FTE CEO Daniel Coleman shares tips on how to get the most from your FTE Global 2021 experience, and Vegas visit

Dear attendees,

We can’t wait to deliver the 15th Anniversary edition of FTE Global – the line-up and registration numbers are fantastic, and the event is shaping up to be a great experience for all.
We are also super excited to be back in Las Vegas – FTE’s spiritual home where we staged our first show 15 years ago, and where FTE Global has pretty much lived since. The city holds a very special place in my heart too – I got married here and have had so many great experiences in the Entertainment Capital of the World through work, and outside of it, the last 20 years.
We know you are all looking forward to travelling again, and to engaging with the wider industry at FTE Global, and as this is such an important event for all of us, I wanted to write some tips on how to get the most out of this year’s event and some fun recommendations on everything from what to pack through to what movies you should watch to get in the mood for what we have in store for you. I hope you enjoy them.

The absolute essential item all registered attendees should download ASAP is the FTE Global 2021 app. This is where you can see all event details, including the latest speaker and exhibitor lists, and event schedule. Most importantly, it has a live link to our registration system so you can see there and then who is registered, and you can begin messaging and scheduling meetings with attendees you would love to connect with right now. We expect a great turnout for the show and over 250 organisations have already registered, with many more expected this week.
Click here to see who you could be meeting with in Las Vegas next week >>

Ahead of travelling to Vegas you should also definitely read our Exhibition Preview – we have a phenomenal line-up of vendors with amazing solutions, products and services. Work out in advance who you should meet, and use the app to schedule meetings with them in between the conference sessions you don’t want to miss.
Read the Exhibitor & Sponsor Preview here >>

The average temperature in Las Vegas is still a very pleasant 20 degrees, but it does get much cooler at night and our Networking Party will be outdoors so you should pack for both warmer and cooler conditions. You will need to wear a face mask indoors so be sure to pack a few of those. We are recommending that attendees take a COVID-19 rapid antigen test before travelling and returning home, so pack a few of those too.

Our opening keynote will be a joint presentation from senior execs at Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Voyages and Virgin Hyperloop who will share the Virgin view of the future of travel, and how their efforts across air, sea, land and space could interconnect and help forge new industry approaches – I have had a sneak peak and I can assure you it’s amazing! The following day they will also host an interactive workshop diving into the nuts and bolts of how the industry can achieve the grand vision of seamless intermodal travel. So why not read the latest autobiography from Richard Branson – the man behind it all who reveals the highs and lows behind Virgin’s unprecedented rise from a family business to global brand in the past two decades. The culture he has created across the Virgin companies is something special.

Delta’s VP of Innovation Matthew Shigenobu Muta will deliver what will undoubtedly be a memorable keynote at FTE Global on how Delta Air Lines is advancing the bold vision it unveiled at CES in 2020, and what’s next as it continues to innovate. Why not rewatch the compelling keynote the airline’s CEO Ed Bastian delivered during CES 2020 to remind yourself of all the incredible things the company is pursuing that Matt’s keynote will build upon.
Watch Ed Bastian’s CES 2020 keynote in full here >>

Our outside of the industry keynote comes from Brian Loo at Meow Wolf, which is an arts and entertainment company based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. By emphasising collaboration — whether it be with local artists, vendors, or consultants — it has changed the way audiences of all ages and backgrounds consume and engage with art. Instead of the passive experience of attending an art gallery, Meow Wolf creates countless, interactive worlds, each of which are unified by a common story. They have just opened an immersive installation in Las Vegas with interactive artwork, optical illusions and hidden passages, and are proving a 15% discount to all registered attendees, so make sure to visit it ideally prior to Brian’s keynote on 9 December.

Digital & Innovation – I would highly recommend this article from Devin Liddel, Principal Futurist at TEAGUE on “How the Metaverse will change transportation as we know it”
Air MobilityX – the key sessions of this important new track will be moderated by Robin Riedel, Partner, McKinsey & Company. The organisation has been very close to the advanced air mobility revolution and has produced this webpage on “The future of air mobility: Electric aircraft and flying taxis” which has a lot of great insights on what has been happening in that space, as does this article by the FTE Editor – Marta Dimitrova.
Ancillary – our Ancillary ambassador and opening keynote speaker Jay Sorensen from IdeaWorks has recently published this report which is fascinating. Read the full report here >>
Future Airports – This Forbes article profiles the first new airport terminal to be planned since the pandemic at PIT. Christina Cassotis, CEO of Pittsburgh International Airport will deliver a keynote for this track about the new $1.4b terminal designed and to be constructed post-pandemic, a recently commissioned Microgrid powering the campus, Neighborhood 91’s launch, and 10,000 square feet of terminal space dedicated as the X-bridge to test materials, technology and innovation – and how that’s all just the beginning. You should also read these recent FTE interviews with Gerard Hughes, Assistant Director, Information Systems, Clark County Department of Aviation; Naashom Marx, Senior Manager of Strategic Innovation at CVG; and Patrick Sgueglia, Product Manager, Regulatory Services & Biometrics, Lufthansa teasing what they will be showing and discussing at the event.

Entertainment at the FTE Global Networking Party will come from Las Vegas’ leading Elton John Tribute so watching Rocketman will remind you just how many great songs he has, and what a brilliant entertainer he is. You should also watch a few movies which feature Las Vegas prominently, and whilst a number of films come to mind, I am highlighting Ocean’s 11, the recent Army of the Dead movie, where after a zombie outbreak in Las Vegas, a group of mercenaries attempt an impossible heist, and lastly Midnight Run which has some great scenes at the home of our host McCarran International Airport, where the TSA are of course hosting an Advancing the Checkpoint Environment (ACE) Tour & Briefing, and where we will host our first in-person FTE Baggage Innovation Working Group meeting on 7 December.

The Elton John album for the same reasons as Rocketman above, but Elvis Presley is synonymous with Vegas and this album is a live-recording of the Elvis Summer Festival at the International Hotel in Las Vegas in August 1970, which was his return to live performances after years of making films. I grew up as a huge Beatles fan, but this album made me realise that Elvis is truly the king of rock and roll. I even named my dog after him too!

In addition to all the shows and entertainment you would expect of Las Vegas the National Finals Rodeo takes place in the days leading up to FTE Global, which would certainly be something to see. You are of course spoilt for choice in the Entertainment Capital of the World on how you spend your free time, but my advice having been many times is to also make sure you get off the Strip. I particularly enjoy visiting the old town and areas like Freemont East, which combines diverse street-life, local businesses, eateries, side-walk cafes, bars and cocktail lounges, lively entertainment, retail, and residential living while preserving a historic gambling house.
The Visit Las Vegas website is a fantastic resource to see what’s on, where to go, eat and drink.