2012 Gold Rush - Trade Show Executive

EVENT PREVIEW
Show Birds Will Join Snow Birds
in Orlando for Expo! Expo!
BY HIL ANDERSON, senior editor
Orlando, FL – The theme of this year’s
Expo! Expo! in Orlando is “Soak It All In,”
and that means more than just Florida’s
early winter sunshine.
The International Association of Exhibitions
and Events (IAEE) has put together
another solid program of education
and networking for its annual meeting
that will appeal to seasoned trade show
executives, up-and-comers attending for
the first time, and everyone in between.
Expo! Expo! wraps up the business year
in Orlando December 4-6. About 2,000
executives from across the industry are expected
to attend. They will have a full and
productive educational agenda plus 30,000
net square feet of exhibits waiting for them.
Expo! Expo! always sends attendees
home for the holidays with a fresh batch
of ideas and contacts to be put to use
in the coming year.
The IAEE Education Committee and
The International Center for Exhibitor
and Event Marketing joined forces to
create nearly 80 sessions, many of which
are in response to attendee surveys taken
at last year’s show. A particularly hot
topic to be soaked in is show marketing.
“Exhibition and event marketers are
always interested in the latest ways to keep
their events relevant and appealing,” said
Doreen Biela, chair of IAEE and ICEEM.
“Technology and changing customer
needs require marketers to stay ahead of
the curve, but there are also some parameters
that never change, such as measuring
ROI and keeping customers engaged.”
Session Highlights
• Senior Executive Roundtable. C-level
execs are invited to attend “Attracting
and Retaining Top Talent,” a special
session devoted to the challenge
of hiring the best and the brightest.
The session will be led by a panel of
thought leaders and will delve into topics
such as the development of goals, retaining
junior managers and planning for
succession when the sirens of retirement
finally become irresistible. There will also
be a focus on finding sometimes scarce
talent and creating a job description
that makes the best use of junior staff.
Attendees must be registered for
the education track in order to attend.
• First Timers’ Orientation and Lunch.
IAEE continues its campaign to keep
the organization well populated by
the young bloods of the industry.
Qualified first-time attendees who
registered by the end of October not only
had their fees waived but were also invited
to a free orientation lunch, which proves
there is indeed such a thing as a free lunch.
The luncheon provides rookies with
the opportunity to make their first
contacts with their colleagues and get the
lowdown on the role IAEE plays in their
new profession and the nuts and bolts
of the Certified Event Manager program.
• Invitation to Join the Keynote
Eric Ly, the founder of the ubiquitous
business social network LinkdIn, will
open the proceedings. The session will be
presented in an interview format and will
provide a look at the future of personal
communications in the sometimes
impersonal B-to-B environment.
Fun After Sundown
Plenty of opportunities to connect and
re-connect with colleagues are on the
networking agenda.
The Opening Reception is sponsored by
and hosted by Universal Studios. Along
with refreshments and food, the event
includes unlimited access to the many
rides and other attractions offered by this
top-tier amusement Park, including The
Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
The following evening is highlighted by
Humanity Rocks, the annual rock concert
presented by Global Experience Specialists
(GES). This year’s show takes place at
Expo! Expo! Sessions
Led by TSE’s
Danica Tormohlen
Trade Show Executive (TSE) Contributing
Editor Danica Tormohlen
will take the stage at Expo! Expo! for
two panel discussions on Thursday,
December 6 at the Orange County
Convention Center.
Danica will moderate the “Tech
Trends To Watch” session at 2:00 p.m.
She will be joined by Shawn Pierce,
president of the Registration & Housing
Services division of Experient;
Jay Tokosch, co-founder of Core-apps;
George Hines, chief information offi cer
for Global Experience Specialists
(GES); and Mark Haley, president
of Smart City Networks.
At 3:15 p.m., she will moderate the
“Growth Strategies for 2013” panel
with Galen Poss, chief operating
offi cer, dmg :: events; Chris Dolnack,
senior vice president and CMO
of the National Shooting Sports
Foundation; and John Marriott, senior
vice president and general manager
of Motor Trend Auto Shows.
Danica will be part of the TSE
team at Expo! Expo!. Please stop
by our booth #1109 to share your
latest news or just visit with Danica,
Darlene, Irene, Diane, Hil and Linda.
Reach Danica Tormohlen at
(816) 803-8103 or dtormohlen@
tradeshowexecutive.com
The Grove at Universal Orlando and will
benefit the Ronald McDonald House.
The Hilton Orlando will be the site of
Expociety, the closing party sponsored
by the host hotel and Visit Orlando,
where final hugs and handshakes will be
exchanged and promises will be made to
attend the 2013 Expo! Expo! in Houston.
Reach Scott Craighead, IAEE director of
conventions & events, at (972) 458-8119
or scraighhead@iaee.com
www.TradeShowExecutive.com | November 2012 9