Exhibitor 2010 was a great experience. What better place to have a conference about exhibits than a city that is a living exhibit? Everything in Las Vegas is bigger, louder, flashier and over the top in more ways than I could have imagined.

The Mandalay Bay was a wonderful setting for the informative conference with its spacious accommodations and wonderful restaurants. (I must also add that the light reflecting off of the building at sunrise is nothing short of spectacular.) The sessions offered many insightful strategies, and the exhibit hall inspired numerous ideas for upcoming projects and provided connections to make them happen. The single drawback was the few aggressive vendors that chased victims down the aisles of the exhibit hall. You’d think that at a trade show about trade shows, all of the vendors would have more of a clue about not scaring off their prospective customers.

Even the travel to and from this event was an experience. I flew Southwest again for the first time since my recent years as a Silver Preferred passenger on US Airways. My bags flew free, I was allowed to leave my iPhone on in airplane mode and the crew dressed up for St. Patrick’s Day. Sweet.