The models and vendor area are definitely good, but what makes a show or contest great is the people there and more importantly what they think they should be there for.
Its best when the people displaying their models put the hobby first while they are out on the display floor and spend that time talking to the public about the hobby and fostering intrest in it.
I often see the modelers ignoring the public on the other side of the display table in favor of shooting the breeze with their buddy beside them. I personally find such behaviour quite repelling.
Keep the breeze shooting to the backstage areas where the public can't go and you can have a break. When you're out on the floor, the hobby comes first.