Over 1,000 event planners attended this two-day conference produced by BizBash. It included twenty five educational sessions and a tradeshow. The classes I attended emphasized the need to work weekends and provide 24/7 handholding to clients. The most interesting panel had representatives from New York City, Chicago, Southern Florida, Los Angeles and Las Vegas comparing the benefits of holding events in their hometowns. Some of the best tidbits about the cities were:
– Chicago: Food is a central part of society life. There is a huge local community of interior designers that can design custom sets and event locations.
– Las Vegas: Gone are the days of family entertainment. Sin City is back!
– Los Angeles: The weather is always great. The glitz of Hollywood is a draw. Movie sets can be used for events.
– New York City: Events have to push the envelope to get attention. The city has the more raw space than any other metropolitan area.
– Southern Miami: Many events use a water theme and boating is popular.