AHR Expo 2027: Keep Design Conditions and Controls Questions with Each Contact
AHR Expo 2027 takes place January 25–27 at McCormick Place in Chicago. HVACR conversations become easier to compare when the building or process conditions stay with the contact, along with capacity, controls and service questions. This guide covers the visitor essentials and shows how to carry those requirements from an exhibition meeting into a useful technical follow-up.
Habsy11 min read
AHR Expo at a glance
- Dates
- January 25 to 27, 2027Monday to Wednesday
- Exhibition hours
- Jan 25-26: 10:00-18:00; Jan 27: 10:00-16:00Visitor hours, Chicago local time
- Venue
- McCormick PlaceChicago, United States
- Entry
- Free advance attendee registration through Jan 23, 2027US$30 for later online or onsite attendee registration
- Official website
- ahrexpo.comConfirm details before you travel
Who exhibits and who attends AHR Expo?
Start with the application and design conditions. Record the required capacity range, existing controls, operating constraints and the team responsible for assessment. Keep efficiency objectives separate from verified performance at those conditions. For replacement or retrofit enquiries, note compatibility, commissioning and service questions so the follow-up reaches an applications specialist with the context needed to respond.
Who exhibits
- Heating and cooling equipment manufacturers
- Ventilation and indoor-air technology suppliers
- Refrigeration system and component firms
- Controls, tools and service providers
Who attends
- HVACR contractors and engineers
- Building operations and facilities teams
- Distributors and manufacturers representatives
- Industrial and commercial project buyers
Use the current floor plan to group equipment, component and controls meetings. Confirm any session booking separately from stand appointments. Before taking a supplier’s product or booth photograph for your notes, obtain permission; keep a written model reference when photography is not allowed.
How to prepare for AHR Expo with Habsy
Most of the work happens before you reach Chicago. Set up Habsy once and every conversation at the show ends with a saved contact, the context you need and a next step.
If you are visiting
Before you fly
- 1
Create your Professional digital card
Share your details by QR code, NFC or link instead of paper cards.
- 2
Add your Business digital card
Your company profile and brochures, for partners and suppliers you meet.
- 3
Create a AHR Expo category
Plus the visitor intent signals below, to sort vendors by fit later.
- 4
Turn on Send my digital card back
Everyone you scan gets your card automatically.
If you are exhibiting
Before you fly, for every rep
- 1
Install Habsy on every rep's phone
Give each rep a digital card, plus one Business digital card for the company.
- 2
Set up intent signals and templates
Every rep qualifies and follows up the same way, by email or WhatsApp.
- 3
Add an enquiry form to your card
Print its QR code on the booth so visitors leave details when you are busy.
- 4
Create a AHR Expo campaign
Bringing several reps? Every scan lands in one live list.
How to set up Habsy before AHR Expo
Five steps, in the order the app walks you through them. Visitors need steps 1 to 3. Exhibitors should do all five.
1. Create your digital business cards
Every Habsy account includes two free digital cards under MyQR: a Professional digital card for you and a Business digital card for your company, with your services and brochures. Habsy's AI builds them from your LinkedIn profile and website, or from a photo of your own business card. Share them by QR code, NFC or link. The person you share with opens your card in their browser, with no app needed, and saves your contact in one tap. Add an enquiry form so visitors who scan your card leave their details and are saved as a new contact.

1Your Professional digital card

2Your Business digital card

3Share by QR code, NFC or link
2. Add intent signals
Intent signals are tap-to-answer questions you fill in for every contact, so every rep records the same details in seconds. In Settings, open Manage Intent Signals, then tap Create with AI to get suggestions from your website, or Create Manually to add the set below.

1Open Manage Intent Signals

2Review the signals Habsy suggests

3Tap the answers after each scan
- HVAC contractor
- Engineering firm
- Distributor
- Building operator
- Manufacturer
- HVAC engineer
- Facilities manager
- Procurement manager
- Service manager
- Heating systems
- Cooling systems
- Ventilation
- Refrigeration
- Controls and automation
- Within 3 months
- 3 to 6 months
- 6 to 12 months
- Researching
- Book a demo
- Send a proposal
- Share a case study
- Introduce a colleague
- Heating systems
- Cooling systems
- Ventilation
- Refrigeration
- Controls and automation
- Exhibit hall booth
- Session or reception
- Strong fit
- Possible fit
- Not a fit
- Book a demo
- Request pricing
- Share with my team
- No follow-up
Add them in Settings, Manage Intent Signals, with Create Manually, or start with Create with AI and adjust the options to match what you sell or what you are looking for.
3. Create a AHR Expo category
Create a category called AHR Expo and set it as your default for the days of the event, so every contact you scan at the show is filed under it automatically. After the show, use it as a filter to export only your AHR Expo contacts to Excel, CSV or VCF in one step. Exhibitors on Habsy Platform can also use the AHR Expo category to track how the event performed: contacts captured, companies reached, intent signals and each rep's results.

