Pennsylvania is not a right-to-work state, but the resort publishes no union work rules. What your staff may do is set by the show's contractor, so read its kit before you plan a self-build.
Exhibitor guide · Pocono Manor, PA · Updated
Kalahari Poconos Exhibitor Guide
Pennsylvania's statewide associations bring their trade shows to a waterpark resort off I-380: PETE&C, the county commissioners and the campground owners all fill Kalahari's carpeted ballrooms, and the 38,000 sq ft Kilimanjaro Ballroom holds 190 10×10 booths. Booths here are small and setups are short, and the resort writes its own rules for vehicles, heavy pieces and power. This guide covers the four ballrooms, those rules, freight and drayage.
- 3,000+ exhibitors served
- 10,000+ booths built
- 2 days to a design brief
Photo: “Kalahari poconos” by senya82, CC BY 2.0. Source
Quick answers
What exhibitors ask about Kalahari Poconos
Kalahari's policy guide says it does not accept freight deliveries for trade shows. Ship to the show's exhibit services company, which handles freight and drayage.
The capacity chart gives 25 ft in the Kalahari Ballroom, 18 ft in the Kilimanjaro suites and River Rooms, and 16 ft in the African Ballroom.
That is the Kilimanjaro Ballroom, or 238 booths at 8×10. The Kalahari Ballroom takes 134 10×10 or 173 8×10 booths, per the venue's chart.
Photos: "Skiing @ Jack Frost Mountain in the Poconos:" by Rhys A., CC BY 2.0 Source · "150802-N-IZ292-039" by DOCHKAS, CC BY 2.0 Source · "Late afternoon at the Delaware Water Gap" by joiseyshowaa, CC BY-SA 2.0 Source
Only at Kalahari Poconos
Kalahari Poconos resort rules: vehicles, heavy pieces and booth sales
Your booth goes up inside a family waterpark resort, and the resort's policy guide has rules that a city convention center would leave to the show contractor. These apply at every show in the building, whoever the contractor is.
- ¼ tankA vehicle on display needs approval first, a quarter tank of fuel or less, a disconnected battery, plastic underneath and a certificate of insurance. Kalahari staff supervise placement to protect the ballroom carpet
- 50 lbAny booth piece over 50 pounds has to come in through the loading dock entrance, never through the resort lobby
- 3Exclusive services: security, audio-visual and exhibitor services. Outside AV gear needs written approval, and only Kalahari staff connect to house sound
- 20%The resort's commission on merchandise sold on site, but it does not apply to items sold from an exhibit booth at a trade or consumer show
- Staff onlyWall and building outlets are used only with Kalahari staff, power may not be shared with another exhibitor, and special connections need 14 days' notice
Where to stay & getting there
Hotels and travel for Kalahari Poconos
On site
Kalahari's 977 rooms
Rooms and one- to five-bedroom suites under the same roof as the ballrooms. Every registered guest gets admission to the 220,000 sq ft indoor waterpark. Group blocks go through 855.411.4605.
Parking
About 1,391 free stalls
Parking is free for exhibitors and attendees, per the resort's policy guide. Vehicles for display need separate approval.
By road
I-380, exit 3
The resort sits right off the interstate. Kalahari puts it about 30 minutes from Scranton, 50 from Allentown and about two hours from New York and Philadelphia.
≈ 40 mi
Sister resortWilkes-Barre/Scranton (AVP) and Lehigh Valley (ABE)
The nearest commercial airports, each roughly 40 miles by road. Confirm drive times for your arrival day.
Kalahari Sandusky, Ohio
The same brand's Lake Erie resort, with a 215,000 sq ft convention center. Read its guide if your show rotates between the two.
Venue guide →Ballrooms & exhibit space
Kalahari Poconos floor plan: Kilimanjaro, Kalahari, African and River ballrooms
There is no concrete exhibit hall at Kalahari. Shows go into four carpeted ballrooms in a 205,000 sq ft convention center inside the resort. Tap a room for its size, ceiling and the venue's own booth count.
Schematic. Widths are proportional to floor area; the ballrooms are separate rooms off shared foyers, not one hall. The official floor plan and capacity chart are on kalaharimeetings.com.
