Conference News: What I learned this week – January 4, 2019
What’s NXT: In 2019 the National Retail Federation will launch a new event and say goodbye to another. NRF NXT will debut in July in Las Vegas, aiming for an audience of 350. According to the organizers, NXT will offer “an intimate, up-close look at the latest trends in data, analytics and emerging technology, marrying powerful thinking with real-world case studies.” The program will be made up of member-curated content, small-group sessions and peer-to-peer networking. The National Retail Federation also noted that Shop.org, which was last held in September, will not return to its event lineup this year.
Back to the Future: The creator and producer of the Hispanicize event and the Mixed Reality Marketing Summit will be developing a new event for 2019: NostalgiaCon. The inaugural gathering will focus on the 1980’s and will take place from 4 – 6 July at the Anaheim Convention Center. According to the official press release, “the pop Americana convention will feature three full, high energy days and nights of concerts with top music acts, major celebrity panels, meet and greets showcasing music artists from the 80s and today, sports legends and pop culture icons, cosplay, retro merch drops, video arcade games and break dance competitions.” And yes, even Max Headroom will make an appearance!
Speaking Opportunity: CES Asia™ 2019 has opened its call for speakers! The conference, which will again take place in Shanghai, China, from 11 – 13 June, is seeking topic/speaker suggestions that fall within the following themes: 5G, Mobile and Connectivity AI (Artificial Intelligence); Blockchain; Digital Health and Wearables; Entertainment, Sports and Content; FinTech, Retail and eCommerce; IoT (Internet of Things); Lifestyle and Smart Home; Robotics/Drones; Smart Cities; Startup and Investment; Tourism and Hospitality; Transportation Technology (vehicle technology, autonomous vehicle, smart transportation); VR&AR. If you have a relevant idea, complete the online speaker submission form by 5 February.
Lunchtime Learning: Previously known as Washington Ideas Festival, The Atlantic Festival takes over downtown Washington D.C. every fall with newsmaker interviews and conversations, film screenings, forums, book talks, and social events. The heart of the festival is the Ideas stage, hosting luminaries from the public and private sector. If you were not able to attend, or simply want to relive the experience, you can now watch Ideas stage speakers from 2018 online, including such as Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Chairman and CEO, AT&T Randall Stephenson, President and CEO of Starbucks Kevin Johnson, and the Founder of Black Girls Code, Kimberly Bryant.
Coming Up Next Week: All eyes are on Vegas, as CES (Consumer Electronics Show) takes over Sin City. Considered the global stage for consumer tech innovation, this first major conference of 2019 attracts more than 180,000 individuals from over 150 countries, including more than 6,500 members of the world’s media and over 65,000 senior-level executives. In addition to the main CES program covering topics from AI to eSports to smart cities, attendees span out to numerous co-located and ancillary events across the city. Among those are Digital Hollywood, known for its “who’s-who” in media and entertainment panels; CONNECTIONS Summit, focused on IoT and the smart home; Kids@Play and Family Tech, which explores STEAM learning and play; CES Government; and the CME accredited Disruptive Innovations in Healthcare.