Convince Your Boss about the Value of Attending Electric West

We are in the age of cut budgets and reduced travel.  But there are distinct advantages to attending an out-of-town event or tradeshow.  So if you need help convincing your supervisors that you should attend Electric West, here are some tips and facts to help you make your case to be a part of the largest electrical marketplace in the western states, serving the electrical design, construction & maintenance fields.

Review the facts below; we’ve even provided a letter you can tailor for your supervisor.

Only at Electric West will you:

• See an exhibit hall packed with over 200 leading suppliers showcasing the latest products and services in the electrical marketplace that will help us do our job more efficiently and save time and money
• Touch the most innovative technology and products in the marketplace
• Network and connect with colleagues from around the world
• Attend a conference that has expanded its focus to include information of critical importance to electrical engineers and consultants who oversee the design and development of electrical products, software and services, and plant and facility managers who are responsible for power quality and energy efficiency.  Over 40% of the speakers for 2010 were NEW and over 60% of program content was BRAND NEW
• View the Renewables and Power Quality Pavilions, and other exhibiting companies displaying products such as solar installations, electric vehicle charging stations, power quality equipment and tools, datacom and fiber optic equipment and systems, lighting and lighting controls, building automation equipment, safety equipment and more!
• Listen to FREE industry-leading Keynote Address and Ask the Experts sessions on timely topics and get to ask probing industry questions 
• And so much more!

Tradeshows provide the unmatched opportunity for you see and touch products from hundreds of vendors at once, and the only place for you meet with direct representatives as well as get instant feedback from your peers.  In addition, a year’s worth of education and training is packed into just a few days.  So, when you consider how much you can get done, attending Electric West is an extremely cost-effective option to enable you to save your company/agency money or help them make more money.

WE’VE MADE IT A LITTLE EASIER FOR YOU!
DOWNLOAD A LETTER WITH ALL THESE FACTS AND FIGURES TO HELP YOU CONVINCE YOUR SUPERVISOR ABOUT THE VALUE OF ATTENDING ELECTRIC WEST 2011.  Be sure to tailor the letter with your own details to make it most effective.

FACTS ON LONG BEACH!
Long Beach is a reasonably priced California location, so it too is cost-effective.

• Hotel rates for Electric West are only $149 per night at the headquarter hotel, less than a night’s stay at hotels in many West Coast cities
• Long Beach is the most visitor friendly community in Southern California
• It’s easy for delegates to get to by air or by car
• Fly direct on Delta, America West, Alaska Air and JetBlue
• Long Beach is just a short 25-minute drive from Los Angeles (LAX) or Orange County (SNA) airports

Source: Long Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau

Research shows that face-to-face meetings are an important part of our culture. 

95% see face-to-face meetings as the key to success for long-term relationships.
89% considered meetings essential for “sealing the deal.”
82% say meetings are most effective for negotiating important contracts.
Source: Harvard Business Review

85% of respondents said face-to-face meetings build strong business relationships.
77% cited the ability to read body language and facial expressions as important to business relationships.
75% valued the social interaction and ability to bond with clients and colleagues at in-person meetings.
Source: Forbes Insights

Executives and business travelers estimate that 28% of current business would be lost without in-person meetings. 
Nearly 40% of prospective customers become new customers with an in-person meeting, (versus 16% without such a meeting).
Businesses experience an average $12.50 in increased revenue and $3.80 in new profits for every dollar invested in business travel.
Executives cited conference and trade show participation returns ranging from $4.00 to $5.99 per dollar invested.
Source: Oxford Economics Business Travel Study; Oxford Economics, 2009

Face-to-Face meetings, including tradeshows, build strong business relationships, so take this opportunity to be a part of the electric community at Electric West. 

There is simply no replacement for the power of a face-to-face meeting.  We’ll see you at Electric West in 2011!