Conferences
Exclusive Interview with Shona ODonnell of iGaming Business
With under just two weeks until the London Affiliate Conference 2017 starts in the new venue at ExCel London, we had the pleasure of interviewing Shona ODonnell (iGaming Business) and talk about the most anticipated event in the affiliate calendar!
GAV: First of all thanks for taking the time for the interview Shona, we know how busy you are! Please be so kind and introduce yourself! It’s quite possible that there is 1% of our readers who don’t know your background 😉
Shona: My role is Head of Operations for iGaming Business, within this my responsibilities include marketing of all products, all of our events including LAC, developing new ideas and products and lots of other things. I’ve been here for almost 9 years and consider myself extremely lucky to work with such an amazing team in such a dynamic industry.
GAV: Give us a recap on last year, how did iGaming Business close 2016?
Shona: 2016 was an exciting year for us. Our acquisition by Clarion was completed at the start of the year and in May we moved into Clarion HQ. We saw all of our events grow year on year and we worked hard on improving the quality of the conference content and speakers at events. We also launched a new event just as we closed for the year with the Nordic Affiliate Conference. This is a smaller event that will focus purely on this key region.
GAV: LAC has come along way since 2007, how do you see it in let’s say another ten years?
Shona: If current growth is any indication I would expect it to be bigger by another 50%. I would like to see us providing a world class delegate experience backed by really good data technology helping to make the customer journey seamless. Networking will be even more valuable as we look at creating events that help people connect faster and with more ease to the right people.
I would hope that whatever it looks like it we still deliver it with passion and continue to work with the industry to meet their needs.
GAV: Fill us in on the latest news/developments regarding LAC 2017!
Shona: We have outgrown Olympia and this year we make the journey to ExCEL and East London, our new home. Personally I am really excited about this. It’s a world class venue and allows us the opportunity to grow, it means we are located in the same space as ICE and allows delegates and exhibitors to stay in one hotel for the gaming week.
GAV: Could you give us an estimate on how many people do you expect at LAC 2017?
Shona: Our expectation is to look after around 5,000 delegates. At the moment we are up over 25% on affiliate registrations from this time last year.
GAV: What will be different than last year’s conference?
Shona: The venue is a big change and we hope that it will be a permanent home for LAC for many, many years to come. While we are split over two floors it will feel very different to last year and much more inclusive.
We have had a full time conference producer working on the content and reaching out to speak to the affiliate community to find out what they really want to hear about. The tracks are more cohesive than before and we hope you will find real value in attending the sessions.
We have taken on board feedback about the networking events and this year they are all in walking distance to the official hotel, only 5 or 9 minutes. And they are in bars that allow us to control the volume so people can network effectively in selected quiet zones. Both are exclusively open for LAC delegates so please do come and join us.
GAV: Do you have anything special planned for LAC 2017?
Shona: We know lots of our clients are bringing celebrities, so there will be lots of opportunities for selfies with them. We have created a special LAC Snapchat filter, so make sure you use that on your selfies!
I am really, really looking forward to the awards. These are taking place on the final night of the event allowing everyone to relax and enjoy the night without the thought of having to get up and man their stand or attend lots of meetings the following day. Our theme is 1001 Nights, so expect an exotic night filled with surprises. There is lots of entertainment, including an amazing band and very cool DJ’s. We still have some VIP tables left and this year they the package has drinks and food included.
Keep an eye out on our Facebook page as we will be doing a few interviews via Facebook live!
GAV: What can affiliates expect from attending LAC 2017?
Shona: Not only the biggest, but also the best event in the affiliate industry! They will be able to meet with existing business partners, met new ones and create value partnerships. There are opportunities to attend the conference sessions and gain new, practical skills and insight that will have a real impact on their business. On top of this they will get to meet with friends, make news one and of course find time for some fun.
GAV: Do you expect the London Conference to be the largest to date?
Shona: Absolutely!
GAV: Shona, we wish you a Happy New Year, and all the best for LAC 2017 and the Nordic Affiliate Conference!!!
Still not registered for the London Affiliate Conference 2017, no worries you can do it here?!
Conferences
Boomerang at SiGMA Eurasia and Affiliate World – Strategic Presence at Key Industry Events in Dubai
Boomerang visits SiGMA Eurasia and Affiliate World in Dubai in just one dynamic week. Remaining flexible and responsive, Boomerang unveils exciting opportunities and prospects poised to drive mutually beneficial affiliations and collaborations with partners
Boomerang is set to make a presence at two major upcoming events – SiGMA Eurasia from February 26-27 and Affiliate World from February 28-29, highlighting its dedication to nurturing strategic relationships and creating new avenues for collaborations on a global scale.
At SiGMA Eurasia, the Boomerang will seize opportunities to engage with industry partners during the core conference days of February 26-27. The team will attend the event to engage in meaningful interactions and explore potential partnerships throughout the conference, ensuring a flexible and responsive presence to meet with affiliates and industry peers. Welcome to arrange meetings with Boomerang’s representatives to explore potential collaboration avenues.
