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As a new year approaches (and, this time around, a new decade) one key consideration is which events are unmissable in the 12 months ahead.
In this blog, we’re taking a look at some fantastic global events we feel can be of significant value to our event planning partners. These are those we find inspiring and which we feel offer something unique and invaluable to event professionals who are dedicated to honing their craft and delivering excellence.
Convening Leaders – San Francisco, USA – January 5-8
Best for: advancing your career in events organization and for networking
We hope you rested up over the holidays! – Convening Leaders is the earliest conference in our calendar. Condoleezza Rice, Gene Kranz and Simon Sinek will be sure to prompt attendees to re-think the way they organize events. Sessions are focused on education, with CMP credits up for grabs. We particularly love how the organizer PCMA brings social impact to life – see their 2019 coverage.
Click here to find out more about Convening Leaders.
MPI European Meetings & Events Conference (EMEC) 2020 – Sevilla, Spain – February 9-11
Best for: European and global event organizers
Learn about today’s core principles in event management: how to create a “financially, environmentally, and culturally sustainable event”; bringing local flavours into an international conference; and ways to foster intimate connections while bringing the many together. Previous attendees value the MPI community they’ve become a part of. EMEC can be seen as eschewing flashy headline speakers in favour of genuine, deep development.
Click here to find out more about EMEC 2020.
The Gathering – Banff, Canada – February 19-21
Best for: events professionals looking to take marketing to a whole new level
This isn’t your standard ‘how to get leads’ conference. The Gathering hosts the world’s biggest and hottest brands – Spotfiy, Ogilvy, Under Armour and Coca-Cola light up the 2020 line-up. Splash out on an Illuminati pass (yep, the event has its own lingo) to gain access to intimate “inner sanctums”, in which select attendees personally learn from “the trailblazers”. Chill out in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Banff National Park to experience snow tubing, cave tours, and a whole lot more.
Click here to find out more about The Gathering.
C2 – Montréal, Canada – May 27-29
Best for: experiential self-development and learning how to bring these to your events
Conference probably isn’t the right term for this world-renowned event. One of the C2 founders is Cirque de Soleil, which makes sense as you delve into its fantastical schedule. The theme for 2020 is Beyond Boundaries, so expect plenty of perspective-shifting wow moments on all sorts of themes: food, tech, marketing and more. Margaret Attwood and Head of App for Facebook Fidji Simo feature on the line-up.
Click here to find out more about C2.
INBOUND – Boston, USA – September 3-6
Best for: inspiration on bringing people together and creating unforgettable experiences
As the website says, “If you think you have your best ideas in the shower, you haven’t been to INBOUND yet”! Comedy shows, happy hours, and multi-media shows are as much of a part of INBOUND as the Spotlight main stage talks and Breakout workshops. A Power Pass will make the 4 day event even smoother – sign up by mid-January for early-bird pricing.
Click here to find out more about INBOUND.
Looking forward to:
The First Edition of Event Planners Talk Conference – Bern, Switzerland – August 27-30
Best for: networking with other events professionals keen on learning
From the weekly #EventProfsTalk community on Twitter grew regional events across the globe; this is their inaugural international, multi-day conference. You’ll be sure of finding the industry’s most passionate organizers here. Family and friends of delegates are encouraged at the Event Planners Talk Conference – the organizers have put on a week’s worth of pre-conference events to get everyone in the Swiss swing of things.
Click here to find out more about the Event Planners Talk Conference.
More fantastic events:
Event Planning Conferences
- IAPCO Edge Seminar. Munich, Germany. January 21 – 23
- The Special Event. Las Vegas, USA. March 9 – 12.
- MPI’s World Education Congress. Grapevine, USA. June 6 – 9.
- IMEX Frankfurt. Frankfurt, Germany. May 12 – 14.
- PCMA EduCon. Montreal, Canada. June 28 – July 1.
- IMEX America. Last Vegas, USA. September 15 – 17.
- Travel Alberta Industry Conference. Banff, Canada. 2020 dates to be announced.
- ILEA Live. 2020 dates and location to be announced.
Marketing Conferences for Event Professionals
- Social West. Calgary, Canada. June 2020.
Experiential Events
- SXSW Conference & Festivals. Austin, USA. March 13-22.
It’s easy for event professionals to get caught up in the day-to-day tasks of making sure everyone else has exceptional experiences. Booking to attend one or more of these events well ahead of time ensures event professionals are committing to investments in their own creativity, networking, and planning skills.
Hopefully 2020 will be a year filled with work travel but also a few education and networking trips. Stay healthy while on the road with these 6 tips from our team of event professionals. Safe travels!
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