Getting the Most Out of Attending IMS
By Lee Wood, Co-President, MP Associates, Inc. (MPA) - IMS 2009 Exhibit ManagerAs IMS2009 quickly approaches, it’s time to start planning how you will get the most out of attending this year.
You have probably already started thumbing through the Program Book, which details all the scheduled Symposium activities, and started strategizing how to fit all the available options into your schedule. With that in mind we have put together a few tips and tricks to help you make the most of the exhibition and networking opportunities at IMS this year.
The Program is a terrific reference tool for the sessions and workshops. However, because planning which exhibitors to visit can be a daunting task; IMS has introduced the new Interactive Show Planner on the IMS Web site, allowing attendees to map their plan of attack in advance. The Interactive Floor Plan component allows for search of exhibitors by name or product category. As you identify exhibitors you want to visit, it’s easy to save them to your own personal show planner. The Session Search feature in the Interactive Floor Plan allows you to search the session schedule by keyword, date or presenter and then easily select sessions to add to your show planner.
In addition to seeing the cutting-edge solutions in the exhibits and hearing the latest research in the technical sessions, don’t forget the importance and value of networking while you’re at IMS. To create an environment that is as conducive as possible for having valuable interactions with colleagues and making new connections, coffee and refreshment breaks will be offered on the exhibits floor in each of the three “Resource and Recharge” areas. These areas are found on both the 2400 aisle and on the 300 aisle of exhibit hall. The exhibition hours on Wednesday have shifted an hour to 10am – 7:00pm to accommodate the Industry Hosted Cocktail Reception on the exhibition floor.
Another shift to the schedule this year is the Plenary Session, featuring Petteri Alinikula, VP of Core Technology Research at Nokia, which will open IMS on Monday night, June 8. You won’t want to miss the Welcome Reception on Monday night immediately following the Plenary Session in the adjoining ballroom. Jointly sponsored by the MTT-S, IEEE Microwave Magazine, and Agilent Technologies, the Welcome Reception is open to all attendees.
The IMS2009 social program includes a variety of included and optional events, such as the IMS 2009 Golf Tournament on Monday, the RFIC and IMS Attendees Breakfast on Tuesday morning, and the Social Cruise on Thursday Evening. There are also special interest groups meeting throughout the week. On Tuesday evening, the IEEE MTT Graduates of Last Decade (GOLD) Committee invites all MTT GOLD members to a complimentary reception at the Exchange Conference Center on Boston's Historic Waterfront. The IEEE MTT-S Women in Microwaves Reception will also be held on Tuesday night for industry professionals who share a mutual interest in promoting the WIM forum. IMS 2009 will host a social on Tuesday evening for ham radio operators featuring a talk by Dale Clement, AF1T titled, "See How Antennas Work," using live physical examples on the 70 cm band. The complete social program details are available here.
In order to access all that IMS has to offer, attendees will need to make a stop at registration in the North Lobby of the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center upon arrival. Badges and conference materials will be distributed from there beginning on Saturday, June 6.
IMS hotel rooms are available both at the BCEC and in Boston’s Back Bay area. For those staying at official IMS hotels bus service will be available at no charge. Attendees and exhibitors not staying at official IMS hotels may use the bus service all week for $75. Bus passes may be purchased at registration.
Of course, work doesn’t stop when attendees arrive at the convention center, so IMS is offering a Cyber Café in the West lobby, conveniently located close to the meeting rooms and exhibition. For those with laptops and Wi-Fi enabled devices, complimentary wireless Internet is available throughout the BCEC.
Lastly, don’t forget to take time to enjoy the fabulous city of Boston while you’re here for IMS. Whatever you enjoy, from baseball to history, or fine dining and destination shopping, Boston has so much to offer. You or your guests can take advantage of the IMS 2009 Guest Program and sign up for arranged tours, including Harvard University and JFK Library, a walking tour of the Boston Freedom Trail and a trip to a Boston Red Sox game. For additional information on Boston visit Boston’s Tourism Site and the Boston Globe online.
Start planning now to get the most out of all there is to experience at IMS 2009.