Society of Independent Show Organizers - SISO

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Society of Independent Show Organizers - SISO The voice of the for-profit show organizer We hold 2 conferences annually, the SISO CEO Summit in Spring and the SISO Summer Conference held in August.

30/10/2025

A Note from the CEO on the CEO Summit

Over the next week or so, registration for the CEO Summit will open. The Summit is in Kiawah and begins on March 9th. Despite enduring “the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune”, in 2025, for most of us, it has been a very good year. In just the last month, I have been to several member events, IMEX America (https://imexamerica.com/newfron), and Trade Show Executive Gold 100, and this weekend I visited the New York City Jewelry & Watch Show by Palm Beach Show Group (https://palmbeachshowgroup.com/), where I was impressed by the energy of buyers and exhibitors. I also attended A Media Operator’s Summit (https://www.amediaoperator.com/amo-summit-2025/) and Bright Tower’s BrightFORWARD event (https://brighttower.com/). Everything I experienced convinces me that 2026 will be an exciting year on many fronts.

For SISO, this has helped frame the 2026 CEO Summit.

We are embracing and extending last year’s Innovation Imperative to this year’s Innovation in Action:

Reimagining Connection, Engagement, and Growth in the Events Industry

At the 2026 SISO CEO Summit, Innovation in Action will explore:

• Customer success - how face-to-face events are the leading trusted medium for our customers and how we are integral in helping them grow their business.

• Visionary organizers are using AI, data, and design thinking to elevate attendee and exhibitor value.

• Leading brands are activating their communities year-round through content, connection, and technology.

• Collaborative ecosystems — venues, suppliers, tech partners, and stakeholders — are redefining the event experience together.

Through keynotes, case studies, and engaging discussions, attendees will see innovation in motion — and leave with Actionable insights to turn creative ideas into scalable, repeatable success and be inspired to apply it immediately in their own events and organizations. Because in the B2B events world, the future doesn’t just belong to the most creative — it belongs to those who put innovation into action.

Expect to hear from the highest-rated speakers from previous years, as well as a significant number of first-time SISO speakers who are doing incredible things. I’ll resume weekly or near-weekly short staccato messaging, highlighting various industry issues and the CEO Summit, as well as some exciting new pieces at SISO to provide enhanced value to our members and sponsors.

The balance of 2025 still has many member events, and I hope to see you at the UFI - The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry Global Congress and at International Association of Exhibitions & Events - IAEE’s Expo Expo. At Expo Expo, Michelle Metter (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-metter-89b7a25/) and I are sorting out a SISO meetup; details to follow.

As always, if you have attendee-related questions, [email protected] is your best source. If you haven't yet sponsored the 2026 version, you can contact [email protected]. I’m always interested in feedback and suggestions on how best to serve, [email protected].

Bye for now,
Vinnie

10/09/2025

Thanks to everyone who joined yesterday’s webinar on Surround Sound Marketing — and a special thank you to Heather Holst-Knudsen, CEO of H2K Labs, for her insightful presentation, and to Liz Irving, CEO of Clarion Events, for sharing her time and expertise!

Surround Sound Marketing: Engage Buyers Consistently
🎯 Still relying on one-off events to reach customers?

Enter surround sound marketing — a year-round, data-driven strategy that delivers the right message to the right audience at the right time and channel.

✅ Engage buyers early, often, and consistently.
This approach turns sporadic interactions into a seamless, multi-touchpoint experience.

Ready to amplify your impact and boost satisfaction?

10/09/2025

Thanks to everyone who joined yesterday’s webinar on Surround Sound Marketing — and a special thank you to Heather Holst-Knudsen, CEO of H2K Labs, for her insightful presentation, and to Liz Irving, CEO of Clarion Events North America, for sharing her time and expertise!

Surround Sound Marketing: Engage Buyers Consistently
🎯 Still relying on one-off events to reach customers?

Enter surround sound marketing — a year-round, data-driven strategy that delivers the right message to the right audience at the right time and channel.

✅ Engage buyers early, often, and consistently.
This approach turns sporadic interactions into a seamless, multi-touchpoint experience.

Ready to amplify your impact and boost satisfaction?

Mark your calendars and secure your spot early—space is limited!Join us for an event designed for industry leaders to co...
09/09/2025

Mark your calendars and secure your spot early—space is limited!

Join us for an event designed for industry leaders to connect, share insights, and shape the future of events. Expect powerful networking, actionable strategies, and thought leadership you won’t find anywhere else.

📅 Save the Date: March 9 -12, 2026
📍 Location: The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, South Carolina

07/08/2025

Update from SISO CEO Vinnie Polito which includes an apology

Hi—we are less than two weeks away and I must apologize for one thing. I think you all know I love white space at events and quite honestly, we don’t have enough of it in the program. I’d advise you to arrive early (change your flight) and/or stay up late to compensate.

We debated about looking to cut content and quite honestly the story arc of the conference would be impacted by losing any of the sessions. The good news is that you can earn 9.5 hours toward CEM recertification. You’ll see some of our highest-rated speakers back on stage (some even more than once), but equally importantly, you’ll be hearing from new speakers with a lot of interesting data and perspectives.

I keep returning to the Thursday content, which is remarkable. Michael Barnett InGo will make a compelling, data-driven case about the value of tradeshows, helping you drive revenue as early as August 22. That’s just one of several highlights.

M&A activity continues virtually unabated, but we’ll hear lessons from two very significant launches. Dana Teague and Michael Armstrong will share some fascinating insights around a launch (Dana) and a second-year event (Mike) that are quite instructive.

Absorbing an acquisition or being the absorbed acquisition is something many of us have experienced. Beth Cowperthwaite and Jo Dickson will share some of the good and the bad and provide some best practice ideas for you, regardless of the side of the acquisition that pertains to you.

Couple of my Wednesday highlights

Are you aware of the Annabelle Project? You will be. SISO Chair Miller FCIM and Warwick Davies have an interesting and inspiring session. You’ll want to sign up to be part of the Annabelle Project after the session for sure.

How about the session Why Inclusion is Good Business? Listen to leaders of the newly minted (renamed) Social Inclusion & Business Impact SIG giving you the business case that we all need. Don Pietranczyk, Melissa K Montes, and Raymond Rhodes are driving this successfully in their orgs, and you will learn how to do the same.

I’ll cover this in my next note, but Wednesday is also a big sales day regarding the acquisition of new revenue streams and using AI to drive revenue.

Safety and Security/Emergency Preparedness is also increasingly critical. Mike Carlucci has assembled a powerhouse panel to discuss.

I just checked the flights, and fares are still reasonable, and Indy is drivable from several cities (Chicago, Cincinnati, Louisville, to name three). This will be a great investment of your time, I promise. And if you need more white space while you are with us, I’ll stay up late to compensate.

Bye for now,
Vinnie

[email protected]

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Opening Hours

Monday 09:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 09:00 - 17:00
Thursday 09:00 - 17:00
Friday 09:00 - 17:00

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