Save the Date! Top 5 Reasons to Attend Event Marketing Conferences and Exhibitions in 2009
As event marketing professionals, you’ve got to keep things fresh with new ideas or else you’ll fall behind. It’s your role to stay up-to-date with the industry standards! That’s why we’ve put together a list of 2009 conferences and exhibitions for trade show and event marketers. With all of the other things you need to plan ahead for, make sure to mark your calendar and save room in your budget. Before registering, you may want to consider the top 5 reasons why you should make an effort to attend:
1. Stay informed on the latest and greatest - Learn from your peers and the top leaders in the event marketing industry.
2. Make sure to network - Build your inside connections while attending conference seminars, mixers, and parties (sure, you’ll learn some interesting stuff while sitting in those sessions, but personally engaging in conversation with conference attendees is a huge benefit).
3. Pitch speaking opportunities - Your business can gain excellent visibility as a guest speaker (plus, you’ll be well-respected as a thought-leader), so encourage your executives to get on the speaker list.
4. Get noticed in the Expo Hall - Exhibit your products and evangelize what you do!
5. Drum up new business & maintain client relationships
*Special Note: Make one-on-one contacts with industry media - Conference organizers often provide a pre-registered press list upon request. This presents a great opportunity to meet reporters in person rather than pursuing them blindly with an email or phone call!
Here are some of the upcoming events listed in chronological order:
The Special Event 2009 will be held from January 28 - 30, 2009 at the San Diego Convention Center. This event is for any professional who produces events (weddings, parties, corporate events, and celebrations). There will be over 300+ vendors on the showroom floor. We attended last year’s conference in Atlanta, GA and were surprised by the huge extravaganza of entertainers, caterers, decorators…acrobats, balloons, and color galore!
2009 Event Solutions and Catersource Conference & Tradeshow will be held at the Las Vegas Hilton and Convention Center from February 22 - 26, 2009. This event will host more than 7,000 attendees and 1,000 tradeshow booths, this is the biggest show in the events and catering industry. Educational workshops/seminars with a wide variety of key learning sessions are available. You can now register here.
Exhibitor 2009 will be held from March 23-25, 2009 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. The event, which is hailed as being a “world conference and exhibition for trade show and corporate event marketers,” is produced by Exhibitor Media Group. 6,000 attendees and 300 exhibitors are expected to be there.
ISES Eventworld 2009 will be held from August 6 - 8, 2009 at the San Francisco Marriott Hotel in San Francisco, CA. 500+ attendees and more info will be provided as the date gets closer.
If you’re aware of any additional event marketing conferences that aren’t listed, please feel free to leave a “comment” and we’ll be sure to include it!
Conferences event management Event Professionals General
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Peggy Hoffman Said,
November 5, 2008 @ 9:16 am
Great piece that we’ll share with local ISES members … wanted to mention that in this tough economy, even if you can’t stretch the dollar to travel, there are many local events such as those offered by ISES chapters including ISES DC. Actually ours in a couple of weeks, but its a great add on to attend a national and then a local or regional event.