Connect First

• Book your hotel and travel as soon as possible. GBTA has partnered with local hotels for discounted accommodations, book while they’re available!
• Packing- attire, comfortable shoes, water bottles, notetaking items. Appropriate clothing: some attendees dress casually in jeans, others are in suits. The best recommendation is to dress according to your conference goals. If you plan business meetings, you'll need business attire.
• Plan ahead and create an agenda of sessions you want to attend via the attendee hub and the mobile app. Be sure to download the app before arriving. Please note that adding a session to your agenda does not guarantee a seat in the room.
• Try not to be overwhelmed by the number of programmes and activities.  Plan ahead to optimise your time. Sessions are allocated on a first come first serve basis and fill up quickly so you may get closed out of the room for capacity. Pick a Plan B for each time slot.
• Make time for breaks – conferences can be overwhelming there is so much to do, so many people to meet. Don’t wear yourself out early, it won’t matter how much you see if you are too worn out to remember it or how many people you meet if you are too burnt out to make a good impression.
• Engage with other attendees via the Conference app. Check out the attendee list and expo map to see who you may be interested in meeting with.
• Review what meals are included in your registration and in the program.
• If you’ve never been to the exhibit hall, plan to set aside some time to cover it adequately. Plot out where vendors are located so you don’t waste time backtracking later.
• Become a GBTA Member if you haven’t already! GBTA Membership is a great way to get involved and make connections that last a lifetime.

• Own your status as a Connect First attendee, and use it as an opportunity to break the ice. Conference participants love to welcome new community members, and many have been in the industry, attending GBTA Events and affiliated with GBTA for years. If you have a question, we promise that someone in the room knows the answer!
• Explore the show floor to meet contacts you have never met face-to-face, hear industry news or trends, experience various activations, and be open to learning about new buyers or suppliers you don’t know yet (and, let’s be honest, probably pick up some cool swag while you are at it!).
• Aim for meaningful conversations – quality over quantity. You won’t remember everyone you meet at Conference, but you will remember the meaningful ones, and so will they.
• If you are a supplier, keep customers in your booth by introducing them to your colleagues who they may not know yet.
• Step outside your comfort zone – sit with a friendly face who you may not know at a meal, strike up a conversation with that person you have run into at the hotel lobby and go to the Big Night Out even if you will only know one or two people. Make the most of your time by being open to new people or experiences!
• Make a buddy at a Connect First event who you can walk to and sit with at sessions, share a meal with, and who’s growing networks you can introduce each other to. Everything is more fun with a friend!

Don't miss out on these key sessions during the Conference:

• Your very own Connect First session which is on Tuesday 14 November at 12noon – 1pm
• Opening Main Stage on Tuesday 14 November at 2pm
• Go Running (or brisk walking) Tour on Wednesday 15 November at 6.30am
• The Big Idea also on Wednesday at 2.30pm

There are many more but we just wanted to highlight a few to help you.

• Connect with your new industry friends on LinkedIn, where their network becomes your network.
• Debrief on GBTA + VDR Conference 2023 - Hamburg with your boss and colleagues, share interesting insights or trends you picked up, and show the value of your attendance.
• Continue to foster the relationships you made at Conference by becoming a member, if you haven’t already
• Follow up with people you met at the conference. Even if you don't have a specific need in mind, it’s good to further develop relationships started at the conference.
• View the attendee list in the app to collect contact information for any contacts you developed that you would like to continue after Conference has ended.
• Follow GBTA on socials to stay connected with your colleagues and GBTA after the Conference.
• Complete the survey and tell us what you liked and how we can improve!