NEW ORLEANS APRIL 10-13, 2017 THE PREMIER SMART INFRASTRUCTURE SOSOLUTIONS S USER U CONFERENCE Exhibitor Justification Prospectus Kit PAGE 1
Making the Case For Attending AclaraConnect 2017 This document is designed to show you why AclaraConnect is strategic for you and your company, in helping you to fully maximize the investment you have made in your Aclara solutions. AclaraConnect 2017 provides a robust forum of relevant, current speakers, made up of users, technical experts and industry thought-leaders. Within this document, you will find several testimonials from our clients, explaining why AclaraConnect is invaluable to users of all experience levels. Visit AclaraConnect.com For: Latest Conference Agenda Conference Registration Frequently Asked Questions Hotel Registration Justification Letter Mobile App Optional Events Registration Fees Registration includes: All Conference materials Conference-sponsored entertainment (Opening Reception, Tuesday night Event, Wednesday night Game Night) Training Details Transportation Informational Videos All conference meals: Opening Reception Monday night, breakfast, lunch and evening reception events Tuesday and Wednesday with extensive hors d oeuvres, food stations, and all beverages EARLYBIRD STANDARD EXTENDED ON-SITE $598 Now thru 2/10/17 $648 2/11/17-3/14/17 $698 3/15/17-4/7/17 $748 On or AFTER 4/8/17
Pay It Forward: How Will Your Organization Benefit? After you outline the resources needed to attend, we recommend listing how you will use the conference to pay it forward what will you bring back to add value to the company? Here s a list of ways to share your experience to benefit your team, department or organization: Research the conference sessions and pre-conference workshops at AclaraConnect.com and identify those with the most relevance to your work. List the skills you expect to gain that will improve your work after the conference. What technologies or tools will you learn? What processes will you bring back for implementation? What are you going to learn how to do better? Attend AclaraConnect as a unique opportunity to evaluate first-hand what technologies are (and will be in the near future) best for your company. When you return to your office from AclaraConnect 2017, deliver a short presentation on what you learned (with Q&A) for your team/colleagues. Prepare in advance a list of challenges facing your team and utility, and use part of your time at AclaraConnect 2017 to compare best practices with industry peers. Set a goal before AclaraConnect 2017 to vet and gather a certain number of new ideas at the AclaraConnect Demo Center and Exhibition Hall. Identify in advance specific individuals, utilities and exhibitors that will be in attendance at AclaraConnect. Outline how you (or other team members) will: Network to make important connections for future partnerships Introduce your utility to new contacts Take the pulse of the industry Share AclaraConnect 2017 session handouts and materials you receive with the rest of your team (these will be available for easy download from Aclara- Connect.com shortly after the conference).
AclaraConnect 2017 Typical Expenses ESTIMATED ACTUAL Earlybird Registration Fee $598.00 each $598.00 Airport Transportation from New Orleans Airport to New Orleans Marriott Hotel Room at the New Orleans Marriott Estimated taxi fare: 36 USD, one way ($43.00 with tip) $43.00 Four nights at $231.35/night - $199.00 plus applicable state and local taxes (currently 13% plus $3.00 per room per night occupancy tax) in effect at time of checkout, as well as a New Orleans Convention and Visit Bureau assessment of 1.75% of each room rate, per room per night). $925.40 Monday Night Reception Included $0.00 Tuesday Breakfast Included $0.00 Tuesday Lunch Included $0.00 Tuesday Dinner Included $0.00 Wednesday Breakfast Included $0.00 Wednesday Lunch Included $0.00 Wednesday Dinner Included $0.00 Thursday Breakfast Included $0.00 Thursday Lunch Included $0.00 Airport Transportation from New Orleans Marriott to New Orleans Airport Estimated taxi fare: 36 USD, one way ($43.00 with tip) $43.00 TOTAL $1,609.40
Sample Email to Manager/Supervisor Tailor the email template below by editing the highlighted sections to fit your needs, and use it as a guide for justifying your attendance at AclaraConnect 2017. This template combines everything discussed in the kit for you to present a compelling case to attend. We look forward to seeing you in April in New Orleans! Dear [Insert manager/supervisor name], The Aclara Technologies AclaraConnect industry conference and exhibition is scheduled for April 10-13 in New Orleans, LA. I checked the agenda and think we will learn a great deal from the sessions on [List relevant sessions/training and briefly describe why you think it will help your performance your utility s performance]. I would like to attend the conference and think the session content will be quite beneficial to my work performance, as well as the networking opportunities with the more than 1,000 utility industry professionals in attendance. Additionally, I plan to schedule in advance a one-on-one appointment with my Aclara account manager to discuss [Insert relevant subject]. I d also like to use the time to benefit us by [Insert your preferred pay it forward options]. For your consideration, I went ahead and compiled an estimate on what it will cost to attend: Airfare $ Transportation $ Hotel $ Meals $ Registration $ [INSERT ANY OTHER PLANNED EXPENSES] TOTAL: $ [INSERT AMOUNT] I think we can get that investment back (and more) from the value of [insert your desired outcome: training, networking, customer connections, best practices, etc.] The earlier I register, the lower the registration and airfare costs. If approved, I ll work to keep costs down as much as possible: checking on hotel discounts, sharing rides and/or a room, etc. I also checked my work schedule and [insert plan for who will cover your work while you re out]. I appreciate your time to consider this request for continued learning. Please let me know if you have any questions or suggestions as you review. Sincerely, [Insert your name] [Insert your utility s name]
About Aclara Aclara likes to be challenged. We partner with game-changing utilities trying novel approaches to common problems industry leaders on the bleeding edge, exploring the next way to deliver energy and natural resources. We work with innovative utilities focused on why not? ideas, while working equally hard to get the most out of the distribution infrastructures they have. We like looking at these challenges from all sides not one-way solutions, but the right and smart combination of communications networks and tools, smart meters, sensors, software and applications that we design, integrate, deploy and support in ways as unique as each of our customers needs. With the industry s broadest portfolio of utility smart infrastructure solutions (SIS) technologies developed and acquired by Aclara over the past 45 years, we know how to put together the right solution. Your solution.