I’ve been attending trade shows and conferences since my early 20s, when I was sent to some convention center with a box of books, a table drape, and absolutely no clue what I was doing.
Fast forward to the present day. I’m an event veteran, accustomed to badging-up, meeting-up, and expanding my brain and professional circle.
Here’s a video recap of my recent attendance at BLUEPRINT in Las Vegas. But what you won’t see here is:
- My combining this business trip with a follow-up journey back east to see family. That’s Bleisure Living at its finest!
- A local excursion to see the Wizard of Oz at the Sphere with all the other Vegas tourists. It was fun and relaxing and a departure from my usual “sit in a hotel room and work non-stop” routine.
- A long-distance date.
- My attendance at an after-hours party at a speakeasy following the conference. Even though I was catching an early flight the next day, it presented me with an opportunity to meet people I may not have seen on the trade show floor. Plus, I got to check out a new venue in Vegas.
Rather than dreading standing in a booth or wandering aisles all day, plan your conference sked with an eye toward meeting new people, experiencing your destination city, and perhaps even combining the trip with an after-the-show adventure!
Start planning your 2026 conference schedule now. You may even start with cities you really want to visit and then lo