I have been planning another trip to Hawaii after my latest trip in May.  I will be hosting a track in a conference and it will be called the Social Media Business Summit and it will be held at the Marriott Waikiki.   The event is scheduled to take place in the first part of November and is actually an invite only event.  You can leave me a message if you are interested in getting an invitation to the event.

The event is scheduled for about 5 days and this time I will have some extra time to actually enjoy the island and get in some site seeing while I am there and perhaps a little rest.  After the schedule I have had this year I could use a little of that thing we call rest.

Upcoming I have Houston, an then I am off to Los Angeles for a speaking gig I have and then we may be headed to Orlando to attend another event, and then my major event is set for October 15-17 in Las Vegas. Then after Hawaii, I am off to San Diego to speak at the National Association of Realtors and who knows what else. I would say this year is rounding out to be very busy.  The problem is, with the events all beginning again in Las Vegas in January the game begins again!  I hope perhaps to see some of you in Atlanta this year at IAEE.  Are you going?

Tags: Hawaii, Hawaii Travel, HawaiiHTA, Las Veasg, Atlanta, Conventions, Trade Shows, Conferences

I was interested in other construction going on around since posting about my look at the live cam in Irving, Texas. I found another group that is doing something similar with the Orlando Event Center in Orlando, Florida.  They too have a live cam look at the event center being built.  I really like their use of video and other information that is put together on their site which you should have a look at to keep up to date. I liked the copy that they used for the site itself:

"The new Orlando Events Center is much more than a building. It’s the start of something pretty incredible. Something that will reinvent a neighborhood and accelerate a whole city. It will hold much more than just events. It will hold memories. It will hold moments. It will hold legend."

It made me wonder why they didn’t use their team name the Orlando Magic.  Obviously, to keep the phrase going it will also contain some Magic!  The team could have lobbied for that to happen I would think with a link to their own site for a little love.  I did like the line on the site that said, "The name of the game is luxury."  I would just add that the name of the game is luxury seat sales!  Good luck to the Magic!  I am wondering what they will call that facility?  My own Nuggets play in the Pepsi Center which they call The Can.  Perhaps they will call this the Magic Hat?

Tags: Orlando, Orlando Magic, Indoor Arenas, Orange County

I have been wondering recently about public perception about trade shows and conventions being a perk or a "bonus."  We see the public calling for the heads of companies that are giving huge bonuses to their employees, and watching as they go to lavish resorts, etc.

I like the take that Will Ng has at MISoapbox about the recent breaking news of meeting and events being a perk.  He discusses the fact that even a gossip site like TMZ has jumped in with their pitchforks and torches.  This is obviously what is on the mind of everyone these days.  What do yo think?  Is a convention in Miami or Las Vegas or some great destination a perk?  Would it make a difference if the destination was not like a resort?  Chicago in winter, or some other non-getaway destination?  Perceptions are that its a party and even gossip sites are in on the fun.

Tags: Trade Shows, Conventions, Economy

I have been trying to put up with the fact that it is like the North Pole here in Denver today and all the world has come to a screeching halt due to the blizzard we are dealing with here. 

It is not a normal storm we are getting but the one that we call the Blizzard of [add year here].  I can remember the 32 or so inches we received in 1982, and the march storm we received in as close to now as 2006, and today we have 2009.  I yearn for a convention that I must attend in Orlando or perhaps Miami, or even Mexico.  Any takers out there?  Feel like meeting me at your venue for a quick interview?  No really you want to?

Tags: Denver, Blizzard, Conventions, Trade Shows, Miami, Orlando

I may have made fun of this show once before, but I am impressed with the amount of work that can go into a show about asphalt.

The 2009 World of Asphalt Show & Conference and AGG1 Aggregates Forum & Expo, now being held (March 9-12) in Orlando, FL, are drawing impressive crowds and proving successful despite tough economic times:

* More than 5,500 registered attendees for the co-located shows by close of second day, March 10.
* 400 exhibitors spanning 85,900 net square feet of exhibit space at the shows to exhibit their latest technology and products (including a record number of exhibitors – up 10 percent -for World of Asphalt).
* Nearly 5,700 tickets sold for the education programs being held with the shows.

The events are taking place at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.

World of Asphalt and AGG1 will again co-locate in 2010, February 15-18, in Cincinnati, OH. Exhibit space sales are already underway and going well. More details will be posted on the website as available.

The combination of asphalt and aggregates was a natural fit, noted show organizers, with the industry partnership benefiting both events. The 2009 World of Asphalt experienced increased traffic, compared to the last show, with about 3,650 industry professionals in 2007. And, it was an auspicious start for the inaugural AGG1.

"The convenience and cost savings of one industry gathering place for the year made more sense than ever in this down economy, for all participants, noted Show Director Sara Truesdale Mooney.

"The mood on the show floor was cautious yet positive," she stated. "We know this is a difficult economic environment, but our attendees are looking ahead and preparing for the future. They knew they’d find the education, networking and products they need to succeed through this year and beyond to an upturn."

World of Asphalt 2009 had a record number of exhibitors – 246 taking 58,700 net square feet of exhibit space. The inaugural AGG1 show exceeded expectations with more than 154 exhibitors taking 27,200 net square feet of exhibit space. That’s a total of 400 exhibitors and 85,900 net square feet of exhibits.

"These have certainly been turbulent times, but the numbers attest to the continued industry support for and confidence in the World of Asphalt and the new AGG1," Mooney stated.

via Rich Jefferson of AEM

I was thinking about traveling to different cities today and the places that I have been and the places I will be going.  I have thought about the restaurants I have been to and some stand out as a place I have to go to again.  I will be headed to Austin soon and when in Austin, I always have to go to the Salt Lick.  Why?  Because it is great BBQ.  Better than anywhere else?  Probably no the best in the world, but definitely a great place to go while in Austin.

That made me think of the idea of a girl in every port, and of course, the rest of the brainstorming I was doing on a post here went you know where in a hand basket.  It did get me thinking about asking you the readers, what is your favorite place to eat when attending your convention or trade show?  I like Charley’s while in Orlando, I had some good Sushi at places in Seattle, Seafood in Boston, and Vegas, well everything I go to in Vegas seems to be good.  What conference do you attend and also attend because of the must have eats?

Tags: Restaurants, Food, Conventions, Trade Shows, BBQ, Orlando, Austin, SXSW

I was down in Miami speaking at the IAEE show in December and while attending a party hosted by the folks at Freeman, I had an opportunity to talk to someone from the NAMM show.  I was very impressed with them as this person described their show and the things that they did.  I am hoping to get an interview with them soon as I have his card and can call him and get some questions. 

One of the first things I think I will ask is how they can run a show without sponsors?  Yes, you heard that right.  They don’t need sponsors. Not in the more traditional sense.  I met a lot of people while in Miami, but this is one that I was most intrigued with and will hope to get that interview.  More to come later about my trip and the people I met there.

Tags: NAMM, Music Convention, Trade Show, Convention, Las Vegas, Miami

I recently attended an event in Coconut Grove, Florida.  I’m told I wasn’t allowed to refer to it as "Miami".  I did a live radio broadcast from the event and had a little bit of fun speaking as a presenter, and being in the sunshine and warm weather.  To get a recap of the event I wanted to introduce you to some new friends I met while there, Richard and Jeile. 

Check out the video they shot and recap of the event.  They too can do your event, be it in Miami, Southern Florida, or for that matter anywhere.  They interviewed yours truly as well and you can see it towards the end of the video.

Tags: Go Live Miami, Jeile Marie, Barcamp Miami, Jim Turner, Live Video, Conference, Conventions