Lotusphere 2006 -- content, registration (now open!)

August 18 2005

It seems like it is never too early to start thinking about the next Lotusphere.  Several months ago, the content team convened to start thinking about what we'd like to do differently in 2006.  While 2005 was a great show, and had the best ever ratings, 2006 is going to be better still.  Lotusphere 2006 will be held in Orlando on January 22 to 26, 2006.

There will be several format and content changes for Lotusphere 2006.  We're not messing with success, but rather listening to what you want.  The content team is changing a bit, much for the better.  Kristin Keene is still the empress of Lotusphere sessions, managing the five-month process of building a great show.  I'll continue to manage the Infrastructure track and provide management-level guidance for the overall agenda.  I've recruited Kathleen McGivney to the content team to manage a new Bootcamp track of deeply technical sessions.  As Kathleen says:

Lotusphere has been very technical for years. There have been deep technical sessions at Lotusphere for a long time. The problem is that the people who look at the tracks don't necessarily see that. So we're making sure that we bring those deep, under-the-hood technical sessions to the forefront.
Also moving is Rocky Oliver, now an IBMer, from semi-official outside advisor on the Best Practices track to the dude managing both Best Practices and Jumpstarts.

Rocky blogged the other day about the call for abstracts, which should go live in the next day or two.  Some good ideas generated there already, and I know he has been pinged/mailed privately about more.  This is all good news.  Keep an eye on lotus.com/lotusphere for abstract submission to begin.

Last, Lotusphere 2006 registration is now open.  Many of you received e-mails today, based on your business partner status, CLP status, friends-and-family status, ... whomever you are, you can register now for a special early-bird rate of US$1395.  This rate will increase to US$1595 on October 15, and on December 3 to US$1795 (if any registration slots remain by then).  Lotus CLPs can find information about CLP registration and discount here (use your CLP site access username/password).

Rocky, Kathleen, and I look forward to working with blog readers (and everyone) to make this the best Lotusphere yet, and can't wait to see you all in Orlando in January!

Ed Brill | Highland Park, IL USA Category:  Lotusphere ’06  Add/View Comments [21]

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  1. 1  Duffbert http://www.twduff.com | 8/18/2005 8:48:11 AM

    Just checked the hotel area, and the Dolphin/Swan are at 189 (plus 7.50 resort fee) this year. Nice!

  1. 2  Kevin http://www.DominoPreacher.com | 8/18/2005 8:52:51 AM

    Let the boss begging begin!

    :)

  1. 3  Duffbert http://www.twduff.com | 8/18/2005 9:20:46 AM

    Already sent that email off this morning. :)

  1. 4  Rob Novak www.lotusdigerati.com | 8/18/2005 10:49:23 AM

    Awesome...and what a great idea to have Kathleen on board! I look forward to submitting my abstracts...

  1. 5  Stephan H. Wissel http://www.wissel.net | 8/18/2005 11:18:03 AM

    Is there a special slot for overseas speakers?

    :-) stw

  1. 6  Greg Walrath http://www.univarusa.com/ | 8/18/2005 11:44:17 AM

    Any idea what time registration runs on Sunday?

  1. 7  Kevin http://www.DominoPreacher.com | 8/18/2005 11:53:09 AM

    @3 - so did I... and the response said "You won't like the answer."

  1. 8  vowe http://vowe.net | 8/18/2005 12:00:02 PM

    Stephan, overseas speakers do have a special slot. They have to speak during normal office hours though. In their own timezone. ;-)

  1. 9  Ed Brill www.edbrill.com | 8/18/2005 12:06:17 PM

    @5 - Stephan, always willing to consider anyone, but you know IBM doesn't pay for travel for speakers...

    @6 Greg - do you mean what time it opens? Registration on Sunday is usually open all day.

  1. 10  Paul Robichaux http://www.e2ksecurity.com | 8/18/2005 1:25:00 PM

    @9: hey, maybe I should apply.

  1. 11  Ed Brill www.edbrill.com | 8/18/2005 3:58:26 PM

    @10 well, I said I am willing to -consider- anyone... ;)

  1. 12  Ethann Castell www.caliton.com | 8/18/2005 4:04:51 PM

    I heard that they get a free conference pass. True or false ?

  1. 13  Ed Brill www.edbrill.com | 8/18/2005 8:37:25 PM

    @12 - that's correct.

  1. 14  Wild Bill http://www.billbuchan.com | 8/19/2005 2:59:39 AM

    Slightly off the beaten track. Who do I contact for showcase booths ?

    I'm hoping to organise a number of them this year. Scary.

    And in terms of my submissions:

    "Ray Ozzie moved to the dark side: Coping with rejection"

    "How to get mentioned in forbes.com."

    "Lotusscript Worst Practices."

    :-)

    ---* Bill

  1. 15  Ed Brill www.edbrill.com | 8/19/2005 5:58:35 AM

    don't know yet about product showcase contacts, Bill. Will be sure to keep you posted here or Partner Forum.

  1. 16  Gregg Eldred http://www.ns-tech.com/blog/geldred.nsf | 8/19/2005 9:15:42 AM

    @14, you forgot the best one:

    "How to write an analysis of the Messaging Market"

  1. 17  Mike Lazar  | 8/19/2005 2:53:23 PM

    Ed -- Please keep me posted on the Exhibitor booths. I'm trying to talk the bosses into getting one.

  1. 18  Ben Poole http://www.benpoole.com | 8/20/2005 4:36:07 AM

    Bill, if you get booths sorted, let me know and I'll stow away in one. You can do that, right?

    :o)

  1. 19  Wild Bill http://www.billbuchan.com | 8/22/2005 9:39:47 AM

    :-)

    Ben, your soooo weee, that you could probably kip in the booth overnight...

    ---* Bill

  1. 20  Greg Walrath http://www.univarusa.com/ | 8/22/2005 3:33:05 PM

    @9 - Yes, but I'm wondering what time (e.g., if I catch a 6 AM flight that gets in by 4:30 or so, will I make it in time to register on Sunday and still make the party)?

    Also - does anyone have an idea yet of when the tracks get posted? My boss (and I'm sure many others) will want specifics on the benfits of going to 'sphere.

  1. 21  Andy Broyles http://andy.the-broyles.com | 8/23/2005 5:15:55 PM

    Emailed boss last week with idea.

    Emailed boss yesterday with new pricing.

    Boss said okay today at 4:30PM.

    Registration complete (with hotel room) by 5:18PM.

    See ya all there!!!