New Event Tech Companies: Entries Open for SISO Event Innovation Battlefield
April 27, 2014
The Society of Independent Show Organizers now is accepting entries for its acclaimed SISO Event Innovation Battlefield, in which the overall winner will be named at the association’s Executive Leadership Conference Aug. 13 at the Revel Hotel in Atlantic City.
At this year’s SISO Event Innovation Battlefield, companies will present their breakthrough event technologies or new business models before an audience of SISO attendees.
“The Event Innovation Battlefield is an important motivational hub for innovation, ideas, talent and products,” said Lew Shomer, executive director of SISO.
He added, “It gives our members the ability to see what’s on the drawing boards now that will drive our industry in the future. And, not only does it give SISO the chance to attract the right companies interested in investing in our industry, we can also help incubate, develop and assist in the delivery of products and services to the market. It’s a win-win-win which will advance the event industry.”
SISO is using the GUST Platform (https://gust.com/organizations/siso/apply) to collect ideas and presenters, as well as reaching out into their industry database to attract candidates to present at this unique program.
SISO attendees will be introduced to the new innovations during a session where four vetted presenters will unveil their concept, creativity and the benefits of their products.
After a brief critique by a panel of experts, the audience will cast their vote for the product and presentation they found most impactful. Winners will be announced immediately.
The 2013 winner was Picatic - a company that developed a program that helps existing events with more revenue generation by creating opportunities to spawn new 'tracks' or 'side' events off the original event.
The Event Innovation Battlefield now is a permanent feature of the Leadership Conference, which features presentations, hard-hitting discussions, voting and an awards ceremony.
Only companies that are NEW TO MARKET or in LAST STAGE DEVELOPMENT and have completed the application process and have been nominated to present will showcase their innovations.
The Battlefield is the brainchild of David Adler, SISO board member and CEO of BizBash, and Marco Giberti, past-president of Reed Latin America, and is designed to keep SISO members ahead of the curve when it comes to developing creative, business-enhancing ideas, according to SISO officials.
“This is a way we can get forward thinking ideas in front of the people who can make things happen in a very short period of time,” Adler said. “I feel this annual competition will add value to the Leadership Conference as well as widen the appeal of the entire qualified SISO membership.”
The company that claims the coveted Event Innovation Battlefield title will have the opportunity to be mentored by SISO leaders and gain access to some of the largest companies in the event industry.
Likewise, the winning presenters will enjoy a complete program of recognition through the SISO website and the event industry press.
Partner Voices
Dallas already boasts 35,000 hotel rooms, award-winning global cuisine, and a walkable downtown. But we are just getting started.
Visit Dallas is thrilled to announce that the city of Dallas is doubling down with a massive new convention center and entertainment district. Featuring 800,000 square feet of exhibit area, 260,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and 170,000 square feet of ballroom. The center will connect business travelers with dining and shopping options in the popular Cedars District means more places to get down to business, and even more ways to unwind.
“Dallas is already a great meetings and conventions destination, with the accessibility of two major airports, affordable labor, and an outstanding hotel product,” said D. Bradley Kent, Visit Dallas senior vice president and chief sales officer. “The new center and Convention Center District will enhance Dallas’ competitive position and are exactly what our customers’ need and have been asking for."
What’s New – AT&T Discovery District
Located in the heart of Downtown Dallas, this new district on the AT&T corporate campus is tailor-made for groups of all sizes. It boasts a multi-sensory experience, including outdoor event space, the AT&T Theater, and multiple dining outlets including JAXON Beer Garden and The Exchange, a bustling food hall.
Hotels Coming Soon
Names like the JW Marriott (Downtown), lnterContinental Dallas (Uptown), and Hotel Swexan (Uptown) are adding luxury amenities and bountiful event spaces. The projects will debut in 2023 and beyond.
JW Marriott
This new, 15-story, 283-room hotel will open in the heart of the city’s downtown Arts District this year. The property features a 25,000-square-foot grand ballroom, as well as a spa, restaurant, lobby bar, fitness center, and a rooftop pool deck and bar.
InterContinental Dallas
Located in Cityplace Tower in Uptown, InterContinental Dallas will feature sweeping panoramic views of the Dallas skyline. Guests will enjoy spacious, high-end rooms and amenities, including more than 21,000 square feet of event space.
Hotel Swexan
Hotel Swexan, a new, 22-story luxury property, is rising in Uptown’s Harwood District and will make its mark on the Dallas skyline. Opening this year, it is a sculptural building with cantilevered upper floors, as well as a 75-foot rooftop infinity-edge swimming pool and a hidden underground lounge.
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