After a stopover at SiGMA Eurasia, the Boomerang team will shift its focus to Affiliate World on February 28-29. The Boomerang team will exhibit at Booth C18. With the company’s development roadmap, which includes launching new projects this year, Boomerang’s stand is essential for partners interested in exploring innovative affiliate marketing opportunities for iGaming products. Visitors are invited to the Boomerang booth to meet the team face-to-face and gain insights into prospective partnership possibilities.
Vitalii Prokofev, Chief Executive Officer at Boomerang, emphasized the significance of the company’s participation strategy: “Attending these events allows Boomerang to connect directly with affiliate managers and create convenient touchpoints, as SiGMA Eurasia and Affiliate World are perfect networking opportunities in the region. Participating is a chance for open communication with our current and new partners, as Boomerang is driven by a partner-first mindset. Working on cultivating an environment for mutual success, we look forward to productive meetings at both events.”
Vitalii Prokofev’s remarks accentuate Boomerang’s persistent focus on propelling affiliate prosperity through advanced, compliant solutions, proprietary technologies, and an enduring pledge to be a trustworthy, high-performing partner globally.
Conferences
iGB Affiliate on course to break all records at February’s farewell to London
iGB Affiliate is set to bid farewell to London in record-breaking style with show organisers projecting that the last edition prior to the show’s relocation to Barcelona in 2025 will register a circa 10+% increase in visitor numbers. Other key performance indicators are also in positive territory with the number of exhibitors and sponsors over 250, (+11% year on year) occupying a total of 13,647 sqm (11,758 in 2023).
Looking ahead to February’s event, Portfolio Director Naomi Barton stated: “Every metric that we reference is showing that iGB Affiliate will continue its upward trajectory, building on the substantial growth experienced in the last 2 years and demonstrating that for the global igaming affiliate sector, this is THE global event that customers need and want for their business success.
“The sense of positivity began immediately following registration opening in October, this was continued in November when we received a record 338 submissions for the iGB Affiliate Awards, and has been further evident with the high number of table bookings for the Awards evening and peak demand for accommodation at the show’s HQ Hotel, One Hundred Shoreditch.”
She added: “This being the last edition of iGB Affiliate to take place in London has certainly registered with the international igaming affiliate community – however, this show is all about the future. We know from the research that we undertake with stakeholders that the major motivator for visitors attending iGB Affiliate is the unique opportunity it provides to embrace everything that’s new in the sector.
“iGB Affiliate stakeholders want to stay on top of the latest industry trends, network with potential partners and clients, connect with industry leaders, gain insights into emerging technologies and learn from global igaming experts. All of these elements will be central to the iGB Affiliate 2024 show experience.”
Conferences
1xBet to share vision for betting’s future at iGB Live!/iGB Affiliate Amsterdam
‘A glimpse into the future and a chance to see what the industry will be like tomorrow’ is how Alex Sommers, Director of Affiliate Marketing at 1xBet, described the opportunities that he believes will be available to visitors attending the forthcoming iGB Live!/iGB Affiliate Amsterdam which is taking place across 28 September – 1 October at the RAI, Amsterdam.
The leading online brand which is the Diamond Sponsor for the affiliate event series, believes the long gap between major in-person gaming events has made industry professionals hungry for knowledge and networking. He explained: “We are confident that brands will be looking to the future. There was a long pause between major exhibitions, and we’re all clearly gathering here for big plans. And given that such a variety of companies will be represented in one place, it seems that we will discuss all aspects of the betting industry in general. Starting from the work undertaken by brands during the conditions that were in place last year, and ending with the new challenges that will face us.”
Presenting a compelling and passionate case for in-person and the reasons why the industry will be out in force at the Amsterdam-based shows, he argued: “Of course technology allows you to arrange a call with partners on the other side of the world in just a couple of clicks, but we are convinced that live interaction is a much more enjoyable method of communication. We are all human beings who enjoy interacting, communicating and meeting at events such as exhibitions.
“Moreover, at large events, there is always a festive atmosphere and the whole scale of the industry is felt. These emotions cannot be conveyed in the same way via virtual meetings. We’ve made big plans and look forward to meeting old acquaintances.”
The focus is firmly on partnerships both existing and new. “Many meetings with current partners are planned plus we also expect to meet new faces – all the time discussing interesting proposals and ideas ‘ he stated.
“Exhibition days are challenging but incredibly interesting. Our staff get up early in the morning and return late at night. And in the meantime – dozens of meetings and negotiations are planned. Such events help to unite our team even more, we get to not only know our competitors better but also ourselves. Therefore, we look at iGB only in the most positive way. We look forward to our trip to Amsterdam and invite everyone to chat and discuss partnership opportunities with us. There are very specific areas in which we will act, but we like to keep our cards close to our chest – what we can divulge now though is that people will be pleasantly surprised as we share our vision of innovations that will be introduced in the field of betting!”
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