Convention Scavenger Hunt Ideas: Boost Attendee Engagement at Your Next Event

Conventions are one of the best places to network with like-minded people, whether that’s within your own industry or while exploring something new like a hobby or academic field. But they can also feel overwhelming — especially if it’s your first convention or you’re more introverted. Not knowing who to talk to or where to go can drain your social energy fast.

That’s where a well-designed convention scavenger hunt comes in.

A scavenger hunt gives attendees a clear reason to explore and an easy icebreaker with booths. Instead of awkward small talk, participants get structured prompts and built-in conversation starters. Finding a booth and moving on can be quick and simple — or it can turn into a longer, more meaningful interaction.

At Seekr Games, we built a scavenger hunt platform that makes it easy for participants to join and engage — and just as easy for organizers to host. Our platform uses AI validation and photo-based tasks to automatically verify submissions (no moderators needed). We also support text-based submissions, so you can run riddles, trivia, or code challenges.

Players join instantly by scanning a QR code or visiting seekr.it on any mobile browser — no app downloads required. Hosts can manage everything in real time with live stats and trackers to see who’s leading and resolve any confusion along the way.

Why scavenger hunts belong at conventions

Scavenger hunts are a natural ice breaker

They give attendees a reason to start conversations.
“Do you know the answer to…” is a lot easier than “So, what do you do?”

Hunts create a shared goal between booths and attendees, getting people talking about something they both care about.

Great for students and introverts

A little structure reduces decision fatigue and social friction. Tasks provide direction and guide people toward booths or areas they might not otherwise visit.

Drives foot traffic to exhibitors

Create challenges that send players to specific booths, demos, or sponsors. Exhibitors get engaged visitors instead of quick passersby — and real opportunities to showcase their brand.

Encourages full exploration of the venue

Instead of attendees walking in, browsing one aisle, and leaving 10 minutes later, scavenger hunts push players to explore the entire convention floor — high and low, near and far.

Keeps energy high across multiple days

Some people use hunts to explore. Others use them to compete. Either way, each submission adds momentum. Friendly competition keeps engagement strong from day one to the finale.

Creates shareable social moments

Photo tasks generate content attendees can post on social media, while helping them remember your event long after it’s over. Selfies with mascots, brands, or landmarks create lasting memories — and repeat attendees.

Provides measurable engagement

Instead of guessing booth traffic or dwell time, you get real data:

• Which tasks were completed

• Which booths were visited

• Where players dropped off

That insight helps you design an even better event next year.

Adds friendly competition

People love a little competition. Prizes, raffles, or leaderboards motivate participation — and help pull hesitant attendees into the action. It doesn’t have to be a race… unless you want it to be 😉

What a convention scavenger hunt might look like

Here’s how you can organize tasks for maximum engagement:

📸 Photo challenges

• Take a selfie with a sponsor booth

• Get a photo with the event mascot

• Capture a landmark inside the venue

• Snap a picture of a branded display

🔐 Code & booth missions

• Get a secret code from [Company Name]

• Find the slogan on a sponsor banner

• What is this company’s mascot?

🧠 Learning tasks

• What was the main takeaway from this speaker?

• What product is this brand launching?

• What problem does this startup solve?

🤝 Networking challenges

• Take a selfie with another attendee

• Photograph a business card

• Introduce yourself to someone new

🧭 Exploration tasks

• Find the purple sign near Hall B

• Locate the statue in the lobby

• Visit all corners of the expo floor

⭐ Sponsor-focused tasks

• Take a photo with a sponsor rep

• Find a sponsor-branded item

• Complete a mini demo at a partner booth

How Seekr Games helps make it easy for hosts and players

Get started instantly
Players scan a QR code or visit seekr.it — no apps to download.

Straightforward tasks
Your hunt is presented in a clean, custom format that’s easy to follow.

Live leaderboards
Everyone can see how the competition is shaping up in real time.

Play your way
Participants can go solo, form teams, or compete with friends. Some play casually — others go all in.

How Seekr Games supports organizers and exhibitors

Easy setup
Tasks can be as simple as photographing a branded item or as detailed as matching logos or brand colors.

Scalable for large crowds
Traditional hunts don’t scale well. Punch cards and stamps fall apart with dense traffic. Seekr Games uses AI validation and browser-based joining to handle large volumes smoothly.

Real-time control
Moderate mistakes, handle edge cases, and monitor progress from your host dashboard.

Analytics and insights
Track booth visits, task completion rates, and how long players stay engaged.

Sponsor value
Direct guaranteed traffic to sponsors by routing tasks to their booths.

On-site visibility
Display live leaderboards on venue screens to spark excitement and drive participation.

Best practices for a convention scavenger hunt

• Start simple — easy early tasks boost overall engagement

• Mix difficulty levels to keep momentum going

• Use multiple task types (photo + text + trivia)

• Get creative — don’t be afraid to try new ideas

• Test your hunt before launch

• Reward harder tasks with bonus points

• Plan prizes — incentives matter

• Design for traffic flow to avoid bottlenecks

Example flow for a single-day event

Morning kickoff
QR codes at registration. Easy starter tasks.

Midday
Booth visits, trivia, and exploration challenges.

Afternoon
Unlock bonus areas or high-value tasks.

Finish
Announce winners or notify them digitally.

Example flow for a multi-day convention

Day 1
Orientation, registration, first players onboarded.

Day 2
Tie tasks into workshops and networking.

Day 3
Final push. Save prizes and awards for the end.

Why Seekr Games for conventions

Seekr Games is built for high-energy events — from small gatherings to massive expos. With AI validation, organizers don’t spend all day managing submissions. With web-based access, you capture more participants (no app friction).

Whether you’re helping students connect, giving attendees an easy icebreaker, running corporate team building activities, or tracking engagement at a corporate retreat, a Seekr-powered scavenger hunt makes it simple.

👉 Internal link suggestion:

• Learn more about our team building scavenger hunts

• Explore How to Run a Workplace Safety Scavenger Hunt

Ready to create a memorable convention experience? Contact us to set up a demo — or jump in and build your own hunt to test the platform firsthand.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you run a scavenger hunt at a convention?

Start by defining your goals (engagement, booth traffic, networking). Create tasks tied to exhibitors, landmarks, or sessions. Share QR codes at registration so attendees can join instantly, then track progress with live leaderboards and analytics.

What tasks work best for convention scavenger hunts?

A mix works best: photo challenges, booth codes, learning questions, networking prompts, and exploration tasks. Variety keeps participants engaged and helps showcase different parts of the event.

How does Seekr Games work for large events?

Seekr Games uses AI validation and browser-based access to scale easily. Players join via QR code, tasks are automatically reviewed, and organizers get real-time dashboards with analytics — no manual moderation needed.

Can scavenger hunts help sponsors get more visibility?

Absolutely. You can route tasks directly to sponsor booths, guaranteeing foot traffic and meaningful interactions instead of quick walk-bys.

Do attendees need to download an app?

Nope. Players join through any mobile web browser by scanning a QR code or visiting seekr.it.