If you're a big boxing fan like I am, you probably know that one of the biggest fights of the year will be taking place this November 14th in Las Vegas. Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto will be going toe-to-toe in the ring at the MGM Grand, and my bet (figuratively speaking, of course!) is that the sensational fighter from the Phillipines will be walking away victorious. It's all about the quickness.
In the week leading up to this sensational bout, from November 9-12, the annual OpenForce and DevConnections events are in full swing in Las Vegas. As usual, for attendees, there will be days packed with speakers sessions, giveaways, and opportunities for networking. (And hey - if you can stick around for an extra day or two after the conference and catch the fight, you'll be the envy of all... especially myself!)
As with the the previous events, OpenForce attendees can expect to see some of the DotNetNuke community's well-recognized vendors on the conference exhibit floor. Looking at the
DevConnections/OpenForce web site, I see DataSprings and R2integrated already on the list (joining DNN Corp.) -- expect more to come on board soon.
Over the upcoming months, we will be keeping you informed about the significant dates, speaker sessions, and social events that make OpenForce Las Vegas such a highly anticipated gathering of the DNN community. For today though, I thought I would like to share some tips gathered speaking with past attendees, exhibitors, and sponsors of OpenForce in Las Vegas --
1. If you can, register for the conference at the Early Bird Rate (prior to August 27th.) The $100 in savings is well put towards hotel and travel fees.
2. Watch the
www.devconnections.com site for details regarding room rates at the Mandalay Bay and early booking offers. Some of these savings and software giveaways are particularly valuable to attendees -- so if you know you are likely to attend, do not delay.
3. Begin looking for travel and lodging deals now, and book early. One of our regular exhibitors reports finding excellent deals in airfare going to/from Las Vegas -- however, these fares may not last long.
4. Location, location! Most who have attended an OpenForce LV event - or any conference in Las Vegas - will likely agree with me when I say that the less distance one has to walk from one's hotel room to the event hall, the better. Once again, if you want a good hotel in close proximity to the DevConnections venue, do not wait too long to book rooms... they may get scooped up.
5. If you're an emerging vendor eager to reach out to new clients in the DotNetNuke and Microsoft technology sphere, give consideration to exhibiting at this year's OpenForce '09 event. The exhibit package is full-value in that it includes a complimentary full-conference badge which will allow you to attend any of the 200+ in-depth sessions across all tracks (OpenForce, Microsoft ASP.NET, Visual Studio & Architect, etc.) while also meeting with potential clients in a one-on-one basis on the exhibitor's floor at your booth. If you'd like additional information on exhibiting, please contact me at bill.walker-AT-dnncorp.com
Stay tuned!