Social media, Zoom meetings, Skype calls, Facetime—with all the technology available to bring people together, why bother attending conferences anymore? What’s the point of taking so much time away from your business to attend a car rental conference or trade show when you can just get all the information you need online?
Being active in your industry comes with a wealth of benefits. You can join organizations and connect with people online, but there comes a time when face-to-face is the best way to connect. Here are five reasons to attend a trade show or conference:
Educational Opportunities
We can all learn—in fact, we should never stop learning. The educational aspect of a conference can expose you to new ideas for your business. You can learn best practices, and the latest happenings in your industry.
Networking With Peers
Conferences and trade shows provide a great opportunity to network. Competitors from other regions of the country can become valuable resources and referral sources. There’s enough pie for everyone, and you never know when you might need to lean on a competitor.
Encounter New Vendors & Suppliers
People often shy away from the trade show exhibit hall at conferences like the plague. They fear that they will have to talk to salespeople; however, these are some of the best people for you to get to know. You need to know about products and services for your business to stay competitive. Invest time with the folks and turn them into your friends.
Position Yourself as an Expert
Who doesn’t want to be seen as an expert at what they do? If you lock yourself in your office and never engage with others in your industry, expert status will never happen for you. Think about your clients, and how much more they will trust you when they know that you are respected by your peers. Attending an industry conference will help you become the expert in your field.
Have Fun
All work and no play can get very boring very fast. Industry conferences mix a social aspect into your learning. Many events have fun activities such as parties, golf, and tours of the local area where the event is hosted. If the conference is being held in an area of the country not close to your own, you get an opportunity to see something that you may not have seen before. If the conference is in an area you want to see more of, it doesn’t hurt to take a little extra time at the beginning or end of the event to explore the area. Remember, resting and recharging will make you better at your job when you come back to the office.
Stay tuned for more details of the 2020 International Car Rental Show in Las Vegas! Bluebird will once again be attending the ICRS, taking place from March 22-24 at Caesars Palace. We will also be attending the World Travel Market London show from November 4-6 later this year. Opportunities like these are truly what allows us to effectively connect with current and prospective clients.
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