ILEA Live 2019 will bring together event professionals in Minneapolis, Aug. 8-10. The International Live Events Association’s annual educational conference is focused on business strategies, leadership, inspiration and trends.

The goal for the conference is to provide a forum where attendees can strengthen their creative output, sharpen their business strategies and find inspiration along what ILEA officials refer to as “the event horizon.” For corporate event professionals, that means taking the opportunity to learn how event planning and production works in other industries, and discovering best practices and success stories than can apply to any type of event.

As the lines between B2B and B2C events continue to blur, so too should the invisible barrier between “business” and “party” planners. Those who plan and produce events for industries like television, sports, weddings and parties have experience with a very wide and diverse range of clientele, as well as valuable tips and creative ideas to share.

“I love attending ILEA Live,” says Gwendolyn McNutt, CSEP, ILEA International Board of Governors member. “The conference is a must-attend for event professionals seeking opportunities to be inspired, to feed creativity and to spark new ideas.”

ILEA Live speakers include professionals from HBO, Ford Motor Company, Microsoft, the Museum of Ice Cream, Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. and more. Sessions will focus on topics including:

• Mixed reality event narratives and technology
• New technologies for creating more captivating events
• Sustainability and changing consumer tastes
• Critical and global thinking
• Event security risks and how to plan for them
• Finding “wow” moments to make your event memorable
• Going beyond what’s trendy to add depth to event designs

Attendees are eligible to earn continuing education credits from sessions, including CMP CE Credits and CSEP points.

New this year, ILEA Live is offering Leadership Live, a pre-conference option for attendees interested in growing their leadership skills. Programming like industry peer roundtables, meals and general sessions will focus on helping participants develop influence and management skills. Leadership Live will be held Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning. 

In addition to education and conference networking time, ILEA Live offers attendees the opportunity to explore the conference destination through optional add-on tours and activities. From morning yoga, to beer tasting or a tour of Paisley Park and even a yacht rock party, these activities are a chance to learn more about Minneapolis and continue networking in an informal setting.

Each year, the Esprit Awards gala is also held in conjunction with ILEA Live. This year’s gala will be held at Walker Art Center, a contemporary art museum. Attendees will enjoy a reception to take place across seven areas of the museum in addition to the formal awards ceremony celebrating the best creative works by ILEA members.

For more information on the conference, or to register, go here.

Looking for a first-hand account of ILEA Live? Read our 2018 event recap.