Exhibition & Convention Executives Forum Sold Out in 15th Year

May 3, 2016

For the first time in the event’s history, the Exhibition & Convention Executives Forum has sold out several weeks before it is set to run June 1 in Washington, D.C.

“ECEF has a waiting list for the first time in 15 years,” said Sam Lippman, president of Lippman Connects, producer of ECEF.

“In recent years, ECEF has consistently sold out, but not anywhere as early as this year,” he added. “I talk to industry executives every day, and my impression is they are more aggressively reaching out for new business opportunities. And that includes attending ECEF for presentations by the leaders of CES, Emerald, Informa, dmg, PCMA, PwC, EXHIBITOR, Fast Track Events & Entertainment and others.”

He also credited this year’s attendance achievement to Lippman Connects’ marketing agency mdg.

Kimberly Hardcastle, president of mdg, said, “ECEF has long been recognized as the premier networking event for exhibition executives, but I have also found it to be a great source of new ideas. I took two pages of notes last year and found myself referencing them as inspiration for initiatives that we executed for several of our clients. Sam always seems to get the right mix of speakers, balancing visionaries from outside the events business with those who are blazing trails from within.”

ECEF will be celebrating its 15th anniversary with a full house of 200 CEOs, presidents, executive directors, vice presidents and other top-level executives at associations and independent event organizers.

Here are a few of the sessions on tap:

“New Event Realities” -  Galen Poss, vice chairman, dmg events will invite Charles McCurdy, chairman and CEO, Informa Global Exhibitions, David Loechner, CEO, Emerald Expositions and Deborah Sexton, president & CEO, PCMA to share their vision of how the events business will have changed by new technologies, new competitors, and the pressure to experiment and innovate.

“Our Exhibitors Speak” - Randal Acker, president at EXHIBITOR Media Group and Diane Benson, Americas Exhibits Leader, GE Healthcare; Dominique Cook, trade show manager, Marvin Windows and Doors; and Dana L. Tilghman, senior trade show and events planner, Minitab, will discuss what is working and what needs to change to maximize their ROI from events.

For more information and to join the waiting list, visit www.lippmanconnects.com/ecef.

Add new comment

Partner Voices
Here at Mandalay Bay, venues are inviting and innovative. As one of the most iconic names on the Las Vegas Strip, the Mandalay Bay Convention Center has recently undergone an exciting upgrade. This renowned venue now offers everything your business needs, with a refreshed convention space designed to inspire productivity and creativity, as well as an impressive selection of world-class restaurants and amenities. If you're searching for a venue that is both inviting and innovative, Mandalay Bay is the place to be. Mandalay Bay is committed to investing in a new wave of enhancements, not only in the convention space but also throughout the entire resort. With new restaurant openings and remodels, spectacular entertainment, and updated rooms, Mandalay Bay promises to deliver new and exciting experiences to its guests until 2024. To create a truly effective conference venue, Mandalay Bay has carefully considered what businesses require. The right technology, capacity, and inspiration are essential to take ideas to the next level. The refreshed Mandalay Bay Convention Center has been designed with your business in mind. Every room is equipped with newly-upgraded technology, enhancing our ability to support bandwidth demand and overall data capabilities. Additionally, the addition of 10 new digital walls provides bigger and more dynamic ways to display customized content messages. Mandalay Bay offers world-class conference space and service. The venue options range from ballrooms to ample pre-function spaces, catering to teams of any size while accommodating multiple large groups simultaneously. Our certified planners work collaboratively with you to understand your specific event requirements, anticipating your business needs and offering the best-fit solutions. In addition to providing exceptional conference facilities, Mandalay Bay is also dedicated to sustainability. We strive to give our guests an unforgettable experience while minimizing our impact on the environment. As part of our sustainable energy efforts, you'll find refillable water stations throughout the property, eliminating the need for single-use plastic bottles and reducing unnecessary plastic usage. Mandalay Bay is proud to offer an upgraded and enhanced experience for businesses seeking a venue that combines innovation, convenience, and sustainability. Whether you're hosting a conference, meeting, or other business event, Mandalay Bay's refreshed convention space, world-class service, and commitment to sustainability make it the ideal choice. Come and discover the new wave of experiences awaiting you at Mandalay Bay on the Las Vegas Strip. Wherever your organization is going, getting there starts with being here.