ERA’s Great Ideas Summit is just around the corner. Set for Feb. 27–March 1, 2017 at the Caribe Hilton in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the annual midwinter conference offers direct response marketers an unparalleled opportunity to meet, network, and learn—not to mention escape the chill of northern climes.
Every year, more than 700 marketers attend The Great Ideas Summit, representing a cross-section of the industry’s movers and shakers. Some 42 percent of attendees at last year’s event in Orlando, Fla., were senior-level decision- makers, and 44 percent traveled from other countries to take advantage of the networking, events, and sessions.
Adding to the event’s appeal is its new location. “The Great Ideas Summit is moving offshore this year to beautiful Puerto Rico,” says Chris Reinmuth, ERA’s president and CEO. “We are setting the stage for the only conference that focuses completely on the convergence of digital and television, combined with the strength of advocacy.”
With no passport required for U.S. citizens, America’s paradise (and maybe one day, 51st state) offers tropical weather year-round, as well as multiple attractions for those able to spend an afternoon or two exploring San Juan, the capital city, and the rest of the island.
The venue is the Caribe Hilton, one of oldest and most storied hotels in Puerto Rico. The hotel was the first Hilton property located outside the continental United States, and is the birthplace of the piña colada, that delicious combination of pineapple, coconut crème, and the local rum.
Today, the modern beachfront hotel offers tennis courts, cabanas, pools, yoga, spa services, boat rentals, and more. In addition, the concierge can direct attendees to San Juan’s best restaurants and bars; nearby shopping and casino gaming; historic sites such as the 16th century forts El Morro and Castillo de San Cristóbal; and the island’s many natural wonders on reef, rainforest, and snorkeling outings.
The show itself will feature an expanded slate of networking sessions, cocktail hours, keynote sessions, and breakouts, and plenty of time to forge relationships with industry colleagues.
This year’s Great Ideas Summit will focus on media convergence. Speakers will concentrate on the narrowing divide between television and digital media, and the ways in which direct response marketers can tap into the changing landscape to increase profits.
Several prominent speakers have been slated to appear. They include best-selling author, speaker, and real estate investor Dean Graziosi, who has appeared in numerous infomercials and launched a popular live event series since the publication of his second book, Be a Real Estate Millionaire: Secret Strategies for Lifetime Wealth Today.
Frank Kern, a highly sought-after internet marketing consultant and copywriter, will also speak. Kern will discuss how marketers can employ automated methods to speed the sales cycle by customizing messages based on prospects’ behaviors.
Performance coach and trainer Brendon Burchard will offer attendees insights on digital and affiliate marketing and human motivation from best-selling books such as The Motivation Manifesto: 9 Declarations to Claim Your Personal Power. Entrepreneur magazine has called Burchard’s training seminar, Experts Academy, a must-attend for entrepreneurs in every industry.
Additional speakers will include Alex Moore, vice president of sales and account management for Clickbank, a leading affiliate marketing agency. ERA Chairman-Elect Gerald Bagg, chief executive officer of Quigley-Simpson, will also appear to discuss how digital initiatives are building brands for DR marketers.
“Never before has ERA combined the topics of convergence and advocacy while aligning itself with some of the hottest speakers on the market today,” Reinmuth says. “It will be three days of intense education and breakout sessions in a beautiful setting. This sets the stage for more breakout conferences that the ERA is planning for 2017. Come out and learn more.”