Society of Independent Show Organizers - SISO

11/12/2024

Collingwood https://collingwood.group/ collaborated with Society of Independent Show Organizers - SISO to produce the Events Sector Benchmarking Report!

There are more takeaways than we can list here, but as we turn our attention to 2025 and beyond, this report is a must-have and must-share for our members and prospective members.

Use this link below to download and please contact us or the folks at Collingwood https://collingwood.group/ to discuss.

https://collingwood.group/resources/events-sector-benchmarking-2024/?utm_source=SISO&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=SISO_BM

27/11/2024

A Note from our CEO, Vincent Polito

Some quick thoughts to share

Just returned from both IBTM and UFI last week, and I was struck by the energy of the participants. I would characterize the mood as one of optimism for our industry, with a dose of uncertainty in the geo political landscape. I had conversations with colleagues from all parts of the world, and it was consistent.

My favorite session featured SISO/UFI members Greg Hitchen (Terrapinn), Russell Wilcox (Clarion) and SISO Sponsor John McGovern of Grimes McGovern & Associates. I liked that the panelists were able to share differing perspectives on subjects. Certainly not a homogenized session! Entertaining and valuable.
..View the full article here

11/11/2024

Join Scott Stevens and Yancy Smith Weinrich on Friday, November 15, at 1:00 PM ET for the SISO Sales SIG webinar - Empowering Event Sales Teams with Digital Tools: Boosting Efficiency, Engagement and Sales

As the event industry rapidly evolves, adopting digital tools has become essential for sales teams striving to meet their goals. This session focuses on the unique needs of event organizers, offering insights into the latest technologies that drive efficiency, improve client communication, and streamline sales processes. Discover how CRM solutions, data analytics, automation, and personalized engagement tools are transforming sales within the event space. From capturing leads to securing bookings and nurturing client relationships, this session is designed to equip event sales professionals with the knowledge they need to maximize productivity and success.

Click here to register: https://lnkd.in/gWPryFZC.

15/10/2024

Many thought leaders in one place! 🎤✨

Catch all the insightful interviews produced by CNTV at the SISO-TV Studio during the SISO Leadership Conference and proudly sponsored by Map Your Show.

Topics include:

· impact of AI on our industry
· Latest trends on the show floor
· Utilizing video for your next event
· Updates in M&A

Watch all the videos here:
https://www.siso.org/leadership/siso-tv

Thank you, CNTV and Map Your Show, for the fantastic interviews!

24/09/2024

SISO Marketing SIG presents Harnessing Influencer Marketing in Your Event Strategy

Join us on Wednesday, September 25, at 11 am EDT for an insightful session on how influencer marketing can elevate your event marketing mix. Discover how leveraging trusted voices can drive engagement, build credibility, and expand your event’s reach. We’ll explore critical strategies, success stories, and actionable tips to help you tap into the power of influencers, from micro to macro, and integrate them seamlessly into your event campaigns. Whether aiming for more registrations or enhancing event visibility, this session will guide you on maximizing influencer impact.

Visit www.siso.org/latest-news to register and learn more.

03/08/2024

We are thrilled to announce that Megan Miller, bestselling author and host of the Attention to Intention podcast, will be hitting our stage at the SISO Leadership Conference next month in Philadelphia. And what is it she’ll be talking about? The person who is in every room with you, making every decision, YOU! She’ll uncover how to approach self-leadership and put you on a path to intentional living.



Here’s a sneak peak at what you can expect:

Want a sneak for some inspiration? Let's connect before our time together. **Check out our TEDx talk: Detoxing Off The Drug of Achievement: https://www.youtu...

02/08/2024

Attention 2024 SISO Leadership Conference Attendees!

Get ready to update your professional image with a fresh headshot. Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity!

Your photos will be available almost instantly in a private gallery.

Courtesy of Coleman Photography

02/08/2024

A Note from our CEO, Vincent Polito,
About August 15th at the Leadership Conference


As I look at the upcoming SISO Leadership Conference, if I only had a few hours that I could dedicate to coming to Philadelphia, I think the Thursday programming would deserve strong consideration. If you are responsible for producing better events without increasing resources (aren’t we all?), there will be a lot of practical and aspirational knowledge dispensed during this packed morning of sessions.

During breakfast, we will have tables specifically dedicated to important industry issues. Then, we will jump into some very intriguing sessions on leadership, cost mitigation, and sales and marketing.

These include:

New-ish presidents of tradeshow companies of varying sizes will discuss leadership in today’s very different and ever-changing environments. If you lead a portfolio, a division, or a small company, there will be many valuable insights.

Next, we will break into two groups: organizers will discuss practical and proven cost-saving strategies, while suppliers and sponsors will discuss how best to work with organizers in this new world order.