Kilimanjaro Ballroom
- 38,000 sq ft · 174′ × 218′
- 18 ft ceiling in the suites
- 190 10×10 or 238 8×10 booths
The main ballroom and exhibit space, opened with the December 2019 expansion. It divides into two 11,000 sq ft Kilimanjaro suites (55 10×10 booths each) and eight 2,000 sq ft suites. The chart lists no ceiling height for the full room; confirm it for tall builds.
Kalahari Ballroom
- 25,000 sq ft · 117′ × 214′
- 25 ft ceiling
- 134 10×10 or 173 8×10 booths
The original ballroom from the 2015 opening and the tallest room in the building. Salons A to H, 3,125 sq ft each, can be split off in pairs.
African Ballroom
- 12,000 sq ft · 87′ × 131′
- 16 ft ceiling
- 60 10×10 or 75 8×10 booths
The junior ballroom added in 2019, divisible into eight 1,500 sq ft suites. Fits a tabletop show or a sponsor area next to a larger exhibit.
River Rooms
- 9,000 sq ft · 188′ × 48′
- 18 ft ceiling
- 40 10×10 or 62 8×10 booths
The original junior ballroom: the Zambezi, Nile and Orange rooms, 3,000 sq ft each. Long and narrow, so plan a single row of booths down each wall.
205,000sq ft of convention space, per Kalahari's planner fact sheet
33meeting rooms, including four Wood Rooms (6,000 sq ft combined) and two boardrooms
9,735sq ft North Foyer, 295 ft long, the largest of six pre-function spaces
400guests in the executive conference center, part of the 2019 expansion
Loading dock & move-in
Kalahari Poconos loading dock and freight
Get directions to Kalahari Resorts & Conventions Pocono Mountains →
- A dedicated dock and a grade-level doorKalahari's planner fact sheet lists a dedicated loading dock and large grade-level access to the main exhibit space. The 2019 expansion was built with improved load-in and load-out.
- No freight to the resortKalahari does not accept trade show freight. Ship to the show's exhibit services company's warehouse or show-site address; CCAP's 2026 contract named General Exposition Services and said neither the facility nor CCAP would receive or store crates.
- Small boxes through the business centerThe resort's business center will take packages for a handling fee and can ship small items out after the show. Freight still goes back through the contractor.
- Heavy pieces stay off the lobby routeAnything over 50 pounds goes through the dock entrance. The PCOA moved its show to a larger room in 2025 partly for easier access from the loading dock.
- Day −60The show confirms its move-in schedule and final floor plan with the resort, its deadline for trade shows.
- Day −30Exhibitor orders for electric, internet and phone are due, per the resort's planning guide.
- Day −21Purple ships and installs from its New York location and books carriers into Pocono Manor.
- Day −14Last call for special electrical connections, which Kalahari needs 14 days ahead. Advance-warehouse deadlines fall around here; CCAP's 2026 discount date was two weeks out.
- Day 0Move-in is often the same morning: PCOA allowed 7:00 to 11:30 a.m. with no setup the night before.
- Show closeTeardown is fast. CCAP 2026 opened teardown at 1:15 p.m. and wanted the room empty by 5:30 p.m.
Labor & rules
Kalahari Poconos labor rules: what we could confirm
Pennsylvania is not a right-to-work state. Kalahari publishes no union jurisdictions, self-setup limits or POV rules, and the show contractor's kit for each show sets those. Below are the rules the resort itself prints in its Pocono Mountains policy guide, plus what recent show contracts here say. Your show kit is the final word.
✓Confirmed for exhibitors
- Booths sold here are small: 8×10 at CCAP and PETE&C, 10×10 at the PCOA show, with pipe and drape, a table and chairs included
- Food or drink samples linked to your business are allowed with approval from the show's Catering Manager and a signed liability waiver
- Booth sales are exempt from the resort's 20% merchandise commission at trade and consumer shows
- Free parking at about 1,391 stalls
●Resort and contractor only
- Security, audio-visual and exhibitor services are exclusive to Kalahari's contracted providers
- Freight and drayage through the show's exhibit services company
- Forklifts and heavy equipment need Kalahari's prior approval and staff supervision on the carpet
- Banner and sign hanging is arranged through the resort, with labor charges
- Outlets connected only with Kalahari staff
!Check your show kit
- Whether your full-time staff may build, and any size or time limit
- Whether you may unload your own vehicle, and where
- Whether an exhibitor-appointed contractor may work the floor. At CCAP, every installer had to wear a show badge counted in your allotment
- Labor rates and overtime hours
- A Pennsylvania seller's permit if you sell at the booth
Background photo: "Autodesk University 2009 Exhibit Hall being Setup" by Shaan Hurley, CC BY 2.0 Source
Free tool
Kalahari Poconos drayage cost estimator
Planning numbers for 2026 at about $120 per hundredweight. No Kalahari Poconos tariff is published, and shows here use regional contractors, so this rate sits below big union halls such as Philadelphia's. Your show kit has the real rate. See all venues on the drayage rates page.
