The busiest hours came after 4:30 PM, not at opening.
- One gate carried twice the load of the other, so lanes and volunteers should follow the crowd, not be split evenly.
- Exhibitors can expect their busiest hours in the evening.
How to use entry data on your next show
- Scan every entry so you have times and gates, not just a total.
- After day one, check entries by time and by gate.
- Move volunteers to the gate and hours that need them.
- Tell exhibitors when to expect the crowd.
- Keep the data to plan the next edition’s staffing.
Live numbers change how you run the day
With paper, you learn this at closing time, if at all. With QR scans, the team sees attendance build through each day.