Web Hosting Talk : Other Forums : HostingCon : What to expect? Experience from people who've been?

[ITHost-KoreyR]

Never having been to Hostingcon because of distance, this year Chicago is close enough to drive. I'm curious before I make arrangements, what should I expect? Is it just industry announcements? Is it anything that one couldn’t learn/view/review online? Is it worth making the trip?

I'd like some honest opinions from those who've been.

[Rochen]

I have yet to learn anything at HostingCon which I couldn't have found online or already knew. However, what is great about attending is that you get to put faces to names for members here at WHT as well as any suppliers / vendors you may work with. It is really about the networking and social aspect than the anything else that makes it worthwhile for us to attend. The customer dinners the various suppliers run, getting together with your peers in the industry etc. It makes it easier to deal with a supplier later on if they know who you are and can put a face to your support ticket.

HostingCon was held in Las Vegas last year but it was held in Chicago in 2005, although it was outside of the city in Rosemont. It will be good to have it downtown at Navy Pier this year. It will certainly save a good bit on taxis and public transport. As George or Frank will no doubt confirm the show has grown a lot since the first year. Last year in Vegas the show was a lot bigger and I am sure we will see similar things this year.

- Chris

[sirtwist]

We're working hard this year to put on a conference program that will be more informative and relevant. While I won't promise that you won't be able to get some of the information online that will be presented at HostingCon 2007, we're going to try to make sure that the topics we cover this year are much more timely and will really help people running hosted services companies.

As Chris pointed out, the show has grown quite a bit since the first show in 2005. We had 625 attendees in 2005 and 1100 in 2006. The exhibit space has been growing as well, bringing in a much wider array of relevant companies for hosted services companies to speak with.

Of course, the networking aspects of the show are extremely important too! We'll be adding even more networking opportunities this year, including a great barbecue on Wednesday night with fireworks over Navy Pier to follow.

[John Obaloni]

Great work, George. I appreciate your hard work. I will help to spread the words about this year's conference. See you there.

[astutiumRob]

Originally Posted by sirtwist

Of course, the networking aspects of the show are extremely important too! We'll be adding even more networking opportunities this year, including a great barbecue on Wednesday night with fireworks over Navy Pier to follow.

Networking with peers was definately what was missing last year, people gravitated to their "known" circles of frioends, or went off to play at the tables.

[UH-Matt]

Playing at the tables, with peers, worked for me

[Toons]

I'm going for the first time this year, looking forward to it.

Chris, where you flying from, as you're (relatively) just down the road from me I think.

Regards,

Tony Lucas

[Rochen]

Hi Tony,

We booked our flights the other day actually

We are flying Edinburgh (EDI) - London Heathrow (LHR) - Chicago O'Hare (ORD) on the way out with British Airways. We will be arriving on Sunday, July 22nd and leaving on Thursday, July 26th. I think we plan to go via Dallas and Los Angeles on the way home, but that is flexible right now.

Between yourself, Matt and Simon from UH, Rob (will you be there? ), Matt Russell from WHB, Mark and the guys from Helm... we sure are bringing the British Army in with force this year

- Chris

[Cirtex]

It was overall a good experience at 06 in Vegas, I hope I can make it this year, especially Chicago being much closer to NY

Originally Posted by Rochen

Hi Tony,
Between yourself, Matt and Simon from UH, Rob (will you be there? ), Matt Russell from WHB, Mark and the guys from Helm... we sure are bringing the British Army in with force this year

- Chris

ouch here they come

[UH-Matt]

Hey Tony - will be nice to meet you - we've spoken before many many years ago!

Chris - will be 4 of us from UH coming this year. 2 from the UK and 2 from Australia

[Toons]

Matt,

Looking forward to it, give me a shout on MSN if you like (think you are still on mine), if not, it's pretty easy to guess the address.

Regards,

Tony Lucas