Following a short break, we have two sessions followed by breakouts, which will go deep on sales and marketing issues. Leaders of the Sales and Marketing SIGS will cover several topics:

Sales effectiveness, recruitment/assessment/development as well methodologies and disciplines used by the highest functioning teams.

In marketing, harnessing data and insights to inspire innovation and creativity and importantly, deliver results.

Regardless of the size of your organization, Thursday, August 15th, will be a day full of practical and actionable knowledge. I KNOW you will run better events and build a strong(er) organization if you join us.

And if you are in Philadelphia on August 12th and want to join me at a small-ish dinner, please email me at [email protected].

Attendance looks good. We’ve exceeded last year’s conference in all metrics, but there is still time to attend. Contact Anna at [email protected].

If you would like to sponsor (there are no ancillary costs beyond the sponsorship), contact Katherine at [email protected].


See you soon,
Vinnie

18/07/2024

A Note from our CEO, Vincent Polito, Leadership Conference & Other Updates


Greetings from another heat wave in NYC. I know I am not alone in heat waves, and I hope all are managing the summer well.

We are four weeks from our Leadership Conference in Philadelphia (August 13- 15), and I feel good about the progress. I’m really happy with the work our committee has done in constructing a program that has fresh, first-time content and that has interactive components each day. Day Zero’s programming is outstanding with the Women’s Leadership Forum (featuring Dee O’Neill). Be prepared to be inspired and come away with actionable steps to enhance your personal development and your organization’s success. Immediately following that is a DEIB Workshop (the B is Belonging), which will again help provide practical strategies to make your events more inclusive. Our evening will be at the Museum of the American Revolution—a fascinating place. I know who wins, but Anna and I learned a lot during our walkthrough, and you will, too. I have been unsuccessful in getting Gregg Caren or Kevin Richards to don colonial garb, but I still have some time. I will cover the other days in subsequent notes.

We will be kicking off our biennial salary survey very shortly. This has been highly valuable to our members. If you participate, you will receive eye-opening and valuable information: the more participation, the greater the value.

We are also beginning a membership campaign. We are looking at winbacks and future members unaware of SISO for one reason or another. Please feel free to continue to evangelize our message to others. We have consistently grown simply by word of mouth, but we are adding a bit of science to that art moving forward.

We have extended our early bird pricing through this week, and the very attendee-friendly rate at the Loews Hotel is still honored this week.

As always...
If you need your invitation code, please get in touch with [email protected].
If you are interested in sponsoring, please get in touch with [email protected].
If you have any questions at all, please get in touch with [email protected].

I want to connect with you in Philadelphia. Register to attend today!

With best regards,
Vinnie

15/03/2024

A Note from our CEO, Vincent Polito

As March Madness is about to begin, a quick note about April’s CEO Summit. April 8-11, Amelia Island

• For those that attend for the networking, we have a registration list that is running over 20% ahead of last year. We have nearly all of the industry leaders you expect to see and want to interact with, and we also have quite a few new faces from the US and from many countries around the globe. It will create an incredible energy boost.

• For those that attend for the content, I consider this year’s program to be an embrace and extend experience. All the sessions that you cherish will be there, and we have added content that will challenge you and prepare you for enhancing your events the rest of this year and beyond. I know you will find actionable data in April. http://go.pardot.com/e/1007212/summit-2024-conference-program/2ck77/456169149/h/fvdQVdJy8YryUKFA4wsM7UTmdDBfN_VjotSFEx7qYYE

• If you are a sponsor and haven’t yet signed on, there are still opportunities available to you. Contact Katherine [email protected] or Anna, [email protected]

• We heard you and expanded the length of the small business roundtable. SISO Executive Women’s Forum also on Monday has an enhanced program and I expect record attendance. Both programs still have a few seats available.

• If you want to watch the NCAA Final game with friends and colleagues, we’ll have a place for that too.

• We’ll share an eclipse together.

• And you know, best sunrises at Amelia Island, and you can be back in time for the opening sessions after a nice walk on the beach!

• If you need a registration code, contact Anna. [email protected]. Hotel rooms are getting scarce and close to cutoff.

• Have you noticed the new website? Please take a look!

• Pay no attention to the fraudulent list that’s being offered. Watch this space for more information about progress we are making taking on these scammers.

As always, please contact me directly if you have any questions. [email protected]

SISO wants to call your attention to The Meetings Show Asia Pacific April 17-18

The Meetings Show Asia Pacific, organized by Northstar Travel Group, brings together event organizers and suppliers to connect, contract and forge new partnerships. This inaugural event welcomes all MICE planners with inbound and/or outbound business to register now to become a hosted buyer and discover leading destinations, venues, hotels and other key suppliers in the region. Hosted buyers can utilize Northstar’s dedicated prescheduled meetings platform for targeted one-to-one appointments, engage in exclusive networking activities and participate in education programme provided by leading influencers in the global MICE industry.

Click here https://www.themeetingsshow-apac.com/register for more information and to register.