Estimated drayage
$1,800
Cut this with a lighter booth
Race weekend in Monroe County
Photo: "restart pocono raceway" by Zach Catanzareti Photo, CC BY 2.0 Source
The calendar
Kalahari Poconos trade shows 2026–2027
Kalahari's calendar is mostly Pennsylvania association meetings, education-technology conferences and regional industry expos. Confirm dates and rooms with each organizer.
CAI Keystone Pocono Mini Trade Show
Community association suppliers · tabletop · 2026
BrainStorm Poconos
K–20 education technology · four-hour Vendor Expo, 10×10 and 20×10 booths · 2026
PCOA Convention Trade Show
Pennsylvania campground owners · 63rd edition · 2026
EWSRA/SWRA January Mart
Winter sports retail · sales reps meet shop buyers · trade only · 2027
PETE&C
Pennsylvania Educational Technology Expo & Conference · 2,000+ educators · 2027
Held here in 2026: the Colours, Inc. Expo for automotive and industrial paint (March 16), the Greater Pocono Home & Outdoor Living Show (April 18–19) and the CCAP Annual Conference & Trade Show for county government suppliers (August 2–5). CCAP rotates its conference (2025 was at Seven Springs), and Colours and the home show have not yet posted 2027 dates. The Pennsylvania Music Educators Association exhibited here in April 2026 but moves to Erie in 2027.
The resort
From a 2013 groundbreaking to a 205,000 sq ft convention center
Kalahari opened in the Poconos in 2015 as a waterpark resort with a convention center, and has expanded twice since. The second expansion doubled the meeting space and added the room most trade shows use today.
- 2013Ground is broken in Pocono Manor on October 1, with Governor Tom Corbett at the ceremony.
- 2015Kalahari Resorts & Conventions opens July 1, with the Kalahari Ballroom and the River Rooms.
- 2017Phase II opens in March, growing the indoor waterpark to 220,000 sq ft. In June the company says it will speed up a convention center expansion by a year because of demand.
- 2018Ground is broken June 26 on a 104,500 sq ft convention expansion.
- 2019The expansion is completed in December, bringing the convention center to 205,000 sq ft with the 38,000 sq ft Kilimanjaro Ballroom and 12,000 sq ft African Ballroom.
- 2026The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania holds its 140th annual conference and trade show here in August.
- 2027PETE&C returns February 7–10.
Insider tips
Kalahari Poconos exhibitor tips: what experienced teams do
Design for 8×10, not 10×10
CCAP sold all 96 of its 2026 booths at 8×10, and PETE&C's standard booth is 8×10 with a 16×20 quad as the big option. A 10-foot backwall will not fit; plan 8 feet wide.
Stay under the 8-foot drape
CCAP's contract says no display may rise above the 8 ft back drape or stick out into the aisle. A tall tower or hanging sign needs show approval before you build it.
Build it in one morning
The PCOA show allowed setup from 7:00 to 11:30 a.m. on opening day and none the night before. Pick a booth two people can stand up in a couple of hours.
Badge your installers
At CCAP, no install or dismantle crew could enter the floor without a show badge, and crew counted against your booth's registrations. Put your installer on the list early.
Order power two weeks out
Only Kalahari staff connect booths to wall outlets, and special electrical connections need 14 days' notice. If you need anything beyond a standard drop, order it well before that.
Bring safety data sheets for demos
Kalahari requires an MSDS for every chemical brought into the building. Cleaning products, coatings or paint demos (a fit for the Colours Expo crowd) need the sheets on file before move-in.
