Anyone who's ever organized and designed a conference knows how hard information technology tin exist to concenter and appoint attendees. And equally the events space grows more than crowded and more circuitous, the task is only getting harder. That'south why some of the world's biggest companies seek a true hospitality partner to help them think outside the box–and the hotel ballroom. Accept Amazon Web Services' (AWS) popular conference, re:Invent. In 2016, AWS hosted around 32,000 attendees across five days at the Venetian Las Vegas and the resort'south adjoining conference facilities. Equally the five-twelvemonth-onetime briefing has grown past leaps and bounds, re:Invent has tapped the Venetian's expertise, working mitt in hand to reach the sort of creativity and innovation that has established re:Invent equally a model event.

"We're experts at serving and entertaining people," says Chandra Allison, senior vice president of sales for the Venetian and the Palazzo. "And we have a lot to work with–luxury hotels, retail, dining and entertainment, coming together and convention facilities–all in one place. We're passionate about understanding our partners' objectives, then utilizing our amenities to bring them to life in new and creative means."

Many of today'south conferences, such as AWS'south re:invent, have taken a cue from music festivals in creating public spaces where attendees can relax between segments. 1 of the more dynamic elements is the nightlife area re:Play.

According to Ariel Kelman, vice president of worldwide marketing at AWS, the conference uses the Venetian and the adjoining Palazzo as a "blank sail," creating shareable experiences that today's attendees demand. "Nosotros really pride ourselves on making re:Invent not only a dandy learning environment and experience for attendees," says Kelman, "but as well a place to network, have fun, and interact with their peers."

Here, Kelman discusses the most compelling briefing trends and how AWS is using them to raise the bar on their ain result.

Festivalization
"If you're going to ask customers to give you days of their fourth dimension, they can't just exist in one technical session after another," says Kelman. Re:Invent breaks up the vast venue (the globe'south 2nd-largest hotel) through branded spaces such as the re:Invent Park, an outdoor expanse where attendees can relax between sessions. They lookout speakers remotely, connect over a beer, listen to a live DJ, or play one of Amazon's interactive activities, like Dead Calculator Junkyard Mini Golf.

There's even a nightlife area dubbed re:Play and a grub clamber that encourages attendees to mix, mingle, and eat their fashion through some of the Venetian'south dozens of restaurants and lounges, instead of corralling them into a single dining hall.

Mobile Innovation
Re:Invent has a dedicated mobile app, featuring a alive map, push notifications, and instantaneous attendee reviews on speakers and workshops. "Things modify, locations move, or we add new sessions," says Kelman. "The app allows us to give people their schedule in real time and, if nosotros know they're interested in a particular topic, we can push a notification about a new session."

Attendees have the opportunity to RSVP to sessions up to 2 months in advance, allowing organizers to adjust appropriately. "We might accept planned ane session for 300 people," Kelman says, "but if in that location are really 700 who desire to exercise it, nosotros can add together some repeats and keep everyone happy."

Once on site, attendees article of clothing briefing badges outfitted with RFID chips, creating a seamless bank check-in and allowing re:Invent to runway and react to session attendance midweek every bit needed.

And while a tech giant similar AWS is naturally skilled at responding to data, the briefing couldn't adapt so quickly without the flexibility of the facility itself. "Nosotros have the space and the skilled teams to make on-the-fly changes based on that rich existent-fourth dimension data," says the Venetian'southward Allison.

Mini-cons
V days of multidisciplinary programming can exist overwhelming. So re:Invent allows attendees to customize their experience through "mini-cons." These unmarried-day, fully immersive mini-conferences focus on re:Invent's nearly popular topics.

The Venetian has helped AWS create nontraditional venues where attendees view sessions remotely and more informally.

"We take ideas like the internet of things or automobile learning, and so build out a mini-keynote and plan iii or four sessions around it, all in a defended place," says Kelman. "Attendees interested in a particular topic tin can have a continuous experience with others who have similar interests."

Optimized for Networking
"We focus on creating networking opportunities so attendees have fourth dimension to course new relationships," says Kelman. Re:Invent makes use of the huge number of entertainment civilities the Venetian offers (this is Vegas, afterwards all), with playful activities such as a wing-eating contest and DJ parties at night.

The conference likewise invests in high-quality remote viewing. "Instead of attendees coming tardily to a session and sitting in the dorsum with a bad view," Kelman says, "we've created spaces with big screens, food, and beverage, like a sporting event."
Wellness and Sustainability

"When you're busy rushing around a conference, it can be hard to make good choices about what you lot're eating," says Kelman. "We make sure good for you foods are readily bachelor." Re:Invent offers minimally processed meals, and even an optional 5K run.

With the Venetian's help–the resort's parent company, Las Vegas Sands, was named the "greenest hospitality company in the world" in the 2016 Newsweek Green Rankings–re:Invent has as well improved its ecology footprint. Recent changes include using more often than not local suppliers, offering grab-and-go "snack-size" meals to reduce food waste matter, and giving attendees refillable h2o bottles. All unserved food is donated to a local charity.

Strong PARTNERSHIP
At an event with so many attendees and activities, small bug can often have a ripple upshot. But non at re:Invent, which speaks to AWS's and the Venetian's partnership. "It's about our shared value of making sure customers have a great experience," Kelman says. "They assist the states program around all the risks and details."

Ultimately, AWS sees the Venetian as more than than a venue–information technology's part of their team. "At 
Amazon, we have a long-term perspective," says Kelman. "The Venetian's squad is the aforementioned style. While we're focusing on this twelvemonth's briefing, nosotros're also working with them on what'southward happening several years in the future."

And with more than than twoscore,000 attendees expected at this year'southward re:Invent, it'south clear that long-term perspective and partnership is paying off.

For more data, visit venetian.com.

This article was created for and deputed by the Venetian.