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2010

Abstract

ompany is sponsoring a hospitality event, you may be asked to put in a couple hours on duty. Work that into your schedule.</p><h1 id="a4ff">What to do about language differences?</h1><p id="572f">The conference planners will likely have an interpreter available to handle guest questions and issues. Your phone may also help you with words and phrases.</p><p id="36f1" type="7">Did you prepare a notecard with common phrases such as Guten tag, Domo arigato gozaimasu, Bom dia, or Enchante?</p><p id="2a26">Large international events are sure to have translators located in key places during the conference. It is a great way to answer questions and point guests in the right direction.</p><h1 id="6539">Set your agenda</h1><p id="13a5">It is the most time-consuming planning step ahead of your conference. Luckily, the conference planners can provide a well planned and illustrated schedule of events well in advance. The vendor list and map will help you get where you are going.</p><p id="d622">At annual events, vendors come back year after year and love to have the same booth location as last year. Do not be shy about reaching out when you have questions. There is usually a contact available to help before you get there. Expect sessions to have recess periods and lunch breaks to make it easier to contact the office or make a call.</p><h1 id="779d">Execute the basic stuff</h1><p id="c7f3">Make sure you know the local time when you arrive in Berlin, Rio, or Tokyo. Are you arriving at 2:30 AM or 9:00 AM? Do you have some local currency in your pocket? What if you need to get a taxi or a sandwich? What if the currency exchange is not open when you arrive at the airport.</p><p id="9cd2">Anyone who has been to Canada knows what a looney and tooney is. Did you prepare a notecard with common phrases such as Guten Tag, Domo Arigato Gozaimasu, Bom Dia, or Enchante?</p><h1 id="6aa8">Entertainment</h1><p id="f86d">Conferences will often hold the dinner event in an attraction in the city. This is a gr

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eat way to get out of the hotel and see the sights. If you want something different, look for restaurants with a spectacular view of an attraction that may interest you, such as an aquarium, casino, nightclub, show, or museum.</p><h1 id="d93e">Pack a trove of needed items</h1><p id="a129">A stuff bag full of pens, paper clips, notepads, adapters, buttons, band-aids, a needle with thread, and a safety pin does not sound glamorous. You never know when you will bust open a zipper.</p><h1 id="856f">Have a plan B</h1><p id="e29f">Things will go wrong. Will you have cell phone coverage in Paris? What if the plane is late to arrive? Can you plug your laptop in to recharge? What if you miss the bus to the hotel? Do you have a toothbrush? What do you mean there are no chopsticks? What if the heel breaks on your pumps?</p><p id="b027">Maybe you will not have a single hitch, but if you do, you will be able to solve your own problem. Solving your own problem on the road is priceless. Have a plan B!</p><h1 id="2547">Are you ready?</h1><p id="22d2">Attending an international conference for the first time can open you to a world full of new ideas, people, and places. Be your own best friend on the road. Think through where you will be, what you will be doing, who you’ll be with, and what items you need.</p><p id="c421">Planning will give way to an enjoyable, comfortable experience that will create lasting memories and new friends.</p><p id="eea3">*** *** </p><p id="45a9">Douglas Pilarski. Portland-based writer/journalist. Covers luxury goods, exotic cars, CJ-CX, horology, tech, lifestyle, & workplace issues.</p><p id="c2f0">Comments welcome! <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> Follow on Twitter — @dpatlarge</p><p id="36c7"> *** </p><p id="65c6">Do not copy or publish any part of this article without the consent of the author.</p><p id="1bd1">Copyright © 2020 AstonBell Media</p><p id="101b">All rights reserved.</p><p id="ab45"> *** ***</p></article></body>

Your 9 Step International Conference Plan

It’s not too soon to start planning

Get an idea of the size and scope

Attending an international conference can be exciting. The opportunity to gain exposure to new places, people, and ideas is a real attractor. Start planning as soon as you can.

If this is your first time to attend such an event, a conference agenda, attendee list, vendor map, and a list of keynote speakers will give you a start. Keep an eye on these points as you get closer. Things will change, and new information will be available as things develop.

Find out more about the venue

If you are attending a major industry conference for the first time, be prepared to be slightly overwhelmed. Venues can be hundreds of thousands of square feet in size. You will need a plan to see everything you want to.

Plan to attend breakout sessions, keynotes, discussion groups, AA sessions, breakfast meetings, workshops. I usually like to leave a block of hours unplanned. In case you want to explore. Planning ahead includes rental cars, hotels within walking distance, locating galleries, and places to eat.

Network! Network! Network!

Vendors love to sponsor after session events. Private concerts, meet and greets, networking events, career boards, happy hours, and more. It is a great way to meet people.

What if the currency exchange is not open when you arrive at the airport?

With plenty of time to plan, look up attendees on LinkedIn, and plan to get together. If your company is sponsoring a hospitality event, you may be asked to put in a couple hours on duty. Work that into your schedule.

What to do about language differences?

The conference planners will likely have an interpreter available to handle guest questions and issues. Your phone may also help you with words and phrases.

Did you prepare a notecard with common phrases such as Guten tag, Domo arigato gozaimasu, Bom dia, or Enchante?

Large international events are sure to have translators located in key places during the conference. It is a great way to answer questions and point guests in the right direction.

Set your agenda

It is the most time-consuming planning step ahead of your conference. Luckily, the conference planners can provide a well planned and illustrated schedule of events well in advance. The vendor list and map will help you get where you are going.

At annual events, vendors come back year after year and love to have the same booth location as last year. Do not be shy about reaching out when you have questions. There is usually a contact available to help before you get there. Expect sessions to have recess periods and lunch breaks to make it easier to contact the office or make a call.

Execute the basic stuff

Make sure you know the local time when you arrive in Berlin, Rio, or Tokyo. Are you arriving at 2:30 AM or 9:00 AM? Do you have some local currency in your pocket? What if you need to get a taxi or a sandwich? What if the currency exchange is not open when you arrive at the airport.

Anyone who has been to Canada knows what a looney and tooney is. Did you prepare a notecard with common phrases such as Guten Tag, Domo Arigato Gozaimasu, Bom Dia, or Enchante?

Entertainment

Conferences will often hold the dinner event in an attraction in the city. This is a great way to get out of the hotel and see the sights. If you want something different, look for restaurants with a spectacular view of an attraction that may interest you, such as an aquarium, casino, nightclub, show, or museum.

Pack a trove of needed items

A stuff bag full of pens, paper clips, notepads, adapters, buttons, band-aids, a needle with thread, and a safety pin does not sound glamorous. You never know when you will bust open a zipper.

Have a plan B

Things will go wrong. Will you have cell phone coverage in Paris? What if the plane is late to arrive? Can you plug your laptop in to recharge? What if you miss the bus to the hotel? Do you have a toothbrush? What do you mean there are no chopsticks? What if the heel breaks on your pumps?

Maybe you will not have a single hitch, but if you do, you will be able to solve your own problem. Solving your own problem on the road is priceless. Have a plan B!

Are you ready?

Attending an international conference for the first time can open you to a world full of new ideas, people, and places. Be your own best friend on the road. Think through where you will be, what you will be doing, who you’ll be with, and what items you need.

Planning will give way to an enjoyable, comfortable experience that will create lasting memories and new friends.

*** *** ***

Douglas Pilarski. Portland-based writer/journalist. Covers luxury goods, exotic cars, CJ-CX, horology, tech, lifestyle, & workplace issues.

Comments welcome! [email protected] Follow on Twitter — @dpatlarge

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Do not copy or publish any part of this article without the consent of the author.

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