FAQ
Kalahari Poconos FAQ for exhibitors
How big is the Kalahari Poconos convention center?
205,000 sq ft, with four ballrooms (38,000, 25,000, 12,000 and 9,000 sq ft) and 33 meeting rooms, per Kalahari's planner fact sheet. Some older listings say 230,000 sq ft; the resort's own current documents use 205,000.
What is the largest exhibit space at Kalahari Poconos?
The Kilimanjaro Ballroom: 38,000 sq ft, 174 by 218 feet, for 190 10×10 or 238 8×10 booths. It opened with the 2019 expansion and divides into two 11,000 sq ft suites and eight 2,000 sq ft suites.
Is Kalahari Poconos union for trade show labor?
Pennsylvania is not a right-to-work state, but Kalahari publishes no union work rules. Self-setup, POV unloading and contractor rules come from your show's official contractor, so check the show kit. The resort itself holds exclusives for security, AV and exhibitor services.
Can I ship my booth to the resort?
No. Kalahari does not accept freight deliveries for trade shows; freight and drayage go through the show's exhibit services company. The business center takes small packages for a handling fee.
Where is the loading dock at Kalahari Poconos?
The convention center has a dedicated loading dock plus large grade-level access to the main exhibit space, per the planner fact sheet. Any booth item over 50 pounds must come in through the dock entrance.
Can I display a vehicle at Kalahari Poconos?
Yes, with approval in advance. The vehicle needs a quarter tank of fuel or less, a disconnected battery, plastic underneath and proof of insurance, and Kalahari staff supervise placement on the ballroom carpet.
How much is drayage at Kalahari Poconos?
Plan about $120 per hundredweight. No tariff is published for this venue; your show kit from the official contractor has the actual rate and minimums.
What is the ceiling height at Kalahari Poconos?
25 ft in the Kalahari Ballroom, 18 ft in the Kilimanjaro suites and River Rooms, and 16 ft in the African Ballroom, per the capacity chart. The chart gives no figure for the full Kilimanjaro Ballroom, so confirm it before you design a tall exhibit.
Do I pay a commission on booth sales?
Not to the resort. Kalahari takes 20% of merchandise sales on site, but booth sales at a trade or consumer show are excluded. You may still need a Pennsylvania seller's permit.
Which airport is closest to Kalahari Poconos?
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International (AVP) and Lehigh Valley International (ABE) are each roughly 40 miles away by road. The resort is right off I-380 at exit 3.
Exhibiting at Kalahari Poconos?
Send us your show and booth size.
Tell us which ballroom you are in, whether your booth is 8×10, 10×10 or a quad, and how long you have to set up. Within two business days you get a booth that one or two people can build on a ballroom morning, a drayage estimate, and a freight plan from our New York location to the show's contractor.
Background photo: "pocono raceway sunset" by Zach Catanzareti Photo, CC BY 2.0 Source
Compare venues
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions Pocono Mountains vs other trade-show halls within a day's drive of New York
How the Kalahari Resorts & Conventions Pocono Mountains stacks up against other trade-show halls within a day's drive of New York. Drayage figures are Purple planning rates, not published tariffs.
