HOSTING A VIRTUAL TRADE SHOW

摘要

A Web site system and method are disclosed for the hosting of a virtual trade show or exhibition in an on-line environment, allowing attendees to interact with exhibitors and potentially make purchases therefrom. Also disclosed is a business method of providing for a pooled jackpot as a customer incentive on a convention Web site or in a similar on-line context, where sponsors jointly contribute to a central jackpot and sweepstakes entries towards the drawing for such jackpot are then apportioned between customers or viewers. Also disclosed is a method of increasing the customer or attendee base of a virtual trade show or other Web site having exhibitors or sponsors whereby sponsors can indirectly provide the central Web site with the benefit of their customer lists and customer information without needing to disclose said customer information to the central Web site or any other exhibitor or sponsor.