Follow these tips to get the most out of your IWCE experience!

By Stacey Orlick, Director of Community and Conference Content, IWCE

IWCE’s conference is a week-long event, beginning on Monday, March 21, and continuing through Friday, March 25. On Wednesday, March 23, and Thursday, March 24, the IWCE exhibit hall is open, allowing you to touch and demo all the latest equipment.

Regardless of what registration package you have selected, get the most out of your experience to maximize your education, networking and what products you want to see.  Here are a few tips:

Before you travel to Las Vegas:

Identify the main goals you have in attending. If you’re registered for conference sessions, build your agenda within the Registration Dashboard, so you are prepared for every session.

Keep an eye out for a link to the Conference Proceedings web site to download copies of the speakers’ presentations.

Use the registration Dashboard to find exhibitors that provide products or services that match your interests.  You can use the Dashboard to request a meeting to learn more.

Download the mobile app to confirm your agenda, map out what exhibitors you’d like to see, and to get daily breaking news updates from IWCE’s Urgent Communications.

Be sure to pack business cards and a pen!

When you arrive in Las Vegas:

On Monday, don’t wait until the classes start at 8:30 a.m. to try to print out your badge. Registration opens as early as 7:30 a.m.

Speed networking is a great way to connect with other attendees in a fast-paced setting. You never know who you might meet!  It takes place on Monday and Tuesday, and one timeslot is included in the Super Pass at no charge (but you must add it to your agenda!). In addition, you can add any timeslot to your registration for only $99.

Wednesday is IWCE’s busiest day. If you haven’t picked up your badge by then, arrive early. Registration opens at 7:30 a.m.  The Keynote Address, “Cybersecurity is a Global Issue,” begins at 9 a.m., and the exhibit floor opens at 10 a.m.

The exhibit floor has several main aisles to keep traffic flowing. Decide where you want to start on Wednesday, and then start at the other end of the hall on Thursday to make sure you visit as many booths as possible. Wear comfortable shoes, because we have 90,000 square feet to cover!

As you’re visiting the booths, see and touch as much of the products as you can. One of the main values of any tradeshow is to be able to compare products from multiple vendors in a single setting.

Get scanned by any exhibitors you visit, so they can follow up with you. They can provide product literature, videos, white papers and other information that can help you make important decisions about your communications technology.

Finish Wednesday by attending the Party in the Park event for drinks, networking and complimentary food from local food trucks.

Don’t lose your badge!  There is a Badge reprint fee for any lost badges.

Thursday’s free General Session begins before the exhibit hall opens and is free to all attendees.  Hear experts talk about “Operating Parallel Networks.”

Visit the booths of as many companies as you can until 5 p.m. on Thursday.

Conference workshops and short courses continue on Friday morning until 12:30 p,m. Don’t miss topics like NG9-1-1, DAS, LTE devices and setting policy for drones and wearables.

If you haven’t registered, go to IWCE’s website to see the full conference schedule and a list of exhibitors.  And check out our Flash Sale only on Friday, Feb. 12.  Use the code LOVE to get discounted rates on the conference packages or free exhibit-hall admission!  This offer expires at midnight, so be sure to register on Friday!