1Create the category

2Pick it when you save a contact

3Find it on every contact
4. Set up your email and WhatsApp templates
Connect your email account or WhatsApp Business account in Settings before the show. Then, with Send email or WhatsApp template turned on in your Card Preferences, your follow-up goes out from your own account the moment you save a scanned contact. The visitor often has your message, and your digital card, before they leave your booth. It shows you are organized and quick to respond, and it puts you ahead of every exhibitor who follows up next week. To write the template, open Email Templates or WhatsApp Templates in Settings, describe the message, and Habsy's AI writes it. Add variables such as the contact's name and company so every message is personal. Here is a template you can copy for AHR Expo:
Hi {{recipient.name}},
Thank you for meeting at AHR Expo in Chicago.
For the HVACR requirements {{recipient.company}} is evaluating, I can share technical information covering capacity, controls compatibility and service support. The application and design conditions will help us identify the right information.
Would you prefer the product documents first, or a discussion with an applications colleague about the existing system, commissioning needs and evaluation criteria?
Best regards,{{user.name}}{{user.company}}
Hi {{recipient.name}}, {{user.name}} here from {{user.company}}. Good meeting you at AHR Expo.
Would capacity information, controls compatibility or service details help your review? Happy to involve an applications colleague once we know the operating conditions and existing system.
Words in braces are variables. Habsy fills them in from each contact and from your profile when you send.

1Let AI write the template

2Save your WhatsApp templates

3Save your email templates
5. Set your Card Preferences
Choose what Habsy does each time you save a contact, once in Settings or per save. It runs in the background while you move on to the next conversation.
Jordan Hayes saved at AHR Expo · 4 steps running in the background
Email, WhatsApp and CRM steps need the matching integration.
How to capture every contact at AHR Expo
Use one app for every contact you make, wherever you make it: at the booth, in a session, at a reception or over dinner. Every rep and every visitor captures contacts on their own phone, free and with no scan limit, and every contact lands in one list with your category, intent signals and notes.

1Scan a business card

2Scan a badge QR code

3Type it in with manual entry
- Badges: point the Habsy scanner at a badge and Habsy reads the attendee's details from its QR code. If a badge holds only a registration number, scan the person's business card or type them in.
- Business cards: scan each card in seconds, or switch to Batch and scan up to 150 cards in about 5 minutes without leaving the camera. Habsy reads cards in 200+ languages.
- QR codes: scan digital business cards from any provider, LinkedIn QR codes and contact QR codes.
- NFC: turn on NFC on the scan screen, then hold an NFC business card or an NFC event badge to the back of your phone. Habsy reads the contact and saves it, with no camera needed.
- Manual entry: no card and no QR code? Choose Manual and type the details in.
- Offline: capture continues when the hall Wi-Fi is busy, and contacts process once you reconnect.
Many shows also sell official lead retrieval through the organizer. Habsy works on its own or next to it. For more, read lead capture vs lead retrieval.
How to add context while you talk
A contact without context is hard to follow up. Before the next conversation starts, add what you discussed and what you promised.
- Intent signals: tap the answers on the review screen after each scan.
- Voice notes: tap Add Voice Note and say what they need. Habsy turns it into a searchable transcript.
- Text notes: type a quick note, such as "HVAC system review for 3 buildings".
- Reminders: in 1 hour, in 4 hours, tomorrow at 9 AM or any date and time, with a repeat and an alarm. All of them appear in My reminders.
Here is what a contact from AHR Expo looks like with context added:
Jordan Hayes
HVAC Engineer, Northpoint Building Services
Intent signals
- HVAC contractor
- HVAC engineer
- Heating systems
- 3 to 6 months
- 3 buildings
- Book a demo
Notes
Evaluating HVAC systems for 3 buildings; needs capacity, controls and service information.
0:42 · "Please send HVAC options and controls compatibility for our 3 buildings."
Reminder
Thursday, 9:00 AM · Request capacity and controls information
Illustrative example: fictional person, company and buying requirements; not an actual attendee record.
Going to AHR Expo?
Your digital card and lead capture in one app.
Unlimited scanning, text notes, reminders and exports are free. Categories, voice notes, intent signals and templates require Habsy Plus. Habsy Platform is separately priced for teams.
What to do in Habsy after AHR Expo
The show ends on Wednesday, January 27. What you do in the next 48 hours decides how many of those conversations turn into meetings, partners or deals.
If you visited: pick up the conversations you started
- See who looked at your card: open QR analytics to see how many people viewed and saved your digital card, how they engaged and where.
- Save and call back: save vendors to your phone contacts, and set a reminder to call back the ones you want to hear more from.
- Drop a message: Habsy writes a short email or WhatsApp message for any contact, mentioning where you met.
- Export and share: export your AHR Expo category to Excel, CSV or VCF, by date range, with a copy sent to your email, and share the shortlist with your team.
Top locations
Example numbers.

