Miami welcomes you to MSR with a festive evening at The Venu. 

It may be invisible to you, but many of your potential attendees are autistic or neurodivergent. One in every six Americans has sensory sensitivities. Some basic knowledge and simple accommodations can make your show a welcoming space for this underserved population. A big part of inclusion is providing clear communication and as much information ahead of time as possible. Brianna Angulo, CAS, Key Account Manager, International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), will share the keynote stage for Taking Action on Accessibility: What, Why, and How to Welcome Autistic and Neurodiverse Audiences.

Here are just a few of the key takeaways:

• What show professionals need to know about autism, neurodiversity, and hidden disabilities.
• Recent survey results on which accommodations have the biggest impact.
• The benefits of making inclusion an organic part of your culture.
• How to make the most of attendee feedback and continuous learning.
• Making a plan and tracking results.

KEYNOTE BONUS:

For midsize shows eager to future proof operations and develop a “sustainability” competitive edge. Discover the "table stakes" for sustainable venues and destinations, from food waste reduction to zero-waste initiatives to renewable energy. Look ahead to 2030 and beyond, discussing likely trends and potential innovations. Leave equipped to implement cutting-edge sustainability strategies that appeal to eco-conscious clients and attendees. Stay ahead of the sustainability curve with straight talk from Ariane Hiltebrand, Director of Sales & Marketing, Miami Beach Convention Center and Marianne Schmidhofer, Director of Meeting and Convention Services, Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Takeaways include:

• Prepare Your Event for Inclusivity
• Social Impacts: Now Through 2030

The difference between conventional software and AI has been described as the difference between a stuffed animal and a real puppy. Your show can’t wait for an AI puppy to jump into your lap. But this MSR session is even better. 

Crafting precise and effective prompts is crucial for leveraging AI tools. Tailored to the specific needs of midsize show executives and managers, AI expert Rich Stone, CEO, EXPOCAD/ACT, will equip you with the skills needed to create impactful prompts that yield accurate and helpful responses from AI.

Highlights include:

• Understanding the importance of context.
• Narrowing the topic and expertise of the prompt.
• Getting the right response by identifying the consumer.
• Participate in a hands-on event-related exercise.

Kimberly Hardcastle, President of mdg, A Freeman Company will share essential event industry insights that every mid-size show organizer needs to know to grow their audience base. More than ever, if you’re not aggressively growing your universe, you’ll watch it whither through attrition. 

Participants will learn:

• How to break marketers’ email addiction in favor of a true omni-channel approach. 
• The importance of amplifying stakeholder voices to tell our event stories. 
• Why social media can no longer be an afterthought (or left to interns).