IFA’s 2019 Annual Convention offers lots of options. These seven steps will help you make the best of your time in Las Vegas.
As the franchising community is busy preparing for the 2019 IFA Annual Convention, the lineup of speakers and sessions continues to grow. For anyone who hasn’t been to an IFA Convention – and even for those of us who have – the sheer number of events may appear daunting. Don’t worry, it’s easier to navigate than it looks – just follow these seven steps and visit franchise.org/convention for all the details.
Step 1: Download the app and visit franchise.org/convention.
Set up your personalized agenda for IFA 2019 by visiting franchise.org/convention and clicking on the ‘Personal Agendas’ tab. There you will find individualized tracks for franchisees, C-suite executives, emerging franchisors, field support/consultants, and in the fields of finance, franchise development, franchise relations, international, legal, marketing and operations.
Step 2: Catch the speakers.
We’re certain that you’ll be blown away by keynote speaker Gary Vaynerchuck, who takes the stage on Monday, Feb. 25. Vaynerchuck will provide insights and strategies to help your brand during a high-energy presentation. On Wednesday, Feb. 27, hear from Patrick Sweeney about “Creating a Culture of Courage.” Sweeney will explain how fear is what holds back most people from reaching their full potential. Is fear holding you back? Don’t miss the Mini Super Sessions on Monday, Feb. 25, with a trio of experts – FranklinCovey Chief People Officer Todd Davis, Shepard Presentations Chief Amazement Officer Shep Hyken and Levy Innovation Founder Mark Levy. This is just the tip of the iceberg with the speaker lineup for IFA 2019 – see the full schedule at franchise.org/convention.
Step 3: Network, network, network.
Meet new contacts and get direct answers to your business questions at the Business Solution Roundtables on Feb. 26 and Feb. 27. Catch up with friends at IFA’s opening night reception, The Buzz, and close out IFA 2019 right at The Bash. In between, there are endless opportunities to add to your contact list at events such as the Prayer Breakfast, New Member and First-Time Attendee Workshop and Reception, networking lunches and more.
Step 4: Learn, and learn more.
In addition to setting your personal lineup, you can follow tracks based on your areas of interest. This includes a series of summits on Feb. 24 on various topics such as finance, franchise development, marketing, operations, franchise relations, international and labor issues. There’s also the Elements of Franchising Summit that combines numerous topics. Then there’s the newly renamed Learning Labs (formerly Concurrent Sessions), which run over two days on Feb. 25 and Feb. 26. This is where you’ll dive into the latest trends in franchising at a topical level.
Step 5: Witness the next generation.
Our IFA Foundation has selected a group of top young entrepreneurs to compete in the 2019 NextGen in Franchising Global Competition from hundreds of applications. The group will square off Feb. 25 in the first round, with three finalists moving on to the final round on Feb. 27. Past winners of this competition have become some of the leading young franchise brands around the globe. This is your chance to get a first-hand look at the next generation of franchise leaders.
Step 6: Emerge Smarter.
One of the most popular programs at Convention returns for a third year with the Emerging Franchisor Bootcamp. This year’s bootcamp features a scheduling twist, taking place at the start of the event instead of the end. The bootcamp will be focused on solving real-world problems at your franchise, with insights from a group of more than 20 of the planet’s top experts in franchising. The Emerging Franchisor Bootcamp is limited to the first 500 franchisors who sign up, so don’t wait or you might miss it!
Step 7: Live a little.
Have fun while in Las Vegas! Go to a concert, view the lights on the Vegas Strip, take a helicopter ride, or peruse one of the brochures at your hotel to find something that you enjoy. There’s also plenty of world-class restaurants nearby for meetings with your clients.
The 2019 IFA Annual Convention takes place Feb. 24-27 in Las Vegas, Nev. Learn more and register at franchise.org/convention.
AT A GLANCE
WHAT: 2019 IFA Annual Convention
WHERE: Mandalay Bay Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada
WHEN: Feb 24-27, 2019
WEBSITE: https://www.franchise.org/convention
