How to Get the Most Out of the Money20/20 USA Conference

By Shawn Conahan , Chief Revenue Officer at Wildfire Systems, Inc

Lovingly referred to as “spring break for bankers,” the annual pilgrimage to Las Vegas to convene the finance industry in three days of presentations, panels, meetings, and parties known as Money20/20 USA is upon us in just a few weeks. Make it a successful trip with my tips to help you get the most bang for your buck.

1. Have a plan. Depending on where you sit in the industry, you will have different goals, and Money20/20 can deliver no matter the objective. If you are newer in your role (or to the industry), you may benefit from the stellar list of speakers and other educational content to get you up the learning curve quickly. Or, you may have a more focused intent to get business done, in which case you should skip the educational content and spend your time instead making the connections that are most valuable to you. Which brings me to the second tip…
2. Plan your meetings well in advance. While it is possible to stroll around the convention floor and visit booths and eventually get a call back, the vast majority of attendees do not have a booth. This isn’t a trade show. Instead, do your outreach ahead of time and secure the meetings that will propel your business forward. The attendee list is available for purchase from the event organizers, but it isn’t cheap. Even if you can’t afford that, you can be certain that probably every company you want to meet will be there, so reach out ahead of time and set up a meeting, which is exactly what everyone else is expecting, too.
3. Do not meet at Starbucks! I am serious. When you do get a meeting, and someone asks where you should meet, you know that the one place that everyone can find is the Starbucks. The line is an hour long, and there is nowhere to sit, and it is too loud to have a conversation anyway. Every year I see grown men in suits sitting on the floor together a few yards from Starbucks having a chat because they made this mistake.
4. Research quiet and free meeting areas ahead of time. For instance, there is a long walkway at the Venetian that is on the way to Bouchon, and there are several couches and chairs all down the walkway, and it is quiet. Best of all, it is free. You can literally conduct an entire day of meetings there. There are other such options all over the resort. It makes a big difference to have somewhere quiet and calm to sit down and actually have a productive conversation.
5. Mix and mingle. As I write this, I am looking at a master list of over 30 different Money20/20 2024 USA events and parties sponsored by various companies, from the Merchant Mixer on Sunday at 6pm to the Mastercard Happy Hour on Tuesday at 6pm. Many of them are open to everyone – all you need to do is RSVP. These events are a great way to meet people at key companies, but also remember that a lot of other people you may want to meet are also going to these events, so it is a good opportunity to connect there. If you do not have such a master list of parties, ask your contacts in the industry, because word gets around.
6. Get out in the fresh air! The conference space at the Venetian is underground. The voices of thousands of conventioneers bounce off the cavernous concrete walls and create a cacophony of noise that puts a Vegas casino to shame. Many companies, like EY, TTV Capital, Jump Capital, and my company (Wildfire Systems), have bucked the booth idea and have instead secured venues including private poolside cabanas at the Venetian to conduct their meetings. This tactic is a great way to escape the noise, breathe the fresh air, and get some refreshments in a relaxing environment. People really appreciate the reprieve from the chaos.
7. Do your own thing. Many companies take advantage of the concentration of industry professionals at Money20/20 USA to have their own mini-event. For instance, Visa is hosting a series of events and offering meetings with Visa leaders in an intimate setting. You, too, can co-locate your event to get a focused message across to a targeted audience.
8. Have fun. Lastly, this is Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world. Rev up that expense account and splurge a little where it counts. Did your salespeople have a great year? Take them to a show. Did you get a handshake on an important deal? Take them to any one of the great restaurants in Vegas – you are spoiled for choice. While it is true that you could conceivably never pay for a meal or a drink just by attending the plethora of sponsored events, this is also a great opportunity to spend some money in a positive way.

There are plenty of ways to keep yourself insanely busy without feeling like you’ve accomplished much at Money20/20 USA, but with some advance planning, you can make the most of your time in Vegas. Stay focused on your goals, be strategic in your meetings, and don't forget to enjoy some of what this fun city has to offer - you'll leave the Money20/20 USA 2024 show feeling refreshed, motivated, and ready to capitalize on the connections you've made.