BlogWorld 2010 – More Than Just a Conference

In 2008 I attended my first BlogWorld Expo Conference in Las Vegas. It was the first conference for me to attend after creating TravelingMamas.com and it was a decision made on a whim with less than one week before the conference. I was very new to the modern concept of social media and had only signed up for Twitter two months before. It was one of the best decisions I had ever made.

BlogWorld and New Media Expo is more than just a conference for bloggers. It’s a chance to network with industries outside of your niche. It’s a chance to educate yourself if you’re new to blogging, or even if you’re a social media maven. The expo hall is a fantastic way to browse in real life, the brands and companies you virtually interact with. The sessions available are amazing and there is literally something that would interest anyone who has an inkling of interest in blogging.

If you are a company, you need to be there. If you are a personal brand, you need to be there. The price for individuals may look high at first glance, but the ROI of attending can’t even begin to be measured. Here it is, two years after attending my first BlogWorld, and my company is now a media partner, I’ve put together all the sessions for the Travel Track (Friday Oct 15), and I’m speaking.

While you’re at BlogWorld and New Media Expo, I encourage you to step outside of the conference halls and explore all that the city of Las Vegas has to offer. The conference has moved this year and is centrally located at Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino, part of MGM Resorts International. If you’re on a budget, be sure to check out our list of free things to do in Las Vegas and even more free things to experience in Vegas.  Also, part of the charm of Las Vegas isn’t just the gambling, but the fine dining and live entertainment. Here are some events going on during and after-hours for BlogWorld that you may want to add to your personal itinerary. Remember to follow and use the hashtag #bwe10 to keep up with all things BlogWorld. Keep checking back here at TravelingMamas.com where we’ll be updating this post with parties, show offers, and fun things to do while at #bwe10.

First, start with the Official BlogWorld and New Media Expo Schedule for 2010 and choose the sessions you don’t want to miss. Then, you can start working in some of these fun events to make the most our of your trip to Las Vegas.

Pre-BlogWorld Tweetup – On Wednesday night there will be a tweetup before the expo begins. Sign up at Twtvite.

BlogWorld 2010 Thursday night party at Liquid – Liquid Pool Lounge at ARIA Casino and Resort at CityCenter is the place to mix and mingle with other BWE10 attendees. This party is hosted by The Light Group.

Slushie MallBar Tweetup – Secure your spot to this annual Thursday night Falls’ Mall Event on TwtVite

BlogWorld 2010 Mash Bash Friday Night Party – Network at this official BlogWorld event being held at Haze Nightclub at ARIA Resort and Casino at CityCenter. It’s open to attendees with a Weekend or Full Access Pass. It is hosted by The Light Group.

TechKaraoke Event on Saturday night – Get the details and tickets on Eventbrite.

Photo Field Trip – Saturday 12:15 pm at the Kodak Booth: Kodak is a sponsor of BlogWorld and the session “Record Life at BlogWorld & New Media Expo” will be led by Jeffrey Powers of Geekazine.com. Bring your own cameras and learn how to participate at the BlogWorld Blog. 

See Disney’s  The Lion King – The show is offering tickets to BlogWorld attendees, but you must make reservations in advanced. Check out the BlogWorld post on how to arrange your tickets to see this fabulous show.

See a Cirque Show – We’re planning on checking out the new Viva ELVIS show while in Vegas, but there are also other show tickets available for KRISS ANGEL Believe, Mystère, KÀ, Zumanity and LOVE. Check out this post on how to get tickets for a Cirque show during BlogWorld 2010.

Dining Around – BlogWorld has listed the top places for tastings by TastingLasVegas.com. Check out this list of top 7 dining venues for tastings in Las Vegas for 2010.

Relax at the spa – Thanks to a lucky Elvis slot machine during a previous visit, I was able to afford a treatment at Canyon Ranch Spa. While it wasn’t quite what I expected, I haven’t given up on spas in Las Vegas. In fact, I hear that Vegas offers some of the best spa treatments in the world. I hope to get a chance to experience Spa & Salon at ARIA Las Vegas.

Adrants has a Google Calendar filled with parties and networking goodness compiled for BWE10 (hat tip @WarrenWhitlock)

Let us know if you’re coming to #bwe10 so we can look for you, and if there are any events we’ve missed on this list, be sure to add them in the comments. We’re looking forward to this year’s event and checking out Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino.

Update: BlogWorld attendees can skip the lines and get food and drink deals from The Light Group. See the post at the BlogWorldExpo Blog.