by Li Jackson, Exhibit City News
These five months have been a transformative experience, shaping my perspective on the event industry’s vibrant ecosystem. From the bustling convention halls of Las Vegas to the serene sands of Florida, and the bustling streets of Atlanta, each event has left an indelible mark on my journey as Editor of Exhibit City News. Here is part 2 of my article with event number four and five.
Exhibition Services & Contractors Association (ESCA) at Sandestin, Florida
My journey then took me to Sandestin, Florida, for the Exhibition Services & Contractors Association’s (ESCA) Summer Educational Conference in June. This conference offers programs designed to give you the opportunity to learn the latest trends in our industry, network with your peers, make new contacts, and have an impact on the future of the exhibition industry.
ESCA’s Summer Educational Conference offers:
See 2023 pics HERE and register for next year’s June 23 – 26, 2024 in Hot Springs, VA event HERE .
* Industry specific educational opportunities
* Interactive panels, exhibits and social events
* Nationally recognized speakers
* Networking opportunities in a relaxing environment
I had the opportunity to interview Julie Kagy, Director of Operations for ESCA. Below is what she has to say.
Q: What did you love the best in comparison to last year’s ESCA? Or what was your personal favorite? What did you hear from attendees?
A: “One of the highlights of this year’s ESCA was the enhanced networking opportunities. Attendees appreciated the increased engagement and valuable connections made during the conference. Personally, I found the diverse range of educational sessions and workshops to be particularly inspiring.”
Q: How was the attendance vs. last year? If location has a lot to do with it, what is the strategy behind location choice?
A: “Due to the challenges posed by COVID-19, we had to make a last-minute pivot to the Florida location. Despite the heat, our membership rallied, and we experienced a strong turnout. Our usual strategy for location choice involves finding a destination that offers a unique experience, where attendees can combine work and leisure. By selecting locations that are not typically associated with business travel, we provide our attendees with an opportunity to enjoy a mini vacation while attending the conference.”
Q: What kind of feedback did you receive from sponsors and attendees?
A: “We received positive feedback from our sponsors, who expressed satisfaction with the exposure and networking opportunities provided by the conference. We worked closely with sponsors to ensure their branding and messaging aligned seamlessly with the event, creating a mutually beneficial partnership. Attendees provided valuable feedback, emphasizing their appreciation for the quality and relevance of the sessions, the exceptional organization of the event, and the opportunities to connect with industry leaders and peers. The positive feedback reinforces our commitment to delivering an outstanding educational experience and fostering a supportive community within the industry.”
Q: How do you select the speakers and how can one be considered for a spot?
A: “We have a call for presentations process that opens in August each year. Our educational committee carefully screens the applicants, considering factors such as industry expertise, presentation skills, and the ability to deliver valuable content to our attendees. We encourage interested individuals to submit their proposals through our website during the designated submission period.”
Q: What can we look forward to for next year’s conference?
A: “Next year’s conference will be held at the Omni Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia. This property recently underwent a $150 million restoration by Omni, bringing the hotel back to its original glory. The hotel itself is older than America and boasts the first spa in the country, along with natural warm springs. Additionally, there are over 40 activities available on-site. We are incredibly excited to be one of the first conferences hosted at this historic property following its restoration.
Here are some pics from the event:
Day 1 (Opening Reception, Women In Exhibition)
Day 2 & 3 (Excursions and Tradeshow)
Day 4 (Closing Reception)
ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition (AME) at Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC)
As August approached, the ASAE AME at GWCC in Atlanta offered an invaluable opportunity to explore the realm of associations and their impact on the event industry. The insights gained here further enriched my understanding of the industry’s multifaceted landscape.
ASAE is a membership organization of more than 47,000 members, with more than 1,750 through organization memberships. In 2020, ASAE celebrated 100 years of making the world better, safer, and smarter. With the support of the ASAE Research Foundation, a separate
nonprofit entity, ASAE is the premier source of learning, knowledge, and future-oriented research for the association and nonprofit profession and provides resources, education, ideas, and advocacy to enhance the power and performance of the association and nonprofit community.
The 2023 ASAE AME is where thousands of association professionals and industry partners gather to exchange knowledge, resources, strategies, solutions, and more. Over three days of learning, growing, and finding inspiration, attendees are equipped with a year’s worth of support in their daily responsibilities as leaders in the association industry.
This year’s theme is “Shape Your Purpose,” which recognizes the unique approach that associations take when defining and expressing their personal and organizational purpose. The ASAE Annual Meeting will provide a unique opportunity to partake in authentic, engaging, thought-provoking, and positive community-building experiences for attendees that support the power of the association community to shape a better future for the industries we serve and for the world we share.
As a part of giving back to the community, a group of well-deserved students were selected to attend the ASAE convention to meet with companies and executives exposing them to the type of careers that they may want to pursue. Mary Kate Cunningham, Sr Vice President of Public Policy at ASAE, says, “part of our effort to impact the underserved community where we have our annual meeting locations is to work with Title 1 Students from different schools in the city. The host committee, which is part of the city committee, found that workforce is the issue they want to address. So, the Atlanta Visitors Bureau connected us with these high school scholars. We took them on a tour of the Georgia World Congress, walk on the ASAE tradeshow floor, and introduced them to various companies on the convention floor. They had the opportunity to have panel discussions to hear about the different paths they can take for their future, as well as learn about the association and careers in hospitality. The students are part of the Next Gen non-profit men and women program, which Atlanta helped us to identify.”
The highlight of my week was definitely the opening night event at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. As the sun sets and the party energy rises, ‘90s Pop icons TLC performed on the main stage to take us all back to our glory days! I was front row. Formed in Atlanta in the early ‘90s,
TLC is the best-selling American girl group of all time. Having sold over 85 million records worldwide, TLC has had epic success scoring four GRAMMY awards, nine top-ten hits, over 35 major awards, five MTV Music Video Awards and five Soul Train Awards including Video of the Year Award for “Waterfalls”, Billboard’s Hot 100, and four number-one singles, “Creep”, “No Scrubs”, “Waterfalls”, and ‘Unpretty’. Their one-hour+ performance pretty much made my year! Read more about it HERE .
Reflecting on these incredible experiences, I can’t wait to share the priceless insights, inspiring stories, and cutting-edge trends we’ve encountered with our readers. The event industry is a vibrant tapestry of passion, dedication, and creativity, and I’m excited to keep exploring its intricacies, one event at a time.
