Agenda

Although subject to change, ConferenceDirect has developed the following tentative agenda to help you plan your travel to and from Las Vegas. All meetings will be held at the Caesars Palace unless otherwise noted. Input provided by attendees during the registration process on educational topics will be used to guide content development and topics of interest.

Tuesday, July 29th

Time Event Location

1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

 Registration & Amenity Lounge Caesars Palace
3:00 PM Hotel Site Tour (Optional) Caesars Palace
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM Customer Focus Group (Invite Only) Caesars Palace
5:00 PM - 5:45 PM Associate & Partner Pre-con Meeting (Associates & Partners Only) Caesars Palace
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Welcome Reception  Pinky's by Vanderpump (Flamingo)

Wednesday, July 30th

Time Event Location
6:15 AM - 7:00 AM Wellness Activity (Optional): Yin Yoga Caesars Palace
8:00 AM - 2:45 PM Registration & Help Desk Caesars Palace
8:00 AM - 8:45 AM Networking Breakfast & "Braindates" Caesars Palace
8:45 AM - 10:00 AM

Opening General Session 

 

  • Caesars Entertainment Welcome: Kelly Gleeson Smith & Patrick Espinoza, Caesars Entertainment
  • ConferenceDirect Updates & Industry Trends: Jerry Horan, ConferenceDirect
  • Fireside Chat: Managing Housing in Uncertain Times: Jerry Horan & Adam Briggs, ConferenceDirect
  • Fireside Chat: Risk Management & Event Insurance: Jerry Horan, ConferenceDirect; Ray Chiang, Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA); Gregorio Casalenuovo, USI Insurance Services
 Caesars Palace
10:15 AM - 12:00 PM Conversations that Matter: "Braindates" Caesars Palace
10:30 AM - 11:45 AM Hospitality Industry Student Workshop (Invite Only)

Caesars Palace
12:15 PM - 1:30 PM

Lunch & Learn

 

Meeting Planner Panel - From Pressure to Progress: Navigating the New Event Reality

  • Moderator: Rob McCulloch, ConferenceDirect
  • Panelists:
    • Jean Middleton, Senior Vice President & Chief of Staff,  Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities
    • Jaime Paton, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
    • Kirsten Treadwell, Society for Human Resource Management
    • Jason Watkins, National Association of Community Health Centers, Inc
 Caesars Palace
1:45 PM - 2:30 PM

Common Interest Groups

 

  • Book Club – Hosted by Women@CD: Surrounded by Idiots by Thomas Erikson (Participants are encouraged to purchase and read the book selection prior to attending)
  • Revenue Reimagined: Sponsorship that Works

Caesars Palace

 
2:45 PM - 3:30 PM

Igniting Tranquili-TEA: Somatic Breathwork Session
 

  • Join Sepideh Eivazi—TEDx speaker, somatic breathwork facilitator, and member of the Global Wellness Institute’s Breath Initiative—for a powerful session designed to help you reset your nervous system and return to yourself. Through intentional breath and body awareness, this experience offers space to release stress, restore clarity, and reconnect with a deeper sense of presence.
    This gentle practice is perfect for anyone to try—no prior experience needed and no sweat required. You’ll leave feeling recharged, relaxed, and more grounded.
Caesars Palace
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM ClubPride@CD Reception (Open to Community Members and Allies) – Sponsored by Caesars Entertainment Caesars Palace
6:15 PM Transfer to Offsite Event Offsite
6:30 PM - 9:30 PM Offsite Reception & F1® X Experience -
Sponsored by Visit Las Vegas		 Grand Prix Plaza Las Vegas 

 

Thursday, July 31st

Time Event Location
7:00 AM - 7:45 AM Wellness Activity (Optional): Sound Healing Caesars Palace
8:00 AM - 12:30 PM Registration & Help Desk Caesars Palace
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM Networking Breakfast & "Braindates" Caesars Palace
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

General Session

 

  • Unlocking Efficiency: The Meeting Planner's AI Toolkit: Tammy Moore & Junior Tauvaa, PCMA
 Caesars Palace
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM Networking Break & "Braindates" Caesars Palace
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Closing General Session

 

  • The Transformational Art of Self-Expressionism™: Redesigning The Future of Work - Judi Holler, Best-Selling Author, Creative Entrepreneur and Motivational Speaker
 Caesars Palace
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Networking Lunch Caesars Palace
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Destination Exploration Activities  Offsite
  Walk to Offsite Event  
6:45 PM - 9:00 PM Closing Reception & Dinner Party Offsite - Giada's (Cromwell)
9:00 PM - 11:30 PM Afterglow  Caspian’s Rock & Roe (Caesars Palace)

 

Friday, August 1st

Time Event Location
6:00 AM - 9:00 AM Grab & Go Breakfast Caesars Palace