by Li Jackson, Editor, Exhibit City News
In the fast-paced world of event and trade show management, every moment holds a new story waiting to be shared. As I embarked on my role as Editor of Exhibit City News, these past five months have been a whirlwind of experiences, learning, and insights. From the heart of Las Vegas to the vibrant streets of Atlanta, I’ve had the privilege of attending some of the most prestigious industry events, capturing the pulse of the experiential marketing landscape and diving deep into the dynamic realm of event management.
ExhibitorLive
The journey kicked off in April with ExhibitorLive in Louisville Kentucky, where the industry’s brightest minds converged to exchange ideas, unveil innovative products, and explore the latest trends in event marketing. The energy was palpable, and the connections formed here would set the tone for the months to come. It is the Conference and Exhibition for Trade Show and Corporate Event Marketing. See the reviews from industry veterans and learn more HERE to register for next year’s event in Nashville, Tennessee from February 25th-28th, 2024. Hard to explain four Full days (96 hrs) of connecting, reconnecting, networking, meetings, interviews, receptions, dinners, drinks into one paragraph. The best recap I can give is that it was the best ExhibitorLive I have been to in a very long time, and I’ve been to many in the eighteen years that I have been in this industry, and I thought Louisville was just right! See more pics HERE .
Outside of the tradeshow floor and classes, one of the evening highlights was the EDPA ENGAGE reception at Copper & Kings Distillery sponsored by ACCESS. Attending as press and Editor of Exhibit City News was refreshing to say the least. I loved sharing industry stories with old and new friends who are members of EDPA.
“The knowledge and industry updates I receive keep me coming back to EXHIBITORLIVE!” says Kathleen Gunderson, CTSM, Assistant VP, Events Project Manager, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.
Experiential Marketing Summit (EMS) at Caesars Palace Conference Center, Las Vegas Nevada
EMS 2023 was a hub of knowledge and networking. Witnessing firsthand the fusion of technology, creativity, and engagement strategies highlighted the evolving face of experiential marketing. Known as the #1 conference for creators of the brand experience, EMS is designed to prepare you for what’s next. Brand-side event marketers led the ultimate three-day conversation to address challenges and find the solutions you need to lead and thrive in the next era of experiential marketing.
Companies such as Highmark, Astound, Freeman, ImpactXM, Spiro, Access, Hill & Partners, ProGlobalEvents, Apple Rock, Czarnowski, and MC2 were just a few of the sponsors and exhibitors at EMS 2023. See full list HERE. Take a peek at the full agenda from May and make sure you sign up for next year’s event and stay in the know right HERE .
Customer Contact Week (CCW) at Caesars Forum, Las Vegas Nevada
On June 19-22, 2023, CCW, also in Las Vegas, delved into the intricacies of customer interactions and relationship building, adding a new layer to my understanding of event dynamics.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, Customer Contact Week is the leading conference dedicated to providing expert insight into exceptional customer service.
With a focus on delivering impactful outcomes for companies across a wide breadth of industries, CCW is the industry’s go-to event series for those seeking to grow their market share and stay ahead of the curve in the customer contact industry. The conference is a must-attend event for business executives to hear cutting-edge strategies, expert insights, innovative solutions, and exclusive data provided by CMP Research. Vital topics will be covered, such as generative AI, the future of work, and automated self-service. Over 3000 executives attended the conference and tradeshow event at Caesars Forum.
When asked what sets CCW apart from other trade events, “The experience that we deliver. We offer 13 tracks of content that are simultaneously occurring throughout the show. Where the tradeshow floor is the center of the CCW event, there are other events as it relates to the end-to-end experience. It’s what we look at when we architect the CCW program.” Says Michael DeJager, Managing Director, Events at CMP.
“At the end of the day, everybody has a customer, and you pair that with new technologies especially AI. The way a customer’s experience should be delivered is always evolving through technology. With over 200 exhibitors, there is something for everyone on the show floor. From the Start Up zone to the largest users, there are products that will help elevate the customer experience. CCW is a great place for exhibitors to meet Executives that need to be in the know and looking for the next best thing for their customers,” says DeJager.
Next important dates:
October 11-13, 2023 CCWomen Summit x CCW Nashville – Sign up HERE . Summit agenda includes a spectacular speaker line-up with the latest topics affecting women in customer contact and a community-building activity, line dancing taught by Urban Cowboy Line Dancing, to wrap up the summit. This agenda was created with women in mind using data and feedback from the 2023 June CCWomen Summit survey. The CCWomen Summit in Nashville is fueled by topics and activities that our community wants to see, hear, and learn.
June 3-6, 2024 Hosted by Customer Management Practice, next year’s event will take place at Caesars Forum Las Vegas. Read more and register HERE .
Featured Image: Rebecca Jarvis, ABC News Host; Actor and AGT Host, Terry Crews (last minute replacement for Pitbull) as the closing Keynote Speaker.
Check back next week for Part 2, as I continue to reflect with highlights from ESCA’s annual summer conference and ASAE’s annual event in Atlanta.