| Venue | Type | Largest space | Ceiling | Labor | Drayage (plan) | Airport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalahari Resorts & Conventions Pocono MountainsThis guide | Resort ballrooms | 38,000 sq ft Kilimanjaro Ballroom | 16–25 ft | Not right-to-work · check kit | ≈ $120/cwt | AVP · ≈40 mi |
| Atlantic Union Bank Convention CenterRaleigh | Convention center | 146,843 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–C | 47 ft listed max | Right-to-work · check kit | ≈ $110/cwt | RDU · 18 min drive |
| Baird CenterMilwaukee | Convention center | 300,275 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–E | 30 ft | Right-to-work · in-house utilities | ≈ $115/cwt | MKE · 8 mi |
| Bayfront Convention CenterErie | Convention center | 28,800 sq ft Great Hall · 160 booths | 23 ft (Great Hall) | No venue union rule · check kit | ≈ $50/cwt | ERI · about 6.5 mi |
| Birmingham-Jefferson Convention ComplexBirmingham | Convention center | 92,234 sq ft East Halls 1–3 · 473 booths | 30 ft East · 25 ft 10 in North · 20 ft South | Right-to-work | ≈ $100/cwt | BHM · 4.5 mi |
| Charleston Area Convention CenterNorth Charleston | Convention center | 76,960 sq ft, Halls A–C | 30 ft to beams | Right-to-work | ≈ $100/cwt | CHS · 2 mi |
| DeVos PlaceGrand Rapids | Convention center | 162,000 sq ft column-free hall, A–C | 37–72 ft (hall) · 28 ft (ballroom) | Self-unload · IATSE 26 stagehands | ≈ $125/cwt | GRR · 13 mi |
| Eastern States ExpositionWest Springfield | Fairgrounds | 129,400 sq ft Mallary Complex · 123,000 sq ft BLC | — | Check show kit | ≈ $125/cwt | BDL · about 25–40 min |
| Greater Richmond Convention CenterRichmond | Convention center | 178,159 sq ft · Exhibit Hall A–D | 35 ft | Right-to-work · non-union | ≈ $110/cwt | RIC · ~15 min |
| Greenville Convention CenterGreenville | Convention center | 125,000 sq ft Hall 1 (280,000 total) | 10–22 ft Hall 1 · 19–22 ft Hall 2 | Right-to-work | ≈ $105/cwt | GSP · 12 mi |
| Hershey Lodge & Convention CenterHershey | Resort ballrooms | 32,004 sq ft Great American Hall | 22 ft (Great American Hall) | In-house decorator · check kit | ≈ $50/cwt | MDT · ~20 min |
| Joseph S. Koury Convention CenterGreensboro | Hotel ballrooms | 40,000 sq ft Guilford Ballroom | 32 ft Guilford · 18 ft Imperial | Right-to-work | ≈ $95/cwt | GSO · ~12 mi |
| New York State Fairgrounds Exposition CenterSyracuse | Fairgrounds | 110,000 sq ft clear span, Exposition Center | 60 ft truss height | Show contractor · check kit | ≈ $95/cwt | SYR · about 10 mi |
| Philadelphia Marriott DowntownPhiladelphia | Hotel ballrooms | 34,300 sq ft Grand Ballroom · 31,962 sq ft Franklin Hall | 10.5 ft Franklin Hall · 22 ft ballroom | Union · check kit | ≈ $170/cwt | PHL · SEPTA to Jefferson Station |
| Vandalia Health CenterCharleston | Convention center | 50,086 sq ft Grand Hall · up to 256 booths | — | Right-to-work | ≈ $100/cwt | CRW · about 5 min |
| Vibe Credit Union ShowplaceNovi | Expo center | 305,000± sq ft, Halls A–C + Event Center | 24 ft clear (A–C) · 40+ ft (Event Center) | No venue union rule · check kit | ≈ $95/cwt | DTW · about 20 min |
| Virginia Beach Convention CenterVirginia Beach | Convention center | 150,012 sq ft · Halls A–D | 40 ft | Right-to-work | ≈ $100/cwt | ORF · 20 min |
| York Expo CenterYork | Fairgrounds | 114,000 sq ft UPMC Arena (74,000 clear span) | 24–30 ft arena · 12–22 ft other halls | Show contractor · check kit | ≈ $90/cwt | MDT · roughly 30 mi |
More guides
Other trade-show halls within a day's drive of New York
Kalahari Resorts SanduskySandusky, OH
Hershey Lodge Convention CenterHershey, PA
Greater Philadelphia Expo CenterOaks, PA
Lancaster County Convention CenterLancaster, PA
Meadowlands Exposition CenterSecaucus, NJ
Westchester County CenterWhite Plains, NY
Written by the Purple Exhibits team. Reviewed for the 2026–2027 season. Figures marked for verification are being confirmed with the venue. Sources: Kalahari Resorts & Conventions Pocono Mountains planner fact sheet, capacity chart and Policy and Procedure Guide (kalaharimeetings.com), Kalahari media fact sheet, Sordoni Construction project page, Meetings Today and Hotel Online on the expansions, Wikipedia (Kalahari Resorts and Conventions Poconos), CCAP 2026 exhibitor contract, booth map and General Exposition Services instruction letter, PETE&C 2027 exhibitor information, Modern Campground on the PCOA trade show, CAI Keystone, Colours, Inc., Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau, National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, and organizer sites for the shows listed.