This year was my first time attending an Affiliate Summit. The show definitely wasn’t on the same scale as an Ad-tech, but still a great opportunity to learn, connect, and see familiar faces. The sold out Summit took place at the Riviera Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, not the finest venue on the strip, but hey-- we all have to start somewhere.
The smaller venue- despite the cheezy decor- definitely created a more personable atmosphere. Instead of being overtaken by crowds of unfamiliar faces and endless rows of booths, I found most attendees casually engaging socially throughout the venue. Face time and the opportunity to meet in person builds a repoire that simply cannot be developed solely through email and phone correspondence. As our industry matures, the people within it continue to grow together, forging not only relationships, but long-term friendships.
All-in-all, I thought Missy Ward and Sean Collins did a pretty good job organizing the show and deserve a lot of credit for creating an opportunity for the industry to get together (and have an excuse to go to Vegas). Regardless of what you may have thought of the venue this year—it’s part of the charm. Personally, I’m glad to be part of this space now in its earlier stages rather than later. I look forward to saying, “Remember when the Affiliate Summit was held at the Riviera?”
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