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January, 29-31, 2013. LegalTech claims to be the Number One resource for law firms and legal departments, the place to be to get hands-on practical information for improving law practice management. The legal marketplace, we heard, has the kind of buying power that resists dips in an ever-changing business economy. For this reason, competition in the legal industry is apparently pretty fierce, and making face-to-face connections can make the difference between a law firm company closing a sale or losing that sale to a competitor. The show provided an in-depth look at what the technological world has in store for today’s legal practice, and offered an expansive exhibit floor crammed with the most extensive range of innovative products, all designed to meet legal eagles’ current and future technology needs. Now, what happens if I press this “settle out of court” button…?
January 18-20, 2013. This was the New York Times’ tenth anniversary of hosting the Travel Show, and quite an international celebration it turned out to be. Five cultural stages (for Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean and Global (i.e. rest-of-the-world) featured live performances and culinary presentations from exotic locations everywhere. “Global” turned out to include America’s Everglades National Park and Universal Orlando Resort where, we were reliably informed, you can “Be Courageous, Be Outrageous, and Be Extraordinary”. Industry professionals milled around along with the general public, to a get closer look at domestic and international hot spots, familiar favorites, and esoteric under-the-radar escape destinations that are still relatively crowd-free. Pyongyang, anyone?
January 13-15, 2013. NRF is the National Retail Foundation, and their Big Show lived up to its name, with an all-time record-breaking attendance of over 27,000. Issues under discussion included the idea of retailers encouraging conscious consumerism (Donna Karan had something to say about that), and whether retailers can win with third-party advertising. An international session explored retail trends around the world, Walmart looked at how to help drive American renewal, “omnichannel convergence” turned out to have “a Southern State of Mind”, and a panel of experts advised on how to implement criminal background checks. A highlight was International Man Of Peace Kofi Annan, sharing his “Three Keys to a Prosperous Society”. Prosperity? Now that’s what retailers wanted to hear about…
January 3-6, 2013. The New York Boat Show bills itself as being “Progressive”. And why wouldn’t it be? (Except that in this case Progressive is the name of the insurance company that sponsors the whole jamboree). The organization behind the show is the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), which claims pre-eminence as the world’s largest producer of boat shows. NMMA is the association that represents the $39.5 billion-per-year recreational boating industry. Member companies produce over 80 percent of the boats, engines, trailers, accessories and gear used by boaters and anglers in the U.S.A. The Boat Show is a once-a-year opportunity to compare makes and models, secure insurance and financing, and gear up with the latest accessories. And yes, there was quite a lot of ‘showboating’ going on…
Nov. 25-28. Smile! GNYDM is the Greater New York Dental Meeting — what else? Delegates were showing off their pearly whites at one of the largest Dental Congresses in the world, with well over 50,000 healthcare professionals looking over 1500 technical exhibits, and demonstrating the newest technology for the dental profession. There was a choice of full-day seminars, half-day seminars, essays, hands-on workshops, glass-enclosed and Live Patient Demonstration Area. Booth teams were there in force to demonstrate and teach visitors about new products and technology from around the world. They could touch, use and compare the newest materials and technology in dentistry today. Everyone said they attended the speeches to learn something; but actually they were just checking out the speakers’ caps and bridgework…
Dec. 3-4, 2012. This is the ICSC’s “International Conference and Deal-Making”. So what exactly would the ICSC be? Well, it’s the International Council of Shopping Centers. And these folks dedicate themselves to “serving the Global Retail Real Estate Industry”. And deal-making, of course. This was an event designed for anyone involved in the retail real estate/shopping center industry profession – lawyers, marketing specialists, retailers, owner, brokers, developers, shopping center managers, and government employees. A talking point was Next Generation, a program geared towards challenges, interests and trends in retail real estate. The guiding committee felt there was a need to offer a program which helped new retail real estate professionals enter the business — and the trade association — while also offering continuing education and mentoring. So these folks were, erm, learning to “keep it “real”…?”
Nov. 25-28, 2012. Smile! GNYDM is the Greater New York Dental Meeting — what else? Delegates were showing off their pearly whites at one of the largest Dental Congresses in the world, with well over 50,000 health care professionals looking over 1500 technical exhibits, and demonstrating the newest technology for the dental profession. There was a choice of full-day seminars, half-day seminars, essays, hands-on workshops, glass-enclosed and Live Patient Demonstration Area. Booth teams were there in force to demonstrate and teach visitors about new products and technology from around the world. They could touch, use and compare the newest materials and technology in dentistry today. Everyone said they attended the speeches to learn something; but actually they were just checking out the speakers’ caps and bridgework…
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