WHAT IS THE ESSAE ANNUAL CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW?
The ESSAE Annual Conference & Trade Show is the premier association management and meeting professionals conference and trade show in upstate New York. This year’s show will take place at the Albany Capital Center in Albany, NY on Thursday, June 12th, 2025. The annual one-day conference is about professional development, networking, and showcasing products and services, and is the place to interact with key decision makers in the association and hospitality industries. The annual conference celebrates the true partnership of our association colleagues, meeting professionals, and exhibiting partners all across New York State.

WHO WILL ATTEND?

• NYS Association executives, CEOs, VPs, and operating officer
• Government, corporate, and association/non-profit meeting & event professionals
• Association management firms; and
• Marketing & PR professionals, education directors, administrators, HR and finance directors, membership directors, and other key association staff.
• Industry professionals from NYS and neighboring regions

✨ Don't miss Designing with Purpose: Crafting Immersive, Sustainable, and Story-Driven Events sponsored by MPI Upstate New York ✨ 
(1) credit hour pending in Domain G: Meeting or Event Design
In today's events landscape, success is about more than logistics—it's about creating meaningful, lasting impressions. Join Aimie Wockenfuss, Director of Event Design at Mazzone Hospitality for an engaging session that explores how to thoughtfully integrate culinary storytelling, environmental design, and ambiance as powerful event design tools.

Learn how to apply design thinking to create hospitality-driven experiences that captivate audiences, even when working within tight budgets. We'll also discuss how sustainable practices are shaping the future of event design and offer practical tips for weaving eco-conscious choices into your planning process.

Whether you're a seasoned planner or new to event design, you'll leave inspired and equipped to elevate your events with purpose and creativity. Apply principles of design thinking to create hospitality-centered event experiences that resonate with diverse audiences. Incorporate culinary storytelling, environmental elements, and ambiance as strategic tools to craft immersive and emotionally engaging events. Identify cost-effective strategies for implementing impactful event design within limited budgets. Analyze current trends in sustainable event planning and evaluate how eco-conscious decisions can enhance guest experience and brand values. Develop actionable techniques to embed purpose, creativity, and sustainability into every phase of the event planning process.

Questions?

Contact: Carrie Laney, Executive Director, ESSAE - executive@essae.org (including online registration assistance).

Albany Capital Center