13/03/2024

Visit Atlantic City is a Gold Sponsor at the 2024 Society of Independent Show Organizers - SISO CEO Summit 🌟

Join us at the networking and information-sharing event of the year for global show organizers, both large and small.

📅: April 8-11, 2024

10/02/2024

A Note from our CEO, Vincent Polito

Two months from now, we will be in the middle of the SISO CEO Summit. I know you’ll find it to be enlightening, educational, and enjoyable, and skipping the alliteration, valuable and productive. We’ve listened to you and are trying to go deeper into some subjects, adding a bit more white space and trying to make it more interactive.

As many of you know via our LinkedIn activity, 2024 has started exceptionally well for our members and future members. I have been to a few of these and have heard from many of you with great success in Q1 events. I’ll be visiting a few more and hope/plan to bring members and future members together at a couple of these too.

Our district members (DC-MD-VA) got together informally this week and I know that plans are in the works for more of these gatherings (NY-NJ-CT to name one) soon.

At home “office” we are amid several initiatives:
• Reimagined website (promised, soon to be delivered)
• Improved new member onboarding
• Enhanced member communications (more frequent, less novella-like)

I’ve taken a lot of questions about the Industry Collective. This is a group of six industry organizations headquartered in the US to use our collective resources and strengths to better serve the industry. We all work together cooperatively on ECA (advocacy) already and now expanding this effort to address workforce development, sustainability, and health and safety as a unified effort. Think enhanced communications and leveraging our strengths to benefit our shared constituencies.

And keeping the third bullet point in mind, I will finish with two calls to action—if you haven’t registered yet for SISO, I encourage you to do so https://www.siso.org/ceo I know it’ll be worth your time on multiple levels. If you have misplaced your registration code contact Anna. Please also consider signing up for Legislative Action Day on May 30th. You can find all the details here: https://www.exhibitionsconferencesalliance.org/legislative-action-day. I have lots more to share and will soon.

As always, please reach out if you have any questions or suggestions for SISO to best serve you. I can be found at [email protected].

With best regards,
Vincent

Vincent Polito
CEO
Society of Independent Show Organizers

The SISO CEO Summit continues to be 'THE' networking and information-sharing event of the year for the global show organizers, both large and small. Program

26/01/2024

A Note from the CEO, Vinnie Polito

As I write this note, we are 11 weeks from the conference and registration is running 10% ahead of 2023. We just made some minor tweaks to the conference program today and I’m legitimately excited for the blend of networking and content we have this April. I feel like 2024 will have plenty of the highest-rated session areas you’ve seen in prior editions, but the programming will extend and push us into new areas that have been suggested by the members and acted upon by leadership.

2024 has started exceptionally well for our members. There have been many strong events this January already and several more taking place over the next couple of weeks. We will be covering a few of these over the next few notes from me in February. We’ve also had a few personnel moves taking place in our membership base and I’m excited to see some big achievements in the next few months.

Our SIG (Special Interest Groups) leaders are working on providing a schedule of events that can be published this winter that will allow greater time to plan participation.

Our district membership (DC-MD-VA) is having a meetup on February 8th and I expect other regional gatherings to take place later this spring as well, likely centered around member meetings. Our membership renewals were strong, and we’ve added some great new members both domestically and abroad that I expect will join us in April.

Suffice it to say, a lot is going on. I also confidently say 2024 is not the year to let things get in the way of your participation at the SISO CEO Summit this April at the Ritz Carlton Amelia Island, home of some of the world’s best sunrises.

As always, please contact me directly at [email protected] if you have questions, comments, or suggestions.

22/08/2023

Congratulations Liz!

Clarion Events, Inc. named Liz Irving President of Clarion Events North America, the first president role held in North America. Irving has worked at Clarion since 2015, and most recently served as Chief Marketing Officer, North America. Throughout the years, Irving has been integral to Clarion Events North America's strategy for commercial success, and developed new revenue models and demonstrated leadership on technology boards and Society of Independent Show Organizers - SISO.

11/08/2023

Message from the CEO Vincent Polito

I recently chided a close friend about not being the best attendee at conferences as I see this person multitasking and perhaps half-listening at times. I must admit, I am at times guilty of the same. That being said, I was reviewing the content of SISO’s Summer Conference, and quite honestly, I don’t see places where it will be ok to half-listen. All the sessions are unique and innovative and the speakers are all bringing first-time content to the stage.

SISO Summer has built a reputation for being very interactive. I expect/guarantee more of the same. I also see multi-generations of leadership in attendance which always creates exceptional learning opportunities.

The conference opens on August 22, so inside of two weeks! I also looked at the flights from several locations and they remain remarkably affordable. And don’t forget, members get the first attendee complimentary. Salt Lake City will not disappoint on any level. It’s a remarkable place, hosting a conference of remarkable content. Any questions, you can find me at [email protected]. See you there!