Society of Independent Show Organizers - SISO

07/08/2025

Update from SISO CEO Vinnie Polito which includes an apology

Hi—we are less than two weeks away and I must apologize for one thing. I think you all know I love white space at events and quite honestly, we don’t have enough of it in the program. I’d advise you to arrive early (change your flight) and/or stay up late to compensate.

We debated about looking to cut content and quite honestly the story arc of the conference would be impacted by losing any of the sessions. The good news is that you can earn 9.5 hours toward CEM recertification. You’ll see some of our highest-rated speakers back on stage (some even more than once), but equally importantly, you’ll be hearing from new speakers with a lot of interesting data and perspectives.

I keep returning to the Thursday content, which is remarkable. Michael Barnett InGo will make a compelling, data-driven case about the value of tradeshows, helping you drive revenue as early as August 22. That’s just one of several highlights.

M&A activity continues virtually unabated, but we’ll hear lessons from two very significant launches. Dana Teague and Michael Armstrong will share some fascinating insights around a launch (Dana) and a second-year event (Mike) that are quite instructive.

Absorbing an acquisition or being the absorbed acquisition is something many of us have experienced. Beth Cowperthwaite and Jo Dickson will share some of the good and the bad and provide some best practice ideas for you, regardless of the side of the acquisition that pertains to you.

Couple of my Wednesday highlights

Are you aware of the Annabelle Project? You will be. SISO Chair Miller FCIM and Warwick Davies have an interesting and inspiring session. You’ll want to sign up to be part of the Annabelle Project after the session for sure.

How about the session Why Inclusion is Good Business? Listen to leaders of the newly minted (renamed) Social Inclusion & Business Impact SIG giving you the business case that we all need. Don Pietranczyk, Melissa K Montes, and Raymond Rhodes are driving this successfully in their orgs, and you will learn how to do the same.

I’ll cover this in my next note, but Wednesday is also a big sales day regarding the acquisition of new revenue streams and using AI to drive revenue.

Safety and Security/Emergency Preparedness is also increasingly critical. Mike Carlucci has assembled a powerhouse panel to discuss.

I just checked the flights, and fares are still reasonable, and Indy is drivable from several cities (Chicago, Cincinnati, Louisville, to name three). This will be a great investment of your time, I promise. And if you need more white space while you are with us, I’ll stay up late to compensate.

Bye for now,
Vinnie

[email protected]

09/04/2025

SISO—Society of Independent Show Organizers Members—From Risk to Readiness: Building Event Security That Holds Under Pressure

Join us for an insightful webinar featuring top exhibition executives: Mike Carlucci, COO of Events Inc. - North America Events; Grant, SVP Operations at RX Global; Dan Donovan, Founder & Managing Partner of Statoscope/Ingressotek/Stratos K9; and Freddie Peterson, GM of Miami Convention Center. Don't miss the first SISO Security and Safety SIG webinar on Thursday, April 24, at 10:30 AM ET.

Registration is free, but please register in advance. Once registered, you'll receive a confirmation email with details on how to join the meeting.

Save your spot now here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/c5oma5q_SOOjfnG_aWTJHQ and invite your teams!

28/02/2025

Some Reminders from our CEO about the CEO Summit and other items

Just over four weeks away from the CEO Summit:

I talked to Walter Charnizon, and he has a lot of interesting plans for this year’s Small Business Roundtable. We have already had to move it to a larger room. I’ve seen a lot of small businesses register these last couple of weeks, and not all have signed up. Don’t miss this.

The program on SISO.org is essentially complete. What isn’t on there is all the white space opportunities that exist, both before and after the conference. I know of acquisitions that have happened as a result of conversations that took place during the golf/pickleball or the Wednesday night event.

I attended member H2K Labs RevvedUP program this week. Heather Holst-Knudsen had the perfect blend of old-school niceties coupled with an all-star cast of speakers and topics.

I expect we will reach last year’s registration total before the Big East Basketball Tournament starts. This is not the year to stay on the sidelines. If you qualify and need a registration code, contact [email protected].

