Not all user conferences are created equal. I’ve been to so many I’ve lost count. Some are simply boring with over-filtered information, and others are pure marketing events. Then there are a few that enchant, delight, and add true value for attendees. And I know why.

As I began writing this article I was sitting at the metrology keynote address at HxGN LIVE, the Hexagon international conference which was held the first week of June at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Hexagon is a global provider of design, measurement, and visualization technologies, with $3 billion in sales, and 14,000 employees. 

In my estimation this user conference easily achieved the number one position of all I have attended. 

First, let’s dispense with the obvious prerequisites—you need a good conference venue, good food, fun entertainment, lots of mixing, and an attentive and well-managed staff. Then you need a conference plan that focuses on the needs of your user more than it focuses on promoting your products and services. That’s the easy part. The hard part comes once you have all that covered.

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