Grand Hyatt
Washington DC
Exhibition and Convention Executives Forum (ECEF) is an information-sharing and networking event for leaders at associations and independent organizers.
On Wednesday, May 31, 2023, ECEF will come to Washington DC at the Grand Hyatt. ECEF delivers a full day of non-stop networking opportunities, accentuated with provocative C-level presentations. Executives from independent and association organizers of business-to-business exhibitions and conventions will connect and exchange opportunities.
Nine out of 10 organizers will use the information within six months.
Two out of three made valuable new connections.
91% renewed valuable contacts.
100% say ECEF is valuable — 48% say it "exceeded expectations".
Need Help Deciding?
This GUIDE will help point you in the right direction.
In-Person Engagement at the Highest Level
Top-to-top networking. More time and more options than ever before.
Look Who Is Coming to ECEF 2023
Welcome Reception on Tuesday, May 30 kicks off the networking.
Research that brings real-world decisions into focus.
Sam Lippman's "5 Data Points in 5 Minutes" kicks off the program.
C-level sessions get the conversations started.
TechDemo — The only event tech experience just for executives.
Networking lunch will broaden your contacts and resources.
Earn 4.5 IAEE CEM Recertification hours and 4.5 ASAE CAE credits for application or renewal.
Video Introductions start on Monday. Video gallery makes networking more productive.
Registration Fee is $795; $395 each additional registration from the same organization.
Substitutions and Cancellations
ECEF connects the leaders of the exhibition and convention industry.
Trustworthy
Executives look to ECEF for top-to-top networking, forward-looking insights, and hidden opportunities.
Provocative
Topics are always timely, challenging, and presented by experts with a C-level point of view.
High Energy
Clients expect an open and spirited peer exchange. And they get it.
Efficient
ECEF delivers targeted executive-level content and networking.
Rewarding
Take away actionable ideas and valuable contacts that will benefit your brand, your event, your organization, and your career.
Insightful
Sam Lippman's presentation of "5 Data Points in 5 Minutes" sets the tone for a fast-paced day.
Event technology products and services are proliferating and improving at an ever-quickening pace. Explore solutions from these innovators. Come back soon to see an updated and expanded list.
DIRECTORY OF EVENT TECH SOLUTIONS
2023 Program
Back by popular demand – an interactive, high-level roundtable covering everything you need to know now to build back your international audience base. Presented by mdg, A Freeman Company in conjunction with SISO and UFI, this fast-paced, 90-minute session will begin with an economic global overview, transition into an international marketing strategy discussion and end with practical tips that will guide the translation of strategy into tactical execution.
Registration is complimentary, but space is limited. Please reserve your seat by Monday, May 23. Registering for this event does NOT include registration for ECEF.
Speakers: Kai Hattendorf, Managing Director of UFI; Ken Holsinger, Senior Vice President of Strategy at Freeman; Tom Mitchell, President of Messe Dusseldorf North America; Anjia Nicolaidis, International Marketing Strategist at mdg, A Freeman Company.
Hosts: Kimberly Hardcastle-Geddes, President at mdg, A Freeman Company; Vincent Polito, Executive Director at SISO
Relax, meet new faces, and reconnect with valued colleagues.
Start the day in the company of friends and colleagues.
Sam Lippman, President, Lippman Connects will start the day with a data-driven overview, spotlighting insights gleaned from recent research.
The toughest, most enduring challenge facing your salesforce is measuring, proving, and communicating customers' ROI. Every non-renewal and downsize hurts your profitability. RX's answer was to reframe the question. What is the customer's return on expectation? Fernando Fischer, President of the Americas for RX will share the processes behind the strategy, vision, and value based selling evolution.
Whom do you want to meet? Who has an opportunity for you? Every leader in the room stands up and introduces themselves to their peers.
Rochelle Richardson, SVP, Exhibitions, AVIXA, Dave Labuskes, CEO, AVIXA and Brad Sousa, CTO, AVI Systems will address numerous benefits of creating integrated experiences to enhance your events with the support of leadership, by using data and research, and incorporating Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) as a key part of the show strategy. The panelist will discuss how immersive integrated attendee experiences create communities for attendees, enrich your show, reflects the voice of the customer, and can be used as attendee acquisition areas. This session will provide executives with a concrete understanding of the connection between innovation, creativity, growth, prioritizing DE&I and building a sustainable future.
Not always! We all want our events to deliver a wealth of benefits to attendees. Yet in many cases we plan to provide all this value as soon as we can find exhibitors to sponsor and fund these new features. If that doesn't strike you as a problem, then allow our panelists moderated by Steve Prahalis, COO, SME, to explain how changing demographics and attendee expectations directly impact the success of your event. Pay close attention to their experiences and observations, revealing how short-term thinking is shortchanging viability. They'll leave you with actionable advice that no organizer can afford to ignore.
If your customers are not getting what they need from your event, you're handing an opportunity to a company like Connectiv Holdings. CEO Jay Weintraub's approach is sometimes described as disruptive. The fact is he is one of a new breed of innovators who are unafraid to compete with established events. Jay discusses his methods and explores how he is rooting out the inefficiencies of tired or neglected traditional B2B events. Join him and Courtney Muller, Chief Corporate Development Officer, Connectiv, (and President of Manifest) for a conversation that will inspire you to reinvent and reinvigorate.
Macy Fecto, Chief People Officer, Access Intellingence, moderates a panel with; Ellen Davis, Executive Vice President, Business Strategy and Industry Engagement, U.S. Travel Association; Ben Erwin, President & CEO, Encore; and another association executive. Organizers are navigating an increasingly dynamic economic landscape. We’re wrestling with a difficult labor market coupled with a shift in priorities in the workforce. Today’s leaders are waking up to the fact that they must work to earn the attendance and attention of their team members. A panel of executives will discuss the realities of today and strategies for tomorrow.
The Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance’s (ECA) 2023 Legislative Action Day will take place in person in Washington, DC on Thursday, June 1, 2023.