From ECA’s Tommy Goodwin: Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance 2025 Legislative Action Day will take place in Washington, DC on Thursday, May 29. All SISO members are invited to join leaders and advocates from across the business and professional events industry to Capitol Hill to meet with their elected officials in support of two of ECA’s top policy priorities: tax reform and future workforce. Once again, this year’s Legislative Action Day will be held in conjunction with two other industry events taking place that week in Washington, DC: mdg, a Freeman Company’s Executive Roundtable on Tuesday, May 27, and Lippman Connects Exhibition & Convention Executive Forum on Wednesday, May 28.

To learn more and register for LAD free today, please visit https://lnkd.in/gf4b6EwB.

We still have room for about 4 more sponsors. Sheldon Adelson would not be happy about any revenue opportunity ever “selling out”, but we guard our attendee-to-sponsor ratios very closely. So still, some room but very limited. Act today, contact [email protected].

I need member buddies to assist new attendees maximizing the experience; if willing, let me know at [email protected].

I’ll be working with Sarin Bachmann (RX-NOR) to develop some fun options for Saturday arrivals. Let me know if you will arrive in time to take part. I might even play some golf. Depending on when you read this, I hope you can enjoy or enjoyed https://lnkd.in/gfuKnn7Y

Bye for now,

Vinnie

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

28/02/2025

"BREAKING NEWS: “Exhibitions Industry Collective Launches Workforce Development Initiative to Inspire the Next Generation of Event Professionals”

The Exhibitions Industry Collective—featuring Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance, Designers & Producers Association, Exhibition Services & Contractors Association, Association of Exhibitions & Events - IAEE, and Society of Independent Show Organizers - SISO, is launching a nationwide workforce development initiative to introduce students and young professionals to careers in exhibitions and events.

Professionals from the industry will visit schools and universities to provide insights into this sector so we can pave the way for future industry leaders.

The Collective has developed a PowerPoint deck for presenters, a comprehensive resource toolkit for the audience, social media engagement strategies to enhance outreach, and impact tracking to assess student interest and program success.

Read the full press release here: https://exhibitionsindustryawareness.com/news

11/12/2024

Collingwood https://collingwood.group/ collaborated with Society of Independent Show Organizers - SISO to produce the Events Sector Benchmarking Report!

There are more takeaways than we can list here, but as we turn our attention to 2025 and beyond, this report is a must-have and must-share for our members and prospective members.

Use this link below to download and please contact us or the folks at Collingwood https://collingwood.group/ to discuss.

https://collingwood.group/resources/events-sector-benchmarking-2024/?utm_source=SISO&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=SISO_BM

27/11/2024

A Note from our CEO, Vincent Polito

Some quick thoughts to share

Just returned from both IBTM and UFI last week, and I was struck by the energy of the participants. I would characterize the mood as one of optimism for our industry, with a dose of uncertainty in the geo political landscape. I had conversations with colleagues from all parts of the world, and it was consistent.

My favorite session featured SISO/UFI members Greg Hitchen (Terrapinn), Russell Wilcox (Clarion) and SISO Sponsor John McGovern of Grimes McGovern & Associates. I liked that the panelists were able to share differing perspectives on subjects. Certainly not a homogenized session! Entertaining and valuable.
..View the full article here

11/11/2024

Join Scott Stevens and Yancy Smith Weinrich on Friday, November 15, at 1:00 PM ET for the SISO Sales SIG webinar - Empowering Event Sales Teams with Digital Tools: Boosting Efficiency, Engagement and Sales

As the event industry rapidly evolves, adopting digital tools has become essential for sales teams striving to meet their goals. This session focuses on the unique needs of event organizers, offering insights into the latest technologies that drive efficiency, improve client communication, and streamline sales processes. Discover how CRM solutions, data analytics, automation, and personalized engagement tools are transforming sales within the event space. From capturing leads to securing bookings and nurturing client relationships, this session is designed to equip event sales professionals with the knowledge they need to maximize productivity and success.

Click here to register: https://lnkd.in/gWPryFZC.

15/10/2024

Many thought leaders in one place! 🎤✨

Catch all the insightful interviews produced by CNTV at the SISO-TV Studio during the SISO Leadership Conference and proudly sponsored by Map Your Show.

