It's crunch time and it’s high time to book your visit to The Special Event 2012, which runs Jan. 24-27 in Tampa, Fla. With the theme "Event 3.0: Evolve, Flourish, Prosper," the leading conference devoted to special event professionals will again offer an unmatched blend of education sessions, valuable exhibits and showstopping showcasing events.
Show Ambassadors Lee McDonald of Key Artist Group, with offices in Florida and Las Vegas, and Brett Culp of Brett Culp Films, New Orleans, promise, "We will be celebrating the power of the event industry in the Florida sunshine."
GET AN EDUCATION
The extensive conference schedule will feature more than 100 sessions in eight tracks: Business and Professional Development; CPCE Fast-track Training; Design; Event Management; Event Tools and Resources; Food Services and More; Sales and Marketing; and Wedding Trends.
New this year is a special focus on the explosion in social media, along with five special workshops covering event service, setting up a website, tips on day-of wedding management, the popular "Designers Workshop" with Lena and Sharon Malouf, and chefs' insights into food and wine pairing. Candidates for NACE's CPCE designation can benefit from the special one-day "fast track" training program on Jan. 26; the test itself is given on Jan. 27. And, a special session on the many benefits of the ISES CSEP designation is set for Jan. 27.
See the full education roster here.
SHOWCASE SOLUTIONS
Learn firsthand what exciting new features you can bring to your next event with The Special Event's legendary showcasing events.
This year's Spotlight Event lunch, on Jan. 24, will show you what's new and exciting in the world of fundraising and nonprofits. The "TSE Starts Here" party, also Jan. 24, will take place in Tampa's unique Ritz Ybor.
The Opening General Session, on Jan. 25, will provide a dramatic kickoff to the show, while The Opening Night Celebration at the A La Carte Event Pavilion, also on Jan. 25, will key on the theme of "temptation."
The Masters' Brunch, on Jan. 26 at the University of Tampa campus, is the must-attend event for top event pros, while in a first, the Wedding Event, also Jan. 26, moves from a luncheon to an evening event. The Wedding Gallery, available Jan. 26 and 27, will display design talents from throughout the world.
The grand finale of The Special Event will be the Gala Awards Ceremony and Celebration, Jan. 27, honoring outstanding event work from throughout the world. Look for a groundbreaking format for this year's event.
View all showcasing events here.
ENTICING EXHIBITS
A mainstay of The Special Event has always been the show floor, which will give attendees the opportunity to meet face-to-face with some 300 potential vendor partners who can help make events even more effective. The exhibits will be open Jan. 25-27 at the Tampa Convention Center to offer a one-of-a-kind display of products and services to keep events on the cutting edge.
A show-floor favorite return this year—the TSE Live Performance Stage. Completely sold out this year, the stage brings talented entertainment acts and exciting presentations directly to the show floor daily. See the full list of events for this year's stage here.
New this year is the "Breakfast & Bubbly" reception, which is free to all attendees. Come to exhibit hall floor on Friday, Jan. 27, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and sip a mimosa, enjoy a Continental breakfast, and meet new friends. To join the tweetup, just RSVP here.
"Our exhibitors are raring to go, eager to show attendees the exciting new products and services that are available to make events better than ever," says exhibit sales manager Wanda McKnight. "Attendees will be thrilled by the displays we have waiting for them." See a sneak preview of the show floor exhibits here.
FAVORITES RETURN
Other longtime favorites returning to The Special Event 2012 show floor include the Tabletop Gallery, a showcase of 10 terrific tabletop designs. (See the 2011 Tabletop Gallery designs here.)
And don’t miss the Gala Boards, an insider's look at this year's Gala Award nominees. See the full list of Gala Award nominees here.
TO REGISTER
To register or for more information, visit thespecialeventshow.com or call 708/486-0731 or 866/486-0731 (toll-free).