1Export to Excel, CSV or VCF

2Set a reminder to call back

3Send a quick message
If you exhibited: follow up within 48 hours
- Wednesday evening: batch scan any cards left in your pockets and check that every contact has a note.
- Thursday: filter by intent signals, such as "Book a demo" and "Within 3 months", and send your AHR Expo template to the hottest contacts first.
- Send at scale: select several contacts on the home screen, choose email or WhatsApp and a template, and send to all of them.
- Next week: work through the rest by reminder, sync qualified contacts to your CRM, and export the list to Excel, CSV or VCF.

1Write the follow-up with AI

2Pick a template for each contact

3Select several contacts and send
For more message ideas, see our follow-up email templates.
Exhibiting with a team? Run AHR Expo on Habsy Platform
When several reps work the booth, the hard part is not capturing leads. It is knowing, during the show and after it, who met whom, who is hot and who follows up. Habsy Platform is the web dashboard for that, at app.habsy.ai. Reps keep scanning in the app, and the manager sees everything in one place.
app.habsy.ai

- One campaign for AHR Expo: every rep's contacts land in one live list, by rep and by day.
- Clear ownership: assign contacts, set reminders, and get alerts when two reps meet the same person.
- Follow-up from one place: sync to your CRM and run email sequences, WhatsApp and LinkedIn outreach for the whole team.
The AHR Expo post-event report
When the show ends, Habsy turns your AHR Expo contacts into a post-event report: what your team captured, who you met, what they told you through your intent signals, and a dossier on every company with how well it fits your business. Use it to decide who to call first and whether the next edition is worth the booth. Here is what it could look like for AHR Expo, with example data:
Post-event report · AHR Expo
Overview: what your team captured at AHR Expo, how complete it is, and what stands out.
Analytics: the kinds of organizations and the seniority of the people your team met at AHR Expo.
Intent signals: what contacts at AHR Expo are interested in, when they plan to buy and the next step your reps agreed.
Habsy Platform has one team price, with no per-event or per-lead fees. See Habsy for teams or explore the platform.
Bottom line
Record design conditions, capacity range, controls compatibility, efficiency objectives and service needs with every HVACR supplier contact. Visitors: create your digital card and scan every card and badge you collect. Exhibitors: set up intent signals and templates before you fly, capture every contact in one app, and follow up within 48 hours. See event lead capture with Habsy.
Bringing a team to AHR Expo and other events this year? See how Habsy works for sales teams, or book a demo of Habsy Platform.
Habsy is not affiliated with International Exposition Company. Event details come from the official AHR Expo website and can change.
Keywords
- AHR Expo 2027
- AHR Chicago registration
- AHR Expo opening hours
- HVACR supplier contacts
- HVAC controls follow-up
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is AHR Expo 2027?
January 25–27 at McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois, United States. Show hours are 10:00–18:00 on January 25–26 and 10:00–16:00 on January 27, Chicago local time.
What does attendee registration cost?
Advance attendee registration is free through January 23, 2027. The official FAQ lists US$30 for later online or onsite attendee registration. These are attendee terms, not exhibitor badge fees.
Can students and children attend?
Under-16s, including infants, are not admitted. Registered students aged 16–17 may attend the floor during regular show hours with an adult.
Does an AHR Expo badge include the ASHRAE Winter Conference?
The ASHRAE Winter Conference is separate and needs its own registration. Check individual education-session conditions too; some for-credit courses require a fee and registration.
May I photograph equipment for my contact notes?
Obtain the exhibitor’s permission before photographing or filming its booth, products or personnel. A written model reference is a useful alternative.
What should an HVACR technical follow-up contain?
State the application, design conditions, capacity requirement and existing controls. Ask for the relevant technical documents and identify who will review commissioning, maintenance and service scope. Compare proposals under the same assumptions; a product demonstration alone does not establish performance in your building.
Can Habsy access the organiser’s badge database?
No. It can read supported QR codes that contain contact details. If a badge contains only a registration identifier or restricted organiser link, use the official retrieval option or exchange a business card. A separate contact app does not grant access to registration records.
How do I keep the AHR Expo team’s contacts organised?
Use consistent qualification questions, agree a follow-up owner and save the next action with the contact. Categories and intent signals require Habsy Plus; free text notes and reminders can record the same discussion in a simpler workflow. Habsy Platform is separately priced for shared team campaigns, assignments and reporting.
Which Habsy features are free and which require a plan?
Scanning, text notes, reminders, exports and two digital cards are free. Categories, voice notes, intent signals, templates, enquiry forms, card analytics and integrations require Habsy Plus. Sending and CRM steps need the relevant account integration; offline capture is processed when the device reconnects.
Going to AHR Expo?
Capture every contact you make in Chicago.
Record design conditions, capacity range, controls compatibility, efficiency objectives and service needs with every HVACR supplier contact.