Topics include:

· impact of AI on our industry
· Latest trends on the show floor
· Utilizing video for your next event
· Updates in M&A

Watch all the videos here:
https://www.siso.org/leadership/siso-tv

Thank you, CNTV and Map Your Show, for the fantastic interviews!

24/09/2024

SISO Marketing SIG presents Harnessing Influencer Marketing in Your Event Strategy

Join us on Wednesday, September 25, at 11 am EDT for an insightful session on how influencer marketing can elevate your event marketing mix. Discover how leveraging trusted voices can drive engagement, build credibility, and expand your event’s reach. We’ll explore critical strategies, success stories, and actionable tips to help you tap into the power of influencers, from micro to macro, and integrate them seamlessly into your event campaigns. Whether aiming for more registrations or enhancing event visibility, this session will guide you on maximizing influencer impact.

Visit www.siso.org/latest-news to register and learn more.

03/08/2024

We are thrilled to announce that Megan Miller, bestselling author and host of the Attention to Intention podcast, will be hitting our stage at the SISO Leadership Conference next month in Philadelphia. And what is it she’ll be talking about? The person who is in every room with you, making every decision, YOU! She’ll uncover how to approach self-leadership and put you on a path to intentional living.



Here’s a sneak peak at what you can expect:

Want a sneak for some inspiration? Let's connect before our time together. **Check out our TEDx talk: Detoxing Off The Drug of Achievement: https://www.youtu...

02/08/2024

Attention 2024 SISO Leadership Conference Attendees!

Get ready to update your professional image with a fresh headshot. Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity!

Your photos will be available almost instantly in a private gallery.

Courtesy of Coleman Photography

15/03/2024

A Note from our CEO, Vincent Polito

As March Madness is about to begin, a quick note about April’s CEO Summit. April 8-11, Amelia Island

• For those that attend for the networking, we have a registration list that is running over 20% ahead of last year. We have nearly all of the industry leaders you expect to see and want to interact with, and we also have quite a few new faces from the US and from many countries around the globe. It will create an incredible energy boost.

• For those that attend for the content, I consider this year’s program to be an embrace and extend experience. All the sessions that you cherish will be there, and we have added content that will challenge you and prepare you for enhancing your events the rest of this year and beyond. I know you will find actionable data in April. http://go.pardot.com/e/1007212/summit-2024-conference-program/2ck77/456169149/h/fvdQVdJy8YryUKFA4wsM7UTmdDBfN_VjotSFEx7qYYE

• If you are a sponsor and haven’t yet signed on, there are still opportunities available to you. Contact Katherine [email protected] or Anna, [email protected]

• We heard you and expanded the length of the small business roundtable. SISO Executive Women’s Forum also on Monday has an enhanced program and I expect record attendance. Both programs still have a few seats available.

• If you want to watch the NCAA Final game with friends and colleagues, we’ll have a place for that too.

• We’ll share an eclipse together.

• And you know, best sunrises at Amelia Island, and you can be back in time for the opening sessions after a nice walk on the beach!

• If you need a registration code, contact Anna. [email protected]. Hotel rooms are getting scarce and close to cutoff.

• Have you noticed the new website? Please take a look!

• Pay no attention to the fraudulent list that’s being offered. Watch this space for more information about progress we are making taking on these scammers.

As always, please contact me directly if you have any questions. [email protected]

SISO wants to call your attention to The Meetings Show Asia Pacific April 17-18

The Meetings Show Asia Pacific, organized by Northstar Travel Group, brings together event organizers and suppliers to connect, contract and forge new partnerships. This inaugural event welcomes all MICE planners with inbound and/or outbound business to register now to become a hosted buyer and discover leading destinations, venues, hotels and other key suppliers in the region. Hosted buyers can utilize Northstar’s dedicated prescheduled meetings platform for targeted one-to-one appointments, engage in exclusive networking activities and participate in education programme provided by leading influencers in the global MICE industry.

Click here https://www.themeetingsshow-apac.com/register for more information and to register.