october 18-21, 2009 red rock hotel las vegas, nevada creating your best experience at the market...
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OCTOBER 18-21, 2009RED ROCK HOTEL
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
Creating Your Best Experience at
The Market Research Event
Welcome to The Market Research Event
This compilation of tips has been collected to help you create your best possible experience at The Market Research Event
These tips are organized around the following areas: Getting in the Best Event Mindset Preparing for the Event Navigating the Agenda Planning Your Time Building Relationships Working the Exhibit Hall Other Tips Know Your Rights!
Getting in the Best Event Mindset
It is important to spend some time thinking about the event BEFORE you arrive
Think about what you would like to learn and prioritize your needs – this will help focus your learning and enable you to make more purposeful decisions at the event
Create a list of people that you would like to meet at the event. Strategizing an action plan before hand will help to ensure you connect with the right people
Read publications and industry news and develop a list of issues or questions you want to discuss at the event
Preparing for the Event
Spend some time with the agenda on the event website
Visit the website at www.themarketresearchevent.com for the most up to date agenda
Review the agenda before attending to get a sense of which sessions are most appropriate for you
Share the agenda with your team before you leave to find out what they’d like you to bring back
Join The Market Research Event LinkedIn Group to begin connecting with other attendees before the event
Jot down our Twitter Hashtag - #TMRE so you can follow what people are saying about the event while you are there
Navigating the Agenda
With more than 100 sessions to choose from, be assured that you will have plenty of choices
Think beyond your industry - great value can come from learning how people tackle similar challenges in other industries
Think of what is relevant to current projects AND future projects and select sessions accordingly
Think about where you’d like to be in your career five years down the road – what sessions can help you get there?
Getting the Most From Each Session
Ensure you are getting maximum value from every session
Keep a list of action points that you can refer to back at work
The official TMRE Executive Summary and Key Takeaways will be sent to you via email after the event – this will help you disseminate the information to your team
Disconnect during sessions - use the networking breaks to chat and check-in with work
Some speakers are not permitted to share a copy of their presentation publicly due to corporate confidentiality policies; if there is a presentation you want, ask the speaker to send you a copy directly
Planning Your Time
Plan out your days in advanceSelect sessions to attend in the morning so you don’t
have to make rushed decisions between sessionsRemember to use the Return on Attendance Tool that
you will receive in your registration packet to help ensure you are meeting all of your event goals
If you come with a team, split up to diversify your learning
Sign up at the registration desk for dinner dine-arounds and evening networking
Building Relationships
Perhaps the most important part of an event is the people you will meet
Don’t be shy – always introduce yourself to the person sitting next to you - it’s a great way to expand your network
Sign up for one on one meetings with speakers through our inaugural Speaker One on One program
Manage Expectations – it’s not just the quantity but the quality of people you meet. Make this a priority. Visit the attendee board in the exhibit hall early on and identify the top 5 people who you would most benefit from meeting. Make it a point to meet those 5 people throughout the duration of the event. If you need help locating someone, ask an IIR representative for assistance
Working the Exhibit Hall
Sometimes exhibit halls can be daunting, but with a bit of pre-planning, they can be a breeze
Visit the sponsor and exhibitor section of the website for a list of participating vendors
Create a short list of vendors you’d like to find out more about
Designate one networking break to walk through the entire hall keeping notes as you come across a vendor you are interested in meeting with further
Try to set up an appointments with representatives from companies you are interested in so you can have their full attention
Other Tips
Ensuring you are comfortable and focused throughout your experience
The conference rooms may be cool, so bring a light sweater or jacket
Bring plenty of business cardsKeep an open mind and remember that a conference
is the sum of all its parts – the keynotes, the breakout sessions, the networking breaks – so see it through to the end
Think of this as an opportunity to connect both personally and professionally
Be open - participate in the planned networking activities designed to help facilitate connections through conversation
Knowing Your Rights
Take an active role on ensuring you get what you need from TMRE
If you are ever in a session that is not meeting your expectations, you are free to leave that session and select another session to attend
You do not have to follow one track for the duration of the event - you can attend any session in any track at any time
Receive updated information about the agenda and future events by opting in to IIR at www.iirusa.com
TMRE Alumnus? Become a Mentor!
In an effort to help those attendees joining us for the first time make the most of their conference experience, we have initiated The Market Research Event Mentor Program
Give back to the industry by sharing your conference expertise with a fellow attendee who is new to the event. Mentors will be connected with a TMRE first timer before the event and can share pointers for having a great event experience
For more information on becoming a TMRE mentor, contact Anastasia Ioannou at [email protected]
TMRE First Timer?
Participate in the TMRE Mentor Program If this will be your first time attending, you qualify to
participate in this complimentary programYou will be paired with your own personal event
mentor - a TMRE veteran that will show you the ropes and help you make the most of your conference experience
For more info on this program, please email Anastasia Ioannou at [email protected]
We’ll see you there.
If you have any questions about the event before you arrive, please feel free to contact Conference Director, Krista Vazquez at [email protected]
Thank you!