Are you hosting a Denver Convention?

Conferences are not inexpensive. They can make a big impression and intricate planning is important. Not only are thesymposiums expensive for the host, but also for the attendees. Participants and companies are not easily parted with their dollars and they want to be convinced and reassured that they have invested their time and funds well. Post reviews show that little details make a huge difference. Throwing a conference or convention together without consideration to the littlest details can spell disaster. So the steps to take as a promoter and host for the conference/convention are to find a great venue. Knowing your would-be attendees is key whether you choose a location that is a limited distance for them to drive or choosing a great getaway for companies to see and experience a new city. Check out the cost of the building and ask for details. Do not choose busy times of the year for holidays, family vacations or a busy time for the businesses targeted. For example, as retailers do their buying for summer sports equipment, late spring and early summer or not the time to entice them. They are busy and they have already purchased their items for the year. Next you must analyze the schedule to be sure the timing is good. If you overbook they may not have spare time to enjoy themselves. If you do not offer adequate workshops or variable schedules of interest, they will not feel they gained anything from the conference or convention. Try to get a keynote speaker or two to draw a crowd. Advertise early to get them to lock into your event first on their calendars. It even works to offer a discount enticement for early signup. Do assign an expert to offer all information the convention goer will need from airport transportation to hotel registration and maps. Of course your major concern will be the conference content itself. So plan to keep it moving, keep it efficient, keep it stimulating. It is better to have more concise sessions with question/answer free time to chat and connect than to have participants leaving long sessions because they are tired or feel they are hearing repetitive information and facts. The first impact will make a significant difference. Efficiency and getting information to help airport/hotel/conference center logistics run smoothly will set off the tone of the convention. It is also important that when they arrive there are plenty of welcome folks available to set that upbeat positive tone and answer questions. The check-in table should include all the information they will need. And you always must be willing to put out the money for freebies. Our company attended a conference in a small city in a mid-western town. It was obvious they were trying to save money and got the conference center and food cheap. We paid a alot for a rental car to drive the 2 hours to the locations and stay in a small 2 star hotel/motel conference center. The pretzels and vats of bad coffee set the tone for a lengthy two days ahead. The next year we chose to go to the Denver Convention Center and what a big difference. Flying into DIA was so impressive with those attractive mountains as a backdrop. Our hotel was attached to center and there were all kinds of restaurants, night life, shopping nearby. We found a cool Conference Welcome Basket from a local basket company in Aurora. It was a box with all sorts of Colorado snacks. That convention rocked and we will go again next year.